Blog # 8

My beloved 17 Bloggees  

 

I was in Orlando coincidentally this week from Wednesday morning until Thursday afternoon for a short family get-together. The Gators were playing UCF that night in town. Unless I wanted to jeopardize inheritance, there was no way I could go to the game. You talk about things working out. We had a great meal at an amazing restaurant, Seasons 52, and I did not have to witness our disappointing loss except for the last 5 minutes on TV.

 

The season is early and with our talent, I am hoping that Billy and the guys will get it together. Remember we lost to a poor South Alabama team last year and still made it to the Dance. That UCF team was much better than South Alabama was, so no need to jump out of buildings, yet.

 

 

In the meantime, I had to do a double take when I looked at my fantasy NBA team (consisting of all Gators) Wednesday night and saw that Joakim Noah played 22 minutes and had 16 points.....and ZERO REBOUNDS. Are you kidding me? He is second in the league in rebounding, and could not get a single ricochet? http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=301201004  I thought that maybe on this weird basketball night, Steve Nash might not have gotten an assist, but the Suns did not play.

 

 

We might want to try to lobby for a change in the SEC hoops schedule this winter and let the SEC East teams play the SEC West teams twice.  Mississippi State lost at home to one of our earlier victims, Florida Atlantic, this week 61 - 59. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011300366   Also, Ole Miss outscored the U in the second half by 17 and still lost 86 - 73 to the Hurricanes!  Yes, if you do the math (FSU alumni blogees get a pass), you can tell Ole Miss was down by 30 after 20 minutes! We are already know about Alabama, Auburn and LSU's woes from previous blogs....all that is left is Arkansas who lost at home to a perennially ok UAB team.  Bring on the West.

 

 

Just in Jaise you were wondering...Jai Lucas is still laying eggs in Texas. In his last game against Lamar, he played 26 minutes, went 2 for 8 from the field, including 0 for 4 from downtown, 2 for 4 from the free throw line and 5 turnovers. Maybe Dan Werner was contagious. (Just kidding, Dan, but I do see there is something about you regarding your Italian team, however, I don't speak the language. Can someone translate the reference to Dan in this site http://www.corrieredellosport.it/legadue/2010/11/25-141174/Scafati,+via+Fattori: andrà+a+Pistoia? ?)

 

 

Go Gators and beat American on Sunday,

 

 

 

Barry

 

Blog # 7

My beloved 14 Bloggees:

A hoops win over the Seminoles in Tallahassee sure takes a lot of the sting out of the football loss. It also certainly helps our "body of work" when it comes to the NCAA Selection Committee. I will be curious to see how the Seminoles do against Ohio State tonight.

Florida's next opponent is undefeated UCF in the Magic's new arena this Wednesday. In their last win against Alabama State, 84 - 48,  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011270103 Marcus "Son Of Michael" Jordan scored 18 points in 19 minutes including 4 for 6 from "way downtown".  Don't forget that UCF is led by former UF and Donovan assistant Donnie Jones.  That should be an interesting evening. By the way, UCF's AD is former Gator tight end, Keith Tribble.

On Sunday, the Gator hoopsters go to DC to play American University who lost their first game on Sunday at home to Ivy League's Columbia 64 - 62. Our only common opponent has been Florida Atlantic who we beat at home by 13, while American beat them in Boca Raton, by 10. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/aan/schedule  American has a three-point shooter, Troy Brewer, who is a transfer from University of Georgia. I don't remember him, but that makes sense as he only averaged 2 points a game over two years in Athens. He is not related to Corey.

Jacksonville University showed what they are made of again, beating Auburn on the road  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011270028   69 - 55 .  Just like when I witnessed them on Wednesday beating Samford, they forced over 20 turnovers with their tenacious defense. I like this team a lot and am especially worried  about how the turnover-prone backcourt of the Gators will handle their pressure on December 20th.

On Page 68 of the Nov. 29th Issue of ESPN THE Magazine it lists the highest-scoring NBA player born in each state. For example, for Georgia, it lists Dale Ellis, the ex-Vols star who had 19,004 points in his NBA career.  Two Gators are listed, can you name them and the two states? I will put the answers at the end of this email. Hint, they are both still active in the NBA. By the way, it lists only players born in 49 states...evidently the Green Mountain State of Vermont has not produced any NBA players...how strange is that? 

