Gator (and Southern) Hoops Blog # 5 - Season 2

My Beloved 92 Bloggees (Welcome Jerry, Mark and Bo):


Gulp! That is the way Jackson State might describe the Gator basketball team after last night's 99 - 59 thrashing by Florida.  http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/boxscore.php?gameid=10277

The Gators started out to a scary 41 - 8 lead with virtually all aspects of their game clicking. They cruised the rest of the way to the 40-point victory. Jackson State is a young, inexperienced less-talented team, so it was difficult to learn much about Florida after this game except they are athletic and deep, which are both critical for Billyball's pressure defense to succeed. Also, they are entertaining the way they unselfishly make the extra pass.

The Gators might have the best backcourt in the country with 5 guards who could probably start anywhere. Most everyone knows about scorers Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton after making the Elite Eight last year. Don't forget Scottie Wilbekin might be the nation's top defender at the guard position. Then there is the freshman Bradley Beal who reminds me of Pavlov's dog because watching his all-around play makes you salivate http://www.wisegeek.com/who-was-pavlovs-dog.htm . Finally, Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario, who led the Scarlet Knights in scoring two years ago with over 16 points per game, could be the cherry at the top of the sundae as evidenced by his 19 points in 20 minutes including 5 for 8 from way downtown against Jackson State.

We will know more about the Orange and Blue when they travel to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night in a televised revenge bout against Ohio State and Jared Sullinger. NEXT


Gator transfer 6' 11 Kenny Kadji started for the University of Miami in his debut for new coach Jim Larranaga (from George Mason) with some mixed results in his team's 69 - 58 win over Tennessee Tech. Kadji had a "bagel" in terms of scoring with 0 - 3 from the field. He did snatch 5 rebounds in his 19 minutes. Georgia transfer guard Zach Swansey led the Golden Eagles with 19 points. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110355  NEXT



Gator transfer Eloy Vargas grabbed 8 rebounds and scored 5 points for the number two-ranked Kentucky Wildcats on their way to a 108 - 58 victory over Marist. Kentucky outrebounded their opponent a whopping 50 - 27. Where is Rik Smits when you need him? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rik_Smits

Kentucky flexed their muscles with freshman Anthony Davis leading the way with 8 dunks among his 23 points. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist also represented the highly-touted freshman class with 15 points. Last year's super freshman, Terrence Jones, had 8 points coming off the bench after being involved in an early morning auto accident as a passenger.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110292  Kansas is next on Tuesday. NEXT




The Southern Conference did not fare well against the SEC in three games:

Georgia defeated Wofford 62 - 49. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the 6' 4 highly-recruited freshman guard, led the Bulldogs with 15 points. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110230

In a battle of Carolinas, South defeated Western 75 - 50 in spite of the Gamecocks point guard from last year, Bruce Elkington, busy on the gridiron as wide receiver and wildcat quarterback . http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110525

And the "Cuonzo era" (or post-Pearl era) began in Knoxville where the Volunteers upended UNC-Greeensboro 92 - 73 for their new coach, former Purdue great, Cuonzo Martin. We might have to remember the name of Tennessee sophomore 6' 1 guard Trae Golden who averaged just 3 points a game last year. On Friday night, he scored 29 on 10 of 14 from the field including 4 of 5 from long-range. Golden also contributed 9 assists. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110580  NEXT


Alabama is a team to be feared. All the players seem to have now bought into Anthony Grant's disciplined system and their defense reflects that. The Crimson Tide limited North Florida, the runner-up in last year's Atlantic Sun tourney, to a stifling 23 % shooting, on 13 for 56 in the Alabama 64 - 44 victory. We should get used to the following game recap......JaMychal Green (18 pts) and Tony Mitchell (17 pts) were the top scorers for the Crimson Tide. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110006  NEXT


Auburn looks to be a more dangerous team. With Tony Barbee and his John Calipari pedigree at the helm for his second year, expect much improvement as evidenced by its 84 - 62 win over McNeese State, picked to finish 2nd in the East Division of the Southland conference. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110028  The decisive win even came during an off-shooting night by stud Frankie Sullivan who was just 3 for 12 and 8 points. Texas transfer Veraz Ward is a terrific upgrade at point guard. He began his War Eagle career with 14 points and 5 assists in 25 minutes. NEXT


Duke barely squeezed by Belmont 77 - 76. Austin Rivers, Doc's son who decomitted from Florida, tied for the team lead with 16 points. He was only 3 for 9 from the field and had a team-leading 5 turnovers. The other scoring leader for Duke was another son of a former NBA player, Seth Curry, Dell's son. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111110173  THAT'S IT



Enjoy.....the next blog will continue highlighting this weekend's action,



Barry

Gator (and Southern) Hoops Blog # 4 - Season 2

My Beloved 89 Bloggees (We had some attrition during the offseason...kindly help me get back to triple digits by spreading the word):




In this year's previous blogs we focused on exhibition game upsets. Last Saturday there was a near shocker. UMass Lowell missed a shot at the buzzer to barely fall to the Big East's Providence College 76 - 75  http://www.goriverhawks.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111011aab.html . One of the problems for Providence is they play at the Dunkin Donuts Center....I prefer Krispy Kreme.  http://instantrimshot.com/

Seriously, we will give a pass to the Friars for the close call. Ed Cooley, previously the head coach at Fairfield University, is now at the helm. Gator football fans can identify with first-year growing pains when there is a new leader. NEXT



I remember watching all-SEC Ole Miss guard/forward Elston Turner a few years back (technically it was 1978 - 1981). He played in the NBA and had a fine 8-year pro career followed by 14 years as an NBA assistant coach, including his new gig this year (if there is a this year) with the Phoenix Suns. http://www.nba.com/suns/turner_staff_110714.html .


