- A Karen Sypher beer? Dark, bitter and, what's this? Is that a hint of extortion I detect? 0% Dignity by volume. I love it.
- Villanova loses freshman guard James Bell indefinitely due to stress fracture in both of his legs. Bell was ranked as the 78th-best prospect in the class of 2010. While the injury likely won't be devastating to the Wildcats should Bell miss some time, it is definitely a blow to their depth.
- Austin Rivers gives John Wall a case of the okie-dokes at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game (at the 1min mark)
- LeBron was playing pick-up hoops with the Miami Hurricanes. Kentucky fans can't be to pleased about this. KU has always been LeBron's official un-official college. Remember how Frank Haith said that LeBron, D-Wade, and Bosh coming to Miami could help him recruit? You think this is what he meant by that?
- When Donnie Jones left Marshall to take the head coaching position at C-USA rival Central Florida, a lot of people scratched their heads. But as Jeff Goodman explains, not only is it not a head-scratcher, going from Marshal to Central Florida is a no-brainer.
- Andy Katz wonders if Mike Rice has what it takes to make Rutgers relevant. For that matter, can anyone actually make Rutgers relevant? My opinion: While they are still in the Big East -- Nope. Not happening.
- Andy Glockner takes a look at BYU's situation this season.
- The Battle of the Bluegrass State with take place on New Years Eve. I'm not sure I like this decision. December 31st is a Friday, and it's New Years Eve. I can't imagine that a lot of people outside of the Bluegrass state will remember to tune into this game. It is a Noon tip off yes, but it's also a Holiday weekend. I can't imagine that too many people will even be sober awake by Noon on New Years Eve. Click here for more on Kentucky's non-conference schedule.
- 6-foot-4 shooting guard Malick Kone, a member of the 2011 recruiting class, has verbally committed to Rutgers. Kone was recruited heavily by David Cox, a former assistant at Georgetown who is now a top assistant at Rutgers. Cox was heavily involved with the DC Assault AAU team, which Kone was a member of.
- A quick look at the full 2010-2011 schedule for the Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines, Indiana Hoosiers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Alabama Crimson Tide
- CollegeHoopsNet has been preview the top 199 teams in the country. Yesterday they featured #125-#121: Bucknell, Davidson, UAB, Morgan State, and Miami (OH)
- Shoes that lace themselves? Sign me up. I don't have the proper eye-hand coordination to do the "loop-swoop-and-pull"
- Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers is retiring after 14 years of service. He has dealt with the likes of Bobby Knight and Mike Leach. Those 14 years look more like 28 years if you ask me.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday Morning Dump |
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Rankings the ESPN Gameday games |
Yesterday, the World Wide Leader announced their schedule for college basketball's Gameday. There are a couple changes from last season. For starters, no Pac-10 team is included, likely due to the fact that there are not two good teams in the conference. The Big XII, the Big Ten, and the SEC each got two Gameday games. Also new is an opening hour of Gameday to be aired at 10 am on ESPN U, a decision that I, personally, am a huge fan of. And for the second straight year, Gameday will kick off with a game on the women's side featuring Tennessee and Vanderbilt, although the men's team from both schools will be squaring off in a noon-tip.
Most importantly, ESPN has once again put together a schedule loaded with great basketball in some of the country's best environment including a number of this season's best matchups. Let's rank those eight games:
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: The Big Ten |
Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.
To browse through the other conferences, click here.
Pre-season Awards
Player of the Year: Jon Leuer, Wisconsin
The Big Ten will have one of the most exciting player of the year races. Even with Robbie Hummel's season over, there is a ton of talent at the top of the league. Included in that group is Jon Leuer, one of the most underrated players in the country. He was the Badgers leading scorer and rebounder last season despite missing nine games with a broken wrist. He's got a good finesse game in the post, using a variety of jump hooks and turnarounds. He also has a soft touch on his jump shot and is a capable ball handler, which makes him a difficult matchup at times. He impressed people quite a bit at the Team USA workouts over the summer, and with Trevon Hughes gone to graduation, expect a big season out of Leuer.
