Colorado Buffaloes Make Karl Dorrell 3rd-Highest Paid Coach In Pac-12

Karl Dorrell Colorado Head Football Coach

The Colorado Buffaloes’ 2020 coaching search has ended. Karl Dorrell will be the new head coach of the Buffs. Dorrell signed a five-year, $18 million contract to be CU’s coach.

Dorrell has roots in the Pac-12. He played wide receiver at UCLA from 1983-86 and was UCLA’s head coach from 2003-07. He has had two previous coaching stints at Colorado, from 1991-92 and 1995-98, while CU was a member of the Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences. Between 1995-98, Dorrell was the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator. They went 33-14 in that span and won three bowl games, most notably the Cotton Bowl to end the 1995 season.

Dorrell’s Contract and Assistant Coaching Pool Exceeds Amount Mel Tucker Had

Dorrell’s contract will include a $3.8 million pool for him to hire his assistant coaches, an increase from the $3.155 Mel Tucker had for his assistants.

“My salary pool is tremendous,” Dorrell said Monday at his introductory press conference. “I am very flattered to work with (the $3.8 million) pool.”

Having every extra dollar will help Dorrell. The Pac-12 distributes $33 million to its schools for media rights. This figure is $11 million less than the SEC and $22 million less than the Big Ten. On the national scale, it looks like Dorrell may have an uphill battle on recruiting. The financial difference between the Pac-12 and other conferences creates an imperfect scenario for Dorrell.

“There’s no perfect scenario where you are going to have every resource you need to get the job done,” Dorrell said.

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Dorrell 3rd-Highest Paid Head Coach In Pac-12 In Spite of Colorado Athletics Losing Money In 2019

Colorado athletics as a whole lost over three million dollars in 2019 according to the University of Colorado Athletics NCAA Financial Report. Consequently, the results of this report contribute to questions of if Colorado Buffaloes football can get back to relevance.

The Pac-12 has athletic programs that struggle financially, and it is due to the lack of support for the institutions themselves. Colorado is stepping in the right direction by providing Karl Dorrell with more resources. However, the Pac-12 as a whole still has a lot of ground to cover to match the resources available to the other Power 5 conferences in college football.

Dorrell Gets Paid, In “For the Long Haul” As Head Coach of Colorado Buffaloes

Karl Dorrell’s contract exceeds the likes of Chip Kelly and Mario Cristobal. Dorrell said the coaching the Buffaloes is a “dream job” and that “what (the Buffaloes) do on Saturdays will be a sight to be seen.”

Dorrell stated in his press conference that he was “in for the long haul”, which fans will rally around because of the way Mel Tucker left the program. Because of his Colorado ties, Dorrell wants to see the program become relevant again. He stated that he has a responsibility to “bring the (Colorado football) program to greatness”.

Karl Dorrell Hiring Has Positive Reaction From Colorado Football Greats

The UCLA Bruins made a bowl game in every season (2003-2007) Karl Dorrell was their head coach. Dorrell compiled a 35-27 record at UCLA. The Buffaloes got an experienced head coach, but 2020 will be the first season in 13 years where Dorrell is the head coach of a football team. With the increased pool to hire assistant coaches, Dorrell will have to utilize his resources effectively. He received praise from many Colorado football greats, including Broncos legends Ed McCaffrey and Mike Shanahan. Legendary Buffaloes receiver Michael Westbrook also weighed in on the Dorrell hiring:

Fans Should Feel Positive About Colorado Making a Good, Not Splashy Hire

There has been a generally positive reaction from fans, even though there are always those detractors out there. While Dorrell was not the splashiest hire, he has a track record of winning games as a college football head coach. However, UCLA fans desired more from his tenure. He was able to get his team to bowl games every season, which Colorado would gladly take. The Buffaloes have only one bowl appearance in the past 12 seasons. Fans want to see a winning football team in Boulder, and Dorrell will have a great opportunity to produce.

Fans may have wanted a bigger name, such as Steve Sarkisian, Bret Bielema, or Jim McElwain. However, grand success did not happen for them at USC, Arkansas, and Florida, respectively. Some fans were on the Darrin Chiaverini hype train, but hiring Chev seemed like it would have been too easy to do. With Dorrell, the Buffaloes got a commitment, which is exactly what the Buffaloes need at this point. Dorrell has been successful in both the college and professional game but has learned from the hardships he has had in his coaching career thus far. The Buffaloes wanted to make a good hire, not a splashy hire. They hired Karl Dorrell, who is committed to making the Buffaloes better for the long haul.

Alex Caruso Is No Joke

Alex Caruso

Close your eyes and picture this. In the NBA, there’s a 6’5″ point guard with high energy and the ability to jump through the roof. This guard is an excellent defender that’s ranked in the top 10 for defensive rating, according to NBA.com. This player simply has a knack for making things happen. Also, this guard is white with a bald spot. Now, if you open your eyes, you’ll see that the player in question is Alex Caruso.

