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Big Ten basketball: Who is the current MVP of the conference? Poll

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Who is the MVP of the Big Ten?

jared-sullinger2.jpgJared Sullinger

Who is the MVP of the Big Ten right now? Is it Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, who is probably the best player but does that mean he's the MVP? The Ohio State Buckeyes have lost two games in the conference.

Michigan State is the only undefeated team in the conference, and its led by Draymond Green. Indiana, No. 7 in the nation, is led by Jordan Hulls and Victor Oladipo.

So who is the MVP?







jared-sullinger3.jpgOhio State's Jared Sullinger.

Cleveland Browns A.M. Links: Browns will lose Jerome Henderson; ranking the Browns picks; no love for the Browns; how tough is it?

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Jerome Henderson, defensive back coach for the Browns, is moving on to the Dallas Cowboys.

griffin-heisman-2011-vert-ap.jpgBaylor's Robert Griffin III poses with the Heisman Trophy.

The Cleveland Browns now have another need, writes Tony Grossi on Cleveland.com.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Browns defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson will rejoin former Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and take a similar position with the Cowboys.

Henderson joined the Browns in 2009 when Eric Mangini was named head coach. He was one of five Mangini assistants retained when Pat Shurmur succeeded Mangini in 2011, writes Grossi.

In three years with Henderson as defensive backs coach, the Browns improved from 29th to 18th to second in pass defense.

 

More Cleveland Browns

Ranking the Browns draft picks through the years (The News-Herald).

No love for Browns (Dawgs by Nature).

How tough is it to screw up the fourth pick (Dawg Pound Daily)?

Could the Browns have their eyes on RG3 and or Kevin Kolb (CBS Sports)?

How good can Robert Griffin III be (USA Today)?

Browns turn back the clock (ClevelandBrowns.com).

Cleveland Browns: Today's the 25-year anniversary of The Drive

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Where were you when John Elway became a legend following The Drive?

john-elway.jpgJohn Elway led Denver to three AFC title game wins over the Browns.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday to the delight of many Cleveland Browns fans, but what has the world come to with Browns fans wanting the Denver Broncos to win a game, any game?

Just in case you forgot, today is the 25-year anniversary of The Drive. That's when John Elway led the Broncos on a 98-yard drive to defeat the Browns, in Cleveland, and advance to the Super Bowl.

It still hurts.

 

Jared Sullinger has to do more for Ohio State Buckeyes, and he will, says Doug Lesmerises (SBTV)

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Plain Dealer OSU reporter says loss to Illinois left Sullinger wanting to lead Buckeyes more, on and off the court. Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Bill Lubinger.


The college basketball season has just about reached its halfway point. Which player would you pick as the Big Ten's MVP right now? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.


Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises, who covered last night's Ohio State loss to Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Doug says that Ohio State standout Jared Sullinger is not playing at an MVP level right now, but that his injuries earlier in the season have set him back.


Doug also talks about why the Buckeyes are missing the graduated David Lighty; and why he decided to vote Alabama No. 1 in the AP college football poll after there was some debate about who would be champion before the BCS title game against LSU.

SBTV will return Thursday.




Mark Williams leaves Benedictine basketball program to enroll at Richmond Heights

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  Mark Williams, a 6-8, 240-pound junior, has withdrawn from Benedictine and enrolled at Richmond Heights.

Mark Williams, right, has left Benedictine and enrolled at Richmond Heights. - (PD file photo)

 

Mark Williams, a 6-8, 240-pound junior, has withdrawn from Benedictine and enrolled at Richmond Heights.

 

 

Williams averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds for Benedictine's basketball team last year and was an integral part of the team this year. The Bengals are 6-2 overall and ranked eighth in The Plain Dealer Top 25.

 

 

Because Williams played in games at Benedictine, he would be ineligible at any other school for the rest of this season. He would become eligible next fall if he remains at Richmond Heights.

 

 

Anthony Steffey, Williams' stepfather, said the transfer was tuition-related.

 

 

"It hurt me to pull Mark out of Benedictine, but I have to make sure we still have a roof over our heads," Steffey said. "The economy is hurting everyone."

 

 

Benedictine coach Al Wilson said he was sorry to see Williams leave.

 

 

"The family chose to leave Benedictine and that is disappointing," said Wilson, in his first season as head coach of his alma mater. "It hurts to lose him, but we wish Mark nothing but success in whatever he does and whatever he decides to do."

 

 

Richmond Heights coach Jason Priah said he was told by athletic director George Smith that Williams enrolled on Tuesday but said he is not part of the team. Richmond Heights ranked seventh in the first Division IV state-wide Associated Press poll and 12th in The Plain Dealer Top 25.

 

 

"He is not on the team, so there isn't anything I can say," said Priah, also in his first season as a head coach. "I haven't talked to anyone related to Mark. I don't know what his plans are. I can't worry about it. George told me about it as we were getting ready to leave for our game on Tuesday. I was more focused on what we needed to do in the game."

 

 

The Spartans defeated Newbury, 92-43, to raise their record to 8-1.

 

 

Tim Stried, director of information services for the OHSAA, said he was not familiar with the transfer but felt Williams would not be eligible under OHSAA bylaw 4-7-3, which prohibits students from gaining immediate eligibility at a new school after he had played in a regular-season interscholastic contest at a previous school. It is the same bylaw that prevented former Walsh Jesuit star Evan Payne from transferring from Huntington Prep School to Firestone last week.

 

 

Steffey said he was aware that his stepson might be ineligible this season.

 

 

"We were fully aware that he might not be eligible," he said. "But, we are hoping he is. It is something that we'll have to find a way to deal with as a family."

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

 

trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

 

 

On Twitter: TimRogersPD

 

 

 

Barry Larkin, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, talks about his time at Michigan with Bo Schembechler

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Barry Larkin, in this audio interview, talks about his short-lived football career at Michigan.

Barry LarkinBarry Larkin

How do you tell one of the greatest college football coaches of all time no?

Barry Larkin, who will get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July, did following his freshman year at Michigan.

Larkin was on a football scholarship at Michigan when he enrolled in 1982. But the baseball bug bit Larkin hard following his first year, and he made the decision to give up football and tell Bo Schembechler that his college football career was over before it got started.

Listen to my audio interview with Larkin in 2009 using the player to the right or download the mp3 here.

 

 

Golfers flock to Fairview Park's Big Met to enjoy mild January weather

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Big Met -- at one time the most played golf course in Ohio -- attracted low handicap golfers and duffers alike Wednesday. The biggest draw was the mild weather -- another day of temperatures in the 40s with partly sunny skies.

Reaching for the ball.jpgScott Buchanan extends his ball retriever Wednesday to snare his ball off a frozen pond Wednesday at Big Met Golf Course in Fairview Park. His playing partners urged Buchanan to "play the ball where it lies" but the ice wasn't thick enough to hold him.
FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- As Scott Buchanan hit his tee shot on the par 4 sixth hole Wednesday at Big Met Golf Course, he pulled his ball into a large pond.

The 51-year-old Middleburg Heights resident figured he had lost his ball . . . except this is golf in January. His yellow ball skidded across a thin layer of ice to the far edge of the pond, within reach of his ball retriever.

Before he scooped up the ball, Buchanan and his playing partners -- who had howled with laughter at his tee shot -- took pictures.

"I've hit plenty of golf balls into water before," Buchanan said. "This was the first one that didn't sink. This alone was worth sneaking off work to play."

Buchananwas one of more than 100 golfers to play Big Met on Wednesday despite course officials not allowing golfers to play until after 11 a.m. because of frozen greens.

"Why golf today? I haven't golfed in January before," the real estate salesman said. "It was a great way to take advantage of this great weather. I'm starting the new year off right."

Buchanan wasn't alone. Big Met Golf professional Mike Raby said 140 golfers played the course on Tuesday, and a monthly high of 150 played Saturday.

The course -- at one time the most played course in Ohio -- attracted low handicap golfers and duffers alike Wednesday. The draw, however, was the mild weather...another day of temperatures in the 40s with partly sunny skies, which grew overcast by 2 p.m. A light mist rolled in by 4 p.m.

golfers.jpgView full sizeBen Barnes, 35, of Fairview Park watches his drive Wednesday on the second hole at Big Met Golf Course.

"These are the kind of days in January that you have to take advantage of," said Gil Bachna, 43, of Westlake. "This is unseasonably good weather. I'm not a good golfer, I'm a hacker just trying to get better."

His friend and playing partner, Ben Barnes, 43, of Fairview Park, he said he wanted to play because of the weather.

"I looked at the radar this morning and saw big patches of rain to our south," Barnes said, "so I got out here as soon as I possibly could for 18 holes. Who knows if we can play like this again this month?"

A trio of low-handicap friends -- Rod Bock, 59, of Avon Lake, John Brewer, 54, of North Olmsted and Todd Vetrovsky, 58, of Fairview Park -- came out to Big Met because it was impossible to golf there in January the past two years.

"It's a bonus to be out here today," Brewer said. "In fact, we plan to celebrate this round today by going bowling tonight."

Last year, 2.7 inches of snow fell on Jan. 11, while a year earlier, 2.5 inches of snow fell. But temperatures favorable to golfing aren't unheard of for this time of year. It was 51 degrees on Jan. 11, 2008 and on this date in 2006, it was 52 degrees.

Despite the warmer than normal temperatures, Raby said groundskeepers have not had to cut the grass.

"I've played in tournaments when the weather was like this," Raby wryly said, "but not for fun."

Robert Griffin III, Baylor QB, announces he will enter NFL draft: POLL - Should Cleveland Browns draft him with 4th overall pick?

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Griffin will skip his senior season. Most experts consider him the second-best quarterback available in the draft, after Stanford's Andrew Luck.

robert-griffin-III.jpgQuarterback Robert Griffin III will likely be among the first few players picked in April's NFL draft.

WACO, Texas -- Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is headed to the NFL.


Griffin made it official Wednesday, announcing that he would skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft after a record-breaking college career. The announcement comes a month and a day after the dual-threat quarterback became the first Baylor player to win college football's highest individual honor.


"It was a tough decision, I love the people at this university, love my coach for giving me a chance to be a quarterback," Griffin said.


Stanford's Andrew Luck, the Heisman runner-up, and Griffin are likely to be the first two quarterbacks selected next April.


The Cleveland Browns could be among the teams that will be interested in drafting Griffin.


The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot wrote that the Browns -- after the Atlanta Falcons' playoff game loss -- now know they own the fourth and 22nd overall picks in the draft.


Browns president Mike Holmgren said at a press conference last Thursday, as reported by Cabot, that the Browns have not committed to incumbent Colt McCoy as their quarterback of the future.


The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi, in his Browns blog , stated his opinion on whether the Browns might use their first pick, the fourth overall, to draft Griffin III. Last week, The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto wrote his thoughts on whether the Browns would take Griffin III if they get a chance.


Griffin arrived at Baylor along with coach Art Briles before the 2008 season. Briles was at Griffin's side Wednesday, both still basking in a season that ended with the Bears ranked No. 13 -- the first time since 1986 that they were in the final poll of the year.


"I talked to coach, neither of us broke down, surprisingly,' said Griffin, though Briles broke in to add: "Not on the outside."


Small wonder. Losing a talent like Griffin would be a blow for any coach.


Griffin set or tied 54 school records while playing 41 games at Baylor over the past four seasons. The fourth-year junior has another season of eligibility remaining at Baylor because he got a medical redshirt after he tore the ACL in his right knee in the third game of the 2009 season.


The Bears tied a school record with 10 wins this season, including a six-game winning streak to end the year. They finished with a record-setting 67-56 victory over Washington in the Alamo Bowl, their first bowl victory since 1992.


Griffin is Baylor's career passing leader. He completed 800 of 1,192 passes (67 percent) for 10,366 yards with 78 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. His 2,254 yards and 33 TDs rushing are records for a Bears quarterback.


He completed 291 of 402 passes (72 percent) for 4,293 yards and 37 TDs with only six interceptions this season, when he also ran for 699 yards and 10 more touchdowns. He was the nation's second-most efficient passer with a 189.48 rating, just behind Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, whose 191.78 rating came with 93 fewer pass attempts.


