Last night I watched one basketball player, South Carolina's Devan Downey, single handedly beat the #1 team in Men's Division I College Basketball. The Kentucky Wildcats, led by their three freshman starters John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe raced out to 19 straight wins to start their college "careers" before losing in Columbia last night to the Gamecocks (I don't even want to call them careers, seeing as all three of them might not be playing in Rupp Arena next season). They were handed the number 1 next to their name Monday after Texas dropped both games they played last week. But was it too much too early for the young Cats? Kentucky has four players averaging double figures, three of whom are freshmen. Five players are averaging 20 or more minutes a game, three being freshmen, one a sophomore, and the old man of the group, junior Patrick Patterson. This year's Kentucky team, while young, may very well be the most talented in the country. I would be more than comfortable betting my entire bank account on Wall being the number one pick in June's draft. Cousins can easily be a lottery pick if he is a good boy doesn't try to beat up Coach Cal the way he did his high school coach. Patterson and Bledsoe are also future first round picks. Kentucky is also the tallest team in Division I this year, averaging 6'7". While big on talent and height, the Wildcats lack experience. There's something special about the "We've been here before, we're older, we're wiser, we're smarter" attitude that plenty of national champion teams had in the previous decade. The past three national championship winners have been comprised of mostly juniors and seniors who had made long tournament runs the year or two before and were battle tested when it got time for the stretch run.
This leads me to the other #1 in college basketball right now. The UConn Huskies have been #1 in the women's game for quite some time. Like the current men's #1 (which they will be for about 5 more days until Kansas takes it back), the women's #1 is talented. Maya Moore was the best player in the country last year. As a sophomore. And oh yeah.. She's still in Storrs. Going to class. Going to practice. Playing in places like Cameron Indoor Stadium and on ESPN. She didn't bolt on her team or coach to go be a professional like we see on the men's side so often. Like the men's #1 the Lady Huskies are also tall. Tina Charles is 6'4", Heather Buck is 6'3",and Kaili McLaren is 6'2". But what the Huskies have that the Wildcats don't is experience. A lot of it. Their two best players are Maya Moore and Tina Charles, a junior and a senior respectively. The other three starters are a senior and two sophomores. So all five of them were there last year for the 39-0 season... and the 20-0 start this year. Yeah. 59-0. And it just keeps rolling. On January 16th they beat then #3 Notre Dame by 24. 24!! And then two days later went down to Durham and beat then #7 Duke by 33. 33!! When something like this catches my attention I get obsessed with it. I can't help it if I don't really like to watch women's basketball, but I sure do appreciate greatness. During this 59 game win streak, their closest margin of victory was 10 points. The average score of their games this year - UConn: 83. Opponent: 44. As dominant as they are, I see the experience of the UConn players being a huge factor in not letting themselves get comfortable and slip up.
Kentucky should not be written off by any means after their loss Tuesday night. The Wildcats are still one of the best teams in the country. But, will their lack of experience catch up with them in late March when facing an older, wiser, smarter team in the tournament? For the women of UConn, no need to worry. They can check off experience on the list.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Weekend review
It was a rough weekend for the Majors. Lost to Rhodes on Friday night and lost to Birmingham-Southern on Sunday afternoon to drop to 7-10 overall, 3-6 in the SCAC. Good news for us was that Trinity also lost both games so still tied with the Tigers for 4th in the SCAC West. Sewanee comes to the HangarDome on Friday night, followed by Oglethorpe on Sunday afternoon. Big weekend coming up for the Majors to get back on track and keep a hold on 4th in the West.
Chandler Parsons saved the Gators again with a clutch buzzer beater against South Carolina. At 14-5 overall, 3-2 in SEC the Gators are squarely on the bubble early in conference play. Georgia at home on Wednesday night is a must win, and then Tennessee would be a huge resume builder this weekend. I still don't see them making the tournament. Would need to probably be 11-5 in SEC to be comfortable on selection Sunday and with 2 games against Tenn, another against Kentucky, and with Miss St and Ole Miss on the schedule it doesn't look great for the orange and blue.
Very proud of this year's Maclay team so far at 14-4 and 7-0 in 2A-district 4. Team has won all the games they are supposed to against a little nicer schedule than year's past and have made huge strides all season. I wish they could have beaten the school up the road last Friday night and gotten a little revenge for the disrespect they showed to Maclay. Should coast to a 5th district title in the past 6 seasons a few weeks from now and then see a completely different Franklin County team than the past two seasons in the first round of the playoffs.
Saints and Colts headed to the Super Bowl... Didn't really have a preference on the outcome of those two games but would have liked to see Percy continue his great rookie season. Saints did not deserve to win that game. Vikings completely dominated but shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. 31 to 15 vikings on first downs. 475 to 257 vikings on total yards. Vikings had 4 fewer penalties for 56 less yards, and had the ball 9 more minutes. But that's why the only stat that matters is the scoreboard. And now the Brett Favre drama begins. Hope ESPN doesn't make me change the channel too much because of him.
Chandler Parsons saved the Gators again with a clutch buzzer beater against South Carolina. At 14-5 overall, 3-2 in SEC the Gators are squarely on the bubble early in conference play. Georgia at home on Wednesday night is a must win, and then Tennessee would be a huge resume builder this weekend. I still don't see them making the tournament. Would need to probably be 11-5 in SEC to be comfortable on selection Sunday and with 2 games against Tenn, another against Kentucky, and with Miss St and Ole Miss on the schedule it doesn't look great for the orange and blue.
Very proud of this year's Maclay team so far at 14-4 and 7-0 in 2A-district 4. Team has won all the games they are supposed to against a little nicer schedule than year's past and have made huge strides all season. I wish they could have beaten the school up the road last Friday night and gotten a little revenge for the disrespect they showed to Maclay. Should coast to a 5th district title in the past 6 seasons a few weeks from now and then see a completely different Franklin County team than the past two seasons in the first round of the playoffs.
Saints and Colts headed to the Super Bowl... Didn't really have a preference on the outcome of those two games but would have liked to see Percy continue his great rookie season. Saints did not deserve to win that game. Vikings completely dominated but shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. 31 to 15 vikings on first downs. 475 to 257 vikings on total yards. Vikings had 4 fewer penalties for 56 less yards, and had the ball 9 more minutes. But that's why the only stat that matters is the scoreboard. And now the Brett Favre drama begins. Hope ESPN doesn't make me change the channel too much because of him.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Gators steal 2 star QB from... Temple?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Gators in the NBA
How about the big friday night in the Association for former Gators.
Joakim Noah - 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the Bulls win over the Suns.
David Lee - 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Knicks.
Corey Brewer - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists for the TWolves.
Al Horford - 23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists for the Hawks in a win over the Bobcats.
Udonis Haslem - 8 points and 8 rebounds off the bench for the Heat in their rout of the Wiz.
Marreese Speights - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks off the bench for the Sixers in a win over the Mavs.
Joakim Noah - 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the Bulls win over the Suns.
David Lee - 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Knicks.
Corey Brewer - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists for the TWolves.
Al Horford - 23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists for the Hawks in a win over the Bobcats.
Udonis Haslem - 8 points and 8 rebounds off the bench for the Heat in their rout of the Wiz.
Marreese Speights - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks off the bench for the Sixers in a win over the Mavs.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
First Blog
Earlier today I was thinking how I really want to update my Facebook status more often with all the random sports thoughts I have and want to share with the world. But then I thought, wait, I don't want to be one of those people I see with their 6 updated statuses (stati?) everyday. So I went the route of the blog, if you want to check it then check it and feel free to comment.
First thoughts have to go out to Gator recruiting. I'm one of those guys who checks Rivals and Gatorbait about 8 times a day this time of year. Signing Day is less than 2 weeks away and the Gators are in great position to have the highest rated recruiting class (by Rivals) ever. With 25 commits and 3 spots still left to fill, the 2010 Florida class already with 2,936 points could go way past the 2006 USC class's mark of 3,018 points. After Rivals updated their Top 100 for the last time, Florida has commitments from the players ranked #1, #4, #7, #25, #28, #47, #71, #77, #81, and #95. That's 10 out of the top 100, and possibly 3 more to come in the next week and 1/2.
First thoughts have to go out to Gator recruiting. I'm one of those guys who checks Rivals and Gatorbait about 8 times a day this time of year. Signing Day is less than 2 weeks away and the Gators are in great position to have the highest rated recruiting class (by Rivals) ever. With 25 commits and 3 spots still left to fill, the 2010 Florida class already with 2,936 points could go way past the 2006 USC class's mark of 3,018 points. After Rivals updated their Top 100 for the last time, Florida has commitments from the players ranked #1, #4, #7, #25, #28, #47, #71, #77, #81, and #95. That's 10 out of the top 100, and possibly 3 more to come in the next week and 1/2.
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