After a superstar high school basketball career in Fall River, Mass., Chris Herren dominated the courts at Boston College and Fresno State before playing for the Denver Nuggets, his beloved Boston Celtics and across the world. Despite his success playing basketball, his heavy addiction to drugs worsened (Chris failed drug tests wherever he played) and quickly took over his life, before he ultimately lost control and ended up in a rehab facility.

Ultimately, Chris – the youngest and most talented of three generations of local heroes – has found redemption and personal fulfillment through the game, but only after it led him literally around the world, and down a path of alcohol and drug addiction that nearly killed him.

Now three years sober, Herren’s long struggle with addiction is told in Unguarded, ESPN Films’ new documentary premiering Weds. Nov. 30 on ESPN America.

Through personal interviews with Herren’s family, friends and coaches along with his own words as he travels the country telling his inspiring story, director Jonathan Hock weaves together the rollercoaster of events in Herren’s life over the last 15 years. Events that could have led to his death have instead brought him to a place where he now finds the most peace – coaching basketball.

It’s the way of most sports stories to show how a life’s meaning can be found on the athletic field, how dedication to the game can provide redemption and honor. But sometimes talent is a mixed blessing, and the measure of an individual ultimately can’t be taken by wins and losses.

Chris Herren came from the city of Fall River, Mass., a faded textile town where personal loyalty and a tradition of high school basketball championships had come to fill the void left by the abandoned mills in every neighborhood. Chris’ brother Mike had led Fall River’s Durfee High School to two state titles, and became the only player other than Patrick Ewing to ever make all-state in Massachusetts three years running – Chris would be the third. Like every local hero before him, Mike’s dreams began and ended with winning at Durfee. But Chris was supposed to be different. His talent was beyond anything Fall River had ever seen; he was the chosen one, and on his shoulders fell the hopes of his family, his friends and his entire city.

If Chris’ life had gone according to script, this is where the music swells, he rises to claim his destiny as an NBA All-Star and redeems all the empty days and nights of forgotten Fall River. Indeed, Chris did become a big-time college star and did make it to the NBA. But not before he fell into an abyss of alcohol and drug addiction, a decade-long nightmare in which he would lose everything that ever mattered to him.

But the story of Chris Herren is the story of hope. While we were filming, Chris marked his third anniversary of sobriety. He has reclaimed his family and the love and respect of the community. Ultimately, it was only after Chris lost the game that was supposed to be his salvation that he found his life’s true meaning. Every day may still be a struggle, and he may never be able to claim the kind of final victory that basketball would have provided, but real life isn’t always like that. For most of us, it is a daily struggle. Self-respect and the love of family are the greatest rewards we can claim. And that can be much harder to achieve than hitting the big shot or winning the big game.

I’d like to thank Chris and his family for allowing us to tell their story. For 10 years, it was a nightmare, and because the final message is one of hope, they allowed us into the darkest places we could travel with them, with a rawness and an openness rarely offered. Chris’ philosophy is that you have to give things to get things in life, and my hope is that by telling his story, together we can give hope to those still in life’s dark places, and inspiration to the rest of us as we pursue our own lives’ great gifts, whatever they may be.

Jonathan Hock – director

For details of other new ESPN FIlms, click on the titles below:

CATCHING HELL – Finding Steve Bartman

RENEE – The Renee Richards Story

THE DOTTED LINE – Sports Agents

CHARISMATIC – Horse & Jockey

Andrew Joseph breaks down the rivalry between two of college basketball’s most storied programs: Kansas and Kentucky. 

#2 KENTUCKY WILDCATS vs.
#11 KANSAS JAYHAWKS  

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

LIVE on ESPN America: 16 Nov – 2:30am UK / 03:30 CET
Kentucky vs Kansas – Champions Classic

Sports fans everywhere will be in for a treat Tuesday night as college basketball’s top two winningest programs will square off at the world-famous Madison Square Garden. With all the wins, championships, and history between the two schools, it’s only fitting that Kansas and Kentucky meet on the world’s biggest stage.

Because the two programs have only played each other 25 times (Kentucky leads series 19-6), Kansas and Kentucky is not your prototypical rivalry. This is a rivalry of mutual respect between two programs that are so intertwined, neither school would be where it is today without the other. The Jayhawks and Wildcats epitomize what it means to be a blueblood; the fans don’t argue over petty regular season results, but rather the number of championship banners hanging in their respective rafters.

The history between the two programs is so astronomical that the very creation of basketball is directly connected with both Kentucky and Kansas. North Carolina and Duke may be college basketball’s best rivalry on the court, but Kentucky-Kansas owns the record books.

• Kentucky claims nine national titles (two Helms titles), while Kansas claims five (two Helms titles).
• Kansas has 2,039 all-time victories, second only to Kentucky’s 2,053 wins.
• Kentucky won four national championships under coach Adolph Rupp, and the Wildcats’ home arena, Rupp Arena, bares his name.
• Adolph Rupp played basketball at Kansas, and learned the game under legendary coaches “Phog” Allen and Dr. James Naismith.
• James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was a professor and coach at the University of Kansas.
• Kentucky coach John Calipari’s first coaching job was as an assistant coach at Kansas.