And a close second goes to: Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Lucas is a great player as well. In fact, he's already won a Big Ten player of the year award, taking home the hardware in 2009. When he's healthy, he's as quick as anyone in the league with the ball, a pain to keep out of the paint, and a very good shooter with a knack for hitting some big-time shots. I have two concerns about Lucas. He's still working his way back from the achilles injury that ended his 2010 NCAA Tournament, so only time will tell if he is actually back to 100%. I also was concerned by his lack of development last season. Lucas was benched because of a lack of leadership and didn't really improve all that much as a junior. But this is Lucas' team. He's the star, and when he embraces that, he has the talent to carry this team to another Final Four.
Breakout Star: Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
Its tough to pick out a breakout star from the Big Ten because, well, we already know who most of the best players are. One guy stands out for me, however. Taylor moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and had a very successful season (10 points, 3.5 assists) playing alongside Trevon Hughes. Taylor is a better distributor than Hughes was, and Hughes also had a tendency to dominate the ball. This season, as the sole ball-handler, Taylor is going to be relied upon much more as a playmaker, especially considering the lack of offensive firepower on this Wisconsin roster. I don't think its out of the question for him to develop into a second- or third-team all-conference performer.
All-Conference First Team
All-Conference Second Team
Freshman of the Year: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Sullinger is universely regarded as the best big man in the class. At 6'8", 250+ lb, he's got the size and the strength to play immediately in the Big Ten. He's not just big, either. He's skilled. He can score on the low-block, he can get to the rim facing up, and he has range out to 18 feet. He is also a very cerebral player. Sullinger understands angles -- sealing his man when the ball gets reversed, holding position defensively and offensively, boxing out -- which lets him get a lot of easy baskets and a ton of rebounds. He's a producer on the block, and should complement the shot-blocking presence of Dallas Lauderdale well. The Buckeyes are going to need someone to be a go-to presence for them with Evan Turner gone, and Sullinger could be that guy.
All-Freshman Team
What Happened?:
Then there was Chris Allen. He was suspended for the Big Ten tournament last season, then throughout the summer his name was coming up in rumors. He would play. He wasn't going to play. Finally last month, Izzo ended the drama, saying that Allen failed to live up to his obligations.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough, two Michigan State players were accused of a sexual assault on the same night that Korie Lucious got a DUI.
Northwestern got a blow when Kevin Coble, a second-team all-conference performer in 2009, decided he was not going to return to the basketball team, instead focusing his efforts on his last semester of classes.
And then there is Zisis Sarikopoulos, who has scored all of 48 points in his collegiate career, who signed a three-year contract in Greece.
Iowa not only lost Anthony Tucker, who was suspended for an arrest and then transferred to D-II Winona State, they lost head coach Todd Lickliter. He was replaced by Siena's Fran McCaffery.
What's Next?:
Power Rankings
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REPORT: BYU to stay in the MWC |
Remember Expansionocalypse?
Remember how everyone thought that the Big XII as we knew it was dead?
Remember how Realignment 1.0 ended up being relatively minor, with Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah being the only schools that made a switch?
Well, if the Denver Post is to be believed, then Realignment 2.0 looks like it is going to end with a similar whimper. It seems as if the Mountain West's decision to gobble up Fresno State and Nevada from the WAC, provided they offer BYU some concessions when it comes to airing games on BYU-TV, has saved the league by keeping the Cougars happy.
Now, take that report with a grain of salt. The writers that cover BYU seem less optimistic about BYU's chances of staying in the MWC.
Someone needs to make a decision already.
Continue reading...
Thursday Morning Dump |
- BREAKING NEWS: According to a report in the Denver Post (h/t Beyond the Arc) BYU is going to stay in the MWC. We will have more on this shortly.
- Today's must read: Jay Bilas. Its insider, I'm sorry (No I'm not), but its great stuff debunking the myth of Ben Howland and the NBA.
- ESPN announces it's schedule for Saturday Gameday. I'm most certainly looking forward to February 26th, when Duke travels to Blacksburg to take on VaTech. The atmosphere is going to be electric. But then again, so will the atmosphere at Kansas State/Kansas game, the Kentucky/Florida game, and the Pittsburgh/Villanova game.
- Speaking of the World Wide Leader, the ESPN "Summer Shoot-a-round" series focused on the Big East yesterday. Jay Bilas predicts Pitt to be the top team in the league, followed closely by Villanova, Syracuse and Georgetown. The Big East has had some serious turnover in the past two seasons, and a handful of teams will feature younger, more inexperienced squads. When you play in a 16-team mega-conference, experience will win you games, and that's exactly what Jamie Dixon's squad has. He doesn't have a bunch of superstars, but what he does have are a couple of gamers, and that's exactly what you need in order to survive the Big East.
