Blog # 28

My Beloved 68 Bloggees (Welcome Phillip, one of Birmingham's Finest):

 

 

The Gators suffered a tough home defeat on Saturday to a scrappy South Carolina team. It looked like the Orange and Blue were not aggressive enough especially chasing loose balls...it seemed that their feet were in cement.  After being down by double digits much of the game, they finally clawed back to a tie with a few minutes left. But like it happens frequently, the climb up the mountain wears you out once you reach the peak and the Gators had nothing left in the tank, including at the free throw line. Plus, South Carolina showed tremendous heart, especially Devan Downey, Jr. otherwise known as freshman sensation Bruce Ellington. Enough about that frustrating loss...NEXT

 

 

 

 

Trivia Question. Who is tied for third in the NBA in field goal percentage. Correct, it is Al Horford the former Gator hoopster who now toils for the Atlanta Hawks http://www.nba.com/statistics/index.html with a 56.8 %  accuracy.  On Saturday night Al had a super night in his team's 112 - 106 home loss to the Houston Rockets just missing a triple double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=AkU0qK0yjy3gEKpU1TD3cPOQvLYF?gid=2011011501 .

 

Another former Gator had an eye-opening Saturday evening. Corey Brewer, who has returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves starting lineup, had 23 points and 5 steals (brings back collegiate memories) in his team's home 108 - 99 loss to Billy Donovan's former team for a day, the Orlando Magic. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011011516  NEXT

 

 

 

 

 

I have to give our Norfolk bloggee some "love" by mentioning his Old Dominion Monarchs again. In a previous blog, I indicated they had out-rebounded every team on their schedule. That streak ended Thursday night when Bruiser Flint's Drexel squad outrebounded Old Dominion in its 67 - 52 win over the Monarchs http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101130172. I bring this up because in  ODU's next game on Saturday night at tough Hofstra, 5 - 0 in the Colonial Athletic Association,  the Monarchs got their mojo back and outrebounded the Hempstead, NY school, 48 - 27 in its 75 - 64 victory http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101150252 . That is some board pounding.  Take some notes now for your brackets in March.  NEXT

 

 

 

 

Andre Stringer, the 5' 9 freshman point guard for LSU, was not bashful from long-distance in his first visit to Rupp Arena Saturday in his team's 82 - 44 thrashing by Kentucky http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101150292 . Stringer was 0 - 10 in three-point attempts....I don't think I have ever seen a double-digit bagel for that statistic. He was successful on 3 of his 6 two -point shots for 6 points. By the way, Stringer's other teammates were 3 for 14 on threes for a team 12.5 %. Something tells me LSU will be seeing a lot of zone defense this year. NEXT

 

 

 

 

 

I know one North Carolina alum bloggee joined me in doing a double take when he saw Sunday's score .....struggling Georgia Tech slammed the Tar Heels 78 - 58 with North Carolina shooting less than 28 %. It was their worst shooting percentage in 55 years. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201101160232 .

 

When I was a student at UF a few years ago (let's just say they did not have the shot clock then), we hired Dean Smith assistant, John Lotz (may he rest in peace), to be our hoops coach. He brought with him North Carolina's 4-corner stall offense. If we were up by 2 with 10 minutes left, Lotz would instruct the Gators to hold the ball and believe me, watching the remainder of the game was torture. That was the birth of my anti-Heels feelings and I have never been able to shake them off. Sorry, Carolina Blue.  NEXT

 

 

 

 

It appears that starting Monday through Sunday, all games on the paid subscription NBA League Pass, will be free on your cable or satellite  http://www.indemand.com/sports/nba/ .DISH Network does a poor job in notifying its customers about these free previews. Your cable or satellite provider may be different.  THAT'S IT

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy....tonight I will be seeing Lefty Driesell's son, Chuck, coach Citadel against Samford....should be interesting to see if his antics on the sideline are similar to his dad's,

 

 

 

Barry