SB Nation Seattle: All Posts by Nikil Selvam

Phoenix Suns 2012-13 NBA Schedule: Top 10 Games To Watch

2012-10-22T21:00:08Z

The 2012-13 NBA season is almost here, and the Phoenix Suns will begin their campaign with plenty of new faces on the roster. Following the departure of Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Robin Lopez along with the addition of Goran Dragic, Kendall Marshall, Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson and Luis Scola during the offseason, this Suns team looks drastically different from the Suns teams of seasons past.

All of this change means that there will be plenty of storylines to follow over the 82-game schedule. Here's an early look at the top 10 Suns games to watch in 2012-13:

Monday, November 5th- at Miami Heat

After facing the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic to open the season, the Suns head to Miami for a match-up against the defending champion Heat. Miami has an even better team on paper this year with the offseason additions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and they are the early favorites to win it all. If Phoenix can somehow pull off a strong showing here with either a win (crazy, I know) or a close loss (say, six points or less), the Suns might be able to develop some early-season momentum.

Monday, November 12th- vs. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets played like the Suns of old last year, and they're going to continue playing an up-tempo style this season as well. Led by point guard Ty Lawson and their athletic wings, Denver led the league with 19.8 fast-break points and 104.1 total points per game in 2011-12. With Goran Dragic pushing the ball up the floor for Phoenix, this should be a very high-scoring and entertaining contest.

This game also marks an important part of the Suns schedule before a challenging stretch against the Chicago Bulls (home), Los Angeles Lakers (away) and Miami Heat (home) in three of the next four nights.

Friday, December 14th- vs. Utah Jazz

Remember when the Suns and the Jazz faced off in a must-win game late last season for the final Western Conference playoff spot? The Jazz prevailed 100-88 in Salt Lake City and sent Phoenix to its second consecutive offseason without a playoff berth. Neither team has clearly improved its roster from last year, and these two squads could find themselves fighting for a low playoff seed once again this year. The head-to-head record could become a factor in such a case, and it'll be important for Phoenix to pick up this win at home.

Saturday, December 29th- at Minnesota Timberwolves

Just a few days before we ring in 2013 and permanently put the 2012 apocalypse theories to bed (assuming that we're all still alive), new Suns additions Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson take on their former team for the first time. Both were high draft picks out of college and both have underperformed in their NBA careers so far. Fortunately, the Suns have helped top draft picks rejuvenate their careers in recent seasons (Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill). Could Beasley and Johnson join that list? Odds are that we'll know one way or the other by the time this game ends as both Johnson and Beasley will have played 31 games with the Suns.

Saturday, January 12th- at Chicago Bulls

Phoenix's match-up with Chicago marks the end of a tough four-game Eastern Conference road trip that consists of two back-to-backs. The Suns will be at Milwaukee and at Boston on January 8th and 9th before playing at Brooklyn and at Chicago on January 11th and 12th. Yikes, that's four games in five nights. This stretch will help reveal just how strong the Suns are as a road team against decent to strong competition. Going 2-2 or better during this part of the schedule has to be considered a success.

Wednesday, January 30th- vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Mark your calendars. January 30th is the day that Steve Nash returns to the desert as a Laker for the first time. We'll probably hear a fair amount of boos for Nash throughout this game, which is a shame considering everything that he has done as a Sun. But the fact is undeniable: lots of Suns fans still feel betrayed by Nash's decision to join their hated division rivals. You can expect the crowd to be electric for this one, and it may be just the boost that the Suns need to spring the upset. This may be the single biggest game of the season for Phoenix.

Friday, February 8th- at Oklahoma City Thunder

The first half of February is brutal for Phoenix, and this contest marks the beginning of a tough three-game stretch just before the All-Star Break. Phoenix takes on OKC twice over three nights and then faces the Lakers on the road two days later. Basically, the Suns could end up facing the top two teams in the West three times over five nights just before their week off. A couple of losses here wouldn't be too tragic, but a couple of wins could help this team a lot.

Sunday, February 24th- vs. San Antonio Spurs

We all know that the Suns like to pick things up after the All-Star Break. Last season, Phoenix rebounded from a 14-20 start with a 19-13 run after the break to challenge for the eighth playoff spot in the West. This game against the Spurs is Phoenix's fourth contest after All-Star Weekend, and we should know by the end of this contest whether or not the Suns have what it takes to make another late-season run (or if there's anything to make a run at).

