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It’s that time of year. Show your college hoops knowledge (or at least fake it) and creativity with any of these bracket names. Feel free to add your own.

Nat King Cole Adrich - Kansas junior is a double-double machine.

Wall-Stars -  John Wall is truly something special.

Tweety Bird Carter - Baylor’s Tweety Carter is one of the nation’s best point guards.

Call Me Ishmael - Moby Dick reference for Wake Forest PG Ishamel Smith.

Where’s Roy Williams? - Cameron Crazies jab at UNC fans.

Head Turner - Shot out to Ohio State’s Evan Turner

Wild Wild Wes - Homage to Syracuse great Wes Johnson. 

Sienna Again-a? - Sienna has upset wins in the opening round of the past two tourneys.

Feel free to add your team names.

Also feel free to join my bracket for a chance to win a $25 Applebee’s gift card.
The Group ID is 5625 and the password is hoops.

I’ve been invited to participate in Fantasy Trader’s fantasy football roundtable.

This week’s topic:
With their rookie seasons now in the books, who has the better fantasy career?  Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez?

Click here for the full article.

My response:
I’m going to go with the #1 pick Matthew Stafford for a number of reasons. First of all, he already has a premier wide receiver in Calvin Johnson. Megatron is a physical specimen that will only get better. He also has talented second-year tight end Brandon Pettigrew that will grow with him. Having two young, talented pieces in place is a great start.

Mark Sanchez started to get with tight end Dustin Keller in the playoffs, but his options are limited. Plus, the Jets don’t need Sanchez to have a big game to win. The Lions, on the other hand, don’t have a good defense. If they are going to win, it’s going to be a shootout. The Jets are built on defense and their running game. It’s unlikely that they  are going to change it any time soon. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I also favor Stafford as a long-term fantasy quarterback because he plays in a dome. While Sanchez has to deal with the elements, Stafford is at ease in climate-controlled Ford Field. Nothing derails a fantasy championship like a late-season nor’easter.

Here’s a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night.

Earl Watson, Indiana Pacers
Watson had 15 points and 5 rebounds against Milwaukee. He’s averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 assists in his last five games.

Jerry Stackhouse, Milwaukee Bucks
Stack scored 20 points against the Pacers. While he has performed better than I expected, he’s not a fantasy option.

Jason Kapono, Philadelphia 76ers
Kapono had 17 points against the Heat. He is not a fantasy option either.

Carlos Arroyo, Miami Heat
Arroyo had 12 points and 10 assists. I wouldn’t pencil him into my fantasy lineup.

Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic
Pietrus had 20 points and 5 rebounds against the Bobcats. He’s another guy you shouldn’t concern yourself with.

Wesley Matthews, Utah Jazz
Matthews dropped 29 points on the Thunder. He’s averaging 14.4 in his last five games. He’s a decent option in deep daily leagues if you need some scoring.

Nicolas Batum, Portland Trail Blazers
Batum had 22 points against the Raptors. Consistency is an issue, but he’s useful in daily leagues.

Wayne Ellington, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ellington had 15 points against the Kings. He had 17 points in his last game. If he continues to play 30+ minutes, he’ll be worth considering in daily leagues.

Donte Greene, Sacramento Kings
Greene had 19 point and 8 rebound against the Wolves. Minnesota doesn’t play defense so don’t put too much stock in his performance.

Here’s a look at some middle infielders that should return to form in 2010.

Akinori Iwamura, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Iwamura was limited to just 69 games last year. He’s moved on to Pittsburgh where he should return to form. In 2007 & 2008 he averaged .279, 86.5 runs, 6.5 HRs, 41 RBIs, and 10 SBs. He’s only useful in the middle infielder slot.

Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondbacks
It’s not like Drew had a terrible year, but his .261-71-12-65-5 was not on par with his 2008 .291-91-21-67-3.  Drew should improve in all aspects, with SBs as the possible exception.

Kelly Johnson, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Johnson was an absolute mess last year hitting .224 with 47 runs, 8 HRs, 29 RBIs, and 7 SBs. Not exactly what you’d expect from someone that had a 2007 line of .276-91-16-68-9 and a 2008 line of .287-86-12-69-11. He gets a fresh start in Arizona, where he’s bound to have marked improvement. I’d only use him as a MI.

Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
His injury has moved him from a top five selection into the second round at best. Look for 100+ runs and 30+ SBs depending on how long he’s out with his thyroid condition.

Richie Weeks, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
Weeks doesn’t have to come back from ineffectiveness. He played extremely well last year. His season was just cut short (wrist). Assuming he’s healthy he should have an excellent season.