That only begins to summarize the immense history and connection that exists between the two programs, but even with the past aside, Kansas and Kentucky on the same court is one of the greatest spectacles that college basketball has to offer.

Kansas has not played Kentucky since the second round of the 2007 NCAA tournament, and Self’s Jayhawks defeated a Tubby Smith-coached Kentucky team by 12 points. However, when coach John Calipari took over at Kentucky in 2009, he not only reenergized Big Blue Nation, but he also made Kentucky the go-to destination for the nation’s top talent.

Although Calipari is only beginning his third season in Lexington, he has already taken the Wildcats to an Elite Eight and Final Four. His Kentucky teams have included big names like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Brandon Knight; Calipari-led Wildcats bring a swagger and pop-culture presence reminiscent of Michigan’s “Fab Five.” Despite having no connection to Kentucky basketball, LeBron James and Jay-Z are just two of the many celebrities who have been spotted sitting courtside at Rupp Arena. Kentucky is basketball royalty and welcomes the intense national spotlight that goes with it.

However, amidst all of Calipari’s accolades, if there were one person who haunts the dreams of Calipari, it would have to be Kansas coach Bill Self. 

The 2008 National Championship Game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Memphis Tigers went down as one of the greatest games in NCAA tournament history, but it is also the most regrettable moment of Calipari’s coaching career.

Mario's Miracle: Calipari's Nightmare

A talented Memphis team, led by NBA superstar Derrick Rose, witnessed a nine-point lead evaporate in just over two minutes. Self’s Jayhawks stormed back valiantly, while Memphis’ inability to hit free throws kept Kansas within striking distance. But even with the free throw struggles, Memphis maintained a three-point lead with 10 seconds remaining in the ball game. All Calipari’s team had to do was foul a Kansas player, giving the Jayhawks two free throws and not enough time to tie the game. What ensued would end up going down in Kansas basketball folklore and Calipari’s nightmares.

The Tigers did not foul a stumbling Sherron Collins as he handed the ball off to Mario Chalmers prior to hitting the floor. Chalmers only needed one dribble before firing away a shot from the top of the three-point line.

Nothing but net. 

Chalmers’ shot, known as “Mario’s Miracle,” ignited the Jayhawks to a 75-68 overtime victory and their fifth national title.

To this day, Calipari avoids any questions about the 2008 title game, which marked the beginning of the rivalry between him and Bill Self. Tuesday night will be the first time Calipari gets a shot at revenge against Self in a game, but the two coaches have competed seemingly non-stop on the recruiting trail for years. That is one competition where Calipari holds a considerable advantage.

Over the last few years, top college basketball programs like UCLA and Indiana have gone through tough times, while Kansas and Kentucky have maintained consistent success.

The Jayhawks have won seven straight Big 12 titles, averaged 33 wins a season over the last five years, and captured a national title in 2008. Not a bad resume to have when going up against the No. 2 team in the country, but there are plenty of question marks about the 2011 Jayhawks. Kansas lost the Morris Twins and Josh Selby to the NBA, and junior forward Thomas Robinson is the only legitimate NBA talent on the Jayhawks’ roster. The key to Kansas’ season will be Robinson staying out of foul trouble and smart guard play from Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson. Though Kansas lacks a roster full of McDonalds All-Americans, this is a talented team that has great upside.

It’s all smiles over in Lexington as Calipari is leading arguably his most talented Kentucky team to date. The return of All-American forward Terrence Jones and guard Doron Lamb makes for a lethal complement to the nation’s top freshmen class. Freshman Marquis Teague will carry the torch of the next NBA-bound point guard under Calipari. The freshmen class also includes potential NBA lottery picks in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, and Kyle Wiltjer. The 2011 Wildcats hold a considerable talent advantage over Kansas, but this will be the first time either team has been tested in this young season.

Kentucky vs. Kansas is a matchup that college basketball fans dream of, so what that it’s just November.

Also: AS LIVE 22 Nov – 4.30pm UK / 15:00 CET  Georgetown vs Kansas – Maui Invitational Qfinal #4

ANDREW JOSEPH is primarily writing about college sports for ESPN America from his base in Kansas, and he will be reporting live from various games this season.

Read more of Andrew on the Road:

Big 12 Basketball Media Day

Arkansas Road Trip 

Nebraska Road Trip

Oklahoma State Road Trip

Live from Monday Night Football

Meet the College Game Day Crew

Click here for more details about College Basketball on ESPN America – including latest games on TV, Articles, video, interviews, etc.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS vs.
#1 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Venue: USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA

Watch: As Live on ESPN America
Nov 12 12:30pm UK / 12:00 CET

THE BIG STORY
This looks to be one of the early eventful games of the season, as it will be played on an aircraft carrier and President Obama will be in attendance! The 2011 Carrier Classic is a salute to the US Troops, from the location to the camouflage uniforms each team will wear. This matchup should be very competitive as both Michigan State and North Carolina have been two of the most successful programs for the last decade.

