Butch Davis has just completed his third season as coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
That can only mean one thing....
It's time for the third edition of the "Will Butch Leave??" rumor mill.
This time, it's the "Golden Nugget" of college football, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Chicago Tribune listed Davis as a potential candidate to replace Charlie Weis in South Bend. Davis has a track record as a national level recruiter and a builder of national championship caliber teams, dating back to his days at Miami. At UNC, he hasn't been amazing, but he has made consistent progress in building the program.
The Tribune listed four "favorites" for the job: Davis (who was listed 4th), Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, TCU's Gary Patterson, and Cincinnati's Brian Kelly.
Stoops is believed to have an offer from Notre Dame, but has said he has no interest in leaving OU. Patterson is expected to sign a long-term extension to stay at TCU. That would leave Davis and Kelly, if the Tribune's list is accurate.
Of those two, Kelly is the "hot name", while Davis is the established name. Notre Dame took a chance on a "hot name" last time when they hired Weis, so they may decide to go after a more established, veteran coach this time.
Or, it could just be another money-grab by Butch's agent. With Davis, you never really know.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bobby Bowden "Retires"
Long-time Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden will coach the team in their bowl game (as yet undetermined), and will then hand the reigns over to Jimbo Fisher.
A lackluster 6-6 season hastened Bowden's departure. It was widely believed that he would be the coach in 2010 before Fisher's takeover. Fisher was "coach in waiting", and was due a multi-million dollar payment if he wasn't head coach in 2011.
The FSU administration decided to get on with the rebuilding process, rather than let the legendary Bowden get one more shot at resurrecting the program he built from scratch. Evidently, they don't believe in karma.
A lackluster 6-6 season hastened Bowden's departure. It was widely believed that he would be the coach in 2010 before Fisher's takeover. Fisher was "coach in waiting", and was due a multi-million dollar payment if he wasn't head coach in 2011.
The FSU administration decided to get on with the rebuilding process, rather than let the legendary Bowden get one more shot at resurrecting the program he built from scratch. Evidently, they don't believe in karma.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
ACC (Triangle) Basketball Preview
It's November, which means that it's time for local college basketball teams to begin their seasons. Here in the Triangle, that means that UNC, Duke and NC State fans are all ready for the switch to roundball, since Triangle football hasn't exactly been spectacular this season.
Here's a quick preview of each local ACC team.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels are the defending National Champions. This team, however, is markedly different than the team that cut down the nets last April.
Off to the NBA are Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green (Bobby Frasor is overseas). On the Heels' roster are freshmen John Henson, Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland, Travis Wear, and his twin David Wear.
UNC will have depth in the frontcourt that is unmatched. The Wears, along with returnees Ed Davis, Deon Thompson and Tyler Zeller will provide Roy Williams with size that is rare in college basketball.
The questions about UNC will all be in the backcourt. Will a reliable 3 point threat emerge? Will Larry Drew II be able to run the team? If he can't, can one of the freshmen guards step in? Will Marcus Ginyard stay healthy to lead this team?
The answers to these questions will determine whether UNC is "just" an ACC contender or if they will earn another trip to the Final Four.
Duke
The Blue Devils are an interesting team. They are ranked very high in all the preseason polls, and everyone seems to think they are going to be a great team. Here at The Long and Short of Sports, we're not so sure.
Gerald Henderson left early for the NBA, and Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis. Since Williams was expected to step into Henderson's spot, his departure leaves a gaping hole in Duke's roster. The new faces at Duke are Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins.
Dawkins took a summer school class to graduate early from high school so that he could join Duke this season. His development will determine whether Duke plays with 2 or 3 guards, barring injuries. The only guards on the team (other than walk-ons) are Dawkins, Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. That is a scary lack of depth.
In the frontcourt, Duke has depth, but unlike the rest of America (apparently), I'm not convinced of the quality of that depth. Kyle Singler is a great talent, but he will be forced to spend a lot of time at the 3 this season, which could curtail his effectiveness somewhat. He's a difficult matchup for most power forwards, but many small forwards will be quicker than Singler which should limit his ability to drive to the rim.
Young Plumlee and Kelly are freshmen, and it's rare for freshmen to make huge contributions to Coach K's team. The returning frontcourt players are Greg Zoubek, Lance Thomas, and Old Plumlee (Miles, I think). Thomas and Zoubek were not very impressive last season, and OP barely played. While they could all combine to make a great combination, I think it's a stretch to assume it will happen.
I don't believe Duke has the manpower to make a deep NCAA run. I think there is enough talent in Durham to keep the Devils near the top of the ACC, but ultimately I think they finish the regular season somewhere between 2 and 4 in the league. That's not bad for what will probably end up as a season that Duke fans see as "average".
North Carolina State
The Wolfpack is, to quote Forrest Gump, like a box of chocolates. You really don't know what you're going to get.
Three players who have been stalwarts of the program since Sidney Lowe arrived to coach have departed, and a handful of new faces are on campus. Gone are Ben McCauley, Courtney Fells, and Brandon Costner, along with Trevor Ferguson (transfer) and Simon Harris (graduation). In Raleigh are Deshawn Painter, Richard Howell, Scott Wood, Jordan Vandenburg and Josh Davis.
After three disappointing seasons, Coach Lowe finally seems to have a team with the athleticism he has desired since his arrival. The quicker pace that he has often talked about may finally become a reality this season, as the incoming frontcourt players all seem to be more adept at running the floor than their predecessors.
While no one will ever mistake the Wolfpack for a Paul Westhead-coached team, look for the Wolfpack to try to take advantage of transition opportunities more often.
The reliance on so many freshmen to play big roles means that the Wolfpack's season is likely to be a roller coaster of emotion. The team is likely to show flashes of brilliance this season, but ultimately struggle against more experienced teams who have been through the ringer of ACC pressure.
While the Wolfpack team probably shares the same goals as UNC and Duke, most fans have more tempered expectations. This season, expect the Wolfpack to finish between 5th and 9th in the ACC, and be an NCAA bubble team. That would represent a solid step forward for the program in Coach Lowe's 4th season at the helm, and set the stage for the future as the Pack welcomes a much-heralded recruiting class in '10.
Now, it's time to get things rolling. UNC has already dispatched two cupcakes. NC State opens November 12th against Georgia State, and Duke opens up the following day against UNC-Greensboro.
Here's a quick preview of each local ACC team.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels are the defending National Champions. This team, however, is markedly different than the team that cut down the nets last April.
Off to the NBA are Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green (Bobby Frasor is overseas). On the Heels' roster are freshmen John Henson, Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland, Travis Wear, and his twin David Wear.
UNC will have depth in the frontcourt that is unmatched. The Wears, along with returnees Ed Davis, Deon Thompson and Tyler Zeller will provide Roy Williams with size that is rare in college basketball.
The questions about UNC will all be in the backcourt. Will a reliable 3 point threat emerge? Will Larry Drew II be able to run the team? If he can't, can one of the freshmen guards step in? Will Marcus Ginyard stay healthy to lead this team?
The answers to these questions will determine whether UNC is "just" an ACC contender or if they will earn another trip to the Final Four.
Duke
The Blue Devils are an interesting team. They are ranked very high in all the preseason polls, and everyone seems to think they are going to be a great team. Here at The Long and Short of Sports, we're not so sure.
Gerald Henderson left early for the NBA, and Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis. Since Williams was expected to step into Henderson's spot, his departure leaves a gaping hole in Duke's roster. The new faces at Duke are Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins.
Dawkins took a summer school class to graduate early from high school so that he could join Duke this season. His development will determine whether Duke plays with 2 or 3 guards, barring injuries. The only guards on the team (other than walk-ons) are Dawkins, Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. That is a scary lack of depth.
In the frontcourt, Duke has depth, but unlike the rest of America (apparently), I'm not convinced of the quality of that depth. Kyle Singler is a great talent, but he will be forced to spend a lot of time at the 3 this season, which could curtail his effectiveness somewhat. He's a difficult matchup for most power forwards, but many small forwards will be quicker than Singler which should limit his ability to drive to the rim.
Young Plumlee and Kelly are freshmen, and it's rare for freshmen to make huge contributions to Coach K's team. The returning frontcourt players are Greg Zoubek, Lance Thomas, and Old Plumlee (Miles, I think). Thomas and Zoubek were not very impressive last season, and OP barely played. While they could all combine to make a great combination, I think it's a stretch to assume it will happen.
I don't believe Duke has the manpower to make a deep NCAA run. I think there is enough talent in Durham to keep the Devils near the top of the ACC, but ultimately I think they finish the regular season somewhere between 2 and 4 in the league. That's not bad for what will probably end up as a season that Duke fans see as "average".
North Carolina State
The Wolfpack is, to quote Forrest Gump, like a box of chocolates. You really don't know what you're going to get.
Three players who have been stalwarts of the program since Sidney Lowe arrived to coach have departed, and a handful of new faces are on campus. Gone are Ben McCauley, Courtney Fells, and Brandon Costner, along with Trevor Ferguson (transfer) and Simon Harris (graduation). In Raleigh are Deshawn Painter, Richard Howell, Scott Wood, Jordan Vandenburg and Josh Davis.
After three disappointing seasons, Coach Lowe finally seems to have a team with the athleticism he has desired since his arrival. The quicker pace that he has often talked about may finally become a reality this season, as the incoming frontcourt players all seem to be more adept at running the floor than their predecessors.
While no one will ever mistake the Wolfpack for a Paul Westhead-coached team, look for the Wolfpack to try to take advantage of transition opportunities more often.