This past Tuesday night’s game was the perfect example of what Caruso can do on the basketball court. Productive and exciting plays seem to happen when Caruso is in the game. Whether it was the through the legs pass to a trailing LeBron James or the emphatic block on Lonzo Ball, Caruso provides the spark off the bench for a Los Angeles Lakers team with title aspirations.

With plays like that, you would think the “Bald Eagle” is the first man off the Lakers bench. However, that assumption is incorrect. On most nights, Caruso seems to make his way into a SportsCenter highlight, and yet Frank Vogel has played Caruso less than 16 minutes in four of the last seven games. In three of those four games, Caruso played less than eight minutes.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis may be the best duo in the league, but statistically, LeBron and Caruso have the best net rating of any two-man combo in the NBA that’s played more than 150 minutes. Davis said that Caruso “always seems to make the right play, and he always tends to be in the right position at the right time all the time.” Vogel continues to tease that Caruso is the “secret weapon,” but why keep a weapon in the holster if it makes your star players better?

Despite his play on the court, Caruso is always going to be associated as “the white dude with the bald spot.” Twitter adores him and continuously calls him “the goat.” Caruso even finished fourth in the fan vote for the All-Star Game, which was higher than Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker. I’m guilty of adoring Caruso as well. I started the hashtag, #ACToDunkContest, to get Bald Eagle to All-Star Weekend. Carusomania has spread to other cities as the undrafted guard received “MVP” chants in Golden State despite only averaging 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Caruso mirrors The Fast and Furious franchise. It’s fun to joke around about the films’ ridiculous premises and unrealistic action sequences. We laugh at the “Fast and Furious 20: We’re Still Fast And We’re Still Furious” jokes. Despite its flaws, the Fast franchise is one of the 10 highest-grossing movie franchises of all time. The films are high octane thrill rides that are enjoyable from start to finish. Simply put, they’re good movies.

Caruso may be the butt of a few jokes, but Caruso is the farthest thing from a joke. Like the Fast saga, Caruso is energetic, fun to watch, and downright good. At the end of the day, Caruso will get a chance to shine in the playoffs and he’ll have the opportunity to be an integral reason for a few Laker wins. It’s all fun and games for now, but if Caruso hoists the NBA Title in June, he’ll have the last laugh.

Thoughts on Alex Caruso? Leave your remarks in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Pac-12 Basketball: A Weekend of Parity Shakes Up Standings

Pac-12 Basketball- Oregon UCLA

The 2020 Pac-12 Basketball season turned on its head this past weekend as parity was on full display. Arizona State has surprised many, as they took over sole possession of first place in the conference, going 2-0 against Oregon and Oregon State. Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona were only able to split their games.

First off, here is how the top seven teams in the Pac-12 Standings looked before last Thursday night’s games:

Colorado 9-4

Oregon 9-4

Arizona 8-4

Arizona State 8-4

USC 8-5

UCLA 8-5

Stanford 5-7

Here is how the top seven looked by the end of the weekend:

Arizona State 10-4

Oregon 10-5

UCLA 10-5

Colorado 10-5

Arizona 9-5

USC 8-7

Stanford 7-7

Pac-12 Basketball has been as unpredictable as ever in 2020. Who would have thought a few weeks ago that Oregon would lose a road to Arizona State then beat Arizona in Tuscon? Who would have thought that Colorado would sweep the season series with USC, but lose to a UCLA team that looked lost in Mick Cronin’s first year in charge?

Arizona State Takes First Place in Pac-12 Basketball 2020

The Sun Devils had just lost to Washington State in Pullman on January 29, 2020, to drop to 3-4 in league play. Since then, they have racked up seven straight wins. The Sun Devils squeaked by Oregon State, 74-73, on Saturday night. However, they got their signature win of the season last Thursday against Oregon, 77-72. The Sun Devils never trailed in the game, and the team is coming together at the right time. They had to take advantage of their opportunity against the Ducks. Now, the Sun Devils are looked at as a team that could cut down the nets in Vegas at the Pac-12 Tournament.

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Colorado Lets Golden Opportunity Slip on Senior Day

The Buffaloes went 1-1 in their last two home games of the 2019-20 season, as they beat USC and then lost to UCLA. However, against USC they saw a 12-point second-half lead dwindle to one before pulling out a 70-66 win. Against UCLA, the Buffaloes led by 10 points in the second half before UCLA used a 20-3 run to help them secure a 70-63 win. CU has now seen two double-digit second-half leads turn into losses in two of their last four games. The Buffaloes need to show much more consistency if they want to make a deep run in March. That consistency will need to start Thursday at California.

Oregon Rebounds with Huge Win At McKale Center Saturday

Oregon gave their fans some heart-pounding basketball this weekend. First off, the Ducks lost to Arizona State on Thursday, making Saturday’s game against Arizona at the McKale Center even more meaningful. It ended similarly to the first encounter between these two teams, as Oregon squeaked out a 1-point win in overtime, 73-72. Payton Pritchard led the way with 38 points in the victory. Oregon could be looking at a 13-5 finish in-conference, as they close the regular season with home games against Oregon State, California, and Stanford. However, with the parity in the conference, nothing is guaranteed.

