TheSportsPACK

*averages from 1/8 to 1/15 Point Guards 1. Stephen Curry   GSW  27.3 points 8 assist 2.7 rebounds 2. John Wall   WAS  19.3 points 9.3 assist 2.5 rebounds Chris Paul 3. Chris Paul   LAC  21 points 10.7 assist 3.7 rebounds 4. Damian Lillard   POR  20.3 points 4.8 assist 2.8 rebounds 5. Kyle Lowry   TOR  17.8 points 9.5 assist 6.5 rebounds 2.0 steals Shooting Guards 1. James Harden   HOU 23 points 4 rebounds 8 assist 2.4 steals 2. Klay Thompson   GSW  18.3 points 4 rebounds 2 assist 3. Kobe Bryant   LAL  15.5 points 6 rebounds 12 assist 4. Dwayne Wade   MIA 14.7 points 5.3 rebounds 5.7 assist 5. Monta Ellis DAL 18.7 points 4 rebounds 5.3 assist 2 steals Monta Ellis Small Forwards 1. LeBron James CLE 34.5 points 6 rebounds 5 assist 2. Kevin Durant   OKC  28 points 7.5 rebounds 3.5 assist 3. Rudy Gay   SAC 16.3 p...

*averages from the week of 1/1-1/7 Point Guards 1. Stephen Curry GSW 25.5 points 9 assist 7 rebounds 2.5 steals 2. John Wall WAS 15.5 points 10 assist  2.8 rebounds 3. Damian Lillard POR 27.5 points 6 assist 7 rebounds 4. Chris Paul   LAC  19.3 points 11 assist 5.3 rebounds   5. Kyle Lowry TOR 20.5 points 7.5 assist 4 rebounds 2 steals Shooting Guards 1. James Harden HOU 20 points 4 rebounds 4.3 assist 2. Jimmy Butler CHI 21.3 points 8 rebounds 4 assist 2.3 steals 3. Dwayne Wade MIA 20 points 5 rebounds 5 assist 4. Kobe Bryant LAL 17.5 points 7.5 rebounds 7 assist 5. Klay Thompson   GSW  26.3 points 3 rebounds Small Forwards 1. Rudy Gay SAC 20.3 points 6.7 rebounds 3 assist 2 steals 2. Kevin Durant   OKC  24 points 9 rebounds 3. Gordon Hayward UTA 17.3 points 3.8 rebounds  3.8 assist 4. Joe Johnson BNK 17 points 4.3 rebounds 3.8 assist ...

Yesterday the NCAA announced that it will be covering travel expenses for student-athletes participating in championship events. The NCAA will pay up to $3,000 in travel, meals and hotel accommodations for student-athletes participating in the men and women Final Four and $4,000 to players participating in the championship game. The College Football Playoffs will also provide $3,000 in travel expenses for each student-athlete's family that will be attend the game in Arlington,TX. In the NCAA's press release, President Mark Emmert said "Championship experiences like the Final Four create memories of a lifetime for a student-athlete, and we want to make sure their families are there to support and celebrate with them." 1   In previous years, the NCAA has provided free tickets for family members traveling to championship contest. NCAA President Mark Emmert (courtsey of lostlettermen.com ) In the past we have been very judgmental of the NCAA policies and procedur...

Quarterbacks: The Rose Bowl is a matchup of the last two Heisman Trophy winners. Jameis Winston brings a 26 game winning streak as a starter into Pasadena while the reigning Heisman winner Marcus Mariota leads the fast-pace Oregon Duck offense. Mariota ended his Heisman campaign on a high note passing for 1003 yards with 9 touchdown passes in 3 games, including a 5 total touchdown performance in the Pac-12 championship. Jameis Winston is coming off one of his better games this season throwing for 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the Seminoles 37-35 win in the ACC Championship. Winston's stats may not be appealing as last season's but the wins are still there. Expect both quarterbacks to put on a show for the NFL scouts.  Advantage: Oregon Running Backs: There will be some young talent on display at the running back position this game. Freshman Royce Freeman leads the read option attack for the Ducks rushing for a Oregon freshman record ...

As conference play gets set to begin next week, TheSportsPACK is highlighting some of the standout freshmen from across the country. These first-year players have made an immediate impact for their schools this season with hope of continuing that throughout the conference schedule. Rashard Vaughn  @ShowtimeMr1   ( UNLV )  The 6-6 guard from Findlay Prep leads all freshman in scoring averaging 17.7 points per game. Vaughn has scored in double digits 8 out of the 10 games he has played this season. Four of those contest resulted in 20+ point outings including a career high 29 vs Albany and 21 points in the upset win over #3 Arizona.  James Blackmon Jr. @JBlackmon2   ( Indiana )  Blackmon Jr.is the first freshman guard to lead the Hoosiers in scoring since Devin Dumes during the 2008-2009 season. Blackmon Jr. is averaging 17.6 points per game; second among freshman and third in the Big Ten Conference. James has scored over 15 points in 8 of hi...

*(min 100 pass attempts) Blake Bortles (1st rd / 3rd pick JAX ) It's hard to gauge Blake Bortles success with him playing in Jacksonville of all places but there were some signs of leadership from the first quarterback taken in the 2014 draft. Versus the New York Giants, Bortles engineered an 11 play, 55 yard drive to set up a game winning field goal to give Jacksonville their second win of the season. Brotles however has had trouble keeping the ball, throwing 17 interceptions this season (Jay Cutler leads the NFL with 18 int). If Jacksonville wants to get out of the AFC South cellar, Bortles must cut into his turnover margin. This is a young football team, they will grow together. Expect to see a vast improvement from Blake next season. Grade: C+   Johnny Manziel (1st rd / 22 pick CLE ) The Browns used their second 1st round pick on the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and rightfully so. The Browns were 4-12 and struggled heavily on keeping a consistent offense ...

The Dallas Mavericks is currently 5th in the western conference with a 20-8 record. Critics might say that this is one of the most talent Dallas Mavericks teams since the 2011 championship year. Bringing Tyson Chandler back to defend the paint and paying a truckload of money to get the services of Chandler Parsons we two major plus signs for the Mavericks off season. Yes this team is talented but can they withstand the test of the western conference playoffs is the biggest question. with Jameer Nelson as the starting point guard, the Mavericks we extremely handicapped at the point guard position until the trade for Rajon Rondo. The Mavericks traded Brandon Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and two conditional draft picks for the two time NBA assist leader. The Mavericks were already a threat to make a run deep into the playoffs and now with Rondo picking up the slack at point guard, Dallas is ready to make a run at title number two. Rebounding: The Dallas Mavericks are 17th in tea...