- Everyone knows about how loaded John Calipari's 2011 recruiting class is, but Rick Pitino hasn't done a bad job over in Louisville -- even with Marquis Teague and Michael Chandler opting out of their commitments. Things would get even prettier if Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello both ended up Cardinals. According to Adam Zagoria, that could be a reality.
- Gary Parrish has nothing but rave reviews on the Florida Coaching Clinic. As Parrish states, this was no recruiting camp. This was a two-day exchange of knowledge from one basketball junkie to another. You really get the sense that this is what the coaches love doing, and they are getting less and less opportunities to do so. Seriously, this is a must-read.
- Morehead State has been placed on probation by the NCAA due to recruiting violations.
- The Big East released it's schedule for repeat opponents. Villanova will play Syracuse and Pittsburgh twice (along with Rutgers), Pitt will play 'Nova, West Virginia and South Florida twice. This link is definitely worth your click, and your subsequent five minutes of perusal.
- Yesterday we wrote an article about how Taylor King does more college-hopping than Tommy Amaker, and lo-and-behold, King has done it again. As of Wednesday afternoon, King has decided not to attend USC (Which would have cost him $50K and made him sit out a year). Instead, he will enroll at NAIA juggernaut, Concordia University. (Actually, I have no idea if Concordia is a juggernaut. I know nothing about the school, other than it sounds like a type of grape juice.)
- Marcus Jordan explains the makin' it rain tweets.
- Want to know who is going to be good this year? Look at the number of returning minutes for each team. At least that's what Villanova By The Numbers says. I hate Villanova, and I hate math, but for some reason, I feel like they might be on to something. I know it's a couple days old, but it took me a while to digest it all. Again, I hate math.
- Joe Pasternack has the toughest recruiting job in the country. The head coach at New Orleans lost just about everyone when his team was downgraded from D-I to D-III. In any economy, convincing talented high-schoolers to pay-to-play is a tough job.
- College Basketball Daily is doing a great series on introducing us to new head coaches. Today we get to learn more about Howard University's new coach, Kevin Nickelberry.
- On Tuesday we dropped a link stating that Kentucky-recruit DeAndre Daniels would be spending a year at prep school instead of heading directly to Lenxington. But apparently this might not be the case. As with everything Kentucky-related, it's still up in the air.
- Eamonn Brennan continues his best case/worst case scenario column. This time he focuses on the Big East. Does having all 16 teams in the conference tournament constitute as "worst case scenario"?
- a good-read from the Baltimore Sun on Syracuse freshman C.J. Fair, who passed up his senior year
- Adam Zagoria reports that highly-touted recruit LeBron LeBryan Nash will announce his college decision on October 21st live on ESPN. He will be choosing between Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas. It should be noted that he is the half-brother of former Cowboy star Byron Eaton.
- Iowa State assistant Jeff Grayer is leaving in order to return to Michigan to be closer to his family
- Michigan lost another game in Belgium, sending their exhibition record to 0-3. Somebody get World Wide Wes on a red-eye to Brussels ASAP. There is clearly something we don't about Belgian basketball. Or maybe Michigan just isn't that good.
Continue reading...
Am I the only one that doesn't agree with HSAC's findings? |
Late last night, the guys over at the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective posted a study they put together on one of college basketball's most controversial strategies: whether or not to foul when up three late in the game.
The results they found are quite interesting. Essentially, the study says that there is no discernible difference in winning percentage for teams that foul up three and for those that decide to play defense. In fact, teams that fouled had a lower winning percentage than teams that opted to rely on their defense during the 2009-2010 season. (I strongly urge you to read the study, especially those of you that are mathematically inclined.)
Jordan Crawford thinks you should foul up three.(photo credit: MassLive)
These days, the general consensus -- correct or not -- has seemingly swayed towards fouling. Don't give your opponent a chance to tie the game with one shot. Force them to get an offensive rebound off of a free throw and score on a putback. The study debunks that line of thinking.
Like any study involving sport, the decision is not as cut-and-dry as numbers are. There are plenty of factors that go into a decision like this. Does the other team have any three-point shooters? How disciplined is your team defensively? Do they understand that they can't foul a player in the act of shooting a three? Who is home and who is away? How good are their free throw shooters? Do you have confidence in your team being able to make two free throws should the situation arise?
