Te’o Improves 40 Time, Miami Loses C Johnson for Sweet 16, Heat to Continue Streak?
While we’re in the thick of NCAA hoops action, NFL wannabes are getting ready for the upcoming draft and trying to find success at their pro days.
Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o
First up this week was Notre Dame’s linebacker Manti Te’o. After running a disappointing 40 time and trying to defend himself against the media, the player had a tough NFL Scouting Combine in February. But he held his own and looked ahead to his pro day for some improvement.
Mission accomplished.
Official 40 times will not be released from pro days but according to ESPN’s Todd McShay, Te’o clocked a 4.75 seconds in his first 40 and in his second one, 4.71 seconds. Notre Dame timed Te’o at 4.69. These times are an improvement over his combine 4.82 40 time.
Te’o said of his pro day via ESPN, “I felt good. I’m at home now. I was very pleased with how I performed.”
Next up for Te’o is the draft. Will he or won’t he go in the first round? ESPN guru Mel Kiper still has the player going in the first round as well as former Indianapolis Colts GM Bill Pollian.
One thing is for sure, Te’o will not be in New York for the April 25 draft. He’s reportedly declined two invites to attend. Between the potential media coverage of Te’o waiting for his selection or seeing him on Day No. 2 for the second round could become a distraction.
Who can forget Brady Quinn not getting selected right away in his draft?
Te’o has met already with some NFL teams and will continue doing so. The faux girlfriend has been part of the conversation as well as “some guys just want to be brief on what happened. Some guys go into a little bit more depth. But overall, it’s been a great opportunity, a great experience. It went better than I expected,” explained the player.
After learning about the girlfriend hoax and prior to the combine, Te’o was -200 yes/+160 no to go in the first round.
Miami’s Johnson Out for Sweet 16
Hurricanes C Reggie Johnson
In other news from the college front, the University of Miami’s center Reggie Johnson won’t travel with his team over the weekend for the Sweet 16 due to a knee injury. The Hurricanes (29-6) will play Marquette (25-8) on Thursday night for the East Regional semifinals. The winner will then play either Indiana or Syracuse.
During last Sunday’s game vs. Illinois, Johnson injured his knee and then underwent minor meniscus surgery. While he’s out for this weekend, the player has hopes to join his team next weekend should they make it to the Final Four in Atlanta.
This isn’t Johnson’s first injury for this season. He broke his wrist in December and since then, his play hasn’t been the same; he also hasn’t been a regular starter.
In the Illinois game, he went scoreless for 18 minutes but had seven points and 10 rebounds in the team’s win over Pacific in the tournament’s first round. For the season, he’s averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Looking at the Sweet 16, #2 Miami is 15 to 2 win the NCAA Championship while #1 Louisville remains at the top with 3 to 1 odds.
For Thursday’s game, the Hurricanes are -5 with a 127 o/u over Marquette.
Will the Heats’ streak continue?
On a final note, the Miami Heat are getting closer to passing the Los Angeles Lakers 33-game win streak. They sit at 27 straight wins and will look for No. 28 on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. The over/under for the Heats’ streak is 29 while it’s 6 to 1 for them to set a new mark at 34 games.
The Bulls have already beat the Heat in one meeting this season but in their last game on Feb. 21, the Heat won 86-67.