Griffin arrived at Waco as a 17-year-old freshman in January 2008 after graduating from high school a semester early. He completed an undergraduate degree in political science in December 2010 and has been working on master's degree in communications.





Division I college commitment

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 SOLON, O. - Solon football coach Jim McQuaide has confirmed that his outstanding senior two-way lineman Nate Hoff has given the Naval Academy his oral commitment.    "Nate visited the Academy, liked what he saw and made his commitment on Tuesday,'' said McQuaide.  

 SOLON, O. - Solon football coach Jim McQuaide has confirmed that his outstanding senior two-way lineman Nate Hoff has given the Naval Academy his oral commitment.
 

 "Nate visited the Academy, liked what he saw and made his commitment on Tuesday,'' said McQuaide.
 

 Hoff is a 6-1, 295-pound four-year starter who accounted for 34 tackles, including 24 for loss, last season as a defensive tackle. Hoff blocked at an 84 percent efficiency as an offensive guard with 77 pancakes.

Perhaps Romeo Crennel has found an NFL team to match his own character: Bill Livingston

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Former Browns coach Romeo Crennel is now the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. May all his players remain shod.

crennel-pioli-horiz-2012-ap.jpgView full sizeWith another veteran of the New England Patriots running shotgun -- Kansas City GM Scott Pioli (right) -- perhaps Romeo Crennel will receive a better fate than what he experienced with the Browns, says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Romeo Crennel's Kansas City Chiefs gave the Green Bay Packers their only defeat this season with Kyle Orton at quarterback. Which seems impressive only if you don't remember that Crennel won 10 games with the Browns with Derek Anderson at quarterback in 2007.

That was the highlight of Crennel's four seasons here. Maybe the Packers game will be the same for him in Kansas City, where he is now the head coach. But I hope not.

Crennel had a 2-1 record as the interim coach with the Chiefs after replacing Todd Haley. Even with the brief lift in passion a coaching change usually creates, interim coaches typically make no mark because their players see them as lame ducks. Instead, Crennel's Chiefs also took Oakland to overtime before losing and went to Denver, when the Tim Tebow vibe was at its most insistent, when the Broncos had to have the game, and turned Tebow's passing game into a study in frustration.

Orton was making his return to Denver, where the front office had told him he wasn't good enough. Although the Broncos eventually backed into the playoffs when the Raiders lost their last game, Orton's validation against Denver might also have been Crennel's. The three games were enough to get Crennel a second chance as an NFL head coach.

The criticism here was that Crennel, now 65, was in it for the big paycheck before it was too late and that he lacked the energy to handle a young team with such individualists as Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow.

It was true to some extent, with a disciplinarian in Eric Mangini following Crennel as head coach. But Crennel also held a high level of expectation for inherent professionalism. He made his mark as a defensive coordinator for Bill Belichick in New England, where Super Bowls were won with teams whose veterans policed the locker room.

Crennel was a very decent man, who began his news briefing by asking reporters how they were doing each morning. But he was so out of touch that he could only chuckle in exasperation and say something along the lines of "Those wacky kids do the darndest things" when something preposterous happened. The top example was when "Shoeless" Braylon missed a great deal of preseason preparation by running sprints bare-footed and inadvertently getting spiked by Donte Stallworth.

It's tough to see how anyone could coach such entitlement hogs as the inconsistent Edwards or the disruptive Winslow. In fact, both were eventually sent packing after Crennel got his own walking papers. The Browns now have only a converted running back, Greg Little, who can put deep pressure on a secondary.

What stuck with observers was Crennel's character. He grew up as an Army brat, moving from base to base with his family. Flat feet denied him a chance to become an officer and made his career football instead. The background of doing his duty prepared him well for Phil Savage, the absentee general manager, whose scouting trips and general avoidance of questioners left an accountability void that Crennel filled with his amiable honesty.

There was no earthly reason, other than Savage's reluctance to do so, for Crennel to have answered questions about the general manager's feud with Winslow or his spat with a taunting fan to whom Savage had sent a profane email. Crennel did it without complaint. He knew he was the face of the franchise, a fact Belichick never grasped during his training-wheels turn as Browns head coach.

Crennel deserved better than doing disagreeable tasks here to cover his boss's butt, and now perhaps the better days have dawned. With Scott Pioli, another product of the "Patriot Way" running the Chiefs franchise, Crennel might have a wider base of professionalism among his players than here.

Crennel said he learned from his mistakes as Browns coach.

Many of us who covered him hope, at the very least, that no Chiefs player decides to run barefoot in the park.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Watch and talk Browns on 'PD Sports Insider' live Thursday at noon

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Watch "PD Sports Insider" Thursday at noon featuring PD beat writers and columnists. Join hosts Bud Shaw and Dennis Manoloff and special guest Tony Grossi live as they talk Browns and take your chat room questions and comments live starting at noon.

PD Sports Insider Logo Big

"PD Sports Insider," will air live Thursday. Co-hosted by Bud Shaw and Dennis Manoloff, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also Skype in or email their video questions during the week.

Fans who miss the live show can watch the archive, available a few hours later.

On this week's show, Tony Grossi will be the guest to discuss his 2011 Browns player rankings as well as tackle your questions about the draft and other possible offseason moves.

Once again, watch "PD Sports Insider" live Thursday at noon.

Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

Local TV ratings climb as interest in rookies grow in Cleveland: Cavaliers Insider

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The Cavaliers rank fifth among NBA teams in ratings within their markets, trailing only San Antonio, Miami, Chicago and Oklahoma City.

andy-2012-intro-horiz-gc.jpgView full sizeAttendance may have dropped at The Q, but Cavaliers fans are still eager to watch their team on local television.

PHOENIX -- While Cavaliers' attendance at The Q is down early in the season, television viewership suggests a renewed interest in the club.

The curiosity surrounding rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson likely is spiking ratings of Cavaliers' games on Fox Sports Ohio. Through the club's first eight games, 89,000 households in the Cleveland market are watching on average, said network spokesperson Kate Buddenhagen. That's good for a 5.84 rating. Last season, the FSO telecasts attracted an average of 60,000 households.

