Hamilton pummels men's lacrosse

Posted by Dustin Foote '17

The Hamilton College Continentals and the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds both came into Tuesday's men's lacrosse game with 1-4 records. While both teams had a shaky start to their seasons, the Continentals proved they were the more dominant team, with a 16-3 defeat over the Thoroughbreds.
The Continentals controlled the first half of the game, scoring eight unanswered goals. In the first quarter, Hamilton's Sam Sweet created havoc in the Skidmore defense by scoring 2 consecutive goals. His first goal came off a backdoor cut when Sweet caught the ball from teammate John Zimmerman and shot from in front of the net. For his second goal, Sweet found himself behind the net, with a one-on-one matchup. Sweet dodged to the left, and made his way around the Skidmore defender to rip a shot from just outside the crease.
The goals kept coming for the Continentals. Bryan Hopper fired a right handed rip from 15 yards out that shattered the lackluster Skidmore defense. Hopper would score again along with teammates Kurt Mingis, and Conner Morgan, making the score 8-0 in the middle of the second quarter.
The Thoroughbreds did, however, show signs of a comeback as the second quarter wound down. The offense controlled the ball very well as the game progressed, and there were many scoring chances for the team. Freshman, Jack Metzler rattled a shot off of the crossbar, and sophomore Kevin Mulvey had numerous scoring opportunities. However, the ball did not find the back of the net until senior attackmen Quinn Hawkins scored with two minutes left in the half. The momentum quickly shifted back to the Continentals when Matt Hrvatin scored with three seconds left in the half.
During the second half, the Thoroughbreds found themselves in a hole that kept getting deeper. The offense couldn't posses the ball, and the Skidmore defense was struggling against a Hamilton team that had the momentum and kept putting points up on the scoreboard. The Continentals scored six unanswered goals, making the deficit 15-1 in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Even down by a large margin, the Thoroughbreds did not put their heads down. Senior attackman Seth Berger let loose a left handed snipe, placing the ball perfectly into the top corner of the net. On the next possession, Jack Metzler '17 worked his way through the Continental defenders and fired an acrobatic, off-balance shot, resulting in a goal. Even with the score 15-3, the Thoroughbred bench was ecstatic. The team showed their resiliency and began to play one possession at a time. Unfortunately, the Thoroughbred's late, fourth-quarter run ran out of time. The final score at Wachenheim Field read 16-3, in favor of the Continentals.
With the loss, Skidmore drops to 1-5 on the season. On Saturday, the team will travel to Canton, New York, where they will face their first Liberty league opponent of the season, St. Lawrence University. The Saints are currently ranked 20th in the country and boast a record of 3-1.

Buffett's Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge

Posted by Katie Peverada

Warren Buffett and Quicken Loans have teamed up to offer the Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge. The prize for a perfect bracket? A cool billion.

This bracket is already busted, but I stand firm in the:

Final Four: Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan St. and Wichita St.

Final: Florida v. Wichita St.

Champion: Florida

NHL Super Six: Bruins on the rise

Posted by Katie Peverada

While the Buffalo Sabres long ago cemented their position as the best worst team in the NHL, the top six teams remain as jumbled as ever. With about a month left in the regular season, and with each team having 15-or-fewer games remaining, the St. Louis Blues lead the league with 99 points. However, sixth and seventh-place Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, are only seven points back in the standings.

1. St. Louis Blues: The Blues dropped the first two games after returning from the Olympic break, but since then they have gone a stout 8-0-1, losing to Dallas in overtime. Olympic-hero T.J. Oshie has shaken off the three-game slump he experienced upon returning from Sochi to put up eight points in seven games. Their upcoming four-game road trip will be a true test, as they face Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

2. San Jose Sharks: Antti Niemi backstopped Chicago's Stanley Cup win in 2010, but he still never seems to get the respect he deserves. Thanks to his stellar play in net (he's tied for the league lead in wins with 34), the Sharks have tied Anaheim with 97 points and created the most exciting division race in the Pacific. San Jose is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and has won six straight (including two shutouts from Niemi).

3. Anaheim Ducks: On Feb. 1, the Ducks were the top team in the league, fresh off an eight-game winning streak. But now, it's mid-March and they're suddenly the owners of two separate three-game losing streaks. They're a respectable 5-3-2 in their last 10, but if they want to take the Pacific from San Jose, they'll need to start giving Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry some help in the offensive end.

4. Boston Bruins: With eight-straight wins, the Bruins hold the longest active winning-streak in the NHL, outscoring their opponents 33-12 along the way. Strangely enough, nobody in Boston even cracks the top-ten in terms of goals or assists. But they do have three guys in the top-ten plus/minus ratings. The always-dependable Patrice Bergeron leads the league with a +32, while David Krejci (+31), Johnny Boychuck (+30), and Jarome Iginla (+28) all solidify the Bruins defensive, hard-hitting style. Furthermore, Tuukka Rask is in the top-five in every major goaltending statistic.

5. Chicago Blackhawks: The Hawks are an uncharacteristic 5-5 in their last ten games, including two losses to the surprising Colorado Avalanche, a team that sits ahead of them in the standings. Their play has been a bit lackadaisical of late against lower-tier opponents, but with convincing wins over Pittsburgh and Detroit in the month of March, the Blackhawks proved they still have that offensive-kick (they lead the league with 231 GF). And the return of Marian Hossa from injury isn't bad news, either. A showdown with the Blues on Friday will be a good indicator of where the Hawks truly are.

6. Colorado Avalanche: Nobody saw this one coming. With 14 games left to play on their schedule, the Avalanche are second in the Central, behind St. Louis but ahead of Chicago. This position comes on the strength of eight wins over their last 11 games and goaltender Semyon Varlamov's pads. Varlamov recovered from a rough outing against the Ducks (five goals on 24 shots) with a spectacular showing against Ottawa (38 saves on 39 shots).

