My Beloved 95 Bloggees:
Florida dug themselves a 16-point second half hole last night in a 81 - 74 road loss to 3rd-ranked Ohio State http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=21806 . The stats for the game were basically even for the two teams except free throws and turnovers. Florida was 13 for 21 while Ohio State was 27 for 34 from the charity stripe. Also, Florida had 16 turnovers (not terrible) but Ohio State just had 7.
I remember former broadcaster and Marquette coach, the late Al McGuire, used to say, "You cut the head off, you kill the body." If the Gators play Ohio State again, I would encourage that Florida give more minutes to shut-down defender Scottie Wilbekin and put him on Buckeye point guard Aaron Craft. During the short periods when that happened last night, Wilbekin gave Craft fits. Florida would sacrifice some offense but it would be more than offset by Ohio State being out of sync.
Gator center, Patric Young, certainly held he own against Ohio State's Player of the Year candidate, Jared Sullinger. Young outrebounded Sullinger 12 to 6 and was only outscored 16 to 14. That is a tremendous sign for the Orange and Blue, but more scoring needs to come from frontcourt reserves. NEXT
There were a couple worse losses by SEC teams on Tuesday night. LSU lost for the second straight year to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, this time on the road 71 - 63 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150122 . Don't forget Coastal Carolina's head coach is the country music crooner and former head coach at South Alabama, Clemson and Auburn, Cliff Ellis.
The game was supposed to celebrate the opening of Coastal Carolina's new arena but construction was delayed. So they played in a 1,039 seating facility on campus. Of course it sold out. Back to the play on the court, the Chanticleers outrebounded their SEC opponent, 51 - 32. This does not bode well for LSU coach Trent Johnson who is probably regretting his move from Stanford. NEXT
In another shocker, South Carolina was upset on the road by Southern Conference's Elon 58 - 53 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150195 . The Gamecocks did not have a player in double figures, shooting 31 % and just 3 for 27 or 11 % from way out...."Paging Bruce Elkington, Bruce Elkington, please come from the football field to the basketball court." (referring to last year's freshman point guard sensation, now a wide receiver/wildcat QB on the Gamecock football team). NEXT
Kentucky won the battle of heavyweight programs with a 75 - 65 win over the Rock-Chalks of Kansas on Tuesday night http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150292 . The Wildcats started three freshmen (Marquis Teague, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) and two sophomores (Terrence Jones and Deron Lamb), with each of them in double figures, playing at least 33 minutes. This just in, Coach John Calipari can recruit.
Florida transfer Eloy Vargas pitched in a rebound during his 7 minutes for the Wildcats. On the other side, Kansas's Travis Releford, brother of Alabama's point guard Trevor, had more turnovers (5) than points (4) in 28 minutes. NEXT
Vanderbilt's Tuesday 80 - 68 win over Bucknell is more impressive than the score indicates considering the 'Dores star guard, John Jenkins, was a spectator nursing a hurt ankle http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150615 . Jeffrey Taylor bounced back from his dismal performance in Sunday's Cleveland State loss, to lead 5 Vandy players in double figures with 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting. NEXT
The Gators may regret the transfer of 6' 11 255 lb Kenny Kadji . They could have used him last night against Ohio State after seeing his numbers in Miami's 72 - 57 win over Rutgers http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150355 . Kadji scored 13 points on 6 for 11 shooting along with 3 steals, 2 blocked shots and 5 rebounds in 30 minutes for Jim Larranaga's Hurricanes. NEXT
On Monday night, 16th ranked Alabama had an impressive home win over Oakland, 74 - 57 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201111140006 . The visitors were picked to finish second in the preseason Summit League poll and has represented the League in the NCAA tourney the last two years.