The reliance on so many freshmen to play big roles means that the Wolfpack's season is likely to be a roller coaster of emotion. The team is likely to show flashes of brilliance this season, but ultimately struggle against more experienced teams who have been through the ringer of ACC pressure.
While the Wolfpack team probably shares the same goals as UNC and Duke, most fans have more tempered expectations. This season, expect the Wolfpack to finish between 5th and 9th in the ACC, and be an NCAA bubble team. That would represent a solid step forward for the program in Coach Lowe's 4th season at the helm, and set the stage for the future as the Pack welcomes a much-heralded recruiting class in '10.
Now, it's time to get things rolling. UNC has already dispatched two cupcakes. NC State opens November 12th against Georgia State, and Duke opens up the following day against UNC-Greensboro.
Monday, September 14, 2009
NC State 65, Murray State 7
In a very impressive bounce-back performance, NC State defeated the Murray State Racers on Saturday by a score of 65-7. The Wolfpack outgained the Racers 484-36.
Russell Wilson completed 15 of 21 attempts for 228 yards, while backup Mike Glennon completed 6 of 7 for 65 yards. Wilson also threw for 4 touchdowns.
The game was over almost as fast as it started, as two early Murray State turnovers were converted into touchdowns. After that, the rout was on.
The Racers, who scored 66 points in their opener, could never get their offense on track. Their only points came in the fourth quarter, on a drive that was aided by several Wolfpack penalties.
NC State played a very impressive game from start to finish, but in the end it's still a victory over an overmatched 1-AA (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent. This week, Gardner-Webb comes to Carter-Finley, in what should be another tuneup leading to a matchup with Pittsburgh, the preseason favorite to win the Big East.
Russell Wilson completed 15 of 21 attempts for 228 yards, while backup Mike Glennon completed 6 of 7 for 65 yards. Wilson also threw for 4 touchdowns.
The game was over almost as fast as it started, as two early Murray State turnovers were converted into touchdowns. After that, the rout was on.
The Racers, who scored 66 points in their opener, could never get their offense on track. Their only points came in the fourth quarter, on a drive that was aided by several Wolfpack penalties.
NC State played a very impressive game from start to finish, but in the end it's still a victory over an overmatched 1-AA (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent. This week, Gardner-Webb comes to Carter-Finley, in what should be another tuneup leading to a matchup with Pittsburgh, the preseason favorite to win the Big East.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
North Carolina 12, Connecticut 10
It would be tempting to characterize North Carolina's win over Connecticut on Saturday as "luck".
The Heels trailed for almost the entire game. Late in the fourth quarter the scored to tie the score at 10, then they won the game when Connecticut's Dan Ryan held Robert Quinn in the end zone, which is a safety.
Calling it luck, however, would be a mistake. Perhaps it was poetic justice.
On a day when UNC's offense could only muster 10 points, the defense was outstanding. UConn was held to only 196 yards of total offense (124 passing, 74 rushing). Since the defense kept the Heels in the game long enough for the offense to finally come through in the fourth quarter, it's only fitting that the defense was responsible for the winning points.
Unfortunately for the Heels, not everything that happened in the fourth quarter was positive. Tight end Zach Pianalto, who was expected to be one of quarterback TJ Yates' favorite targets this season, scored the game-tying touchdown but injured his foot after the score. He dislocated a bone in his foot, and it is currently unknown how much time he will miss. Pianalto was also injured last season on a play that resulted in a touchdown.
Next week, the Heels welcome the Pirates of East Carolina to Chapel Hill.
The Heels trailed for almost the entire game. Late in the fourth quarter the scored to tie the score at 10, then they won the game when Connecticut's Dan Ryan held Robert Quinn in the end zone, which is a safety.
Calling it luck, however, would be a mistake. Perhaps it was poetic justice.
On a day when UNC's offense could only muster 10 points, the defense was outstanding. UConn was held to only 196 yards of total offense (124 passing, 74 rushing). Since the defense kept the Heels in the game long enough for the offense to finally come through in the fourth quarter, it's only fitting that the defense was responsible for the winning points.
Unfortunately for the Heels, not everything that happened in the fourth quarter was positive. Tight end Zach Pianalto, who was expected to be one of quarterback TJ Yates' favorite targets this season, scored the game-tying touchdown but injured his foot after the score. He dislocated a bone in his foot, and it is currently unknown how much time he will miss. Pianalto was also injured last season on a play that resulted in a touchdown.
Next week, the Heels welcome the Pirates of East Carolina to Chapel Hill.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Hypothetical Blowout?!?!
Well, NC State lost to South Carolina last Thursday. Since it's now Monday, that's not really news.
What is news, however, is that the game was actually much worse than 7-3. I spent the long holiday weekend convinced that there were several positives for NC State, despite the loss. Russell Wilson played well, special teams were pretty good (except for the blocked punt), and the defense played better than I thought they would...or so I thought.
I have since discovered that I was wrong about the defense.
First, Adam Gold of 850 the Buzz said that South Carolina should have scored more points.
Then, in today's News & Observer, NC State beat writer Ken Tysiac chimed in with his own take on a play:
That "questionable" pass interference call that Tysiac references also would have accounted for 7 of Gold's 13 lost points. The only problem is that the call wasn't questionable. The Wolfpack's defensive back was in perfect position, and it is highly unlikely that the South Carolina receiver catches that ball if he doesn't push off first. To say that the call was questionable, or that the called-back touchdown represents "points left on the field" by SC, is to deny that the defender did a great job.
The other six "lost" points came on botched field goal attempts. One was a bad snap that the holder couldn't handle. The other was a missed chip shot from 27 yards. It's not unusual for these things to happen in openers, especially when the kicker is making his college football debut. If South Carolina had been playing some other team, the mistakes would likely have been attributed to the pressure applied by that teams kick-blocking unit.
I'd be willing to bet that both gentlemen would call me crazy if I suggested that if Toney Baker had just held on to the ball, NC State wins 3-0. The hypothesis that South Carolina should have scored more, and NCSU was lucky they didn't, is fine...but pointing out that the only SC scoring drive went only 14 yards is insane.
Good luck to the Gamecocks from here on out. It wasn't pretty, but you did enough to win. Hopefully, your defense is as good as your fans think, since NCSU's offense wasn't able to do much against it.
What is news, however, is that the game was actually much worse than 7-3. I spent the long holiday weekend convinced that there were several positives for NC State, despite the loss. Russell Wilson played well, special teams were pretty good (except for the blocked punt), and the defense played better than I thought they would...or so I thought.
I have since discovered that I was wrong about the defense.
First, Adam Gold of 850 the Buzz said that South Carolina should have scored more points.
I’m not sure who was luckier, South Carolina, considering just how many mistakes the Wolfpack made. Or, State, considering the Gamecocks left at least 13 points on the field in the 1st half!
Then, in today's News & Observer, NC State beat writer Ken Tysiac chimed in with his own take on a play:
But the Wolfpack also benefited from a questionable pass interference call on the offense that wiped out a South Carolina touchdown.
That "questionable" pass interference call that Tysiac references also would have accounted for 7 of Gold's 13 lost points. The only problem is that the call wasn't questionable. The Wolfpack's defensive back was in perfect position, and it is highly unlikely that the South Carolina receiver catches that ball if he doesn't push off first. To say that the call was questionable, or that the called-back touchdown represents "points left on the field" by SC, is to deny that the defender did a great job.
The other six "lost" points came on botched field goal attempts. One was a bad snap that the holder couldn't handle. The other was a missed chip shot from 27 yards. It's not unusual for these things to happen in openers, especially when the kicker is making his college football debut. If South Carolina had been playing some other team, the mistakes would likely have been attributed to the pressure applied by that teams kick-blocking unit.
I'd be willing to bet that both gentlemen would call me crazy if I suggested that if Toney Baker had just held on to the ball, NC State wins 3-0. The hypothesis that South Carolina should have scored more, and NCSU was lucky they didn't, is fine...but pointing out that the only SC scoring drive went only 14 yards is insane.
Good luck to the Gamecocks from here on out. It wasn't pretty, but you did enough to win. Hopefully, your defense is as good as your fans think, since NCSU's offense wasn't able to do much against it.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Like Father, Like Son
As you may already know, South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders announced earlier this week that he was going to talk with his coach, Steve Spurrier.
In today's Charlotte Observer (via The State), there is another quote from good ol' Weslye:
In case you didn't know, Weslye's father is News & Observer columnist Barry Saunders. In today's article about the story, the elder Saunders says:
There are several problems with this whole situation.
Mr. Saunders (the old one) is NOT a journalist. He's a columnist. If he was a journalist (someone whose work is based in fact, rather than fiction), NC State fans wouldn't "hate" him.
Mr. Saunders turned 4 or 5 State fans taunting Chris Paul over the death of his grandfather into an arena-wide chant that he used as the basis of a column ripping Wolfpack fans. He failed to mention the State fans who immediately got the taunting fans to be quiet.
He wrote a column chastising NC State's administration for failing to interview a minority candidate for their head basketball coaching vacancy. I'm only assuming that it was written before Sidney Lowe got the job.
I'm pretty sure he wrote a column stating that the tailgating restrictions put in place after the tragic shooting a few years ago weren't restrictive enough. That ignores the fact that no one involved in that incident was a student at NC State or had a ticket to the game.
Any ill feelings that NC State fans have for Mr. Saunders have been earned.
As for the younger Saunders, I don't really have a lot to say. Unlike his father, he doesn't get to hide behind a keyboard. Young Weslye has to play the game, and has a chance to back up his bravado. He is a very talented player, so he may do it. Or, an NCSU LB may make him eat those words.