Williams triumphs over men's lacrosse 9-5

Posted by Katie Peverada

In the second half, the Skidmore College men's lacrosse team gave up a two-goal lead and seven unanswered goals to a potent Williams College on a cold Wednesday night at Wachenheim Field, eventually losing 9-5. Though the score does not indicate it, the game was very competitive, as each team was seeking its first win. The loss dropped Skidmore to 0-3 on the season and Williams moved to 1-1.
Play in the first half was very close, but Skidmore got the scoring started under five minutes into the contest when Henry Thomsett '16 put the Thoroughbreds up 1-0 with his second goal of the season. Thomsett found himself behind the Williams net with the ball and was able to work his way through several Williams defenders to fire a shot into the net as he fell to the ground. Williams quickly returned the favor and gained the lead. Joe Kinney scored with a shot from the left wing and then, taking advantage of a lackadaisical Skidmore defense, Thomas Fowler drove uncontested towards the net for an easy shot and goal. With time winding down in the first quarter, Skidmore took a timeout that would prove profitable, as Quinn Hawkins '14 was able to score the equalizer with a shot from the right side of the circle.
The second quarter was much of the same, with neither team able to get into a rhythm. Kevin Mulvey '16 scored the first of his two goals to open the second quarter scoring, firing a shot from in close on the right flank. Kinney responded again for Williams, getting a shot off through traffic that Matt Diaco '14 was unable to stop. Skidmore, though, would add two more goals before the half, as Mulvey streaked down the left side and fired a shot from the top of the circle. Then, with 13 seconds remaining, Mulvey again drove down the left side, this time feeding Seth Berger '14 in front of the net, who was able to put the Thoroughbreds up 5-3 going in to the half.
Williams came out for the second half warmed up and ready to break the game open. Williams poured on the shots in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter and the defense limited Skidmore to just one shot on goal. It was Williams that was able to find the back of the net first when Bryson Gilbert-Bono scored with 5:07 left on the clock. The Ephs added one more goal before time ran out and entered the fourth with the score tied but a huge advantage over the Skidmore offense.
Two straight goals from William's Conor Roddy, the first of which would prove to be the game winner, and one apiece from Anthony Evans and Fowler cemented the win for the Ephs. Skidmore did not go away easily, as they continued to press the Williams defense, but again only one of their shots was on net.
The Skidmore defense did all it could, as it faced 37 shots, 24 in the second half, and Diaco registered 11 saves. But the Thoroughbred offense never got going in the second, registering just two shots on goal. Williams also controlled the ground balls, picking up 32 to Skidmore's 25, and proved to be stronger in face-offs and clears. Mulvery finished with two goals and an assist, while Berger had one goal and one assist, and Hawkins and Thomsett both had a goal each.
Skidmore will travel to Brown University on Tuesday, Mar. 11, where they will look to beat Bates College for their first win of the season.

Men's lacrosse falls to SUNY Potsdam in double OT

Posted by Katie Peverada

The men's lacrosse team took on SUNY Potsdam in a non-conference matchup on Saturday at Wachenheim Field. Despite starting strong, the team saw their 7-3 halftime lead disappear in the third and fourth quarters, and SUNY Potsdam was able to score the game's final five goals en route to their 8-7 double overtime win.
Skidmore opened the game with goals from Kevin Mulvey '16 and Quinn Hawkins '14 before Potsdam was able to find the back of the net to make the score 2-1 at the 3:32 mark of the first period. In the second period, Skidmore jumped to a 5-2 lead on the strength of Hawkins' third goal of the game. Hawkins added one more goal before the half to make it 7-3 Skidmore--but it would prove to be the last Skidmore goal of the day.
The third period produced only one goal, as Ed Doherty of Potsdam put the ball past Matt Diaco '14 and swung the momentum in the Bears' favor. With the score 7-6 in the final minute, it appeared as if the Thoroughbreds would hold on for the win, but a late man-up opportunity for the Bears allowed them to tie the game at 7-7 and force overtime.
The first overtime produced no goals for either team, but Diaco made two key saves to keep the Thoroughbreds in the game. Even though Skidmore had 18 turnovers to Potsdam's 19, one of their 18 led to the game-winning goal. Potsdam controlled the turnover and put their game-winning play in place before Jon Woodworth found the back of the net from in the circle.
Hawkins finished with four goals and one assist, while Mulvey added two goals and two assists. Taylor Best '14 won six of eight face-offs for Skidmore, while Sam Christiansen '15 and Brock Bakewell '15 each scooped up five ground balls. Diaco finished with eight saves.
Skidmore will take on Williams College Wednesday, March 5 at Wachenheim Field in a non-league matchup.

Finally, a victory for women's ice hockey

Posted by Katie Peverada

After the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jaques Rogge, threatened women's ice hockey with elimination. Apparently, people were growing tired of watching the U.S. and Canada duke it out for the gold medal, having faced each other in three out of four finals since the beginning of women's hockey at the Olympics in Nagano in 1998.
This year's final, of course, was no different, as the U.S. and Canada squared off once against last Thursday in Sochi for the first spot on the podium. Uh oh, not again, right?
Wrong. The game proved to be the best of the tournament, as Canada won in overtime, coming back from a 2-0 deficit with under four minutes to go in regulation. The game made a statement: women's hockey is here to stay.
A few days before the game, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Rene Fasal, held a press conference in which they addressed the words of Rogge. Both men are important figures in the world of ice hockey, and both agreed that women's hockey was here to stay. But they shouldn't have to say it at all.
The critics don't think it's fair that these two teams keep winning the medals at the Olympics (and at the annual World Championships), outscoring and outshooting their opponents by monumental numbers. For example, the U.S. beat Sweden 6-1 and outshot them 70-9 in the semi-final.
But do they even watch other Olympic events? The speed skating powerhouse that is the Netherlands took home 23 medals, even sweeping the podium in four events. And since 1980, Germany has taken home 55% of all gold medals in the luge, and Russia has taken 54% of the gold medals in figure skating.
Do they even know the history of the men's hockey tournament at the Olympics? Men's ice hockey began in 1920, with Canada facing the U.S. in the first-ever gold medal game. Canada won that match, and the next four, meeting the U.S. three out of the four times. And it's not like the games were close. In 1920, Canada outscored their opponents 27-1 and the runners-up scored 29 goals in their quarterfinal match. Sound familiar? The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" wouldn't have been so politically and socially important if the Soviet Union hadn't just won four gold medals in a row. Nobody complained about that dominance. The IOC waited it out and let the other countries catch up. It gave the other teams in the tournament time to catch up to the traditional powerhouses.
Luckily that's what the IOC and IIHF have realized they need to do with the women's tournament.
The women's game needs time to grow. This was only the fourth women's ice hockey tournament in the Olympics. In 2013, there were 87,230 female ice hockey players registered in Canada and 65,700 in the U.S. Finland had a respectable 4,787, and Sweden and Germany both topped 3,000. Those numbers appear decent, but when compared to the 66,636 male players registered in Finland, or the 64,214 men of silver-medal winning Sweden, it's clear: there aren't a whole lot of women playing ice hockey, yet.
The U.S. and Canada are doing their jobs to build the game off the ice, spending time and money by sending coaches to these countries to help infuse the game. And the progress is evident, as Finland, Sweden and Switzerland have all proved in the past year that they can give the U.S. and Canada not only a hard game, but also a loss, often on the strength of strong goaltending. The best goaltender in the game, Nora Raaty, is from Finland, and several other European goalies play in the collegiate ranks.
But even if they weren't doing that work off the ice, their game on the ice would be enough to keep the game around.
Anybody who watched the heart-stopping, heart-breaking gold medal game saw not just the best women's game of the tournament, but also the best hockey game of the tournament. There was an unforgettable Canadian comeback from 2-0, a hit post that would have brought the gold back to the U.S. and questionable calls that gave Canada the game-winning power play and made Marie Philip-Poulin the hero for Canada the second Olympics in a row.
The U.S. women were left in tears, inconsolable and appearing ungrateful for their silver medals. Their four years of hard work and passion to get to the big stage was for nothing. They left their humanness on the ice, something fans can respect and the men can learn from.
Unlike the men's game, there is no coasting like the "show" the U.S. men put on in their embarrassing bronze medal game loss to Finland. The women's bronze medal game between Switzerland and Sweden was riveting.
Unlike the men's game, there is nothing else. There is no Stanley Cup or multi-million dollar deal to go back to. This was it.
Taking away the one moment for the women to shine and show how good they are would be nothing short of a crime. The Olympics is it for them. If the women's ice hockey tournament disappeared, the best-played hockey of the Olympics would be gone. The fights that (literally) take place whenever Canada and the U.S. square off will never get old.
And as Bettman and Fasal noted, the parity in the women's game is not far off. People just need a little patience and soon they will see the passion from more than just the U.S. and Canada. There will be other dogs in the fight.

Growing up Fast: Where Skidmore basketball has come from and where they might be going : Men's Basketball Playoff Preview

Posted by Matt Choi '14

What a difference a year makes. Last season the men's basketball team was like a pit bull puppy. It was young and made some innocent mistakes, but you knew it was eventually going to grow up into something that scares people on the street. But you didn't expect it to happen this fast. On paper, the team jumped from 9-7 to 10-6 in the Liberty League, and from 15-11 to 16-9 overall. That's right, single game win improvements in both categories, not something that jumps off the page at you but the devil is in the details.
Skidmore has managed to improve to 75 points per game, seven more than the league average, and six more than its own average last year. Sophomores Tanner Brooks and Aldin Medujanin and junior Conner Merrill led the squad for much of last year and have continued to hold the scoring mantle this year. Throw in transfer wing Eric Sanders '16, who is leading the team in scoring at 15.8 a game, and you begin to understand this jump in production. It might be one more win over last year, but the margins are way bigger. Last season Skidmore outscored opponents by a total of 86 points, but this season it's 180 points. Skidmore has only been held to under 60 points once in the league this season, and in their last three losses they still scored at or above the league average.
Looking at how Skidmore got to this point yields some interesting improvements as well. Obvious to anyone who has watched this season's team is the three-point shooting. Brooks attempts seven threes a game on average, and Medujanin averages five. Amazingly, Merrill averages three attempts a game from beyond the arc, which is unexpected from the team's tallest player and an aggressive force in the low post. Every member of the starting lineup (and a good chunk of the bench) is confident taking a wide open three and it's shown in some ridiculous three point shooting displays, most notably when Brooks scored six threes over Union from a variety of head scratching distances. Believe it or not, three-point shooting is the stat that's changed the least since last year. Shots attempted and shots made from beyond the arc show small improvement, but have stayed relatively consistent.
The difference comes in the frontcourt interior offense. Skidmore added Sanders and Perun Kovacevic '15 this season. Sanders is a lengthy wingman who, like his teammates, is comfortable from behind the arc but is perhaps most impressive when he's driving to the rim. What he lacks in height he makes up for in leap, and watching him elevate over big men is a sight to behold. Kovacevic is difficult to categorize offensively, showing grit and brute power on the post but then coasting in for layups and finger rolls not usually seen from a player of his size. Add these two new faces to the already prominent interior abilities of Merrill and Medujanin and you end up with nights like Skidmore's blowout victory over RPI, when they scored over half their points (42) inside the paint.
But what does this scoring frenzy mean if it doesn't translate to winning? It means we have one of the best offenses in the league, but far from the best defense. That sounds like an odd statement for a team ranked third in the league for defensive efficiency, but when we are talking about a four-team tournament, as is the Liberty League tournament, that's not good enough. There have been times where Skidmore's man-to-man defense has been lacking, especially against good shooting teams. Case in point, the final regular season game against RIT, when the visiting Tigers shot 50% on the night, and 66% from beyond the arc. Coach Joe Burke has attempted to hide some of his man-defense flaws in a be-deviling zone defense that places Sanders in the passing lane between the backcourt. This strategy has worked on many teams, but no system can account for a lack of hustle, getting a hand up, or chasing a shooter off his spot.
Taking these points into the playoffs, it's hard not be a little concerned. Vassar is one of the teams that has shot well against Skidmore, and they are 2-0 against the Thoroughbreds this season. The most recent game between the teams on Feb. 14 is a typical example of a Skidmore loss. The Brewers took the three-ball away on the defensive end, and went to work from midrange and three-point range on offense. If Skidmore wants to win on Wednesday they need to summon the interior ferocity they have displayed in bouts this season and only take smart three-pointers, while hounding Vassar shooters Erikson Wasyl and Johnny Mrlik. Only a balanced performance will get Skidmore back into the finals, and give it a shot at winning its third championship in four years.
Regardless of Wednesday's outcome, any talk of a transition period for this team is over. This team is performing years ahead of schedule, and nothing is impossible at this point. Underclassmen or not, the Thoroughbreds are full grown pit bulls.

Women's lacrosse downs Mount Holyoke 15-8

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Skidmore women's lacrosse team used a seven-goal second half in their first game of the season to beat Mount Holyoke College (MHC) 15-8 on Saturday at Wachenheim Field. The Thoroughbred victory avenged last year's 20-19 overtime loss to MHC. The women jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Tess Mattimore '16 and Emma Harris '16. Mount Holyoke was able to tie the game at 2-2, but Brittney Dioneda '15, Peggy Healy '15, Spencer Morgan '15 and Harris all scored a goal a piece to put the Thoroughbreds on top 6-4. But Mount Holyoke proved to be determined, and once again tied the game up at 6 apiece before Tyler Phillips '17 and Emma Olcott '17 both scored to put Skidmore up 8-6 at the half. Phillips, in her first action as a Thoroughbred, went on to score four goals and an assist. Olcott's goal, which came from in the circle and was also her first collegiate point, would prove to be the game winner. Skidmore's first half success was fueled by 13 MHC turnovers and winning the ground ball battle, picking up 14 to MHC's 8. Despite facing 18 shots on goal in the first half, Mount Holyoke's goalie, Isa Rodriguez, was able to give her team a chance going into the second half. Mount Holyoke came out looking to tie it up in the second half, scoring in the first five minutes, but the Thoroughbreds went on to score seven unanswered goals, bringing their total to 15 before Mount Holyoke was able to find the back of the net again. Freshman Krista Lamoreaux also registered her first collegiate goal, while Adele Mackey '16 and Spencer Morgan '15 each added two goals and one assist for Skidmore. Allie Sosinsky '14 registered four saves in her Skidmore lacrosse debut, while Rodriguez tallied 20 saves on 41 total Skidmore shots. The women travel to Utica College on Wed. March 5 in their last match before heading to Orlando for their spring break trip.

