With this much basketball you knew I couldn't stay quiet for long. No delay, let's talk hoop.
Cuse to the Final Four
I've written a few stories in the last week about SU over at Orange Fizz but one thing I didn't write on is how to a certain extent the Orange making it to Atlanta isn't a surprise. Both Jay Williams and Stephen Bardo told me in the middle of Syracuse's slide that SU was still a Final Four caliber team and I was right there with them. It sounds crazy, but the talent has always been there.
What is surprising is that the Orange put it together. I still don't think this team has particularly great leadership, but sometimes you don't need it. Instead of a leader rallying them, Syracuse's super talented players had their egos hurt and embarrassment is a powerful motivating factor. It happened at the perfect time culminating with Georgetown beating the $#&% out of them to close the regular season. They re-grouped and went into the Big East Tournament where momentum picks up quickly thanks to playing a game every day. James Southerland got hot. Brandon Triche found himself. Michael Carter-Williams stopped losing the basketball. Baye Moussa-Keita started being impactful. These four things haven't stopped and here we are with the Orange in the Final Four.
You could make a really good argument that if not for a freak injury to Arinze Onuaku and a bizarre suspension to Fab Melo, this would be Syracuse's third Final Four in four years. I think there are two pretty distinctive reasons why and you can read more at Orange Fizz.
Kansas is home
Logistics say I'll have a few Kansas fans click on this link so I might as well dissect why Kansas is not preparing to play SU on Saturday. Before the season, Bill Self said Elijah Johnson's attitude and approach would determine the outcome of his team's season. Weeks later Johnson was suspended for the start of the team's first pre-season game for being late to a class.
Elijah Johnson is a very good basketball player and I enjoyed covering him. I always found him thoughtful and there's no questioning his commitment to his team. However if he's your senior leader who's also playing out of position as your point guard, you're living on the edge of being a Final Four team. That's what Kansas was this season.
Coming down the stretch Kansas ran "the play" multiple times to no success. For those not familiar, "the play" is the one Mario Chalmers hit a three on to send the 2008 national championship game to overtime where Kansas eventually won. Michigan shut down the handoff and denied Ben McLemore on the flare screen. This left Bill Self needing another option and he decided to run a high pick and roll with Johnson and Jeff Withey.
Elijah took a bad angle off the screen. He was way too wide and that's why he wound up under the basket, throwing a cross court pass to Nadir Tharpe who needed a miracle 3 to go down to win it. It's almost as if Johnson forgot the score because he looked to have a layup for the tie. There's no doubt he had a floater, albeit at an awkward angle thanks to the bad angle off the screen, and he also could have forced the issue and created contact. With Jeff Withey rolling hard to the rim in good rebounding position, either would have been a good option. Why didn't he? There's no telling what was going through his head after some key mistakes down the stretch.
As a senior leader point guard Elijah dribbled into a trap and turned it over. He then inexcusably didn't get the ball across halfcourt on a 10 second violation. Then with 12.6 seconds to go he missed the front end of a one-in-one allowing Trey Burke's long distance three to go down. After that many mistakes, anyone's going to have a messed up head. It all lead to another bad play, the end of Kansas's season and the end of Elijah's career.
What's next?
Kansas loses a lot but will be loaded next year. Ben McLemore should declare for the NBA now. Ideally he'd stay and become more consistent with his shot and more importantly develop an off the dribble game. The reality is he needs to get his money now. His mom needs a house where the heat works ASAP and his entire family shouldn't go through another winter with him capable of making millions now. His stock is as high as it could get thanks to his uber potential and a weak draft even though another year of college would make him a better player. Any Kansas fan who thinks he should stay is selfish.
On top of McLemore, Kansas loses Johnson, Withey, Kevin Young and Travis Releford aka their entire starting lineup. They also might lose Rio Adams to a transfer. However back comes Nadir Tharpe who was exceptional in the second half of the year. He'll be joined in the backcourt by freshmen Wayne Seldon and Bill Self's got 3 other 4 star recruits coming in. The Jayhawks are also still alive for #1 player in the country Andrew Wiggins who's flat out nasty. Also back is Perry Ellis who developed into an offensive machine in the back half of the year. I think he could be an All-American next year.