HISTORY
The last time these two met was during the 2009-10, where North Carolina won in at home a shootout, 89-82. Key current players from that matchup are Spartan star Draymond Green and Tar Heels fantastic forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson. #1 North Carolina has big expectations this season and hopes to build on their 29-8 record, returning their starters from last year and adding a stellar recruiting class. Michigan State struggled last year, going 19-15, but have a few new faces and coach Tom Izzo, who does more with less better than anyone

KEY HEAD-TO-HEAD: DRAYMOND GREEN vs. HARRISON BARNES
This is without a doubt best matchup in this game. Green is the one of the better seniors in the country and will most likely lead Michigan State in scoring. Though a great all-around player, Green was inconsistent with his scoring last year and should improve now that last year’s scoring leader, Kailin Lucas, is gone. Barnes is an AP Preseason All-American and would have been a Top 5 NBA pick last year had he left after his freshman year. Another great all-around player, Barnes can score from anywhere on the floor. Barnes is 6’ 8”, can drive against forwards and shoot over guards, making him a match up nightmare and scoring machine. Barnes wins this matchup, though he doesn’t necessarily need to dominate the scoring column, as North Carolina has advantages at other positions.

COACHES
Tom Izzo and Roy Williams are two of the best active coaches in the country. Williams has won 2 national championships in 7 years with teams that look eerily similar to this year’s Tar Heels squad, loaded with All-Americans and future NBA players. Izzo’s teams have made 14 straight NCAA Tournaments, with an NCAA title in 1999-00. Always tough defensive and rebounding teams, Izzo’s teams are difficult to rank because they prefer to balance the scoring load and aren’t especially flashy.

VENUE
The USS Carl Vinson in San Diego
Making its debut as the first warship to host a comeptitive NCAA basketball game, this mighty nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has previously featured on the big screen in such films as Top Gun and Behind Enemy Lines. It is 1,092 feet long, 252 feet across the beam, and the flight deck covers 4.5 acres – large enough to hold 41 full-size basketball courts. All eyes will be on one court with a capacity of 7,000 sitting in the open-air. How this game and the players will be affected by this unusual sports stadium is explored by John Brenkus and the ESPN Sports Science team in the following video …

KEY TO THE GAME
Michigan State – Keep it low scoring.
North Carolina has a scary amount of talent offensively. The Tar Heels will try to get out on the fast break and put up points using their speedy point guard Kendall Marshall, and athletic big guys Henson and Zeller. In case you forgot, they also have Harrison Barnes. It’s important for Michigan State to get back on defense and force North Carolina to run their sets and play a half court game.

North Carolina- Hit perimeter shots.
There is no doubting North Carolina’s athleticism or Harrison Barnes’ ability to score. The problem is that there aren’t many other guards to hit outside shots besides Barnes. Marshall and Dexter Strickland are quick and can get to the hoop, however, neither is a knockdown perimeter threat. Freshman PJ Hairston may be that guy to come off the bench at times to stretch the defense and keep Michigan State honest.

PREDICTION from “Paddy The Brick”
You have to go with the top-ranked Tar Heels in this game, which is a rematch of the 2009 National Championship which was correctly predicted by the Commander-in-Chief – who will be on hand as mentioned. This game gives new meaning to the Dicky Vitale phrase, “He’s an Aircraft Carrier, Baby!” For this game, that will be Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller, who will dominate the paint for North Carolina. The Spartans face Duke next week at Madison Square Garden, so they might be looking past UNC, or perhaps over the edge to see how close they are to the water. Tar Heels pull away and win by 10 plus.

Click here for more details about College Basketball on ESPN America – including latest games on TV, Articles, video, interviews, etc.

Basketball may be considered an “American” sport, but – over the past decade – basketball has seen enormous growth across the world … and especailly across Europe.

In just the last five years nearly 3,500 international players have brought their talents to the United States at collegiate and professional levels. The increase in basketball’s international recognition is evident in popular culture, but even more so on the court.

Not only are we seeing more international players in college basketball, but schools and players are also taking advantage of the opportunity to compete against elite competition overseas.

So, ESPN America asked me to stroll along to Kansas City’s Sprint Center for the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day to report on how the European connections will impact some of the conference’s top teams this upcoming season. Having recently been working in Europe, I fully understood the transatlantic nature of my commission and I was lucky enough to be able to talk all things Europe with the coaches and players from the Big 12 teams.

BAYLOR BEARS

Coach Scott Drew enters the 2011 season with one of the most talented teams in the conference. The Bears did not live up to lofty preseason expectations last season, but the return of NBA prospect Perry Jones III should provide Baylor with a boost in a very deep front-court. Baylor participated in international competition in Canada over the summer, which included a matchup with Belgium’s national team.

I spoke with Jones III about some of the challenges Baylor faced playing against international competition …

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Coach Fred Hoiberg is entering his second year coaching his alma mater, and though the Cyclones are expected to finish towards the bottom of the conference, there is a clear upgrade in talent. The Cyclones are looking to build a program via the transfer route, welcoming Big 12 preseason newcomer of the year Royce White (Minnesota) and former Michigan State Spartans Chris Allen and Korie Lucious. With six new players, the Cyclones spent a couple weeks in Italy playing various European professional clubs.