Olympic-sized upset in Sochi

Posted by Julia Martin

No one ever said figure skating was fair.

Thursday played host to the Women's Olympic Long Program event, where the world's greatest female skaters would go head to head for a spot on the podium. For some, like 23-year-old Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, 26-year-old Carolina Kostner of Italy and 17-year-old Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, their performance in the short program on Wednesday positioned them for a shot at the gold. For others, such as the prodigious 15-year-old Yulia Lipnitskaia of Russia and Japan's 23-year-old Mao Asada, the long program was their shot at redemption for the previous night's disappointing performances. 18-year-old Gracie Gold of the United States had the best shot of any US woman for a medal, coming in fourth after the short program.

Thursday's long program started out well; the US delivered three strong Olympic performances, and all three skaters placed within the top 10. Gold finished just short of the podium, earning 4th place at the end of the night. Kostner delivered a flawless long program, and was destined for the podium with the highest overall score with only two skaters left. Kostner became the first-ever Italian woman to win an Olympic figure skating medal.

That left only Kim and Sotnikova to skate their long programs and to decide who would be dubbed the greatest female figure skater in the world. Sotnikova was electric, fueled by, and exciting, the Russian crowd. Sotnikova certainly knew how to utilize her home-court advantage. She delivered fast spins with difficult positions, lofty jumps and un-polished but earnest artistry. The performance earned her a long program score that nearly beat Yu-Na's 2010 Olympic long program record of 150.06, and was a 20-point improvement from her score at the European Championships this season (her score increased from roughly 130 to about 150). She stepped out the final double loop in a triple-double-double combination, but otherwise skated nearly perfectly.

Kim Yu-Na, or Queen Yu-Na as she is known in the figure skating world, was next. The Korean superstar (Kim is the number one celebrity in South Korea, with dozens of endorsement deals and a squad of body guards when she leaves her home) took the ice and delivered a breathtakingly beautiful program, with only one minor mis-footing on the landing of her triple flip. While Sotnikova was energetic and forceful, Kim was silently graceful and effortless. Sotnikova completed more technically difficult elements, while Kim delivered a spell-binding- four-and-a-half-minute performance. Sotnikova would win gold over Kim by nearly six points.

Cue the controversy.

Conspiracy theories are being thrown around on the World Wide Web like hot potatoes: "One judge is the wife of the director of the Russian Figure Skating Federation! One was involved in the ice dancing judging controversy in the 1998 Nagano games! Putin did it!" A petition has even been started on Change.org to ask for a re-count.

There are two crucial things to remember when figure skating controversy strikes:
1) Judging is subjective. Ultimately, it is a human being pushing those buttons-meaning they can hear and feel the crowd's reaction and the skater's energy.
2) The new judging system, where each element is defined by a point value, makes competitive figure skating no longer about the performance, but about the math. Sotnikova managed to squeak out extra points here and there with key elements, giving her the advantage.

Whether Kim or Sotnikova deserved the win will never be one-hundred-percent certain. There's no way to accurately compare two such talented skaters like one could compare the times of two Olympic swimmers, nor is the final result the most important. The sport of figure skating is first and foremost a performance, which is why the Michelle Kwan will always be unequivocally remembered as one of the greatest figure skaters of all time despite her lack of an Olympic gold medal. Olympic figure skating is, and has always been, passionate, emotional, shocking, scandalous and possessed of a sense of magic-here's to hoping it stays that way.

Liberty League tabs Loutsenko, Botiba and Medunjanin

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Liberty League tabbed three Skidmore athletes on Monday for their performances on the court last week. Oliver Loutsenko '14 earned the men's tennis Performer of the Week, while Angela Botiba '15 and Aldin Medunjanin '16 were both respectively named to the women's and men's basketball Honor Roll.
Loutsenko led the men's tennis team to a 9-0 win over Union College on Saturday in what was their first match of the spring season. Loutsenko won in the number one singles' spot, beating T.J. Moor 6-3, 6-4. Loutsenko then paired up with Danny Knight '14 to win the number two doubles 8-1 over Spencer Fontein and Anthony Louroncio. Loutsenko and the men's tennis team will host New York University on March 1 at the Wilton YMCA.
In the three games that the Skidmore women's basketball team played last week, Botiba recorded a double-double, giving her 11 on the season. Botiba's record of 10.7 rebounds per game is second in the Liberty League, and she is fourth in blocks per game with 10.7.

Botiba also ranks second on the team in scoring with an average of 13 points per game. In last week's game against first-place St. Lawrence, Botiba put up 21 points and 15 rebounds, and followed that up with an 18 point, 16 rebound game against Vassar. Botiba ended the week with 13 rebounds and 12 points against Bard. Botiba and the Thoroughbreds will head to Union College on Feb. 21 for a Liberty League contest.
With an average of 15.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game. 2.0 steals per game and 5.3 assists per game over the course of the three Thoroughbred games last week, Medunjanin is second on the team in scoring with an average of 15.0 points per game. He is also second in the conference with 5.1 assists per game and is fifth with 1.4 steals per game. Medunjanin and the Thoroughbreds will look to cement their playoff spot when they travel to Union on Friday night.

Changing of the guard in men's Olympic figure skating

Posted by Julia Martin

A king has been dethroned.

To many viewers, competitive figure skating is only a blur of sequined spandex, made more exciting by the occasional hiring of a hit-man to sabotage the Olympic hopes and dreams of your arch-nemesis (see: Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding in 1994). But regardless of what the (genius) Will Ferrell would have you believe in Blades of Glory, competitive figure skaters undergo great mental and physical challenges to be able to compete on an international level.

The international stage of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics was host to a great shift in the world of competitive men's figure skating. Favorites such as Russia's Evgeni Plushenko and USA's Jeremy Abbott succumbed to mental errors and injuries, allowing space for the emergence of a new generation of elite male figure skaters.

Russia's figure skating royalty Evgeni Plushenko, a quadruple-jump machine, dropped out of the competition just seconds before he was due to skate his short program. Plushenko was the 2002 Olympic silver medalist, 2006 Olympic gold medalist and 2010 Olympic silver medalist-an Olympic medal record virtually unheard of in a sport that favors young, spritely teenagers rather than "aging" skaters in their mid-20's. When Plushenko dropped out due to a lower back injury, a more than decade-long era of Russian dominance ended.

Maintaining the skills to compete on elite international ice is both physically and mentally grueling.

Here's an example of a single element during a four-minute and 30 second performance. During his short program, Canada's Patrick Chan completed a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop jump combination. That means he vaulted himself in the air using only his toe-pick as leverage, completed four rotations, landed the element cleanly and balanced, and completed a triple toe loop (three full rotations) only a fraction of a second following the jump. That's seven full rotations in roughly 4 seconds.

And those four seconds are the difference between a spot on the medal podium or going home empty-handed.

Here's what happened in Sochi:

YUZURU HANYU, JAPAN: The 19 year-old Japanese prodigy brought home the gold after setting a world-record with his short program score and skating a (nearly) flawless long program.

PATRICK CHAN, CANADA: The favored Canadian pulled out a silver-medal performance, although his jump elements (including a quad-triple combination) did not match the quality of Hanyu.

JEREMY ABBOTT, USA: America's top men's figure skater, a characteristically unreliable competitor, took a nasty fall during his quad attempt in the short program, recovering and completing a satisfactory long program to land him in 12^th place overall.

JASON BROWN, USA: The 19 year-old YouTube sensation skated his Riverdance long program, successfully completing his triple axel passes (a three and a half revolution jump), and earning 9^th place. Brown's the American to watch for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

EVGENI PLUSHENKO, RUSSIA: Pulled out of the competition after clutching his lower-back during warm-ups. Russia's sole entry into the men's completion, he has since officially retired from competitive figure skating.

Men's basketball edges St. Lawrence, women lose a close one

Posted by Katie Peverada

Both the men's and women's basketball teams hit the road Tuesday night, squaring off against Liberty League foe St. Lawrence University. Despite a strong showing, the women lost a close 63-58 game. The men rallied to win 52-50, their fifth straight win.
Despite a 21 point, 15 rebound double-double from Angela Botiba '15, the Thoroughbreds were unable to unseat the top-ranked Saints. The Thoroughbreds, though, gave St. Lawrence a tough contest. The teams entered the half tied at 26-26, and despite the Saints opening the game up to 37-31 early in the second half, Skidmore fought back to tie it up at 42-42. Migle Vilunaite '17 and Ella Scheuerell '16 both hit field-goals to bring the team within two, and Botiba's work in the low post tied the game up. However, St. Lawrence responded to the Skidmore offense by scoring 11 unanswered points to make it 53-42 with 5:36 remaining. A switch to the full-court press forced the Saints into several turnovers, and Skidmore got back within three with just under a minute remaining. However, six straight missed field goal attempts did the Thoroughbreds in, and the game ended with the Saints winning 63-58.
In addition to Botiba's performance, the Thoroughbreds also received 14 points and three assists from senior Jordyn Wartts, and Amber Holgate '16 added 11 points coming off of the bench. Skidmore dropped to 9-12, 4-8 in league play, and saw their three-game win streak come to an end. The Thoroughbreds visit Vassar on Friday night for another Liberty League matchup.
The Skidmore men's team extended its win streak to five straight, rallying from six points down at the half to win 52-50. The first half left much to be desired for both teams, as they combined to shoot 17% from behind the three-point line. Going into the half, the Saints led the Thoroughbreds 25-19 and looked poised to extend the lead at the start of the second with a quick basket. But the Thoroughbreds had other intentions, and Aldin Medunjanin '16 sparked a 10-2 run and assisted Tanner Brooks' lay-up to reclaim the lead with 13:37 remaining. The assist was one of nine for Medunjanin, who also finished with 16 points. The Saints reclaimed the lead, going up 43-30 with under five minutes to go, but Erik Sanders '16 and Brian Moore '14 both hit from behind the arc to tie the game at 45-45. Medunjanin capped the Skidmore rally with a three-pointer with 15.4 seconds left to give the Thoroughbreds the 52 points they would need to win the game.
Brooks finished with nine points and six steals, which would prove vital as Skidmore scored 21 points off of turnovers. Sanders finished with 11 points and Connor Merrill '15 finished with seven.
The men will also travel to Vassar on Friday with an 8 p.m. tip-off.

NHL Super Six: Power rankings at the Olympic break

Posted by Katie Peverada

Sure, it's officially the Olympic break for the NHL and players are either lounging in Hawaii or feeling out their new line mates in Sochi. The next NHL game isn't until Feb. 25, but that doesn't mean the teams can't be ranked one last time before they go on their two-week hiatus. Let's take a look at the NHL's Super Six, which the Western Conference continues to dominate.

1. St. Louis Blues: The Blues are three points behind Anaheim in the overall standings, 87 to 84, but the Blues have three games in hand and won their last two games heading into the break. Additionally, their +61 goal differential is top in the league, and they're in the top five in several offensive and defensive categories, such as point percentage (.737) and are second in points per game with 3.32.
2. Chicago Blackhawks: Some might say Chicago doesn't deserve the second spot, losing to Phoenix 2-0 in their last game, which Patrick Kane didn't play in. But they tend to play down to their opponents, their offense continues to be strong and their league-leading 207 goals is 11 more than any other team. Most importantly, the Blackhawks just finished their worst stretch of the season, the traditional California trip, and still remain third in the standings. With a shutout win over the Ducks, they proved that they were one of the top teams.
3. Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks lost five of seven home games heading into the break and are 5-5 in their last 10. But even though they are skidding a little right now, they're still first in total points (87). The Olympic break will give them a chance to gear up for their first game back, a showdown with the Blues, and give them a chance to prove that they should be number one.
4. San Jose Sharks: San Jose, 6-4 in their last 10, entered the break on a two-game winning streak. Their offense is a bit anemic in the goal department, but it is putting up massive amounts of shots - 60 against Edmonton - that will soon find the back of the net. They should be able to make up for their seven-point deficit to Anaheim after the break.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins: That Pittsburgh is the only team from the Eastern Conference to crack the top six is maybe surprising, but that the Penguins entered the break fourth in the NHL is not. Playing with vengeful energy from being spurned from the Canadian Olympic team, Mark-Andre Fleury has posted a save-percentage above .900 in five straight games. Fleury leads the NHL with 31 wins and teammate Sidney Crosby leads the league with 78 points. The Penguins also have two games in-hand on the Ducks and Blackhawks, and are thus once again very much in the race for the President's Trophy (awarded to the team with the most points).
6. Colorado Avalanche: Colorado only have a +21 goal differential, but have somehow still managed to remain within striking distance of the Ducks with 79 points and two games in-hand. Their nine wins in the last 12 games is due in large part to their goaltending.

