I don't normally post stuff like this, and I know it's been a while since I posted on here last, but you can't call yourself a basketball blogger if you're not linking to or posting or tweeting about the all-time posterization of Kendrick Perkins last night, courtesy of Blake Griffin.
Okay, okay, Griffin uses his off arm on Perkins for leverage -- like he needs any help getting higher. And yeah, it's not the cleanest finish. I suppose if you want to go strictly by the book, it's technically not even a dunk.
Call it whatever you want -- it's the most spectacular play of its kind I've ever seen. Check it out for yourself.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wisconsin Gets Well; Will Pittsburgh?
It has been a very interesting start to the conference season in college basketball, and nothing over the first couple of weeks of 2012 has been more surprising than the horrific starts of two perennial power-conference powers: Wisconsin of the Big Ten, and Pittsburgh of the Big East. The Badgers dropped three straight after opening conference play with a win at Nebraska, including losses to Iowa (yuck) and Michigan State on their usually impenetrable home floor. The Panthers have dropped their first four conference games (and five overall), including two defeats at the Petersen Events Center, where they were practically unbeatable before this season (they also dropped non-conference games at home to Long Beach State and Wagner).
Both of these teams are accustomed to being at or near the top of their respective leagues, and both were expected to more or less maintain the status quo this season. So is there any hope for either of them?
Both of these teams are accustomed to being at or near the top of their respective leagues, and both were expected to more or less maintain the status quo this season. So is there any hope for either of them?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Metal Monday: Lord Stereo
Programming note: Nearly a full month without posting. Two reasons: 1) I bit off more than I could chew with my initial posting schedule, and 2) I'm studying for the Nevada bar exam. The latter is taking up quite a bit of my basketball-viewing time and even more of my posting time, so I expect that I won't post much over the next couple of months. I do hope to post a bit more often, though, especially with conference play starting to ramp up and some really interesting stuff happening (surprising Big East teams, Wisconsin losing three straight Big Ten games, etc.).
One thing I also plan to resume/keep going is Metal Monday. And so, via Metal Underground, I give you the stream of the debut album of Lord Stereo, a Polish garage band.
One thing I also plan to resume/keep going is Metal Monday. And so, via Metal Underground, I give you the stream of the debut album of Lord Stereo, a Polish garage band.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Notable Results From Saturday, December 17
Syracuse 88, North Carolina State 72
Just a few hours after I had tepidly endorsed Ohio State as the best team in America, the top-ranked Orange made me reconsider that position by ripping off a 23-0 run in Raleigh near the end of the first half. The Wolfpack climbed all the way back into it a the start of the second, but Syracuse won going away. Jim Boeheim's club has a half-dozen guys who can create their own shot, plenty of three-point shooting, and their famous 2-3 zone seems to be creating more turnovers than usual. Scratch what I said earlier -- these guys are my pick.
Butler 67, Purdue 65
Andrew Smith's tip-in with one second left capped a big second-half rally for the Bulldogs, who had struggled with a difficult schedule in the early part of the season. The Boilers went ice-cold from the floor and the free throw line in the second half in blowing their second big second-half lead of the season (they lost to Xavier earlier in the year.)
Baylor 86, BYU 83
Perry Jones III shook off a bruised knee to provide the game-icing putback, the final two of his career-high 28 points. The sixth-ranked Bears trailed by double-digits before pulling out this road win.
Florida 84, Texas A&M 64
The Gators scored 18 of the first 20 points and never looked back, leading by 25 at halftime. Even with Khris Middleton back, the Aggies look no better than the fourth-best team in the Big XII.
Gonzaga 71, Arizona 60
The Bulldogs jumped all over the Wildcats in Seattle, then withstood a late charge. Elias Harris led the Zags with 25.