Love for the ladies
Louisville's upset of #1 seed Baylor was monumental. It was bigger than the only time a #16 has beat a #1 when Harvard beat Stanford in 1998. That Stanford team had a number of key players injured late and thus shouldn't have been a 1-seed while the Harvard team was underseeded and shouldn't have been a 16. This Baylor team had everyone back from a national title team last year including arguably the most dominant player in the history of women's college basketball in Britney Griner. They were 75-1 favorites in this game. What that leaves us with is a weird setup for the Final Four.
On one side of the bracket is what's left after Baylor and the other 1-seed Stanford went down. This was also a huge upset but not nearly as big of an upset as Baylor. Cal punched their ticket tonight and the other regional final puts Tennessee against Louisville. The other side of the bracket has UConn, in it's 6th straight Final Four, against the winner of Notre Dame and Duke also known as Notre Dame.
I've written about the three classic battles ND and UConn have had this year and it's a shame that the 4th meeting won't be for a title. I want to be made about them being on the same side of the bracket but Baylor earned the #1 overall seed in the regular season and thus avoiding teams number 2 and 3 until the national final. Those two teams are the Irish and Huskies and this is what we're left with. With Baylor out of the picture, whoever survives that game will be the definitive favorite Tuesday night to win the title. Perhaps their biggest fight will be against fatigue as they'll be exhausted after battle royale #4. Either way I'll be glued to a TV Sunday night ready to see these two duke it out again...assuming Duke doesn't mess it up.
Life Update
Big announcement coming later this week. Don't wanna say more yet. But I will soon. I'm not exactly the patient type. Stay tuned.
Showing posts with label women's basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's basketball. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Random Rumblings - 1/6/13
Life Update (if you care)
The tales of the wandering nomad continue. What a weekend. A quick update on the job front as I know some read to keep up with me. For those that read for semi-intelligent takes or bad jokes, skip ahead.
I had an amazing weekend in Connecticut. On Friday I had 5 meetings with ESPN. They were really more networking meetings than interviews as the powers that be there don't think I'm ready for that level yet (duh, I'm 22) but the meetings were very productive. Again, I can't thank all those that believe in me and have helped any way they can over the past month of my job hunt. I think we're getting close.
I then got to hang with my friend Caroline in Storrs. Wait. Caroline in Storrs? Like the basketball player? Yes. That Caroline. I mention this not to say "oh look at me, chillin with athletes" I could care less that she hoops past that a deep love of the game of basketball is something we have in common. If she wasn't a cool person, we wouldn't be friends. I bring it up to simply marvel at how ridiculously cool technology is. I have friends literally all over the country and I'm as close with people like Caroline as I am friends from school or home. That's pretty amazing since we had previously met in person once. Yet, because we can text/Skype/Facebook chat so easily that its easy to stay in touch. Nothing replaces face-to-face communication and quality time spent in person with friends and family, but being to maintain long distance relationships sure is, for lack of a better word, cool.
Down Goes #1
On Saturday, I got to see Caroline and her girls take on Notre Dame. It's I guess that at this point, I put the required disclaimer that I'm biased. I was there as a fan, rooting for my friend and her team in a UConn women's basketball shirt. Also this disclaimer: I would do it again this year and as long as she's involved with the team. Other than that, from any Cuse alum, this is completely against the rules. So, while I'm biased to Caroline and thus UConn, I think I'm capable of being biased and right. So some analysis from what was one hell of a game:
UConn lost by one as Skylar Diggins was money in the second half for the Irish. Early in the game Caroline got hurt and not long after Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis got bumped and bruised as well. Both continued to play, but if they're not hurt I think the game plays out differently.
For one, UConn's best stretch was the start of the second half when Caro was back in the game after sitting the entire first half post-ankle roll. She was running point which moved Bria Hartley off the ball and on a couple possessions she was able to take Diggins into the post. Stephanie Dolson was also able to get post touches. The offense was efficient and the defense was solid. If Geno had played Caroline more in the first half (she was good to go, but held out for precaution) and the offense functioned similarly, I don't think it's a game down the stretch. As for Mosqueda-Lewis, she had a wide open look for the win in the final seconds and the shot came out flat. If her legs had been 100%, perhaps that shot falls. Instead the Huskies did.
