NBA Draft Preview

Kyle Lynch and David Shonis

Staff Writers

The 2017 NBA Draft is three months away and the biggest news surrounding the draft is who will be selected 1st overall. Notable 1st overall selections in the past drafts were: Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, Patrick Ewing, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and the great Hakeem Olajuwon. There were some players though who did not live up to the expectations of performing at a high level who were drafted #1, but there is always excitement surrounding the draft. With the 2017 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, some notable top players in the upcoming draft include Markelle Fultz from Washington, Lonzo Ball from UCLA, Jayson Tatum from Duke, Jonathan Isaac from Florida State, Josh Jackson from Kansas, Malik Monk from Kentucky and Dennis Smith from NC State. Many of these top prospects happen to be freshman, and getting drafted into the NBA at the age of 18 as a freshman is a pretty big deal. Throughout the season these highly-skilled freshmen players continue to thrive.

Every month there seems to be another upperclassman player breaking out each month. With the 2017 NBA draft nearing, NBA teams looking to acquire first round picks include the Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers after acquiring them at this past trade deadline. The NBA Mock Draft suggests that the Boston Celtics should pick up Markelle Fultz, freshman PG from Washington. Fultz offers more firepower as well as a potential future all star. Fultz would fit in well with the team and would be able to give Boston’s general manager more options. The Phoenix Suns could benefit tremendously from UCLA PG Lonzo Ball. This season they stand at 18 wins with no definite identity. Ball would be a crucial addition to the team and would promote ball movement and quick decisions.

As we look later on in the draft, teams such as Atlanta, San Antonio and Toronto will be looking to add to their arsenal of star players in an attempt to have more depth for when the playoffs roll around. Isaiah Hartenstein from Germany is getting many looks because of his big 6’ 11” frame, and he can be a threat down low. Atlanta is in desperate need of a big man to pair up with Dwight Howard so Hartenstein would be the ideal fit for the Hawks. Toronto may look to add some shooters to surround their star point guard, Kyle Lowry. Luke Kennard from Duke looks to be a great asset to the Raptors in an attempt to compete with the higher shooting teams in the league like Cleveland and Boston. San Antonio is in the hunt every year for a title and ranks usually at the top of the Western Conference but lack big men in the backcourt with rebounding and has costed them big games down the stretch of the playoffs. The Spurs will have their eyes on Johnathan Motley from Baylor, Cam Oliver from Nevada, and Tony Bradley from North Carolina. All of these men bring height and aggressiveness to the court and may get the Spurs deeper in the playoffs. The NBA Draft is almost here and questions will be answered as to what teams will draft the best and worst and most importantly, who will be #1?

Barcelona pulls off improbable Champions League comeback vs. PSG

Thomas Muzekari

Staff Writer

They were down and out. They needed to do something special. FC Barcelona needed to come back from four goals down after losing 4-0 to PSG in Paris in the first leg of the round of 16 back on Feb. 14. On Mar. 8 in the second leg, Barcelona dug themselves out of the hole in incredible fashion, winning at home 6-1, giving the squad a 6-5 win on aggregate and completing the greatest comeback in Champions League history.

 Barcelona stayed calm, both head coach Luis Enrique and the players. Before the second leg, Enrique said: “We have to be optimistic and we are.” Andres Iniesta said the team “must believe” and that they could cause the French side problems in the second leg. The team remained positive and didn’t lose their composure.

 Barcelona started the game off brilliantly as Luis Suarez scored a goal in just the 3rd minute. Then, near the end of the first half, in the 40th minute, Iniesta got a touch on a ball from Suarez in a dangerous area, sending it across the face of goal. The ball then deflected off PSG defender Layvin Kurzawa and into the goal for an own goal. With a 2-0 halftime lead, Barcelona was still down 4-2 on aggregate. In the 50th minute, Neymar was taken down in the box by a tumbling PSG defender, and then Lionel Messi buried the penalty kick, putting Barcelona up 3-0 and within a goal on aggregate.

 However, the Spanish club suffered a setback in their comeback quest when Edinson Cavani struck for PSG in the 62nd minute. This was vital, because it gave PSG an away goal, so a tie on aggregate would put PSG through to the next round. Barca went from needing one goal to tie it to needing three goals to avoid being knocked out of the competition.

 Time kept ticking and seemingly running out on Barcelona until Neymar’s free kick goal in the 88th minute gave the team another glimmer of hope. The match reached the 90th minute and the signal went up for five added minutes of stoppage time. Another penalty was given for Barcelona in the 91st minute after Suarez went to ground in the box, and things got really interesting as Neymar finished.

 At this point with a 5-5 tie on aggregate, PSG would have gone through with the away goal. So Barcelona, in a tense last few minutes, kept pushing, trying to provide one more touch of brilliance. Desperate, they pushed everyone forward, sending goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen upfield for a free-kick. On the free-kick the ball was headed out of the box but right back to Neymar, who chipped another floating ball that Sergi Roberto got on the end of and volleyed home with the outside of the foot. This 95th minute goal put Barcelona up 6-1 in the game and 6-5 on aggregate, and it sent the Camp Nou into a frenzy. Fans went wild, the players celebrated, and Luis Enrique ran around in joy.

 Just seconds after PSG resumed play, the referee blew his whistle. Four goals down. Then needing three goals in seven minutes. Barcelona did it. It was the end to a euphoric, historic comeback on a magical night at the Camp Nou.