JaMychal Green led the Tide with 18 points on 7 for 13 shooting. Tony Mitchell just missed a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Coach Anthony Grant has to be ecstatic with the play of the highly-touted in-state freshmen Trevor Lacey and Levi Randolph who scored 10 and 9 points respectively. If the Tide continue playing this tight defense yielding just 40% shooting, 22% beyond the arc by the Grizzlies, something special could be happening at the Capstone. NEXT
Auburn had a similar home victory Monday night but with a different feel to it. The Tigers got by Kennesaw State 68 - 55 but the guests played without last year's Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, Markeith Cummings http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111140028 . If you remember, Kennesaw State was crushed by Wisconsin on Saturday 85 - 31, and in that game Cummings scored 18 of those points.
Frankie Sullivan was in a groove for Auburn with 22 points on 6 for 11 shooting after a subpar 3 for 12 and 8 points on Auburn's opening night. NEXT
Monday night had an interesting matchup of head coaches in an overtime thriller. Isiah Thomas and Florida International defeated former Georgia Tech coach, Paul Hewitt and George Mason 79 - 76. Will Isiah take the Panthers to the next level after an 11 - 19 record in his collegiate coaching rookie year? Will Paul Hewitt continue the winning tradition at George Mason started by Miami Hurricanes coach, Jim Larranaga? NEXT
The Big South Conference shined on Monday night, especially during the following games:
High Point barely lost at Big Ten Purdue 67 - 65.
Presbyterian soundly defeated Eastern Kentucky from the Ohio Valley Conference 78 - 50.
But the game that means the most to Bloggee Bob was his 2 - 0 Campbell Camels defeating Jeff Lebo's East Carolina Pirates from Conference USA 76 - 74. Campbell's freshman point guard, Trey Freeman, sank 12 of 12 free throws in the victory. (I love to see 100 % free throw shooting by a player when he has double digit attempts). Freeman is now 20 for 20 this year. We will keep an eye on him. THAT'S IT
Enjoy.....there were more games to report during the last two nights, but I don't want to send out novels.....I will tell you Gator decomit Austin Rivers was 1 for 7 in Duke's win over Michigan State....also Bob Huggins and West Virginia have not recovered from their exhibition game loss, with a 70 - 60 home upset by Kent State.
Barry
Florida dug themselves a 16-point second half hole last night in a 81 - 74 road loss to 3rd-ranked Ohio State http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=21806 . The stats for the game were basically even for the two teams except free throws and turnovers. Florida was 13 for 21 while Ohio State was 27 for 34 from the charity stripe. Also, Florida had 16 turnovers (not terrible) but Ohio State just had 7.
I remember former broadcaster and Marquette coach, the late Al McGuire, used to say, "You cut the head off, you kill the body." If the Gators play Ohio State again, I would encourage that Florida give more minutes to shut-down defender Scottie Wilbekin and put him on Buckeye point guard Aaron Craft. During the short periods when that happened last night, Wilbekin gave Craft fits. Florida would sacrifice some offense but it would be more than offset by Ohio State being out of sync.
Gator center, Patric Young, certainly held he own against Ohio State's Player of the Year candidate, Jared Sullinger. Young outrebounded Sullinger 12 to 6 and was only outscored 16 to 14. That is a tremendous sign for the Orange and Blue, but more scoring needs to come from frontcourt reserves. NEXT
There were a couple worse losses by SEC teams on Tuesday night. LSU lost for the second straight year to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, this time on the road 71 - 63 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150122 . Don't forget Coastal Carolina's head coach is the country music crooner and former head coach at South Alabama, Clemson and Auburn, Cliff Ellis.
The game was supposed to celebrate the opening of Coastal Carolina's new arena but construction was delayed. So they played in a 1,039 seating facility on campus. Of course it sold out. Back to the play on the court, the Chanticleers outrebounded their SEC opponent, 51 - 32. This does not bode well for LSU coach Trent Johnson who is probably regretting his move from Stanford. NEXT
In another shocker, South Carolina was upset on the road by Southern Conference's Elon 58 - 53 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150195 . The Gamecocks did not have a player in double figures, shooting 31 % and just 3 for 27 or 11 % from way out...."Paging Bruce Elkington, Bruce Elkington, please come from the football field to the basketball court." (referring to last year's freshman point guard sensation, now a wide receiver/wildcat QB on the Gamecock football team). NEXT
Kentucky won the battle of heavyweight programs with a 75 - 65 win over the Rock-Chalks of Kansas on Tuesday night http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150292 . The Wildcats started three freshmen (Marquis Teague, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) and two sophomores (Terrence Jones and Deron Lamb), with each of them in double figures, playing at least 33 minutes. This just in, Coach John Calipari can recruit.