The biggest question following the game had to do with Connecticut's offense down the stretch. Breanna Stewart seemed to be taking way too many shots. I think she probably took a few too many but overall was getting good looks and just missed. Clearly the speed and strength of an elite opponent was too much for the freshman at times, but in the end Geno apparently thought that was his best option. Stefanie Dolson couldn't get post position all night - Notre Dame fronted her and
always had a help side defender in place to prevent the lob. Bria Hartley was covered by perhaps the nation's best perimeter defender in Diggins and Masqueda-Lewis wasn't at full strength. This left the ball in the hands of the ultra-talented frosh. She overall got make-able shots, but sometimes basketball is a simple game: Stewart missed shots while Diggins hit some ridiculous ones and the Irish emerged
victorious.
Instantaneous Random Rumble
I'm typing this on my iPad on a plane. I'm flying Jet Blue. I'm also listening to some music. Current song in the mix I'm playing "Racks"...yes this does mean I'm now singing "snacks on snacks on snacks" as I get my second bag of blue chips.
Marrone to the NFL
Bigger article on this topic is in a separate post and a Fizz post is coming on one of his possible replacements, but I need to re-iterate this: anyone who says Doug Marrone lied about Syracuse being his dream job is an idiot. Syracuse was his dream job, but he got it and he dreamed a new dream. It's called ambition. It's what makes successful people successful. It's the audacity to reach your dreams, dream new ones and chase them.
I'm not saying Marrone ever had an eye on the NFL and I don't think he initially took the job thinking it would be a stepping stone. In fact, I think if you told him he would be at Syracuse for less than 5 years, he would've looked at you like you we're an alien. Five years ago, I was a 150 pound high school senior bound for MTSU to be a music producer. Now I'm a less scrawny (aka jacked...okay not really) unemployed Syracuse grad looking in the mix for a major national sports radio gig. Circumstances change. That's how the world works.
Kobe on Twitter
Kobe Bryant has joined Twitter and we already have gotten a peek into the Mamba's mind. He's a psychopath and I mean that flattering. Every game drives him, even 17 years in. The Lakers are struggling and Kobe's not happy. This is a man who's played with a multitude of injuries from bum knees to broken fingers so the fact that Dwight Howard's back is allegedly holding him back is quite frankly pissing him off. Pissing him off more though is unquestionably Dwight's attitude. This brings us back to twitter, where Kobe was psychopathically introspective after a recent game (keep in mind, we're in early January in a regular season that runs through April). Not caring and not worrying isn't in Kobe's nature and it is Dwight's. Add that to Mike D'Antoni's stubborn cluelessness on how to use Pau Gasol and the Lakers could be in real trouble.
Until next time, Mamba out.
The tales of the wandering nomad continue. What a weekend. A quick update on the job front as I know some read to keep up with me. For those that read for semi-intelligent takes or bad jokes, skip ahead.
I had an amazing weekend in Connecticut. On Friday I had 5 meetings with ESPN. They were really more networking meetings than interviews as the powers that be there don't think I'm ready for that level yet (duh, I'm 22) but the meetings were very productive. Again, I can't thank all those that believe in me and have helped any way they can over the past month of my job hunt. I think we're getting close.
I then got to hang with my friend Caroline in Storrs. Wait. Caroline in Storrs? Like the basketball player? Yes. That Caroline. I mention this not to say "oh look at me, chillin with athletes" I could care less that she hoops past that a deep love of the game of basketball is something we have in common. If she wasn't a cool person, we wouldn't be friends. I bring it up to simply marvel at how ridiculously cool technology is. I have friends literally all over the country and I'm as close with people like Caroline as I am friends from school or home. That's pretty amazing since we had previously met in person once. Yet, because we can text/Skype/Facebook chat so easily that its easy to stay in touch. Nothing replaces face-to-face communication and quality time spent in person with friends and family, but being to maintain long distance relationships sure is, for lack of a better word, cool.
