Caption: Bills fans sign a poster in support of Demar Hamlin’s recovery.
By Ryan Harless
Ryan Harless is a third-year undergraduate at BGSU from Hillsboro, Ohio. He is majoring in Sport Management with a Journalism Minor. Baseball and golf at all levels are his primary interests but he is also interested in combat sports, hockey, basketball, and football.
January 17, 2023
Over recent years, we have watched the National Football League come under scrutiny due to their responses to severe injuries that happen to players. Just this season alone we have seen frightening injuries on live TV. We know football is a potentially dangerous sport for participants and that players are risking their lives when they step on the field. But no one was prepared for what we saw when the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals faced off in the next-to-last regular season game.
On January 2nd of this year, Bills’ safety Demar Hamlin tackled Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin got up after the tackle, then stiffened and fell backwards. This caused widespread panic not only to the viewers at home and in the stadium but also to the players on the field. Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon immediately started waving for medical personnel after Hamlin collapsed while many of the other players looked on in horror and shock. CPR was performed on Hamlin while he was still on the field which led many to fear the worst.
Hamlin was unresponsive as he was carted off the field and transported to a hospital in Cincinnati. Looking at the hit, we realized that this was not the same sort of injury we are accustomed to seeing as there was no major impact to Hamlin’s head. Rather, the injury was to his heart as he suffered cardiac arrest on the field. At the time, we were unaware of what precisely his injury was.
After many uncomfortable minutes for fans in the stadium and fans watching at home, it was announced that the game would be suspended. Coaches for both teams agreed that the game should not resume. The NFL agreed with the coaches and suspended the game around 10 p.m.
This decision proved to be divisive among sports writers and fans alike. Some agreed with the decision of the league to not continue play as no one (outside of medical personnel) was aware of the severity of Hamlin’s injury. Some, such as Skip Bayless, tweeted a question of how the NFL would be able to postpone such an important game with post-season implications.
Of course, Bayless was hit with a wave of negativebacklash to the extent that his “Skip & Shannon” co-host protested by not showing up for their show the next day. After a day of Skip hosting by himself, Shannon was back on the show and they discussed the Tweet in question.
The silver lining of the Hamlin situation is that he has since been released from a hospital in Buffalo following his transfer from UC Medical Center and was reportedly up and cheering on his team from the former hospital. He was even on a phone call with his team before their game the following week. Hamlin’s playing days are still a point of uncertainly, however.
This instance goes to show that neither the NFL nor fans know what the proper response to injuries should be. The NFL seems to do everything they can to have games move forward. But I think there are times where situations arise that are infinitely bigger than the game. There have been many strides in the past few years towards making the game safer. Things like advanced helmets made to help reduce impact on shots to the head, and just knowing more about concussions as a whole. But it seems clear to me that the NFL is not going to be the one to step in and make a change. I just worry that if things do not improve soon, there might be an even more severe on field injury that changes the current course of action for dealing with injuries.
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sport Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he volunteers in the strategic communications department at BGSU at various sporting events and he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.
January 14th, 2023
Playoff Overview
As a result of the Damar Hamlin situation that occurred on January 2nd, the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals have each played one fewer game than the rest of the teams in the playoffs. Because of this, the NFL decided that if the Bills and Chiefs make the AFC Championship game, the game will be held at the neutral site of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. Even with this scheduling change, the complete playoff field seeding is set with 6 games that are rematches of previous games in the regular season. Below are my predictions for each of the games being played this weekend. Next week, I will be posting a playoff prediction for the divisional round as well as responding to my predictions from this week and breaking down why I might have gotten certain predictions right or wrong.
1 seeds, Kansas City Chiefs(AFC)and Philadelphia Eagles (NFC) both have byes in the wild card playoff round
2. San Francisco 49’ers (13-4) VS. 7. Seattle Seahawks (9-8) (Saturday, January 14th, 4:30)
Breakdown: The opening playoff game features two teams that have taken very different routes to get to the playoffs. The 49’ers started the season 3-4, while the Seahawks started 6-3. The 49’ers have since lost starting quarterback Trey Lance to a season-ending injury and Jimmy Garoppolo to an injury that appears to have cost him the season. They have landed on third-string option Brock Purdy and he has performed exceptionally well, going 6-0 as the primary quarterback for the Niners this year. In total, the Niners have won 10 straight games to end their season and are currently the hottest team in the NFL.
The Seahawks on the other hand have gone just 3-5 since the last time they were leading the West and have barely sneaked into the playoffs because of an overtime victory against the injury-riddled Rams and help from the Lions who beat Green Bay in week 18. Despite Geno Smith’s success story and revenge tour this year, I think the firepower of McCaffery, Kittle, Samuel, Aiyuk, and the number 1 ranked defense in the NFL, will be too much for Smith and Metcalf to handle on their own.
Prediction: 49’ers: (34) Seahawks: (14)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) VS. 5. LA Chargers (10-7) (Saturday, January 14th, 8:15)
Breakdown: This AFC matchup features two young quarterbacks on the rise in the NFL in Jacksonville’s second-year man, Trevor Lawrence, and LA’s Justin Herbert. The Jaguars are coming off back-to-back seasons of having the worst record in the entire NFL. Because of this, they have added two number one picks to their roster in the last two drafts in Lawrence and linebacker Trayvon Walker. Despite this young talent, their season looked rough early on, going 4-8 in their first 12 games. However, one of these 4 wins was a 38-10 blowout against the Chargers. After this stretch, a 5-game winning streak was fueled by their improving defense and the ability of skill players Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne to make significant plays down the stretch of games. This streak coupled with an absolute collapse by the Tennessee Titans made the Jags only the 4th team in the Super Bowl era to go from having the worst record in the league to winning their division the following season. The Jaguars have been so bad in recent years, clinical psychologist Dr. Justin D’Arienzo said in the beginning of the season fans began seeking therapy for their severe disappointment in their team.
I am predicting that Jaguars fans will not have to go back to this disappointment for at least another week as I think they will beat the Chargers at home. Despite Justin Herbert having a career year this season, the Chargers have had an absurd number of injuries this season effecting star players like wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen as well as defensive end Joey Bosa and left tackle Rashawn Slater. While Allen and Bosa are back, Williams’ absence severely effects the passing game and Slater’s absence has consequently caused increasing pressure on Herbert when he is in the pocket. While the Jags’ offense isn’t as potent as others in the playoffs, the biggest reason I think the Chargers will lose is that their run defense has been awful this season ranking 28th in rushing yards allowed. This will allow Etienne and Lawrence to establish a run game and make their passing attack even more effective as the Chargers will be focused on stopping the run.
Prediction: Jaguars (24)Chargers(17)
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3) VS. 7. Miami Dolphins (9-8) (Sunday, January 15th, 1:00)
Breakdown: Like the NFC 2 VS 7 matchup, this is a divisional rivalry game that has happened twice before. Unlike the Seahawks-49’ers where the Niners have blown out the Seahawks twice, both Buffalo-Miami games have been extremely close with the Bills losing the first matchup by 2 and winning the more recent matchup by 3. After Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on a tackle of Bengals’ receiver Tee Higgins in week 16, the Bills’ organization has seen enormous support from other teams in the NFL to help them get through that tragic experience. The game was cancelled, and the Bills slipped to the 2 seed. It looks as if the Bills have been motivated to play for Damar the rest of the season and this motivation showed with Nyhiem Hines getting a 96 yard kickoff return to start off week 18 vs the Patriots. This motivation combined with the Bills’ solid defense and Josh Allen should be more than enough to beat the Dolphins.
