Blog # 31 with some Football and Baseball

My Beloved 72 Bloggees (Welcome Pete and Terry):

 

 

Routine win by the Gators against Auburn on Thursday night 45 -40 http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=19615 . Seriously, watching that game gave me that empty feeling that you get when you look in the rear view mirror and see a police officer's car on your tail and lights flashing (not you, bloggee Birmingham Police Officer Phil) . We can't lose to Auburn! In a previous blog I committed to tearing up my UF diploma if we lost. I had my paper shredder ready with less than two minutes left.......but finally, Kenny Boynton nailed a "had-to-have" three to tie and then Erving Walker duplicated the feat on the next possession giving us a three-point lead, virtually clinching the road SEC win.

 

After the game, I decided who should be the MVP of the SEC this year....medical redshirt,.Frankie Sullivan. The Auburn star only played a couple of games this year with that offensively-challenged (and that is an understatement) team. But while he played, that team did beat FSU who within a week went on to beat Duke. After watching last night's game, can you think of another player who was more valuable to his team than what Sullivan must have been when he played this year? NEXT

 

 

 

 

I love reliable sharpshooters in the SEC. With the three-point shot, they can keep you in most games. I think back to guys like LSU's Chris Jackson (now known as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf...would you believe the 41-year old is still playing hoops in Japan http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20101011eo.html ), Tennessee's Chris Lofton (with the Iowa Energy of the NBDL) and the Gators'  Lee Humphrey (playing in Germany) who had ice in their veins when their team needed a three.

 

Vanderbilt's John Jenkins currently fits that mold. Last year as a freshman, he shot 48.3 per cent beyond the arc. This year he is down a bit to a respectable 41.3 per cent, but Wednesday night he was 4 for 5 as Vandy defeated Ole Miss,  84 -74. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101190615  I fear him when the Gators play the 'Dores especially in their mausoleum, I mean, gymnasium. Here is a short interview with Jenkins. http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110120/ARTICLES/110129932/1093?Title=Q-A-with-Vanderbilt-s-John-Jenkins  NEXT

 

 

 

 

As our Birmingham attorney/frequent sports talk show co-host bloggee John warned me, then 15 - 0 Cincinnati will soon start acting like pregnant hens and lay some eggs. They have done just that, losing 3 out of 4, including Wednesday night to Notre Dame 66 - 58 (even though Miss St. transfer, Ben Hansborough, went 1 for 8 for the Irish...but did shoot 11 for 12 from the gift lane).   http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101190423 . The Bearcats' November and December "Little Debbies" schedule is catching up to them. It reminds me of the Gators frequent pre-conference schedule of High Point, Longwood, FAMU and Georgia Southern before they received the "toughen it up" edict by the best conference commissioner in the history of collegiate sports, Mike Slive. NEXT

 

 

 

 

Turning to football, do you think Auburn Nation is not doing somersaults after seeing the title of this story regarding new Michigan Offensive Coordinator, Al Borges. http://www.freep.com/article/20110119/SPORTS06/110119089/1433/Michigans-Al-Borges-This-is-the-best-place-Ive-been  If you remember, he was the Offensive Coordinator for Auburn from 2004 - 2007, reaching a peak during the Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Jason Campbell undefeated 2004 season. NEXT

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Orlando bloggee Scott for informing me about the subject of the next "episode" of our blog regular feature, You Make Me Feel Old. I remember when Jim Yarbrough was a giant tight end for the Gators in the late 60's and then went on to the Detroit Lions for a nine-year career as an offensive tackle http://www.gatorcountry.com/swampgas/showthread.php?t=174940 (long-time Gator football fans will love the pictures in that link).

 

My high school from Orlando, Edgewater (in the late 60's featured Orlando's greatest high school football player ever, former Gator, Eddy Moore), just hired 30-year old Zac Yarbrough, Jim's son,  to be its new football coach.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-01-20/sports/os-hs-edgewater-hires-coach-20110120_1_jeff-gierke-bill-gierke-edgewater-athletic-director  Zac, You Make Me Feel Old. NEXT

 

 

 

There are three football games on television this weekend involving former Gator players (the following format is a tribute to the late public address announcer of the New York Yankees, Bob Sheppard) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhrVnoISIkE&playnext=1&list=PL407A335AFA32CD39&index=64  :

 

1. East-West Shrine Game on NFL Network, Saturday, 3:00 pm CST -  "Playing for the East, Defensive End, Number 84, Justin Trattou, Number 84"

 

2.  NFC Championship Game on Fox Network, Sunday, 2:00 pm CST - "Playing for the Chicago Bears, Defensive Back, Number 27, Major Wright, Number 27"

 

3. AFC Championship Game on CBS Network, Sunday, 5:30 pm CST - "Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Center,  Number 53, Maurkice Pouncey, Number 53.

