Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/30/2025

March Madness swings into the second weekend and the top seed just keep winning.  All four Number 1 seeds made the NCAA Men's Tournament Final Four, and Auburn was a part of it.  Led by Johni Broome.  Broome torched the state of Michigan, with two performances of 22+ points and 14+ rebounds.  And in an efficient 30 minutes per game.  The Auburn Tigers reached their first Final Four since 2019 (and only their second in history) with a thrilling comeback victory against the Michigan Wolverines (78-65) and Michigan State Spartans (79-64).  The former was more of a challenge with Auburn trailing by 8 points midway through the second half.  Johni to the rescue.  Auburn looks to continue its run behind the broad shoulders and strong play of Johne Broome, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/23/2025

For some the greatest annual weekend in basketball if not sports is the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament.  Between Men's and Women's, you get 96 of the eventual 126 games played (even excluding the play in games).  And there will be close games and buzzer beaters.  The University of Maryland had both in a thrilling victory over the Colorado State Rams.  Freshman Derik Queen capped off a team-leading 17-point performance with the shot of his life, with 3.6 seconds to play, taking the inbound step and some monster steps for the banker on the win.  Game over.  You just can't do it better than that.  Queen was a constant force for the favored and 4 seeded Terps over the season averaging 16.2 points and 9 boards per game while shooting over 50% from the field.  The future NBA big man hopes to carry his teams hopes to a deeper tournament run and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/16/2025

It's March, and Madness is in the air as the major conference championships wound down in both men's and women's college basketball with top programs taking trophies and the high seeds to go with them.  A number one seed was taken by Florida, who dominated the SEC Championship Tournament to take the title.  In a landscape of one and done's and transfers, it was a senior that paced the Gators to the title.  Walter Clayton Jr. In his second year for Florida, Clayton Jr. provides the leadership needed as well as the points.  Averaging 21 points per game, to go with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals per game all against ranked opponents because that's how the SEC is.  With a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament, Clayton Jr. netted tournament MVP honors and will be heard from over the next two, maybe three weeks.  Walter Clayton Jr. is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/9/2025

In advance of the NCAA March Madness, the NBA has a week of epic games and performances.  One stood out as a stat line never been done before.  Two-time prior Sportsman of the Week winner Nikola Jokic doubled down on a triple double, or a 30-20-20.  Technically a 31-21-22 in a 140-127 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns.  Incredible involvement across the board (or scoring on, passing to, and clearing the boards).  While the game included overtime, the numbers are unreal for 45 minutes of action.  So that's 2 points every 3 minutes.  And a rebound AND assist 4x every 9 minutes.  Scoring.  And passing.  And rebounding.  Suddenly Jokic and the Nuggets are right there as a team of concern for frontrunners like Oklahoma City and Los Angeles as they seek their second title in 3 years.  If they do it, you know the Serbian Assassin will be the one to make it happen.  The Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week.

Editors Note: With his third Sportsman of the Week, Jokic ties fifteen others for most recognized in this Blog history.  He's the sixteenth in the club (nobody has won four).

First Recognition (2/9/20)

Second recognition (6/18/23)

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/2/2025

In a bit of a lull between early year NFL action and Australian Open, but before March Madness, Golf majors we get a few ordinary time candidates for Sportsman of the Week.  The NBA is in full swing just past the All-Star Break and hitting a long stretch of great playoff jockeying.  Our Sportsman of the Week is from a team that is surging toward a playoff berth in a major market.  Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is stepping up as the leader to take them to a title for the first time since 1973.  And their first Eastern Conference Title since 1999.  Brunson averaged over 29 PPG, with 5 RPG and 6+ APG. Leader.  Three wins against two strong playoff contenders, the Knicks may peak at the right time and if they do, they'll need our Sportsman of the Week to lead them to a title!