The biggest question, however, is how much time if left in the game.
And unfortunately, the HSAC didn't factor in for time left on the clock in their study. The only mention of time left is in one of the comments on the post, and it says that the author believes that most of occur with less than 20 seconds left.
The way I see it, this skews their results.
Let me explain.
Fouling when you are up three is only a valid course of action in a very specific situation. The ideal is when there is somewhere between three and eight seconds left in the game when your opponent has possession, down three points.
If there is much more than eight ticks left, then ratcheting down for one defensive possession is probably the best option for every team. Let's say you are the coach of the team up three with 12 seconds, and you decide to foul. (When a coach makes the decision to foul when up three, more often than not it happens within a second or two of the ball being inbounded to avoid the possibility of the player with the ball being able to draw a foul in the act of shooting a three.) If the other team hits both free throws, they are going to have time to foul you and force you to make two free throws. If your guys hit both, then you are right back into the same situation. Miss one, and your opponent has the ball down just one or two points. If you foul and the other team hits the first and misses the second (or if they miss both/the front end of a one-and-one), then there will be enough time for an offensive possession should they grab an offensive rebound. The best option is to play tough defense and hope that you force a miss.
With fewer than three seconds left, the odds of your opponent getting a good look at a three -- especially when they have to go the length of the court -- is minimal. In this situation, the best strategy usually is to play a soft full court defense, force your opponent to catch the ball in the back court without a head of steam, and hope that they miss a very low-percentage three, usually of the 50-foot runner variety.
Mario agrees with Jordan.(photo credit: NBC)
That means that the only time where it makes sense for a team to foul is when they are up three in that four-to-eight second range. When there is enough time on the clock that your opponent can get a decent shot at a game-tying three, but not enough time for multiple ensuing possessions. (In other words, there is only enough time left for the opponent to try and get an offensive rebound off of an intentionally missed free throw.)
Now, based on the study and what the authors mentioned in the comments section, they had no way of determining how much time was left on the clock when the possession began. (The time when the possession begins is the only time that matters. You don't intentionally foul at the five second mark after playing 15 seconds of defense.) Without determining this variable, the authors are including a number of data points where intentionally fouling is not only sub-optimal, it isn't even a consideration.
I don't know the lingo for statistics, but they are analyzing the wrong stuff.
That said, I don't want to do anything to discredit this study. It is very interesting work, and certainly is a great piece of information when, undoubtedly, this situation arises during the upcoming season. And I hope that the guys over at HSAC can figure out a way to factor in time, because I would love to see the results. (Hint, hint!!)
If anything, what you should take out of this piece is that regardless of strategy, your team shouldn't lose a game up three on a final possession.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: The Big XII |
Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.
To browse through the other conferences, click here.
Pre-season Awards
Player of the Year: Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
I remember watching Pullen play as a freshman and sophomore, and I can honestly say I never thought he would develop into the player he did as a junior. Coming into last season, the guy everyone was talking about in the K-State back court was the dynamic Denis Clemente, but after some impressive performances in high-profile non-conference wins, Pullen (deservedly) developed the reputation of a big-time shooter and scorer. With Clemente gone, Pullen will be the focal point of a Kansas State team that doesn't have a ton of offensive options, especially in the back court. This is still a very good team -- they are big, long, athletic, and will defend and rebound as well as anyone in the country -- but at the end of a game or the shot clock, the ball is almost assuredly going to be in Pullen's hands. He's going to get plenty of opportunity to put up points this year, and if he can improve his ability to distribute the ball -- he will command a lot of attention defensively -- I don't see why he can't be a 20+ppg scorer and average 4 assists. If you put up those numbers for the conference favorite, you deserve player of the year consideration.
And a close second goes to: LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor
Dunn is in a similar situation to Pullen. His talented back court mate -- Tweety Carter -- is gone, which means that he is going to have to carry even more of the offensive load. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, either, as Dunn is one of the best shooters in the country. I think Dunn has a chance to be conference player of the year and a first team all-american, but Pullen got the nod because Dunn plays off the ball. Where Pullen is more of a point guard and has the ability to create for himself off the dribble, Dunn is more of an off-guard, a catch-and-shoot kind of guy. I worry that a lot of his success this season will be determined by the development of AJ Walton as a point guard. Dunn's placement here is with the assumption that he will not miss an extended amount of time for the alleged assault against his girlfriend.