Skidmore basketball teams pull off double victory over Clarkson

Posted by Matt Choi

It was a feel-good night of Skidmore basketball and new tricks on Tuesday as both the men's and women's teams were victorious against the visiting Clarkson Golden Knights.
Skidmore women tipped off the evening's entertainment at 6 p.m. and entered the contest with Clarkson on a two-game-winning streak. The Thoroughbreds, who looked to be in a free fall just four games ago, came in with a few new tricks to overcome a defensively sound Clarkson.
Jordyn Wartts '14 and Molly McLaughlin '15, both with 16 points on the night, fired quick and accurate cross-court passes to get Skidmore players open looks before Clarkson could set up. The skip passing was just one new aspect of the women's game. The College showed more of a willingness to shoot from a distance and run in transition than they had in previous games.
Both Wartts and McLaughlin displayed confidence finishing around the rim, with Wartts making a few tough shots through contact. One reassuring aspect was a play by Angela Botiba '15. Botiba was heavily guarded after her double-double against RIT last week, and although her numbers were down, the grace and confidence she played with was a noticeable improvement after looking a little raw and turnover-prone at the season's start. Botiba finished with six points and six rebounds, and was involved in a key play of the game, streaking to the basket and scoring an athletic put back after Lindsay Davis '15 missed a three-pointer. The final score was 64-53.
The men took the court next at 8 p.m. The opening half was a tense affair, with good match-ups on defense canceling out both teams' offense. It was a tale of two no. 33s as Clarkson's Felix Abango '16 and Skidmore's Conner Merrill '15 traded post moves in the first half's most exciting match-up.
Abango was a handful on the boards, securing eight rebounds in the first half alone. Merrill was equally tenacious on the defensive low post, with five blocks on the night, including a highlight-reel stuff on Abango.
Both teams cooled off significantly as the half wore on, with a 28-21 Skidmore lead going into half time. The offensive spark came from the great play of second-string guard Eric Lowry '16, who had 11 points off the bench and single-handedly broke down the Clarkson offense with some key steals.
As is usual with the Skidmore men during victories, the scoring was spread out, with Perun Kovacevic '15, Lowry, Erik Sanders '16, Merrill, Tanner Brooks '16 and Aldin Medujanin '16 all scoring 10 or more points.
One area of noticeable improvement was in the interior game. Skidmore has relied heavily on three-point shooting in the past. Brooks was cold from beyond the arc for most of the game, but the six-foot guard responded by taking it inside and duking it out with the Clarkson big-men.
The game ended at a comfortable 66-45. The College showed more of a willingness to drive the ball from outside this game, with Sanders and Medunjanin completing a number of athletic layups. The team will enjoy the development of a more nuanced strategy as they head towards a four-game road trip Feb. 11 to 21, and the playoffs loom ever larger.

Skidmore athletics celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Posted by Maggie Sweeney

Skidmore College's women athletes hosted 118 girls in a clinic for National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Saturday, Feb. 1. This was the 8th annual event at Skidmore College and the 27th year for the nationwide celebration. The day consisted of a series of celebratory events provided for a group of jubilant women and girls. The abundance of positive energy in the Williamson Sports Center was highly contagious.
NGWSD began as a memorial to Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her efforts to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since then, NGWSD has become a day to acknowledge the past and to recognize current sports achievements.
It is also a way to expose the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality in women's sports. The event aims to recognize the accomplishments of individuals involved in the promotion and the advancement of girl's and women's sports.
The celebration also commemorates 41 years of Title IX, the federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions. It is not just a day to celebrate how far female athletes have come, but to educate with the hopes of fighting discrimination.
This event helps raise awareness of women's athletics on the Skidmore College campus and in the community, and it exposes girls and women to various sports-related opportunities. It encourages their participation in sports while celebrating the past achievements of female athletics. Skidmore's program offers girls from around the Saratoga Springs community in grades 3-7 the opportunity to learn this rich history.
As a member of the women's lacrosse team, this writer was able to participate in the event with her teammates at a station where we offered them the use of our equipment and taught them basic skills. We executed drills to help with their stick work, and the enthusiastic group of girls rotated around and eagerly shadowed the older female athletes.
This year, the tennis, lacrosse, softball, soccer, field hockey and volleyball teams all participated. Some of the girls were first time participants, which gave us the chance to educate them on basic techniques. The girls had the opportunity to eat lunch with Skidmore athletes and they were able to ask questions and get to know each other. They took photos with the Thoroughbred mascot and received free shirts and bags.
The Skidmore female athletes served as role models for the younger girls by encouraging athleticism and inspiring them to live an active lifestyle.
The event officially ended at 1p.m., but participants were encouraged to stay to watch the Skidmore women's swimming and diving meet. Meanwhile, the College offered several free fitness classes for women, such as yoga.
Numerous communities around the country are working to support the ongoing struggle for equal access for women in sports, and we are proud to be contributors to this cause after our successful day of commemoration.

NBA Talk: Trades that need to be made

Posted by Andrew Shi

Detroit was expected to be a middling contender in the enfeebled Eastern Conference playoff picture. However, they're currently two games behind Charlotte for the 8th and final playoff spot. The much-maligned Smith-Monroe-Drummond trio, expected to fail from the start, hasn't surprised its critics and has weighed the team down heavily. Detroit needs to blow up its big man project, but with Smith tied to a four-year, $54 million contract and Andre Drummond proving to be a future all-star, and possibly the marquee center within another few years, the odd man out is Greg Monroe. Monroe himself could be a future all-star, and while his numbers are down from last year, they'll most likely skyrocket again once he is moved to a team that allows him to slide back to center, his natural position.

Possible Trade:

Detroit: Greg Monroe, Jonas Jerebko, Luigi Datome
Washington: Trevor Ariza, Otto Porter Jr., 2016 first round pick

The Wizards have recently been rumored to be pursuing the Detroit big man. Marcin Gortat is on an expiring contract and Monroe could serve as an upgrade. In return the Pistons get the small forward with the range that they need, the Wizard's first round pick from this year, who with a couple years of seasoning could redeem having been the third pick, a future round pick and unload some unwanted salary.

Possible Trade:

Detroit: Monroe, Charlie Villenueva
Boston: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Celtics' protected 2016 first round, Clipper's 2015 first round

The Celtics finally get their big man and an expiring contract. The steep price of two first-round picks is because Detroit will be, with the additions of green and Brass, trading for financially inflexible contracts as well. However, Green will give them the outside shooting they need and Bass will be a worthy backup for Smith

Houston is fifth in the West and certainly a contender. So to say they need this trade is a bit of an overstatement, however, if they want to solidify their chances, then trading Omer Asik for a few role players and possible pick would be prudent.

