NBA 2004

1.  Kevin Garnett: Was the MVP of the league.

He was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.

KG was an All-Star starter for the sixth straight season.

Garnett was NBA player of the month in December, January, February, and April.

He led the league in rebounding (13.9) and FGs (804) while playing all 82 games.

Garnett was 3^rd in the NBA in scoring at 24.2 points per game.

He averaged five assists and over 2 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field.

He had an amazing 71 double doubles in 82 games.

The Big Ticket led the T’Wolves to the best record in the West with 58 wins.

Behind Garnett, Minnesota advanced past the 1^st round for the first time in franchise history.

In Game 2 vs. Denver he posted a triple double with 20-22-10 and added three blocks.

In the 2^nd round vs. the Kings averaged 24-15 and 3.4 blocks per game.

In Game 3, Garnett had 30-15-5 blocks to led the Wolves past Sacramento by 1 to go up 2-1 in the series.

In Game 7 he carried his team to the conference finals with 32-21-5 blocks in 46 minutes. The Wolves escaped with a 3 point win.

In the West Finals he had 30-19 in Game 5 to force a Game 6.

The Timberwolves would eventually lose to the Lakers in the Western Finals. Minnesota won the Midwest Division in their best season in franchise history.

2. Tim Duncan: Was first team All-NBA and 2^nd in the MVP voting.

He was 2^nd team All-Defense and an All-Star.

Duncan finished 8^th in scoring (22.3), 2^nd in rebounding (12.4) and 4^th in blocks (2.7).

He shot 50% from the field.

Timmy lead the Spurs to the #2 seed in the West with 57 wins. They also led the NBA (tied with Detroit) in scoring defense; yielding just 84 points a game.

In a first round sweep of Memphis, the Big Fundamental put up 24-10 2.5 blocks and 59% shooting.

He opened with 20-11 in a Game One win over LA.

He put up 21-21 and 4 blocks in Game Five vs. the Lakers. Duncan canned what appeared to be the game winning fall away jumper.

The Spurs would  fall dramatically on a shot by Derek Fisher.

Duncan averaged 22-11 in the playoffs as San Antonio lost in the 2^nd round to the Lakers.

He earned a bronze medal with Team USA in the Olympics. He had three double doubles in tournament.

3. Ben Wallace: Helped led the Pistons to an unexpected NBA title.

He was first team All-Defense and 2^nd in the Defensive Player of the Year voting (Ron Artest).

Wallace was also 2^nd team All-NBA and a starter at center for the East All-Stars.

He finished 2^nd in the league in blocks (3.0), 3^rd in rebounding (12.4) and 8^th in steals (1.8).

Big Ben scored 9.5 PPG in playing 81 games.

The Pistons finished second in the East with 54 wins.

In the first round against the Bucks, Wallace averaged 10-13 3 blocks and 2.6 steals in the five game series.

In Game Seven in Round Two vs. New Jersey he went 8-10 from the field (18 points) and grabbed eight boards as Detroit advanced to the East Finals.

B-B-B-B-Ben sparked Detroit’s upset of top seed Indiana in the East Finals. He averaged 8-15-3.2 blocks, as the Pistons won in six games.

Again Detroit pulled off an upset over the Lakers behind the play of Wallace. In the title clinching game he had 18 points, 22 rebounds and 3 steals.

Wallace finished the playoffs averaging 10-14 2.4 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.

The Pistons won their first title since the “Bad Boys” 14 years earlier. They led the NBA allowing just 84 points per game.

2004 College Basketball

1. Emeka Okafor: Was the MVP the Final Four after leading UConn to the national title.

He was the NABC Player of the Year. He also was the Big East Player of the Year.

Okafor was the national defensive player of the year for the second straight year. 

He led the Big East and was 2^nd in the country with 4.1 blocks per game.

The Huskies center was a consensus All-American.

He was 6^th in the Big East in scoring (17.6)

He led the conference in rebounding (11.5) and field goal % (60%).