Saturday, March 9th- at Houston Rockets

This game is Phoenix's first match-up with the Rockets in 2012-13 before playing them three more times over the next 38 days. Dragic and Scola face off against their old squad for the first time, and they'll be motivated to put up stats against the organization that let them leave after last year. If Dragic and Jeremy Lin can maintain the flashes of high-level play that we saw from them last year, we could be in for a series of very entertaining point guard match-ups. Also, the four games against Houston during the season's final six weeks could be critical for playoff seeding if one or both teams is in the playoff race.

Sunday, April 7th- vs. New Orleans Hornets

Phoenix's closing schedule is once again littered with Western Conference foes (17 in a row last season, eight in a row this year), and this game against the Hornets could be crucial in making the playoffs if the Suns are in the hunt. After this match-up, Phoenix plays four of its final five regular season games on the road against playoff-caliber competition (at Houston, Dallas, Minnesota and Denver). It'll be hard to come by wins during that stretch, and it'll be important for the Suns to take care of the young Hornets at home before the road trip begins. With young superstar Anthony Davis playing alongside former Sun Robin Lopez and talented guard Eric Gordon, the Hornets could be fighting for a low playoff seed themselves and will make this a very interesting game.

Between these 10 games and the other 72 on Phoenix's schedule, there will be plenty of intriguing match-ups to watch this season. Let's hope that the Suns can put together a strong campaign in the first year of the post-Nash era.

Olympics 2012: Russia-France Running Diary And Team USA Finals Preview

2012-08-11T13:00:14Z

I managed to get tickets to the women's Olympic basketball semifinals on Thursday night between Russia and France after hours of frantic searching online. Finally, I managed to click through at the exact time that someone else sold their tickets back to the London 2012 website and proceeded to purchase my ticket.

The game turned out be a great contest between two proud nations. I had no idea what the two teams- or their fans- would be like, nor did I have a clue as to what to expect from the game itself. As I soon discovered, however, the privilege of representing one's country at the Olympics provides for some great entertainment.

Here's how the game went:

First quarter

10:00- The energy in the building is quite noticeably tilted in France's favor. The French rush out to an 8-0 lead, much to the delight of the crowd.

7:02- Russia's best player, Becky Hammon (introduced as such during the pre-game montage, also plays for the San Antonio Stars in the WNBA), enters the game. I start to wonder whether or not it's a good idea to have your best player coming off the bench. Maybe she's recovering from injury?

3:41- Nope, Hammon looks great and makes an impact right away. She drains a wide open three to score seven consecutive points and bring her team within two at 12-10. Looks like things may be looking up for Russia. Either way, I need to settle on a team to root for.

2:30- France goes on a 6-0 run by doing what they've excelled at the entire game: driving to the basket and finding open shooters. If only Russia could get some offense from anybody not named Hammon...

0:08- France nails a three-pointer right before the buzzer to go up 24-15. 24 points in one quarter? The French are on fire. I decide to cheer for the Russians the rest of the way. Who doesn't love a good comeback story?

Second quarter

10:00- The Russian crowd is starting to sense that this game could get ugly very quickly if their team doesn't turn it on, and they begin the first of many "Rush-ee-uh" chants that echo throughout the arena. Motivated by my newfound allegiance, I join in.

5:49- Russia nails two three-pointers in a row. The lead is cut to 10 after ballooning to 14 earlier. The French fans are getting nervous that their double-digit lead might disappear, but they're just as loud as ever.

1:09- During the official timeout, two dads take the floor for a dance-off to LMFAO's "Sexy And I Know It". I take a second to consider whether this is going to be awkward or hilarious- turns out to be hilarious.

0:00- Russia closes on a 4-0 run to trail only 38-31. I must say that I'm proud of the Russians, battling back from 14 down at one point to achieve a manageable halftime deficit.

Halftime- The highlight of the break is the kiss cam, which turns out to be the most unique one (by far) that I've ever seen. The two in-house PAs decide to critique every single kiss, giving props to the courageous and egging on the nervous. "Give her one more! C'mon, one more! One more!" By the end, even the hesitant couples can't help but enjoy themselves. The crowd is rocking with laughter.

Third quarter

10:00- Things shift suddenly, and I can feel the intensity increase in the arena. Both sides realize that their team is one good half of basketball away from a shot at a gold medal. The fans are going crazy, and the players seem to have a little more energy on the floor. This should be a fun ride.

8:11- Emilie Gomis, the center for France who was nowhere to be found in the first half, starts off by drawing contact in the lane and knocking down two free throws. I start to think that the Russians are in trouble if she gets going.