Possible Trade:

Houston: Omer Asik

Boston: Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, 2015 Clipper's first round, Philadelphia's first round

The Celtics, as mentioned before, need a big man. Asik is a top defensive big man and will fit well into the Celtics' defensive-minded game. The Rockets, meanwhile, pick up two first-round picks, although the Clipper's will likely be a late-round pick, and Philadelphia's may turn into two second-round picks if they don't make the playoffs by 2015. However, Brandon Bass is a great all-around player and will play well off the bench. Anthony, while not the most talented player, brings high energy and can hold his own during those several minutes that Howard will need a break. The Rockets will also be able to unload Asik's contract before it rises in his final year and becomes harder to move.

Phoenix has been a pleasant surprise in a somewhat disappointing season with an abysmal Eastern Conference and a series of injuries. They have made it known that they are searching for players that will help them push through the tough Western Conference during their unexpected playoff run, and are willing to trade some of the pool of picks they have collected for those players.

Possible Trade:

Phoenix: Emeka Okafor, Washington and Minnesota's 2014 first round picks

Philadelphia: Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes

Phoenix, an already young team with a lot of talent, no longer wants four picks in one draft. Thaddeus Young is averaging 17.5 ppg and posting a Player Efficiency Rating of 17.74. Hawes is the best three-point shooting center in the league. The two of them will give the Suns a lethal barrage of three-pointers, or, in other words, how the Mavericks won the 2011 Championship. The 76ers get the picks they want, although they may be reluctant to trade away Young. Still two draft picks that will land late lottery (Minnesota) and right outside of the lottery (Washington) will be worth it.

McLaughlin, Brooks earn Liberty League Honor Roll

Posted by Katie Peverada

Although the men's and women's basketball teams are in different positions in the Liberty League, with the men fighting for a playoff spot and the women looking to bust the bracket, both teams are still receiving excellent team and individual efforts. Both teams placed a player on this week's Liberty League honor roll.
Junior Molly McLaughlin scored a season-high 20 points in the 73-55 Thoroughbred's Liberty League victory over RPI on Saturday. The victory was the Thoroughbred's second-straight, as the night before they upended Bard 64-49, a game in which McLaughlin netted 11 points, seven assists and four rebounds. For her efforts, McLaughlin was named to the Liberty League weekly honor roll. McLaughlin leads the Thoroughbreds in 3-point percentage (.347), assists per game (4.4), and minutes played per game (37.8). McLaughlin is second in the Liberty League in minutes played per game and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9), and her assists per game and 3-point field goals per game are both third and sixth respectively in the league.
Sophomore guard Tanner Brooks continued his clutch play for the Thoroughbreds men's basketball team three-win week, averaging 16.3 points per game on his way to a place on the Liberty League honor roll. Brooks, who is tied for third in the Liberty League in assists per game (3.6) and steals per game (1.6), led the Thoroughbreds in victories over St. Lawrence, RPI and Bard, scoring 17, 17 and 15 points respectively. In the win over St. Lawrence, Brooks scored nine of his 17 points in the final 2:15 minutes of play in a close 69-66 victory. Brooks also shot 82-percent from beyond the arc and 57-percent from the field across the three victories. Brooks currently sits fourth in the league in 3-point field goals per game (2.3), and leads the team in 3-point field goals this season with 45.

Women's basketball falls to St. Lawrence, Brooks leads men to victory

Posted by Matt Choi

Both Skidmore basketball teams took the court against St. Lawrence this past Tuesday, Jan. 28. The Skidmore women came into the game 1-6 in conference play and on the outside of the playoff race looking in. The game tipped off at 6:10p.m. after a delay caused by a shot-clock malfunction. Both teams were without the shot-clock for the duration of the game, and relied instead on the PA announcer to count down the clock from 10 seconds. Although competitive in the game's early stages, the Skidmore women were eventually outmuscled by St. Lawrence, most notably in a 13-2 Saints run to start the second half. The game had been competitive up until that point, and guard Jordyn Wartts '14 did her best to will her team back into the game with several three point plays, but the Saints early second half run would prove fatal a result of excellent 18 point performances from players McDuffee and Dalton.
If Skidmore can take some positives away from this game, it's in limiting turnovers, a full-court press that continues to cause problems for the opposition, and a resurgence in confidence from Jordyn Wartts. Skidmore is averaging 16 turnovers, two over the league average, and committed only 12 on the night. Wartts had a difficult game against Union in Skidmore's last home game, but seems to have responded well over the past three games and was a handful off the dribble on Tuesday. Backcourt partner Molly McLaughlin '15 struggled shooting the ball but pitched in 4 assists on the night. She was visibly frustrated as she fouled out as Skidmore applied full court pressure in an attempt to salvage the game late on. The equation may well change for the Skidmore women in the coming weeks, as the playoffs slip further from their grasp, and they begin to look towards developing talent and alternative ways to win.

The technical difficulties continued on into the men's game, as the scoreboard was added to the list of electronic casualties, and a small scoring role had to be placed on the scorers' table to display the point totals. The Skidmore men, also struggling as of late in the Liberty League, came in 3-4 after losing two straight games on the road. They vented some frustration in the first half with an absolutely relentless three point shooting display. Guard Tanner Brooks '16 made several threes from what looked like NBA 3-point territory, but it was his partner Aldin Medunjanin '16 who was lighting it up early with five first half three pointers. Highlight plays were spread throughout the roster in the first half, as forward Eric Sanders '16 threw down a break away dunk, and big men Connor Merrill '15 and Perun Kovacevic '15 traded blocks and post-up points inside the paint.
The second half would be an entirely different issue after a 42-28 half time score. Saint Lawrence employed a zone defense to perfection and greatly limited the three point opportunities for much of the half. Saints guard Al Jones made a three to spark a furious St. Lawrence run, cutting the lead to one in the final minutes of the game. Skidmore looked lost on interior offense at times, with several turnovers and missed layups in the post, and so it was no surprise that their salvation came in the form of Tanner Brooks' 3-point shooting. Brooks proved to be the Thoroughbred's clutch player of the night, scoring the team's final 9 points from a range that no coach accounts for in his defensive plan. Despite the Saints run, Skidmore will take solace in the fact that they were able to return to .500 in conference play, and grind out a tough victory. They will also enjoy holding Saints star Brady Condalin, averaging 18 points across all competitions, to zero points on ten attempts. Despite the good defensive work and long range shooting, the Thoroughbred men may have to work on their interior and mid-range game for when the 3-pointer isn't an option if they want to meet this seasons' lofty expectations.

NBA Talk: Sleeping on Milwaukee

Posted by Andrew Shi

It's an open secret that a bevy of teams, mostly in the Eastern Conference, are in rebuilding mode (read: tanking). The General Managers of the 76ers, Celtics and Magic have to be lauded for their savvy accumulation of draft picks and high-ceiling youth. However, there is one team that has been overwhelmingly ignored, perhaps because they were originally expected to contend for mediocrity -- a bottom seed in the playoffs--but instead sunk to last in the whole league: The Milwaukee Bucks. Little has been said in regards to their future, but in a few years time they could easily be a dominating team in the East. Here's why.