Also check out:
Bounceback Catchers
Bounceback Corner Infielders

A couple of big name NFL players have new homes. LaDainian Tomlinson left sunny San Diego for the Big Apple as he signed on to backup Shonn Greene of the New York Jets. I thought he would be a good fit with the Vikings, where he could justify to himself that he’s backing up an elite running back. Clearly LT knows where he’s at in his career. Otherwise he could not have accepted being second fiddle to a back with Greene’s credentials. 

Personally I think he misjudged the ability of the Jets. They made a great run last year, but I think will be hard-pressed to return to the playoffs in 2010. You can basically pencil in New England, Indianapolis, and San Diego. Baltimore, Pittsburgh (depending on Big Ben’s availability), Cincinnati, Houston, and Tennessee will be challenging the Jets for the remaining playoff spots. Assuming Brett Favre returns, I think the Vikings are in a better position to win it all. LT will likely have a bigger role with the Jets. Perhaps that swayed his decision.  

LT’s fantasy value clearly takes a hit. Barring injury, he won’t get as many touches in New York. Shonn Greene’s value shouldn’t change. He was getting the touches down the stretch when Thomas Jones was still with the team. Personally, I think Jones is better than LT at this stage of their careers.

In other news, the Broncos acquired Brady Quinn from the Browns for Peyton Hillis and some draft picks. Hillis is not a fantasy option in Cleveland. It appears his brief run two years ago will just be a blip on his fantasy radar. The real piece in this deal is Quinn. I’m not sure he could have found a better home. While Jay Cutler had to deal with John Elway comparisons, Quinn doesn’t come with the same expectations. The bar is set much lower. Besides, he’ll be happy to escape Cleveland where he was looked at as a hometown hero prior to his stint with the Browns.

It’s hard to say if you can count on Quinn this year. He’ll at least have the opportunity to beat out Kyle Orton. If he wins the starting gig, his value will be tied to the whereabouts of Brandon Marshall. If Marshall is dealt, his options could be limited. Thankfully you don’t have to make any decision on Quinn right now.

Big names have new homes, but nothing for fantasy players to get excited about.

Here’s a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night.

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
DeMar had 18 points against the Warriors. He’s averaging 12.4 in his last five games. He does little else.

Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
Calderon had 24 points and 12 assists. He’s a decent option in daily leagues. His numbers in this game were a bit bloated because it was against Golden State.

Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons
Bynum had 16 points and 7 assists. His value will be limited when Rodney Stuckey returns.

Designed by Jase Patrizio, jasepatrizio.com – art design & production

March Madness is coming. Given my beloved Syracuse’s success, I am more than pumped. Although their loss to Georgetown is still stinging.

I’m calling out of you bracketoligists. Join my bracket and you can win $1 million. OK, so you have to pick a perfect bracket, and the tab will be picked up by Yahoo. They’ll also hook you up with $10,000 if you beat all of America.

LestersLegends.com is offering a more attainable reward. We have set up a Yahoo Bracket League for our excellent readers. The Bracketologist who wins the contest will be rewarded with a $25 Applebee’s gift certificate.  The leaders will be posted online after each round.  Signing up is easy.  Just click on the link toYahoo Sports and take your first step to having lunch on Lester.

The Group ID is 5625 and the password is hoops.

They’ll can send you a reminder when the brackets are assigned.

Good luck!

Last year’s winner:

Dan the College Baseball Examiner

Written by Eric Stashin the Rotoprofessor

Acquired in the deal that sent George Sherrill to Los Angeles, Josh Bell appeared on the precipice of a Major League job heading into 2010 before the Orioles signed both Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada.  Now, just an injury away of getting an opportunity, Bell should certainly still be on the radars of fantasy baseball owners.

2009 Statistics (split between two Double-A teams):
448 At Bats
.295 Batting Average (132 Hits)
20 Home Runs
76 RBI
65 Runs
3 Stolen Bases
.376 On Base Percentage
.516 Slugging Percentage
.339 Batting Average on Balls in Play

What You Need To Know:

• His power was good all year, but he really turned things up after the trade hitting nine home runs in 114 AB for the Orioles’ Double-A team.
• In 2009 he was the MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game after he went 2-4 with a home run and two RBI.
• Baseball America ranked him as the team’s second best prospect (and 37th overall) heading into 2010, ahead of the highly touted Jake Arrieta.  They said that he “has above-average power and a good approach, showing the ability to work counts to get on base”.
• He was selected in the fourth round (136th overall) of the 2005 draft.
• One of the biggest knocks against him is his ability to hit lefties.  Despite being a switch hitter, he hit .340 against right-handers in 2009 and .198 against left-handers.  He’s always had similar struggles, posting averages of .240 (Rookie League), .246 (two levels of Single-A) and .262 (Single-A) from 2006-2008 against southpaws.
• He does strikeout a fair share, at 25.5% over his minor league career.  He was below that at both levels of Double-A he played in (24.6% for the Dodgers, 21.0% for the Orioles), but it still needs to be monitored.  The more he strikes out, the tougher it’ll be for him to post a usable average in the Major Leagues.  How he performs against the upper-levels in 2010 will certainly help tell us the full story.
• His success in 2009 comes after missing most of 2008 due to preventative knee surgery.  According to mlb.com, “The surgery was for a small divot that was found in the cartilage near his kneecap. It was the kind of thing that wasn’t bothering the 21-year-old in the slightest. The problem was that, if left untreated, it would get bigger and could be career-threatening down the road.”