3. Minnesota Vikings (13-4) VS. 6. New York Giants (9-7-1) (Sunday, January 15th, 4:30)
Breakdown: The Minnesota Vikings have been very impressive in their ability to win one-score games this season as they are 11-1 in such contests. Their offense is statistically comparable to the Cowboys, Eagles, and 49ers in the NFC with star receiver Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins having one of the best seasons in their careers. However, what is not at all impressive is their defense. The Vikings definitely have the worst defense out of all playoff teams as they rank 20th in rushing yards allowed, 24th in rushing touchdowns allowed, 31st in passing yards allowed, and dead last in number of 1st downs allowed. This has led to the Vikings either winning close shootout games or getting destroyed. For example: they lost 40-3 against the Cowboys, 41-17 against the Packers, and needed the largest comeback in NFL history to beat the Colts who didn’t even have star running back Jonathon Taylor.
The Giants on the other hand, despite only ranking 27th in passing yards and 25th in passing touchdowns, rank 4th in the NFL in total rushing yards 4th in the NFL in total rushing touchdowns. Saquon Barkley and this rushing attack should feast on the Vikings’ defense in what will likely be a high scoring game because of the Vikings’ pass attack. While each team has their own strengths and weaknesses, I am predicting that the Giants win this game, ironically within one score in a slight upset because of how favorable Barkley will be against the Vikings’ rush defense.
Prediction: Vikings(34) Giants (37)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) VS. 6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7) (Sunday, January 15th, 8:15)
Breakdown: The third and final divisional rivalry of the wild card round features the Ravens and Bengals. These teams have split the season series causing the Bengals to have the slight edge in the AFC North. Despite the 0-2 start, the Bengals have proven that last season was not a fluke by any measure. Joe Burrow has somehow managed to improve from his career year last year while JaMarr Chase has continued to be an excellent number 1 receiver. Tee Higgins has also improved this season and has given the Bengals a good second option to Chase. The Bengals are 4-2 against playoff teams this season including a narrow win against the number one seeded Chiefs.
The Ravens on the other hand have had an interesting season to say the least as they have led the AFC North for the majority of the year but are 2-5 against playoff teams this season and have had issues on their offensive line. The Ravens still have one of the best defenses in the AFC but their issue is with Lamar Jackson. It now seems highly doubtful Jackson will play as his knee is still unstable leaving it up to Tyler Huntley who is also dealing with an injury himself. Even if Huntley can play I think there is only a slim chance the Ravens’ defense can lead them to a win. However, if it is third string Anthony Brown making his first career start, I see no shot that the Ravens beat the Bengals and their potent Burrow-led offense.
Prediction: Bengals (28) Ravens (13)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) VS. 5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5) (Monday, January 16th, 8:15)
Breakdown:Monday Night Football will feature a marquee-matchup of Tom Brady VS. America’s team. This is also a matchup of week 1 where the Buccaneers trounced the Cowboys 19-3. If you are looking at this matchup and thinking that I have misprinted the Buccaneers’ record, you are incorrect. The Buccaneers have made the playoffs with an 8-9 record as they have won the dreadful NFC South by one game over the Panthers, Saints, and Falcons who all finished 7-10. The Cowboys for one night were avid Carolina Panthers fans as all they needed was for the Panthers to win but they blew the game in the last quarter giving up 3 touchdowns via Brady-Mike Evans. Because of this, Brady is back in the playoffs at age 45. Despite Brady’s up-and-down season, his leadership has taken a team decimated by injury and poor secondary play to the playoffs by winning just enough crucial games down the stretch. Fournette and White can make up a great running back duo if they are consistent and if Brady-Evans can be as dominant a connection as they were against Carolina, anyone would be scared to play the Bucs.
However, these are big “ifs” and the Buccaneers this season have proven to be one of the most unreliable and inconsistent teams despite their high talent level. Because of this, I think the Dallas Cowboys will pull this game out in what I believe to be the closest game this weekend. I know it isn’t usually wise to pick against Tom Brady, but Dallas’ top tier offense could shred Tampa Bay’s underperforming secondary. Lamb, Gallup, Noah Brown, and even veteran T.Y Hilton, have all played very well this season as wide receivers. The Cowboys also have a great one-two punch at running back with Pollard and Elliott. Micah Parsons’ defense has been inconsistent this season but if they don’t focus too heavily on blitzing, they will be fine against Tampa’s offense.
Ryan Harless is a third-year undergraduate at BGSU from Hillsboro, Ohio. He is majoring in Sport Management with a Journalism Minor. Baseball and golf at all levels are his primary interests but he is also interested in combat sports, hockey, basketball, and football.
January 11, 2023
The Era of the Dollar
Major League Baseball has a money problem. With the rise in popularity of professional sports and rise in revenue, there will always be disparities in how the teams choose to spend their available money.
Over the 2022-2023 MLB offseason, we have seen teams such as the Mets and Yankees spend lots of money in free agency. MLB writer for The Score, Travis Sawchik tweeted that, “The Mets spent more in free agency in one night ($315 Million) than the Pirates have spent since 2010 ($207 Million).”
This is a very jarring stat (especially if you are a Pirates fan). Many fans will see that and think, they should really limit how much teams can spend. However, I propose a different view on things.
The Cincinnati Reds were purchased in 2006 by Bob Castellini for $270 million. Castellini is on record saying that it was his goal to bring a winning team to Cincinnati. (As a lifelong Reds fan, I will use the Reds as a reference throughout the article). Castellini is also on record as saying to upset fans, “Where are you gonna go?” when asked about mounting unrest in the fanbase.
The Reds are currently worth 1.075 billion! More than three times what he paid for them well over a decade ago. Since his first season as owner in 2006, the Reds have only finished with a record over .500 five times and have only made the playoffs four times.
In recent memory, the Reds have had great players on their team. Now disgraced Trevor Bauer won the first Cy Young award in the team’s history in the shortened 2020 season. The next year, he went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Before that, there was Nicholas Castellanos who was the heart and soul of the 2020-2021 Reds. He put up better numbers than almost anyone on the team, but after his contract was up the Reds didn’t even call to offer him another deal.
The Reds are not alone in this situation. Teams like the Pirates, Athletics, Orioles, and Marlins have all had good players ripped away from them simply because the owners didn’t want to spend their money on them.
Don’t get me wrong, I know there are cases where owners just don’t see much of an upside with certain talent. But I also know that every single Major League Baseball team is owned by a billionaire and is backed by other very wealthy people.
Instead of fans getting in an uproar at Steven Cohen for shelling out over 800 million dollars this offseason, we should direct our attention to another group – the group of owners who are sitting back and collecting record profits while their team and fans rot in last place.
Professional sports are a lucrative investment for anyone who has the money to get their foot in the door. But that just isn’t what sports are about. I know sports are a business, but I firmly believe that if you purchase a professional sports team to make money, you are in it for the wrong reasons.
Sports are supposed to be an escape for everyday people like you and me. It’s not a giant game of Monopoly for billionaires to buff up their bank accounts.
If you are looking for an answer on how to make this stop, I do not have one. The obvious choice is to just quit paying attention and going to games. Make the owners feel it in their pockets. But why should we as the fans be punished because the owner of our favorite team won’t open up his dusty wallet?
