Month: March 2023

Is Gonzaga’s Championship Window Closed for the Foreseeable Future?

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By: OOSSports

3/26/23

Is Gonzaga’s Championship Window Closed for the Foreseeable Future?

Gonzaga has been the best program in college hoops over the previous seven seasons, with its record being a remarkable 223–24 since the start of the 2016–17 season. Yet once again, the Bulldogs have lost out on the ultimate reward in the NCAA tournament, as they were stomped Saturday by 28 points against UConn to finish the career of standout big man Drew Timme and leave the program still without a national championship. The Huskies, victorious by double digits in their prior three NCAA tournament games, dominated Gonzaga Saturday, leading by as many as 33 and only trailing for less than a minute of the 40-minute encounter.

The Bulldogs were competitive early on, but they were unable to survive the early second-half blitz that has been UConn’s identity throughout this tournament. In the first five minutes of the second half of their last four games, the Huskies have outscored their opponents by 37 points. On Saturday, they increased a seven-point halftime lead to a 19-point halftime lead. Timme’s fourth foul, a controversial whistle on a rebound with 17:39 remaining and the Huskies trying to pull away, was the key moment of that run. With Timme sidelined, the game soon faded away, along with another opportunity for the Zags to finally capture their first NCAA Men’s Basketball Title in program history.

Timme’s illustrious career ended with little over two minutes on the clock, as Few substituted him out for the last time. The relationship between the coach and his star frequently resembled a complex, yet special one that led to A LOT of winning.  Several teammates have  jokingly called Timme the team’s “Union Rep” for the past two years, making fun of Timme’s attempts to reduce practice or loosen up on exercises, but this is an improvement over his rookie nickname, which was simply just, “Dumbass”. Timme embraced each player and staff member as he made his way down the bench. Once the buzzer sounded, Timme gathered his fellow teammates for some final goodbyes, before dispatching them down the tunnel. What did Timme say?

“[I] just told them we had a hell of a year. I was proud of them. I loved them. Wouldn’t want to do this journey with anyone else,”

Timme’s absence of a national championship should not diminish his status as one of March’s greatest players. His 10 NCAA tournament games with 20 or more points represent the most ever, including Thursday’s heroic 36-point explosion against UCLA. He accomplished this despite the absence of the NCAA tournament during his first year due to Covid. Timme shattered the record books in Spokane and nationally in the standard four years and is not utilizing his fifth. In an era where records are broken due to players using their additional year of eligibility, Timme rewrote the record books in Spokane and nationally in the traditional four years.

“I think he’s one of the greatest college players in this modern era,” Few said. “It was a hell of a good time walking out on the practice floor with him every time or hopping on a jet. And I’m sure going to have a lot of good times moving forward… It was a hell of a good time walking out on the practice floor with him every time or hopping on a jet. And I’m sure going to have a lot of good times moving forward.”

Timme also leaves behind a reputation as one of the greatest personalities college hoops has seen in a long time, as seen by his much-publicized mustache and consistently hilarious quips. College basketball needs players like Timme: identifiable figures that remain for four years, have a measurable influence on their program, and have a personality that fans may either love or despise. Even without a title, Gonzaga, famed for letting its players be stars, and Timme were a perfect match.

“The place took me for who I was. They didn’t ask me to be anybody but myself,” Timme told the media. “I’m forever in debt for Gonzaga, just the love I have for just everyone that helped me and made this journey so special and so fun. I just don’t think I could ever repay that.”

The conclusion of Timme’s career raises the question: Has Gonzaga’s chance at winning the national championship shut for the foreseeable future?The talent disparity was clear in this game, as it has been in other contests against top teams this season as well. While the Zags will probably make a transfer portal splash or two, its roster next year doesn’t appear exceptional on paper. With former top recruiter Tommy Lloyd now the head coach at Arizona and NIL’s influence on recruiting only growing, it is unlikely the Bulldogs will produce another Chet Holmgren or Jalen Suggs. It also may never have another Timme, the program’s all-time leading scorer and a clutch NCAA tournament player.