 

Have I been in Siberia for the last few years? I always thought the East-West Shrine Game was played in San Francisco, going back to when I was a kid. What is up with the game being played in my hometown, Orlando, Florida? Well, it has been moved to other cities beginning in 2006 in San Antonio http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6356676.html .  THAT'S IT.

 

 

 

Enjoy.....Florida, let's beat Arkansas on Fox Sports Net South at 7:00 CST (blacked out in Southeast on http://www.espn3.com/) and Samford, let's get back to winning ways at Wofford today...don't forget NBA League Pass is free through tomorrow on most cable and satellite systems,

 

 

 

Barry

Blog # 30

My Beloved 70 Bloggees (Welcome Levi):

 

 

 

Our Spartanburg, SC and Tar Heel alumnus bloggee pointed out an amazing fact that was new to me about the Clemson - North Carolina basketball rivalry. Clemson has visited Chapel Hill 55 times and the Tigers have NEVER won. That is right, Clemson has never won at North Carolina including Tuesday night's 75 - 65 Tar Heel victory. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/577642-unc-basketball-clemson-tigers-lose-55th-in-a-row-to-tar-heels-in-chapel-hill

 

Think about some former Clemson players....Tree Rollins, Horace Grant, Larry Nance, Elden Campbell, Dale Davis . How about some of coaches who have been at the helm in Greenville....Tates Locke, Cliff Ellis, Press Maravich, Rick Barnes, UF assistant Larry Shyatt. Not one time could they muster 40 effective minutes for a road victory against Carolina Blue? As legendary coach and broadcaster Al McGuire used to say, "Holy Mackerel". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fz4hhpFoE&NR=1  NEXT

 

 

 

 

Speaking of McGuire, I will never forget the only time I saw him in person. It was at the old Jacksonville Coliseum in December 1976 when the Gators played Marquette in the Big Sun Tournament. When he first appeared from the Warriors' dressing room, he gave off an "aura of charisma" just by his presence. I have only felt it one other time while sitting in an audience.

 

I once saw Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas and his aura had that same impact on me. It is not just fame, it is someone who exudes class that nearly knocks you off your feet. But back to hoops, did or does anyone in the basketball world have that effect on you? I would be curious to hear and without mentioning your name, I will include the "serious" responses in a future blog.  NEXT

 

 

 

 

With my apologies to our Wake Forest alum bloggees, it is tough to see one's team score less than 40 points in a game and almost get doubled. That happened to the Demon Deacons Wednesday night at Georgia Tech 74 - 39 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201101190232 . To add salt to the wound, consider that they only scored 13 points in the second half and had no one in double figures. This proud program should rebound but the growing pains under new  coach Jeff "Scrabble" Bzdelik reminds me of Auburn this year under their first-year coach, Tony Barbee. NEXT

 

 

 

 

 

Is it just me or do you also find  it unusual to see a team gather 16 offensive rebounds but only score 18 field goals in that game (can you say "put back")? Plus they won the game. That happened Wednesday night with FSU in the battle of UF in-state rivals, when the Noles nipped Miami 55 - 53. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101190355  The Seminoles stud, Chris Singleton, shot 2 for 13, including 0 for 3 from way back. In fact, both teams shot no better than 34 %----23% from three-point land. With over 40 fouls committed, I will just assume it was an ugly defensive battle that I am glad I missed. However, FSU's win does help its early season conquerors, UF.  NEXT

 

 

 

 

 

Because I only attended University of Texas for a 12-month graduate program, I don't have the passion toward the Longhorns as I do toward the Orange and Blue. However, the year I was there, they won the NIT which was relevant back then. Long-time San Antonino Spurs' Johnny Moore  was the starting point guard http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/moorejo01.html . Abe Lemons was the coach and he was an amazing personality. I will never forget this scene on his Coach's Show.

 

The SWC title hopes of the UT men's basketball team apparently had been derailed by a loss to Baylor. .
But when No. 1-ranked Arkansas was later upset by Houston, the Horns were granted new life. To vividly illustrate that point, Lemons opened his weekly TV show lying in a casket, dressed in black and holding a flower. Lemons then popped up and proclaimed, "We're not dead yet!"