Sarafina Napoleon is from Nigeria and is a first-year graduate student in Sport Administration at BGSU. As a journalist for 9 years, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the Maxwell Media Watch.
We’re getting close to the climax of the 2022 FIFA World Cup which has already seen 158 goals scored, a record-breaking 88,966 spectators (at one game between Argentina and Mexico), 20+ yellow cards, and 5 red cards throughout 60 matches. There have been shocks, records broken, history made, heartbreaks, and ecstasies, and now there are only four teams left. Three continents, Africa, Europe, and South America, compete for the most coveted soccer trophy in the world.
One more victory would guarantee the four semifinalists a shot at immortality. To advance to the 2022 World Cup final, Morocco, who represents Africa, Argentina from South America, France, and Croatia from Europe, must defeat their opponents when they take the field on Tuesday and Wednesday. Every soccer fan is waiting with bated breath and high anticipation for the semifinal matches, which will see Argentina take on Croatia and France play Morocco.
France
Before the tournament, the French national team was hit with injuries that limited their chances of defending the title. Players like Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante, and Presnel Kimpembe were all ruled out. To make matters worse, Christopher Nkunku, who was in the form of his life, and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema picked up injuries. The defending champions were drawn alongside Denmark, Tunisia, and Australia and were the first team to qualify for the round of 16 after two games. After qualification, the les blues were expected to get past Poland in the round of 16 which they did. Then came the next test against the Three Lions of England at the quarterfinal stage, and the defending champions rose to the occasion and sent England packing. The team is now one game away from retaining the title. On paper, the les blues shouldn’t have any problems dispatching their next opponent Morocco on Wednesday but considering what we have been served at the ongoing World Cup, an upset shouldn’t be ruled out. The team has relied on their attacking prowess since the start of the tournament with four different goal scorers. The tournament’s top scorer Kylian Mbappé with five goals and two assists, and Olivier Giroud, with four goals, have been the team’s saving grace. Also, France has never lost a World Cup match that Kylian Mbappé has started. Should the team defend the title, these two players must deliver another masterclass performance against Morocco.
Kylian Mbappé (right) celebrates with Olivier Giroud.
One advantage the les blues have heading into the semifinal clash is the experience of their manager Didier Deschamps. Four years ago, he became only the third man to win the sport’s most cherished title as a player and a coach. Deschamps has won 13 games at the World Cup, putting him in third place all-time behind only Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari with 14 wins and West German Helmut Schon with 16 wins. One apparent weakness in the French team is the lack of discipline, which was evident in the game against England, giving away two cheap penalties. The team’s inability to kill off games and defensive frailties are other loopholes that could be detrimental to their quest. Can France become the first team in 60 years to win two consecutive World Cups?
Morocco
It took Morocco years of careful planning and focused effort to accomplish victory. An effort was made to raise the quality of the local league. Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco, who play in the Moroccan league, are the reigning Caf Champions League champions. In 2022, Morocco hosted and advanced to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, where they defeated perennial powerhouse Nigeria in the process. Some current squad members are mainstays at some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. While the Atlas Lions may lack the jaw-dropping individual talents of the les blues, they make up for it with a strong sense of teamwork and know-how. The North African club must avoid falling victim to schoolboy errors if they hope to defeat the current champions.
Argentina
After a devastating opening-round loss to Saudi Arabia, Argentina’s status as one of the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup plummeted. The team eventually made it out of the group and had to overcome the United States and the Netherlands to secure a semifinal place against Croatia. Argentina will be seeking retribution after being humiliated by Croatia in their previous match in 2018 by a 3-0 scoreline. Argentina has never lost in the World Cup semifinals and has advanced to the final each time they have reached this stage. Their most recent appearance was in 2014, when they lost in the final to Germany.
Team captain Messi has been in scintillating form for the La Albiceleste with four goals and two assists, equaling the record of Gabriel Batistuta for most goals at the World Cup. Messi looks pumped to win the World Cup, but they must get past a dogged opposition in Croatia. After Antoine Griezmann’s 17, Lionel Messi has created 16 scoring opportunities in the 2022 World Cup. For Messi to clinch the holy grail, his teammates must avoid profligacy against Croatia.
Croatia
The 2018 finalists are on the verge of making it to two consecutive World Cup finals, joining the likes of Italy, Netherlands, and Germany. Still, they face stiffer opposition from Messi-led Argentina. Luka Modric and his teammates will be looking to become the first team to play in consecutive finals for the first time in twenty years. The Vatreni ensured the elimination of the samba boys setting up a date with another South American team. Croatia had to rely on penalty shootouts to get past the round of 16 and quarterfinal stages.
Croatia has just one win in regulation time after five games played at the 2022 World Cup with a 100% penalty shootout record against Japan and Brazil. They have successfully reached extra time in five of their last six World Cup knockout matches. The Croatians might not be a free-scoring side, but they do know how to frustrate the opposition with their defensive formation as they did against Brazil.
Fine margins will determine the semifinal fixtures, and only the team with the mental capacity and concentration will make it to the final.
Sarafina Napoleon is from Nigeria and is a first-year graduate student in Sport Administration at BGSU. As a journalist for 9 years, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the Maxwell Media Watch.
December 10, 2022
The 10th of December 2022 will go down in history as the day an African team advanced to the FIFA World Cup semifinals for the first time in the tournament’s history. The final whistle sounded, and to the surprise of the footballing world, Morocco had won, ending Ronaldo’s bid to win the one trophy that had eluded him thus far.
The Atlas Lions knew they would have their hands full in their quarterfinal match-up against Portugal and would have to play at a world-class level if they wanted to make history and advance to the semifinals. Portugal entered the game as the odds-on favorite, but Morocco had other ideas. African teams are never considered serious title contenders going into the World Cup because of their poor track record at the tournament’s finals. The Qatar 2022 World Cup was no exception. Nobody anticipated that Africa would change the course of history. Morocco, a North African team that failed to advance past the quarterfinals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, was never expected to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals the following year.
Since the early stages of the group stage, the Atlas Lions have been challenging the tournament’s top teams. Drawn in a group with heavy favorites like Belgium and Croatia, Morocco upset the odds by finishing first after beating Canada and Belgium and drawing with Croatia.
After making it into the tournament proper, they faced the challenge of eliminating the defending champions, Spain, in the round of 16. Yet again, they overcame overwhelming odds to send Spain packing. Considering how Portugal easily eliminated their opponents in the round of 16, scoring six goals in the process, the quarterfinal matchup against Portugal was widely predicted to be the match that would finally break the team’s resilience.
Portugal dominated the game but couldn’t find a way back after Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the first half, creating a frenzy at Al Thumama Stadium. The win over Portugal left Cristiano Ronaldo in tears and heartbroken, considering that was his last realistic shot at winning a world cup trophy.
For a team that got a new manager in September 2022, a few months before the tournament, one can’t help but admire the tactical and technical abilities of the Moroccans. The Atlas Lions have conceded just one goal in five games at the ongoing tournament and can now dream of lifting the trophy. Still, they must first get past defending champions France who defeated England to clinch a semifinal spot. The question now is: Can the Atlas Lions roar into the finals? 90 minutes will tell, come Wednesday 14th December 2022.
Sarafina Napoleon is from Nigeria and is a first-year graduate student in Sport Administration at BGSU. As a journalist for 9 years, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the Maxwell Media Watch.