The Cavaliers rank fifth among NBA teams in ratings within their markets, trailing only San Antonio (8.27), Miami (7.59), Chicago (6.80) and Oklahoma City (5.88).

"The Cavaliers continue to be a leader in the NBA when it comes to television ratings, and that is a testament to the strong and passionate Cavaliers fan base in Cleveland," wrote Henry Ford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, FOX Sports Ohio in an email. "With this young, talented team, the Cavs are showing a lot of promise and are exciting to watch."

The Cavaliers consistently were among the league's ratings leaders during the LeBron James era, with some seasons averaging 130,000 households in the Cleveland market. Winning is a big factor as you can imagine. Fans also tuned in early last season, but viewership declined as the club faltered.

Erden 'OK' in true debut: Backup center Semih Erden had a rude welcome back into significant minutes Tuesday night in Utah. He managed just two points and one rebound in 16 minutes and had to deal with a physical Utah Jazz front line, particularly Al Jefferson.

Byron Scott said Erden was "OK" versus the Jazz, but he will reserve judgment until after the Turk plays a few more games. Erden missed the first seven games and all of the preseason with a broken thumb. The minutes he earned left Samardo Samuels on the bench for the entire game.

Well is drying? Ramon Sessions showed another facet to his game in the season's opening week, shooting and hitting 3-point attempts. He was 5-of-13 in the first four games after going 3-of-15 all of last season. In the past five games, however, he's taken just four shots from behind the arc, converting one.

"I just haven't been in the spots to shoot those threes," he said. "Different games bring different things. They really haven't been there to shoot them, but if they come, I will shoot them."

Hill appreciation: Irving will play his first game Thursday against Phoenix small forward and Duke product Grant Hill. Irving was five days old in 1992 when Hill threw the out-of-bounds pass to Christian Laettner, who converted a last-second shot to stun Kentucky and unofficially launch the Duke dynasty.

Irving, who played at Duke last season, said he and Hill spoke once a month during the lockout and the 16-year veteran advised him not to get discouraged and to keep training.

"If it wasn't for that nagging ankle injury, he would have been hands down one of the best small forwards to ever play the game," Irving said of Hill.

Frustrated introspection isn't unusual for Ohio State basketball: Doug Lesmerises analysis

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Ohio State's basketball team is questioning its effort and leadership, which has happened before. It could just be a speed bump. Or a roadblock. Watch video

sullinger-paul-osu-2012-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeThe sting of letting a game slip through their fingers (with the help of Illinois' Brandon Paul, right) fueled post-game comments by Jared Sullinger (left) and point guard Aaron Craft Tuesday night in Champaign, Ill.

COLUMBUS -- "One problem we have is that we just sit back and wait for somebody else to do something," said the Ohio State point guard.

"Me and coach talked and we don't know what we can do to get guys ready to go night in and night out. I mean, we had some guys ready to go and some guys weren't," said the Ohio State point guard.

"You never know what team is going to show up," said the Ohio State point guard. "Some games we play hard and some games we don't. And every time we don't the other team makes us pay for it."

Is this one Buckeye repeating himself? No, it's proof that the midseason bump Ohio State hit Tuesday night with a 79-74 loss at Illinois isn't new. History proves that the Buckeyes could go either way from here. In one previous year, one of those comments preceded a run to the Final Four. In another year, one of the comments preceded a collapse that left the Buckeyes out of the NCAA Tournament.

The first quote was from Mike Conley Jr. in February of 2007, the second was from Jamar Butler in February of 2008 and the third was from Aaron Craft on Tuesday night. All three times, the Buckeyes were talented and frustrated, the first time days after a near-loss at Penn State, the second immediately after a loss at Iowa and the third after a loss at Illinois.

Both Craft and Jared Sullinger, the only two Buckeyes brought out to speak with reporters after blowing an 11-point second half lead to the Illini, questioned the effort and togetherness of the team. The words could have been directed at scorers William Buford and Deshaun Thomas, at any of the five freshmen the Buckeyes are waiting to get consistent contributions from, or at themselves.

"We need more guys to put their foot down and say enough is enough. We have to come together as a basketball team," Sullinger said. "We've got to like each other on the basketball court."

Coach Thad Matta had been saying similar things, though less pointedly, for a few weeks, expressing the need for the Buckeyes to practice and play with the requisite intensity. This postgame session left little doubt that the prohibitive Big Ten favorites and national title contenders, at 15-3 and 3-2 in the Big Ten, don't like where they are 18 games into the regular season, with 13 regular-season games remaining before tournament time.

"[Opponents] exploit our weaknesses, especially when we don't want to play hard and play together," Craft said. "One of the big things we need to do is find a way to play together. It's a blessing and a privilege to come out and play basketball, and if we're taking it for granted and just expecting things to happen, it's going to be a long season."

It's easy to attempt to read between the lines of the comments, but also potentially unfair. However, it's obvious that the Buckeyes are missing the seniors from a year ago -- David Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale -- and have felt the effects of an awkward roster makeup.

The only senior, Buford, isn't a natural leader and the only junior, Evan Ravenel, is a transfer and a reserve. The rest of the roster is six sophomores -- four of whom start -- and five freshmen -- several of whom are going to be needed as bench depth.

A year ago, Sullinger and Craft were revelations are freshmen, dedicated and skilled and savvy and ready to jump into college ball without hesitation. But with Lighty and others around, they didn't need to lead. Now with 12 of the 13 scholarship players on the roster in their first or second seasons, someone needs to take charge, and the others must be ready to follow.

"We have to come together," Sullinger said. "We've got too many things going on, I think, inside everybody's head. If we just listen to one voice ..."

Sullinger thinks his voice needs to be louder, and Matta has talked with him about that.

"I have to take my leadership and my effort to a whole 'nother level, and I guess this is the starting point," he said.

So what will this be? A speed bump or a roadblock?

In 2007, Conley and his fellow freshmen were figuring out their roles, but the Buckeyes found a way to pull together. Plus, Conley and Greg Oden were good enough to be top five picks in the ensuing NBA draft, and senior Ron Lewis made big shots when needed. That was a bump, Conley's comment coming 10 games into what turned out to be a 22-game winning streak that ended only in the national title game with the Buckeyes at 35-4.

In 2008, Butler was a senior and the older Buckeyes didn't mesh with the freshmen class led by Kosta Koufos, and the Buckeyes played under their talent level until it was too late. That was a block, Butler's comment coming when the Buckeyes where 15-7 and 6-3 in the Big Ten. They went 4-5 the rest of the conference season, lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and wound up winning the NIT, coming together only when it was too late.

This, for now, seems more like the former than the latter.

This doesn't smell like a schism, more like confusion. Remember, the Buckeyes do have wins over Duke and Florida and are still ranked No. 5, though they may drop out of the top 10 now. There's time to fix this, to go harder in practice and play smarter in games. If they do that, the past shows what good can come of this.

If they don't, the past also shows how it can go wrong.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving becoming a larger part of the offense

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With each game it seems Irving is doing more and more for the offensively-challenged Cavaliers.



PHOENIX -- Midway through the third quarter of Tuesday's game in Salt Lake City, Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving came speeding and spinning into the key, rotating his body like a funnel cloud as he descended upon Utah's Al Jefferson.

The mammoth Jazz center appeared to have the lane closed, but Irving stutter-stepped and whirled. He launched himself across the key, ending up on the left side of the rim before spinning the ball off the glass with his right hand. As Irving crashed to the floor, the ball dropped softly through the hoop to the "oohs" and "ahhs" of fans inside Energy Solutions Arena.

Jefferson never laid his bear-sized paws on Irving except to smack him on the butt as if to say, 'Well done, kid.'

"I could hear it in the crowd -- that was pretty good," Byron Scott said of the rookie's highlight-reel bucket in the Cavaliers' 113-105 loss. "He has to do a little bit more than that [before I praise his moves], even though that was pretty good."

With each game it seems Irving is doing more and more for the offensively-challenged Cavaliers. The 19-year-old is not only being asked to run the offense, but make major contributions to it. The No.1 overall draft pick leads all rookies in scoring (15.6 points) and is first among Cavs in assists (5.1).

Irving is at once a table setter and a finisher. Is having a point guard score so much good, bad or simply the reality of where the Cavaliers (4-5) find themselves?

"I think right now we still need him to score," Scott said of the club's second-leading scorer behind power forward Antawn Jamison (16.7 points). "Antawn is doing a heckuva job scoring for us, and after that on a consistent basis it's basically Kyrie.

"That's the one thing right now with a young point guard -- trying to balance it out. Trying to tell him to be aggressive and shoot the ball, but also trying to tell him to lead the team and find guys."

Scott played with Magic Johnson, the floor general who masterfully collected his points after making sure all his Los Angeles Lakers' teammates got their touches. Irving is no Magic. He also isn't 6-foot-8, 215 pounds.

Irving (6-3, 191) has demonstrated a fearlessness, however, in getting to the basket and not letting a few bumps or blocked shots deter him. Utah's Gordon Hayward swatted away one shot Tuesday which led to a Jazz transition basket. Moments later, Irving was attacking the lane again.

The increased frequency of his drives raised several questions Wednesday after practice, including one that offered an unvarnished glimpse of his confidence. Irving, a freshman at Duke a season ago, was asked if he knew he possessed the "burst" to get past pro players.

"I don't think I'd be in the NBA if I didn't have the burst to beat guys," he said. "I think everybody in the NBA feels they have confidence to get by anybody ... I left college because I had the attitude that I could be successful at this level."

While Scott often references Chris Paul when discussing Irving, he said his former protege doesn't have the vertical leap of his current one. The coach said the spin that Irving applies to the ball as he contorts his way through the lane is reminiscent of the finger-rolling George "The Iceman" Gervin.

Irving said his father, Dred, taught him how to become proficient using both hands by demonstrating the old George Mikan drills.

The Cavaliers guard is shooting 44 percent from the field and averaging 13 attempts per game -- second on the Cavs after Jamison. Irving said he's comfortable taking 15 to 17 shots a game, but that his total is adjusted for how his teammates perform and what defenses give him.

"Everybody on our team is capable of having a big scoring night," said Irving, one of the few who can create his own shot.

He isn't a shoot-first kind of guard, Scott said.

"No, he's still looking for guys, so I have no concern about that at all," he said. "[With] Kyrie, he wants to win and he wants to be a true point guard. ... He'd rather get 10 shots and have 12 assists instead of 15 shots and six assists."

In a season of development, though, Irving might have more highlight-reel drives than victories.

Harney's buzzer-beating layup lifts Akron over Bowling Green

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Akron didn't lead until the final shot as the Falcons scored 17 points off 14 turnovers.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Nick Harney made a layup with one second left to lift Akron over Bowling Green, 56-55, on Wednesday night.

The Zips (10-6, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) fell behind, 55-54, after Cameron Black's layup with 12 seconds to go. Black, who was fouled on the play, missed the ensuing free throw.

Akron didn't lead until the final shot as the Falcons (7-8, 1-1) scored 17 points off 14 turnovers.

Akron-Bowling Green boxscore

The Zips shot just 37.5 percent in the first half, and trailed 26-20 at the break. They then went 12 of 24 from the field in the second half, winning their sixth straight in the series. It was the first time in the past three games Akron has turned the ball over more than eight times.

Harney finished with 12 points and Nikola Cvetinovic added 11 for the Zips.

Bowling Green was led by Black and Dee Brown with 10 points each.


In the NFL's quick-fix highway, the Cleveland Browns stay in the slow lane: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

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Two remarkable trends in NFL parity remained intact in 2011 and underscore why Browns fans aren't buying the slow crawl of progress in Berea, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

broncos-fans-tebow-2012-horiz-ap.jpgView full sizeTim Tebow and the Broncos accomplished a worst-to-first turnaround in 2011. That's far from an unexpected development in the NFL -- except when it comes to the Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- C'mon in, the door's always open...not you, Cleveland...

Spin has hired out-of-work historians to research whether the NFL existed before Tim Tebow. Early findings suggest it did, but that God didn't watch.

In fact, two statistical trends have been uncovered in the extensive fact-checking -- one dating to the beginning of the Dark Ages in Cleveland football (1996) -- that relate directly to the popularity the league enjoys in all games played today, not just those divinely orchestrated on behalf of the Denver quarterback.