Down Goes #1
On Saturday, I got to see Caroline and her girls take on Notre Dame. It's I guess that at this point, I put the required disclaimer that I'm biased. I was there as a fan, rooting for my friend and her team in a UConn women's basketball shirt. Also this disclaimer: I would do it again this year and as long as she's involved with the team. Other than that, from any Cuse alum, this is completely against the rules. So, while I'm biased to Caroline and thus UConn, I think I'm capable of being biased and right. So some analysis from what was one hell of a game:
UConn lost by one as Skylar Diggins was money in the second half for the Irish. Early in the game Caroline got hurt and not long after Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis got bumped and bruised as well. Both continued to play, but if they're not hurt I think the game plays out differently.
For one, UConn's best stretch was the start of the second half when Caro was back in the game after sitting the entire first half post-ankle roll. She was running point which moved Bria Hartley off the ball and on a couple possessions she was able to take Diggins into the post. Stephanie Dolson was also able to get post touches. The offense was efficient and the defense was solid. If Geno had played Caroline more in the first half (she was good to go, but held out for precaution) and the offense functioned similarly, I don't think it's a game down the stretch. As for Mosqueda-Lewis, she had a wide open look for the win in the final seconds and the shot came out flat. If her legs had been 100%, perhaps that shot falls. Instead the Huskies did.
The biggest question following the game had to do with Connecticut's offense down the stretch. Breanna Stewart seemed to be taking way too many shots. I think she probably took a few too many but overall was getting good looks and just missed. Clearly the speed and strength of an elite opponent was too much for the freshman at times, but in the end Geno apparently thought that was his best option. Stefanie Dolson couldn't get post position all night - Notre Dame fronted her and
always had a help side defender in place to prevent the lob. Bria Hartley was covered by perhaps the nation's best perimeter defender in Diggins and Masqueda-Lewis wasn't at full strength. This left the ball in the hands of the ultra-talented frosh. She overall got make-able shots, but sometimes basketball is a simple game: Stewart missed shots while Diggins hit some ridiculous ones and the Irish emerged
victorious.
Instantaneous Random Rumble
I'm typing this on my iPad on a plane. I'm flying Jet Blue. I'm also listening to some music. Current song in the mix I'm playing "Racks"...yes this does mean I'm now singing "snacks on snacks on snacks" as I get my second bag of blue chips.
Marrone to the NFL
Bigger article on this topic is in a separate post and a Fizz post is coming on one of his possible replacements, but I need to re-iterate this: anyone who says Doug Marrone lied about Syracuse being his dream job is an idiot. Syracuse was his dream job, but he got it and he dreamed a new dream. It's called ambition. It's what makes successful people successful. It's the audacity to reach your dreams, dream new ones and chase them.
I'm not saying Marrone ever had an eye on the NFL and I don't think he initially took the job thinking it would be a stepping stone. In fact, I think if you told him he would be at Syracuse for less than 5 years, he would've looked at you like you we're an alien. Five years ago, I was a 150 pound high school senior bound for MTSU to be a music producer. Now I'm a less scrawny (aka jacked...okay not really) unemployed Syracuse grad looking in the mix for a major national sports radio gig. Circumstances change. That's how the world works.
Kobe on Twitter
Kobe Bryant has joined Twitter and we already have gotten a peek into the Mamba's mind. He's a psychopath and I mean that flattering. Every game drives him, even 17 years in. The Lakers are struggling and Kobe's not happy. This is a man who's played with a multitude of injuries from bum knees to broken fingers so the fact that Dwight Howard's back is allegedly holding him back is quite frankly pissing him off. Pissing him off more though is unquestionably Dwight's attitude. This brings us back to twitter, where Kobe was psychopathically introspective after a recent game (keep in mind, we're in early January in a regular season that runs through April). Not caring and not worrying isn't in Kobe's nature and it is Dwight's. Add that to Mike D'Antoni's stubborn cluelessness on how to use Pau Gasol and the Lakers could be in real trouble.
Until next time, Mamba out.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)