December 4, 2022
When the World Cup took center stage on November 20, 2022, no one predicted the quality of entertainment and outcomes the tournament would produce, especially given FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s hypocritical speech comment on the eve of the tournament. Infantino called out Europeans for their hypocrisy in criticizing Qatar and FIFA’s choice to hold the World Cup there. Infantino remarked that Europeans “should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world” before offering moral lessons. The comments were met with various critical responses and persisted even after tournament host Qatar got things rolling.
After 48 group-stage matches, it is evident that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has proven to be one of the best FIFA World Cups in history against all odds. The group stage produced historical results, intense drama, nail-biting and nerve-racking moments for soccer fans across all continents. Let’s examine some of the most impressive moments from the group stage.
Saudi Arabia stuns title favorites Argentina.
When the draws were made, and Saudi Arabia was grouped alongside Argentina, Poland, and Mexico in Group C, it was inevitable the Asian team would be the group’s whipping boys. On paper, it was glaring that topping the group would be a walk in the park for Argentina, but no one foresaw history being written in favor of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina 2-1 at the Lusail Stadium, writing themselves into World Cup annals with one of the most significant upset victories in the tournament’s 92-year history.
It was widely anticipated that the third-ranked team from South America, and title contenders, would easily crush its opponent ranked 48 spots lower in the FIFA world rankings. Argentina’s undefeated streak of 36 games ended as a consequence of the outcome, dating back to a loss to Brazil three years ago. This prevented them from reaching the previous international record of 37 games played without registering a loss, which Italy held. The result made Saudi Arabia the first Asian side to defeat Argentina in the history of the World Cup and the first non-European team to do it since Cameroon in 1990.
Teranga Lions and Atlas Lions make history for Africa.
After advancing to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Teranga Lions of Senegal and champions of Africa have seemingly picked up just where they left off. Having won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the 13th-placed ranked team in the World was the only realistic possibility of an African side making it through the group stage in Qatar. In a group including hosts Qatar, Ecuador, and the Netherlands, Senegal narrowly lost their first match to the Netherlands. The African Champions went on to defeat the host nation Qatar. Kalidou Koulibaly, captain of the African champions, scored his first international goal with his right foot in the 70th minute to seal three points against Ecuador.
After the Netherlands, the West Africans finished second and would play the Three Lions of England on Sunday. This was a much-needed triumph for Senegal, considering that they were denied a place in the last 16 four years ago when they were eliminated at the group stage based on a fair play rule because they received two more yellow cards than the Japanese.
Senegal advanced for the second time in history and for the first time since 2002, when the squad competed in the quarterfinals under current coach Aliou Cissé. Given that no African side has ever advanced past the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup, the team now has a chance to make history if they do.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco will be in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup 36 years after their first qualification for the last-16. The North African team, ranked 22 in the World, defied all odds to finish first in Group C, ahead of 2018 runners-up Croatia and Belgium, the World’s second-ranked team. In their first encounter, the Atlas Lions drew 0-0 with Croatia before overcoming Belgium’s golden generation with two second-half goals and a clean sheet. The frosting on the cake was a 2-1 victory over Canada, who finished at the bottom of the group with zero points.
Morocco progressed as group leaders, with Croatia coming second, and Belgium and Canada were eliminated after coming third and fourth, respectively. After his team’s awful display, Roberto Martinez, the coach of Belgium, announced his resignation, admitting that his contract would not be renewed.
Japan’s Controversial goal stuns Spain, Germany sent packing.
On the penultimate day of Group F’s final group games, the favorites to finish first and second had to struggle to avoid elimination. Going into the last games of Group F, it was clear that elimination was a real possibility for any of the four clubs. Spain was expected to cruise through the group and finish first, but everything was wide open after drawing with Germany in their second game.
The first half of Spain’s last group game against Japan went according to the script, with the Spanish side dominating possession and scoring a goal. The 48th-minute equalizer marked the beginning of Japan’s comeback. A few minutes later, in the 51st minute, Japan scored a controversial goal that ultimately proved decisive. With this historic victory, Japan topped its group for the first time since 2002 and qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in consecutive tournaments. Spain comes in second with four points, ahead of Germany on goal difference, and will file out against Group F winners Morocco on Tuesday for a place in the quarterfinals.
It was Germany’s second straight World Cup elimination in the group stage, the first time since the tournament’s inception. The German Machines entered their last group game against Costa Rica with just one point from a potential six points after two games and were on the brink of elimination. One thing that was certain for the Germans heading into the game was that their qualification destiny wasn’t in their hands. To progress, they had to win along with either a Spain victory or a tie between Spain and Japan, plus the tiebreaker based on goal differential. Sadly, one controversial goal by Japan proved to be the deciding factor.
The four-time champions dispatched Costa Rica in a thrilling six-goal match with three goals in the game’s closing 17 minutes, but a controversial victory for Japan sealed their elimination. While Germany and Spain finished with the same points, Germany was eliminated due to a lower goal differential.
Stéphanie Frappartbecomes first female referee in Men’s World Cup history.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup went into the history books on Thursday when Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to officiate at the FIFA Men’s World Cup after taking charge of proceedings in the Costa Rica Vs. Germany clash. The European soccer governing organization UEFA and the French government both promoted the 38-year-old to officiate men’s games, and she has since officiated World Cup qualifying and Champions League matches. She also officiated the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
The Frenchwoman was in charge of an all-female on-field crew, including assistants from Brazil’s Neuza Back and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina. The 2022 World Cup has featured six women in officiating roles, including referees Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga, and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita, as well as assistant referees Back, Diaz, and the United States’ own Kathryn Nesbitt.
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.
November 23, 2022
History and Statistical Overview of the Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy is given to the best player in FBS College football and is currently determined by 928 votes from sports journalists across the country as well as former Heisman winners. University of Chicago running back Jay Berwanger received the first award that was presented in 1935 by New York’s Downtown Athletic Club; it was therefore originally called the D.A.C trophy. The following year, the award was renamed after the club’s director John Heisman, the former head football coach of Oberlin College, Washington and Jefferson, Akron, Rice, Penn, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Clemson. When he died in 1936, the award was named the Heisman Trophy .
Like the MVP trophies of professional sport leagues, the Heisman Trophy comes with controversy as the exact criteria needed to win the award is often unclear. Some journalists vote based on statistical categories alone, others pick the player who was the biggest reason his team succeeded and therefore wouldn’t have been successful without him. Because of this variation it is often difficult to predict the Heisman winner. With a week and a half before the award is announced, the current Heisman hopefuls and reasons why each could win the award are listed below.
Although he is the only running back on this list, Corum is a strong candidate for the Heisman because he has the 3rd highest rushing yards in the FBS and is tied for 2nd in the FBS for rushing touchdowns. Corum also makes up the majority (52%) of Michigan’s 4th ranked rushing offense, which proves that he is one of the main reasons that they are undefeated. Corum is so important to Michigan’s offense that when he went down with an injury against Illinois their rushing offense stalled. Luckily, for Corum and Michigan, it appears that the injury is not too serious to keep him from playing against Ohio State. In this weekend’s rivalry game against 2nd ranked Ohio State, he will be playing rival Heisman candidate C.J Stroud, which could potentially boost Corum’s Heisman chances if he has a better individual performance than Stroud.
