Basketball

Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade

Lauri Markkanen

Luigi Falcone

Sport Sunday: CFL Football Finals! NCAA Basketball

The 2018 CFL season is the 65th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it is the 61st season of the league. Edmonton is scheduled to host the 106th Grey Cup on November 25, 2018.  The regular season began on June 14, 2018, one week earlier than usual, and concluded on November 3, 2018.  The Final Four teams will play for spots in the final today.  

Today the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will take on the Ottawa Redblacks, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will play the Calgary Stampeders.  The Bombers and the Ticats have the longest droughths  in the Grey Cup.  The Redblacks and the Stamps are hungry for another title, to extend recent domination. 

 Winnipeg has waited since 1990 for another title, and Manitobans' hopes are running very high.  The Redblacks shocked the Stampeders two years ago in Toronto to claim the championship. Calgary has played in back-to-back Grey Cup games, only to lose both in dramatic fashion. The Stampeders did win the Grey Cup in 2014, however.

This final showdown of the season between Hamilton and Ottawa at 1 p.m. has all sorts of drama surrounding it. The two teams have met three times this year, with the Redblacks always victorious.  The Ticats are looking to get back to the Grey Cup for the first time since 2014 when the team thought it had beaten Calgary, only to have a late Brandon Banks punt return touchdown called back on a penalty. They also lost the championship game in 2013 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Calgary has been in this exact same situation so many times before. In fact, the Stamps have hosted a home playoff game and made the West Final seven consecutive years.  They have not been good in Grey Cup competition.   The past two seasons have ending in bitter disappointment. 

 

An overtime loss to Ottawa two years ago, and a late interception against Toronto last year, ended Grey Cup dreams for the Stampeders.  Their season ending string of losses this season, ending in a win just when they needed it to advance, should also temper their hopes.  Winnipeg has won six of their last seven games.  Their game should make for an exciting, if unpredictable,  finish for a Sunday afternoon, and a great prelude to next week's season crowning Grey Cup.  

NCAA College Basketball has returned in full force, and is well on display today.  In addition to literally dozens of off brand games,  the preseason National Invitational Tournament, this year called the NIT Season Tip Off, reaches semifinals on Wednesday, with games between Louisville and Tennessee, and between Marquette and Kansas.   This is one of the three main preseason tourneys, along the Maui Invitational and the Great Alaska Shootout.  

Number 5 Tennessee faces Louisville on Wednesday in the Brooklyn, New York classic.  A meeting with No. 2 Kansas — the preseason No. 1 — could await Friday, if Kansas manages to get by Marquette.  Marquette is hungry, having made the national top 25 last week,  for the first time in several years, and then losing to Indiana.   Basketball fans will find no shortage of games to bracket their Thanksgiving Turkey. 

Saturday Sport: NCAA, La Liga, and Arsenal

Saturday marks the beginning of the NCAA final four in the Men's Basketball Tournament.... and then there were four....  

The Loyola-Chicago Ramblings are serving as this decade's Cinderella, the 11th seed which made it to this level, with the help of a nun.  The Michigan Wolverines are the football power, the number three seed who marched through their bracket.  The Villanova Wildcats are the seeming small-school power, make that private, Catholic, university.  They are a power from time to time, and have returned with full force this year, along with their just featured priest chaplain.  The Kansas Jayhawks are the historic "blue blood" involved at this level, this year.  Michigan could also be said to fill that bill, a Big 10 powerhouse, but both public universities in Kansas appear doomed to be considered only basketball powers.   

The Final Four is set, the 2018 NCAA Tournament's end in sight. It has  never looked so compelling.  In the day's second game, the Villanova offense is the best in the nation in many aspects,  averaging 86.6 points per game and producing 436 three-pointers. Meanwhile, Kansas averages 81.4 points and has made 40.3% of its three pointers. The Jayhawks also feature an interior advantage with 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike, whose Villanova counterpart, forward Omari Spellman, is only 6-9. Kansas has thrived on the big stage this season, going 4-0 against teams ranked in the top 10. Villanova is seeking its second national championship in three years and will rely heavily on junior guard Jalen Brunson, the Associated Press national player of the year who also started on the team that won the 2016 title. Kansas' do-everything equivalent is senior guard Devonte Graham, the only player in Division I averaging at least 17 points, seven assists, 1.6 steals and fewer than 3.0 turnovers per game. 

