If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the second year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first one.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 40 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 80 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  80 Cup Points:  43 Games, 35 G, 44 A, 79 P, +2, 9.0 PS.  (#1 on last update)

There are a lot of stories at the near-halfway mark of the 2022/23 NHL Season, with one of the top ones being Connor McDavid running away with every major statistical category.  Last year’s Notinhalloffame NHL Cup winner is extending his lead and he is currently the league-leader in Goals (35), Assists (44), Points (79) and Point Shares (9.0).  

2. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 74 Cup Points:  40 Games, 32 G, 26 A, 58 P, +20, 7.9 PS. (#3 on last update)

The Bruins are one of the NHL’s top teams and Pastrnak is their top scorer.  The Bruins star is averaging 1.39 Points per Game, slightly more than his First Team All-Star campaign in 2019-20.

3 (Tie). Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche. 68 Cup Points:  39 Games, 27 G, 23 A, 50 P, +6, 6.1 PS. (#3 on last update)

Rantanen remains at #3, and is also in the top ten in Goals and Points, while leading the NHL in Even Strength Goals (22).  The Avs star has 1.28 PPG, the highest of his career.

3 (Tie). Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars.  68 Cup Points:  42 Games, 29 G, 29 A, 58 P, +23, 8.1 PS. (#6 on last update)

Robertson is on pace to shatter last season’s 41-38-79 output, and the fourth-year player is now the undeniable top dog of the Stars lineup.  He is currently tied for the league-lead in Even Strength Goals (22). 

5. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils.  63 Cup Points, 41 Games, 26 G, 23 A, 49 P, +14, 6.4 PS. (not on last update)

Hughes explodes back into the top ten, ranked higher in Cup Point standings than he has ever been.  He is seven Points away from tying last year’s number.

6. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning, 62 Cup Points:  39 Games, 23 G, 17 A, 40 P, +2, 4.7 PS. (#2 on last update)

Point drops large from #2, and though he is having a good year, and is a point-per-game player, there are still quite a few players with higher point tallies than the Tampa Center.  Saying that, Point has been the most clutch player for the Lightning, and a reason we love this process!

7. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs.  60 Cup Points:  41 Games, 20 G, 27 A, 47 P, +17, 5.5 PS.  (#7 on last update)

Matthews is the defending Hart winner but he is not on the PPG pace he was last year, though when Toronto wins, the odds are that he was the biggest reason why.  Is this season a disappointment so far for Matthews?

8 (Tie). Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild.  58 Cup Points:  40 Games, 24 G, 25 A, 49 P, -1, 5.6 PS. (#8 on last update)

Kaprizov is easily Minnesota’s best player and if he stays healthy should have his second straight 100-Point year.

8 (Tie). Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins.  58 Cup Points:  26 Games, 22-1-1, 1.87 GAA, .938 Save Percentage, 6.9 PS.  (#8 on last update)

Ullmark is the highest ranked Goalie, and his ascendence to likely All-Star has been colossal for Boston’s rise to the top portion of the standings.  Ullmark leads all Goalies in Wins, GAA, Save Percentage and Goalie Point Shares.

10 (Tie). Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 57 Cup Points:  40 Games, 21 G, 27 A, 48 P, +1, 5.3 PS.  (Not on last update)

Crosby is back where he belongs in the top ten, and he has never had a year where he averaged less than a Point per Game.

10 (Tie). Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 57 Cup Points:  39 Games, 29 G, 19 A, 48 P, 0, 5.9 PS.  (#9 on last update)

Ovechkin is closing on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time Goal record, and is tied currently with Sidney Crosby.  How perfect is that?

Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson fell off the top ten.

Our next update will occur when the first player breaks 90 Cup Points.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 100 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 160 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 160 Points:  38 Games, 34.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 31.5 PER, 7.5 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

Doncic is back at #1, and for our money is still he front runner for the MVP.  The European star is currently leading the NBA in Points per Game (34.2) and Usage Percentage (38.6).

2. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, 153 Points:  39 Games, 29.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 26.8 PER, 6.4 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

The Nets were on fire, and Durant was posting his best numbers over the past three years.  K.D. is now on the injured list with an MCL injury, and will miss a month, that will cost him the MVP and of course, the NIHOF Cup.

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 151 Points:  40 Games, 30.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 24.9 PER, 5.9 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

Tatum continues to get better which should scare the hell out of anybody cheering against the Celtics.  He has never finished a season averaging over 30 Points per Game, and Tatum is over that now, while generating serious MVP consideration.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 148 Points:  30 Games, 31.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 27.1 PER, 4.5 WS. (#3 on last ranking)

Giannis moves up another spot and the two-time MVP’s Bucks look ready to win it all.  He is in the top five in Rebounds and Points per Game.

5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 145 Points:  38 Games, 24.9 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 9.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 32.0 PER, 8.3 WS.  (#5 on last ranking)

The “Joker” has been great lately, and we know someone wants to get that third Cup!  He is currently leading the NBA in PER 32.0, VORP (4.6), Box Plus/Minus (12.5) and Win Shares (8.3).