Hooker had been the leader for the Heisman race in Vegas for much of the season; however, he recently lost pretty badly to #1-ranked Georgia and unranked South Carolina which will effect his Heisman resume as 2 players on this list are undefeated. The biggest issue with Hooker is that the injury he suffered against South Carolina could put him out for the season which would have a massive impact on his chances of winning the award. Hooker is still an extremely strong candidate as he has the 5th highest completion percentage in FBS, ranks 11th in passing yards, and has the best TD/Int ratio in the FBS. His experience as a redshirt senior comes through in his low turnovers as Hooker sat out his first year when he was at Virginia Tech and also got an extra year of eligibility from the COVID year, making him older (24) than almost the entire previous NFL draft class.
Maye is the catalyst for a UNC offense that has scored more than 30 points in all but one of their first 11 games of the season. With 1 regular season game left and an ACC Championship game vs. Clemson, Maye’s candidacy is built on the fact that despite being a redshirt freshman he ranks 3rd in the FBS in passing yards, 3rd in passing TDs, and 10th in completion percentage, making him the only QB in the FBS to rank in the top 10 of all 3 categories.
Despite getting brutally destroyed (49-3) against Georgia in the opening week, Nix, a transfer from Auburn, has led the Ducks to 8 straight wins before losing to Washington. This includes impressive wins over ranked conference opponents, UCLA and Utah. While Nix has a tough schedule ahead of him with rival Oregon State and a potential matchup against USC in the conference championship, he is more than capable of winning the Heisman. He currently ranks 1st in the FBS for completion percentage, 15th for passing touchdowns, 1st of all Quarterbacks for rushing touchdowns, 5th out of all positions for rushing touchdowns, and 16th in passing yards. He is also the only quarterback on this list to have a receiving touchdown this season.
Currently, C.J Stroud has the shortest odds to win according to Vegas. He plays in a huge market school at Ohio State and gets a plethora of media attention. While his statistics aren’t as good as other QB’s on this list, they are still impressive, as he ranks 24th in completion percentage, is tied for 1st in passing touchdowns, and 18th in passing yards. Stroud will have a tough test against Michigan but could improve his Heisman resume greatly with a good performance.
Williams has one of the toughest remaining schedules as he plays rival Notre Dame in his final regular season game and then awaits either Bo Nix and Oregon, Washington, or Utah (who has already defeated USC). However, like other candidates on this list, if Williams takes care of business against those teams, his Heisman hopes could improve. An Oklahoma transfer who came with Lincoln Riley, Williams has the worst completion percentage of any quarterback on this list, ranking 39th in the FBS, but ranks 4th in the FBS for passing touchdowns and 6th in passing yards.
Overall Thoughts
While Stroud is the betting favorite, his statistical numbers are overall the worst of the 5 quarterbacks in terms of rushing and passing yards. However, his ability to lead his team to an undefeated record so far, and the fact that he is doing it on a big media stage will garner a lot of votes. Corum’s team is also undefeated, and he is by far the biggest reason for their perfect record. When he came out of the Illinois game due to injury, the Michigan offense fell apart in his absence. Corum’s injury is a slight concern, but he will almost certainly play against Ohio State as there is so much significance in that game for Michigan’s season. Corum will need to beat Stroud and Ohio State to get serious Heisman attention as a running back hasn’t won the award since Derrick Henry won in 2015. As for Williams, his completion percentage is the main concern, but he has great statistical numbers otherwise and will play massive opponents his next two weeks to prove himself.
Hooker’s candidacy has taken a turn for the worse as his high statistical numbers at the beginning of the season have come back to earth with two late season losses, and his injury vs South Carolina will likely end his season. Lastly, Nix and Maye are two names that aren’t getting as much attention but have put up some of the best numbers in the league statistically. Nix’s ability to rank in the top 15 in both passing and rushing touchdowns is truly unique but he does have 2 losses. Maye’s ability to score so many points almost singlehandedly is also impressive, but his loss to Georgia Tech is a concern. Maye’s ACC Championship against Clemson’s top-notch defense will be a huge factor in determining whether he wins the award; he is the only FBS player to rank in the top 10 in completion percentage, passing touchdowns, and passing yards this season.
After reviewing these 6 candidates, it is safe to say that with just over a week left in the regular season, it is still a close Heisman race that will largely depend on whether these candidates can keep performing at high levels, and if they can take their teams to conference championships and/or the college football playoff.
Sarafina Napoleon is from Nigeria and is a first-year graduate student in Sport Administration at BGSU. As a journalist for 9 years, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the Maxwell Media Watch.
November 4, 2022
The 2022 Winter World Cup will be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s most significant World Cup competition, sixteen years after their 2006 debut in Germany. Both players are perhaps the greatest to have embellished the game of soccer, and it is challenging to comprehend this could be their final appearance at the World Cup.
They revolutionized the sport so drastically that calling them the greatest may not do them justice. There are some players you see on the field, and you know it was a pleasure to be alive during their era. Messi and Ronaldo were both born to play soccer; some consider Messi a product of talent, while others believe Ronaldo to be a product of hard work. Both players reshaped soccer, profoundly impacted a generation, broke records, and sparked the greatest soccer rivalry in history. There was an apparent rivalry at every level, from the club to the national team to individual awards.
For a decade, Messi and Ronaldo dominated all individual soccer awards, including the Ballon d’Or. At one point, it appeared that no one would ever challenge them. Every soccer fan sat back, witnessed, and relished every moment as they tested each other. At the same time, the rivalry transformed them into monsters of the sport, scoring a staggering number of goals. We witnessed discussions, comparisons, and statistical analysis week after week to prove one was superior to the other. Friends were pitted against friends, brothers against brothers, for one reason: Who is the better player?
The rivalry between these two grew beyond the pitch and manifested in corporate deals and endorsements. It amplified the rivalry between the two most prestigious sportswear brands in the world; Adidas and Nike. Since 2003, Nike has sponsored Ronaldo. In 2016, he became the third athlete in the brand’s history to receive a lifetime contract. On the other hand, Messi has been associated with Nike’s main rival, Adidas, since 2006 and signed a lifetime contract with the company in 2017, just like Ronaldo.
Except for one trophy considered the “holy grail” (world cup trophy) in elite soccer, they have nearly amassed everything there is to win in elite soccer. Every soccer player’s ultimate goal is to win the world cup, not just compete. The crescendo of competitive soccer is the World Cup. It is comparable to the European soccer club version of the Champions League. Despite their immense talent, Messi and Ronaldo have failed to help their nations win the trophy. The failure to win the world cup, according to some schools of thought, mars their illustrious careers. For others, winning the World Cup would solidify their place as the greatest of all time.
Diego Armando Maradona led the La Albiceleste to victory with the contentious “Hand of God” goal 36 years ago, which marked the last time Argentina won the World Cup. Under the leadership of Lionel Messi, there have been near misses. At the 2014 World Cup, the team’s talisman guided them to the Finals, where they fell to Germany on an extra-time goal from substitute Mario Gotze. The team also advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2006 and 2010 but was eliminated in the round of 16 in 2018.