Remember when Alabama lost 50 - 49 to St. Peter's last week in the consolation round of a holiday tournament. I didn't realize how poor St. Peter's had been playing. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/sby/schedule  They were previously smothered by Robert Morris 55 -30. And last night they lost by 20 to Seton Hall 69 - 49. This doesn't say a whole lot about Anthony Grant's Bama squad. The SEC West in hoops is going to resemble the SEC East in football.

Enjoy and let's beat the improved Knights tomorrow night in my hometown, the City Beautiful, the home to 70's local sports broadcasting legends, Frank Vaught, Don Jonas and Tracy Dent,


Barry
(scroll down for quiz answers)








Mike Miller -  South Dakota
Matt Bonner - New Hampshire

Blog # 6 with some Football

My beloved 14 Bloggees...we added one....keep 'em coming,

 

 

This week I went to scout our December 20th opponent, Jacksonville University who played at Samford and beat them 60 - 49. http://samfordsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2010-2011/sam1124.html I have some bad news for Gator fans. The Dolphins are the type of team that will give us problems. They are excellent, in-your-face athletic defenders that created 21 turnovers, 14 of them being steals. Not only do they defend around the basket, but they were excellent defending around the perimeter. They play Auburn this weekend....I have seen them both, take the JU Dolphins.

 

 

It looks like our opponent on December 22nd will be a gimme. Radford is 2-2 with their wins against Ann Landers U and Nancy Drew State (Emory and Henry & Methodist). When they played South Carolina and George Mason they lost 85 - 56 and 81 - 55 respectively. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/raa/schedule  However, we can't forget last year's South Alabama's upset in front of the Rowdy Reptiles.

 

 

Baylor only beat Lipscomb by 12. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011220050 . It was a battle of head coaches whose fathers were also head coaches. We know that Scott Drew is the son of Valpariso legend, Homer Drew. Which former SEC head coach's son leads Lipscomb? ............."The Man in Plaid", Wimp Sanderson, whose son, Scott, coaches the Nashville school.

 

 

 

Udonis Haslem is likely out for the year. http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20101123/ARTICLES/101129813/1136?Title=Haslem-8217-s-season-may-be-over .   He is such a warrior on the court and will be sorely missed by the Heat's Big Three. A lot of people tell me that they can't watch the NBA, however, I tune in whenever I get a chance to see Haslem and the Heat play.  I will never forget Haslem's clutch free throws in the last minute of the miracle NCAA win against Butler in 2000....it made Mike Miller's historical shot relevant.

 

 

 

Either Georgia is bad or BYU is great......Miss Valley State only lost 72 - 70  at Georgia but lost 86 - 36 at BYU. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/mbe/schedule

 

 

 

Either  Wake Forest is bad or Belmont is great.......Winthrop won at Wake Forest  83 - 74 but lost to Belmont  71 - 44. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/way/schedule

 

 

 

We'll finish off with some pigskin NFL Gator news. Jarvis Moss, who changed all of our lives with his blocked field goal against South Carolina in National Championship Season # 2, was a bust with Denver after being drafted in the first round. He was waived recently by the Broncos but picked up by my Raiders, with the help of a recommendation by Louis Murphy http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/jarvis-moss-joins-raiders-as-de-after-getting-glowing-recommenda/

 

 

 

Here is a name from the recent past. Kestahn Moore, whose critical fumbles at LSU still "Bucknerize" Gator fans, signed onto the practice squad with the Washington Redskins. http://www.footballnewsnow.com/2010/redskins-have-busy-tuesday-shuffling-roster/

 

 

 

Earlier in the month, the San Francisco 49ers signed DeShawn Wynn to their practices squad. http://www.footballnewsnow.com/2010/49ers-sign-receiver-and-running-back-release-two/  I looked up the word "underachiever" in the dictionary and there was DeShawn's picture. What talent he had in Gainesville, but apparently without a valentine pumping underneath the numbers. Let's hope he turns it around in the Bay area...we know that Mike Singletary only puts up with 100 % effort.

 

 

FYI, the weather is miserable in Birmingham this morning, cold and rainy. That means it will be the same in nearby Tuscaloosa for today's Iron Bowl. The good news is that if we can't beat the Tide, at least we can enjoy their fans being miserable. Go Cam!

 

 

 

Enjoy and Beat FSU Saturday and Sunday,

 

 

 

Barry

 

Blog # 5

My beloved 13 and holding opt-in Gator Hoops Blogees:

Many of you know I have had season tickets to nearby Samford University. On Friday, I went to Auburn to see Samford play the War Eagles. Folks, it wasn't even close...Auburn's defense is quite poor and Samford won 79 - 68, its first win against a BCS school in over 10 years. http://samfordsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112010aaa.html . The Gators play in Auburn on January 20th....I am pretty confident, you can mark that in the W column for the Water Lizzards.

Ohio State is pretty good as we know by their second half against us. Here is another reason. Comparative scores don't always tell the true story, however, the Gators 17 - point victim on opening night, NC-Wilmington, lost at Ohio State over the weekend by 40, including being down by 32 at half. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011200443

It could be a sour New Year's Eve...the champagne might taste a little off after the Gators go to Cincy and battle a tough Xavier team. Remember how they spanked us last year in Gainesville. They are starting off like gangbusters 4-0 including a recent win over the Tidebusters, tough Seton Hall.  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011210508

Guess who is 5 -0? Our old SEC foe, Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Gophers http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/mbd/schedule . Ralph Sampson Jr. has led them to victories over West Virginia and North Carolina (even with the 'Heels freshman pre-season All-American, Harrison Barnes who might be a tad OVERRATED with his 36 per cent shooting percentage) http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/teams/nav/stats

Speaking of beating North Carolina, Vandy got it done yesterday against the 'Heels  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011210615 . I am not looking forward to our annual trip to the Nashville dungeon....this year, it is our regular season finale.

My warning in the last blog about Morehead State and their star was legitimate after watching the Gators play them last night  "I used to see them play Samford when they were in the OVC three years ago. I remember their stud, Kenneth Faried, from when he as a freshman....he is a double-double physical guy."  He proved how special he was with an impressive double-double, including 14 rebounds in the second half. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011210210 . Billy compared him to Dennis Rodman, which on the court is a heckuva compliment. The Gators were fortunate to come away with the W.

Ouch, in a matinee today, Anthony Grant and the Tide just lost to the St. Peter's Peacocks 50 - 49 even though St. Peter's only got 19 rebounds for the game. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011220543 . Fortunately for Anthony, that loss will be buried in the latter pages of the Birmingham sports section during this Iron Bowl Week.

Gators play former St. Johns coach, Mike Jarvis and Florida Atlantic on Tuesday night. We need to get our mojo back before going to Tallahassee on Sunday night. 

Enjoy and Go Gators!

Barry

Blog # 4

My beloved 13 Bloggees:

Two tall high school seniors, Willy Kouassi, a lean 6-foot-10 center, and Bernard Morena, a rangy 6-8 small forward, both from the Ivory Coast attending Birmingham's basketball high school power, Central Park Christian (Alabama's Tony Mitchell and former Tide star, Rod Grizzard are graduates) are apparently a package deal. From what I was told, Florida stayed away because the Gators just wanted one of the players. They both have committed to Auburn but have not signed.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/auburn_mens_basketball_lands_w.html

When an ACC team loses to an Ivy League, it is worth mentioning. On Thursday night, Boston College with its new coach, Steve Donahue, was upset at home by Yale  75 - 67. You may remember Donahue, from last year's Sweet Sixteen darling, Cornell.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011180058

The Gators play 3rd ranked Kansas State on December 18 in the Orange Bowl Classic. There may be hope. Kansas State only beat the Blue Hose of Presbyterian 76 - 67 on Thursday night. By the way, I love the nickname for Kansas State's city, Manhattan, Kansas....the Little Apple.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011180288

When you sell a stock, it is a good feeling to see it subsequently go down. Gator transfer Jai Lucas last night for Texas, played 16 minutes with zero assists and  0 for 2 from the field in the overtime win against the Zookers of Illinois. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011180585

What are these two guys doing in the NBDL, the minor leagues of the NBA? When I saw these SEC stars play against the Gators, they seemed to be "can't miss" NBAers? http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/

Chris Lofton (TN)

Patrick Patterson (KY...almost a Gator)

By the way, our old friend who we will never forget inbounding, or should I say not inbounding, the ball against Creighton in the waning seconds of the second overtime of the first round NCAA tourney loss in 2002, Orien Greene, is in the NBDL. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/recaps/2002/03/15/fak_cbt/

For some crazy blackout reason, I was not able to watch the Gators game last night on Sun Sports Network with my DISH satellite. This Sunday, the game against Phil Simms and Morehead State, is on Fox Sport South, so I should be able to see it. They recently lost to our first game victim, NC Wilmington, by two points. I used to see them play Samford when they were in the OVC three years ago. I remember their stud, Kenneth Faried, from when he as a freshman....he is a double-double physical guy. Go get 'em, Patric!

