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Don Banks: 2012 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:09:39 +0000

In the past six drafts, just two tailbacks have been picked in the top five. Scouts are raving about Trent Richardson, but where does he fall in Don Banks’ updated first-round projection?

Top 50 draft prospects

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:09:38 +0000

The final phase of scouting for 2012 begins this week with the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Now that the season and all of the following All Star games are complete, it’s time to revisit and reshuffle the big board. Here are the top 50 players on SI.com’s big board as we get ready for a busy week ahead (* denotes underclassman).

Identifying the eight teams that could win it all

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:43:35 +0000

They aren’t necessarily college basketball’s eight best teams. But one of these schools — the Magic Eight — is going to win it all, predicts Luke Winn. And there are surprises in the bunch.

K-State, Seton Hall boost tourney chances

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:43:34 +0000

Here’s a look at a few notable contests from an eventful Tuesday in college hoops:

Kansas State upsets No. 3 Missouri again (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:14 +0000

Forget any talk of Kansas State as a team teetering on the NCAA Tournament bubble. After yet another convincing win over a Top 20 team, the Wildcats’ bubble has burst — and coach Frank Martin couldn’t be happier. Rodney McGruder scored 24 points as Kansas State upset No. 3 Missouri 78-68 Tuesday night, the Wildcats’ second win this season over the Tigers and their first at Mizzou Arena…

Seton Hall knocks off No. 9 Hoyas 73-55 (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:13 +0000

Jordan Theodore started talking about his last chance to play in an NCAA tournament in the preseason. The senior guard wants desperately to be part of the field of 68. On Tuesday night, he was nearly perfect in helping Seton Hall get the signature win it needed for its NCAA tournament resume. He had a career-high 29 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including making all five 3-point attempts, in a 73-55…

Spurs’ 11-game win streak snapped 137-97 (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:12 +0000

A win is a win to the Trail Blazers. Portland faced the San Antonio Spurs, playing without resting stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and led by as many as 48 points on the way to a 137-97 victory. “It still counts, right?” said LaMarcus Aldridge, among six Blazers who had with 16 points or more.

OF Ramirez expected at A’s camp Friday (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:11 +0000

Manny Ramirez is expected to join Oakland at its spring training facility on Friday, yet another part of the Athletics’ offseason overhaul. “I watched some video of him and saw the swing. It didn’t look any different, and it looked like he was in good shape,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday.

La Russa in talks to work for MLB (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:11 +0000

Tony La Russa says he’s talked to Commissioner Bud Selig about working for Major League Baseball in some capacity. La Russa, who retired as a manager after guiding the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series title last year, was visiting with the Detroit Tigers at spring training Tuesday. La Russa is good friends with Tigers manager Jim Leyland and has a longstanding relationship with general…

No. 1 Kentucky rallies to beat Miss. St. (AP)

RParteko — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:10 +0000

Compared to the rest of Kentucky’s roster, Darius Miller is a dinosaur. But the 6-foot-8 senior guard does bring the Wildcats some experience and toughness, and he scored all of his 12 points in the final eight minutes to help No. 1 Kentucky climb out of a halftime hole to beat Mississippi State 73-64 on Tuesday night.