Hey there guys,
This was quite the interesting week this past week, one that saw New Jersey Nets win 2 in a row and then upset the San Antonio Spurs to make sure that they would not be considered the worst team in NBA history. Maybe it's just me but I think that their talent level is better then their record, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez are both NBA Talent, Cortney Lee is a solid defensive guard, and was apart of the Orlando Magic's Eastern Conference Champion team last season and was faced with guarding Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. ANYWAY. Back to this week's power rankings. In SEC Baseball I have actually stumbled upon better resources that have provided me with new information so I have actually changed up how I devise my Power Rankings so there are going to be some bigger changes to it this week, but it should be more accurate than before. I know I had Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss in the top 3 last week, and this week, under the new Power Rankings Florida grabs the top spot despite losing this weekends series at Ole Miss, LSU jumps up to #2 and Alabama drops to #3. Things have been shook up a bit in my playoff projections as I now expect LSU to grab the regular season conference title. Should be interesting to see it all play out. In the NBA Cleveland stayed atop for yet another weekend and I still consider them the favorite to be crowned NBA Champs, as they are still winning every single week, and Shaquille O'Neal isn't even playing as he is still out with a thumb injury. LeBron James and company are going to have an interesting match up in the Conference Finals as they will most likely be facing off with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Remember last year when the Magic, whom most wrote off as going to be done in 6 games Max, finished Cleveland in 6. I am also interested to see if Atlanta or Milwaukee can make surprise some people as well. In the NHL the Washington Capitals again sit atop My Power Rankings despite their recent struggles, which coincide with Alexander Ovechkin's recent struggles, but has also seen the rise of Niklaus Backstrom and Jeff Schultz, with Ryan Miller playing at his dominant level again the Buffalo Sabres jumped from #10 to #7, and the Red Wings are beginning to play like the Red Wings that we all know and Goalie Jimmy Howard is a big reason why. This should be a fun week as we near the end of the regular season for both the NBA and NHL.
My Power Rankings & Playoff Projections.....
SEC Baseball
Power Ranking
1. #8 Florida Gators 18-6 (4-2)
Despite the fact that Florida lost this past weekend's series to Ole Miss the Gators are still the best team in the SEC, they have played the toughest schedule of any SEC team yet their statistics are all in the upper regions. They are still not a complete team but when you have a hitter like Austin Maddox (.378 avg 7 hr 33 rbi) and Pitcher like Alex Panteliodis (5-1 2.03 era) then you don't have much to worry about. The Gators however do need some help in the bullpen and they could be probably be more aggressive in their defense, they often go for the safe play when they have a chance to make a big out and save a run. Florida is still the best team in the SEC and if they can fix the few problems they have they may be the SEC's best bet at bringing home a National Championship. They have a chance to regain some of their confidence as they host #20 Vanderbilt this weekend. This is a series I can't wait to watch.
2. #5 LSU Tigers 20-3 (5-1)
If it weren't for some bad pitching LSU would be the clear best team but they are currently on the lacking side of this whole throwing the ball towards the guy with the bat thing. LSU is 8th in the SEC in team ERA and BB/9 and 9th in K/9 and HA/9. As a team LSU is really lacking but they get Anthony Ranaudo back, and as he begins to get back into form he will definitely bolster their staff as he has the potential to be the best pitcher in the country. The rest of LSU's game is very good, good coaching, good fielding, good hitting, and great base running lead by Mikie Mahtook (12 sb) and Trey Watkins (13 sb). LSU gets to host Georgia this weekend so they should stretch their lead in the West.
3. #25 Alabama Crimson Tide 17-6 (2-4)
I do realize that the Tide were swept this past weekend in Fayetteville but when combing over the statistics so far this season I get the feeling that they are just in a slump, Arkansas is hot, and that it was played up in the Ozarks. While Bama really could use a win right now they are still one of the best teams in the SEC. They are a great hitting team, maybe not so much when it comes to power, but 3rd in the SEC in batting average, 2nd in runs per game, and 5th in Slugging percentage. And they are lead by a fantastic lead off hitter in CF Taylor Dugas (.461 avg 12 rbi 10 sb) who is an All American candidate and if they could get some power to this offense they could be the best in the SEC. As far as pitching goes Alabama is very good and are lead by one of the SEC's best in Jimmy Nelson (4-0 1.78 era) and they have another solid starter in Adam Morgan but they are missing a solid Sunday Starter. If they want to sweep the best offense in the SEC this weekend in Auburn they are going to need to find a Sunday starter.