5:21- Right on cue, Gomis shows that she's more than just a physical center by knocking down a three-pointer. My heart sinks as a fan of the Russian side- the team had managed to pull within two points before that one. 45-40.

4:23- I look over at the large contingent of Russian fans during the timeout and catch a man swiftly moving his Russian flag around his body in a pattern, using it as a dance prop while looking like a crazed Jedi flailing with his lightsaber. This brings plenty of cheers from the Russian crowd. I wonder to myself why we don't have such cool pump-up celebrations in the U.S.

1:22- The momentum starts to swing back to Russia when Marina Kuzina, a reserve forward for Russia, catches fire. Kuzina connects on back-to-back threes and follows it up with a beautiful drive to the basket. The Phoenix Suns fan inside of me starts to believe that the Russians can win if they can keep up this three-point barrage. It's 53-50 in favor of France.

0:00- I can't help but smile and shake my head as Celine Dumerc, the captain of the French team and the starting point guard, nails a buzzer-beating three over two Russian defenders. Wow. It's a terrible shot, but somehow she had the guts to take it and make it. France leads 59-51 heading into the final quarter.

Fourth quarter

10:00- Just like the beginning of the third quarter, the arena starts to vibrate with energy. Both fan bases are nervous and excited at the same time. In 10 minutes, one country is going to the Olympic finals.

8:01- Russia calls timeout after two minutes of stagnant offense. France has pulled ahead by 12 points at 65-53, and if Russia wants to win, they need to turn it on now. Hammon returns to the floor after a few minutes of rest. She's been stagnant over the past two quarters and needs to pick things up. I join in the "Rush-ee-uh, Rush-ee-uh" chants as the Russians cheer their team on.

5:33- France's Edwige Lawson-Wade connects on a three-pointer to go 4-for-4 on the night. The French lead 70-56, and that shot looks like the dagger. I watch the French fans jump up and down in delirium while the Russian sit silently in their seats. A group of Russians try to start another set of "Rush-ee-uh, Rush-ee-uh, Rush-ee-uh" chants, but they're quickly overpowered by the yelling and cheering French fans.

2:05- I watch as Gomes delivers one last magical possession for France: she steals the ball, races down the court, misses a layup, collects her own board and then uses the glass to make hr shot. France now leads 76-56, and the crowd is going crazy. Gomes races down the court and screams into the air as the reality of a gold medal appearance sets in.

0:30- Dumerc nails a three-pointer for France as the French start to celebrate. France is headed to their first Olympic women's final ever, and the atmosphere is intense. Their happiness reminds me of NBA fans who just watched their team close out a tough conference opponent in the conference finals for a berth in the NBA Finals. The final score in this one: France 81, Russia 64.

Finals preview

The French played a great game against Russia and maintained a slim to comfortable lead over the first three quarters before putting the game away in the fourth. France will take on Team USA, led by Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, in the finals. The Americans have won 40 consecutive Olympic matches and are four-time defending champions. If tonight is any indication, however, the French could be dangerous in the finals.

They play unselfish basketball and share the ball extremely well, creating open shots and finding cutters to generate easy offense. France had six players score in double digits on this night, and their balanced attack means that Team USA can't key in on just one or two of them but must instead play very solid one-on-one defense. If France plays with the intensity that they showed down the stretch against Russia, they could make the game very, very interesting. That being said, the Americans will enter the final as favorites and will look to deliver the same type of memorable performance that the French delivered against Russia en route to their fifth straight gold medal.

Olympics 2012: Top 5 Most Important Athletes

2012-08-10T13:06:53Z

The Olympic Games provide an interesting tie between athletes and their countries. An athlete's accomplishments or failures reflect the country's success or failure in sports. The link that sometimes gets lost, however, is the other relationship: countries become incredibly invested in their athletes during the Olympics, and sometimes these athletes become symbols of something more (hope, perfection, inspiration, etc.). Here's a look at the top 5 most important athletes to their respective nations during the 2012 Olympics:

5. Missy Franklin

At the age of 17, Franklin is well on her way to becoming a household name in America.

She has won the second most medals (four gold and one bronze) behind only Michael Phelps during these Games, and she's also the only other Olympian besides Phelps to win four gold medals total. Two of those gold medals consisted of world record performances- her 200 meter individual backstroke clocked in at 2:04:06 and the 4 x 100 meter medley that she competed in for the U.S. clocked in at 3:52:05.