Final Thoughts:
He has plenty of power and given the opportunity, could prove usable in all formats, especially given how shallow 3B is in 2010.  He’s likely ticketed for Triple-A to open the season, but all it will take is an injury to one of their new corner infielders, or potentially Luke Scott, to give Bell his opportunity to shine.

Monitor him closely because once he makes an impact he could be a name you need to know for many years to come.

What are your thoughts on Bell?  Could he be usable in 2010?  What type of production do you expect from him?

If you would like to see a free preview of the Rotoprofessor 2010 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide (available for just $5) now including a Top 50 Prospects for 2010 List, click here.

Larry Johnson signed a three-year deal with the Washington Redskins. He basically serves as Clinton Portis insurance. Honestely, with their aging line and age (LJ) and mileage (Portis) working against them, I don’t see either back being all that productive in 2010.

LJ’s character issues remain while his burst and ability have dried up. The signing truly makes no sense. That’s Washington for ya. You may want to take a flier on LJ at the end of your fantasy drafts. I’d probably just pass on him though.

In other news, Ben Watson signed with the Browns. Though a more low-profile signing, it has significantly more fantasy relevance. Watson is a gifted tight end that often got lost in the Patriots’ arsenal. In Cleveland there are fewer mouths to feed. Don’t be surprised if Watson becomes a top ten fantasy tight end for the Browns.

Here’s a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night.

Delonte West, Cleveland Cavaliers
West had 17 points for the Cavs. His rebounds and assist were down thanks to LeBron’s return. He still is proving to be a decent option in daily leagues.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers
Young had 15 points and 5 rebounds. He’s been a nice option of late.

Travis Outlaw, Los Angeles Clippers
Outlaw had 16 points for the Clippers. He doesn’t have much value.

Glen Davis, Boston Celtics
Big Baby had 15 points as the C’s pounded the Pacers. He’s not a reliable option.

James Johnson, Chicago Bulls
Johnson had 20 points filling in for Luol Deng. He has some use if Deng remains sidelined any longer.

Jannergo Pargo, Chicago Bulls
Pargo had 20 points filling in for Derrick Rose. You can use him while Rose is out.

Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls
Miller had 18 points and 11 boards filling in for Joakim Noah. I’m sensing a theme here.

Quentin Richardson, Miami Heat
Q had 23 points and 7 rebounds. He’s averaging 17.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in his last five games.

Johan Petro, Denver Nuggets
Petro had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). He’s not a guy I would rely on.

Al Thornton, Washington Wizards
Thornton had 16 points and 6 rebounds. He remains a decent fantasy option.

Jonas Jerebko, Detroit Pistons
Jerebko continues to be a solid fantasy play. He had 18 points and 8 rebounds against the Wiz. He’s completely outplaying Charlie Villanueva.

Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons
Maxiell has filled in nicely for Ben Wallace. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

Wayne Ellington, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ellington had 17 points. His play is too spotty.

Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, & Terence Williams, New Jersey Nets
Dooling had 15 points and 7 assists. Hayes had 16 points. Williams had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. I don’t like any of them, but Williams has been the best fantasy play of late.

Toney Douglas & Bill Walker, New York Knicks
Douglas had 19 points and 6 rebounds. Walker had 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Neither are reliable fantasy options.

C.J. Miles, Utah Jazz
Miles had 17 points and 4 steals. He’s averaging 14.8 points in his last five games.

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks
Ilyasova had 14 points and 8 rebounds against the Jazz. His numbers are down of late, but he remains a decent play in daily leagues.

Francisco Garcia, Sacramento Kings.
Garcia had 17 points. He’s picking up his play averaging 12.5 points in his last four games.

Bonus from 3/11/10

JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards
McGee had 20 points and 9 rebounds against the Hawks. He’s averaging 12.8 and 7.0 in his last five games.

Nick Young, Washington Wizards
Young had 17 points. He had 18 on Tuesday. Keep an eye on him if you need a scoring boost.

Marcin Gortat, Orlando Magic
Gortat had 7 points and 11 rebounds. It was against the Bulls’ decimated front line. Don’t read into it.

Anthony Tolliver & Reggie Williams, Golden State Warriors 
Tolliver had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Williams had 14 points as well. As long as they are part of the rotation, they have fantasy value.