Lionel Messi finally ended his international trophy drought at an elite level in 2021 when Argentina won the Copa America. The Argentine plays like a newborn and is in scintillating form as the World Cup approaches. In contrast to his struggles the previous year, Messi has been outstanding for his club, PSG, this season, scoring 11 goals in 16 appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, is a serial winner. He played a crucial role in helping the Portuguese team win the 2016 Euros, the nation’s first victory in a major competition. However, Portugal has never won the World Cup; their best showing was third in 1966. They were eliminated in round 16 in 2018 and could not progress past the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. It is also interesting to note that Portugal qualified for the Winter World Cup via playoffs after being gobsmacked at home by Serbia, who topped the group. At the club level, Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled ever since his second return to Manchester United. Under the new management of Erik Ten Hag, the Portuguese have been forced to accept a minor role. He could leave the team in January when the transfer window opens.
Given their ages, both players enter the Winter World Cup, aware of the significance of winning a trophy for their nation in 2022. They might not have another chance to redeem themselves if they don’t win the trophy in Qatar because the next World Cup is taking place in 2026. By that time, Messi and Ronaldo will be 39 and 41, respectively.
We live in an uncertain world, and only a soothsayer can predict what will happen in four years. Still, one thing is sure: Messi and Ronaldo will be in Qatar in a couple of weeks. Will either player be inspired to greatness by the desire to win the World Cup, or will the World Cup heartbreak continue?
Sarafina Napoleon is from Nigeria and is a first-year graduate student in Sport Administration at BGSU. As a journalist for 9 years, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the Maxwell Media Watch.
October 25, 2022
As the 22nd FIFA World Cup tournament approaches, the error made by FIFA under Sepp Blatter in choosing Qatar as the host nation is becoming more apparent. It is a decision that reeks of financial gains without adequate consideration of other factors. So how did we arrive at this point? It is pertinent to note that Qatar won the bid competition over Australia, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Before Qatar won the bid, the country had never hosted a World Cup, making them the first Middle Eastern state to be awarded World Cup hosting rights. This will be the tournament’s second appearance in an Asian confederation country after Japan, and South Korea co-hosted in 2002. So, if staging the tournament in a new location provided an opportunity to develop the world, why the outrage?
There are several compelling reasons why Qatar shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup. The decision was flawed from the beginning from all angles. One convincing reason is the climate condition in Qatar. The climate in Qatar during the summer is uncongenial due to the scorching desert heat, making it impossible to stage a one-month tournament under such conditions. What was the solution? Your hunch is as good as mine. The only viable option was to relocate the tournament to a less inimical period. The usual schedule of World Cup tournaments’ is during the summer when all European leagues and league play have concluded. It was an aberration of everything the competition stands for to shift the World Cup to a time frame outside the established format. Still, the world football governing body (FIFA) was unperturbed. The tournament was eventually rescheduled without thoroughly examining how the timing would affect the soccer calendar, making it the first World Cup in the Winter. This is where things get interesting; the typical soccer league season runs from August to May, allowing players at least a three-week rest period before the World Cup. Staging the tournament during the Winter meant the tournament would take place during the regular league season. Because the competition will be in the Winter, it will take place during the regular league season. Many players competing at the World Cup play in Europe. They compete in their respective local leagues, UEFA competitions, and league cup competitions.
So, how about the players’ well-being?
What about LGBTQ peoples’ rights? The decision to award the hosting rights to Qatar, a nation where homosexuality is illegal, has further demonstrated that FIFA’s commitment to inclusivity is little more than a façade. Since Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup in 2010, FIFA has faced backlashed for its laws and views on LGBTQ rights and issues. After Russia hosted in 2018, this is the second World Cup in which LGBTQ soccer fans must decide whether or not to visit a country with a dismal record on gay rights. For instance, the official LGBTQ group of Wales will not attend the World Cup. Members of the group feel it is unsafe to visit the Middle East, given its track record on gay rights. In April, a senior Interior Ministry official in charge of security for the football tournament, Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari, told the Associated Press that rainbow flags might be confiscated from visiting fansto keep them safe from being attacked while advocating for gay rights.
According to a recent survey by a Scandinavian media organization, three of the 69 hotels on FIFA’s official list of recommended accommodations would refuse entry to same-sex couples. Only 33 of those surveyed said they had no objections to same-sex booking relationships. In contrast, 20 others stated they would accommodate same-sex couples as long as the couples hid their sexual orientation from the public. FIFA retaliated by announcing that it would cancel any agreements with lodging establishments that discriminated against same-sex couples.
Considering what the Middle East stands for, many LGBTQ soccer fans will be reluctant to attend this year’s showpiece. Looking at the highlighted reasons why Qatar was the wrong destination which FIFA should have chosen, the bigger question is, on what basis were they awarded the hosting rights?
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.
October 18, 2022
2021-2022 Season
Last NBA season ended with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA title 4 games to 2 over the Boston Celtics for their 4th title in the last 8 years. It was also Curry’s first time in those 4 championships that he has won the NBA Finals MVP. The Celtics were denied their chance to break their championship tie with the Los Angeles Lakers as both teams have won 17 championships. There are many interesting storylines for this upcoming season including offseason trades, off-court drama, new head coaches, and potential future stars. The following article predicts power rankings from worst to best for each NBA team in the upcoming 2022-2023 season NBA that started on October 18th.
Ranking System
To make this power ranking as statistically accurate as possible, I have assigned a point value based on each team’s ranking. To get to this point value, the team’s 5 starters and 3 best reserves’ points per game (PPG), assists per game (APG), and rebounds per game (RPG) from the 2021-2022 season have been added up to get a total value for each player. These stats can be found on ESPN.com by clicking on each team and then going to their depth chart and selecting the individual player. For example, James Harden averaged 22.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 10.3 APG last season so his total value in this power ranking is 40.0. The top 8 players’ values from each team were then added to create the team’s total point value for the power ranking which is displayed in italics next to the team’s name. Additionally, if a player was injured the majority or entirety of last season, then his value reverts to his averages from his last played season. If a team uses a rookie in their top 8 rotation this season, the rookie’s value will be given through his projected averages for this season. Below, each team’s portion of the power ranking will be a playoff prediction, the biggest takeaways of the team’s offseason, the team’s 2021-2022 record, and how many players they have in the top 100 in the league which was also calculated using the same point value system above
– Offseason Takeaway: Drafted Bennedict Mathurin 6th overall to help rebuild as they lack depth and defense after trading Sabonis to the Kings.
29. Utah Jazz (144.5) 2021-2022 Record: (49-33)
– Top 100 Players: (99) SG Jordan Clarkson (16.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
-Offseason Takeaway: The Jazz offseason was pretty simple, they traded away Donavon Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Rudy Gobert to start a complete rebuild.
28. San Antonio Spurs (145.7) 2021-2022 Record: (34-48)
– Top 100 Players: (79) PF Keldon Johnson (17.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.1 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Drafted Jeremy Sochan 9th overall to help with shooting, will probably still be one of the worst Spurs’ teams Popovich has ever coached with very little firepower besides Johnson.
– Top 100 Players: (91) PG Kevin Porter Jr. (15.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.2 APG)
(71) PF Jabari Smith, Jr. (#3 Overall Pick – Auburn)
(66) SG Jalen Green (17.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Slipped to third in the draft after having the worst record, but still got their preferred prospect in Smith. Green and Smith should be a dynamic young duo on a team with little to no depth.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (159.3) 2021-2022 Record: (24-58)
– Offseason Takeaway: #2 overall pick Chet Holmgren should make this team one of the more interesting and potentially dangerous young teams soon with Giddey and SGA in the backcourt; however, his injury will make this team even less of a contender than they already were in the loaded Western conference.