Breakout Star: Marcus Morris, Kansas, and Jordan Hamilton, Texas
The Big XII has a number of kids that I think are capable of having a breakout year -- AJ Walton, BJ Holmes, David Loubeau, Michael Dixon, Ray Penn, Christian Standhardinger. But Morris and Hamilton are the two kids that I think are all-but-guarantees for a big season. Morris showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore, starting at the four and becoming the Jayhawks most reliable offensive option in the post. With the amount of talent that Kansas is losing, Morris is the guy that will be counted on to pick up the slack. After seeing how much he improved after putting on some strength between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, I see no reason that he isn't first-team all-conference, and possibly even an all-american, this year.
Hamilton is a bit of a different story. A consensus top 10 recruit last year, he spent last season as the Longhorns hired gun off the bench. The problem is that Hamilton has yet to develop a sense of shot selection. As a freshman, if he touched the ball, more than likely a shot was going up. When he was on, he was a nightmare for opponents (ask Oklahoma State), but when he was missing he really hurt Texas. There's not a doubt in my mind that this kid can be a lethal scorer in the Big XII, but only when he develops a better sense of what is a good shot. (Although, it should be noted that as he gets better and becomes a bigger part of the Texas offense, the standard of what is a "good shot" for him will become more lax.) Generally speaking, the biggest improvement tends to come between a player's freshman and sophomore years. I think Hamilton can make the jump.
All-Conference First Team
All-Conference Second Team
Freshman of the Year: Josh Selby, Kansas
This is kind of awkward because Selby has yet to be cleared by the NCAA. If he does end up getting cleared, Selby -- the No. 1 recruit in the country according to Rivals -- should make an immediate impact. Selby plays a similar brand of basketball as former Jayhawk point guard Sherron Collins. He's a scorer that can beat his man off the dribble, knock down a contested 25 footer, and is capable of creating for teammates in the lane. But where Collins was built like a running back, Selby is built like a basketball player -- 6'3", long arms, excellent athleticism. There is going to be quite a bit of returning talent in the back court, but if Selby lives up to the hype, he will be the creator for Bill Self's club.
All-Freshman Team
What Happened?:
What's Next?:
He's not the only star recruit that has yet to be cleared. Josh Selby, a consensus top five recruit from Baltimore, has not been cleared by the NCAA due to a relationship he has with Carmelo Anthony's agent. It is not clear whether that agent is acting as an advisor or he has an agreement with Selby to become his agent, but one thing that is clear is basketball players from Baltimore stick together. Its very possible that this agent is doing nothing but help this family work through a complicated process. But Selby was also spotted driving a white benz. So who knows.
Oklahoma also had a controversy in their program. Freshman Tiny Gallon was alleged to have been given $3,000 by a financial advisor, which likely played a role in his decision to leave Norman after one season. Then Tommy Mason-Griffin and Willie Warren, neither of whom did anything impressive last year, both hit the road as well. Between transfers and graduation, Capel is left with ... well ... a lot of youngsters.
And how can we forget about LaceDarius Dunn. The potential all-american broke his girlfriend's jaw. His suspension hasn't been announced just yet, but he is back in school and allowed to practice with the team.
Greg McDermott left Iowa State to head back to the MVC and coach Creighton. He was replaced by local hero, Fred Hoiberg, who will have his work cut out for him with all the players that left and the floods that hit Iowa in August. 
Power Rankings
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There Is Nothing Like a Good Off-Season Hoops Story: Taylor King |
The news-ticker in the college hoops world works 24/7 nine months out of the year. During the off-season, when the ticker moves just a bit slower, stories that would usually get pushed to the back-burner get over-examined. Even if the stories are from well beyond left field, every writer, analyst and blogger in the country is talking about it, because, well, there isn't much else to talk about.
While most of the discussion and debate this off-season has been surrounding conference expansion and anything involving possible NCAA violations, there have been a handful of wildly-entertaining news stories to over-examine and debate to keep us occupied until Marathon Madness.
Troy Machir, BIAH's resident brainiac on the ridiculous and the unnecessary will be providing you with a breakdown of the most outlandish news stories of the off-season.
When Taylor King decided to transfer from Duke to Villanova, I was certain that the Wildcats would be the consensus #1 team in the Big East and a lock to go back to the Final Four. 'Nova had one of the best leaders in the country (Scottie Reynolds), and stellar recruiting class (Maalik Wayns, Mouphataou Yarou, Dominic Cheek, Isiah Armwood) and a excellent core (Antonio Pena, Reggie Redding, Corey Fisher). They would be adding one of the top transfers in the country in King. How could they not be a lock for the National Championship?
After sitting out a year, King had a hot start to his 'Nova campaign.
Through nine games, King was averaging 13ppg and 7rpg. He had 20 points and clutch three-pointer in a wild finish against St. Joe's at the Palestra.
But as the calender switched from 2009 to 2010, King's game went silent. He shot just 25% over the final 11 regular-season games he played. He looked tentative and sluggish, a little lost. He did not play in the regular-season finale against West Virginia for reasons that would never be made public by coach Jay Wright. This, coupled with the ongoing "baby mama drama" between Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher spelled doom for the once-dangerous Wildcat team.
After 'Nova struggled in the tournament, narrowly escaping a first round defeat to Robert Morris and getting bounced in the second round by St. Mary's, King announced he would quit basketball and focus on his studies at Villanova.
It's not too often you star players quit hoops to focus on college. Rumors circulated that the reason King was suspended was because he refused to take a drug test, the same reason he left Duke. Apparently King was a big fan of the ganja, and he refused to put it aside to focus on becoming a dominant D-I basketball player.
Listen, it's college. I understand If a guy wants to quit basketball to focus on "extracurriculars", he has the right to do so. after all, you're only in college once. The reason Taylor King is being highlighted is because after quitting the team, news spread that King would be leaving Villanova all together. King, a top-five scoring leader in California high school history will be transferring to Southern California, a school already chalk full of bad publicity.
King has long refused to elaborate on the reasons for leaving Duke and being suspended from the 'Nova squad. When He decided to quit basketball, it was because he needed to focus on academics right?
Then why does it appear that King is going to be a member of the Trojans basketball squad?
Most guys only get one chance to shine on the collegiate hardwood. King has had two great opportunities to do so, and now he is seeking a third. By the time he uses up his eligibility (2013) he should be on course to get some sort of graduate degree.
But did I mention that he is planning on joining USC's heralded Film department? Yea my thoughts exactly: A pothead film major in Southern California?
I think Van Wilder has a better chance of getting a graduate degree before King does.
Listen, I hate Villanova, but I was drooling over the notion of seeing Mouph Yarou, Antonio Pena, Taylor King, Corey Fisher and Sottie Reynolds share the floor together.
I don't wish any ill will towards King, but it grinds my gears that some guys get chance after chance after chance to prove themselves at an elite level when their pasts indicate that maybe hoops isn't the right career path for them.
Continue reading...
Wednesday Morning Dump |
- !!!OFF-SEASON DANA O'NEIL!!! Seriously people, nobody writes a better feature piece than Mrs. O'Neil. This time she details the changes that will be made at Seton Hall under new head coach Kevin Willard
- Trevor Mbakwe finally returned to Minnesota. For the first time since he was accused of assault, Trevor Mbakwe was able to practice with his Golden Gopher teammates.
- Gary Parrish has a must-read on Sonny Vaccaro's return to the recruiting game. Vaccaro has been out of the game for three summers, but according to Parrish, is going to be doing "something big" in the near future. If for some reason you still don't think college hoops is a business, please, read this article.
- Rush The Court breaks down the off-season happenings in the Pac-10 as well as what to expect from the conference that was the BCS-laughingstock last season.
- The Big East overruled the coaches votes, and will continue to have a 16-team conference tournament. It was only a few months ago that it was believed that this idea was going to be done away with. After all, in the Big East's first 16-team conference tournament, DePaul, who had lost every conference game during the season, beat Cincinnati in the first round. But last year, Three of the four teams that received double-byes lost in their first tournament game. Apparently that was not enough to dissuade the Big East from changing the format.
- Five story lines to watch for in the ACC. I feel like "can Va.Tech avoid being on the bubble?" is a storyline every season
- Why isn't Enes Kanter eligible yet? That;s what people in BBN are hard-pressed to find out
- A great-read from Rush The Court (btw, they have been killin' it recently) on why there might not be a true advantage in fouling when a team up three late in a game. The Harvard Sports Analysis Collective composed a study to determine if statistics conferred that it was beneficial for a team in the lead to foul in the closing moments of a game.