This is not to argue that Gonzaga will not produce consistently strong teams; as long as Few coaches in Spokane, the Bulldogs will continue to be a consistent force. He ranks among the sport’s top coaches as Gonzaga has been one of the nation’s best at player development, and the brand is strong enough at this time to continue luring in more talent. Even so, the highly prized national championship? If it didn’t happen after reaching the championship game in 2017 or ’21, in ’22 with Holmgren, Timme, and an excellent point guard in Andrew Nembhard, and with a senior Timme in a blown-out bracket, will it ever happen?

This era should not be viewed as a failure. Certainly, Gonzaga fell short of its ultimate objective of bringing a championship to Spokane’s small school. This is the cruelty of this one-and-done competition: According to KenPom’s criteria, Gonzaga had the best or second-best team in the country for five of the last seven years and ended in the top 10 in each of those seven seasons, yet the Zags did not win a national championship during that span. Occasionally, they were the victims of bad luck, like in the 2017 championship game versus North Carolina. Sometimes they were just outclassed, like as against Baylor in ’21 and UConn on Saturday.

Gonzaga has achieved all but winning the championship. sFollowing several years as serious contenders with no breakout, it is hard to imagine that the championship will ever won any time soon.  On Saturday, the door may have shut not just on Timme’s career, but also on a phenomenal run of success that will long be tied with failure by many.

Dillion Brooks Automatically Suspended for Latest Tech

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By: OutOfSightSports

3/21/23

Dillion Brooks Automatically Suspended for Latest Tech

Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks faces another one-game penalty after picking up his 18th technical foul of the season during the team’s 112-108 comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Brooks ended the game with nine points, four rebounds, and five assists.

Brooks drove to the hoop in the midst of the third quarter and threw down a tough lefty jam over Maxi Kleber. He was understandably proud of himself for the play, but he celebrated a little too enthusiastically in front of the Mavericks’ bench, earning him a fast technical.

As expected, this wasn’t Brooks’ first venture into extracurricular activity this evening. He had a heated exchange with Kyrie Irving, who was not thrilled, early on in the game, telling Brooks, “Keep playing that dumb— defense,” Irving responded with 28 points but shot just 10-of-24 from the field as the Mavericks lost a 16-point second-half advantage, and the Grizz had the last laugh.

Brooks collected his 16th technical foul of the season earlier this month, which is the regular season maximum for players and coaches. When someone reaches that threshold, they are automatically suspended for one game; for every two further technicals they receive throughout the season, they are then punished for another game. Brooks was the first to accomplish that milestone, but he was eventually followed by his primary nemesis, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.

Ironic he says this, as he actually said he wanted to be Green in college,

Brooks’ technical foul drama is just the latest in a string of on-court events this season that have entrenched his contentious character. He was banned for a game in February after landing a low punch on Cleveland Cavaliers standout Donovan Mitchell. He was just fined $35,000 for throwing a camera operator to the ground during the team’s loss to the Miami Heat earlier this month as well. Brooks does not seem to be doing his team, or his pockets, any favors.

Potential 12 vs 5 Seed Upset: March Madness 2023

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3/15/23

By: OutOfSightSports

Potential 12 vs 5 Seed Upset: March Madness 2023

You can feel them approaching. Every year, there are upsets. They’re indeed the reason this event is called March Madness.

It’s impossible to predict which ones will materialize. As any fan knows , it can be challenging at time to predict a winner, especially in a win-or-go-home scenario. Nevertheless, some are more likely to happen than others.

To begin, this marks a comeback to the Big Dance for the Rams, who were forced to withdraw from the 2021 tournament after to several positive COVID tests. VCU is also accustomed to tournament success, having advanced from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011.

Most importantly, the Rams are a tough match for Saint Mary’s. VCU, which is led by Adrian “Ace” Baldwin and Jalen DeLoach, is the type of high-tempo, high-pressure group that may force the slower paced, cautious Gaels out of their comfort zone.

Saint Mary’s is worthy of its top seed, as it was a year ago, but this draw means difficulties if the Gaels can’t match the Rams’ athleticism and are obligated to play outside of their comfort zone. This will be one of the best watches and matchups of the tournament.

Thank you for checking out our article, and best of luck to all of my self-proclaimed bracketologists! Make sure to check us out on social media @OOSSports for the most most “OutOfSight” highlights, plays, stories, memes, updates & more in the sports world!

LA Rams Release Leonard Floyd and Seven Others

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By: OutOfSightSports

3/10/23

Leonard Floyd, the Rams’ outside linebacker, has been released. 

Floyd and seven others were cut by LA on Friday, according to statements released by the organization.

TE Roger Carter, DB T.J. Carter, WR J.J. Koski, TE Jared Pinkney,WR Jaquarii Roberson, WR Jerreth Sterns, and DE Brayden Thomas were cut as well.

Floyd, 30, was in Los Angeles for three seasons. In 50 games, he recorded 29 sacks, logged 59 quarterback hits, and 184 tackles. In each of those three seasons, he produced at least nine sacks, including a career-high 10.5 in his debut season with the Rams in 2020.

He started all 17 games in 2022 and had a team-high nine sacks and 59 total tackles. Floyd recorded 9.5 sacks, 70 total tackles, and an interception in 17 games for the Rams in 2021, en route to winning Super Bowl LVI.

Whether or not the Rams are using Floyd’s post-June 1 designation remains a mystery. If they don’t, they will incur a $19 million cap hit in dead money while only saving $3 million on the cap.

For the Rams, a dead cap charge of $6.5 million in 2023 would be offset by a $15.5 million savings in cap space if the designation were made after June 1.

Stephen A. Smith to Tee Morant: ‘You’re Not One of His Boys, You’re His Dad’

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By: OutOfSightSports

3/8/23

Stephen A. Smith to Tee Morant: ‘You’re Not One of His Boys, You’re His Dad’

Ja Morant has reached a bit of a crossroads due to a near-impressively lengthy string of deplorable actions. He can assess the situation and determine that he would rather be the face of the NBA than throw it away. However, we could revisit this after a couple of years and ponder what could have been. Let’s hope that is not the case.

Now, Morant is not with the Memphis Grizzlies and there is no schedule for his return.

This sort of material might be a challenge for sports debate programs thought, as we saw Skip Bayless, of all people, bring up the Crips.  Stephen A. Smith took a different approach, equating Morant’s predicament to Allen Iverson’s early years.

Then he offered Ja’s father, Tee Morant, some parenting advice:

“Now in the case of pops, only thing, I’m not throwing any shade on somebody’s parent or anything like that,” Smith said. “I’m simply trying to highlight and illuminate to Tee Morant the importance of him being a dad. You raised him. You helped get him to this point. Make sure that you don’t let anybody get in the way of what he is on the verge of accomplishing. Make sure you do your part to protect him instead of joining in to have a good time like you one of his boys. You’re not one of his boys. You’re his dad.”

The world is at Ja Morant’s fingertips, and he must choose between doing the right thing or jeopardizing what looks to be like a hall-of-fame career when its all said and done.

Nike Issues a Statement Concerning Grizzlies Star Ja Morant

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By: OutOfSightSports

3/7/22

Nike Issues a Statement Concerning Grizzlies Star Ja Morant

After the Grizzlies’ game against the Denver Nuggets Friday night, Grizzlies superstar guard Ja Morant posted an Instagram live video of himself at what seemed to be a strip club early on Saturday morning.

Ja Morant above

During this video, Morant was seen brandishing a firearm at the camera, sparking the league to investigate him and the Grizzlies to also act quickly.

Nike issued a statement regarding Ja Morant’s present situation following the Memphis Grizzlies’ news that he’ll be missing the team’s next two games minimum,

“We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being,”

according to reports from highly respected NBA Insider, Shams Charania.

Now, it does not appear that Morant will be dropped from Nike’s roster, but this incident with him carrying a pistol in the club might pose unforeseen situations between the two parties in the future.