The only real problem I have with anything that he said is that he attended high school in Durham, but claims Raleigh as his hometown. Maybe he should mix in a geography class at some point.
I just wouldn't recommend any special dances.
"I'm going to talk to Coach (Steve) Spurrier beforehand and see if he's OK if I get a 15-yard penalty," Saunders said. "Because I'm gonna do some sort of extra celebration if I get a touchdown on the Wolfpack."
In today's Charlotte Observer (via The State), there is another quote from good ol' Weslye:
“A lot of the Wolfpack fans hate my dad, so (there is) a little extra incentive to go out there and do well and show them up a little bit.”
In case you didn't know, Weslye's father is News & Observer columnist Barry Saunders. In today's article about the story, the elder Saunders says:
“I cringed, but I appreciated the quote. I wish someone else on the team had said it. But as a journalist, I appreciate it.”
There are several problems with this whole situation.
Mr. Saunders (the old one) is NOT a journalist. He's a columnist. If he was a journalist (someone whose work is based in fact, rather than fiction), NC State fans wouldn't "hate" him.
Mr. Saunders turned 4 or 5 State fans taunting Chris Paul over the death of his grandfather into an arena-wide chant that he used as the basis of a column ripping Wolfpack fans. He failed to mention the State fans who immediately got the taunting fans to be quiet.
He wrote a column chastising NC State's administration for failing to interview a minority candidate for their head basketball coaching vacancy. I'm only assuming that it was written before Sidney Lowe got the job.
I'm pretty sure he wrote a column stating that the tailgating restrictions put in place after the tragic shooting a few years ago weren't restrictive enough. That ignores the fact that no one involved in that incident was a student at NC State or had a ticket to the game.
Any ill feelings that NC State fans have for Mr. Saunders have been earned.
As for the younger Saunders, I don't really have a lot to say. Unlike his father, he doesn't get to hide behind a keyboard. Young Weslye has to play the game, and has a chance to back up his bravado. He is a very talented player, so he may do it. Or, an NCSU LB may make him eat those words.
The only real problem I have with anything that he said is that he attended high school in Durham, but claims Raleigh as his hometown. Maybe he should mix in a geography class at some point.
I just wouldn't recommend any special dances.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
NC State versus South Carolina
The 2009 college football season gets under way Thursday, in a nationally-televised contest between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the NC State Wolfpack. The game is a rematch of last year's season opener, which saw the Gamecocks win in a rout, 34-0.
I have spent a some time over the last week or so in message board conversations at GamecockAnthem.com, the South Carolina scout.com affiliate. According to most of the fine people there, NCSU shouldn't even bother to take the field. Granted, the people there aren't coaches or players, so there opinions don't matter anymore than mine, but I've never seen a fanbase so convinced that a game is over before it starts.
"johnnyplaid" wrote:
"It should be an easy win for us. We'll probably hold back so as to not give too much away to Georgia, our first real test."
"kickatigerinthearse" wrote:
"Your WR corps is about the 10th best we'll see this season."
It goes on and on.
The most entertaining idea they have come up with is that NC State's offense is not any good. Since South Carolina shut out the Wolfpack, obviously the Wolfpack is no good. Nevermind the firepower that the offense showed down the stretch last season. Forget that Russell Wilson was All-ACC as a redshirt freshman. NC State's offense returns almost everyone from last season, so the most likely occurrence will be that the offense will come out of the gate firing on all cylinders.
I'm not going to suggest that Wilson will only throw one interception. That was a highly unusual event, and isn't likely to repeat. However, Wilson doesn't seem to be the type of QB that is going to make huge mistakes, as some recent NCSU QB's have done. The running game is solid, with a healthy Jemelle Eugene and a rejuvenated Toney Baker. The wide receivers are talented, fast, and experienced.
Most of the time, teams whose lineup is peppered with freshmen and RS-freshmen (or upperclassmen who haven't played a lot) are much better in the last half of the season than they are at the beginning. That's what happened to NCSU last season. Just don't suggest that to a South Carolina fan.
The Gamecocks have (by my non-scientific count) 13 freshmen listed on their two-deep depth chart. 3 RS-FR and 1 true FR will be starting, the other 9 players will be coming off the bench.
South Carolina fans seem to expect that these players will be able to step in and play without any first game jitters. They lost seven players to the NFL draft last year, and will tell you that every player who replaces them is an instant upgrade. They replaced their offensive line coach (among others), and don't expect the line to have any problems adjusting to the new philosophies.
Don't get me wrong. I don't pretend to see things objectively. I do, however, realize that NCSU has some question marks. There are several untested players in the secondary. Audie Cole has to live up to the hype he's been getting at LB, and Dwayne Maddox or Terrell Manning (or both) have to try to fill the gap left by Nate Irving's absence, which will not be easy.
I am very confident in the offense, though. I don't think NC State is going to have problems scoring points against South Carolina. South Carolina has talented players on offense, but they don't have a lot of talented players who have been productive. Their quarterback has had turnover issues (among other issues), and you can't tell if that is solved by preseason scrimmages (right, Daniel Evans?).
To sum up, I think any South Carolina fan expecting anything close to last year's result is in for a rude, rude awakening. This game is a big game for both teams, but it's bigger for NC State. South Carolina is basically playing for 3rd in their division. NC State has its eyes on a bigger prize: a division title, and a chance to win an ACC Championship.
I expect the Wolfpack to win, and I don't think it's going to be a terribly close game.
I have spent a some time over the last week or so in message board conversations at GamecockAnthem.com, the South Carolina scout.com affiliate. According to most of the fine people there, NCSU shouldn't even bother to take the field. Granted, the people there aren't coaches or players, so there opinions don't matter anymore than mine, but I've never seen a fanbase so convinced that a game is over before it starts.
"johnnyplaid" wrote:
"It should be an easy win for us. We'll probably hold back so as to not give too much away to Georgia, our first real test."
"kickatigerinthearse" wrote:
"Your WR corps is about the 10th best we'll see this season."
It goes on and on.
The most entertaining idea they have come up with is that NC State's offense is not any good. Since South Carolina shut out the Wolfpack, obviously the Wolfpack is no good. Nevermind the firepower that the offense showed down the stretch last season. Forget that Russell Wilson was All-ACC as a redshirt freshman. NC State's offense returns almost everyone from last season, so the most likely occurrence will be that the offense will come out of the gate firing on all cylinders.
I'm not going to suggest that Wilson will only throw one interception. That was a highly unusual event, and isn't likely to repeat. However, Wilson doesn't seem to be the type of QB that is going to make huge mistakes, as some recent NCSU QB's have done. The running game is solid, with a healthy Jemelle Eugene and a rejuvenated Toney Baker. The wide receivers are talented, fast, and experienced.
Most of the time, teams whose lineup is peppered with freshmen and RS-freshmen (or upperclassmen who haven't played a lot) are much better in the last half of the season than they are at the beginning. That's what happened to NCSU last season. Just don't suggest that to a South Carolina fan.
The Gamecocks have (by my non-scientific count) 13 freshmen listed on their two-deep depth chart. 3 RS-FR and 1 true FR will be starting, the other 9 players will be coming off the bench.
South Carolina fans seem to expect that these players will be able to step in and play without any first game jitters. They lost seven players to the NFL draft last year, and will tell you that every player who replaces them is an instant upgrade. They replaced their offensive line coach (among others), and don't expect the line to have any problems adjusting to the new philosophies.
Don't get me wrong. I don't pretend to see things objectively. I do, however, realize that NCSU has some question marks. There are several untested players in the secondary. Audie Cole has to live up to the hype he's been getting at LB, and Dwayne Maddox or Terrell Manning (or both) have to try to fill the gap left by Nate Irving's absence, which will not be easy.
I am very confident in the offense, though. I don't think NC State is going to have problems scoring points against South Carolina. South Carolina has talented players on offense, but they don't have a lot of talented players who have been productive. Their quarterback has had turnover issues (among other issues), and you can't tell if that is solved by preseason scrimmages (right, Daniel Evans?).
To sum up, I think any South Carolina fan expecting anything close to last year's result is in for a rude, rude awakening. This game is a big game for both teams, but it's bigger for NC State. South Carolina is basically playing for 3rd in their division. NC State has its eyes on a bigger prize: a division title, and a chance to win an ACC Championship.
I expect the Wolfpack to win, and I don't think it's going to be a terribly close game.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Play Chicken; Get Eggs
OK....so no one did anything "wrong". It's "business".
Julius Peppers wanted to leave the Carolina Panthers. General manager Marty Hurney didn't want to let him go without compensation, and no one offered what he considered an acceptable deal for Peppers' rights.
Hurney uses the franchise tag, which means the Panthers offer Peppers more than $1 million per game. Peppers signs the franchise tender, guaranteeing himself almost $17 million dollars for the 20009 NFL season. It's just business.
That's what happened over the summer.
Now, the fruits of their collective labors are coming to bear.
Ma'ake Kemoeatu is lost for the season. He ruptured his Achilles' tendon during the first drill of training camp. Then, in the second preseason game, Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason injures his knee. The severity is not known, but rumor has it that he may have damaged his medial collateral ligament, which would likely mean several weeks (minimum) of recovery time.
The Panthers have no one to replace either player. The depth chart is full of players who have little to no NFL experience. The long snapper is a young kid, brought in to save a few hundred thousand dollars, who is replacing Jason Kyle who was outstanding but expensive. Long snapping is one of those things that ideally is never noticed. Hopefully, the Panthers long snapper will remain anonymous this season.