Back to the Longhorns....in Wednesday night's 81 - 60 thrashing of  Texas A & M they had a statistic that makes all Gator basketball fans (along with others) envious http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101190585 . The Horns' were successful on 19 of 22 free throws for 86 %. If I were Billy Donovan, I would be placing a call to the Horns'  Rick Barnes and ask how did they do it?
By the way, I couldn't help but notice that Gator transfer, Jai Lucas, played 15 minutes with 1 assist and 1 field goal attempt that was missed along with 2 personal fouls. THAT'S IT.


Enjoy and good luck to the Gators against Auburn tonight along with Samford facing the Gamecock killers, Furman,

Barry


P.S. I sent out blogs on back to back days again. Darn. As always, feel free to reply with "you wore me out" and I will take you off the list. Believe me, I won't be insulted.

 

 

 

 

 

Blog # 29

My Beloved 69 Bloggees (Welcome Tom):

 

 

Anthony Grant, you made us proud.  With an undermanned team, you toppled the talented Wildcats of Kentucky 68 - 66. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201101180006  Grant's emphasis on defense and rebounding paid off.....Kentucky only shot 38 % and the Tide outrebounded the Wildcats 37 - 29. If Anthony Grant were a stock, he would be a strong buy. (Speaking of stocks, many of you know about my first cousin's profitable company Chembio Diagnostics, symbol CEMI....at 45 cents. I know nothing except they announced that other companies are looking to buy them and they have patented technology that enables them to offer more efficient rapid testing of diseases such as HIV and syphilis.) Pardon the diversion, back to hoops.

 

Don't forget to look in the box score above for Gator transfer Eloy Vargas's three minutes with just a turnover for Kentucky. Plus, prized recruit Stacey Poole Jr., son of the former Gator hoopster, had the same impact on the game for the Wildcats as I did watching it on TV at home. http://www.nationofblue.com/stacey-poole-working-harder-4718/   NEXT

 

 

 

 

Gator basketball followers may need to put on a bib before reading the following excerpt from http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/article_8f10c206-21e9-11e0-b81b-00127992bc8b.html  regarding 2011 - 2012 signee Bradley Beal:

 

Elsewhere, Chaminade senior shooting guard Bradley Beal had another big week.

 

The University of Florida signee scored 101 points in three games to lead the Red Devils to the championship at the Kirkwood Tournament. In the title game, he scored 36 points and knocked down seven 3-pointers in an 86-47 win over host Kirkwood.

On Sunday, USA Basketball announced that Beal was selected to its 10-member 2011 USA Junior National Select Team that will compete against a team of international all-stars in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland on April 9.
Beal's St. Louis Chaminade high school team is ranked 24th in country according to USA Today  http://www.highschoolsports.net/super25/bbasketball/   NEXT


Now for the depressing part of the blog, You Make Me Feel Old. It seemed like just yesterday when the Golden State Warriors' Run TMC consisting of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin were the vogue triplets in the NBA. Sadly, they last played together in 1991. Well, 20 years later, the University of Michigan starts 6' 5 Tim Hardaway, Jr. who averages just over 11 points a game.  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/97332   Tim Jr., You Make Me Feel Old .  NEXT


How tight is the SEC East? If Vandy beats Ole Miss and South Carolina loses to Arkansas on Wednesday and on Thursday the Gators lose to Auburn (if they do, I will tear up my UF diploma), then all 6 teams will be tied for first. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/standings  Tuesday night's buzzer-beater win by Tennessee at Georgia helped tighten up the pack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlbgLhL1ODw   NEXT


In the battle of "Do you know a good real estate agent?", Jeff Capel's  9 - 9 Oklahoma squad defeated Pat Knight's 8 - 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders 83 - 74 on Tuesday night. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201101180444  Just because your dad can coach, doesn't mean that you inherited those genes. The past two seasons for the offspring of former Old Dominion coach, Jeff Capel II, and legendary Indiana and Texas Tech coach, Bobby Knight, has been ugly and could get worse. The following two links discuss their fate. http://newsok.com/3-factors-are-in-capels-favor/article/3533016   http://www.searchingforbillyedelin.com/2011/1/12/1931384/what-is-pat-knights-future-with-texas-tech  Of course, you can expect these two schools to go on big winning streaks after this blog story. NEXT


A quick NBA note. Al Horford swatted 7 shots in the Hawks 100 - 98 win over Sacramento on Monday afternoon. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011011701  He also had 23 points on 10 for 16 shooting along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. That type of stat-stuffing performance surely helps one's Gator-laden fantasy team. Thanks, Al.  THAT'S IT


Enjoy....don't forget the Gators play against Auburn on ESPN at 6:00 pm CST on Thursday night...kindly spread the word about the blog to your fellow college basketball junkies,


Barry

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