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 142 Points:  37 Games, 30.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 26.6 PER, 5.6 WS. (#6 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an All-Star this year, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  How great will this Canadian be?

7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, 137 Points:  40 Games, 27.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.3 PER, 3.3 WS. (#8 on last ranking)

Brown’s appearance here gives Boston the only team to have two players in the top ten, and he currently has the highest traditional numbers of his career.  

8. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 134 Points:  34 Games, 27.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 24.2 PER, 3.8 WS. (#7 on last ranking)

Morant is the face of the Grizzles, and he is posting similar numbers from last year, when he took Memphis to the next level.

9. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 127 Points:  29 Games, 33.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 30.9 PER, 5.2 WS.  (#9 on last ranking)

Embiid is currently second in Points per Game (behind Doncic), but is currently dealing with a foot injury.

10. Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 125 Points:  42 Games, 24.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 20.5 PER, 4.8 WS. (#10 on last ranking)

Randle makes his first appearance this year in the top ten, and currently has the same PPG (24.1), as his All-Star year two years ago (24.1).

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 170 Cup Points.

Bill Russell debuted in 1969 and was a versatile athlete who began his career in the outfield before being asked to move to the infield to fill a critical vacancy. Known for his steady hand and quiet professionalism, he served as the defensive anchor of the longest-running infield in the sport's history.

Initially serving as a utility player and outfielder during his early seasons, Russell shifted to shortstop in 1972 to fill Maury Wills' role. He quickly became a top-tier defender, leading the National League in Defensive bWAR (2.3) and assists (427) in 1973. Recognized for his dependability, he was an essential part of the legendary infield alongside Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Ron Cey, a group that remained a steady fixture in the lineup for more than eight years.

Although he earned three All-Star selections (1973, 1976, and 1980), his most impactful performances were observed during the most prominent moments. During the 1978 World Series, he was electric, batting .423 with 11 hits. He remained an essential member of the team roster into the early 1980s, ultimately contributing to the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series victory. Throughout his career, he established himself as a dependable catalyst at the plate, concluding his playing tenure with 1,926 hits.

He hung up his cleats in 1986. After retiring as the player with the most games played in the team’s West Coast history (2,181), he transitioned into a coaching role and eventually served as the Dodgers’ manager from 1996 to 1998. In 2022, the organization honored his 30-year association with the club by naming him a "Legend of Dodger Baseball."

It's that time of year again. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is right around the corner, and fans everywhere are wondering which team has the best shot at winning it all. We've got the latest March Madness odds, so read on to see who the experts pick to take home the title in 2023.

Houston

Houston basketball has had a strong season, and all eyes are on them to win the coveted March Madness 2023. With the best odds of victory at +600, it's clear why they are favored to win the tournament. While other teams certainly have excellent players and valuable experience, Houston has demonstrated impressive tenacity and unparalleled skills, which give them an edge in this competition—especially considering their deep understanding of team play.

Their strong defense makes them formidable to any opponent. So as Houston prepares for the big game and against the toughest competition, many experts agree that they have what it takes to take home another championship title for the city.

Kansas

The Kansas basketball team looks like one of the strongest contenders for the championship title this year, with superior odds currently standing at +750. Led by experienced veterans and emerging stars, the team has far exceeded expectations and boasts a roster that gives other teams plenty to worry about.

Team chemistry is clearly on display in every game, and the Kansas statistical powerhouses have consistently outperformed opponents. With such strong form, it's no surprise that fans already anticipate a victory for their beloved team. The stakes are high, and we can only wait in anticipation to see if the championship title will end up coming home to Kansas this season.

Purdue

The Purdue Boilermakers have had some impressive performances so far this season and are quickly emerging as potential contenders to watch. Despite being one of the longest shots on the betting boards with +1200 odds, they boast a solid roster and have already upset several top-tier opponents within the Big Ten Conference.

As they gain confidence and sharpen their skills throughout the remainder of regular season play, don’t be surprised if you start hearing more about the Purdue Boilermakers closer to tip-off!

Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats are certainly making some waves this season, and with their impressive record so far, they’re right up there amongst the top contenders. With odds of +1300 to win the championship this season, they come in at fourth place - a testament to the team’s competitiveness and determination across all positions.

While the competition is tough, this squad has already gone up against some of the nation's most formidable opponents and emerged victorious, so it wouldn’t be too surprising if they continue to make a splash in conference play. Time will tell if these hard-working Cats have what it takes to make a serious run for the title.

Connecticut

Connecticut has a real chance to go all the way at this year’s competition, with odds of +1400 for them to take home the title. Considering its track record, Connecticut stands out as one of the most promising contenders for this championship.

Famous for its impressive lineup of experienced players, a strong coaching staff, and an emphasis on both skill development and team spirit, it's not hard to see why they are in the running. While they will undoubtedly face stiff competition in 2023, Connecticut is certainly one squad you should watch closely throughout their journey.