On Wednesday night, his son, also Elston Turner, scored 16 points for Texas A & M in their 81 - 59 victory over Liberty University. It was Turner's first game as an Aggie after playing two years for the Washington Huskies and then sitting out his transfer year. Elston Turner, because I remember your dad playing, for the first time this season You Make Me Feel Old. NEXT



When I was growing up in Orlando I used to go to all the Rollins College Tars basketball games with bloggee Jim . In fact their big rival was the Stetson University Hatters with their legendary coach, bloggee Dr. Glenn.

Last week Division II Rollins played a pickup game against current and former Orlando Magic players (because of the NBA lockout) and defeated the pros 101 - 92. Be sure to watch the 2-minute video report of this game at http://www.rollinssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92649&SPID=11254&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=19500&ATCLID=205327702  Go Tars!

By the way, former Gator walk-on, Kyle McClanahan has transferred to Rollins and will play on their hoops squad next year when he will be on scholarship. McClanahan is from the metro Orlando area. THAT'S IT



Enjoy.....Florida opens tonight at 6:00 CST against Jackson State (ranked 287 out of 345 in the Sagarin Computer Rankings) coached by Tevester Anderson, former assistant at Auburn and Georgia...the game is on Fox Sports Net Florida, Channel 634 on DirecTV, Channel 423 on Dish Network and if you live in a state that does not have an SEC school, you can view it online at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/#type/livenow/  ....many other teams start their regular season schedule today and tomorrow....love this time of year,




Barry

Gator (and Southern) Hoops Blog # 3 - Season 2 (with a little bit of football)

My Beloved 89 Bloggees (Welcome Steve, David, Justin, Jeffrey, Ellen and Adam):



With college basketball's regular season not yet in full gear, let's continue from the last blog and look at some more upsets in exhibition games. I usually emphasize hoops in the South, but I will stray a bit this time.



It has not been a good week for the Nutt family. First, Houston Nutt is asked to resign from the head coaching job at Ole Miss. Then on Monday brother Dicky Nutt, the head coach at Division I Southeast Missouri State (known as SEMO in the Ohio Valley Conference), lost 68 - 63 in an exhibition game to Division II Harding University.  http://www.hardingsports.com/news/2011/11/7/MBB_1107111804.aspx


Remember in March 2008 when talented Drake University suffered a loss in the first round of March Madness on a buzzer-beater to Western Kentucky (and current South Carolina coach Darrin Horn).   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOzyE_S5AY What a difference a few years make. Last Saturday, Drake was beaten by Division II Quincy University 84 - 74  http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111105/SPORTS/311050062/Drake-men-s-basketball-Scant-Bulldogs-upset-by-Quincy


Florida Gator opponent on Nov. 21st, Wright State from the tough mid-major Horizon League (which includes Butler), was upset on Saturday by Division II Central State 56 - 50.  http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2011/11/06/wright_state_coach_on_loss_to.html I had originally thought Wright State could be a tough game for the Gators with their 5th place conference finish last year, but scratch that after this loss and the pre-season 8th place prediction for the Raiders.


There was another upset in an exhibition game that did not get much ink. Last Friday night West Virginia lost to Division II Northern Kentucky at the buzzer on a three-pointer 77 - 74.  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/11/05/nku.wvu.exhibition.ap/index.htm Would you have liked to have been in the locker room after the game listening to the mild-mannered coach of West Virginia, Bob Huggins, address the team?


The University of Utah lost to Division II Adams St. 61 - 60 also last Friday night.  http://www.ksl.com/?sid=17959633&nid=635&title=utah-falls-to-div-ii-adams-state . Pac-12 teams must be salivating after seeing this score of their new league member. New Running Utes Coach, Larry Krystkowiak, has a tough gig with only 4 returning players after 8 left the team when Jim Boylen was fired earlier this year.   http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=teamreports-2011-ncaab-uae NEXT


To football,........beginning in 1973. I became an Oakland Raiders fan, primarily because most of my college buddies were from Miami (like bloggee Steve ) and the Raiders were the only team that could beat the Dolphins. I developed a love affair with the Silver and Black and some of their stars like Kenny Stabler, Anthony Davis, Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Plunkett, Ted Hendricks, Willie Brown, Cliff Branch and two of my three favorite running backs to ever play at Colgate, Marv Hubbard and Mark van Eeghan (the third being bloggee Joe). I even went to the "Marcus Allen" 1984 Super Bowl in Tampa with bloggee Charlie when they beat the Washington Redskins 38 - 9 and Allen ran for 191 yards including a 74-yard TD scamper.

So, I have been a diehard Raider fan for 38 years. This past Sunday was the first time since 1973 that I rooted against them when Denver and my fellow UF alumnus, Tim Tebow, defeated the Raiders 38 - 24. It was the POWER OF TEBOW which trumped the long-time allegiance I had for the Raiders. NEXT



Sadly, bloggee Irby passed away last week. He fought an unbelievably courageous 3-year battle against cancer. I wish you all had a chance to know this special guy. Attending Samford and UAB basketball games will never be the same. I usually end the blogs with the closing, Enjoy, but that is surely not appropriate this time. THAT'S IT




Barry