Florida transfer Eloy Vargas pitched in a rebound during his 7 minutes for the Wildcats. On the other side, Kansas's Travis Releford, brother of Alabama's point guard Trevor, had more turnovers (5) than points (4) in 28 minutes. NEXT
Vanderbilt's Tuesday 80 - 68 win over Bucknell is more impressive than the score indicates considering the 'Dores star guard, John Jenkins, was a spectator nursing a hurt ankle http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150615 . Jeffrey Taylor bounced back from his dismal performance in Sunday's Cleveland State loss, to lead 5 Vandy players in double figures with 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting. NEXT
The Gators may regret the transfer of 6' 11 255 lb Kenny Kadji . They could have used him last night against Ohio State after seeing his numbers in Miami's 72 - 57 win over Rutgers http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111150355 . Kadji scored 13 points on 6 for 11 shooting along with 3 steals, 2 blocked shots and 5 rebounds in 30 minutes for Jim Larranaga's Hurricanes. NEXT
On Monday night, 16th ranked Alabama had an impressive home win over Oakland, 74 - 57 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201111140006 . The visitors were picked to finish second in the preseason Summit League poll and has represented the League in the NCAA tourney the last two years.
JaMychal Green led the Tide with 18 points on 7 for 13 shooting. Tony Mitchell just missed a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Coach Anthony Grant has to be ecstatic with the play of the highly-touted in-state freshmen Trevor Lacey and Levi Randolph who scored 10 and 9 points respectively. If the Tide continue playing this tight defense yielding just 40% shooting, 22% beyond the arc by the Grizzlies, something special could be happening at the Capstone. NEXT
Auburn had a similar home victory Monday night but with a different feel to it. The Tigers got by Kennesaw State 68 - 55 but the guests played without last year's Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, Markeith Cummings http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201111140028 . If you remember, Kennesaw State was crushed by Wisconsin on Saturday 85 - 31, and in that game Cummings scored 18 of those points.
Frankie Sullivan was in a groove for Auburn with 22 points on 6 for 11 shooting after a subpar 3 for 12 and 8 points on Auburn's opening night. NEXT
Monday night had an interesting matchup of head coaches in an overtime thriller. Isiah Thomas and Florida International defeated former Georgia Tech coach, Paul Hewitt and George Mason 79 - 76. Will Isiah take the Panthers to the next level after an 11 - 19 record in his collegiate coaching rookie year? Will Paul Hewitt continue the winning tradition at George Mason started by Miami Hurricanes coach, Jim Larranaga? NEXT
The Big South Conference shined on Monday night, especially during the following games:
High Point barely lost at Big Ten Purdue 67 - 65.
Presbyterian soundly defeated Eastern Kentucky from the Ohio Valley Conference 78 - 50.
But the game that means the most to Bloggee Bob was his 2 - 0 Campbell Camels defeating Jeff Lebo's East Carolina Pirates from Conference USA 76 - 74. Campbell's freshman point guard, Trey Freeman, sank 12 of 12 free throws in the victory. (I love to see 100 % free throw shooting by a player when he has double digit attempts). Freeman is now 20 for 20 this year. We will keep an eye on him. THAT'S IT
Enjoy.....there were more games to report during the last two nights, but I don't want to send out novels.....I will tell you Gator decomit Austin Rivers was 1 for 7 in Duke's win over Michigan State....also Bob Huggins and West Virginia have not recovered from their exhibition game loss, with a 70 - 60 home upset by Kent State.
Barry
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