25. Charlotte Hornets (167.6) 2021-2022 Record: (43-39)
– Top 100 Players (56) SG Terry Rozier (19.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.5 APG)
(30) PG La Melo Ball (20.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 7.6 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Miles Bridges’ arrest has halted negotiations for a deal with the Hornets and will take a toll on this team that was trending in the right direction last season. Statistically, they still have one of the worst defenses in the league.
24. New York Knicks (172.8) 2021-2022 Record: (37-45)
(50) PF Julius Randle (20.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 5.1 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Barrett is coming off the best season of his career, but Randle regressed from his 2020-2021 comeback season. The Knicks brought in Brunson and his dad as an assistant coach to help in the backcourt but the chemistry between these three players will need time to gel.
23. Washington Wizards (175.0) 2021-2022 Record: (35-47)
(47) C Kristaps Porzingis (20.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.3 APG)
(23) SG Bradley Beal (23.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.6 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Beal resigned with the Wizards in the offseason which solidifies veteran leadership and skill for a young team otherwise. If Porzingis can stay healthy as their interior post player, the Wizards could make the play-in. However, that is a big-if as he has never played a full-season in his career.
– Top 100 Players: (93) SF Harrison Barnes (16.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG)
(42) PG De’Aaron Fox (23.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.6 APG)
(33) C Domantas Sabonis (18.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.2 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Miss
– Offseason Takeaway: Drafting Keegan Murray 4th overall could be an X-factor for the Kings’ front court that already has a rising star in Sabonis. Also signed Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk to help with depth. The Kings will likely improve greatly from their previous record but will have a tough time making the play-in.
21. Detroit Pistons (177.9) 2021-2022 Record: (23-59)
– Top 100 Players: (96) PF Bojan Bogdanovic (18.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 APG)
– Offseason Takeaway: Drafted Jaden Ivey 5th overall to create an explosive young backcourt with their previous #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. Also signed Bogdanovic from the Jazz to get veteran leadership since their starting 5 is the youngest in the league with an average age of 23.6. Will likely battle with the Magic for the last play-in spot in the East and should be a very interesting young core in the following year as they also drafted center Jalen Duren 13th overall from Memphis.
– Playoff Prediction: Loss in the Play-In Tournament
– Offseason Takeaway: Murray and the extremely inconsistent Michael Porter Jr. will both be back from injuries this season and will need to help the 2021-2022 MVP Nikola Jokic to bolster this offense if they want to make it out of the play-in tournament. Additionally, Jokic is rated 1st on this power ranking in total value as he nearly averaged a triple double last season. His value alone is a 48.8, which would be 33.9% of the Pacers 143.9 total value as an entire team
– Top 100 Players: (97) SF Franz Wagner (15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG)
(67) PG Cole Anthony (16.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.7 APG)
(65) C Wendell Carter Jr. (15.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.8 APG)
(53) PF Paolo Banchero (#1 Overall Pick – Duke)
– Playoff Prediction: Loss in the Play-in tournament
– Offseason Takeaway: Drafted Banchero #1 overall in the 2022 draft to go with their young core of Anthony, Wagner, and Suggs. They could make the play-in tournament this season and their talent is ahead of some of the lower-level teams in the Eastern conference. However, they are still a couple years away from being a contender if their young talent become stars.
– Playoff Prediction: Loss in the Play-in tournament
– Offseason Takeaway: Lilliard said he wants to be a Blazer for life this offseason. The Blazers also signed Jerami Grant and drafted Shaedon Sharpe 7th overall. They have a talented starting lineup but lack a true second star to pair with Lilliard, following CJ McCollum’s departure to New Orleans.
(39) C Christian Wood (17.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 5.3 APG)
(4) PG Luka Doncic (28.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.7 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Quarter final exit
– Offseason Takeaway: The Mavs got smoked by the Warriors in the Western Finals last year. Despite adding Wood in the offseason as a dependable double-double threat, they have lost both Porzingis and Brunson to lower-level Eastern conference teams in search of bigger pay days. Like Jokic with the Nuggets, Doncic will have to carry the team on his back until the trade deadline where hopefully owner Mark Cuban can maneuver a trade to obtain a second star like so many other western conference teams have.
– Top 100 Players: (52) PG Chris Paul (14.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 10.8 APG)
(48) C DeAndre Ayton (17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.4APG)
(16) SG Devin Booker (26.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.8 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Quarter final exit
– Offseason Takeaway: The Suns are coming off back-to-back seasons in which they have been the 1 seed in the Western Conference. They also were rumored to add Kevin Durant this offseason, but the deals fell through. Paul is going into his age 37 season and the depth around him and Booker has deteriorated with McGee, Kaminsky, and Aaron Holiday all on different rosters this season. They could make a run but need a consistent Paul to continue to play at an all-star level.
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Quarter final exit
– Offseason Takeaway: The Timberwolves traded multiple role players and draft picks to get Gobert so they will have one of the best rebounding and defensive teams in the league when he is paired with Towns. However, their speed, depth, and agility will all take a hit this season because of the trade.
– Top 100 Players: (83) SF Dillon Brooks (18.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG)
(82) SG Desmond Bane (18.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 APG)
(9) PG Ja Morant (27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Quarter final exit
– Offseason Takeaway: The Grizzlies lost De’Anthony Melton to the Sixers and as a result will be weaker defensively and in depth. The season’s success will depend on how much of a superstar Morant will become in his age 23 season and whether Bane and Brooks continue their upward trajectory. The Grizzlies are an unpredictable team as they could have a deep playoff run or get bounced in the quarters.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (186.9) 2021-2022 Record: (33-49)
– Top 100 Players: (45) PG Russell Westbrook (18.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.1 APG)
(19) C Anthony Davis (23.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.1 APG)
(5) PF LeBron James (30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Semifinals
– Offseason Takeaway: Rated 0.1 point higher than the Grizzlies, the Lakers have the oldest starting lineup in the league with an average age of 31.2. LeBron said this offseason he wants to play wherever his sons play before he retires, so the Lakers may be on a short window to win another championship during LeBron’s tenure on the team. Westbrook will have to figure out how to blend his game with LeBron’s and Davis’ or he might be traded by the deadline.
12. Chicago Bulls (187.3) 2021-2022 Record: (46-36)
(38) C Nikola Vucevic (17.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.2 APG)
(26) SG Zach LaVine (24.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.5 APG)
(12) SF DeMar DeRozan (27.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Loss in the Play-in tournament
– Offseason Takeaway: Bulls signed Andre Drummond to help bolster their depth at the Center position. They have a lot of talent on the wings but will need their stars to stay healthy as Lonzo and LaVine are constantly getting injured.
– Offseason Takeaway: After Kevin Durant said he wanted out of Brooklyn, the Heat were the other major market team besides the Suns having talks with Durant during the offseason. While the Durant deal didn’t work out, they are still one of the most formidable teams in the East that has a lot of talented teams at the top of this power ranking. They would be higher on this list, but Lowry and Butler’s production will likely go down as they age, and their bench is not as great defensively as similar teams like the Raptors and Bucks; the Heat bench consists primarily of wing shooters like Duncan Robinson and Victor Oladipo.
– Offseason Takeaway: The Bucks didn’t really make any offseason moves so they could get passed up by some teams that traded for stars, like the Hawks and Cavs . Antetokounmpo will likely continue to dominate and if Middleton and Holiday back him up like they did last season, they will be a top 10 team this year.
