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Eric Musselman hired as Arkansas’s new Men’s Basketball Head Coach.Musselman,the former Nevada Head Coach,led the Wolf Pack to three NCAA Tournament berths,and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017-18.

Duke Freshman Forward Zion Williamson was named the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year.Williamson averaged twenty-three points and nine rebounds in what will most likely be his lone season in Durham.

Tennessee Head Coach Rick Barnes was named the Naismith Coach of the Year after leading the Vols to a 31-6 record,and a Sweet 16 berth.

I know we didn’t go out on a high note but thank you for all four years of your career Kenny and Luke.Thank you for two years Cam.Thank you for coming and bringing competetiveness every day for four (or two years in Cam’s case) and a national championship in 2017.We UNC fans will never forget 2015-2019.

Billy Kennedy and Avery Johnson,former Texas A&M and Alabama Head basketball coaches respectively were fired by their former programs in consecutive weeks.Mike Anderson,a ’94 national champion under Nolan Richardson on The Hill, has been fired as the Head Coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks after eight seasons with the team.No losing seasons during his tenure at Arkansas, but his inability to get the Hogs back to the Sweet Sixteen got him fired. Arkansas’s steak goes to twenty-three years of not making it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament continues, the last time Arkansas made it was 1996.

Center James Wiseman,the top Senior high school basketball player in the country according to ESPN,has been awarded the Gatorde National Basketball Player of the Year Honors according to Rivals.com.Wiseman,from East Memphis high,signed with his former AAU Coach Penny Hardaway’s team,Memphis over Thanksgiving break.

From the Big East getting three one seeds in the NCAA Tournament to TCU being a bowl buster during the era of the BCS,the Big East was that conference that challenged all of the major conference teams.But to look at the fall of the greatest basketball conference ever,we have to take a look at the history of the conference.

Founding:The early years
In 1979 new scheduling requirements meant that independent schools Providence,St. John’s,Syracuse,and Georgetown met to discuss a potential founding of a conference centered in the northeast.Other schools invited were Seton Hall,Holy Cross,Rutgers,Connecticut,and Boston College with Rutgers and Holy Cross declining to join.Villanova joined a year later in 1980 and three years later Pittsburgh joined in 1982.In 1982,Penn State applied for membership but was denied after only five out of eight schools accepted (they needed six out of eight).

Football Expansion
A decade after the conference’s founding,Big East members decided to become a major football conference.Thus they added five schools including Rutgers, Miami, Temple, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Miami was the only full time member immediately but Rutgers became a full member in 1995-96 and Notre Dame became a non-football member that same year.Virginia Tech became a full member in 2000-01 and Temple,a football only member until 2004, was forced out of the conference for many reasons including inadequate facilities,and playing success.

Turmoil and Realignment
The unusual structure of “football” and “non-football” schools led to turmoil within the conference. In 2003, the ongoing reports of tensions between the football schools and the basketball-only schools finally exploded into a months-long public tug-of-war between the Big East and the Atlantic Coast Conference over several Big East members. The end result was that three Big East schools:Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College—moved to the ACC, while five schools moved to the Big East from Conference USA—Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, Marquette, and DePaul.

The addition of the three football schools, along with Big East non-football member Connecticut moving up to the Big East football conference, ensured that the league would keep the minimum eight teams needed to keep its BCS bid.DePaul and Marquette, were added to get the Milwaukee and Chicago television markets and add two good basketball programs to an already great basketball conference.