Given her age and talent, Franklin has a significant chance to become the next great American swimmer. If she can win five medals at the age of 17, imagine what she may be able to do at the ages of 21 and 25 over the next two Olympics. She's taken the swimming world by storm at the perfect time for the United States- just as Phelps transitions out. If America is looking for its next dominant individual athlete, Franklin could take the spotlight and provide inspiration for another generation of Americans.

4. Andy Murray

The UK has a special bond with Murray. He's the undisputed face of tennis, and every year he's tasked with the daunting challenge of ending the British drought at Wimbledon. The Brits haven't had a Wimbledon champion in 75 years, and Murray came agonizingly close last month before falling in the finals to Roger Federer. His post-match interview says it all: Murray was absolutely heartbroken afterwards, and the entire UK shared his disappointment.

For this reason, Murray's showing in the Olympics, which took place on the exact same Wimbledon courts, became central to the country's attention. His subsequent demolition of both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the semifinals and finals, respectively, lifted a huge weight off of the country's shoulders. It certainly wasn't equivalent to ending the Wimbledon drought, but watching a British male win gold at Wimbledon by taking out two of the three best players in the world was the next best thing for the Brits.

3. Michael Phelps

The importance of Phelps to the United States isn't quite as noticeable as some of the other athletes on this list; his significance stems less from an emotional perspective and more from a curiosity standpoint. His amazing 8-for-8 sweep of gold medals during the 2008 Olympic Games epitomized perfection at the highest level, and it set up a massive question for 2012: what are the limits of an American athlete who is four years removed from one of the greatest achievements of all time?

His 2012 campaign started off slow, but Phelps came back to win four gold and two silver medals. Phelps' 22 total medals make him (statistically) the most successful Olympian of all time, and his 18 total gold medals overall dwarf any and all competitors. His 2012 run may not be as impressive as either of his previous two Olympics, but it answers the intriguing question above with a thoroughly hopeful response: given the proper training and motivation, excellence can be maintained at a high level without much of a decline.

2. Usain Bolt

Bolt is on top of the sports world right now after successfully defending his gold medal performances in both the 100 meter and 200 meter events, becoming the first Olympian to ever do so. Over the past four years, he has broken the 100 meter world record three times and the 200 meter world record twice. He is in a league of his right now.

Bolt's appeal is unlike any of the other athletes on this list. He comes from a small country (Jamaica) and humble beginnings (his parents ran a local grocery store), but he has risen up to become the undisputed fastest man in the world. His journey proves that anything can be accomplished in sports, and this message is what makes him such a strong symbol of hope for both his country and athletes everywhere. The fact that Bolt successfully defended his 100 meter title on the same day that Jamaica celebrated 50 years of independence from the British just happens to be sweet coincidence, and it only strengthens Jamaica's tie to Bolt.

1. Jessica Ennis

While Murray was one of the UK's biggest symbols coming into the Olympics, Ennis was undoubtedly the heart and soul of the host country. Her talent and personality molded her into a national icon, and with that title came the burden of bringing home the gold in the heptathlon. Ennis may have faced more pressure than any other athlete entering the 2012 Olympics.

How did she respond? Beautifully. Ennis turned in a dominant performance in the heptathlon and pulled away down the stretch, finishing over 300 points ahead of her closest rival. She finished the final event- the 800 meter race- in emphatic fashion, pulling away from the field for a storybook ending that athletes can only dream of. Her amazing run through the heptathlon and the last race in particular are classic moments that the Brits will look back on in the future and ask, "Where were you when...?" Ultimately, the Olympics are defined by moments like these, and Ennis provided a very memorable one for her country.

Olympics 2012: Top 5 Most Spirited Nations In London

2012-08-07T15:00:14Z

London has become an international hotbed during the 2012 Olympics. The city, already known as one of the most international cities in the world, has taken the title to a whole new level this summer as fans from around the world arrive to cheer on their respective nations. Here's a look at the five most spirited fanbases in London right now:

5. Spain

For a country riddled by injury (Rafael Nadal didn't compete in tennis and the Spanish basketball team is banged up), Spain is very well represented in London. The country has its massively successful football team to thank for this- with three consecutive major titles from 2008 to 2012 (Euro Cup 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro Cup 2012), the Spanish are overflowing with national pride and they haven't been afraid to show it. Plus, it doesn't hurt that every Nike outlet in the city is stocked with tons of Spain gear these days.

4. China

China leads the world in medals during these 2012 Games, and they're doing pretty well in the fan department as well. You'll find plenty of red jackets concentrated in and around Olympic Park as fans stream to and from the main London venue during the day, but Chinese fans aren't quite as well represented elsewhere around the city. Still, the 2008 hosts bring a noticeable presence to these Olympics, and they may have plenty to cheer about if China can hold off the United States for the most gold medals.

