Archives for February 2010

Team USA Will Take Home Gold Because…

February 28, 2010 By paulmbanks 2 Comments

by Peter Christian

Later today Team USA will take the ice in Canada Hockey Place for the chance to win the gold medal in the men’s ice hockey tournament. It will mark only the 2nd time in Team USA history that they’ve played in an actual “Gold Medal Game” (The medal round was not an elimination tournament until 1992, so all previous Gold or Silver medals for USA Hockey were the result of their rankings in the round robin of the medal eligible teams). The last (and only time) they played in a Gold Medal Game was against Canada during the 2002 Salt Lake City, Utah Olympics. That resulted in a 5-2 win by the Canadians and a US silver medal.

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Filed Under: Hockey Tagged With: 2010 Olympic Hockey, Team USA Gold Medal, Team USA vs Team Canada, Vancouver Olympics

Evan Turner Closes In on the Naismith

February 28, 2010 By paulmbanks 3 Comments

By: Hans Hetrick

It’s the end of February. Time to start polishing off the shiny trophies and big awards. And everyone’s favorite Buckeye these days, “His Royal Smoothness” Evan Turner, is up for college basketball’s player of the year award.

Barring any surprises, it’s a two-man race between Turner and Kentucky’s John Wall.

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Filed Under: Ohio State Buckeyes Tagged With: Big ten basketball, evan turner, evan turner naismith, evan turner player of the year, Evan Turner stats, evan turner vs. john wall, evan turner wooden, his royal smoothness, hos royal, john wall, john wall stats, Kentucky Wildcats basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes

Illinois Moves Self Squarely Onto Bubble

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks 2 Comments

By Paul Schmidt

It was an opportunity to end a fringe bubble team’s season.

It was an opportunity to keep themselves squarely in the field.

Now, it seems that the Illini just might be fighting for their lives. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Illinois Fighting Illini Tagged With: Bill Cole, Billy Cole, billy cole almost saved the day, billy cole for three, Bruce Weber, bruce weber fail, coaches from illinois, Demetri McCamey, erin andrews nude, Illinois, illinois on the bubble, illinois tournament hopes. illini in march madness, Minnesota, minnesota on the bubble, minnesota tournament predictions

Illinois-Minnesota Live Blog, NCAA’s at Stake!

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks 12 Comments

By Paul Schmidt and Paul M. Banks

Let’s not understate the importance of this game: Illinois MUST win at home, and Minnesota MUST win to keep their slim NCAA hopes alive. Neither team can afford the blemish of this loss.

The key will be which team doesn’t succumb to the immense pressure that comes with must-win games nearly every time out at this time of the season. Tip off is in just a couple of minutes! [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Illinois Fighting Illini Tagged With: Bruce Weber, Demetri McCamey, erin andrews naked, Illinois, Illinois Fighting Illini, live blog, Minnesota, saul smith, Tubby Smith, University of Illinois

Illinois-Minnesota Preview

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks 2 Comments

By Paul M. Banks and Mike Gallagher

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Filed Under: Illinois Fighting Illini Tagged With: al nolen, demetri, Demetri McCamey, gophers basketball, illini-gophers, Illinois, Illinois Fighting Illini, illinois vs. minnesota basketball preview, Maybe Illinois isn't awful, mccamey, Mike Tisdale, Minnesota Golden Gophers, ralph sampson III

2010 NFL Scouting Combine Journal

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

By Peter Christian

The NFL Scouting Combine is one of the sporting events which truly exemplifies my dorky sports obsession. Long before the days of the NFL Network, I was always wishing I could see the drills and skills of the rookie prospects. Now, however, I don’t have to wish and clamor for that ability because for the next week, I will dedicate more than 12 hours to watching the drills live and on replay to whet my appetite for more knowledge about the players that will be drafted on April 22nd, 23rd and 24th.

New this year is the ability to watch both groups on the field with the aid of NFL.com which means I am plopped in front of the TV and the computer… My wife and kids hate me right now, but I’ve got my Powerade, I’m wearing my Under Armour. I’m ready to dive into my own nerdiness.

Laugh away, I’m having the time of my life.