In 2010, Texas Christian University accepted an invitation to join the conference as an all-sports member beginning in the 2012–13 academic year.Big East schools compete in Division I. Most of the football-playing schools play in Division I FBS, while Georgetown and Villanova have Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) football programs. Georgetown football competes in the Patriot League. Villanova has competed in the Colonial Athletic Association football conference since 1988, dating back to its time as a completely separate conference known as the Yankee Conference, which merged with the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1997, then in 2007 the CAA took over management of the A-10 football conference (which happened after Northeastern University joined the CAA in 2005, giving them the six football-playing members needed to start sponsoring football, which was eventually dropped by Northeastern after 2009). In September 2010, in the wake of a Division I realignment that affected a number of conferences around the country, the Big East asked Villanova to consider becoming a football member. The school once considered the offer, which required the school to substantially expand its football budget, as well as expand its stadium to meet FBS requirements or find another suitable venue in the Philadelphia area.[16] Villanova presented a plan to the Big East football members on April 10, 2011, which included the use of PPL Park as a football stadium, but the league declined to schedule a vote to offer membership on the objections of Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Rutgers to the plan. On September 17, 2011 Syracuse, a charter member of the conference, and Pittsburgh announced that they would be leaving the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.Both schools originally intended to fulfill their commitment to the 27-month waiting period. TCU also reversed its decision and accepted an invitation from the Big 12 Conference to move there.

and countersuits were launched by the school and conference. Eventually, a settlement was reached with allowed West Virginia’s departure for 2012 in exchange for sizable compensation.Syracuse and Pittsburgh then used the acquiescence of the Big East to West Virginia’s departure to challenge the validity of their own commitment, and the Big East agreed to a settlement with both schools in July 2012 to allow their departure for the 2013 academic year.

In December, after the 2011 football regular season was completed announcements were made that Boise State University and San Diego State University, both of the Mountain West Conference, would join the Big East in football only; and that Conference USA members University of Central Florida, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Houston would join in all sports for the 2013 academic year.

On January 24, 2012, the Navy Midshipmen accepted an invitation to join the Big East for football only starting in 2015.On February 9, 2012, the Big East invited the University of Memphis to join as a full member in all sports to begin play in 2013.On March 7, 2012, it was announced that Temple University would return to the conference for football in the 2012 season, filling the void left by West Virginia. Temple would join for all sports in 2013. Temple basketball would move over from the Atlantic 10 Conference, where they have been a perennial powerhouse.On August 29, 2012, Loyola and the Patriot League announced that all Loyola athletic teams, including the school’s Big East team in women’s lacrosse, would join that conference on July 1, 2013.On September 12, 2012, Notre Dame announced it would follow Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC, joining that league in all sports except football. Notre Dame and the Big East reached agreement on March 13, 2013; the exit took place July 1, 2013.

On November 20, 2012, Rutgers announced it would be leaving the Big East to join the Big Ten Conference as a full member, effective with the start of the 2014–15 academic year.Rutgers’ announcement came one day after the University of Maryland departed the ACC to join the Big Ten.One week later, on November 27, Tulane University accepted the Big East’s invitation to join as an all-sports member. East Carolina University’s football program also joined the Big East in 2014; both schools were previously with Conference USA.The following day the ACC voted to invite Louisville to join in 2014, making them the seventh school since 2004 to leave the Big East in favor of the ACC.On March 27, 2013, East Carolina’s future membership in the renamed conference was officially upgraded to all-sports membership.

Conference split
New Big East
Main articles: Big East Conference and American Athletic Conference
Less than two weeks after Louisville announced its departure for the ACC, multiple media reports indicated that the Big East’s seven remaining non-FBS schools, all Catholic institutions, were considering a mass exit from the conference.By December 13, it was likely that the non-FBS schools would indeed leave to form a new conference,and on December 15, the seven schools (soon to be called the Catholic 7 by the media) made their departure official, effective with the 2015–16 school year.Many details remained to be worked out, with one major issue being whether the “Big East” name would stay with the FBS schools.

On December 31, Boise State announced they had decided to stay in the Mountain West conference, leaving the Big East, much like TCU, without ever playing a game in it. With Boise State staying in the Mountain West, it was noted that San Diego State would indeed try to rejoin the Mountain West as well.On January 16, 2013, reports surfaced that SDSU would indeed stay in the Mountain West. Rumors of the MWC looking at potentially adding Houston and SMU as its 13th and 14th football members, both of which had stated they would join the Big East in 2013, continued to circulate as well.

