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This team can be so friggin’ frustrating. LeBron James became the youngest player in league history to eclipse the 50-point mark Sunday, scoring 56 against the Raptors on 18-36 shooting, including 6-12 from downtown. Despite his historical outing, though, the Cavaliers still fell to the lowly Raptors, 98-105, thanks to a quiet afternoon from Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10 points, 8 boards) and a pitiful performance from the bench, which scored one lousy point.

You’d like to think that this team has the potential to do some damage in the playoffs, but nights like this leave you hoping that they can just qualify. The Cavaliers are currently slotted fifth in the East, two games behind the fourth-seeded Wizards but only three ahead of #9 Orlando. With 18 games left on the schedule, including dates with the Pistons, Rockets, Mavericks, Kings and Wizards, there’s still time for them to pull it all together. Then again, there’s still time for them to fall completely apart too.

Terry Pluto gives an excellent analysis of the Browns’ free agent moves so far. They may have overpaid a little for two average guards, but both are quality starters and help to fix the weakest part of the team. Andruzzi also adds some much-needed character. You need guys like that along with the superstars, so they seem to be on the right track. Pluto also reports that the Browns do not expect to pick a quarterback with the third pick in the draft.

Jeff McInnis was a huge part of the Cavs’ success last year and early this season, but Terry Pluto is speculating that McInnis will be gone next year. He’s just not consistent on defense, and he sometimes has trouble getting LeBron involved in the fast break.

Eric Snow, on the other hand, plays excellent defense and does a great job of dishing to LeBron. His shooting sucks, but according to Pluto, the Cavs think he can thrive if they add a quality shooting guard. Makes sense to me.

The Indians extended manager Eric Wedge’s contract through the 2007 season, with club options for 2008 and 2009. It really looks like Mark Shapiro is building something special with a young roster that’s potentially set up to compete for the next several years, and locking Wedge up now (along with many of his coaches, including Eddie Murray, Buddy Bell and Joel Skinner) gives the franchise a sense of stability as it transitions from a promising team to a contending one.

Of course, Wedge earned this extension because of the work he did during a two-year rebuilding phase. Now we’ll see how he handles the pressure of expectation. From the looks of it, this team plays hard for Wedge and responds well to his managerial style, and I would expect more of the same as the Indians continue to improve.

As an Ohio University alum (’99), I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the Bobcats’ first NCAA tourney appearance since 1994. Back then, OU was led by the Shaq of the MAC, Gary Trent, but the 2004-05 version boasts two of the best freshmen in the country, guard Jeremy Fears (11.1 ppg, 3.8 apg) and forward Leon Williams (12.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg).

Drawing the third-seeded Florida Gators in the Syracuse Regional, a team noted for its early round exits, the Bobcats found themselves down by 20 in the second half before going on a 25-5 run and knotting the score at 60-60 with two minutes left. Ultimately, though, the Gators proved to be too much for OU, pulling out the 67-62 win. It was a familiar story for the Bobcats, having fought back from 19 down to beat Buffalo in the MAC championship at the Gund last Saturday. Unfortunately, their latest comeback bid fell just short.

The MAC has been gaining respect over the years from the rest of the college football world, and it may soon be time to start paying attention to the conference during hoops season. Sure, teams like Miami and Eastern Michigan have made some tournament noise in the past, but this OU squad is young, with every starter except senior forward Terren Harbut returning next year, and they aren’t the only talented team in the MAC.

Keep your eye on Athens, Ohio, college basketball fans. The OU bars have always been top-notch, but now it looks like the action at The Convo may be just as appealing.