In 2011, for the 16th consecutive season, at least five teams made the playoffs after failing to qualify the season before. Thanks to The Nap and other odd turns of events, the number was six this season: Denver, Houston, San Francisco, the New York Giants, Cincinnati and Detroit.

In fact, there's been "just" five new teams in the playoffs only twice since 2003. That year there were eight. While the Browns have proved amazingly resistant to change, they did contribute to that NFL trend once in 2002 when they advanced to the postseason along with Atlanta, Indianapolis, the Giants and Tennessee.

The Browns were clearly the misfits of that Omega Theta Pi pledge class. Counting the 2002 season to date, the Colts, Giants, Falcons and Titans have combined for 26 winning seasons, 24 playoff appearances, 18 postseason wins and two Super Bowl titles.

holcomb-04-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeWho knew that the immortal Kelly Holcomb would be the last Browns QB to throw a playoff pass?

The Browns' line: 2, 1, 0, 0.

When Mike Holmgren came to town there was a palpable sense of relief based on the belief that with his expertise in the West Coast Offense, some, if not all, things were possible. The 9-23 record in two seasons may not strike him as a fair indicator of stunted progress. But when every postseason brings a crowd of different faces into the TV rooms of Browns fans, any suggestion that the process by its nature must be a long pull isn't going to go over too well.

The other trend that remained intact in 2011 might not help Holmgren's case any time soon either. Since the NFL expanded to eight divisions, one team has finished last in its division one year then finished first the next. Every year. The Chiefs and Saints have done it twice.

Denver kept the streak alive this year, though it's believed a Little Sisters of the Poor team quarterbacked by Gordon Gee could've secured the AFC West in 2011.

The Browns obviously don't want to be Tampa Bay, 10-6 one year and 4-12 the next. But then again, 5-11 one year and 4-12 the next isn't doing much for anybody either.

The NFL is almost a bullet-proof model. A much smaller number of games (than baseball, basketball and hockey) keeps the interest of each fan base late into seasons. With teams taking turns riding the playoff carousel, and with the flex schedule prime time games offering hot teams exposure -- not to mention the increase in exciting offense -- even small-market teams arrive in the postseason with a national following.

The Broncos-Steelers game might've knocked it out of the park ratings-wise, but even Cincinnati-Houston did well enough.

Everything about the NFL is designed for the Browns to show serious progress one of these years. It's hardly unreasonable to demand it sooner than later, whatever the organizational timetable.

SPINOFFS

Is there a better feel-good story in sports than Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa becoming eligible for the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot, other than every story you can think of? ...

Reggie McKenzie took over the football operation in Oakland and immediately fired first-year head coach Hue Jackson, saying, "I want to bring my guy in ... let him have a chance to put his system in place and put his mission statement together for that locker room."

If only Mike Holmgren had been as decisive when he took over and kept Eric Mangini, who was no more his kind of guy than Mitt Romney is Newt Gingrich's...

Alabama head coach Nick Saban showed his team George Lucas' inspirational movie "Red Tails," the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, before the Crimson Tide dominated LSU, 21-0, in the BCS title game.

LSU coach Les Miles now regrets his decision to show a double feature of "The Longest Yard" and "Dead Man Walking"...

I don't know what it says that Tim Tebow, who wore the John 3:16 bible verse on his eyeblack at Florida, threw for 316 yards (an average of 31.6) against Pittsburgh. But I think when he went 6-for-22 for 60 yards against Kansas City, it said he was trying to catch the Browns' eye...

Remember when not getting Scott Pioli as Browns' GM seemed like a loss? In Kansas City he's already fired his first coach (Todd Haley) and now hired Browns retread Romeo Crennel. In case you're keeping tabs, that still makes George Kokinis an unmitigated disaster, it just doesn't say much for Pioli. Don't get me wrong, I like Crennel a lot -- as a defensive coordinator...

In the space of a week, Crennel got another head coaching job and his former offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski, has shown up on the radar for head coaching jobs in Jacksonville and St. Louis. Crennel and Chudzinski produced the most exciting season of Browns football post-expansion -- even if that's the biggest left-handed compliment this side of "AFC West Division Champion Denver Broncos"...

HE SAID IT

"It's going to be a shame the President isn't going to get a chance to meet me. I'm the President of my house." -- Former Cavaliers guard Delonte West, on not going to the White House with his NBA champion Dallas Mavericks teammates.

nick-gilbert-mug-ap.jpgView full sizeA smile and a positive attitude earned him plenty of Ohio fans.

No worries. To make up for missing West, the President watched "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" later that night.

HE TWEETED IT

"My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk." -- Floyd Mayweather Jr., calling out Manny Pacquiao to fight him on May 5 after a judge agreed to postpone Mayweather's jail sentence until June.

In case you lost track, Mayweather Jr. is going to jail for domestic violence. But Pacquiao is the punk.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Nick Gilbert and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney -- Rich

YOU SAID IT

carney-mug-ap.jpgView full sizeAn earnest appearance doesn't protect this face from the full-court press.

(The Expanded Mid-Week Edition)

"Hey Bud:

"I noticed Arian Foster had the Texans' logo shaved on his head. Ever thought of having Brownie the Elf shaved into yours?" -- Laszlo

No, I opted to shave in a receding hairline.

"Bud:

"When you complete a particularly spellbinding version of your Spin column, do you kneel down on one knee and proclaim 'Thank you, Lord!'?" -- Dale, Medina

I'll let you know.

"Bud:

"Are the zombie moves for the TV hit 'The Walking Dead' based on Pat Shurmur's offense?" -- Michael Sarro

Only in that it also takes zombies three years to get up to speed.

"Hey Bud:

"Honestly, don't you think it's more likely that the readers of the PD will ask to see your Pulitzer Prize for Journalism before anyone of us will ask the Big Show for Browns playoff tickets?" -- Russ

According to the latest Bodog.com odds, best to worst, it's more likely PD readers would ask:

1) Holmgren for playoff tickets.

2) Rob Schneider to see his Academy Award for Deuce Bigalow.

3) me to see my Pulitzer.