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Filed Under: NFL Draft Tagged With: 2010 nfl draft, 2010 NFL Scouting Combine coverage, mike mayock, nfl draft prospects, NFL Network

Field of 65 (TSB’s Bracketology) 2-27-10

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

By: David Kay

We are getting to crunch time and since now is when college basketball teams need to bring their ‘A’ game to stay in the NCAA Tournament picture, so must I. Expect to see a couple Field’s of 65 per week leading up to Selection Sunday. I have gone back to school for The Sports Bank’s version of bracketology and here is what I think the NCAA Tournament brackets will look like.
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Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: 2010 ncaa tournament, 2010 ncaa tournament brackets, 2010 ncaa tournament predictions, 2010 ncaa tournament projections, Bracketology, NCAA tournament, ncaa tournament brackets, NCAA Tournament predictions, NCAA Tournament projections

Vinny Del Negro Defeats his Former Roommate Nate McMillan

February 27, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

By Paul M. Banks

It’s hard to find examples of former college roommates who both go on to enjoy substantial success at a very high level. Former roomies at North Carolina St. Vinny Del Negro and Nate McMillan both went on to have solid playing careers in the NBA. Both former members of the Wolfpack also coached their respective teams into the NBA Playoffs. I guess they’re the NBA’s answer to former Harvard roommates Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore

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Filed Under: Chicago Bulls, NBA Tagged With: Nate McMillan, nate mcmillan vinny del negro college roommates, nate mcmillan vinny del negro roommates, vinny del negro, Vinny Del Negro Bulls, vinny del negro coach, vinny del negro nate mcmillan nc st.

Bulls Beat Trail Blazers, Just like the ’92 Finals (Sort of)

February 26, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

By Paul M. Banks

The Chicago Bulls welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the United Center tonight. Sure, it’s not the 1992 NBA Finals, but it is an important contest with playoff implications on both sides.

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Filed Under: Chicago Bulls Tagged With: blazers fall to chicago in OT, bulls beat blazers, bulls beat blazers in OT, bulls beat trailblazers, Bulls finals, bulls-blazers, Bulls-blazers nba finals, chicago beats portland in OT, Chicago Bulls, DERRICK, Derrick Rose, derrick rose gang sign, Michael Jordan, michael jordan memories, michael jordan vs. portland, portland trailblazers, trailblazers

USA Hockey in Gold-Medal Game

February 26, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

?6-1 Victory Against Finland at Olympic Winter Games propels Team USA forward.

All 6 Goals come in first period

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team scored six first-period goals en route to a 6-1 win against Finland here today in the semifinal round of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. With the victory, the U.S. improved to 5-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and advanced to the tournament’s gold-medal game on Sunday (Feb. 28).
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Filed Under: Hockey Tagged With: Team USA, team usa advances to gold medal game, team usa defeats finland, team usa hockey in gold medal game, team usa hockey in semifinals, team usa plays in gold medal game, usa beats finland, usa hockey, usa plays for the gold, vancouver 2010, Vancouver Olympics, vancouver winter games

Bet On This: NASCAR in Vegas, Baby

February 26, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

By: Melissa S. Wollering

Sin City hosts Sprint Cup Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week. Developments in the last seven days: McMurray is “lovin it” with a new sponsorship, engine smoke will be the only kind fans in Michigan can enjoy, “Suitcase Jake” passes away at the age of 73 and axle problems on the track are more widespread than those on the ice for skaters in Vancouver.

It’s your weekly Sprint to The Chase Preview, breaking down the top contenders. Each week I analyze their strength for the race at hand as well as their chances for The Chase! Foot, pedal, gas, throttle, green flag… [Read more…]

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Filed Under: The Bank Tagged With: Dale Earnhardt, Greg Biffle, jamie mcmurray, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Lagano, Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Las Vegas Speedway, NASCAR Las Vegas, Nationwide Las Vegas, Sin City Racing, Suitcase Jake

Michigan State’s Season On The Line Sunday

February 26, 2010 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

By Jeff Ghiringhelli

Sunday’s marquis matchup between Michigan State and Purdue was already full of storylines. Robbie Hummel added another on Wednesday night when he went down with a torn ACL at Minnesota. Hummel’s knee buckled awkwardly on a drive to the basket, and an MRI taken yesterday confirmed that he will be out for the rest of the season.

This is obviously devastating news for the Boilermakers, who were quickly becoming a popular pick to make a run to the Final Four. After a quick glance at all the major sports websites, it is clear that most columnists agree that will no longer happen. Hummel was the teams second leading scorer (15.7 ppg) and rebounder (6.9 rpg), not to mention the leadership he provided on the court.

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