Louisville 95, Memphis 87
I wish I could have seen this one, but I had Gonzaga-Arizona instead (and ended up watching the Indiana-Notre Dame snoozefest). All seven Cardinals who scored hit double figures, led by Russ Smith's 25. Will Barton led Memphis with 28 points and 16 boards. I suspect that the Tigers, who have been up and down in the early-going, won't be too upset with this performance on the road.
UNLV 64, Illinois 48
The Rebels, who upset then-No. 1 North Carolina with a barrage of three-point shooting, took a different path to victory on Saturday in Chicago, holding the Illini to 25.4 percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Sophomore forward Mike Moser posted his seventh double-double of the year -- he's failed to reach double-figures in rebounds just three times in 13 games this season. Illinois, which jumped into the top 25 by virtue of a win over Gonzaga two weeks ago, lost for the first time this year.
Indiana State 61, Vanderbilt 55
The Sycamores pulled off the day's biggest upset, going on the road to win at Vandy. Now at full strength, this is a disappointing loss for the 6-4 Commodores, who I expected to challenge for the SEC crown.
Georgetown 81, American 55
The Eagles stuck with the Hoyas for a half, which seems to happen every time they play Georgetown.
Iona 73, Vermont 72
UVM scored the first 11 points of the game, but Iona came back behind Michael Glover and Momo Jones. Prior to the tip, UVM retired #45 in honor of Trevor Gaines, a former standout who died in the summer of 2010 while playing a pick-up game in Las Vegas.
Just a few hours after I had tepidly endorsed Ohio State as the best team in America, the top-ranked Orange made me reconsider that position by ripping off a 23-0 run in Raleigh near the end of the first half. The Wolfpack climbed all the way back into it a the start of the second, but Syracuse won going away. Jim Boeheim's club has a half-dozen guys who can create their own shot, plenty of three-point shooting, and their famous 2-3 zone seems to be creating more turnovers than usual. Scratch what I said earlier -- these guys are my pick.
Butler 67, Purdue 65
Andrew Smith's tip-in with one second left capped a big second-half rally for the Bulldogs, who had struggled with a difficult schedule in the early part of the season. The Boilers went ice-cold from the floor and the free throw line in the second half in blowing their second big second-half lead of the season (they lost to Xavier earlier in the year.)
Baylor 86, BYU 83
Perry Jones III shook off a bruised knee to provide the game-icing putback, the final two of his career-high 28 points. The sixth-ranked Bears trailed by double-digits before pulling out this road win.
Florida 84, Texas A&M 64
The Gators scored 18 of the first 20 points and never looked back, leading by 25 at halftime. Even with Khris Middleton back, the Aggies look no better than the fourth-best team in the Big XII.
Gonzaga 71, Arizona 60
The Bulldogs jumped all over the Wildcats in Seattle, then withstood a late charge. Elias Harris led the Zags with 25.
Louisville 95, Memphis 87
I wish I could have seen this one, but I had Gonzaga-Arizona instead (and ended up watching the Indiana-Notre Dame snoozefest). All seven Cardinals who scored hit double figures, led by Russ Smith's 25. Will Barton led Memphis with 28 points and 16 boards. I suspect that the Tigers, who have been up and down in the early-going, won't be too upset with this performance on the road.
UNLV 64, Illinois 48
The Rebels, who upset then-No. 1 North Carolina with a barrage of three-point shooting, took a different path to victory on Saturday in Chicago, holding the Illini to 25.4 percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Sophomore forward Mike Moser posted his seventh double-double of the year -- he's failed to reach double-figures in rebounds just three times in 13 games this season. Illinois, which jumped into the top 25 by virtue of a win over Gonzaga two weeks ago, lost for the first time this year.
Indiana State 61, Vanderbilt 55
The Sycamores pulled off the day's biggest upset, going on the road to win at Vandy. Now at full strength, this is a disappointing loss for the 6-4 Commodores, who I expected to challenge for the SEC crown.
Georgetown 81, American 55
The Eagles stuck with the Hoyas for a half, which seems to happen every time they play Georgetown.
Iona 73, Vermont 72
UVM scored the first 11 points of the game, but Iona came back behind Michael Glover and Momo Jones. Prior to the tip, UVM retired #45 in honor of Trevor Gaines, a former standout who died in the summer of 2010 while playing a pick-up game in Las Vegas.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Ohio State 74, South Carolina 66
[recap] [box score]
By this time, I usually like to have my national champion picked. Some years, I have a strong feeling about one team; others, I'm more or less guessing by picking one of two or three options.
I'm not doing it this year, though, because there are just too many possibilities and not enough meaningful ways to differentiate among them. I think there are close to ten teams with a legitimate chance to win the title.
But if you forced me to pick one right now, I'd pick Ohio State.
By this time, I usually like to have my national champion picked. Some years, I have a strong feeling about one team; others, I'm more or less guessing by picking one of two or three options.
I'm not doing it this year, though, because there are just too many possibilities and not enough meaningful ways to differentiate among them. I think there are close to ten teams with a legitimate chance to win the title.
But if you forced me to pick one right now, I'd pick Ohio State.
On Today: 12/17/2011
Ohio State at South Carolina (ESPN, noon Eastern)
"The Buckeyes rode Jared Sullinger's 30 points and 19 rebounds to a 79-57 rout of South Carolina last season. Senior forward Malik Cooke fuels coach Darrin Horn's Gamecocks."
Butler vs. Purdue (CBS, 2 p.m. Eastern)
"A rebuilding Butler squad needs big numbers from guard Chrishawn Hopkins, while Purdue counts on the scoring of forward Robbie Hummel. These teams last met in 2006."
(This game is being played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of the Crossroads Classic.)
Temple at Texas (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Owls senior guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore tussle with Texas freshmen Myck Kabongo and Sheldon McClellan. Temple squared the series at 2-2 with a win in the 2001 NCAA tournament."
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (CBS, 4 p.m. Eastern)
"Big men Solomon Hill and Jesse Perry lead the Wildcats against center Robert Sacre and the Zags. These last met in 2008. Arizona leads he series 3-0."
(This one is being played in Seattle. It's also the West Coast game that's part of CBS' regional coverage. Many markets will see Memphis at Louisville.)
Indiana vs. Notre Dame (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Christian Watford and Cody Zeller of the unbeaten Hoosiers collide with forward Jack Cooley of Notre Dame, which bids for its third-straight win in the series after prevailing in 2004 and 2008."
(This game is being played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of the Crossroads Classic.)
Appalachian State at North Carolina (ESPNU, 6 p.m. Eastern)
"UConn transfer Omar Carter leads ASU against John Henson and the rangy Tar Heels."
Syracuse at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Seniors Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine fuel the Orange against sophomores C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown of State. Syracuse joins the Wolfpack in the ACC next season."
Houston vs. Oklahoma (ESPNU, 8 p.m. Eastern)
"Sophomore forwards Alandise Harris and Tyler Neal are players to watch."
(This game is being played at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City as part of the All-College Basketball Classic.)
Alabama vs. Kansas State (ESPNU, 10 p.m. Eastern)
Tide senior JaMychal Green takes on K-State freshman Thomas Gipson at power forward."
(This game is being played in Kansas City.)
New Mexico vs. Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Drew Gordon and LeBryan Nash are forwards in this Mountain West-Big 12 matchup."
(This game is being played at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City as part of the All-College Basketball Classic.)
"The Buckeyes rode Jared Sullinger's 30 points and 19 rebounds to a 79-57 rout of South Carolina last season. Senior forward Malik Cooke fuels coach Darrin Horn's Gamecocks."
Butler vs. Purdue (CBS, 2 p.m. Eastern)
"A rebuilding Butler squad needs big numbers from guard Chrishawn Hopkins, while Purdue counts on the scoring of forward Robbie Hummel. These teams last met in 2006."
(This game is being played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of the Crossroads Classic.)
Temple at Texas (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Owls senior guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore tussle with Texas freshmen Myck Kabongo and Sheldon McClellan. Temple squared the series at 2-2 with a win in the 2001 NCAA tournament."
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (CBS, 4 p.m. Eastern)
"Big men Solomon Hill and Jesse Perry lead the Wildcats against center Robert Sacre and the Zags. These last met in 2008. Arizona leads he series 3-0."
(This one is being played in Seattle. It's also the West Coast game that's part of CBS' regional coverage. Many markets will see Memphis at Louisville.)
Indiana vs. Notre Dame (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Christian Watford and Cody Zeller of the unbeaten Hoosiers collide with forward Jack Cooley of Notre Dame, which bids for its third-straight win in the series after prevailing in 2004 and 2008."
(This game is being played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of the Crossroads Classic.)
Appalachian State at North Carolina (ESPNU, 6 p.m. Eastern)
"UConn transfer Omar Carter leads ASU against John Henson and the rangy Tar Heels."
Syracuse at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Seniors Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine fuel the Orange against sophomores C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown of State. Syracuse joins the Wolfpack in the ACC next season."
Houston vs. Oklahoma (ESPNU, 8 p.m. Eastern)
"Sophomore forwards Alandise Harris and Tyler Neal are players to watch."
(This game is being played at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City as part of the All-College Basketball Classic.)
Alabama vs. Kansas State (ESPNU, 10 p.m. Eastern)
Tide senior JaMychal Green takes on K-State freshman Thomas Gipson at power forward."
(This game is being played in Kansas City.)
New Mexico vs. Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. Eastern)
"Drew Gordon and LeBryan Nash are forwards in this Mountain West-Big 12 matchup."
(This game is being played at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City as part of the All-College Basketball Classic.)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Notable Results From Wednesday, December 14
Iona 88, Richmond 79
The Gaels added to a nice little non-conference resume by beating the Spiders in Richmond. Iona is averaging nearly 88 points per game, in large part thanks to Scott Machado, who many think is the best pure point guard in the country. Machado had 15 assists in this one, bringing his average to 10.9 through the first ten games, a remarkable number in the college game.
Cincinnati 78, Wright State 58
The Bearcats took the first step toward putting last weekend's ugliness behind them by going in to Dayton and hammering the Raiders. Cincy showed no ill effects from being down two starters, jumping out 17-2 on Wright State and never putting the outcome in doubt.
Maryland 65, Florida International 61
Isiah Thomas' Panthers gave Maryland all it could handle in the Comcast Center, but went cold down the stretch and came up just short in their upset bid.
College of Charleston 71, Tennessee 65
The Vols coughed up a 13-point lead on the road.
Ohio State 82, South Carolina-Upstate 58
Throwing this one in here because Jared Sullinger came off the bench to register 12 points and 10 boards in 25 minutes. Sullinger ha missed the last two gamse with back spasms.
The Gaels added to a nice little non-conference resume by beating the Spiders in Richmond. Iona is averaging nearly 88 points per game, in large part thanks to Scott Machado, who many think is the best pure point guard in the country. Machado had 15 assists in this one, bringing his average to 10.9 through the first ten games, a remarkable number in the college game.
Cincinnati 78, Wright State 58
The Bearcats took the first step toward putting last weekend's ugliness behind them by going in to Dayton and hammering the Raiders. Cincy showed no ill effects from being down two starters, jumping out 17-2 on Wright State and never putting the outcome in doubt.
Maryland 65, Florida International 61
Isiah Thomas' Panthers gave Maryland all it could handle in the Comcast Center, but went cold down the stretch and came up just short in their upset bid.
College of Charleston 71, Tennessee 65
The Vols coughed up a 13-point lead on the road.
Ohio State 82, South Carolina-Upstate 58
Throwing this one in here because Jared Sullinger came off the bench to register 12 points and 10 boards in 25 minutes. Sullinger ha missed the last two gamse with back spasms.
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