Morant also made a statement via his agency, Tandem Sports & Entertainment, on Saturday. It stated,

The incident that got Morant in trouble ^

Ja Morant stated in his statement that he will “take some time apart” following his two-game “suspension” from the organization. It remains to be uncertain when Morant will return to the hardwood. If these last couple of days didn’t wake up Morant, this situation has the potential to turn real ugly.

The Grizzlies are suddenly extremely short-handed after Brandon Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon on Friday night and Dillon Brooks received his 16th technical foul of the season, which culminates in a one-game suspension from the NBA.

As of today, the Grizzlies sit only half a game above Sacramento for the #2 seed in the West with a record of 38-25.

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Grizzlies Vet Preached Discipline Before Morant Incident

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By: OOSSports

3/7/23

Grizzlies Vet Preached Discipline Before Morant Incident

Following the Saturday morning Instagram Live that appeared to show Grizzlies player Ja Morant brandishing a pistol in a nightclub, the NBA and Colorado police have opened investigations into the matter, and the organization has confirmed that the 23-year-old will miss time.

Ja Morant is expected to miss significant time with a knee injury - Home - A to Z Sports

Since, sources report that Memphis sought to right the ship ahead of Morant’s most latest issue. This included a players-only meeting, in which highly respected veteran Steven Adams spoke out.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania stated yesterday in a video the following information on the situation:

“I’m told there was a players-only meeting recently,” Charania said. “Steven Adams, their veteran center, he spoke out about how the team needs to show better discipline on the road and how they need to avoid going out on the road.”

Steven Adams Tried to Warn Ja Morant in Players Only Meeting About His Actions on The Road But Ja Didn't Listen – BlackSportsOnline

Shams also reported that everyone in the room understood that the remark was intended for Morant, who has been a teammate of Adams’ since the Grizzlies acquired him from the Pelicans in August 2021. Adams is not just some grizzled veteran either, Lebron James, Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo have all suggested he’s possibly the strongest player in the NBA right now.

Charania noted that Memphis is an astounding 26–5 at home, but a sour 12–20 on the road this season. With that being said, if they want a chance of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy soon, they are going to have to start taking care of business on the road.

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KD speaks on Relationship with Kyrie after the Suns and Mavericks Trades

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Kevin Durant Discusses Kyrie Irving, Trade Request | Complex

By: OutOfSightSports

3/1/23

KD speaks on Relationship with Kyrie after the Suns and Mavericks Trades

When Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed with the Nets in June 2019, the two players had high hopes of winning several NBA titles together with their new team.

When you factor in that Brooklyn was able to get James Harden for the 2020-21 season, the team’s chances of winning the NBA title were genuine, albeit not necessarily obvious. Instead, the three only played 17 games together as a unit due to a combination of on-court and off-court difficulties. Just 74 games were played by Durant, Irving, and the Nets while they were all on the same team.

Now that Irving is settling in with the Mavericks organization and Kevin Durant is waiting to make his debut with the Suns, the two-time defending NBA champion has stated that he is not upset by Irving’s choice to ask the Nets to move him.

Durant stated on the podcast The ETCs with Kevin Durant that he and Irving are “separate entities” and that they must do what is best for their respective professions. But, Durant, who is 34 years old, wished they had completed the current NBA season together.

“We all move and do the things that we wanna do for our careers,” Durant said. “I can’t fault somebody for doing that even though it might have been at our expense as a team. … I don’t wanna act like I wasn’t upset that we didn’t finish the season, because I love playing with [Irving]. I wanted to see where we can go with that because we were both playing at a high level.

“What [Irving] was doing behind the scenes, what his contract negotiations was, I don’t want to even think about none of that stuff. Whatever he is doing, that’s him. … We haven’t had a conversation, but eventually we will.”

Durant is scheduled to make his Suns debut against Charlotte later tonight, according to the franchise. The 13-time All-Star has not played since suffering an MCL sprain against the Heat on January 8.

This season, Durant has averaged 29.7 points per game in 39 appearances.