Okafor helped the Huskies past #9 Pittsburgh in the Big East final with 11-13 and 4 blocks.

The All-American had 14 games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite foul trouble in the first half Okafor powered UConn past #5 Duke in the final four with 18-7 (all 18 in the second half) in just 22 minutes. He led UConn back from down 8 in the final 3:15 to a one point win.

Okafor hit the go ahead put back with under 30 seconds to go.

UConn coasted to its second title in six years 82-73 over #14 Georgia Tech. The Huskies led by 25 with 12 minutes to in the game.  Okafor had 24-15 on 10-17 shooting.

Okafor was the only collegian named to the USA Olympic team and played briefly in two games and earned an bronze medal.

Connecticut went 33-6, 12-4 in the Big East. They won the conference tourney. They were #7 in the final poll after being #1 in 7 weeks.

2. Jameer Nelson: Was named player of the year by nearly every media service including the AP, Sporting News, US Basketball Writers.

He was a consensus All-American and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

Nelson was also named A-10 All-Defense team.

The player of the year was 2^nd in the A-10 in scoring (20.6), assists (5.3) and steals (2.8).

He shot 39% from three and 79% from the free throw line.

Jameer opened the season with 20-8-10 performance in a seven point win over #3 Gonzaga.  One of his nineteen 20 point games.

St. Joesph’s went 27-0 in the regular season. They became the first team since UNLV in 1991 to achieve that feat.

During the NCAA tournament Nelson averaged 24.5 points, 5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game.

He had 24 pts, and 7 asts in the Sweet 16 win over #17 Wake Forest, outplaying freshman Chris Paul.

In his last three games of the tournament he played, Nelson played 119 of 120 minutes.

The Hawks fell in the final seconds to #4 Oklahoma St. in the regional final.

St. Joe’s finished #5 in the final poll and earned a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They were 30-2.

3. Ben Gordon: Was the most outstanding player of the West Region of the NCAA tournament. He also was the MVP of the Big East tournament.

His 81 points (27 a game) set a Big East record for the tournament.

Gordon scored a NCAA tournament high 127 points (21.2 PPG).

He played at least 38 minutes in each of Connecticut’s first five tournament games.

He was 1^st team All-Big East and on the All-Final Four team.

The junior guard was 5^th in the Big East in scoring (18.5), and free throw % (82.9). He was 6^th in assists (4.5), while grabbing almost five boards per game.

Gordon led the conference in three point shooting; converting over 43% from beyond the arc.

In the Big East final against #9 Pittsburgh, he had 23-8 to lead the Huskies to the Big East title.

He torched Alabama for 36 in the regional final on 11-19 shooting and 10-11 free throws.

In the Final Four, he scored 18 vs. Duke and 21 in the Final vs. Georgia Tech.

UConn  won its 2^nd national title in six years.

NFL 2003

1.  Peyton Manning: Was the co-MVP.

He was consensus All- Pro first team and a Pro Bowler. 

Manning led the league in yards (4,267), completions % (67) and total completions.

He was 2^nd in the NFL in TDs with 29 and rating with 99.0.

Peyton had a “perfect game” (158.3 rating) and had 6 TD passes vs. the Saints.

Manning directed a legendary comeback on Monday Night Football. He led the Colts back from down 21 with five minutes left to an eventual overtime win. He threw for 348 and 2 TDs.

The MVP had his 2^nd perfect game vs. Denver in the Wild Card. He earned his first playoff win going 22-26 for 377 yards and five scores.  The Colts pounded the Broncos 41-10.

Manning guided the Colts to the AFC Championship game in a shootout at Kansas City. He was 22-30 for 304 yards and 3 TDs.

Manning threw four picks in the Colts loss to New England.

Indy went 12-4 and won the AFC South and advanced to the AFC title game for the first time since 1995.They were 2^nd in the league in scoring almost 28 points a game.  

2. Tom Brady: Was the Super Bowl MVP. He threw for 354 yards, 3 TDs and a Super Bowl record 32 completions.

 He led the Patriots in front twice in the 4^th quarter, including the go ahead TD pass with less than five minutes to go.

New England would win their 2^nd Super Bowl in three years on a field goal at the buzzer.

Brady would finish 3^rd in the NFL MVP voting.

He was 6^th in league in yards (3,692) and completions. He also threw 23 TD passes.

The Pats QBs led his team to 12 straight wins to finish the regular season.

He threw for 201 and a score in the Patriots divisional win 17-14 over Tennessee.

His 1^st quarter TD pass put the Patriots in front in the AFC title game.

New England went 14-2 and had the best record in football. The Patriots boasted the league’s top defense allowed less than 15 points per game.

3. Priest Holmes: Broke the single season record with 27 TDs.

He set a set a two year record with 51 total TDs from 2002-03.  His 10 multi-touchdown games also were a league mark.

He was named first team All-Pro for a third straight season.

Priest ran for 1,420 yards, caught 74 balls for 690 yards.

His 2,110 yards from scrimmage was 5^th in the NFL.

Kansas City went 13-3, won the AFC West and a 1^st round bye in the playoffs.

In the divisional round, Holmes torched the Colts for 176 yards on 24 carries and added 5 catches for 32 yards. He, as usual, found the end zone two times.

The Chiefs averaged over 30 points per game and led the league.

College Football 2003

1. Matt Leinart: Was the Rose Bowl MVP for the National Champions USC Trojans.

He threw for 3 TDs and caught another. He passed for 327 yards in the game.

He was the Pac-10 offensive player of the year. (First sophomore since John Elway in 1980)

The sophomore was 6^th in the Heisman voting.

Leinart set the Pac-10 record with 38 TD passes in a single season.

He finished 3^rd in the NCAA in passer rating. He also threw for 3,556 yards (2^nd in the Pac-10).

The Trojans QB led the conference in completion %.

USC won the Pac-10 and went 11-1. They pounded #6 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and was named national champion by the AP. They were not included in the BCS title game.

2. Eli Manning: He won the Maxwell Award, national player of the year.

He was the SEC MVP and was 3^rd in the Heisman voting.

Manning was named 2^nd team All-American by the AP.

Manning was the Cotton Bowl MVP. He threw for 259 yards and two TDs and ran in another TD. Mississippi knocked off Oklahoma St. 31-28.

He led the SEC in completions, TDs (29), and yards (3,600). He was 2^nd in passer rating. 

Eli threw for at least 3 TDs in seven games.

The Rebels went 10-3, 7-1 in the SEC. Their only conference loss was to #2 LSU. They finished #13 in the AP poll. Ole Miss averaged 34 points per game.

3. Darren Sproles: He was a first team All-American, and was third in the player of the year voting by AP. He was 5^th in the Heisman voting.

      Sproles led the country in total rushing yards (1,986), and all-purpose yards (2,735). He was 5^th in yards per carry (6.5).

      K-State won six straight games, including a 38-9 beat down of #19 Nebraska, where Sproles ran for 140 and a score.

      Sporles torched then #1 and undefeated Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game. He ran for 235 yards on 22 carries. He hauled in a 60 yard TD pass. The Wildcats would go on to win 35-7.

      In a 35-28 loss to #4 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, he had 70 all-purpose yards and a TD.

      Kansas State went 11-4 and won the Big 12 title. They were #14 in the final poll. The Wildcats were 9^th in the country scoring almost 37 points a game.

2003 MLB

1. Mark Prior: Led the Cubs to their first NLCS in 14 years.

He was an All-Star, 3^rd in the Cy Young, and 9^th in the MVP.

He was 2^nd in the NL in wins (18), strikeouts (245), and win %.

The 22 year old was 3^rd in ERA (2.43) and WHIP.

Prior went 10-1 to finish the season and lead the Cubs to the postseason.

The Cubs ace threw a two hit complete game in Game Three of the ALDS vs. Atlanta. The win would give Chicago a 2-1 series lead, in a series they would take in five games.

Prior gave up just one earned and struck out seven.

The Cubs drew even in the NLCS, behind seven innings from Prior in Game Two. He gave up just two runs.

Prior dominated the Marlins in Game Six, the potential pennant winning game, for the Cubs. He had a shutout going into the bottom of the eighth, where the” Bartman Incident” derailed him and the Cubs chances.

Chicago would fall to the upstart Marlins in seven games in the NLCS.  They won the Central and 88 games.   

2. Mariano Rivera: Was the ALCS MVP.

He saved Game Three and Five and won Game Seven. He pitched eight innings in four appearances and just have up one earned run.

Rivera had two innings saves in Game Two and Three in the ALDS vs. Minnesota; both them scoreless.

 

He finished the postseason with five saves in seven games and a 0.56 ERA.

In the regular season Rivera finished third in the AL with 40 saves.

Mo was 5-2 with a 5-2 with 1.66 ERA in 64 games.

The Yankees won a MLB high 101 games and the AL pennant for the sixth time in eight years.

Rivera was the winning pitcher in the epic Game Seven of the ALCS win over rival Boston. (3 IP)

The Yanks would be upset in the World Series by the Marlins in six games.

3. Albert Pujols: Was 2^nd in the MVP voting and an All-Star.

The Cardinals outfielder was named Player of the Year by Sporting News, and the Player’s Choice.

He was the NL Player of the Month in May and June.

He won the Silver Slugger for the outfield.

Pujols won the batting title with a .359 average.

“The Machine” led the NL in runs (139), hits (212), total bases (394), and doubles (51).

He was 4^th in the league in homers (43) and RBI (124).

Albert was 3^rd in on base %, and slugging and 2^nd in OPS.

His monster season led St. Louis to be 2^nd in the NL in batting, and runs scored.

The Cards finished with 85 wins and just three games out of the Cubs for the division title.

2003 NBA

1. Tim Duncan: Won the MVP for the 2^nd straight season.

He was the Finals MVP for the 2^nd time in his career.

He was first team All-NBA for the 6^th straight year and first team all-defense for the 5^th straight.

Duncan was 7^th in scoring (23.3), 3^rd in rebounds (12.9) and blocks (2.9).

The Spurs forward was also shot 51% and four assists per game.

He started for the West in the All-Star game (19 points and 15 rebounds).

Duncan had 58 double doubles including seven games with at least 20 rebounds.

He led the league with 3.3 blocks per game in the playoffs.

The Spurs finished the Suns in the first round behind a triple double (15-20-10) from Duncan.

He averaged 32-15 in Games Five and Six as San Antonio dethroned the three time champion Lakers.

The MVP averaged 28-16-6 and 3 blocks per game in the West Finals win over the Mavericks in six games.

He put up 24-17 and over five assists and blocks a game in the Finals.

His near quadruple- double in Game Six put the Nets away and gave the Spurs their second title.

San Antonio was a league best 60-22 and won the Midwest Division. They won all four series on their way to the title in six games.

2. Kevin Garnett: Was 2^nd in the MVP, and 3^rd in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

He was first team All-NBA and first team All-Defense.

Garnett was Player of the Month in February and April.

He was the All-Star game MVP (37-9 on 17-24 shooting).

KG was 2^nd in rebounding (13.7), ninth in scoring (23), and 8^th in minutes (40.5).

The Big Ticket also averaged a career high six assists per game and he shot 50% from the field in all 82 games.

68 of those 82 games were double doubles, six were triple doubles, and five were 20+ point-rebound games.

In Games 2-3 vs. the Lakers in the 1^st round, Garnett averaged 34-17-5.5. The Timberwolves took a 2-1 lead in the series behind Garnett’s play.

For the series KG averaged 27-15-5 with double doubles in all six games.

The Wolves went 51-31 and was the four seed in the West. They lost in the 1^st round for the 7^th straight season.

3. Kobe Bryant: Was 3^rd in the MVP voting. He was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.

He was player of the month in January.

Kobe led the league in field goals and total points while playing in 82 games.

Bryant averaged 30 points a game; good for 2^nd in the league.

He was 4^th in minutes (41.5) and 6^th in steals (2.2).

Bryant averaged a career high 6.9 rebounds per game and also six assists a game.

He had nine straight 40 points games in February, the second longest in NBA history. He had three 50 point games on the season.

He was an All-Star and scored 22 points.

Kobe led all playoff scorers with 32.1 per game. 

The Lakers ended their 3 year run as champs. They won 50 games and beat Minnesota in the 1^st round. They lost to the eventual champions Spurs in six games in the 2^nd round. 

2003 College Basketball

1. Carmelo Anthony:  He was the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four after leading Syracuse to their first ever national championship.

He was the consensus NCAA Freshman of the Year, 2^nd team All-American, and 1^st team All-Big East.

He averaged 22.2 PPG (4^th in the Big East), 10 RPG (3^rd), 36.4 minutes per game (4^th), and 1.6 steals per game.

Melo had 26 games with at least 20 points and 22 double doubles.

Syracuse beat three straight top 6 Big 12 teams to win the title.

In the regional final vs. #3 Oklahoma, Carmelo had 20-10 on 9-16 shooting in 40 minutes as Syracuse shutdown the Sooners 63-49.

Anthony averaged 20.2 points per game in the tournament.

He had 33-14 and three steals and shot 12-19 from the field in the Final Four vs. #5 Texas.

Anthony had 20 points, 10 rebs. and 7 assists in the final over #6 Kansas.

Syracuse won the title 81-78 over KU.

The Orange were Big East co-champs with 13-3 record.  They were 24-5 in the regular season (30-5 overall) and were #13 in the final poll.

2. Nick Collison: Was the NABC Player of the Year and consensus first team All-American.

 

He was also the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Collison became the Big 12 all-time leading scorer.

He was among the Big 12 leaders in scoring with 18.5 PPG (2^nd), 3^rd in RPG (10), 3^rd in blocks (1.9), and 2^nd in FG% (55.4).

The senior center had 16 double-doubles. That included 24 point 23 rebound heroic effort vs. #5 Texas.

Collison propelled Kansas back to the Elite Eight with a career high 33 vs. #7 Duke.  He also had 19 rebounds.

With the Jayhawks down by one in the second half, he scored seven straight points to give Kansas a six point lead, a lead they would not relinquish, with less than six minutes to play.

He had 12-15-5 in the Final Four pounding of #9 Marquette.

Collison finished his great career with 21 rebounds, 19 points (8-14 FGs) and three blocks and steals in title game vs. Syracuse. He played all 40 minutes.

Kansas won the Big 12 regular season with 14-2 record and was 30-8 overall. They were #6 in the final polls. They advanced to their 2^nd straight Final Four.

Collison was on the USA national team as the only non-professional. He averaged just under five points per game as the US went 10-0 win the FIBA Americas and qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

3. Dwayne Wade: Was a consensus All-American and finalist for the Player of the Year.

He was the Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

He was the MVP of the Midwest region in the NCAA tournament.

Wade carried Marquette past top ranked Kentucky 83-69 in the regional final. The win ended UK’s 26 game winning streak.

He was the 4^th player, including Magic Johnson, to record a triple double in the NCAA tournament. He finished with 29-11-11 and four blocks.

In the tournament “Flash” average 21.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 6 APG.

He led Conference USA in scoring (21.5), and was 8^th in assists (4.4), and was 2^nd in steals (2.2). He also averaged over six rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game.

Wade had 21 twenty point games , including 28 vs. #14 Louisville.

In Marquette’s sweet 16 upset of #3 Pittsburgh, Wade scored 22 on 10-19 FGs.

He had 19-6-4 in Marquette’s blowout loss to Kansas in the Final Four.

Marquette finished #9 in final poll. They were 27-6 and 14-2 in Conference USA as regular season champions. The Golden Eagles advanced to their first Final Four in 26 years.