Enjoy and Go Gators,

Barry

Blog # 3

My beloved 13 Bloggees....welcome to Gainesville Sun Gator Hoops beat writer Kevin Brockway who recently joined us. Be sure to regularly go to http://brockway.blogs.gatorsports.com/ to read his excellent Gator Hoops skinny.

No comment on the Gators meltdown in the second half after a super first half against 4th ranked Ohio State....there are plenty of message boards addressing that situation. That is not the purpose of this blog which attempts to let you know about relevant info related to basketball in the South with an emphasis on Gators, ex-Gators and graduated Gators...info that was interesting to me when I discovered it. I will keep the blog short like this one and will include links in case you want to see more about each topic.

"Studio Gangster" ....I never heard of it until Udonis Haslem enlightened me when describing Celtic Paul Pierce. http://www.celticstown.com/2010/11/12/haslem-calls-pierce-studio-gangster-rivalry-brewing/

The SEC is looking worse and worse....LSU losing at home to Ann Landers U, I mean Nichols State 62 - 53  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011160319

It is not the SEC, but it is in the Region....Kennesaw State smashed Georgia Tech 80 - 63. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011151374 . Kennesaw State's coach, Tony Ingle, must be a character or the Birmingham Tipoff Club would not have invited him to speak this January.

Remember when Stetson beat Wake Forest last week.....well the Hatters turned around and lost at Bethune Cookman 78 -66 and it wasn't even that close  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011160052

Meanwhile Wake Forest lost at home 90 - 69 to VCU and its former UF assistant coach (for one year) Shaka Smart. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201011160628 . Anthony Grant left the VCU program in pretty good shape, it appears. Speaking of Grant, although it is difficult for me living here in Birmingham, I root for the Tide hoopsters because of the classy Grant.

Anytime you don't want to receive this Blog anymore, just reply "no more, thanks" and I will not be insulted. Feel free to forward to others or give me their email address and I will include them in the future.

I always encourage your feedback through replying to this email. It is also a great way for us to keep in touch.

Enjoy and Go Gators,

Barry

Blog # 2

My beloved 12 opt-in Gator Hoops Blogees,

 

Matt Bonner....wow!  7 for 7 from downtown last night. No wonder the Spurs keep him each year even though he is a matador on defense. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010111425

 

David Lee's take on Noah beofre last week's Golden State-Chicago game.....hilarious, especially about Noah going shirtless to class. http://progators.blogs.gatorsports.com/10935/noah-was-flamboyant-freshman-lee-recalls/

 

Decent game for Texas transfer Jai Lucas...8 points in 14 minutes...but he doesn't start  and had 3 fouls http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011100585

 

Be sure to tape (or watch live) the Gator Hoops team against Ohio State tomorrow night.....6 Eastern on ESPN.  Reminds me of the Passover night National Championship game in Atlanta. That was great.....Matzah ball soup, Dayenu  and the 4 Questions at the Wiesenfelds and then MARTA to our second consecutive National Champion with the '04s.Will never forget it. Thanks, Neil.

 

Ohio State is supposed to have a beast in certain one and done freshman Jared Sullinger, a 6 foot 9, 280 pounder.  http://ohiostate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=content.asp&cid=1148334&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=

The Buckeyes are friggin' loaded with bulk, like Sullinger and Houston Palm Beach, I mean Dallas Lauderdale.

 

Here is a super Question and Answer exchange with Billy and Yahoo Sports....interesting fact about his recruiting of Mike Miller......also note what he says about Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=AuOvbW34gKr4HKcffpullorevbYF?slug=jn-donovan111510

 

Speaking of Rutgers transfers, how about Jonathan Mitchell and his 1 for 11 shooting in a loss to Princeton....he did have 8 rebounds  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011120471

 

Many of you know, when the Gators lose in football, I can't read about it nor talk about it. It is like when your girlfriend dumps you (don't worry, my wife knows about it...the Gator loss that is). So the only football-related item I will mention is because of injuries, the Indianapolis Colts activated Brandon James who had 4 catches for 36 yards and 2 punt returns for 5 yards. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20101114011

 

Enjoy and Go Gators,

 

 

Barry