At the end of the evening, we will be said to have experienced a great several hours of basketball. 

In Spanish La Liga Soccer, Barcelona’s attempt to become the first Spanish team to stay unbeaten for an entire Primera Liga season will face its toughest test on Saturday with a visit to Sevilla – the team they will also meet in the Copa de Rey final on April 21.  Barca, who are 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid with only nine games to play, also have to face Real Madrid at home in May, but Sevilla away has long been one of their trickier away games, one where Barca failed to win in their 2014-15 treble season and where they lost the following year.  

Barcelona, who have won their last four games against Sevilla, will be encouraged that both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have bested them recently.   Sixth in the standings and inconsistent, the Andalusians pushed Barca hard in a 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou in November. 

Sevilla, however, has other priorities.  Their players are on a high after knocking Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League with a win at Old Trafford and they will face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals with the first game at home on Tuesday.  There is a belief that they can win a first ever Champions League, a view not shared by the wider football community.  Fourteen points behind Valencia in fourth, Sevilla will not finish in the top four to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Barca, are unbeaten in Europe and host Roma next week in the Champions League last 16, have all their players back – although not all in one piece - from international duty. Barca will be hoping that by May he will be basking in the glow of more trophies – and an unbeaten league season.

After a three-week break for some, and two for others, the Premier League is back for the final stretch of eight games that will complete the 2017-18 season.  Chelsea will look to Eden Hazard to inspire them against Tottenham Hotspur.   Liverpool will look for more goals from Mohamed Salah at Crystal Palace this weekend.  

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy will be their main goal threat at Brighton. Brighton have done superbly to be in a position where they are six points clear of the relegation zone with eight games to go. Chris Hughton's men are tough to break down but this could well end up as honours even with Jamie Vardy in good form for Leicester.  

Manchester United, takes on Swansea City, in a game most critics think will go their way.   United are not firing at full cylinders but despite Swansea being rejuvenated the pace of Marcus Rashford and the strength of Romelu Lukaku should mean that Jose Mourinho's men maintain their grip on second place in the Premier League.  

Stoke City takes on the Gunners, and  desperately needs points to avoid relegation.  Arsenal are Arsenal, even if they have disappointed fans the last few years.   Arsenal have built up some confidence with their Europa League success over AC Milan and Mesut Ozil will fancy his chances of doing some damage to the Stoke backline. 

Chelsea realistically must win over the Tottenham Hotspur, to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier.  They beat them in August and should be able to do it again. 

Sport Sunday: Loyola Preys, Australia: Grand Prix and Sticky Cricket

The NCAA Division Basketball tournament in the US is always fun to watch.  Within a span of two weeks, and veritable orgy of basketball is played, satiation the basketball aspiration of even the most ardent round ball fanboy.  The tournament is replete with stories, of the titans who drop out early, and of the cinderellas who wear the glass slipper all the way to the finals of the big dance. 

Such is the case with Loyola University Ramblers.  In years long past they were yearly participants in the tournament, but had not qualified since 1985.  So long were they forgotten that they now need a qualifier as "Loyola Chicago,"  when they had been competitors before,  there was Loyola, as the first, the best, the original, them, and then very occasionally a Loyola-Marymount or a Loyola-New Orleans.  Until the Jesuits can think of a greater variety of names for their schools, they will henceforth be Loyola Chicago. 

The Loyola Ramblers entered this tournament as an underdog, little known from their performance in the Missouri Valley Conference, which is hardly on the national radar screen.  They have won in successive rounds, enough to convince even their greatest doubters that they are not a Cinderella team but instead a team of real quality. Today they bested perennial powerhouse Kansas State 78-62, certainly a convincing win.  They had previously won over Miami, Tennessee, and Nevada.  The turning point in today's game may have been the rare four point play of Rambler Ben Richardson, while attempting a three point shot, he also drew a foul and made that shot. 

At this Easter time, another feature of the Ramblers comes to the fore: the ramblers 98 year old nun chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is also currently wheel chair bound.  She is a force on the court, who has found her way into hearts of basketball fans nationwide.  98.years.old.

Michigan will play in the final four, having just beat Florida State. They will play next Saturday, against Loyola,  in San Antonio.   Today, the two others who will reach the final four will be determined, with Villanova meeting Texas Tech in Boston, and later, in Omaha, Duke playing against the University of Kansas. 