9. Toronto Raptors (190.3) 2021-2022 Record: (48-34)
– Top 100 Players: (100) SG Gary Trent Jr. (18.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.0 APG)
– Offseason Takeaway: As mentioned in the Heat’s power ranking, the Raptors have an extremely deep bench that is good defensively with players like Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa. Adding Otto Porter Jr. from the Warriors only helps their depth even more. Their success this season will depend on whether last year’s rookie of the year Scottie Barnes can take his game a step up and if Siakam can continue his production.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (194.2) 2021-2022 Record: (36-46)
– Top 100 Players: (41) C Jonas Valanciunas (17.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.6 APG)
(34) PG C.J McCollum (22.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.1 APG)
(25) SF Brandon Ingram (22.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.6 APG)
(24) PF Zion Williamson (27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.7 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Conference Semifinals
– Offseason Takeaway: The Pelicans will likely be one of the most improved teams this season if they can stay healthy. Zion is finally back and pairing him for the first time with a dynamic guard like McCollum will be interesting. Ingram has become a superstar while Herb Jones and Valanciunas supply even more defense to go along with the rebounding ability of the 6’6 280-pound Williamson. They are not quite top 5 because their bench is not nearly as good as some of the top tier teams, and we have yet to see Zion play a full season.
– Offseason Takeaway: It feels like everything the Nets do is in the offseason and off the court. Arguably the biggest story of the entire off season was Durant asking to be moved from Brooklyn just weeks after he practically begged Sean Marks and the front office to let Kyrie stay on the team. Durant eventually re-signed with Brooklyn after no deals could get done with Phoenix or Miami. Kyrie will be able to play this season because of the retracted vaccine mandates, Joe Harris will be coming back off his season long injury last season, and Ben Simmons will also be able to play for the first time in over a year as he is coming off his mental health hiatus and back injury. The Nets also boosted their bench with Royce O’Neale and have kept Patty Mills and Seth Curry under contract. Like the previous years when James Harden was on the team, the Nets have a ton of talent, but also a ton of questions over team chemistry.
– Offseason Takeaway: The Cavaliers signed Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in the off-season’s blockbuster trade. What they lost in Markkanen and Sexton were two starters that will easily be replaced by one of the leagues best shooting guards. Pairing Mitchell with one of the most improved players of last season in Darius Garland will make for one of the league’s most talented backcourts. The Cavs also have a great wing shooter in LeVert, while Mobley, Allen, and Love will make for a great rebounding and defensive frontcourt.
5. Atlanta Hawks (196.6) 2021-2022 Record: (43-39)
– Top 100 Players: (90) C Clint Capela (11.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.2 APG)
– Offseason Takeaway: The Hawks traded away Kevin Huerter to Sacramento which will affect the depth of their shooting but when you have Trae Young and DeJounte Murray, the Hawks’ shooting is still pretty solid. With Murray as the SG, the Hawks finally have a solidified second star to pair with Young and they could make a deep run this season.
4. Boston Celtics (198.4) 2021-2022 Record: (51-31)
– Offseason Takeaway: Coming off a season where the Celtics reached the NBA Finals but lost 4 games to 2 to the Warriors, the Celtics added Blake Griffin in the offseason. This addition isn’t what’s significant however, it is the fact that the Celtics have kept the exact same starting lineup and top 4 bench players as last season’s finals team. Brown and Tatum should continue to improve as one of the league’s most dynamic duos and statistically the Celtics should be able to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference again. The coaching situation in Boston is the biggest question mark. With Ime Udoka getting fired in the offseason for having a consensual sexual relationship with a staff member, the momentum from last season will shift into the hands of new interim head coach Joe Mazzula who has spent only 3 seasons in the NBA as an assistant for Boston.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (199.4) 2021-2022 Record: (51-31)
(69) SF Tobias Harris (17.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG)
(8) SG James Harden (22.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 10.3 APG)
(3) C Joel Embiid (30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Eastern Conference Champions, NBA Finals runner-up
– Offseason Takeaway: James Harden took a pay reduction in the offseason to stay with the Sixers and to keep their team strong as it allowed the front office to keep P.J Tucker and Tobias Harris. Harden’s narrative over the past few seasons was that he was a particularly selfish player with the Nets and Rockets and this move has changed a lot of critics’ minds about him. If Harden really commits to staying in shape, his production will likely go up from last season where he posted his lowest PPG since his 2011-2012 season when he was still a part of the Oklahoma City Thunder. This year is perhaps the most important year for the Sixers to reach the NBA Finals in the Embiid era as contracts will began to expire and Harden will continue to age. Embiid is at his prime right now and led the league in PPG last season, something that Harden did 3 years consecutively from 2018-2020. The Sixers also have one of the better defensive teams with Matisse Thybulle and P.J Tucker along with Embiid’s ability to block shots.
2. Golden State Warriors (202.8) 2021-2022 Record: (53-29)
– Top 100 Players: (86) SF Andrew Wiggins (17.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2 APG)
(13) PG Stephen Curry (25.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.3 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Western Conference Finals
– Offseason Takeaway: Well, it’s been an interesting offseason for Golden State to say the least. The Warriors were last year’s NBA Champions, winning the title for the 4th time in the last 8 years with the big three of Curry, Thompson, and Green. Curry also broke Ray Allen’s 3-point record last season and comes into the season with the same starting lineup as last year. What’s scary about the Warriors is that they have 4 young bench players all between the ages of 20-23 who are all capable of starter-level production on most teams. This includes the former Michigan SG Jordan Poole who averaged 18.5 PPG off the bench last season. Poole saw a significant increase in playing time with Thompson’s injury in the first half of the season and took advantage of that opportunity and has solidified his role as a dominant shooter and wing in this explosive offense. However, in an offseason practice, Poole and Green got into an argument when Poole was bragging over his new 4-year 140-million-dollar extension. Green punched Poole and was suspended for the team’s preseason. Despite Poole stating that they have resolved the conflict and will move forward, the team’s chemistry will be a question going forward.
1. Los Angeles Clippers (204.2) 2021-2022 Record: (42-40)
– Top 100 Players: (87) SF Norman Powell (19.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG)
(84) PG Reggie Jackson (16.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.8 APG)
(55) PG John Wall (20.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.9 APG)
(15) SG Paul George (24.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 5.7 APG)
(11) SF Kawhi Leonard (24.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 7.2 APG)
– Playoff Prediction: Western Conference Champion, NBA Finals Champion – Offseason Takeaway: The top team in the preseason power rankings is the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers made the play-in tournament last season before getting bounced by the Timberwolves. However, that was without a healthy Paul George and without Kawhi Leonard. Now both superstars will be back on the court with a team that has added John Wall and resigned Norman Powell. The Clippers’ depth is impressive with 8 players over 10 PPG last season on their roster. Their depth is so good that Powell and Wall will likely be backups and are both top 100 players in the league in this power ranking. Jackson, George, and Leonard all provide quality playoff experience and high-level talent, where Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac provide size and veteran leadership in the front court. The Clippers’ bench goes even deeper with Robert Covington being an elite defender and Luke Kennard and Terance Mann being elite level wing shooters. Overall, the Clippers have the right combination of star power, leadership, and depth to win this year’s NBA Championship in a year where the top half of teams on this list seem like viable contenders.
49’ers: (34) Seahawks: (14)
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