Okay, here's da first annual Crow Awards

Well Nate's been doing school work (Comeback Student of the Year) so I'm gonna handle the awards for the week. I won't be as funny but i'll try. Like the 3-6 Mafia once said, "It's a Tennessee thing."

Smith of the Week:

Tyler Smith gets the nod for the Smith of the Week. He went for 16 and 6 against Memphis in the game of the year, including the game winner. If his Vols woulda won against Vandy (he went for 11 and 17) he woulda been my NCAA POW. I know Nate usually throws in some Smith I've never heard of. I thought this guy will suffice (also relevant to my 2008 NBA Mock Draft, coming soon)

Take Off Your Pants and Jack It (Bench Player of the Week):

Bench players should provide two things: 1) an energy boost for the team and 2) points and defense. Like I said before, it's a Tennessee thing. J.P. Prince is staying fly. He had 13 and 8 as well as lock-down D against Memphis. He's lanky like his cousin, and just an awesome bench player. "He rules."

NCAA POW:

He was the second fiddle last year and his team lost the second overall pick in the draft, Kevin Durant. However, the Texas Longhorns are back in the hunt and DJ Augustin hasnt had a touch of the sophomore slump. The 6-0 soph from the NO has put his team on his back. His team went 2-0 over the past week and averaged 21.5 on plus 50% shooting. The little guy is a force to be reckoned with.

He Was Just A Freshman of the Week:

His high school teammate gets the hype, but "Project" Pat Patterson has been holding it down in the Southeast for his Kentucky Wildcats. The Cats are a team I think will sneak into the Tourney and have been improving as the season goes along. His team went 1-0 for the week and Patrick went for 14 and 11, similar to his season averages. More impressive: Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points in a game or Pat's 100 white girls during conference play?

NBA Player of the Week:

No shocker here. His team is standing atop the toughest conference and he is the best player on the team. KB24 does two things The Pick 'n Roll enjoys: gets buckets and screws hotel management. He went for 27 ppg, 7 dimes, 6 boards, and 2 steals per game over a 4 game stretch where his team went 4-0. Also impressive, he did it all by shooting 60%. Looks like the addition of that Pau guy was a good one.

NBA's Get the Donuts Award:

This one goes to the newbies in the league who have to tend to the vets. Our selection for the NBA's top rookie is Al Thornton. He took the unusual route by actual staying 4 years at Florida State. Maybe it was the chronic, maybe it was the hott ass cheerleaders. Either way I'm good. The former college 4 man has made a smooth transition to playing on the wing. The past week he got 16 and 5 per. He is living up to the promise. Keep an eye out for this guy.

Lost In Translation:

The best foreign player usually goes to an obscure dude, this week im gonna keep it simple. Yao Ming fractured his foot and is done for the season. This will probably be the last you hear about him (until ALL-NBA First Team and the reason the Rockets might suck a fat one the rest of the season). On the season he was putting up 24 and 11 and his team was on a huge winning streak. We'll miss ya Yao.

Fresh-Men of the Week:

Gotta love the fact the Tennessee Volunteers shaved their numbers in the hair. That's hood and sweet. As a white man aspiring to be black and athletic, I'm jealous. Just a shame they lost to Vandy.

We'll probably forget about it so:

Jon Williamson gets the ML Man Crush Award. It goes to undersized post players who rule. Mr. Williamson has a lot of things we like: tats, cornrows, long socks, red patent leather shoes and a 40" vert. The things ML likes: being 6-5 and playing down low as well as possessing the 20 footer. He went for 27 and 9 against a usually tough on the inside Pitt Panthers.

Cincy always has some of my favorite guys; I just wanted to state my All-Time Cincinnati Bearcats starting line-up:

G- Steve Logan
G- James White
F- Eric Hicks
F- Jon Williamson
F- Jason Maxiell

Drink a lotta Crow this weekend everyone, but not so much that you forget to check up on what's good at the Pick 'n Roll,

-ML