- Both Rivals.com and Scouts.com updated their list of top 100 recruits of 2011. Testudo Times had a good piece on some of the notable changes. Mike Miller from Beyond The Arc does the same
- Hawaii could be the next team out the WAC door. The conference seems to be all but dead.
- Mississippi State hires assistant coach George Brooks. Brooks played at MSU from 1992-1994 and most recently was the head coach at Meridian Community College in Mississippi.
- New Cornell coach Bill Courtney won't change the Cornell recruiting philosophy, adamant believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" methodology
- You can't make this stuff up: September 15th will be "Mike Krzyzewski Day"
- Florida got their first commitment for the class of 2012. 6-foot-4 shooting guard Michael Frazier picked the gators over a handful of other SEC schools such as Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas. Now we just have to wait and see if Frazier backs out in the next two years.
- Former Kentucky star Derrick Millar was sentenced to two years in jail and 5 years of probation for his role in a ticket scam
- Jeff Goodman details Josh Pastner's experience at the Florida Coaches Clinic
- Xavier point guard Terrell Holloway has decided to change his name
- What the heck is the "Ewing Theory" and how the heck does it apply to Villanova?
Continue reading...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Pierre Henderson-Niles is heading east, far east |
Pierre Henderson-Niles, the mammoth Memphis center who was kicked off the team last season, has reportedly signed a contract to play hoops in Japan. Now, we understand that this isn't the most pertinent information, but PHN has always been a fan-favorite here at B.I.A.H. 
If you are puzzled as to why a professional team would want hire a player who never averaged more than 5ppg, no need to worry, because we will explain.
Henderson-Niles, is roughly 6-foot-8 and roughly 300lbs. If you are unaware with the Japanese culture then you should know the Japanese people are fascinated with human goliaths. Guys like Bob Sapp and Hong Man Choi are six-figure fighters and can headline events in sold-out arenas just because of their size.
After all, this is the land where sumo wrestling was born. The land of Godzilla. If you want something big, forget about Texas, go to Japan. I think that whoever signed Henderson-Niles made a brilliant marketing decision. Don't try and convince me that PHN was signed solely on his basketball skills.
I've seen Pierre in person, in fact I've stood less than 10 yards away from him, and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is the largest human being I have ever seen.
I think this might actually be a great move for PHN. He will be an instant celebrity as soon as he arrives. Who knows, in a year or two, he could be making cameos in popular action movies or maybe starring in his own energy drink commercial.
Because in Japan, size sells.
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Joseph Young enrolls at Houston |
We've wasted a lot of words over the past few months on the plight of Joseph Young. Young, if you remember, is the former Providence signee that changed his mind in regards to his desire to attend Providence. After appealing both the NCAA and Providence to be released from his LOI -- losing both -- Young has made the decision that most of us expected.
Young will be attending Houston, opting to sit out a season and lose a year of eligibility all while developing his individual game.
Now, I could go on another rant and throw a tantrum and scream and yell about how unfair the LOI program is or how juvenile Keno Davis is acting. But I've done that, and no matter how much of a hullabaloo I attempt to raise, the fact of the matter is that Young will be wasting a year in order to go to the school he truly wants to attend.
And as much as I disagree with the course of action that Davis and the Providence athletics department took, looking back, this probably could have played out much differently.
The initial stance that the Youngs took was that Joseph wanted to play closer to his Houston home because he had an aunt that was ill. Most people watching from afar, including Davis, believed that Young wanted to play at Houston because his father was rehired by new head coach James Dickey. That, and the fact that the Providence program was going through some serious upheaval.
If Young had come out and said that he wanted out of Providence because of a desire to play at Houston, where his father was Director of Basketball Operations, Davis may have granted him his release. If you remember, took over his father's program at Drake. Honesty is the best policy, and there's no doubt that Davis suspected the Youngs weren't being truthful.
The Youngs, despite what Davis (and many others) believe were false pretenses, still may have had a chance at getting the release before Michael, Joseph's father, decided to spout off to the media. So now, if you're Keno Davis, you have been lied to and publicly insulted by the Youngs.
If you were in his shoes, would you then do them a favor and grant Joseph's release?
