November 20, 2006 Table Of Contents
SI Bonus Section: SI Fantasy Plus
Everyone has good days and bad, but these players can't be matched for their infuriating ups and downs
By Gene Menez
WE LIKE THE MATCHUP
Don't Like the Matchup
Rail-thin Kevin Martin is putting up robust numbers for the Kings
By Chris Mannix
Here are the NBA's hottest starters
By David Sabino
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
OHIO STATE LINEBACKER
As told to Elizabeth Newman
The Questions With Kareem McKenzie
Giants Tackle
Mikki Moore's love of animals is no croc
Uprooted by Katrina, a football standout has found sure footing with his coach
Where the most coveted recruits are headed
SI Players: Life on and Off the Field
Cheerleaders pull up their boots and train for Sundays on the sidelines
By Ben Reiter
Features
As he leads No. 2 Michigan into its showdown with No. 1 Ohio State, coach Lloyd Carr remains a private man who's loyal, literate and, would you believe, funny?
Deeply entrenched in Phoenix, second-year coach Wayne Gretzky is guiding a lackluster, last-place team. Is the Great One too nice for the job?
Donovan McNabb, one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, again has the Eagles in the thick of a playoff race. But will he ever fully win the heart of America's toughest sports town?
This game terrorizes you and keeps you awake at night, but that's what keeps me coming back
By Matt Birk
College Basketball 2006-2007
After a decade in which the game grew smaller, faster and more guard-oriented, new rules and shifting priorities have revived a species on the verge of extinction: the low-post dinosaur
By Written by Grant Wahl
A relentless workout regimen has helped Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough bulk up his NBA-ready game
By Grant Wahl
Seven-footer Roy Hibbert has transformed himself from a project into a powerhouse in the pivot
By Julia Morrill
Florida's dynamic duo of Joakim Noah and Al Horford keep driving each other to new heights
By Grant Wahl
Is this year's freshman class the best in history? These seven sublime newcomers with diverse talents make a convincing case
Maryland guard Kristi Toliver's fearless, unforgettable fadeaway in last April's title game epitomized how the young Terps and their cocksure coach have turned the women's college basketball establishment upside down
Maryland has the makings of a dynasty, but history--and a strong field--could stand in the champs' way
SI's tip sheet to the most compelling storylines, the players likeliest to shine and the new faces worth watching in the men's and the women's games
By Seth Davis
Having learned hard lessons last season, the young and talent-rich Jayhawks will leap to the top
By Seth Davis
The Gators' starters are back, but can they remain champs now that everyone wants a bite of them?
By Grant Wahl
3 UNC
The Tar Heels have the talent to outrun anyone, but can they keep all of their young guns happy?
By Grant Wahl
After a disappointing end to a stellar season, a not-as--Big Baby is hungrier on and off the court
By Luke Winn
The concept of the Final Four may be elusive in Cameroon, but it's within the grasp of one favorite son
By Seth Davis
The Crimson Tide's Final Four chances will rest on the shoulders of its All-America candidate
By Ted Keith
With a pair of experienced big men leading the way, the Hoyas are poised for a long postseason run
By Julia Morrill
The Buckeyes' improving floor leader must guide the talented but tenderfoot Thad Five by example
A fifth-year forward who remains a kid at heart looks to power the Badgers to the top of the Big Ten
By Luke Winn
10 PITTSBURGH
Delaying his shot at the NBA, the Panthers' big man is back to take care of unfinished business
By Julia Morrill
Bucking the big man trend, the Wildcats will go smaller and faster with a trio of explosive wings
By Grant Wahl
A formerly quiet point guard has become the vocal leader of the country's best turnaround story
The Bluejays' top shooter returns, healthy and aiming to lead them back to the top of the Valley
By Seth Davis
Despite an improved inside game, the Huskies' biggest weapon is a marksman in the mold of the Pistol
With Redick and Williams gone, a sophomore forward will carry the offense and call the shots
A challenging schedule won't faze the seasoned Shockers and their self-assured swingman
By Seth Davis
The 65-team NCAA tournament includes 31 automatic bids and 34 at-large selections. Will your team make the cut? Find out below
By Luke Winn
Inside
By Ian Thomsen
By Peter King
Dr. Z's Forecast: Broncos Bust the Bolts
By Phil Taylor
By Chris Mannix
By Grant Wahl
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
A unique collection of tales and artifacts provides an intimate new look at Mickey Mantle
Is Yi Jianlian another Yao Ming--or Wang Zhizhi? An NBA team will likely use a top draft pick to find out
By Chris Mannix
A tirelessly upbeat coach and a shocking rise to the Top 10 have Rutgers and the Garden State partying like it's 1869
Why the Red Sox broke the bank for the right to talk to a ballyhooed Japanese fireballer
By Tom Verducci
By Grant Wahl
The results are in—and mixed—for sports figures who ran for public office
The actor (Major League, 24) plays a special forces operative on CBS's The Unit
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix