Incoming Michigan basketball recruit, Derrick Walton Jr., sets the bar high for himself

Trey Burke is expected to leave Michigan for the NBA. It would be a major surprise if he doesn't. Cult hero, Spike Albrecht will be expected to pick up some of the slack. Which means that once again in John Beilein's tenure at Michigan he might have to hand the reins of the team to a freshman point guard.

That freshman would be Michigan Mr. Basketball runner up Derrick Walton Jr. Walton is up to the task of keeping Michigan basketball among the elite next season. Walton has been looked at as Burke's replacement for two years.


"I expect to play big minutes my freshman year," he said Wednesday. "Either way, if he stays or goes to the league, I'm excited. If he does go, it gives me more of an opportunity to play more minutes. I'll count on Spike a lot. With him there, it'll help with the transition.

"I know I'll make freshman mistakes. People will expect me to step in for Trey. My thing is not to get caught up in that. I can't be Trey. I've got to be me."

Walton averaged 25.6 points and 10.2 assists in his senior year at Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, so the kid can play. With a high probability of stepping in for Burke, much will be expected of Walton and he will need those skills he displayed in high school. If Walton can step in and be a complement to Albrecht the Wolverines can keep this machine going for a few more years.

UConn gets a new logo

The athletic teams University of Connecticut will be getting a new look. Gone is the family friendly husky and in comes Jonathan Husky, a new, hungrier, vicious logo the teams will be sporting.

This caps the rebranding of the athletic teams at UConn.

The two major changes will be the use of “UCONN” across the front of every uniform worn by each team, and a new look for the Jonathan Husky logo. The new look is part of a new institutional branding and marketing program announced in early April by President Susan Herbst that uses “UCONN” as the primary mark of the University in all signage, publications, advertising and marketing activities. 

“This logo is everything that a Husky is supposed to be -- powerful, aggressive, determined,” women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma says. “It is looking right through you and saying ‘Do not mess with me.' This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court.”

The new logo looks a lot better than the one used in years past.

Patriots' Alfonzo Dennard sentenced to 30 days in jail

Remember the night when New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard thought it was a good idea to hit a police officer? Today was the day when it was time for Dennard to pay the piper.

Dennard was sentenced to 30 days in jail that will begin on March 1, 2014. Dennard will also be serving two years probation and will have to complete 100 hours of community service. A far cry from the six year sentence he was facing. Also the judge will accommodate his football schedule so he won't have to serve time until after the season.


In court, Dennard apologized to his coaches, supporters, police and his family and promised to abide by the terms of the probation. He declined comment after leaving court.

Dennard's attorney, Terry Dougherty, said he would ask Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie Stacy to suspend the jail sentence if Dennard complies with the terms of his probation over the next 11 months. Stacy said she would consider such a motion at that time.


Dougherty had also said that Dennard had already paid a fine of $500,000 since his draft stock plummeted after his arrest and he was eventually drafted in the seventh round. Dennard agreed with the punishment. Of course he did since the punishment didn't fit the crime.

Dennard got off relatively easy in this case. I know, athletes and entertainers live in a different world than the average American citizen. That doesn't mean you should be able to run around punching police officers because you had a lapse in judgement. If it's not alright for Joe Average to do it then you shouldn't either. I'm not saying Dennard is a bad guy, but he should've made a better choice.

Someone please enlighten me about this situation and give me a point as to why Dennard received a pretty light sentence.