I don't condone what Davis did. Far from it, in fact. If Young wanted to play for his father, he should have been granted a release. If he wanted to go to school close enough to his ailing aunt, he should have been allowed to without penalty. Hell, if he didn't like the direction the Providence program was headed, Davis should have cut his ties.
In my mind, what Davis did was inexcusable, made him look childish, and very likely could hurt his ability to recruit in the future.
Davis, and Providence, made the wrong decision.
But the way the Youngs handled the situation on their end created a situation where the "wrong decision" was that much easier to make.
The sad part in all of this?
Everyone is coming out a loser.
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: The ACC |
Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.
To browse through the other conferences, click here.
Pre-season Awards
Player of the Year: Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech
This may be an unpopular pick with the folks down in Durham, but let me explain. Duke legitimately has two, maybe even three (depending on how good Kyrie Irving ends up being), players that will contend for conference player of the year. That's why they are going to be the best team in the league. Kyle Singler can afford to have an off-night, because Nolan Smith and Irving, and even a Seth Curry or a Plumlee, are talented enough to carry the Dukies, at least for stretches. No disrespect to Dorenzo Hudson or Jeff Allen -- both are very good players -- but they are a notch below the second and third options that the Blue Devils have. I think Delaney has the kind of senior season that Greivis Vasquez had last year; one where he puts up very impressive numbers and leads his team to their best season in recent memory. (Duke also had two, maybe three, viable player of the year candidates last year as well.) Keep in mind, Delaney has been on the wrong side of the bubble in each of his three seasons in Blacksburg. You don't think he is determined to win something this year?
And a close second goes to: Kyle Singler, Duke
Runner-up came down to Singler and Nolan Smith, but with the amount of talent that Duke has in their back court this year, Smith may not have the opportunites that Singler does. Hell, Smith could very well be a second-fiddle in the back court to Irving by season's end. I see Smith playing a complimentary role -- albeit very well, but still as a second or third option -- this season. Before last season, I called Singler the best complimentary player in the country. Last season changed my opinion of him. He played fantastic basketball down the stretch, capped by an outstanding tournament, a better title game, and a Final Four MOP award. This is Singler's team.
Breakout Star: Tyler Zeller, UNC
Zeller has had a rough first two seasons with the Tar Heels. As a freshman, he broke his wrist in the second game of the season before returning late in the year for front court depth and a shot to participate in a national championship. As a sophomore, Zeller missed 10 games with a stress fracture in his foot before returning for an essentially meaningless stretch run. And for the majority of his time in Chapel Hill, he has played second fiddle to the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Ed Davis, and Deon Thompson. Zeller is a talented player in the post, with a solid back-to-the-basket game and a nice touch of his jumper. Playing on a team where he is the only real offensive threat in the post with a talented back court, Zeller should have plenty of opportunities to get post touches and will be needed to rebound the ball effectively. He averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg playing just over 17 minutes as second fiddle last year. What happens this season when he is the a go-to guy in the post and gets 34 minutes?
All-Conference First Team:
All-Conference Second Team:
Freshman of the Year: Harrison Barnes, UNC
Barnes has a very real shot at being the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft should he decide to come out. A 6'8" small forward, Barnes is an incredibly smooth player. He doesn't have the length or freakish tools of a Kevin Durant, but plays a similar style to Durant. He's always under control, thrives in the mid-range, and is an excellent all-around shooter. Barnes is a smart kid that understands how to play the game and has sneaky athleticism. Barnes will likely be the focal point of the Tar Heel attack from day one, and some believe he has a shot at being a first-team all-american.
All-Freshman Team:
What Happened?:
What's Next?
Next up was Oliver Purnell, who simply up and left Clemson for DePaul. A week later, the Tigers signed Brad Brownell away from Wright State.
Perhaps the most surprising coaching change belongs to Wake Forest, who fired head coach Dino Gaudio despite making a second straight tournament after another disappointing finish to a season. The Demon Deacons hired Colorado head coach Jeff Bzdelik, who pulled of one of the more impressive recruiting feats I can remember. Bzdelik kept the Wake Forest assistant coaches on staff, and was able to convince all five members of Gaudio's impressive recruiting class to stay and give him a chance.
More bad news was sent the Hokies way when they found out that JT Thompson would miss the season after tearing his acl.
Power Rankings:
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