Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Hump Day Edition

b-ballI started one of these blogs yesterday, never finishing it.

You’re all the more lucky for it. It wasn’t very good, since I used the first night of Hanukkah as a theme, and not very well. I gratuitously threw in the line, “Dinah Shoreah lights the menorah,” of course, but I didn’t link up to Adam Sandler singing the whole song. Lucky you, again.

Anyway, I was kind of writing in circles, so I discarded the whole rant, starting today with a blank screen.

Usually I save Today’s Final Four until the end of these meant to be regular but actually they’re just periodic college basketball ruminations.

Today that feature is at the top, because, frankly, I’m tired of all the shit I’ve gotten for two of the four schools I tabbed last time around. Which happen to be two of the the same four schools I project for the season’s final weekend on this the ninth day before Boxing Day.

Today’s Final Four: Kentucky, Duke, Villanova, Virginia

Of course, the grief emanates from the Vs.

The essence of the verbal blasts from my naysayers is that ‘Nova and the Hoos are V8 worthy at best.1

Well, I’m sticking with ’em.

Ken Pomeroy, generally referred to as “College Basketball’s Most Knowledgeable Guru,” or something to that effect, ranks the Cavaliers #3, with the nation’s third best D and, surprise, 10th most efficient O. The Lox Men are ranked just two spots lower, ranking 10th on D, 7th on O.

The Villanova Wildcats are 10-0, and have been beating some pretty fair teams by double digits. Besides I believe in Ryan Arcidiacono because: 1) I trust, if I asked, he could lead me to the best cheese steak in Philly, and 2) He always seems to make a key play or three at crunch time, even if he makes too many bone headed ones at other times.

UVa is 9-0 and has arguably the best combo of real road Ws of anybody, with victories in College Park over the Terps and @ VCU, where they outscored the Shaka Smarts 15-2 down the stretch, while missing nary a shot. They’ve also got a kid named Anthony Gill, whose averaging 13 ppg and 6.6 rpg, whom I trade in a heartbeat for his almost namesake Anton Gill.

As for Duke and UK, well, I needn’t explain.

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Alvin Sims, who tallied 1,057 career points for the U of L Cardinals between ’93 and ’97 will be getting his degree during winter graduation ceremonies.

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Dayton released a couple of its players today.

Is it my imagination, or are more players getting kicked off their teams this year than usual?

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ESPN is trotting out its Basketball Power Index ratings again, a hierarchy alleged to include all the important factors, strength of foes, injuries, scoring margin, game pace, etc, etc.

I needn’t say whom #1 is. UVa is ranked second, followed by U of L then Duke.2

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In case you were wondering:

NJIT, conqueror of the Michigan Wolverines, is 4-7 on the season, with Ls to UMass Lowell and the Long Island Blackbirds, among others.

Incarnate Word, conqueror of former Today’s Final Four resident Nebraska stands 6-1. The only L is to UTEP, with Ws over such as Texas A&M International Dust Devils, Princeton — Yes, that Princeton, alma mater of David Blatt — and Huston-Tillotson College, the Princeton of Austin.

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My new favorite coach is Donnie Tyndall.

The Morehead grad and former Eagle mentor isn’t much in the physical stature department,3 but the guy can coach.

If he can get an assistant with strong recruiting ties, Rocky Top will return to the upper echelon of the SEC sooner rather than later.

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For some inexplicable reason, which even advance therapy hasn’t revealed, I’ve been watching a bit more play for pay ball this season.

Last night, it was the league’s two best teams so far, and Memphis broke Golden State’s extended W streak.

I still like the college game better, a whole lot better, but, my oh my, those guys are good. Marc Gasol hardly misses a jumper. When Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry shoot, you wonder what happens when the ball doesn’t find net?

— Seedy K

 

One thought on “Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Hump Day Edition

  1. Seedy,
    Your increased NBA viewing is interesting; particularly in light of yesterday’s released findings about the financial worth of college players (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24897427/report-louisville-basketball-team-worth-15-millio) The gap narrows? Certainly does when one considers Lexington’s D-League franchise.

    I have loved the NBA for decades. The execution is usually brilliant. And you have to admire the rise of Toronto, Memphis, Golden State and DC. Parity is a reality this year. My gripe about the League is allowing fan votes for the All Star Game to have any worth. It’s a popularity contest based on performances from yesteryear. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Steve Nash land on the All Star team, while one of the best point guards in the NBA at this juncture of the season, John Wall, could get passed over completely. Let the players decide.

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