"Bud:

"Regarding the NFL Draft order, why do the words: 'The Browns are at fourth and twenty-two' seem to just roll off the tongue?" -- Pat

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"Does the early playoff exits of the Bengals and Steelers somehow tarnish the Browns' 4-12 record?" -- Jim, Shaker Heights

Repeat winners are one-and-done as T-shirts go.

"Bud:

"If getting down on one knee to pray is 'Tebowing,' is lying flat on your back while the whole stadium prays called 'McCoying'?" -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners sometimes get multiple emails printed on the same day.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Kent State storms from behind to nip Miami, 71-67

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The Golden Flashes' 13-2 run over the final 5:45 was fueled by some timely board work from Randal Holt.

ksu-holt-mug.jpgView full sizeRandal Holt scored 16 points and nabbed some important rebounds down the stretch Wednesday night for the Golden Flashes.

OXFORD, Ohio -- Kent State's Randal Holt showed up in an unexpected place, but just where the Golden Flashes needed him to pull out a 71-67 victory over the Miami RedHawks Wednesday night before 3,281 in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.

The Golden Flashes' 13-2 run over the final 5:45 was fueled by some timely board work from Holt. The 6-1 junior product of Glenville High grabbed three of his five boards down the stretch. Kent finished with a 33-29 rebounding edge, but only due to a 10-2 run over the final 7:27 to salvage a game KSU trailed in much of the way.

"We had to rebound," Holt said. "Justin Greene's job is not to rebound at the 3-point line, that's the job of the guards."

Holt's boards often led to points.

"Down the stretch, when we needed to make plays on the defensive end, and come up with rebounds, we got all of them," Kent coach Rob Senderoff said.

The victory lifted Kent to 11-4, 1-1, tied with five teams for second in the MAC East division behind Akron, which has won a pair on the road.

Holt finished with 16 points, including two game-clinching free throws with 8.3 seconds left. That supported the 23 points delivered by Greene in his first 20-point effort of the season. Kent controlled Miami's Julian Mavunga, the conference's leading scorer and rebounder, who finished with 14 points and six boards. Former North Ridgeville center Drew McGhee stepped up with a career-high of 16 points for the RedHawks (4-10, 0-2).

Other than Holt, it was a sub-par evening for Kent's backcourt. Carlton Guyton finished with 10 points and five turnovers, while Michael Porrini was 0-for-9 shooting, although he had nine rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots.

Trailing by five, Porrini blocked Miami's Will Sullivan driving layup attempt, controlled the ball and headed downcourt. He spotted 6-11 Justin Manns for an alley-oop that cut Miami's lead to 57-54.

Miami built the advantage back to 65-58, only to have Kent rally to a 67-all tie. Guyton, who was 3-of-5 on 3-pointers, pump-faked behind the arc and found Greene for a layup for a 69-67 lead with 23 seconds to play.

Miami called time out for the last shot, but Kent's Patrick Jackson defended Mavunga so well that a forced pass bounced out of bounds. Holt was fouled on the in-bounds, and sealted the win at the line.

Sporting News mock draft projects Browns taking Robert Griffin III

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Sporting News writer Russ Lande projects the first round and says RG3 would be a good fit with the Browns. Story includes video interview with Lande.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Robert Griffin III has decided to forgo his senior season at Baylor. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner won't need to wait long to hear his name called in next spring's NFL Draft, not when a team selecting early is in need of a franchise QB. (*Denotes underclassman)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford. There is little doubt the Colts will select Luck to be their future quarterback now that executives Bill and Chris Polian are no longer with the team. Sources said that when the Polians were still around, the Colts were looking closely at other quarterbacks with idea of trading the No. 1 pick.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil*, OT, Southern Cal. Sam Bradford had a disappointing 2011 season. A big reason was the poor play of St. Louis' offensive line. Tackles Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith did not play well. Kalil should be able to take over at left tackle as a rookie and shore up the pass protection.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon*, WR, Oklahoma State. QB Christian Ponder needs more weapons, and as Blackmon showed against Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, he has the tools to be a dynamic, playmaking receiver immediately.

rg3-1-11.jpgRobert Griffin III has a rare combination of athleticism, arm strength, deep passing ability and character, Russ Lande writes.

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III*, QB, Baylor. Yes, the Browns have a ton of needs, but if they don't address their quarterback issues, they will continue to lose. Griffin can be the solution; he has a rare combination of athleticism, arm strength, deep passing ability and character.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Riley Reiff*, OT, Iowa. The Bucs have drafted a number of defensive linemen in recent years, but now their offensive line needs help, especially at tackle. Reiff may not be a finished product, but he is athletic, smart and highly competitive, and he should be able to start at left tackle as a rookie.

6. Washington Redskins: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. Washington wants a quarterback, but with Griffin gone they'll take the playmaker they feel their offense needs. Floyd has great size (6-3, 230 pounds) and excellent hands.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick*, CB, Alabama. The Jags' best cornerback, Rashean Mathis, had a bad 2011 and is over 30, so expect GM Gene Smith to grab the 6-3 Kirkpatrick to help shore up the secondary.

8. (Tie) Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. Despite rumors that Tannehill suffered a foot injury, the Dolphins are desperate enough for a quarterback that they'll gamble and grab Tannehill here.

8. (Tie) Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne*, CB, LSU. The Panthers' defense was terrible in 2011. Claiborne, with his big-play ability, would provide an immediate upgrade at corner. (Note: The eighth pick will be decided by a coin flip at a later date.)

10. Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Martin*, OT, Stanford. Proof that stats lie: The Bills allowed 29 sacks in 2011, tied for third-fewest in the NFL, but sources in Buffalo say the team's tackles "are a major concern." Martin is an elite athlete with the talent to be a top tackle. He would be an immediate upgrade on the left side.

11. (Tie) Kansas City Chiefs: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Kansas City has only one established pass rusher, Tamba Hali. Coples is similar at this stage to Kamerion Wimbley, who played for new Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel in Cleveland.

11. (Tie) Seattle Seahawks: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina. K.J. Wright was solid as a rookie this season, but he's not an elite linebacker. Brown is an explosive player who can contribute as both a linebacker and pass rusher.(Note: The 11th pick will be decided by a coin flip at a later date.)

