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Sunday, November 13, 2011

Gator (and Southern) Hoops Blog #6 - Season 2

My Beloved 92 Bloggees:



The Veteran's Day battle between North Carolina and Michigan State on the USS Carl Vinson was a terrific way for the sports world to honor our military. The pre-game including President Obama addressing the brave men and women who defend our country was memorable. I am a firm believer when it comes to honoring these wonderful Americans, one leaves their partisanship at the door and enjoy the experience like I did watching on TV.


Michigan State probably did not enjoy the subsequent 40 minutes losing to North Carolina 67 - 55. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201111110413  I believe I saw a couple of MSU players licking a finger and then putting it up to the wind to determine its direction...like we did when playing on the driveway. That didn't help their 31% overall shooting and just 10% from beyond the arc, 2 for 20. The outside elements did not affect the Spartans' Draymond Green who had 18 rebounds nor the Heels' top two players, Harrison Barnes (17 points) and John Henson (12 points....he is from Tampa, FL....grrrrrr). NEXT





Two future in-state Gator opponents FSU and Jacksonville, played each other on Friday night with the Seminoles coming out on top 79 - 67. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201111110213  Terrance Shannon came off the bench with his 6' 8 220 lb frame achieving a rare double double for a reserve, 15 points and 12 rebounds. Deividas Dulkys and his 16 points also contributed to the Noles' reserves outscoring JU's 42 - 6. Jacksonville still should be a force again in the Atlantic Sun....Gator fans and Samford fans (which I qualify as both) won't forget last year's home upset losses to the Dolphins.

Here is a relevant trivia question ....which two Final Four coaches have been head coach at both FSU and JU? Scroll down to the bottom for the answer. NEXT





Two future out-of-state Gator opponents tangled on Friday night with Florida's next opponent, Ohio State, smashing Wright State 73 - 42. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110443  Not surprisingly, Jared Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. For you wrasslin' fans, it will be like a cage match when Patric Young of Florida goes against Sullinger on Tuesday night. NEXT





With all due respect to current Gator assistant John Pelphrey (with whom I am upset because he did not follow-up on a lead I gave him over the phone that might have helped both the Gator basketball and football programs), Arkansas fans must be ecstatic to see Mike Anderson on the sidelines. I saw the impact he made when he was UAB coach, not just winning but the entertaining way his frenetic teams won during the regular season and at the Big Dance.

Anderson's Razorbacks won their first game on Friday night against South Carolina-Upstate from the Atlantic Sun Conference 83 - 63 . As expected, Marshawn Powell was a force with 6 for 8 shooting for 19 points. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110019

Check out the shot at Pelphrey taken by former Arkansas coach, Nolan Richardson, for whom Anderson had served as an assistant for 17 years, “It’s good to see the energy back in this place.” http://arkansasnews.com/2011/11/12/basketball-anderson-era-begins-with-arkansas-win/  Ouch, babe. NEXT



Former Gator Final Four Coach Lon Kruger had a shaky debut at the helm of the Oklahoma Sooners who barely defeated Idaho State 78 - 74 Friday night http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201111110444  Coming into the game, the Bengals had lost 24 straight against BCS opponents. With that in mind, this slim win seems to indicate that Lon has a lot of work to do in Norman. NEXT






On Friday night, Vanderbilt got off to a solid start with a 78 - 64 win at the "Nashville Dungeon". http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110615  Sweet strokin' John Jenkins led the 'Dores with 24 points on 7 for 16 deep shots. Jeffrey Taylor had a double double for the victors, 21 points and 11 rebounds. Vanderbilt was upset on Sunday which will be discussed in the next blog. NEXT






Last year's Cinderella Final Four participant, VCU, had an opening night win against St. Francis (PA) 63 - 57. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110613  The highlight or should I say lowlight was Shaka Smart's Rams having to overcome the 0 for 12 shooting by one of last year's March heroes, 6' 6 senior Bradford Burgess. He had consistently shot 48 % each of his previous three years for VCU.  NEXT





Look who got his first win as an ACC coach on Friday night. Former Alabama player and head coach, Mark Gottfried, and his NC State Wolfpack defeated UNC-Asheville 84 - 75. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110411  The victors had two players with double-doubles: Richard Howell, 14 points 15 rebounds and DeShawn Pointer coming off the bench, 12 points and 12 boards. You might remember that UNC-Asheville did go dancing last year after winning the Big South Conference tourney. NEXT





Speaking of the Big South, how about a tip of the hat to bloggee Bob, the new AD at Campbell University for the Camels' opening night win over Houston Baptist http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110096j  . Bob seems to have the golden touch, so look for Campbell hoops to begin to rise, just as its 4-year old football program has already done, going 6 - 4 so far this year. http://www.gocamels.com/sports/fball/2011-12/schedule  THAT'S IT.




Enjoy....I don't want to wear you out ...the next blog will include the rest of the action this weekend,




Barry





The trivia answer is Hugh Durham and Joe Williams.

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