This Year's Draft:

Quite simply, the Bucks will end this season in dead last, assuring them a top three pick. In all likelihood, they'll be in the same spot again next year. Not much can be said about next year's draft yet, however; the Bucks are just about guaranteed a franchise-changing player in this year's loaded draft. Two potential all-stars in the next two years does not sound too bad.

Their Current Youth:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, better known as the Greek Freak, is named such because of his exceptional size, wingspan and athleticism. When he was drafted last year, he was deemed a long-term project. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance that augur well for his high upside. He is already considered a future all-star.

The second year player John Henson has been an absolute stud for the Bucks so far, posting a Player Efficiency Rating of 20.3. For a comparison, that puts him above Kyrie Irving, Pau Gasol and John Wall. While his shooting range may be limited and his free throw percentage objectively abysmal, he can make his baskets and crash the boards for rebounds.

Larry Sanders, who had a breakout season in 2013, may be the x-factor of the Buck's future. After signing a generous contract, Sanders fell apart and all his stats have dropped. If Sanders can regain his former shape, the Bucks will have a top-ten center with plenty more upside and room to grow. However, if Sanders continues to take advantage of his guaranteed contract, the Bucks will be facing a financial albatross that will severely hinder their ability to rebuild.

Brandon Knight also deserves a nod. While his upside and ability to lead a franchise to a championship is questionable, he is starter-worthy and is posting a PER of 15.8

The other player that should be mentioned is the rookie Nate Wolters who, during a spate of team injuries, was able to successfully prove himself a worthy floor general and will make for a productive backup.

Cap Space:

The Bucks currently enjoy the status of one of a few teams under the cap and will be clearing another $19 million at the end of the season. Much of that will evaporate with Sander's new paycheck and the rookies they sign, but with the glut of rookies they have on cheap, the Bucks can look forward to accumulating enough cap space to potentially sign an all-star free agent in this offseason or the next. To pull this off, the Bucks will have to shed the contracts of OJ Mayo, Ersan Ilyasova or Zaza Pachulia. These are all serviceable players but are currently overpaid and do not meet the current needs of the Bucks. Ideally, the Bucks could trade these players away to contending teams for draft picks or expiring contracts, though the Bucks do have quite the pile of second round picks if other teams need incentive. If the Bucks can shed these contracts, they'll have the room to sign an all-star to lead a young team overflowing with potential.

The path for the Bucks is far from guaranteed. Shedding the aforementioned contracts will be difficult, and Sander's future productivity in consideration of this currently lackluster season is highly questionable. Furthermore, Milwaukee is a small market, unwilling to splash cash like the Nets or Lakers, and has never been much of an attraction for all-stars. However, between their youth, the rookies they'll pick up at least in this draft and the potential cap space they could acquire, the Bucks could be looking at seriously contending in just a few years.

Seattle's got the Super Bowl edge

Posted by Katie Peverada

About 12 years ago I remember standing on a football field - yes, I played football - and hearing my coaches say over and over that "Defense wins championships!" For my football team, affectionately called the Purple Team, that rang true. We were able to ride the back of our 140-pound defensive lineman to victory over the White Team in the championship game. But why am I writing about a meaningless Pop Warner football game that occurred 12 years ago? Because the Super Bowl is on Sunday, and the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks, will find a way to beat the No. 1 ranked offense of the Denver Broncos.
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos are arguably the greatest single-season offense of all time. Manning broke the single-season records for touchdown passes (55) and yards (5,477), and the team scored the most points in league history (606). Yes, Denver won two playoff games against two defenses in the top-half of the NFL. Against the No. 11 ranked San Diego Chargers, they put up a respectable 24 points. The next week, they put up 26 points on the No. 10 ranked New England Patriots. But neither of these defenses compares to what Denver will face at the Meadowlands.
Denver faced one defense in the top five during the regular season, beating the No, 5 ranked Kansas City Chiefs twice. However, neither the Kansas City Chiefs, nor the Patriots or Chargers, is at the level of the Seattle Seahawks "Legion of Boom" defense.
The Seahawks only gave up 231 points during the regular season, 74 less than the Chiefs - the Broncos' toughest test - and 107 and 117 less than the Patriots and Chargers, respectively. That's 14.4 points per game, which is the most important number when looking at defensive statistics. The Seahawks also lead the NFL in interceptions (28), turnovers forced (39), and yards allowed (4,378).
At this point in his career, Manning has taken to the short passing game, something that Seattle's young, mobile linebackers will be able to break up. And of course the Legion of Boom, as Seattle's secondary is nicknamed, has the ability to cover the multi-faceted Denver receiving corps. Other teams have not had the depth to cover all of the weapons in the Denver offense, but the Seattle secondary does.
All this being said, Peyton Manning, ever-known for his meticulous studying of film, will find ways to pressure the Seattle defense and put up points. So the Seahawks won't shut out the Broncos, but they will prevent them from reaching their average numbers, giving their offense a chance to control the game.
If defense can win championships, though, can't the same be said about defense losing championships? Well, yes.
The Denver Bronco defense finished 22nd in the NFL during the regular season. The Broncos actually have one of the top rush-defenses in the league, only giving up 1,626 yards this season (interestingly enough, the same yardage Seattle gave up on the ground). Denver gave up 13 runs of more than 20 yards, but none over 40 yards.
However, Denver also gave up 15 rushing touchdowns. Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, the second-best back in the league this year, had 12 rushing scores. Lynch also has a knack for busting one or two big runs a game that somehow end in the end zone.
So if the Seahawks can get Lynch going early, not necessarily with big runs but by eating chunks of yards and clock, they will control the game and keep the ball away from Denver. Quarterback Russell Wilson, oft cited for his mobility to role out and make plays with his legs, has an underrated deep ball, which the Broncos have a propensity for giving up (61 over 20 yards, 8 over 40 yards). If Lynch can get the ball rolling early and establish the play-action pass, then Wilson will have the opportunity to expose the slightly suspect Denver secondary.
Overall, the Seahawks defense is good enough to put Seattle in a position to win the game, it will just need help from Lynch and Wilson. The weather, too, will probably favor the Seahawks and their ability to ground-and-pound. Of the six coldest playoff games in NFL history, four were won by the team with the better ground offense but lesser pass offense. Manning and the Broncos' potent air-offense will undoubtedly make it interesting, and there is no way Peyton Manning goes down without putting up a fight. But in the end it is the defense - on both sides of the ball - that will allow Seattle to win.
Seattle 27, Denver 23.