13. Arizona Cardinals: Devon Still, DT, Penn State. Arizona needs to add talent to its D-line, especially with its best lineman, Calais Campbell, about to become a free agent. Still has the long arms, strength and athleticism to be an ideal fit at end in the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David Decastro*, G, Stanford. Dallas' interior O-linemen struggled with injuries and consistency in 2011. Decastro would bring excellent pulling and trapping ability, as well as a nasty demeanor.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor. Philly wants to bring back DeSean Jackson but negotiations figure to be contentious and a deal might not get done, so look for the Birds to grab the most explosive receiver in the draft.

16. New York Jets: Trent Richardson*, RB, Alabama. Shonn Greene has not developed into the player New York hoped he would be. Richardson is a rare talent who should greatly help Mark Sanchez in 2012.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland Raiders): Mark Barron, S, Alabama. Reggie Nelson and Chris Crocker are not top-level safeties. Barron possesses the physical presence, smarts and leadership that Cincinnati's secondary needs.

18. San Diego Chargers: Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall. The Chargers need an outside linebacker opposite Shaun Phillips who can also make an impact. Curry fits that role.

19. Chicago Bears: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State. Help on the O-line is needed after Bears QB Jay Cutler took a pounding in 2011. Sanders has the strength and versatility to start at tackle or guard right away.

20. Tennessee Titans: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. Dennard is tough, instinctive and smart. He'd fit the Titans' scheme well, and he should be able to contribute as a rookie.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Nick Perry*, DE, Southern Cal. The Bengals have some talented young ends, but none have established themselves as elite. Perry is a surprisingly polished pass rusher who should upgrade that area of the Bengals' defense as a rookie.

22. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta Falcons): Alshon Jeffery*, WR, South Carolina. After getting their quarterback of the future with their first pick, the Browns can take the 6-4, 230-pound Jeffery here. They couldpair him with Greg Little and give Griffin two big receiving targets.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz*, C, Wisconsin. Current center Dominic Raiola is getting older. Konz could start at guard before taking over for Raiola in a few seasons.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe*, NT, Memphis. Casey Hampton, who is nearing the end of a good career, suffered an ACL injury in the Steelers' playoff loss to Denver. The 350-pound Poe has the strength and athleticism to be the Steelers' next long-term solution at the position.

25. Denver Broncos: David Wilson*, RB, Virginia Tech. It is clear Denver is sticking with QB Tim Tebow long term; now it needs a young back to team with him. Wilson has rare explosiveness to go with great change-of-direction ability and excellent instincts.

26. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly*, MLB, Boston College. Ever since cutting Antonio Pierce, the Giants have been looking for a strong, physical middle linebacker who can also be productive in pass coverage. Kuechly has the tools to play the inside run, chase down outside runs and play off the ball in pass coverage, making him a good fit for the Giants' scheme.

27. Houston Texans: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina. Houston's passing attack naturally struggled after Andre Johnson was injured. Jones would seem to be an ideal fit to play opposite Johnson, given his height (6-4), speed and ability to make tough catches seem routine.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Kelechi Osemele, OT/G, Iowa State. Osemele has the athleticism, strength and competitiveness to fit in at guard in the Ravens' blocking scheme. He also could be tried as a right tackle if the Ravens ever move Michael Oher back to left tackle.

29. New England Patriots (From New Orleans Saints): Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia. The Patriots have struggled to pressure the quarterback in recent seasons, and their top pass rusher now is free-agent-to-be Andre Carter. Irvin is just 235 pounds, but he has rare explosiveness and speed and can make an impact off the edge.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona. Michael Crabtree improved a lot in 2011, but the Ninners still need more production from their receivers. Criner is vastly underrated; we believe he could start immediately and be a playmaker in San Francisco's offense.

31. New England Patriots: Lamar Miller*, RB, Miami (Fla.). The Patriots have been productive using a running back by committee in recent seasons, but Miller is a thickly built and explosive back who reminds us of former Patriots' first-round pick Lawrence Maroney.

32. Green Bay Packers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State. The line must improve if the Packers' defense is to return to the level it reached in 2010. Cox played defensive tackle in college, but would be an explosive, playmaking end in the Packers' 3-4 scheme.

Russ Lande, a former NFL scout, is a draft analyst for Sporting News.

Cleveland Cavaliers A.M. Links: Grant Hill and Kyrie Irving; Irving becoming a larger part of the offense; shoot and score

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Two former Duke players will face each other tonight in Phoenix.

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Raptors, 104-96Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving passes behind him while being guarded by Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson.

Columnist Paola Boivin of azcentral.com writes about two former Duke players in Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns.

Two players representing different generations of Duke basketball meet at US Airways Center on Thursday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers and No. 1 overall pick Irving meet the Suns and Hill, a 16-year NBA veteran and the second-oldest player in the league.

 It is a clash of players with high regard for one another.

Hill was someone Irving could have a conversation with, especially when Irving went down with a toe injury. The pair spoke frequently, writes Boivin, although Hill also had conversations with Irving's father, Drederick, a former professional basketball player.

"It's weird," Hill said smiling. "I got to know his dad pretty well. I feel like I'm almost closer in age to his father."

He is. Hill is 39, Drederick 44. Kyree is 19.

  
 

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Kyrie Irving becoming a larger part of the offense (Cleveland.com).

Cavs counting on Irving to shoot and score (Ohio.com).

Trading Andy would be great tricky (WFNY).

 

Not ready to start over at quarterback again - Browns Comment of the Day

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"I'm not ready to start over again at the QB position. With Barkley and Jones staying in school, this will ultimately allow us to not draft a QB this year and give Colt one more chance to play well with weapons at his disposal. I feel that if Barkley would have came out, he would have been our pick." - jflow21

Colt McCoyView full sizeColt McCoy.
In response to the story Sporting News mock draft projects Browns taking Robert Griffin III, cleveland.com reader jflow21 isn't ready to start over at quarterback again. This reader writes,

"I'm not ready to start over again at the QB position. With Barkley and Jones staying in school, this will ultimately allow us to not draft a QB this year and give Colt one more chance to play well with weapons at his disposal. I feel that if Barkley would have came out, he would have been our pick."

To respond to jflow21's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.
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