The reason for the lack of depth? Julius Peppers' contract. Since he is playing under the franchise tender, his entire salary counts against the 2009 cap. If he had signed a long-term deal, he would have probably had a cap number closer to $8 or $9 million (but still gotten a huge signing bonus), and the team would have had another $8 or $9 million to sign backups.
Ask any player, and they'll say that Peppers' contract squabble is "business". However, if you could give them truth serum, I bet they would say something different. Peppers said he wanted to go somewhere else to reach his full potential. That is a shot at his coaches and his teammates. Now, those same teammates (except for the injured players and the ones who had to be cut because of Peppers' contract) are playing with Peppers.
If there aren't some chemistry issues, then the Carolina Panthers have the most professional group of players in the history of pro sports.
There are veterans available who could help the Panthers. Thanks to Julius Peppers (along with Marty Hurney), the Panthers just can't afford them.
Julius Peppers wanted to leave the Carolina Panthers. General manager Marty Hurney didn't want to let him go without compensation, and no one offered what he considered an acceptable deal for Peppers' rights.
Hurney uses the franchise tag, which means the Panthers offer Peppers more than $1 million per game. Peppers signs the franchise tender, guaranteeing himself almost $17 million dollars for the 20009 NFL season. It's just business.
That's what happened over the summer.
Now, the fruits of their collective labors are coming to bear.
Ma'ake Kemoeatu is lost for the season. He ruptured his Achilles' tendon during the first drill of training camp. Then, in the second preseason game, Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason injures his knee. The severity is not known, but rumor has it that he may have damaged his medial collateral ligament, which would likely mean several weeks (minimum) of recovery time.
The Panthers have no one to replace either player. The depth chart is full of players who have little to no NFL experience. The long snapper is a young kid, brought in to save a few hundred thousand dollars, who is replacing Jason Kyle who was outstanding but expensive. Long snapping is one of those things that ideally is never noticed. Hopefully, the Panthers long snapper will remain anonymous this season.
The reason for the lack of depth? Julius Peppers' contract. Since he is playing under the franchise tender, his entire salary counts against the 2009 cap. If he had signed a long-term deal, he would have probably had a cap number closer to $8 or $9 million (but still gotten a huge signing bonus), and the team would have had another $8 or $9 million to sign backups.
Ask any player, and they'll say that Peppers' contract squabble is "business". However, if you could give them truth serum, I bet they would say something different. Peppers said he wanted to go somewhere else to reach his full potential. That is a shot at his coaches and his teammates. Now, those same teammates (except for the injured players and the ones who had to be cut because of Peppers' contract) are playing with Peppers.
If there aren't some chemistry issues, then the Carolina Panthers have the most professional group of players in the history of pro sports.
There are veterans available who could help the Panthers. Thanks to Julius Peppers (along with Marty Hurney), the Panthers just can't afford them.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Michael Vick....Who Cares?
For the record, I think that Michael Vick did some pretty bad things.
But, it's not like he got off easy, is it? Two years of his life, somewhere around $140 million....that's a fair price, isn't it?
At some point, isn't enough.....enough?
Now, people are saying he should be suspended for a year...or forever....from the NFL.
Really?
I don't get the logic.
He doesn't get to come right back and resume his career like he never missed a day. His contract with the Atlanta Falcons is gone. Most, if not all, of his endorsements are gone. He is having lots of financial troubles. His life is far from the glamorous existence it was just a few years ago.
Do I feel sorry for him? No. I don't feel sorry for any athlete (or anyone else) who squanders a fortune by doing something stupid.
At the same time, I believe that once you get out of prison, you should be able to do something with your life. I don't think he should be banished from the NFL. He didn't get caught doing anything that would cause anyone to question his behavior on the field. It isn't a Pete Rose, betting on your sport issue.
In the NFL, a player gets suspended for four games if he's caught using a banned substance. Some of those substances serve to make players stronger, which rips away the integrity of the competition.
It doesn't exactly seem right to suspend a guy who has already missed two years.
But, it's not like he got off easy, is it? Two years of his life, somewhere around $140 million....that's a fair price, isn't it?
At some point, isn't enough.....enough?
Now, people are saying he should be suspended for a year...or forever....from the NFL.
Really?
I don't get the logic.
He doesn't get to come right back and resume his career like he never missed a day. His contract with the Atlanta Falcons is gone. Most, if not all, of his endorsements are gone. He is having lots of financial troubles. His life is far from the glamorous existence it was just a few years ago.
Do I feel sorry for him? No. I don't feel sorry for any athlete (or anyone else) who squanders a fortune by doing something stupid.
At the same time, I believe that once you get out of prison, you should be able to do something with your life. I don't think he should be banished from the NFL. He didn't get caught doing anything that would cause anyone to question his behavior on the field. It isn't a Pete Rose, betting on your sport issue.
In the NFL, a player gets suspended for four games if he's caught using a banned substance. Some of those substances serve to make players stronger, which rips away the integrity of the competition.
It doesn't exactly seem right to suspend a guy who has already missed two years.
Monday, June 22, 2009
College Football Playoff Scenario
A poster on PackPride.com described a potential playoff system that he thought would be great. I didn't like his proposal, at all. It involved back-to-back games on consecutive days at "neutral sites" for the first two rounds. That would have gotten you down to a "Final Four", which he never mentions....he only goes on to talk about the timing of the Championship Game, which he had on a Monday in late January, to avoid NFL conflicts. Of course, he never mentioned how he would play games on back-to-back days in December and also avoid NFL conflicts, which is another problem with his plan.
The "games on consecutive days" plan is horrible. Can you imagine Ohio State vs. West Virginia on a Saturday, only to be followed by USC vs. NC State (hey, I can dream) on Sunday?? If the stadium holds 80,000, are there four cities that can provide 160,000 people hotel rooms for a weekend? At the prices these games would command, I don't know that people would want to pay to go to both, since "their team" is only playing in one. What if it rains during game one??
The "pod system", which I assume this is modeled after, works in basketball because there are 65 teams in the NCAA Tournament, which means that fans know they will get a relatively local team to watch. A 16-team (the proposed number) football tournament provides no such guarantee.
Anyway, enough about that plan. What would be the point of this post if I didn't have my own plan??
I do.
First, we keep the BCS rankings, maybe the name changes, but you still need a way to rank teams across the country, because I'll need that later in my plan.
There are 11 Division 1-A (FBS) conferences. The champions of those 11 conferences will be joined by the highest-ranked team that did not win a conference, according to TPFKABCS (The Poll Formerly Known As Bowl Championship Series). Why do all 11 champions get invites?? Because this is an NCAA-backed competition, and I don't think the NCAA would organize a national championship that didn't include the champions of all conferences.
Are you complaining, Notre Dame?? Grow a set and join a conference. I don't care how much NBC pays you, you haven't had a good enough program lately to earn any automatic assurances in this system.
Anyway, back to "the plan". The season would begin one week earlier, which would put the conference championship games (for conferences that have them) being played the last week of November. Once you have your champions, you rank them according to TPFKABCS. The non-champion qualifier would automatically be the 12-seed.
The top four teams would get byes, and then 5 would host 12, 6 would host 11, and so on. Those first round games would be played the first week of December. The following week, the four teams that had byes would host games, with the seeding working like the NFL model. If the 12 seed wins, they play the one seed. If the 5 seed wins, they play the four seed. Every other matchup would depend on who won which game.
Once the Final Four was established, there could be bowl opportunities for the eight losers.
The remaining four teams would play the following week, again reseeded based on who wins and who loses. These games would also be home games for the better seed. The only neutral site game would be the championship game, which would be about 8-10 days into January. You wouldn't want to play the game close to New Year's Day, because there would still be a lot of traditional bowl games, and you want the Championship game to be the last one of the year.
The host stadium for the Championship game could be determined by presentations, not by just anointing the current BCS bowls as the rotating hosts. That way, the market determines what the game is worth. If Jerry Jones wants to pay $500 million to have the game at the New Texas Stadium, let him....unless the Fiesta Bowl thinks it's worth $600 million.
Home games work, because fans aren't going to travel 2 or 3 weeks in a row. I don't believe a playoff system can be successful, and keep the "real fan" college atmosphere, if it doesn't include home games.
The "games on consecutive days" plan is horrible. Can you imagine Ohio State vs. West Virginia on a Saturday, only to be followed by USC vs. NC State (hey, I can dream) on Sunday?? If the stadium holds 80,000, are there four cities that can provide 160,000 people hotel rooms for a weekend? At the prices these games would command, I don't know that people would want to pay to go to both, since "their team" is only playing in one. What if it rains during game one??
The "pod system", which I assume this is modeled after, works in basketball because there are 65 teams in the NCAA Tournament, which means that fans know they will get a relatively local team to watch. A 16-team (the proposed number) football tournament provides no such guarantee.
Anyway, enough about that plan. What would be the point of this post if I didn't have my own plan??
I do.
First, we keep the BCS rankings, maybe the name changes, but you still need a way to rank teams across the country, because I'll need that later in my plan.
There are 11 Division 1-A (FBS) conferences. The champions of those 11 conferences will be joined by the highest-ranked team that did not win a conference, according to TPFKABCS (The Poll Formerly Known As Bowl Championship Series). Why do all 11 champions get invites?? Because this is an NCAA-backed competition, and I don't think the NCAA would organize a national championship that didn't include the champions of all conferences.
Are you complaining, Notre Dame?? Grow a set and join a conference. I don't care how much NBC pays you, you haven't had a good enough program lately to earn any automatic assurances in this system.
Anyway, back to "the plan". The season would begin one week earlier, which would put the conference championship games (for conferences that have them) being played the last week of November. Once you have your champions, you rank them according to TPFKABCS. The non-champion qualifier would automatically be the 12-seed.