Free Throws Achilles Heel for Arizona Against Oregon

Arizona beat Oregon State on Thursday but suffered another tough loss against Oregon. The Wildcats have now lost five straight games against the team that they have competed against as the face of Pac-12 Basketball the past few seasons. Arizona went 10-for-21 from the free-throw line against Oregon. In yet another overtime loss to the Ducks, the Wildcats left too many points on the floor. Arizona has a chance to strengthen their resume as they play USC and UCLA in their next two games.

UCLA Surging, Making Their Case for March

The Bruins had the signature win of their season against Colorado in Boulder on Saturday. On what was supposed to be a senior day celebration for the Buffaloes, the Bruins, led by Cody Riley and Tyger Campbell, were able to pull off the upset. This Bruins team that beat the Buffaloes lost to Cal State Fullerton in December. The Bruins improved to 10-5 in-conference. Mick Cronin has done a masterful job in conference play, and the Bruins could get a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Bruins still have work to do to make the tournament, but they have two great opportunities against Arizona and Arizona State in the coming days.

USC Has Tough Weekend but has Opportunities Against Arizona Schools

USC lost to both Colorado and Utah this weekend, weakening their tournament hopes. The Trojans have been able to be competitive in Pac-12 play, but they do not have a truly signature win on their resume. Winning against conference-leading Arizona State on Thursday would be a start, but a win against Arizona on Saturday may get more national attention. Not being able to win on the road has hurt the Trojans. Defending home court is a must this week to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Stanford Needs to Finish 2020 Pac-12 Basketball Season Strong

Stanford got Oscar Da Silva back last Saturday in a loss against Arizona. With the help of Da Silva, the Cardinal took care of business against Washington and Washington State this week to get themselves back to .500 (7-7) in the conference. Stanford will have an opportunity this week to improve their resume if they are able to beat Colorado in a home game on Sunday. It will be interesting how the committee views the loss to Colorado where Da Silva got injured, and the subsequent game against Arizona State where he did not play. Stanford could have possibly won both games if Da Silva was in the lineup.

2020 Pac-12 Basketball Regular Season Will Be a Race to the Finish Line

Big games for the upcoming week include the Arizona schools going to Los Angeles to play USC and UCLA. All teams involved could bolster and hurt their resumes in these games. Colorado goes on the road against Stanford on March 1. Both teams could use another resume-building win.

With the surges of UCLA and Arizona State the past few weeks, there are now seven teams in the Pac-12 that could make the case for March. However, the committee will probably only choose five or six teams. There is a case for more, however. The parity in the Pac-12 has produced in a way this season that may get more teams into the tournament. Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona are regarded as the best teams, but the other teams’ abilities to beat these teams have helped their cause for March. It is sure to be a crazy last two weeks of the Pac-12 Basketball regular season before the conference tournament in Las Vegas.

The Not So Obvious 2020 NBA Midseason Awards

Giannis Pro Sports postponement protests

Giannis for MVP and DPOY. Ja for Rookie of the Year. Nick Nurse for Coach of the Year. Montrezl Harrell for 6th Man. Bam Adebayo for Most Improved Player. Did I hit all of the obvious NBA Midseason Awards?

Now, let’s get to the real stuff aka the not so obvious awards. I live on Twitter for about 16 of my 17 hours I’m awake per day. NBA Twitter rules. No other sport pops off on Twitter like the NBA. Between free agency emoji battles to Kawhi Leonard speaking into a microphone, there’s always a viral moment ready to set the Internet ablaze. These are the midseason awards I care about.

Without further ado, here are my “Not So Obvious” 2020 NBA Midseason Awards

My Personal MVP – Alex Caruso

I love Alex Caruso. I’m addicted to screaming “CARUSOOOOO!” It’s going to suck when the Internet ruins Caruso so enjoy him for now. Caruso is athletic, tough, and makes the extra play when called upon. Mark my words: ACFresh21 is going to be responsible for winning one playoff game for the Lakers. Call him Delly 2.0.

Best Knicks Moment – Bobby Portis Revenge Game

There are not many Knick moments to choose from so I went with Big Bob’s 28 and 11 against the Bulls. I was thinking about doing a “Best Bobby Portis Hard Foul,” but I don’t want to die via a beating from Bobby Portis.

Best Non Basketball Story – Dion Waiters And Edibles

WAITERS ISLAND!

Best Kyrie Irving Story – Elected As VP Of Players Association

Kyrie, I love your game. However, how did you get elected into this position of power? Maybe I should be a flat earth guy.

Best Skip Bayless Tweet – Kyle Kuzma The Closer

I love you, Skip. I’m 100% serious. I love you.

Best Kawhi Viral Moment – Hey Hey Hey

What is your favorite moment of the season so far? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

2020 Pac-12 Basketball Season: Setting Up for a Crazy Finish

2020 Pac-12 Basketball Season: Setting Up for a Crazy Finish

Pac-12 basketball has put itself in position to get five teams into the 2020 NCAA Tournament. Each team can improve their potential seed in the NCAA Tournament if they perform well. However, with the volatility of play in the 2020 Pac-12 Basketball season, multiple scenarios are in play as teams approach the home stretch of the regular season. 

Colorado Buffaloes Leading the 2020 Pac-12 Basketball Standings

Record: 19-5 (8-3 Pac-12)

Key wins: VS Dayton (in Chicago), VS Oregon

Bad losses: VS Oregon State, at UCLA

The Buffaloes are in line for a six seed in the 2020 NCAA Tournament as of right now. They have been able to pull off huge resume-building wins against Oregon and Dayton, who both got places in the Selection Committee’s Top 16 seeds as of right now. Even though they are first in the Pac-12 standings, the Buffaloes have not been respected nationally as much as a conference leader should be.

Colorado has a huge opportunity to make an impression on the committee when they head to Eugene to play Oregon on Thursday. The Buffaloes also have the opportunity to avenge both of their bad losses at Oregon State (Feb. 15) and at home against UCLA (Feb. 22). If the Buffaloes can win out after the Oregon game and beat opponents not named Arizona and Oregon in the Pac-12 tournament, they will probably stay on the six-line as far as the NCAA Tournament is concerned. However, if the Buffaloes can pull off the upset in Eugene, win out, and be impressive in the Pac-12 Tournament, a top-four seed could be in the cards for them.

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Oregon Ducks Still Regarded as Best Team in 2020 Pac-12 Basketball, but Bad Losses Mounting

Record: 18-6 (7-4 Pac-12)

Key wins: VS Arizona, VS Seton Hall (Battle 4 Atlantis)

Bad losses: VS North Carolina (Battle 4 Atlantis), at Washington State, at Oregon State

The Ducks were the preseason pick to win the Pac-12. They were also the only team in the Pac-12 who was in the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee’s Top 16 seeds as of right now. Oregon was listed as a 4-seed.

However, the Ducks received that seeding before losing to Oregon State in Corvallis on Saturday night. This loss is the second bad conference road loss the Ducks have had. They have to show consistency on the road and defend home court to stay in position to obtain a top-four seed. Their first test defending home court will be Thursday against the conference-leading Colorado Buffaloes.

Arizona Wildcats: Inconsistency Caught Up to Them on Home Floor

Record: 16-7 (6-4 Pac-12)

Key wins: VS Colorado, VS Illinois

Bad losses: VS St. John’s (Al Attles Classic), at Oregon State, VS UCLA

Arizona had only lost to Gonzaga on their home court before UCLA beat them by 13 points Saturday night. This loss is brutal for Arizona’s prospects of landing a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. Arizona needs to prove they can beat teams that they should beat, and their first test will be this Thursday when they are on the road to face California.

The Wildcats will have another opportunity to beat Oregon at home on February 22 after losing to them by one point in an overtime thriller in Eugene. If Arizona can win this game and perform well in the conference tournament, there could be an argument for them to be a top-four seed. Right now it looks like they are in line for a spot on the five or six line.

Stanford Cardinal Have to Possibly Navigate Next Few Games Without Oscar da Silva

Record: 16-7 (5-5 Pac-12)

Key wins: VS Oregon 

Bad losses: at California, VS Oregon State, at Utah

The Cardinal are 1-4 in their last five games. They have losses to California, Oregon State, Utah, and Colorado. However, they have a huge win against Oregon sandwiched in between two two-game losing streaks.

Stanford may be without big man Oscar da Silva for the foreseeable future after he suffered a head laceration. Oscar da Silva collided with Colorado forward Evan Battey in Saturday’s game, and had to get stitches because he was bleeding. The injury could have been worse, but luckily da Silva is “going to be okay,” according to Stanford spokesperson Zack Reynolds.

Stanford plays Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado each one more time before the conference tournament. They will probably have to win at least one of these three games to be ensured of a tournament selection, and they cannot have any more bad losses.

USC Trojans Need to Right Ship After Three-Game Losing Streak

Record: 17-7 (6-5 Pac-12)

Key Wins: VS LSU (Basketball Hall of Fame Classic), VS Stanford

Bad Losses: at Washington

USC is currently on a three-game losing streak. However, they are still being projected as a nine or ten seed in most brackets. The Trojans could add to their resume, as they still have a trip to Boulder to play Colorado and a home date with Arizona on their schedule. They are in the same boat as Stanford. If the Trojans can win one of these two games and have an admirable showing in the Pac-12 Tournament, they will probably make the tournament.

USC beat an LSU team that was undefeated in SEC play before losing two straight this past week. However, they have a stinker on their resume, as they lost by 32 points to the last-place team in the conference in Washington. It will be interesting to see how the committee judges this loss by the Trojans, because Washington was still with point guard Quade Green in this game. Green was ruled academically ineligible for the rest of the regular season after this game.

Team That Still Has Opportunities in 2020: Arizona State

15-8 (6-4 Pac-12)

Key Wins: VS Arizona, VS USC

Bad Losses: @ Washington State

Arizona State will probably be living life on the bubble until Selection Sunday on March 15. They are 5-1 in their last six games, with wins against Arizona and USC. If the Sun Devils can beat Stanford and USC and have a decent showing in the conference tournament, they can make an argument for being included in the field in March.

However, Arizona is the best win of the season for the Sun Devils. Washington State is their only truly bad loss, but beating Oregon will be more important for Arizona State than it will be for any other team playing them the rest of the way. Coupling an Oregon win with a run in the Pac-12 Tournament will make a decision on whether the Sun Devils should be in the tournament a tough one for the committee.

Rest of Teams in Pac-12 Need to Win 2020 Conference Tournament to Make the Field

Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, California, UCLA, and Utah all have to hope they can have a magical weekend in Las Vegas from March 11-14. All of these teams have beat at least one of the teams that are projected to be in the tournament. However, winning the conference tournament ensures an automatic berth into the tournament. With how the Pac-12 has been playing out, anything is possible in the tournament.

As of right now Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, and USC look like the five teams that will be representing Pac-12 Basketball in the 2020 NCAA Tournament. With how college basketball has been this season, there will probably be madness that occurs before March. It will be interesting to see if there is a team that can achieve consistency in a Pac-12 conference where consistency seems impossible. If the beginning of February college basketball has been any indication, the rest of the month will be crazy.

10 Most Anticipated Movies Of 2020

John David Washington in Tenet

The year in film for 2019 is about to close after the Oscars on February 9. Once that happens, we’re officially onto 2020 (Read that with a Bill Belichick voice). 2020 is going to be an interesting year. There are no Star Wars films and Disney is only releasing one live-action remake (Mulan). Most likely, the box office is going to be down, but that doesn’t mean the quality of films will diminish. Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Denis Villeneuve will all release films. Plus, Black Widow and Wonder Woman return to the center of pop culture. Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of 2020.

I tried to mix it up and include a variety of movies from different genres. I could have easily put both Marvel films, the new Fast and Furious (this is my personal favorite), and every awards season contender on the list. However, I tried to include one movie every couple of weeks so movie nerds like myself have something to look forward to every month.

The Invisible Man – February 28

Blumhouse has significantly changed the horror industry with how films are made and released. Low budgets and huge returns are the Blumhouse special. Since 2017, Blumhouse has produced four films that have grossed over $240 million: Split, Get Out, Halloween, and Glass. The next potential hit could be February’s The Invisible Man. Directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw writer), The Invisible Man stars Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia Kass, an abused ex who leaves her partner. However, when Cecilia’s ex commits suicide and leaves his fortune to her, Cecilia believes her ex is still alive as an invisible man, wreaking havoc in her life. Do not be surprised if The Invisible Man quickly grosses $100 million.

A Quiet Place Part II – March 20

A Quiet Place was phenomenal. Can A Quiet Place Part II live up to the hype? To be honest, I have no idea what to expect. The sequel revolves around the Abott family, led by Emily Blunt, and their fight for survival in the outside world. John Krasinski wrote and directed the sequel so he’s earned our trust. Don’t forget to pack a Xanax.

No Time To Die – April 10

Goodbye to my favorite Bond, Daniel Craig. Sign me the hell up for Craig’s final James Bond film. There’s no need to hype up a film that doesn’t need my help drumming up interest. I need another long tracking shot from Cary Joji Fukunaga more than I need air.

Wonder Woman 1984 – June 5

It took some time to find its footing, but DC found its first critical and financial hit with Wonder Woman in 2017. The 80s are hot right now so I support the decision to set the Wonder Woman sequel in 1984. 2020 and 2021 are going to make or break the future of the DCEU. In succession, the DCEU will release Bird of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and Black Adam over the next two years. Your move, Marvel.

Tenet – July 17

Christopher Nolan, espionage, and time travel. Do I need to say anything more? Christopher Nolan movies are the only original movies in Hollywood that can be advertised as events. Prepare to be mind blown.

The French Dispatch – July 24

As I tweeted out earlier, “Cast. Stacked.” The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson’s first live-action film since 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Not much is known about Anderson’s latest film, but it’s described as a “love letter to journalism.” That cast is enough for me to buy a ticket.

Last Night In Soho – September 25

Edgar Wright’s follow up to Baby Driver will be Last Night In Soho. This is all I have on the film and it’s from Empire: In 1960s London, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), who may or may not live in the decade, starts an unusual friendship with Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy). It’s described as a psychological horror, but look for Wright to add his typical comedic spin like he’s done in the past films like Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver.

Zola – TBD

Do you remember the 2015 Twitter thread about the tale of a stripper and her crazy friend? It is WILD. Turns out, Twitter threads make good movies. Zola, which is based on the thread, premiered to positive reviews at Sundance. I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Whether you read the thread or go in blind, Zola will be insane.

Mank – TBD

David Fincher has not directed a film since 2014’s Gone Girl. During the 6-year absence, he essentially became the godfather of Netflix thanks to his work on House of Cards, Mindhunter, and Love, Death & Robots. Fincher will still be working with Netflix, but this time, it’s for a film called Mank, which centers around Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), and his battles with Orson Welles over the screenplay credit for Citizen Kane. I don’t see a world where Mank is not a huge part of next year’s awards season.

Dune – December 18

https://twitter.com/TheFilmStage/status/1222540400017039361?s=20

This is the big one. This will determine if Denis Villeneuve, who I believe had the best decade for a director in the 2010s, can join Christopher Nolan and create films that become events. The movie is Dune, which revolves around the son (Timothée Chalamet) of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. It’s based on the 1965 novel of the same name. It’s noteworthy that David Lynch also adapted the novel into a feature film in 1984. I’m most curious about its release date and box office performance. This will be the first time since 2014 where December will not have either a Star Wars or superhero movie on its release schedule. Can Dune fill this void and become a giant blockbuster?

What is your most anticipated movie of 2020? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Pac-12 Players Perform Well At The 2020 Senior Bowl

Senior Bowl Justin Herbert Pac-12

The 2020 Senior Bowl presented an opportunity for many Pac-12 players to help their draft stock. In what would be a 34-17 victory for the North team over the South team in Mobile, Alabama, some players were able to take advantage of their opportunity while others struggled.

Pac-12 players that played in the Senior Bowl:

Arizona State: RB Eno Benjamin, WR Brandon Aiyuk

California: S Ashtyn Davis, LB Evan Weaver

Colorado: QB Steven Montez, LB Davion Taylor

Oregon: QB Justin Herbert, OL Calvin Throckmorton

UCLA: RB Joshua Kelley

USC: WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Utah: DE Bradlee Anae, LB Francis Bernard, DB Terrell Burgess, DT Leki Fotu

Washington: C Nick Harris

Washington State: QB Anthony Gordon

Justin Herbert Leads Way for Pac-12

Justin Herbert started for the South team coached by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. Herbert went 9-of-12 for 83 yards and threw a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. He also added 22 yards on the ground. Herbert won MVP honors for his performance. Showing poise throughout the first quarter, Herbert was able to put on a performance that should help his case for being a top pick in the first round of April’s NFL Draft.

Many expect the Bengals to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first pick of the NFL Draft. However, Herbert and Burrow have similar games, and both can be threats running the football. If Herbert can add to his Senior Bowl performance with a great NFL Combine and Pro Day, he could be picked within the top five-seven picks. The Dolphins, Chargers, and Panthers (picks five, six, and seven) are all expected to strongly consider drafting a quarterback. Herbert separated himself from Jordan Love, another projected first-round pick and starter for the North team, in the Senior Bowl.

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Joshua Kelley and Anthony Gordon Also Impress on Offense in Senior Bowl

UCLA running back Joshua Kelley and Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon were the standout Pac-12 offensive players for the North team. Kelley had 15 carries for 105 yards, and Anthony Gordon had two touchdown passes in the third quarter. When Gordon went in, the game was tied at 10, but after the third quarter, the North was leading 31-10. Gordon could build off his senior bowl performance to possibly be a Day 2 pick at the NFL Draft.

Joshua Kelley was able to show that he can be physical inside, but can be explosive in space. He also could make a case for being a Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick if he builds off his performance in the Senior Bowl.

Bradlee Anae Steals the Show on Defense in Senior Bowl

Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae had a huge day at the Senior Bowl for the North team. He recorded three sacks on the day, and wreaked havoc against the South offensive line. Anae was the best defensive player on the field in Mobile and made his case to be a Day 2 pick at the draft.

Steven Montez, Calvin Throckmorton Have Uneven Performances in Senior Bowl

Colorado quarterback Steven Montez entered the game to start the second half and had a very uneven performance. Montez finished 3-of-8 for 22 yards and an interception. He took a sack on a 3rd-and-1 as he scrambled back and made a five-yard loss into a 15-yard loss on the sack.

However, Montez and fellow South quarterback Jalen Hurts did not get the protection from their offensive line to be fairly evaluated based on their performances. Calvin Throckmorton, an offensive lineman for Oregon, played for a big portion of the game and had trouble blocking Bradlee Anae on the few occasions they were matched up against each other. None of the tackles for the South fared well against Anae, but Throckmorton’s stock did not go up based on his performance.

Pac-12 Had Some of the Best Performances at 2020 Senior Bowl

The Pac-12 had a positive 2020 Senior Bowl. Justin Herbert, arguably the premier player in the conference this past season, was able to win MVP. Bradlee Anae made a great impression nationally. There is talent in the Pac-12, and future recruits can see that players that play on the west coast in the Pac-12 can be successful.

Dead Period Over, 2020 Football Schedule, Nick Rolovich, Pac-12 Basketball, Sabrina Ionescu

pac-12 podcast apostles 2020 schedule

The recruiting dead period is over, and so is your wait for another edition of the Pac-12 Apostles podcast! In this episode, George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden get into “early offers,” discussing the pros and cons of recruiting kids at a younger and younger age.

Washington State hired Hawaii’s Nick Rolovich, while Oregon and USC made important coordinator hires? George and Ralph evaluate the hires and debate whether UCLA was smart to give its newest position coach responsibilities on both sides of the ball.

The Pac-12 released next year’s football schedule- which teams have the most attractive games, and the hardest road? George and Ralph break down some of their favorite out of conference matchups as well.

And if you thought the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast was only a football show, you were dead wrong. George and Ralph discuss the state of the conference’s basketball teams on both the men’s and women’s side of things, including showing some praise for Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu.

The Best Pac-12 Podcast

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The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the conference. Join us by becoming a Pac-12 Apostle. Subscribe and share the podcast.

Please leave a review of our podcast on iTunes if you can! We record a podcast once a week during the off-season for football and then from the months of August to January we record two podcasts per week. Our podcasts are always heavy on Pac-12 football but we make it a point to also try and cover the other notable Men’s and Women’s Pac-12 sports. We cover recruiting and any other major storyline in the Pac-12 universe.

George Wrighster is a former Pac-12 and long-time NFL tight end. As a television/radio host, opinionist, and analyst, who is UNAFRAID to speak the truth. Contrary to industry norms he uses, facts, stats, and common sense to win an argument. He has covered college football, basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB since 2014. Through years of playing college football, covering bowl games, coaching changes, and scandals, he has a great pulse for the conference and national perspective.

Ralph Amsden is a Wyoming-born sportswriter and podcaster who spends his days tweeting through the misadventures that come with shuttling four kids around the Arizona desert. Ralph is the publisher of Rivals’ ArizonaVarsity.com, the founder of ArizonaSportsCast.com, and was previously the managing editor of the Arizona State Rivals affiliate, DevilsDigest.com. He is also a professional hater of all things pineapple. Whether you’re talking food, movies, music, parenting, politics, sports, television, religion, or zoological factoids, Ralph has questions for you. He might be sub-.500 in spousal disputes and schoolyard fights, but he’s always UNAFRAID to square up.

Pac-12 Conference Needs To Get Six Teams Into NCAA Tournament

2020 Pac-12 Basketball Season: Setting Up for a Crazy Finish

The 2020 College Basketball season has already brought the madness that is usually seen in March. There is no clear-cut favorite, and the AP Top 25 constantly changes from week-to-week. Pac-12 Basketball has brought the craziness in the 2019-20 season, as unpredictability has been the theme of the conference so far.

The Pac-12 only had three teams in the NCAA Tournament in 2019 (Washington, Arizona State, and Oregon) and one team in the National Invitation Tournament (Colorado). This season, the conference is looking to have far more teams in the tournament.

Joe Lunardi, the most prominent “Bracketologist”, had five teams in his NCAA Tournament field for 2020 as of January 21. These five teams include Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Stanford, and USC.

The Pac-12 Basketball Favorites: Oregon, Colorado, Arizona

The Pac-12 conference could end up making an argument to have six or seven teams make the tournament come Selection Sunday, which is March 15.

Oregon is widely regarded to as the best team in Pac-12 basketball. Currently, the Ducks are 15-4, with a 4-2 mark in Pac-12 play. Led by senior Payton Pritchard, the Ducks have impressive non-conference wins against Memphis and Seton Hall at neutral sites. They also won an overtime thriller against Michigan. However, Oregon lost to Washington State this past Thursday. The Ducks have not always been consistent but should be at least a top-4 seed come tournament time.

Colorado is one of the most experienced teams in the Pac-12, led by junior McKinley Wright IV. The Buffaloes have an effective supporting cast with Tyler Bey, D’Shawn Schwartz, and Evan Battey to name a few, but sometimes the offense looks stagnant, especially in losses against Kansas and this past Saturday against Arizona. The Buffaloes have wins against Oregon and Dayton which should help their cause. If they can build upon their 14-4 (3-2 Pac-12) record, they should be strongly considered to be a top-4 seed come March.

Listen to the Best Pac-12 Football and Basketball Podcast

The Arizona Wildcats are having a bounce-back season in wake of the bribery scandal involving DeAndre Ayton a few years ago. The Wildcats are 13-5 (3-2 Pac-12) this season, but also have been inconsistent thus far in conference play. They have defended home court in conference play, defeating opponents by an average of 21.7 points per game. However, they lost to both Oregon and Oregon State.

Pac-12 Basketball NCAA Tournament Hopefuls: Stanford and USC

USC and Stanford are currently the top two teams in the conference standings, with each having a 4-1 conference record, respectively. USC won against Stanford in Los Angeles this past Saturday 82-78. The Trojans and Cardinal have both not been shown any respect nationally. Neither team is ranked, but they are both 15-3 this season.

Stanford is USC’s most notable win, however. The Trojans lost by 32 to Washington in conference play, and Oregon will be the first ranked team they play this season. The only ranked team Stanford has played was Kansas, and they lost 72-56.

Non-Conference Schedule Hurting Pac-12 Basketball

The Pac-12 as a conference needs to work on their non-conference schedule in basketball, especially given how the conference was perceived at tournament time last year. Larry Scott’s goal should be to have at least half the league in the NCAA Tournament each season.

The conference needs to have a partnership with one of the other major conferences. The Big Ten/ACC Challenge and Big 12/SEC Challenge are both great for college basketball and bolster both conference’s resumes. The Pac-12 should look to possibly partner with the Big East or even one of the other conferences to help with the non-conference schedule.

Best Non-Conference Win For Pac-12 Basketball: Washington Over Baylor

Washington beat Baylor 67-64 in the Armed Forces Classic on November 8 in Anchorage, Alaska. Baylor was just awarded the number-one spot in the AP Poll on Monday. Washington has struggled in conference play with a 2-4 record. The Huskies will be the most prominent Pac-12 teams that will be living life on the bubble until March because they beat Baylor.

In the end, there should be at least four teams in the NCAA Tournament for the Pac-12. USC should end up getting in if they end with a winning record in conference play. Beyond that, Washington is the conference’s best hope to get half the teams from the “conference of champions” into the tournament. The Pac-12 needs to live up to its slogan and accomplish this feat. The season has been crazy, but hopefully the committee will take notice of the product the Pac-12 is putting out there this season.

NCAA Aims to Stop Graduate Transfers in College Football and Basketball

NCAA is trying to block Graduate transfers in college football and basketball

Millions tuned in to watch the Men’s March Madness Championship game. The University of Virginia (UVA) took on Texas Tech in a game that turned out to be a thrilling, seat clinching exhibition. College basketball fans witnessed UVA clinch its first NCAA Championship when they defeated Texas Tech in overtime. While it was a first for UVA, the game may have been the last for graduate transfers like Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens of Texas Tech as the NCAA aims to stop graduate transfers.

Mooney and Owens landed in the Final Four due to one of the NCAA’s rare rules that actually benefits college athletes. That rule is the graduate transfer rule. However, that rare benefit that the college athletes receive may be reduced drastically if the NCAA adopts a proposed change later this month.

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The Graduate Transfer Rule

The current graduate transfer rule gives college athletes a certain level of autonomy. The graduate transfer rule allows college athletes who have completed their four-year degree and have remaining eligibility to transfer to another school and compete as a graduate transfer without having to sit out a year. The athlete must enroll in a graduate program. The current graduate transfer rule actually makes sense. An athlete who has remaining eligibility and has completed his undergraduate degree at one university should be free to use his remaining eligibility at the graduate school of his choice.

The rule allows college athletes to freely decide where to pursue their graduate education while providing the opportunity for them to continue playing the sport they love. Due to the freedom the rule provides college athletes to take control over their careers, it should come as no surprise that the rule is under fire.

Critics Issues With the Graduate Transfer Rule

Some feel that college athletes abuse the system. Critics argue that college athletes only use the rule as an opportunity to play in hopes of making it to the pros, rather than focusing on their graduate degree. Some liken the graduate transfer rule to the one-and-done rule because some graduate transfers leave after only playing one year. A study from 2012 found that only one-third of men’s basketball and one-quarter of football graduate transfers earn their graduate degree after two years. Due to this concern, a reform to the graduate transfer rule has been proposed.

The New Proposal

The proposal requests that colleges commit to providing two years of scholarship to each graduate transfer unless the athlete completes the degree in one year. In sum, the school must be willing to give up a scholarship the next year for each graduate transfer they take unless the graduate transfer finishes his degree in a year. This proposed rule change will only affect men’s and women’s basketball and football. That is right, this change will only affect the major revenue-producing sports.

If Adopted the Proposal Will Essentially do Away With Graduate Transfers

There are several issues with this proposal. One is that it is not practical to think that any graduate student will finish their program in one year. This is especially true in regards to college athletes, who are balancing the demands of their sport with academics. Another issue is that if this rule is adopted, graduate transfers will no longer be an attractive option to coaches. Most coaches will not want to forfeit a scholarship for the next season to get a graduate transfer or two. The benefits simply do not outweigh the cost. For this reason, the proposed change would drastically limit college athletes’ ability to seek opportunities as graduate transfers.

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This proposal does not benefit college athletes at all. It takes away college athletes’ ability to pursue a graduate degree of their choosing while playing. Yes, an athlete could play as a graduate if he remains at his original school. However, that may still put the athlete at a disadvantage. What if the original university does not have the athlete’s desired graduate program? Now the athlete is unfairly forced to chose between their preferred graduate program and what is probably their last opportunity to play their sport on the big stage.

Another issue is that yet again, the rule unfairly affects the athletes who participate in the major revenue-producing sports. This very fact shows that the proposal has little to do with making sure athletes are getting their graduate degrees. This proposal is all about control. Proponents of the proposal want to control every move men’s basketball and football players make. There is nothing about this proposal that benefits the college athletes. It does the opposite by severely limiting men’s and women’s basketball players and football players options.

What Will the NCAA Do?

Will the NCAA keep the current system, which serves as a major benefit to many athletes? Or will the NCAA in typical fashion swoop in and severely limit the college athletes options? The NCAA will most likely do the latter. This is true especially given the fact that NCAA President Mark Emmert stated that he would not be surprised if the rule was revised.