4. #11 Ole Miss Rebels 20-6 (4-2)
The Ole Miss Rebels had a fantastic weekend as they took the series from the #2 team in the Country and probably the best team in the Conference in the Florida Gators. The on e thing I really like about the Rebels is that as a team there are no real glaring weaknesses, they are an average hitting club, average running, have good coaching, great fielding, but their biggest strength is their pitching where one could argue that they are the best overall pitching team in the SEC. Their biggest problem there is their lack of a decent Sunday starter. The Rebels are a fantastic, and sometimes near dominating team, on Friday and Saturday but come Sunday the Rebels seem to flop and can never close out a sweep, giving up 12, 10, 12, and 13 in the last 4 Sundays. That being said the Rebels are still 4th in the SEC in ERA, 2nd in K/9, 3rd in HA/9, and 4th in BB/9. They are the most complete pitching team in the SEC, even without a Sunday Starter. And the leader on the mound for the Rebels has been Drew Pomeranz (4-0 1.22 era) who is looking like an All-American right now. As far as hitting the Rebels could use a little bit of a boost so it is good to see the emergence of SEC Freshman of the Week Alex Yarbrough (.353 avg 18 rbi 4sb) who will only get better over time. The Rebels host struggling Tennessee this weekend in Oxford.
5. #20 Vanderbilt Commodores 22-4 (4-2)
The Vanderbilt Commodores, after losing the first series of the season to Alabama responded by sweeping Kentucky 7-0, 9-8, 2-1 to tie for 2nd in the SEC East. The Commodores are a bit like the Gamecocks in that their schedule is not as wonderful as it could be but unlike the Gamecocks I don't see any major weaknesses in their game and they are a wonderful base stealing ball club and play great defense as well. While you won't see the 'Dores rounding too many bases they are, again like S. Carolina, a great gap hitting team, leading the SEC in Doubles per game, and are 2nd in both Slugging Percentage and Batting Average, where they are lead by inf Bryan Johns (.390 avg 12 rbi 3 sb). Pitching is where Vanderbilt thrives, and while they aren't always exciting, 6th in k/9, 7th ha/9, and 5th in bba/9, they are 1st in the SEC in era and are coming off a great weekend performance by SEC Pitcher of the Week Sonny Gray (4-2 2.25 era). Vanderbilt is going to have their hands full this weekend as they have to travel to the Florida Gators. Should be a great series.
6. #10 Arkansas Razorbacks 19-5 (4-2)
The Arkansas Razorbacks are a team I hesitated to leave here at #6 after they swept a very good Crimson Tide team this past weekend. The Razorbacks have some solid coaching and despite not being as good as other teams they have given every team hell having only lost by more than 3 in just 2 of their 5 losses. Where the Hogs get it done is on the mound where they are very good 3 very good starters and even though Drew Smyly and Brett Eibner are VERY good where the Razorbacks are in great position is with Sunday Starter Mike Bolsinger (3-0 3.18 era), if you have 3 good starters you are going to be a very good team. But there is a way you can hurt your pitching. And that is with bad defense. In a league that has some pretty solid defenders the Hogs are on the lower end on defense. 9th in the SEC in fielding% and dead last in double plays turned is something that the Hogs are going to need to work on. The Offense of the Hogs could also use a little work as they are 10th in the SEC in team batting average. Though it helps to have the SEC Player of the Week in 3B Zach Cox (.435 avg 5 hr 27 rbi 3 sb) in the lineup. The Razorbacks should continue to win as they host the Wildcats of Kentucky in Fayetteville this weekend.
7. #12 South Carolina Gamecocks 20-5 (5-1)
Well South Carolina did prove a lot to me this weekend but I still have to question just how good they are. They aren't overly fantastic in any aspect of the game, above average hitting, bad running, good pitching, average fielding, and average coaching. They still have not played an overly challenging schedule and that is going to haunt my opinion of them until they play this well against a top team. 3B Whit Merrifield (.354avg 5hr 19rbi 3sb) has been leading a very gap attacking offense but they need more production out of their other bats before I can agree that this team is great. I do like their pitching though it's not in the upper echelons of the conference, but it is still very good, and I really like Starting Pitcher Blake Cooper (4-0 3.54 era). This team should continue their stay a top the east as they host Mississippi State this weekend in Columbia.
8. Auburn Tigers 17-7 (4-2)
RPI: 13
Last Weekend: Lost Series to #12 South Carolina 5-11, 0-2, 10-6
Next Weekend: @ #25 Alabama
9. Kentucky Wildcats 17-8 (1-5)
RPI: 51
Last Weekend: Swept by #20 Vanderbilt 0-7, 8-9, 1-2
Next Weekend: @ #10 Arkansas
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs 14-11 (2-4)
RPI: 30
Last Weekend: Won Series over Georgia 9-8, 5-7, 11-10
Next Weekend: @ #12 South Carolina
11. Tennessee Volunteers 12-13 (0-6)
RPI: 83
Last Weekend: Swept by #5 LSU 2-6, 6-10, 6-8
Next Weekend: @ #11 Ole Miss
12. Georgia Bulldogs 9-15 (1-5)
RPI: 107
Last Weekend: Lost Series at Mississippi State 8-9, 7-4, 10-11
Next Weekend: @ #5 LSU
Playoff Projections
(Italic wins Divison; Bold wins Regular Season; Red wins Tournament)
1. LSU Tigers vs. 8. Auburn Tigers
4. South Carolina Gamecocks vs. 5. Ole Miss Rebels
3. Vanderbilt Commodores vs. 6. Arkansas Razorbacks
2. Florida Gators vs. 7. Alabama Crimson Tide
NBA
Power Ranking
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- Phoenix Suns
- San Antonio Spurs
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Denver Nuggets
- Atlanta Hawks
- Dallas Mavericks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Boston Celtics
- Miami Heat
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Charlotte Bobcats
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Houston Rockets
- Chicago Bulls
- New Orleans Hornets
- Indiana Pacers
- Toronto Raptors
- New York Knicks
- Golden State Warriors
- Sacramento Kings
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Detroit Pistons
- Washington Wizards
- New Jersey Nets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Playoff Projections
(Italic wins Division; Bold wins Conference; Red wins Title)
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Chicago Bulls
4. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Atlanta Hawks vs. 6. Miami Heat
2. Orlando Magic vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets
3. Phoenix Suns vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers
2. Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs
NHL
Power Ranking
- Washington Capitals
- Phoenix Coyotes
- San Jose Sharks
- Vancouver Canucks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Detroit Red Wings
- Buffalo Sabres
- New Jersey Devils
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Nashville Predators
- Los Angeles Kings
- Colorado Avalanche
- St. Louis Blues
- Calgary Flames
- Ottawa Senators
- Montreal Canadiens
- Boston Bruins
- Anaheim Ducks
- Dallas Stars
- Atlanta Thrashers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- New York Rangers
- Minnesota Wild
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New York Islanders
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Florida Panthers
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Edmonton Oilers
Playoff Projections
(Italic wins Division; Bold wins Conference; CAPS wins President's Trophy; Red wins Stanley Cup)
Eastern Conference
1. WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. 8. Philadelphia Flyers
4. New Jersey Devils vs. 5. Ottawa Senators
3. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 6. Montreal Canadiens
2. Buffalo Sabres vs. 7. Boston Bruins
Western Conference
1. San Jose Sharks vs. 8. Colorado Avalanche
4. Vancouver Canucks vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings
3. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 6. Nashville Predators
2. Phoenix Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings
Alright guys I apologize for this being up so late but I hope you have enjoyed. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just leave a comment below or text me at (256) 653-2393 or email us at wherethelandsharksare@gmail.com
Thank you for Reading
Batteman
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