The top four teams would get byes, and then 5 would host 12, 6 would host 11, and so on. Those first round games would be played the first week of December. The following week, the four teams that had byes would host games, with the seeding working like the NFL model. If the 12 seed wins, they play the one seed. If the 5 seed wins, they play the four seed. Every other matchup would depend on who won which game.
Once the Final Four was established, there could be bowl opportunities for the eight losers.
The remaining four teams would play the following week, again reseeded based on who wins and who loses. These games would also be home games for the better seed. The only neutral site game would be the championship game, which would be about 8-10 days into January. You wouldn't want to play the game close to New Year's Day, because there would still be a lot of traditional bowl games, and you want the Championship game to be the last one of the year.
The host stadium for the Championship game could be determined by presentations, not by just anointing the current BCS bowls as the rotating hosts. That way, the market determines what the game is worth. If Jerry Jones wants to pay $500 million to have the game at the New Texas Stadium, let him....unless the Fiesta Bowl thinks it's worth $600 million.
Home games work, because fans aren't going to travel 2 or 3 weeks in a row. I don't believe a playoff system can be successful, and keep the "real fan" college atmosphere, if it doesn't include home games.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday Golf On The Way
Due to overnight rain, the delayed 3rd round of the US Open will not resume until noon (at least).
Since the leaders were still about an hour from beginning their 3rd rounds when play was called, the delay guarantees that the US Open will see a Monday finish (at best). There is still some rain in the forecast, so there could conceivably be a Tuesday finish.
Since we're in ACC country, I thought I'd take a page from the ACC basketball tournament TV coverage and post a music video. Sorry....David Cook didn't have a song that fit the mood of the US Open.
Since the leaders were still about an hour from beginning their 3rd rounds when play was called, the delay guarantees that the US Open will see a Monday finish (at best). There is still some rain in the forecast, so there could conceivably be a Tuesday finish.
Since we're in ACC country, I thought I'd take a page from the ACC basketball tournament TV coverage and post a music video. Sorry....David Cook didn't have a song that fit the mood of the US Open.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Sometimes You're The Windshield......
Sometimes you're the bug.
That was a semi-popular country song...back in the 80's, I believe.
It also could be the theme song for the 2009 US Open Golf Championship, which is currently being played at Bethpage Black in New York.
There are always two waves of golfers in a tournament. One wave starts in the morning, the other starts in the afternoon, and then on the second day they switch positions.
In this year's US Open, Thursday's morning group is "the bug". They began play in the rain, played in the rain for three hours and sixteen minutes, and then went home for the day. On Friday, the were out early to finish their first rounds, and then they went home.
Thursday's late starters (if there had been no rain) are the windshield. They never teed off at all in Thursday's horrid conditions, and they didn't start until mid-morning on Friday, which allowed the course to get a little drier. These players played somewhere in the neighborhood of 27 holes in these calm conditions. For the first round, the late starters averaged two shots less than the early starters.
But that's just the beginning....
The real reason that the windshield/bug song popped into my head is the forecast for Saturday.
In the morning, when the late starters are finishing up their second rounds, it is supposed to be cloudy. When we get to the afternoon, and the early players from Thursday are playing their second rounds, more storms are coming. Those players will be in the rain...again.
Tiger Woods is in the early group, which means he will play most of his golf in the rain. However, don't feel too bad for him, because he was four over par for his last four holes in his first round, and that was under the same scoring conditions that many, many players were able to take advantage of and post good scores. If Tiger is going to make this US Open his 15th major victory, he will have to shoot a couple of really good scores.
Phil Mickelson should be basically done with his 2nd round before the rain hits, which should give him a chance to post a good score and set himself up with a chance to win. I am not usually a big fan of Mickelson's, but I don't think you can help but root for the guy to play well with the huge off-the-course issue he's currently having to deal with. Hopefully, Phil's wife Amy will win her fight against breast cancer so that I can go back to wishing Phil's ball into the woods!
Add mine to the millions of prayers being said for Amy Mickelson's quick recovery.
That was a semi-popular country song...back in the 80's, I believe.
It also could be the theme song for the 2009 US Open Golf Championship, which is currently being played at Bethpage Black in New York.
There are always two waves of golfers in a tournament. One wave starts in the morning, the other starts in the afternoon, and then on the second day they switch positions.
In this year's US Open, Thursday's morning group is "the bug". They began play in the rain, played in the rain for three hours and sixteen minutes, and then went home for the day. On Friday, the were out early to finish their first rounds, and then they went home.
Thursday's late starters (if there had been no rain) are the windshield. They never teed off at all in Thursday's horrid conditions, and they didn't start until mid-morning on Friday, which allowed the course to get a little drier. These players played somewhere in the neighborhood of 27 holes in these calm conditions. For the first round, the late starters averaged two shots less than the early starters.
But that's just the beginning....
The real reason that the windshield/bug song popped into my head is the forecast for Saturday.
In the morning, when the late starters are finishing up their second rounds, it is supposed to be cloudy. When we get to the afternoon, and the early players from Thursday are playing their second rounds, more storms are coming. Those players will be in the rain...again.
Tiger Woods is in the early group, which means he will play most of his golf in the rain. However, don't feel too bad for him, because he was four over par for his last four holes in his first round, and that was under the same scoring conditions that many, many players were able to take advantage of and post good scores. If Tiger is going to make this US Open his 15th major victory, he will have to shoot a couple of really good scores.
Phil Mickelson should be basically done with his 2nd round before the rain hits, which should give him a chance to post a good score and set himself up with a chance to win. I am not usually a big fan of Mickelson's, but I don't think you can help but root for the guy to play well with the huge off-the-course issue he's currently having to deal with. Hopefully, Phil's wife Amy will win her fight against breast cancer so that I can go back to wishing Phil's ball into the woods!
Add mine to the millions of prayers being said for Amy Mickelson's quick recovery.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
NBA Finals Benchwarmers
Before the NBA Finals began, Joe Ovies of 850 the Buzz wrote this post, which basically says that he wanted the Lakers to win, because if Orlando won the title, it would give Duke fans a sense of "justification" against those who said JJ Redick would never make it in the NBA.
Since Duke fans are, well, Duke fans, one of them was rather quick to ask "Where’s the Josh Powell with NBA Ring thread?"
Since Duke fans are, well, Duke fans, they fail to see why those two things aren't related. Sure, Josh Powell is a former NC State player, just like JJ Redick is a former Duke player.
As far as college basketball is concerned, that is really the only similarity.
Powell left early for professional basketball. If the rumors are true, he didn't think he would be able to properly show his skills under Herb Sendek at NCSU, especially while Julius Hodge was there. He bounced around different foreign leagues, and played some in the NBA Developmental League, before finally earning a spot on an NBA roster. Just the fact that Josh Powell is getting an NBA paycheck is a testament to his desire and work ethic.
On the other hand, JJ Redick was the golden boy. He played for Coach K, was player of the year, set the ACC scoring record, and was then selected 11th overall in the NBA Draft. He took so many shots at Duke that Stephen Curry would have been jealous. After "demanding" a trade last season, Redick quieted down somewhat, only to come into camp this season and find himself still buried on the bench. Rookie Courtney Lee took over the starting job, leaving Redick to handle mop-up chores and injury replacement.
So, Duke fan, things aren't the same. The only thing JJ has done so far is have a better NBA career than Adam Morrison, who was co-player of the year. Of course, I've never played one second in the NBA, and Morrison hasn't had a much better NBA career than me.
Since Duke fans are, well, Duke fans, one of them was rather quick to ask "Where’s the Josh Powell with NBA Ring thread?"
Since Duke fans are, well, Duke fans, they fail to see why those two things aren't related. Sure, Josh Powell is a former NC State player, just like JJ Redick is a former Duke player.
As far as college basketball is concerned, that is really the only similarity.
Powell left early for professional basketball. If the rumors are true, he didn't think he would be able to properly show his skills under Herb Sendek at NCSU, especially while Julius Hodge was there. He bounced around different foreign leagues, and played some in the NBA Developmental League, before finally earning a spot on an NBA roster. Just the fact that Josh Powell is getting an NBA paycheck is a testament to his desire and work ethic.
On the other hand, JJ Redick was the golden boy. He played for Coach K, was player of the year, set the ACC scoring record, and was then selected 11th overall in the NBA Draft. He took so many shots at Duke that Stephen Curry would have been jealous. After "demanding" a trade last season, Redick quieted down somewhat, only to come into camp this season and find himself still buried on the bench. Rookie Courtney Lee took over the starting job, leaving Redick to handle mop-up chores and injury replacement.
So, Duke fan, things aren't the same. The only thing JJ has done so far is have a better NBA career than Adam Morrison, who was co-player of the year. Of course, I've never played one second in the NBA, and Morrison hasn't had a much better NBA career than me.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
New York Knicks: Witness??
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer published an interesting article Thursday. He was covering Stephen Curry of Davidson at the NBA Draft combine in Chicago, and he seemed a little perplexed by Curry's statement that he hoped to be a New York Knick on draft day.
The statement is a little unusual, because most guys give the same "cookie cutter" quotes about how they are just blessed to be in this position, happy for the opportunity, blah blah blah. Curry says he wants to be drafted by the Knicks. One reason it's not so strange is that the Knicks' 8th pick is the first position where Curry seems to be an option, so he isn't really risking "hurting the feelilngs" of any other teams by making this proclamation.