Today marks the first round of the 2018 Formula One season, with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.  The Qualifying races for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix ended with Lewis Hamilton on pole in his Mercedes-GP ahead of the Ferrari pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel.  World champion Lewis Hamilton, well known to readers of this space,  has begun his tilt for a fifth title in impressive fashion as he took pole position for Sunday's opening race of the new Formula One season, the Australian Grand Prix.  Unfortunately, his Mercedes-GP teammate Valtteri Bottas crashed out heavily and is likely to start from the rear of the field. 

Hamilton was 0.664 seconds faster than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, of Finland, with the Finn's teammate Sebastian Vettel third quickest.  Max Verstappen was fourth for Red Bull Racing, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo one place back, though he will start eighth due to a three-place grid penalty for speeding under red flag conditions in practice.  The Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean will start on the third row in fifth and sixth.  Force India, had expected a tough start to 2018, and indeed Sergio Perez was only 13th fastest, with teammate Esteban Ocon two places further down the grid.

Afghanistan have clinched the final spot at the 2019 Cricket World Cup after holding their nerve to beat Ireland by five wickets in the final Super Six game at the World Cup Qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe on Friday.  Chasing 210 to win, a quickfire 54 off 50 balls from opener Mohammad Shahzad had looked as if had set up a comfortable victory.  But Ireland hit back as Simi Singh took 3-30 to leave the Afghans teetering at 145-4 with 12 overs to go.  However, Afghan captain Asghar Stanikzai led by example for his side as he struck 39 not out off 29 balls, which included the winning boundary.  He and Najibullah Zadran (17 not out) saw them hope on to allow them to join hosts England, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and the West Indies at next year's tournament.

Both Afghanistan and Ireland had been given a lifeline on Thursday as Zimbabwe had missed out on the chance to take the second qualification spot behind the West Indies after losing to the UAE.  Afghanistan best Ireland in their head to head.  Both West Indies and Afghanistan meet in the final of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier match in Africa on Sunday, safe in the knowledge that the most important business has already been taken care of as they have both already qualified for the 2019 World Cup. 

Meanwhile, Australia's Tour of South Africa has become mired in scandal during their third test.  Australia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith, well known to readers of this space,  admitted to ball-tampering during the third Test against South Africa on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the  cricket world.  Bancroft was caught on television cameras appearing to rub a yellow object on the ball, which he later hid in his underwear, in a move also known as a pudpull.  He later said: "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I want to be here (in the press conference) because I want to be accountable for my actions."  Television footage showed Bancroft, 25, take an object out of his pocket while fielding in the post-lunch session on the third day of the Test at Newlands. 

He was spoken to by umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth during the 43rd over of South Africa's second innings after appearing to have the object in his hand after fielding the ball at cover.  While the umpires were conferring, Bancroft then appeared to place a small yellow object in his underpants. Ouch.  When the umpires went across to talk to him he reached into a pocket and showed them what seemed to be a different object - what looked like a soft pouch for sunglasses. The umpires took no action and did not change the ball.  

Both Bancroft and Smith, who took over the Australian captaincy in 2015, appeared before the media after the match and admitted that they had attempted to change the condition of the ball.  Ironically, Australia has been considered by most critics of the game to be the number one team in the world, at present.  There are now calls for the dismissal Bancroft, meanwhile, Steve Smith has so far refused to step down as captain.   They have both gotten into a bit of a sticky wicket with sticky cricket, it would seem.  

Joe's Jocks

NCAA Basketball Playoff time!

The Madness kicks off tonight and tomorrow night with the "First Four" round.  Don't miss it!   (Note that the Round of 64 follows right on its heels on Thursday and Friday.)

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2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament - First Four

(Eastern Time)

Tuesday, March 14

6:40 PM: Mount St. Mary's (19-15) vs. New Orleans (20-11), truTV

9:10 PM: Kansas State (20-13) vs. Wake Forest (19-13), truTV

Wednesday, March 15

6:40 PM: North Carolina Central (25-8) vs. UC-Davis (22-12), truTV

9:10 PM: USC (24-9) vs. Providence (20-12), truTV

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full tournament schedule: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/schedule

... plus #32 Dean Wade of the Kansas State Wildcats at the ready.  Watch for him tonight.