We’re going with a college basketball only blog tonight. Friday’s column will include everything you need to know about the world of college football as well as a preview of the weekend’s big games.
Unrelated Chatter:
-It’s about time I joined in on Eric S’ crusade but seriously, what is there to like about Mr. Kennedy? The whole thing with the old-school microphone being lowered from the ceiling is original if anything but, what is there to like about him? He seems like a total loser outside of the ring and is getting by on screaming his name! I know its wrestling and more ridiculous things have gotten over but seriously, has America become that simple-minded? Don’t answer that one”¦
-Kudos are in order for Burger King because while their food has certainly fallen off throughout the years, the racing game they put out for XBox 360 is a little bit too much fun. I have yet to try the other two but I can’t imagine they suck based on the one that I’ve played.
-Sticking with 360, I finally gave in and bought EA Sports Fight Night Round 3. Talk about addicting, at one point I was literally standing 2 inches from my big screen I became so enamored in my fight. Good times and I can’t wait to see what they do next time around.
Related Chatter:
-The ESPN hype machine is in full force for North Carolina/Ohio State tonight. Conveniently enough, Ohio State is the new #1 in the ESPN Coaches Poll but I am sure that is just coincidence. North Carolina certainly has more talent but Thad Matta teams rarely get outplayed or out-coached. The boys in Columbus are just biding their time until Greg Oden returns (around January 1st) but if North Carolina sleeps on them they could be in for some trouble tonight. Ohio State’s other freshman, the not to be forgotten Daequan Cook, no doubt would love to show America that him and Oden can be downright dangerous together once Oden returns. If Cook and Oden are rolling and stay healthy, Ohio State could be a very,very tough out in the tournament. Don’t be fooled by the #1 next to Ohio State’s name, they are a long, long way away from being the top team in America.
-Knee tendonitis has become a thorn in the side for two of America’s top players; Alabama guard Ronald Steele and Georgia Tech forward Thaddeus Young. Both have missed games due to their ailment but are expected to return at 100%. As someone who has had elbow tendonitis since the age of 11, I highly recommend they take the time off now before it becomes chronic. Then again I’m sure they have real doctors who tell them these things.
-While injury is not the issue, sickness is currently rocking the University of Florida basketball team. Starting forward Corey Brewer is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks due to Mono while Joakim Noa’s tests came back negative today and is expected to play Sunday against Florida State. Coach Billy Donovan has also been sick but the team is still awaiting test results to see what his ailment is. Mono is one of those things that can be quite contagious and certainly must be a concern considering the team’s brutal travel schedule last week and the fact that four of their five starters live together.
-If asked at gunpoint to name my favorite basketball conference, I would certainly have to give the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference some consideration. Living in New York, games are constantly shown on the MSG network and I just took a liking to many of the teams due to the style of basketball, quaint gyms and geographical proximity to where I live. Having said that, I felt like a proud parent last week watching Marist senior point guard Jared Jordan explode in the Old Spice Classic down in Orlando. His capper was a 30 point, 9 assist affair against a solid Western Michigan team and being named tournament MVP despite his team’s 3rd place finish. Jordan is the type of guy who most NBA teams would kill to have as at least their backup point guard but will probably be overlooked because he doesn’t test out well in workouts.
-Speaking of the Old Spice Classic, the inaugural event was a rousing success and looks to be a main-stay during Feast Week. Arkansas won the event while piling up impressive wins over Southern Illinois, Marist and West Virginia. The attendance left a little (or a lot) to be desired but it was the first year of the event and many didn’t know what to expect. My favorite feature was giving all of the teams Saturday off so that they could enjoy the Disney World experience because after all, isn’t getting to experience the local attractions what these holiday tournaments are supposed to be about?
-After watching them all week, Arkansas appears to be loaded at the point guard position with transfer Gary Ervin and freshman Patrick Beverly. Add in juco-stud Sonny Weems and this is a team to watch out for in March. They were one of my sleeper teams last year due to my flat-out infatuation with the play of Ronnie Brewer but were ousted in the first round by Bucknell. Brewer might have left for the NBA but they should go a lot deeper this time around.
-As someone who lives for the little guys beating the big guys, yet ironically enough I have studied at two basketball powerhouses, last week one of my all-time favorite weeks in college basketball. Missouri State soundly defeated then 7th ranked Wisconsin in the South Padre Invitational and Wichita State went into Baton Rouge and knocked off the then 6th ranked LSU Tigers. And for the capper, Butler went to Madison Square Garden and defeated Tennessee and Gonzaga to capture the NIT Season Tip-Off. I refuse to call any three of these games upsets because the winners are all totally capable of knocking off the teams that they beat on any floor in America. The term mid-major has become outdated people, this coming from the person who started midmajor.com in 2003.
-Speaking of Butler, while watching them the past few weeks I was having a hard time figuring out how they were rolling through teams that had more talent than they did. It took former St. John’s coach Fran Fraschilla’s words for me to realize but they essentially play European-style basketball. Their ability to drive at will and then either kick it back out or just lay it in had Gonzaga completely fooled. Considering this is a team that was expected to finish anywhere from 4th-6th in the Horizon and it’s a year where anyone can win that conference, I think we may have to rethink things.
-Last but not least, it’s only appropriate that I close tonight’s blog with my thoughts on last Saturday’s huge match up featuring Kansas and Florida. From a sheer NBA-talent standpoint Kansas was and is the superior team. The knock on Kansas has never been its talent but what it does with its talent. By no means am I saying that Bill Self is a bad coach because they seemed to have this problem when Roy Williams was there as well. What I am saying is that if this team can figure out a way to keep everyone happy and play as a unit, they are arguably the most talented team in America. In the case of Florida, losing to a power like Kansas as opposed to a far-lesser opponent was just what the team needed. Its crazy to get worked up over a loss in November and perhaps losing to a great team will prove to them that there is still work to be done and another title is far from a cinch.
Well that’s all for now, see everyone on Friday and be sure to enjoy all of the great college hoops action on the tube over the next few days!