In February 2013, multiple media reports indicated that the Catholic 7 would depart in July 2013, two years earlier than originally planned. On March 5, the Associated Press reported tentative details of a financial agreement: In exchange for selling both the Big East name and a contract with Madison Square Garden (MSG) to host the men’s basketball tournament to the Catholic 7, as well as $10 million, the football schools would receive $100 million of a $110 million pool that had accumulated from entry fees, exit fees, and proceeds earned from appearances in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.On April 3, the football-playing schools, which retained the old Big East’s structure and its automatic BCS bid, announced they would operate as the American Athletic Conference starting on July 1.

Arkansas All-SEC big man Daniel Gafford won’t play in the NIT Tournament,as he has put his name in the draft and signed with an agent.Gafford,a projected first round pick a year ago,decided to come back for another year in Fayetteville.His numbers improved across the board where he averaged seventeen points,nine rebounds,and shot an amazing sixty-six percent from the field.Arkansas will play four-seed Providence in the Indiana region in Bloomington as a five seed.

The ACC did everything that needed to happen to get three number one seeds.That is the first time that has happened since 2009,when the Big East did it with Pittsburgh,Louisville,and UConn.The ACC did it by Duke winning the ACC Tournament (and getting the number one overall seed),Virginia didn’t have to do anything as they were locked in to the one line (but made it to the ACC semifinals,thus locking up the number two overall seed),and North Carolina made it to the ACC semifinals before losing to Duke for the first time this season (and became the third overall number seed).The reason they were the top three overall seeds is because of the body of work and their strength of schedule.

New York Giants star WR Odell Beckham Jr. has been traded to the Cleveland Browns for a first and third round pick.Pittsburgh Steeelers star RB Le’Veon Bell has made it official with the Jets,siging a four year-fifty two and a half million dollar contract.

Arkansas womens’ Basketball has become the lowest seed ever in the SEC Tournament (10 Seed) to make the SEC Tournament Championship game.The hogs will face Mississippi State,the number one seed in the SEC Tournament,who has made the SEC Tournament Championship for four straight years but have not won an SEC Tournament Championship yet.Jailyn Mason led the team with fifteen points in the win over three seed Texas A&M and a win previously over two seed South Carolina,snapping their streak of four straight SEC Tournament titles.

Arkansas men’s basketball is on a three game winning streak including a one-point win over Ole Miss,a thirty-six point win over Vanderbilt,and a twelve point win over Alabama (who was in the NCAA Tournament enter Saturday, after loss to Arkansas out of tournament according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi).The Arkansas-Alabama winner got the nine seed in the SEC Tournament (which was Arkansas), and Alabama fell to the ten seed after the loss.The 2019 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be played in Nashville,Tennessee again from March 13-17.

Former Texas A&M QB Nick Starkel has chosen to transfer to Arkansas.He has two more years of elgibility.

The Arkansas women’s track and field team won their second national championship on Saturday.

The Dallas Cowboys have rewored a deal with Linebacker Sean Lee,where he will get $3.5 million in his final year of his contract instead of the $7 million he was going to get instead.Dallas Cowboys Defensive Lineman David Irving quit the NFL because of marijuana.

The ACC has three of the country’s top teams however you slice it.2.Virginia led by hot shooting Kyle Guy and a versatile Forward De’Andre Hunter,3.North Carolina led by Freshman Point Guard Coby White’s scoring and Cam Johnson and Luke Maye’s versatile play, and 4.Duke led by the phenoms that are Wings RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish,a defensive stopper of a Point Guard in Tre Jones,and the most dominant player in college basketball in Forward Zion Williamson,who should come back from a mild knee sprain for the ACC Tournament in Charlotte on Thursday.Let’s take a look at each team and what needs to happen to get themselves a one seed.

2.Virginia-The top seed in the ACC and the number two team in the country,have already clinched a one seed according to the NCAA College Basketball guru Andy Katz.Now to get the top overall seed,they need to win the ACC Tournament and have Gonzaga lose in the WCC Tournament (a team that has already clinched a one seed according to Katz).

3.North Carolina-North Carolina needs to win on Thursday to get to a likely rematch with Duke in the ACC Semifinals.If they lose on Wednesday,they need Michigan State,Kentucky, and Tennessee all to lose in their respective conference tournaments.If the Heels get to the ACC Tournament Championship they are almost guaranteed a one seed no matter what happens in Charlotte on Saturday.

4.Duke-Duke will get its superstar back in Zion Williamson back for their ACC Tournament Quarterfinal game.They need to win the ACC Tournament to guarantee themselves a one seed.Duke should at least get to the ACC Semifinals,which will most likely be a third game versus North Carolina,and if they should lose that game losses by Kentucky,Tennessee,and Michigan State would give them a shot at the last one seed.

The ACC should get at least two one seeds with Virginia definitley being one of them with North Carolina having a better shot after their win over Duke yesterday.

So here the arguments are,please tell me in the comment section how many one seeds the ACC will get a week from now on Selection Sunday.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver Antonio Brown has been dealt to the Oakland Raiders for a third and fifth round pick.Brown will get a new three year deal worth up to $154.25 million.

On Senior night,Senior Guard Kenny Williams scored a season-high eighteen points and Freshman Guard Coby White scored twenty-one points in 3.North Carolina’s win over 4.Duke.Duke wing RJ Barrett led the Blue Devils in scoring with twenty-six points in the loss.North Carolina,26-5 (16-2) ACC, clinched the regular season sweep of Duke (for the first time it feels like in forever) and will head into the ACC Tournament (Charlotte) as the two seed and a share of the ACC title with one seed and 2.Virginia.4.Duke,26-5 (14-4) ACC), goes into the ACC Tournament as the three seed and a chance to meet North Carolina for a third time in the ACC Semifinals next Friday.Duke lost Sophomore Forward Marques Bolden to an injury on a failed block attempt on UNC Forward Garrison Brooks.Duke Freshman Forward Zion Williamson missed his sixth straight game with a mild knee sprain and the Blue Devils have fallen to a five hundred record of three and three without him in the lineup.Williamson should be ready for the ACC Tournament next week.Duke will fall down from a one seed most likely and North Carolina will become a number one seed after this game.

Duke Freshman Forward Zion Williamson has been ruled out for his sixth straight game by the team.

ACC Standings (Top Three) going into Saturday ()=Overall Ranking ()=Conference Record
1.(2) Virginia 27-2 (15-2) ACC (Head to Head win over North Carolina)
2.(3) North Carolina 25-5 (15-2) ACC
3.(4) Duke 26-4 (14-3) ACC

Prediction:The North Carolina bigs (Garrison Brooks and Luke Maye) should have another good game against the Blue Devils.Both should have at least ten points and seven rebounds.Nassir Little should be a the x-factor, and if he can defend RJ Barrett,the Heels should have the edge.Duke Freshman wing RJ Barrett,though,should be the ultimate x-factor in this game,and if he leads Duke well with a thirty point,ten rebound game I don’t see this being an easy one for the Tar Heels.Predicted Score:North Carolina 76,Duke 74

Led by Mason Jones’s twenty-two points on six for eight shooting from behind the arc,Arkansas snapped its six game losing streak.Arkansas honored the 1994 National Championship team for its twnty-fifth year anniversary as well.

As I said in an earlier post,former Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten will be leaving the Monday Night Football booth to return to the Cowboys.

The Diamond Hogs finished a sweep of Stony Brook on Saturday,with a 15-7 win on Saturday with two home runs.

Former Arkansas Razorbacks Running Back and Baltimore Ravens Running Back Alex Collins has been released by the team because of use of marijuana and therefore wrecking his car into a tree.Collins was released on Friday afternoon.