What an exciting weekend for IUP Basketball. The women won the PSAC Tournament with a thrilling victory over rival California. It was a real nail biter down the stretch, that’s for sure. But give credit to Tom McConnell’s team for keeping their poise on their way to the championship. This is a heck of a win for the IUP women’s program. Well done, ladies, and good luck in the NCAA Tournament.
* The IUP men sure didn’t have their A Game on Saturday when they lost to Shippensburg. Yet somehow they almost pulled out an improbable victory after trailing by 20 in the second half. Give IUP a lot of credit for the rally that sent the game to overtime. Yes, they lost in OT, ending their 18 game winning streak. It was a very disappointing loss for IUP, but could actually get this team refocused as they head to the NCAA Tournament. One thing’s for sure, the fans at the KCAC sure saw a classic and definitely got their money’s worth.
* Kudos to our own Jack Benedict for his usual great work on the IUP basketball games over the weekend. His calls on the men’s game on Saturday and women’s game on Sunday were top notch. But what do you expect from our resident hall of famer!
* The Pens got the help they needed at the NHL trade deadline and didn’t mortgage their future to do it. They were able to pick up a few defensemen, and they sure needed them. While I don’t like giving up draft picks, and the Pens have given a ton away the last few years, I do think they needed to sure up their blue line. I’ve love to know if the Pens were ever in serious trade talks for a big name defenseman, and if so, what the Pens would have had to give up to get him. My guess is there were talks, but nothing ever got serious. If the Pens can get healthy they will be a team to be reckoned with when the playoffs begin. Are they good enough to beat Washington if those two teams meet again? Let’s just say, even though the Caps are the clear favorites to come out of the East, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Pens knock off the underachieving Capitals again.
* Either Pens’ manager Jim Rutherford never got the offer he needed to deal goaltender Marc Andre Fleury, or he felt he needed two solid guys in the net to give the Pens their best chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. I believe both are true. Had the Pens been blown away with an offer for The Flower, I think he would have been dealt. I also believe that after seeing his team need three goaltenders in the playoffs last year, Rutherford knew his team’s best chances to win the cup again was to have both Matt Murray and Fleury in black and gold all season. It’s pretty obvious that Fleury will not be a Pittsburgh Penguin after this year. Until then, it’s nice to know he’s available if and when the Penguins need him.
* Anyone who thought the Steelers would trade diva wide receiver Antonio Brown had no clue how the team operates. Not surprisingly, the Steelers signed Brown to a new long-term deal, making him the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. I applaud the move. Brown has been a terrific player for Pittsburgh. He’s also one of those players you need to win a Super Bowl. I like Brown, but have tired of his “me-first” antics. Hopefully he’s grown up after a season in which he was criticized, and for good reason. In the meantime, it’s nice to know that AB will possibly be a Steeler for life.
* It was also not the least bit surprising that the Steelers put the franchise tag on running back Le’Veon Bell. This will undoubtedly pave the way for a long-term deal for Bell as well, and reports are the parties are in serious negotiations. That is a good thing, as Bell is the best all-around back in football. Furthermore, he made it through last year without any major injury, and he didn’t have any off the field issues. I still think the Steelers will look for another good running back in the upcoming draft, and well they should. But Bell is the man, and it’s nice to know that he too should be a Steeler for many years to come.
* It’s pretty obvious that the Steelers are “going for it”. By locking up Brown and Bell, and knowing that Ben Roethlisberger has a few years left, the Steelers have to like what their offense can do. They’ve invested a lot of money and nearly a quarter of their salary cap in their modern day Big Three. The offense should be good, but now it’s up to the defense to improve. If so, the Steelers are definitely contenders out of the AFC. But, to get to another Super Bowl they will have to beat New England. And until they do that, I have to favor the Patriots any time these two teams meet.
* The NFL combine has been taking place the last several days. All indications are that this year’s draft will be loaded with pass rushing linebackers and defensive backs, areas the Steelers need to address. The combine is just one step in the evaluation process, but shouldn’t be the main one. I’ve never quite understood why some teams spend high picks on guys who were so-so in college, yet turn in eye popping numbers at the combine. It happens all the time. The Steelers once drafted a guy named Kenny Davidson of LSU in the second round of the 1990 draft. I happened to cover LSU for a Baton Rouge television station at that time and was baffled by the pick. Davidson wasn’t even a key contributor for that LSU team, yet dazzled pro teams in post-season workouts. Needless to say, he never made it big in the pros, although he went on to play for a few different teams. There have been many other examples like this. So, when it comes to evaluating players, look at the tape. Because the tape doesn’t lie.
* Congratulations to the West Shamokin girls for winning the school’s first ever Heritage Conference championship. They Wolves were dominant in their run to the title. Well done, girls, and best of luck in the state tournament.