3. United States

Of all the fans on this list, Americans may be the most diverse in their attire. Really, you can split them into three groups: the hardcore fans who wear pants like the ones above, the classy fans who sport either Team USA basketball gear or simple "USA" shirts, and the simple fans who opt to wear gear of their favorite team from back home. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Olympics so far? The most visible American sports team in London isn't the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, or any of the other teams that you might suspect. It's the Memphis Grizzlies. Yup, the Grizzles. People from Memphis must be huge Olympics fans.

2. Great Britain

Londoners have come a long way in terms of their excitement over the past few weeks. The red and blue lion above is present pretty much everywhere in the city, and it's nearly impossible to walk around without seeing at least a few Team GB shirts. While national spirit is high and definitely palpable, it isn't overwhelming by any means, which is what keeps the Brits out of the top spot on this list. That may change, though; the ripple effects of the UK's super successful Olympic weekend- national symbol Jessica Ennis took gold in the heptathalon and Andy Murray finally broke through in tennis by taking out both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in straight sets on his way to gold- are still settling in, so the Brits may be more spirited as the second half of the Olympics wears on. For now, however, they settle into second behind a surprise country.

1. Brazil

Brazil is scheduled to command the attention of the sports world over the next few years as host of both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. If this summer is any indication, it doesn't look like the Brazilians are willing to wait their turn. Brazil fans are everywhere, and on any given day you may actually see just as many Brazil jerseys as UK jerseys. The national sports buses make frequent appearances around the city, showing up more often than the buses of any other nation. The cherry on top of it all is the subtle advertising for the 2016 Olympics that adds to the already strong sense of Brazilian pride. If Brazil manages to recreate this level of enthusiasm back home, the sports world will be in very, very good hands over the next four years.

Olympics 2012: London’s Transformation Reminds Us All About The Magic Of Sports

2012-08-03T13:00:25Z

We are now officially one week into the Olympics, and while we may be keeping track of how many medals each country wins or how well certain athletes perform (see Phelps, Michael), an equally interesting story is taking place across the pond.

The power of sports has transformed London during the span of these seven days.

When I arrived in the city a few weeks ago, I expected the area to be teeming with enthusiasm. It's been 64 years since the English capital last hosted the Games, which means that at least a few generations of Brits are on hand this time around that weren't around during the 1948 edition. Logic would suggest that this once-in-a-lifetime experience would lead to lots of energy in the city, right?

That certainly wasn't the case before the Games began. In fact, Londoners seemed to be more anxious than anything else. It makes sense: with lots of construction around the city- cranes litter the skyline in every direction- and a potential security crisis that didn't resolve itself until just before the Games began, there was plenty of reason to be anxious.

Whatever the cause, the lack of energy was "disconcerting" (to borrow Mitt Romney's phrase). And yet, in the span of one short week, London has turned around.

The magic of sports, the magic of competition, has led the Brits to start embracing a more upbeat atmosphere. All the preparation that seemed to take a toll on this city is paying off in the form of high-quality competition on the biggest of international stages, and the citizens of London are enjoying every bit of it.

The events, even ones in which the UK athletes don't play a prominent role, are significant talking points in the streets. People are stopping by at overstocked bars on the way back from work to check out the latest events each day, swapping conversation with tourists from around the world along the way. Team GB gear is selling rapidly, and the official Olympics stores have lines stretching out in front as more people try to get in.

This level of transformation is a big deal for a city that appeared emotionally drained not long ago. Whether they realize it or not, the citizens of London have fallen privy to the power of sports and its ability to completely capture our attention.

It's a wonderful thing, and we're all better for it. The best is still to come from London during these Olympic Games, both in terms of the actual sporting events and the level of excitement among the host city's populace.

ASU Football: How Will Depth At Running Back Affect Offense?

2012-04-18T16:30:09Z

There aren't too many facts that can be stated with confidence about the 2012-13 ASU Sun Devils. The team faces a lot of turnover in personnel from last year, from head coach Todd Graham and his coaching staff to players such as Brock Osweiler and Vontaze Burfict. With all of these new faces in place alongside a new system, there's no telling how things will play out over the course of the season. One thing that is certain, however, is that the 2012-13 Sun Devils will have incredible depth at running back.