The strangest aspect of the statement is that Curry grew up in Charlotte (while his father, Dell, played for the Hornets), went to college at Davidson (which is basically in Charlotte), and seems to have zero interest in being a Bobcat. Now, don't get me wrong...the management of the Charlotte Bobcats have not done anything to convince me that they have a clue about building a basketball team. Other than the paychecks, there aren't a lot of factors to make anyone want to play for the Bobcats. Sean May doesn't even want to play for them enough to get up from the dinner table (or stay out of the clubs, depending on who you believe).
Anyway, I think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that Stephen Curry wants to be a New York Knick. I also think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that the New York Knicks want Stephen Curry. That reason:
This is a picture of LeBron James during Davdison's game against North Carolina State in Charlotte last season. James and Curry have become friends. Curry worked at James' basketball camp in Cleveland last summer.
LeBron is also going to be a free agent at the end of the 2009-10 NBA season, and the Knicks have been long-rumored as one of his top choices should he decide to leave Cleveland. A scoring point guard, like Curry, on the roster would make the Knicks a very attractive option for James. Add in the fact that they are already friends, and the Knicks become more attractive.
If the Knicks get Curry, and then get James, you will never convince me that it was just "coincidence". But, those two in Mike D'Antoni's offense would be fun to watch.
The statement is a little unusual, because most guys give the same "cookie cutter" quotes about how they are just blessed to be in this position, happy for the opportunity, blah blah blah. Curry says he wants to be drafted by the Knicks. One reason it's not so strange is that the Knicks' 8th pick is the first position where Curry seems to be an option, so he isn't really risking "hurting the feelilngs" of any other teams by making this proclamation.
The strangest aspect of the statement is that Curry grew up in Charlotte (while his father, Dell, played for the Hornets), went to college at Davidson (which is basically in Charlotte), and seems to have zero interest in being a Bobcat. Now, don't get me wrong...the management of the Charlotte Bobcats have not done anything to convince me that they have a clue about building a basketball team. Other than the paychecks, there aren't a lot of factors to make anyone want to play for the Bobcats. Sean May doesn't even want to play for them enough to get up from the dinner table (or stay out of the clubs, depending on who you believe).
Anyway, I think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that Stephen Curry wants to be a New York Knick. I also think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that the New York Knicks want Stephen Curry. That reason:
This is a picture of LeBron James during Davdison's game against North Carolina State in Charlotte last season. James and Curry have become friends. Curry worked at James' basketball camp in Cleveland last summer.
LeBron is also going to be a free agent at the end of the 2009-10 NBA season, and the Knicks have been long-rumored as one of his top choices should he decide to leave Cleveland. A scoring point guard, like Curry, on the roster would make the Knicks a very attractive option for James. Add in the fact that they are already friends, and the Knicks become more attractive.
If the Knicks get Curry, and then get James, you will never convince me that it was just "coincidence". But, those two in Mike D'Antoni's offense would be fun to watch.
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Captain??
According to Joe Ovies of Sports Radio 850thebuzz, Rod Brind'Amour is not guaranteed a spot on the ice during the 2009-10 season.
Brind'Amour is under contract for two more seasons, and both seasons he will cost in the neighborhood of 3 million dollars.
The Hurricanes operate at their own salary cap, which is normally about 5 or 6 million lower than the NHL salary cap. Since that is the case, I don't think they can afford to pay a 4th-line center 3 million dollars a season.
It has nothing to do with the captain. I like him as a player, and I'd like to see him stay in Raleigh until he retires. But, unless the team is going to spend more money than it traditionally spends, I just don't think Brind'Amour is a wise investment.
Of course, since he's under contract, the Hurricanes would most likely have to trade him to get out from under his salary obligation.
Another interesting development will be the Erik Cole contract situation. Cole is an unrestricted free agent who made 4 million dollars last season. I'm not sure he is worth that kind of money to anyone anymore, but I'd really be shocked to see the Hurricanes offer him a big-money contract. He hasn't been the same player since the "Orpik incident" during the 2006 Stanley Cup season. He made his cameo appearance in the Cup Finals, and then signed a big free agent deal that offseason.
Jim Rutherford, the Canes' GM, has a lot of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Personally, I'd like to see the Canes add a scoring forward and a big-time defenseman. But, it isn't my money I'm spending.
Brind'Amour is under contract for two more seasons, and both seasons he will cost in the neighborhood of 3 million dollars.
The Hurricanes operate at their own salary cap, which is normally about 5 or 6 million lower than the NHL salary cap. Since that is the case, I don't think they can afford to pay a 4th-line center 3 million dollars a season.
It has nothing to do with the captain. I like him as a player, and I'd like to see him stay in Raleigh until he retires. But, unless the team is going to spend more money than it traditionally spends, I just don't think Brind'Amour is a wise investment.
Of course, since he's under contract, the Hurricanes would most likely have to trade him to get out from under his salary obligation.
Another interesting development will be the Erik Cole contract situation. Cole is an unrestricted free agent who made 4 million dollars last season. I'm not sure he is worth that kind of money to anyone anymore, but I'd really be shocked to see the Hurricanes offer him a big-money contract. He hasn't been the same player since the "Orpik incident" during the 2006 Stanley Cup season. He made his cameo appearance in the Cup Finals, and then signed a big free agent deal that offseason.
Jim Rutherford, the Canes' GM, has a lot of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Personally, I'd like to see the Canes add a scoring forward and a big-time defenseman. But, it isn't my money I'm spending.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hurricanes vs. Penguins
Tonight is the start of the Eastern Conference Finals in the National Hockey League.
The Carolina Hurricanes are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins.
I was going to do a detailed breakdown of the series. Matchups, coaching, speed, size, scoring....the whole enchilada.
Then, I remembered something:
In an evenly-matched series, everything comes down to goaltending. I believe that Cam Ward is significantly better than Marc-Andre Fleury, and I think that is why the Hurricanes will win the series.
I'm not going to predict a specific number of games. I just think it will end with the Hurricanes going back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 3rd time.
***Post-series edit: well, as Pack Blogger says in his comment, I couldn't have been any more wrong about this series. Marc-Andre Fleury was great, Cam Ward was average, but the real difference was that Fleury's team made things much easier on him, while Ward's teammates didn't do him any favors at all. Malkin is un-freaking-believable.
The Carolina Hurricanes are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins.
I was going to do a detailed breakdown of the series. Matchups, coaching, speed, size, scoring....the whole enchilada.
Then, I remembered something:
In an evenly-matched series, everything comes down to goaltending. I believe that Cam Ward is significantly better than Marc-Andre Fleury, and I think that is why the Hurricanes will win the series.
I'm not going to predict a specific number of games. I just think it will end with the Hurricanes going back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 3rd time.
***Post-series edit: well, as Pack Blogger says in his comment, I couldn't have been any more wrong about this series. Marc-Andre Fleury was great, Cam Ward was average, but the real difference was that Fleury's team made things much easier on him, while Ward's teammates didn't do him any favors at all. Malkin is un-freaking-believable.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Good Grief People
The sky is not falling.
Derrick Favors, Demarcus Cousins, and John Wall (most likely) are not coming to North Carolina State. As each of these players commit elsewhere, more and more State fans act like their decisions are a referendum on head coach Sidney Lowe.
Next year's NC State basketball team is going to be the best that Sidney Lowe has put on the court. It's really that simple.
You can call it "blaming the players", or whatever else you want to call it, but I call it "addition by subtraction". If it's hate, then get Bomani Jones to press the "hate" button. "Hate hate hate hate hatehatehate."
The freshmen who are coming in next season do not have to be all-ACC guys to help the team improve. If they show up and play hard every time out, they are upgrades over the three departing players (I'll leave Trevor Ferguson out of the discussion).
The overall athleticism of the team will be improved. The team will have a couple of guys who are capable of scoring on their own. The team will have a shooter who can handle the ball. The team will have another big guy who, by all accounts, is willing to bang inside and work for the ball.
Javi Gonzalez improved greatly during the course of the past season. There is no reason to think he won't continue to improve. Lorenzo Brown is a scorer, and everyone associated with the program believes he is ready to contribute right away. A scoring shooting guard who can attack the basket and provide ballhandling help will be Javi's best friend.
Gonzalez, Brown, CJ Williams, Dennis Horner, and Tracy Smith are the guys I'd project as the starters for next season. Of course, it's only March 25th, so that is subject to change. Then, off the bench, you'd have Julius Mays, Scott Wood, Richard Howell and Johnny Thomas, depending on the health of his knee. Farnold Degand will be fighting Mays for playing time, but I give the nod to Mays because I think he will excel playing with Wood, his high school teammate. Also, I think that Josh Davis, the newest commitment for '09, will challenge for playing time. He's tall, athletic, and can provide the "energy minutes" that Simon Harris gave the team this past season, but he is probably a better player than Harris.
There is a lot of chatter that the coaching staff is trying hard to add another big man to this year's recruiting class. If so, that would address the one glaring weakness of this team, which is a lack of size.
Many people are questioning the coaching ability of Sidney Lowe. I prefer to examine the "talent" and "leadership" of this year's senior class (which includes Brandon Costner, IMO). I don't believe the provided any real leadership, and I really question their skill level. Costner turned himself into a spot-up shooter, but he shot horribly. McCauley was always referred to as a "throwback", which is code for "can't jump and slow"...he was brought here by the former coach to play the high-post "Evtimov" position, but that isn't a position that exists in Sidney Lowe's NC State offense. McCauley, as a post player, I would not consider better than "OK". Courtney Fells was an enigma. Sometimes, he looked like he was the best player on the floor, other times he looked like he'd never seen a basketball before in his life...often in the same game...sometimes on the same possession.
Simply put, I don't think the freshmen have to be amazing to be better than those three. I can't imagine a time next year where I'm thinking "Wow, if only Brandon Costner was here, that wouldn't have happened."
Next season, look for the 'Pack to finish at .500 or above, and challenge for an NCAA Tournament berth. And, when it happens, remember that you read it here.
Derrick Favors, Demarcus Cousins, and John Wall (most likely) are not coming to North Carolina State. As each of these players commit elsewhere, more and more State fans act like their decisions are a referendum on head coach Sidney Lowe.
Next year's NC State basketball team is going to be the best that Sidney Lowe has put on the court. It's really that simple.
You can call it "blaming the players", or whatever else you want to call it, but I call it "addition by subtraction". If it's hate, then get Bomani Jones to press the "hate" button. "Hate hate hate hate hatehatehate."
The freshmen who are coming in next season do not have to be all-ACC guys to help the team improve. If they show up and play hard every time out, they are upgrades over the three departing players (I'll leave Trevor Ferguson out of the discussion).
The overall athleticism of the team will be improved. The team will have a couple of guys who are capable of scoring on their own. The team will have a shooter who can handle the ball. The team will have another big guy who, by all accounts, is willing to bang inside and work for the ball.
Javi Gonzalez improved greatly during the course of the past season. There is no reason to think he won't continue to improve. Lorenzo Brown is a scorer, and everyone associated with the program believes he is ready to contribute right away. A scoring shooting guard who can attack the basket and provide ballhandling help will be Javi's best friend.
Gonzalez, Brown, CJ Williams, Dennis Horner, and Tracy Smith are the guys I'd project as the starters for next season. Of course, it's only March 25th, so that is subject to change. Then, off the bench, you'd have Julius Mays, Scott Wood, Richard Howell and Johnny Thomas, depending on the health of his knee. Farnold Degand will be fighting Mays for playing time, but I give the nod to Mays because I think he will excel playing with Wood, his high school teammate. Also, I think that Josh Davis, the newest commitment for '09, will challenge for playing time. He's tall, athletic, and can provide the "energy minutes" that Simon Harris gave the team this past season, but he is probably a better player than Harris.
There is a lot of chatter that the coaching staff is trying hard to add another big man to this year's recruiting class. If so, that would address the one glaring weakness of this team, which is a lack of size.
Many people are questioning the coaching ability of Sidney Lowe. I prefer to examine the "talent" and "leadership" of this year's senior class (which includes Brandon Costner, IMO). I don't believe the provided any real leadership, and I really question their skill level. Costner turned himself into a spot-up shooter, but he shot horribly. McCauley was always referred to as a "throwback", which is code for "can't jump and slow"...he was brought here by the former coach to play the high-post "Evtimov" position, but that isn't a position that exists in Sidney Lowe's NC State offense. McCauley, as a post player, I would not consider better than "OK". Courtney Fells was an enigma. Sometimes, he looked like he was the best player on the floor, other times he looked like he'd never seen a basketball before in his life...often in the same game...sometimes on the same possession.
Simply put, I don't think the freshmen have to be amazing to be better than those three. I can't imagine a time next year where I'm thinking "Wow, if only Brandon Costner was here, that wouldn't have happened."
Next season, look for the 'Pack to finish at .500 or above, and challenge for an NCAA Tournament berth. And, when it happens, remember that you read it here.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Duke-UNC II: Worth The Hype??
On Sunday, Duke and North Carolina will face off at the Dean E. Smith Center.
As fans of teams that aren't UNC or Duke complain, the sports world will be overcome by the hype and drama that now surrounds this rivalry. Personally, I don't mind it...both teams are generally ranked highly, and the game generally has an impact on the top of the ACC standings. It deserves to be a notable game.
Just how much hype it deserves may be debated, however.
I fully expect UNC to beat Duke on Sunday. I don't think the game will really be in doubt unless Duke has a phenomenal shooting day. I think Tyler Hansbrough could score 40 points, if he decides that's what he wants to do. I just can't see him losing on Senior Day at the Dean Dome.
My question would be how long the hype lasts. Does a game get hyped just because both teams are ranked in the top 10, even if the outcome is a foregone conclusion? If UNC wins, then the Carolina seniors will be 6-2 against Duke. That's only one game worse than their 7-1 record against the NC State Wolfpack, and the State games aren't hyped nearly as much.
As an outsider to this matchup, I can say that I see troubling signs for the Blue Devils. Much like a certain former NC State leader, Coach K has gone to a system that is non-traditional offensively. Their teams rely on their system, and defensive pressure, to win games. The problem with these non-traditional "system" approaches is that there is a ceiling on their success.
As the talent level of the opponent rises, it becomes harder and harder for the system to be effective. The high-pressure (and yes, sometimes illegal) defensive tactics don't work as well against the fast, talented UNC guards. For NCSU back in the day, the backdoor cuts didn't work so well against the faster, more athletic players, and the offense would grind to a halt.
Now, it's obvious that Duke has had much, MUCH more success with their system than "that guy" ever did at NC State. That is simply because Coach K recruits a much, MUCH higher caliber of athlete, which makes the ceiling for his system higher. But, that ceiling is still there.
Another example of that ceiling will be shown Sunday afternoon at 4.
As fans of teams that aren't UNC or Duke complain, the sports world will be overcome by the hype and drama that now surrounds this rivalry. Personally, I don't mind it...both teams are generally ranked highly, and the game generally has an impact on the top of the ACC standings. It deserves to be a notable game.
Just how much hype it deserves may be debated, however.
I fully expect UNC to beat Duke on Sunday. I don't think the game will really be in doubt unless Duke has a phenomenal shooting day. I think Tyler Hansbrough could score 40 points, if he decides that's what he wants to do. I just can't see him losing on Senior Day at the Dean Dome.
My question would be how long the hype lasts. Does a game get hyped just because both teams are ranked in the top 10, even if the outcome is a foregone conclusion? If UNC wins, then the Carolina seniors will be 6-2 against Duke. That's only one game worse than their 7-1 record against the NC State Wolfpack, and the State games aren't hyped nearly as much.
As an outsider to this matchup, I can say that I see troubling signs for the Blue Devils. Much like a certain former NC State leader, Coach K has gone to a system that is non-traditional offensively. Their teams rely on their system, and defensive pressure, to win games. The problem with these non-traditional "system" approaches is that there is a ceiling on their success.
As the talent level of the opponent rises, it becomes harder and harder for the system to be effective. The high-pressure (and yes, sometimes illegal) defensive tactics don't work as well against the fast, talented UNC guards. For NCSU back in the day, the backdoor cuts didn't work so well against the faster, more athletic players, and the offense would grind to a halt.
Now, it's obvious that Duke has had much, MUCH more success with their system than "that guy" ever did at NC State. That is simply because Coach K recruits a much, MUCH higher caliber of athlete, which makes the ceiling for his system higher. But, that ceiling is still there.
Another example of that ceiling will be shown Sunday afternoon at 4.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tiger Returns...
Tiger Woods will return to action today at the Accenture Match Play.
There are actually people who think Tiger will lose in the semi-finals of this event. I don't think so. If Tiger makes it to the weekend, this thing is over. The best chance, in my opinion, is for one of his early-round opponents to take advantage of Tiger's rust.
When the opportunity arises for Mr. Woods to write a storybook ending, he normally does it.
Winning the US Open, shutting it down for 8 months to have his ACL rebuilt, and then returning to win his first event would be the storybook ending. If he makes it to Saturday, the "aura" may be too strong for anyone to overcome.
My prediction: Tiger wins. Of course, I don't think I would ever pick against him, anyway.
There are actually people who think Tiger will lose in the semi-finals of this event. I don't think so. If Tiger makes it to the weekend, this thing is over. The best chance, in my opinion, is for one of his early-round opponents to take advantage of Tiger's rust.
When the opportunity arises for Mr. Woods to write a storybook ending, he normally does it.
Winning the US Open, shutting it down for 8 months to have his ACL rebuilt, and then returning to win his first event would be the storybook ending. If he makes it to Saturday, the "aura" may be too strong for anyone to overcome.
My prediction: Tiger wins. Of course, I don't think I would ever pick against him, anyway.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
NC State vs. UNC - Round Two
Tonight, North Carolina State travels to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels.
The Wolfpack has been playing well, and should have a lot of confidence going into this matchup.
There isn't a need for any long-winded "breakdown" of what has to happen for NCSU to win tonight.
NC State has to play very well. Period. They have to limit turnovers, make shots, and play very solid defense. Easy baskets have to be limited. There will be no room for errors, and they have to maintain their focus. Even if all of that happens, it will just provide an opportunity to win. The outcome would not be guaranteed.
North Carolina is a very talented team. They have four or five guys who, on any given night, can be the reason that they beat you. If your team tries to focus on taking away one player, there are plenty of guys waiting to step up.
I suspect that Coach Lowe will use a defensive game plan similar to the one that worked so well against Wake Forest. Multiple defensive looks may help slow down UNC's high-paced offensive attack. Any time that the Tar Heels use determining what defense the 'Pack is playing is time that they aren't in transition.
If NC State's recent performances are the "new normal", the game tonight should be quite interesting and fun to watch.
The Wolfpack has been playing well, and should have a lot of confidence going into this matchup.
There isn't a need for any long-winded "breakdown" of what has to happen for NCSU to win tonight.
NC State has to play very well. Period. They have to limit turnovers, make shots, and play very solid defense. Easy baskets have to be limited. There will be no room for errors, and they have to maintain their focus. Even if all of that happens, it will just provide an opportunity to win. The outcome would not be guaranteed.
North Carolina is a very talented team. They have four or five guys who, on any given night, can be the reason that they beat you. If your team tries to focus on taking away one player, there are plenty of guys waiting to step up.
I suspect that Coach Lowe will use a defensive game plan similar to the one that worked so well against Wake Forest. Multiple defensive looks may help slow down UNC's high-paced offensive attack. Any time that the Tar Heels use determining what defense the 'Pack is playing is time that they aren't in transition.
If NC State's recent performances are the "new normal", the game tonight should be quite interesting and fun to watch.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sorry Sid....He's An Idiot
This is a response to a column by Bustersports' Andrew Jones from yesterday.
The entire piece is one huge shot at Sidney Lowe, because Mr. Jones apparently knows everything. I think he really just wants to be Gregg Doyel. He takes shots at NCSU and its basketball coach because he knows it will be posted all over the internet, and will drive NCSU fans to his site to read it. That is good for business. Thankfully, he no longer works for a "real" news organization (Mr. Jones was once a sportswriter in Wilmington, NC).
He says that last year's NCSU team was horrible, but had "excuses". Of this year's team, he says:
Isn't it just as likely that Sid is the reason that the team is able to hang around with the more talented teams? Doesn't he deserve credit for that, rather than criticism?
The team blew a huge lead at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, that happens. I don't see any way to make that an indictment of Sidney Lowe. An 8-point, 35 second stretch was the key point in that run, and that was absolutely aided by a horrible intentional foul call on Courtney Fells. Even with that, Dennis Horner had a chance to ice the game at the line, and missed two free throws. Are we to assume that Coach Lowe doesn't have the team practice free throws? For an inconsistent team, especially one that hasn't done a lot of winning, the hardest thing to do is to "right the ship" when things start going haywire. No matter who the coach is, when things start going bad, the players have to believe that things will turn around. That attitude, normally, comes from a player willing to step up and make things happen. North Carolina State doesn't have that player, and that is the biggest weakness on the team.
Mr. Jones goes on to criticize Coach Lowe's substitution patterns. The substitution patterns are inconsistent, but if the players are inconsistent, what is a coach to do? Keep playing a point guard who just doesn't have "it". Keep playing a shooter who is barely drawing iron? Let a player stay in who is lost on defense?
He uses Tracy Smith as an example. Smith played 22 minutes against Virginia Tech, but only played 5 against NC Central earlier in the week. Mr. Jones fails to mention that Smith was bothered by a sore knee, so keeping him out of an essentially meaningless NC Central game was a smart move.
He also mentions Simon Harris minutes against Miami, which is the only time he has logged in the last 7 ACC games. However, he fails to mention (surprise!) that Harris was brought in to play defense against the player who had led Miami's comeback, and his defense was as much of a reason for the win as Julius Mays' jumper at the buzzer.
This is the section that is the most amusing. He actually seems to be serious, though. He honestly seems to be wondering if the team would be winless without Sendek's recruits. That is asinine. If Sidney Lowe had just run these players off, and replaced them with "his" recruits, the team may be better off. But, Coach Lowe's reputation would have suffered. The simple fact is that Herb Sendek recruited a different caliber of athlete than any other ACC school. It's not making excuses, and it's not placing blame. It is just stating known facts.
McCauley, Costner and Horner all lack athleticism. At the very least, they lack ACC-caliber athleticism. Good teams can cover for one less-athletic player. When most of the team is made up of them, it is a lot tougher. Coach Lowe's future recruiting classes seem to be closing the gap, athletically and in pure basketball talent. He was hamstrung at the beginning of his tenure, because he came from the NBA and did not have a built-in network of contacts to start recruiting. As such, his first classes were not spectacular. However, each class has been better than the previous one...a trend that looks to continue in 2009 and 2010.
I would really like to know who Mr. Jones thinks is going to sit down at UNC or Duke for McCauley or Costner to start. Costner is not replacing Kyle Singler, so he'd have to play center in place of Zoubek to start at Duke. Costner can't play center. He also isn't replacing Danny Green (because of Green's all-around skills) or Deon Thompson (defense, rebounding, shot-blocking) at UNC.
McCauley also doesn't affect shots, and UNC's power forward (no way he replaces Tyler Hansbrough) has to be a threat to block shots, because Hansbrough isn't. McCauley would not start at Duke for the same reasons. Duke has players who are about McCauley's size, but more athletic, and they don't start, because Coach K has decided he wants the big man in the game to help with interior defense.
Once again, this piece of "journalism" by Mr. Jones is an example of a writer overstating NC State's talent at the expense of the head basketball coach.
The entire piece is one huge shot at Sidney Lowe, because Mr. Jones apparently knows everything. I think he really just wants to be Gregg Doyel. He takes shots at NCSU and its basketball coach because he knows it will be posted all over the internet, and will drive NCSU fans to his site to read it. That is good for business. Thankfully, he no longer works for a "real" news organization (Mr. Jones was once a sportswriter in Wilmington, NC).
He says that last year's NCSU team was horrible, but had "excuses". Of this year's team, he says:
"But the current NCSU club is experienced and has talent. It has proven on numerous occasions that it can play with very good teams for lengthy stretches, but it always finds a way to lose. And at some point one has to stop blaming the officials, a cavernous arena that is a Godsend to the program, a lack of a point guard, and the selfishness of certain players.Experienced? Yes. Has talent? Not so fast. Compared to other ACC teams, NCSU is not above average (in truth, they are probably below average) in the talent department. They don't have a go-to scorer. They don't have any really consistent players. From one night to the next (sometimes even in the same game), players take turns disappearing. Teams with these deficiencies lose games. NC State has not lost a game to any team that it should have beaten. They have lost a few that they could have won, but that's a huge difference.At some point, one must blame the coach."
Isn't it just as likely that Sid is the reason that the team is able to hang around with the more talented teams? Doesn't he deserve credit for that, rather than criticism?
The team blew a huge lead at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, that happens. I don't see any way to make that an indictment of Sidney Lowe. An 8-point, 35 second stretch was the key point in that run, and that was absolutely aided by a horrible intentional foul call on Courtney Fells. Even with that, Dennis Horner had a chance to ice the game at the line, and missed two free throws. Are we to assume that Coach Lowe doesn't have the team practice free throws? For an inconsistent team, especially one that hasn't done a lot of winning, the hardest thing to do is to "right the ship" when things start going haywire. No matter who the coach is, when things start going bad, the players have to believe that things will turn around. That attitude, normally, comes from a player willing to step up and make things happen. North Carolina State doesn't have that player, and that is the biggest weakness on the team.
Mr. Jones goes on to criticize Coach Lowe's substitution patterns. The substitution patterns are inconsistent, but if the players are inconsistent, what is a coach to do? Keep playing a point guard who just doesn't have "it". Keep playing a shooter who is barely drawing iron? Let a player stay in who is lost on defense?
He uses Tracy Smith as an example. Smith played 22 minutes against Virginia Tech, but only played 5 against NC Central earlier in the week. Mr. Jones fails to mention that Smith was bothered by a sore knee, so keeping him out of an essentially meaningless NC Central game was a smart move.
He also mentions Simon Harris minutes against Miami, which is the only time he has logged in the last 7 ACC games. However, he fails to mention (surprise!) that Harris was brought in to play defense against the player who had led Miami's comeback, and his defense was as much of a reason for the win as Julius Mays' jumper at the buzzer.
"This is Lowe’s program, yet most of those who receive minutes were Herb Sendek recruits. That should mean something to all evaluators. If not for Sendek hands Ben McCauley, Brandon Costner, Dennis Horner and Courtney Fells, would the ’Pack even have one victory this season?
That quartet, and in particular Costner and McCauley, are capable college players. In fact, there isn’t a program in the ACC that wouldn’t take them, and either would start for Duke and North Carolina."
This is the section that is the most amusing. He actually seems to be serious, though. He honestly seems to be wondering if the team would be winless without Sendek's recruits. That is asinine. If Sidney Lowe had just run these players off, and replaced them with "his" recruits, the team may be better off. But, Coach Lowe's reputation would have suffered. The simple fact is that Herb Sendek recruited a different caliber of athlete than any other ACC school. It's not making excuses, and it's not placing blame. It is just stating known facts.
McCauley, Costner and Horner all lack athleticism. At the very least, they lack ACC-caliber athleticism. Good teams can cover for one less-athletic player. When most of the team is made up of them, it is a lot tougher. Coach Lowe's future recruiting classes seem to be closing the gap, athletically and in pure basketball talent. He was hamstrung at the beginning of his tenure, because he came from the NBA and did not have a built-in network of contacts to start recruiting. As such, his first classes were not spectacular. However, each class has been better than the previous one...a trend that looks to continue in 2009 and 2010.
I would really like to know who Mr. Jones thinks is going to sit down at UNC or Duke for McCauley or Costner to start. Costner is not replacing Kyle Singler, so he'd have to play center in place of Zoubek to start at Duke. Costner can't play center. He also isn't replacing Danny Green (because of Green's all-around skills) or Deon Thompson (defense, rebounding, shot-blocking) at UNC.
McCauley also doesn't affect shots, and UNC's power forward (no way he replaces Tyler Hansbrough) has to be a threat to block shots, because Hansbrough isn't. McCauley would not start at Duke for the same reasons. Duke has players who are about McCauley's size, but more athletic, and they don't start, because Coach K has decided he wants the big man in the game to help with interior defense.
Once again, this piece of "journalism" by Mr. Jones is an example of a writer overstating NC State's talent at the expense of the head basketball coach.
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