I interviewed Senior guard Scott Christopherson about the differences betweend Big 12 and Italian basketball …

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

The Jayhawks enter the 2011 season as the favorites to win the Big 12 for the eighth straight season, but it won’t be easy for coach Bill Self and his new look team. The Jayhawks lost seven players from last season’s Elite Eight team, including NBA draftees Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, and Josh Selby. The Jayhawks are returning a bevy of backcourt talent, led by Tyshawn Taylor, to complement preseason All-American Thomas Robinson in the post. A number of former Jayhawks are playing basketball overseas, such as Sherron Collins, Tyrel Reed, and Brady Morningstar …

(Bill Self video coming soon!)

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Last season the Wildcats opened the year ranked in the top five and dropped out of the polls before conference play started. This season coach Frank Martin and his intense demeanor will have to get the most out of a team lacking a true superstar. The face of K-State basketball had been Jacob Pullen, but Pullen is graduated and playing in Italy for Angelico Biella. Senior Jamar Samuels is expected to take a leadership role for the Wildcats, and junior Rodney McGruder is coming off a strong summer playing abroad in Estonia.

I caught up with McGruder and found out about his European experience both on and off the court …

MISSOURI TIGERS

As all of the attention in Columbia is placed on the Tigers’ potential move to the Southeastern Conference, Mizzou is getting ready to begin the Frank Haith era of basketball. For the Missouri faithful this will be a new look style of play as former MU coach Mike Anderson’s  “40 Minutes of Hell” full-court defense went away with him to Arkansas. The key player for Missouri will be senior Marcus Denmon, who represented the USA in the World University Games against top international competition.

I asked Denmon about his off-season and found out a few things he learned playing on a National stage …

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

The Cowboys are in the process of rebuilding the basketball program, and coach Travis Ford will welcome one of the top incoming freshmen in LeBryan Nash to ease the process. Nash is a dynamic swingman who draws comparisons to New York’s Carmelo Anthony. The Cowboys are also returning key players in sharpshooter Keiton Page and Jéan-Paul Olukemi. Amongst the six newcomers to Oklahoma State is 7-footer Marek Souček from the Czech Republic.

I had the opportunity to speak to Coach Ford about Souček and his potential to be a Big 12 star …

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

The Aggies would love nothing more than to finish off its Big 12 membership by ending Kansas’ conference title streak; and the Big 12 coaches like Texas A&M’s chances. The Aggies were voted as co-favorites with Kansas to win the Big 12 this season, and they will have to do so with first-year head coach Billy Kennedy at the helm. The Aggies return stars in Khris Middleton and Dash Harris. This summer Texas A&M spent 10 days in Europe playing against the Swiss national team and a French professional team.

I got a chance to ask Harris a few questions about his experience in Europe and his preparation for the upcoming season …

ANDREW JOSEPH is writing about college sports for ESPN America from his base in Kansas, and he will be reporting live from various games this season. Watch out for his live blogging on Twitter: @AndyJ0seph or @ESPNAmerica.

Click here for more details about College Basketball on ESPN America – including latest games on TV, Articles, video, interviews, etc.

LAURA THOMAS is a Journalism student at the University of Kansas and is currently working with ESPN America in Europe.

With most experts’ mock NBA draft lists including at least ten international players this year, it looks like the reporters are going to need to work on their pronunciations before Thursday night. Out of names like Kanter, Biyombo, Valanciunas and Motiejunas, which of the 10 top international prospect names will we hear called early tomorrow night?

My top three international picks come down to one simple thing: will teams choose wisely this year by taking a player they actually need and can utilize, or will they focus on taking the best possible player left when it’s their turn to pick?

The 2011 draft has been marked with little talent and many are talking about the possible trading that will be going into the process this year. Two things are certain however, that Kyrie Irving, 6’3” point guard right out of Duke and Derrick Williams, 6’8” forward from Arizona will clinch the top two spots this year.

So the suspense is sure to begin after the Cleveland Cavaliers welcome Irving and the Minnesota Timberwolves call on Williams. The third ranked player in the draft this year is the much talked about Kentucky student from Turkey, Enes Kanter. A  6’11”center , although ruled by the NCAA as permanently ineligible for receiving $33,000 while playing for a club team in Turkey, Kanter spent the season sharpening his skills with the Univ. of  Kentucky.

Kyrie Irving of Duke looking to be the King of the Draft.

Since we have not been able to see him compete with those in the NBA, let alone even at a college level, all we can do is listen to Kentucky coach John Calipari when he says, “he can dominate his position, he’s the right size and he’s physical.”

With this being said, it seems only fitting that Kanter would slide into the third spot and join the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz aren’t looking for another center; they already have Derrick Favors and Jeremy Evans, two athletic bigs who have shown their extreme potential. Instead, what Utah need is another guard like Brandon Knight.

So with Kanter still left in the pile, we move back to the Cavs as we come to the number four pick. There has been much speculation over whether or not the Cavs, a team who after losing just one player went from 60 wins to a mere 19, will jump on the international band wagon and take Kanter. My opinion: the ‘ever talked about’ trading for veterans will come into play here.

The Cavs need someone with experience to pick them up and get the ball that they not only dropped – but completely fumbled – rolling again. Taking two rookies, although they may be hold extreme talent, would be the wrong move. Instead, they should take a veteran, perhaps one that will help their defensive game – unquestionably the weakest part of the team this season.

Finally, we come to the fifth spot, the Toronto Raptors and soon to be home of my number one pick for the international players, Kanter. Although many think that Kanter making it to the fifth spot is a long reach, Kanter will fit nicely into this team. Not only have the Raptors already made it known how much they want Kanter, but they are also known for taking the international players. Although this team is full of youth and athleticism, they need a single player to lead and Kanter may be just that.

The Raptors need a Big Man like Kanter to prevent getting "posterized".

Now with Kanter settled, the next question is who will be the second picked international player. My vote goes to 6’11” Jonas Valanciunas, the center from Lithuania. Although many have him lower on the bracket, the Washington Wizards are likely to pick him up with their number six pick because the team simply needs some depth. They need a scorer and a rebounder, simply put. Also simply put, Valanciunas is a proven scorer and a rebounder. The young center ranked among the top players in many different categories, overall points-per-possession being one of them.

European scouts rave about Valanciunas’ ‘combination of size, skill and motor,’ all of which give this center such high intrigue. The Wizards intrigue in the player lies in the fact that although Valanciunas may be a bit of a project, they need another big man to help out JaVale McGee in the paint.

Something interesting that should be said about Valanciunas however, is the question on everyone’s minds about the player: is he even allowed to come to the NBA now? The pressing issue of Valanciunas being unable to leverage a reasonable buyout that would allow him to play in the NBA in the upcoming season seems to be popping up more and more as we creep closer to Thursday night. Could this turn into another Ricky Rubio waiting game? Although his future is on the TBA list, it won’t be for long.

With two of the top three international contenders down, we move on to the third. Although many question the order Valanciunas and my final pick fall in the 2011 draft, most agree that Kanter, Valanciunas and Jan Vesely, 6’11” forward from the Czech Republic rank as not only the top three international players entered in this year’s draft, but also three of the most interesting as well.

Kemba: no. 1 in college but no. 6 in the pros?

The interest in Vesely comes from his athleticism and size. His size and length are extremely impressive for his position, and he finishes among the highest ranked finishers off cuts, offensive rebounds, post-ups and transitions. So where does all this land him in the draft line?

With the King’s holding the seventh pick, their need for leadership and a point guard make Kemba Walker, 6’1” point guard from UConn an obvious pick.

Next up the Detroit Pistons and their ninth seed in the draft. What is the team looking for? Detroit needs fresh foreign size to bounce-back after the injury of forward Jonas Jerebko. Here in lies Vesely. Although it could be a tough choice between San Diego State’s Kawhi Leonard, 6’6”, small forward and Vesely, The European’s height and ability to convert opportunities around the basket put him ahead.

Come Thursday night, with the anticipation felt around the world with the amount of international talent in the 2011 draft this year, three names that we better get used to pronouncing early in the evening are sure to be Kanter, Valanciunas and Vesely.

Ohio State is one of the top teams in this year's tournament.

Several months ago, I was asked by a group of Europeans touring ESPN why Americans have such a fascination with college sports. I struggled with my response. I didn’t have a good response because I hadn’t really thought about the reasons why.

Months later, I have come to a conclusion to explain why I feel the way I do about intercollegiate athletics.

I was born at a university hospital located across the street from where my parents were living as college graduate students. My father was a professor. I spent many hours and days playing in his office, doodling on chalkboards in adjacent classrooms or flipping through books and magazines at the library. A college campus represents home to me. This is why the athletic teams that represent the schools where my father taught – and where I grew up – are my teams.

Another question posed to me: What makes the NCAA basketball tournament so popular here? My analogy, while slightly imperfect, drew nods of approval. I had the group imagine the drama and intensity of UEFA Champions League games being played in a one-game elimination format within three weekends. That’s one reason the NCAA Tournament appeals to so many to make March Madness what it is.

Then there’s something officials at the NCAA don’t like to talk about it but it’s as important as any other reason behind the coast-to-coast success of March Madness: Gambling. It’s the time of year everyone in the United States is a college basketball expert/junkie. Filling out the brackets for the office pool is a requirement much like filing annual tax forms.

So,with hope that you may find riches and bragging rights among your co-workers, here are a few facts and stats from the ESPN research department for you to consider:

• More is less? In the first year of the 68-team field, 13 teams with at least 11 losses make the field for the first time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Seven teams in the field have at least 13 losses.

• Ohio State Buckeyes, beware! The NCAA Selection Committee began ranking the #1 seeds in 2004. Only once (Florida, 2007) has the top overall seed won the championship.

• 2nd seed North Carolina opens against 15-seed Long Island University in Charlotte. The Tar Heels are 27-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament games played in North Carolina.

• Ex-Cuse to pick Syracuse: Jim Boeheim’s team is a 3-seed for the first time since 2003 – the year the Orange won the championship.

• Tigerblood? Princeton is a 13-seed in the East Region and will open against Kentucky. The last time the Ivy League champs were a 13-seed, they upset defending NCAA champ UCLA in 1996.

• Villanova is the first team since the expansion of the field to 64 teams in 1985 to make the NCAA Tournament after losing its last five games of the season.

• Will Vandy suffer from arachnophobia? Vanderbilt has lost to a double-digit seed in each of its last two NCAA appearances. The Commodores open against the 12-seed Richmond Spiders.

• Careful about riding Pitt to the Final Four. The Panthers are the top seed in the Southeast. However, no team has won a national title after losing its first game in its conference tournament.

• The last time Florida was a 2-seed was in 2003. The Gators opened in Tampa that year, like this year. They lost in the second round by 22 points to Michigan State – a team they could play in the second round if the Spartans beat UCLA.

• Watch out, UConn. The only time Bucknell was a 14-seed, the Bison defeated 3-seed Kansas in 2005.

• Can longshot Belmont beat the Badgers down the homestretch? Wisconsin’s shaky performance at the Big Ten Tournament has many eyeing Belmont as an upset special in the Southeast. The Bruins enter the tournament on a 12-game winning streak.

• If the altitude in Denver doesn’t get to St. John’s, the Gonzaga frontline probably will. D.J. Kennedy’s season-ending ACL injury means the interior advantage tilts in Gonzaga’s favor for their second-round matchup.

• Give a good look at Richmond, Temple and Xavier. The Atlantic-10 Conference has had its teams win at least one game in five straight years, 19 of 20 years and 31 of the past 33 tournaments.

These are just a few points to consider as you fill out your brackets. Don’t forget, every game of the NCAA Tournament can be seen on ESPN America. Also, you can join the fun and test your knowledge against your fellow viewers and me. Log on at www.espnamerica.com/brackets.

Let the Madness begin!

by SPENCER HONEYMAN

Who do you think will win this year's NCAA Tournament? Click the image to fill out your bracket.

Here I sit in front of my ESPN March Madness bracket, and, frankly, it’s giving me some trouble.

First of all, let me say up front that I am about the worst there is when it comes to making picks for the NCAA Tournament. In fact, I’m pretty bad at making any sports picks. It’s why I don’t gamble. I’m not very good at it.

But for ‘entertainment purposes only’ I’m more than willing to get bracket fever and fill out my March Madness picks. The question is, do I just plough through it and make instantaneous gut picks, or pour over the stats and analysis and make the most informed choices that I can.

Since I tend to do better the less I think, that’s probably the way I’ll go. Be sure to go to the homepage of the ESPN America website and click the link to fill in your bracket. See whether you can do better. I’m sure you can. Give it a go.

It is a tough tournament to read this year. The field has expanded from 65 to 68 teams. The ‘Play-in’ game is replaced with four ‘First Round’ games, starting the Madness off on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It is also one of the weakest fields this year, with five 14-loss teams in the field, one fewer than in the combined history of the entire tournament since it was expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

That translates to a lot of parity in the field. Personally, I think there will be a lot of turbulence throughout the ranks, chaos even. But the top four teams, Ohio State, Kansas, Duke and Pittsburgh, have been the most consistent over the course of the season, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see all of them in Houston for the Final Four.

Some of the stories I’m looking at following:

• How far can San Diego State go? They aren’t exactly a traditional college hoops powerhouse, but the Aztecs have only lost twice this year and snagged a No. 2 seed in the West Region. They could be this year’s George Mason or Butler, a quality team that stays under the radar and goes on to make a deep run.
• How far can Jimmer Fredette carry Brigham Young? The country’s leading scorer can light up the scoreboard, but can he carry a team that had one of their key players, Brandon Davies, suspended for the remainder of the season.
• Does the Big East deserve 11 teams? After getting so many teams in the field, the Big East Conference will want a good showing to prove they deserve such kudos from the selection committee.

The road will be long, the tension will be high. There will be twists and there will be turns. It’s time to sit back and enjoy the ride, or should I say, Madness.

Get your bracket filled in, sit back and enjoy the action on ESPN America.

I love Major League Baseball in September. The reason (beyond the division and wild card races): the onslaught of minor league promotions –

Mike Nickeas signs an autograph. He's a British citizen who's been called up to the Major Leagues by the Mets.

known as September call ups – that nearly every team makes this month. Thanks to a peculiar rule that allows clubs to increase their big league roster to as many as 40 players in September, you get to see both future phenoms experiencing their first look at the Majors and longtime farmhands finally enjoying a taste of the big time. It’s the latter type that makes for particularly compelling human drama. Take John Lindsey who got his first call up with the Los Angeles Dodgers after 16-years in the minor leagues. That’s a fantastic story.

For European baseball fans, this September offers the continent its very own special player to root for: his name is Mike Nickeas. Like Lindsey, Nickeas, who was called up by the New York Mets, had a long road to the Majors. The right-handed hitting catcher overcame a wrist injury and toiled for seven seasons in places like Spokane, Washington; Bakersfield, California and Binghamton, New York, before making his Major League debut against the Cubs in Chicago on September 4th. Yet, before that momentous day at Wrigley Field, I suspect the most interesting place he ever played was in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the Great Britain National Baseball Team at the 2007 European Baseball Championships.

While an increasing number of Dutch players are making their way to the Major Leagues, an athlete from a relatively minor European baseball country like Great Britain is unique. (Nickeas is the first GB national team member to reach the pinnacle of baseball, though there have been a couple of players who have competed in British domestic leagues before playing in the big leagues.) It’s worth noting that Nickeas, who was born in Canada and went to high school and university in the United States, has British citizenship through his English father. Nevertheless, he truly appreciates what baseball means to Europeans who play it and what the experience of playing in Europe has meant for him.

“The Euros could not have come at a better time for me, personally and professionally,” Nickeas told me just after his call up. “I think the grind of the minor leagues was getting to me and seeing and feeling the passion of [the] GB team was such a fresh feeling. In a lot of ways I felt that playing there rejuvenated my passion for baseball.”

Nickeas, who helped Great Britain win the silver medal at that event, has become an instant hero for the approximately 1,300 players in Great Britain.

“It’s a great thing and really something they can all look to for inspiration and can now aspire to. What better example than a GB player making it to the big show?” British Baseball Federation president Mark Salter said after hearing the news.

Chase Utley is one of the Major League All-Stars participating in a baseball clinic in the Netherlands hosted by Rick VandenHurk, a Dutch-born pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles.

Sadly, even with the best of stories, there will always be some people who look to poke holes. In Europe, those from countries with more developed baseball environments or those who do not have good access to North American players with European passports may bristle at calling a player like Nickeas, who has never competed domestically in Great Britain, a “British” representative.

As someone who grew up in the United States but played in two European domestic leagues and for Great Britain’s national team for 10 years, I find such comments short-sighted. Historically, even the best baseball playing European nations have looked beyond their borders to supplement their rosters. For example, Italian teams in the 1980s relied heavily on Italian-Americans. The involvement of those players, who bring baseball knowledge and savvy along with their skills, can only help raise the overall performance of born-and-bred European players who get the opportunity to compete with or against them.

Still, it is essential that those who are given the chance to represent Europe based on lineage respect that opportunity. On this account, Nickeas deserves every European baseball fan’s support. “I think it’s important that players like myself embrace and honor their roots in any way they can,” Nickeas said. “Being British and having success in baseball in the U.S. will hopefully help spread the popularity of baseball to people who would not usually give baseball a second look.”

This off-season, Rick VandenHurk, a Dutch-born pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles, has organized a series of clinics in the Netherlands from November 6-13. VandenHurk, who played in the Netherlands until he was 16, used his relationships to line up a handful of high-profile Major Leaguers for the event, including perennial All-Star Chase Utley. Whether Nickeas will be in a position to one day put together a similar event in Britain – or elsewhere in Europe – remains to be seen. But you get the definite sense his connection to the continent will not be a fleeting one. When asked whether he will be involved with British and/or European baseball in the future, he doesn’t hesitate with an answer: “Absolutely, I hope so.”

Here’s hoping that he can work in any European commitments with a long stretch at the Major League level.

I don’t know what you guys think, but this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, aka, March Madness, has been one of the more interesting of late. The last couple of years the top seeds have ruled the Final Four, and the whole thing has had a bit of an air of predictability about it.

Not this year. We got plenty of upsets and buzzer beaters, and we have ended up with more five seeds in the Final Four than No. 1’s.

Obviously, Kansas was the big shocker. I came home that night and turned on the television with about five minutes left in the game and could hardly believe my eyes as Northern Iowa kept their cool and knocked out the top seed in the tournament. Ali Farokhmanesh nailing the three-pointer with 35 seconds to play to seal the deal and to become the poster boy for Goliath killers was one of the special moments of the tournament. At least if you are not a Jayhawk fan it was.

Kentucky seemed to have an air of destiny about them through the opening rounds as they blew past opponents. A team coached by John Calipari with a freshman point guard phenom harkened back to the run Derrick Rose and Memphis made a couple of years ago. Alas it was not to be for John Wall and the Wildcats as they fell to West Virginia in the regional final.

Although the Mountaineers were a No. 2 seed, it felt a little bit like they flew under the radar. I suppose that’s probably because they didn’t have the headline grabbing superstars that Kentucky did. With Wall most likely destined to enter the NBA draft, the folks down in Bluegrass Country will have to see whether Calipari can continue to bring success back to a legendary program that had fallen on hard times and justify being the highest paid coach in college basketball.

With Syracuse falling to Butler, that left Duke as the only top seed to survive and make the trip to Indianapolis. If you had asked me at the beginning of the tournament, I’d have picked Duke as the most likely number one seed to fall. But they played solid basketball throughout the tournament and got some clutch shooting from Nolan Smith, and here they are.

The two number five seeds at Indy seem to offer up the best stories. Michigan State looked very good at times this year, and were a preseason favourite to return to the Final Four for a second straight year. But they faltered a bit down the stretch and fell to the fifth seed in the Midwest Region, and then proceeded to lose their best player, Kalin Lucas, in their second round win over Maryland.

But Coach Tom Izzo’s team just kept winning, Lucas or no Lucas. The Spartans also showed they could win close games as three out of four of their tourney wins came by three points or less. It is the second straight Final Four appearance, and sixth in the past 12 years for Izzo-coached Spartan teams. A magnificent run that shows that a team coached by Izzo can never be counted out come March. He flat out gets his team ready to play tournament basketball. No upperclassman recruited by Izzo at Michigan State has missed out on playing in the Final Four. How’s that for recruiting material?

Of course it’s Butler that has captured the hearts of the basketball world. Playing against teams with much bigger programs and much deeper pockets, the Bulldogs were relentless in this tournament. With an enrollment of just 4,500, Butler is a minnow compared to the Big Ten and ACC schools. And while some people might say “Butler who?” it has to be pointed out that, in case you weren’t paying attention, the Bulldogs spent most of the season in the upper half of the national rankings and have reeled off a 20-game winning streak.

The other thing that makes Butler’s story so intriguing is the fact that the school is located in Indianapolis, the site of the Final Four. It marks the first time since UCLA in 1972 that a hometown team has played in the Final Four. And watch out for Gordon Hayward. He’ll be playing in the NBA one day.

So how did your bracket do? Mine was a whole heck of a lot better than last year, (but last year was really really bad) and I was in the 98th percentile of the 5 million brackets on the ESPN Challenge through the first three rounds. Since then, not so good. In fact, I failed to pick one single Final Four team. Ouch. Eamonn Brennan points out on espn.com that of the nearly 5 million entries in the Tournament Challenge, 200 of them actually picked the Final Four correctly. Kudos to them, but just one question. How in the heck did they do that? Just lucky, I’m sure.

With all the dancing behind us, it’s time to settle in and enjoy the spectacle that is the Final Four. Let’s hope the action stays as exciting as it has been so far.

Over the past few years we have watched a stream of talented young basketball players make a detour through the college ranks on their way to the bright lights and big pay checks of the National Basketball Association. After a year without a true standout freshman grabbing the spotlight, another young prodigy is back on the stage this year, and his name is John Wall.

John Wall is quick off the dribble.

If you have been watching college hoops on ESPN America so far on the young season, you may be familiar with the new chosen one. He woke up the basketball world by single-handedly willing his Kentucky team to a win over the 14^th-ranked UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden on December 9. Wall dropped 25 points and made the game-winning basket in a 64-61 win. Welcome to the big time, kid.

Wall also showed his stuff a few nights ago against Indiana, and he hasn’t slowed down. He’s averaging 18 points and 7 assists per game so far on the season.

Wall is one of those players people knew would be good. He would most likely have gone second in this year’s NBA Draft behind Blake Griffin. The thing is there is no way to know how good a player will be until he gets on the big stage, but there is little doubt already that Wall’s name will be called first in next year’s draft.

The only reason Wall is even playing at Kentucky is due to a rule the NBA instituted a few years back that requires players to be one year removed from their graduating high school class before they become eligible to play in the world’s top professional league.

Gone are the days when the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James jump from preps to pros. The wisdom of the rule is that for every LeBron or Kobe, there are 10 kids who aren’t ready to make the leap. It’s difficult for NBA teams to pass on a kid who might be a quality player, but it does neither the team nor the young player good if he’s not ready. The NBA shouldn’t be in the business of developing talent. That’s what the college ranks are for.

But there are clearly some players who are head and shoulders above the rest, and now the college spotlight shines on these guys for one blazing season. In recent years we’ve seen the likes of Kevin Durant, O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley and Greg Oden put in their short time. Two years ago it was Derrick Rose, the player Wall is most being compared to. Both Rose and Wall are point guards and they share a head coach in John Calipari.

Rose led a talented Memphis team to the championship game where they lost to Kansas. Calipari, who moved to Kentucky this past off season, has said Wall is better at this stage of his collegiate career than Rose was.

Calipari should hope the similarities don’t extend to Wall having someone take his SAT college entrance exam for him. There have been no formal accusations, and Rose has denied it, but Memphis was forced by the NCAA to vacate their Final Four appearance for an indiscretion widely reported to be exactly that.

He is slight of build and looks smaller than his listed 6-4, but Wall glides with a grace that seems to give him a higher gear than other players on the court. And he plays above the rim with an effortlessness that seems incongruous with his point guard stature. The game of basketball just looks easy for him.

And unlike Mayo or Beasley, who weren’t surrounded by the talent needed to make any real waves come March, Wall is the main cog in a machine that could well make a run deep into the Big Dance.

So fans of college basketball, pay attention and enjoy this short ride while it lasts. Wall most certainly will only be around for one year, but it is also looking likely that year could be a special one.

Tune in all season long to ESPN America and see just how high this year’s big thing can fly.