Let's sort this out: first off we have last year's starter, Cameron Marshall, who had an outstanding season on his way to the ASU record books. Marshall is recovering from a surgery right now but figures to be ready by the time the season rolls around. Then there's incoming freshman DJ Foster and juco transfer Marion Grice, two potentially important cogs that ASU didn't have last year. Throw in Deantre Lewis, who looks solid during spring practice following his recovery from a gunshot wound, and you've got four solid running backs who can all contribute to Graham's run-heavy offense.

But that's not all: senior James Morrison is starting to emerge during spring practice. With Marshall out, Morrison has stepped in and is proving to be an able contributor. Graham has certainly been impressed with his ability.

Add it all up and you have five backs that could warrant snaps once September rolls around. That's a good thing, right?

Click through to find out.

Perhaps, but it also presents its own set of challenges. Graham will have to make a decision on which two or three guys he's really willing to stick with this year, and to do so he'll probably give all of them a chance on the field early on. In a system that figures to rely heavily on the run, a lack of consistency at the RB position could cause the offense to stagnate.

Once Graham finds the right combination of runners, however, the offense should get into a set pattern and (hopefully) produce yardage. The real question surrounding this deep running back group, then, is how long will it take for Graham to put together all of their strengths?

My guess is three weeks. With three games under his belt, Graham should have a good indication of each players' ability and confidence level on the field. He will then be able to dole out roles- and carries- accordingly.

How many weeks into the season do you think it'll take for Graham to figure out his platoon of running backs? Cast your vote below. And, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, which RBs will emerge as the top options? My money is on Foster, Marshall and Lewis (in that order); leave your thoughts in the Comments area.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@HouseOfSparky) if you don't already to get all of the latest news and analysis on ASU sports. You can also 'Like' us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Poll

How many weeks into the season will Todd Graham take to solidify a consistent running back rotation?

1-2

30 votes

3-4

61 votes

5-6

4 votes

7+

3 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed

The Sporting Gentlemen Break Down Brock Osweiler, Other Quarterbacks

2012-04-14T16:46:00Z

The big story entering the NFL Draft has centered on QBs over the past few seasons, and this year is no different. There's no question that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be the top two picks, but what about the quarterbacks following them? SB Nation's Dan Rubenstein and Matt Ufford of The Sporting Gentlemen broke down the other notable quarterbacks in this year's draft, including Brock Osweiler. Take a look below:

NFL Draft 2012: Overrated Quarterbacks (via sbnation)

The duo's concerns about Osweiler are definitely valid. He didn't make many college starts, he failed to lead the Sun Devils to wins down the stretch and his play relied heavily on swing passes. The final two concerns may be more a function of the team's second-half implosion and the offense at ASU than Osweiler's own ability, but at this point his draft stock will be conflated with those concerns regardless.

Osweiler showed the ability and leadership to swing games (no pun intended) this year. Those two factors, more than anything else, may be Osweiler's biggest assets on draft day. His passing mechanics are a work in progress, and with his combination of size and speed, a few years of development at the pro level could be all he needs to become a productive NFL starter.

All in all, I see Osweiler fitting in as a third round pick in this year's draft. Where do you think he gets drafted? Vote below and leave your thoughts in the Comments section.

Poll

Where will Osweiler get drafted?

1st round

7 votes

2nd round

53 votes

3rd round

36 votes

4th-5th round

19 votes

6th-7th round

5 votes

120 votes | Poll has closed

ASU Football: Season Ticket Prices Announced For 2012-13 Season

2012-04-09T15:00:58Z

The Arizona St. Sun Devils are gearing up for the 2012-13 season both on and off the field right now. Coach Todd Graham and company are working the players during spring practice as the team prepares to install new schemes. Off the field, the athletics department has announced its season ticket prices for next season.

Tickets start at $120 for the six home games that the Sun Devils will play next year and extend up to $1,850. Current ticket holders have until May 18th to renew their seats and receive a loyalty discount, if they choose to do so.

It will be interesting to see what happens to these ticket prices over the next few seasons. ASU revealed some early plans for the Sun Devil Stadium renovation project last week, and the announcement centered on the concept of enhancing the fan experience within the arena. Prices have not increased by much over the past few years, but this new construction project could change that.

How will stadium renovation plans affect ticket prices? Vote and comment below.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@HouseOfSparky) if you don't already for all of the latest news and analysis on ASU sports. You can also 'Like' us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Poll

How will ticket prices change over the next few years with Sun Devil Stadium renovations set to take place?

Increase by a lot

40 votes

Increase a little

26 votes

No change

4 votes

Decrease

2 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed