Team USA Exhibition 1: Canada

Not much of a challenge as Team USA blows out Canada, 120-65, still quite fun to watch. CP3 is amazing.

Dream Team Meltdown Beginning Already

Whoever is in charge of our country’s national basketball program is insane. It’s official. Want the definition?

People who repeats the same behavior expecting different results are insane.

That’s just what is happening with our team again this go around. The era of complete and utter domination is light years behind us so we better start making some changes. Picking a bunch of superstar NBA players used to work. Now? Uh… not so much. This go around we’re already furrowing our brow over the lack of big men and pesky injuries.

Can someone tell me why we just don’t let whoever wins the NBA title represent America? Even if you pull of the foreign players, isn’t that still our best bet? Maybe not the Mavs or Lakers, but still. What about the NCAA champ? Something’s gotta give.

Maybe I’m alone in this, but I’m not excited about this year’s Olympics because I dread the inevitable meltdown that’ll come from our Dream Team (version 6.0) failing to bring home the Gold.

NBA Draft ’08, Year of the Freshmen

With 7 of the top 10 projected picks being Freshman, the 2008 NBA Draft likely to hold some serious implications for the future. The draft is just 5 hours away!

I understand how many people can’t get into it, but like Bill Simmons, it’s one of my favorite sporting events of the year. I really can’t put my finger on it, but ever since I started playing Fantasy Football back in 2000, drafts have becomes one of my favorite activities.

And to answer your questions, “Yes. I am a massive nerd.”

Here’s pulling for Kentucky players Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley to get their chance in the NBA!

Coach Said What?!?

If you had asked me yesterday about Bruce Weber, I would have responded with a yawn. After the following quote by the main man, put dude on my Almost Up to Charles Barkley Status watch list.

Weber, on the Big Ten race: “The league should be wide open and we can be right in the middle of it. I do know one thing, though. I think Indiana will suck. Don’t put that on the Internet.” [link]

Rondo Comes Up Big for the C’s

It’s not that I love the Celtics. Growing up a Sixers fan, how could I? But I’ve always hated the Lakers. Kobe has only intensified my feelings towards their franchise.

Having a Kentucky player like Rajon Rondo play so well for the Celtics, especially against the Lakers, was joy in its purest form. As he continues to grow and gain NBA experience, understanding when to pass, when to fake then shoot, he’s going to be a force.

Congrats on #17 Beantown!

Kings of Flop

“Flopping in any language just plain sucks.” [via KSR]

Bird Blowup a Precursor to Detriot Boston Semi?

Watch this, please. Then tell me your favorite part. Mine? That when Bird throws the ball at Laimbeer, through a crowd of people he drills him in the ear. He deserved it. [via TBL]

Gillispie Recruits Like a Beast

I was quite excited when I heard that Kentucky’s new coach was a great recruiter, but that just doesn’t do it justice. After yet another great playing committing to play basketball at UK today (Hood), here’s where we stand. I’m a bit dizzy.

2008
DeAndre Liggins 6’6″ 190lb. PG
Darius Miller 6’6″ 215lb. SF
Kevin Galloway 6’6″ 210lb. SF
Josh Harrellson 6’9″ 265lb. PF

2009
GJ Vilarino 6’1″ 165lb. PG
Jon Hood 6’6″ 185lb. SF

2010
Dakotah Euton 6’7″ 200lb. PF
KC Ross-Miller 6’1″ 170lb. PG
Dominique Ferguson 6’9″ 200lb. PF

2011
Vinny Zollo 6’8″ 215lb. PF

2012
Michael Avery 6’4″ SG

That’s freaking awesome! Now where are all those schollies coming from?

Rondo Shouldn’t Be Overlooked In Celts Return

Kentucky fans have known that Rondo was talented from Day 1. Heading into the NBA, the question always was, “Could Rondo develop consistency in his jump shot so that defenders wouldn’t just play off him all day long?”

Looks like that’s exactly what he’s done. Now Simmons can’t contain his superlatives. (Mostly about the veteran’s affect on improving Rondo’s game, but that’s fairly accurate.)

I’m picking Boston to win it all this year. Big risk taker I am, huh?

209 Three Pointers In a Row

The most amazing part is that he had to rebound his own shots. Wowee! [via KSR]

What Sport Does Your City Love?

If you’re from Lexington, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Wildcats, then you already know the kind of town you live in. Everyone else? Here’s the rankings for city’s high on college basketball. [via KSR]

1. Lexington (65.7%)
2. Raleigh-Durham (61.8%)
3. Louisville (60.8%)
4. Tucson, Ariz. (58.5%)
5. Columbus, Ohio (56.5)
6. Cincinnati (55%)
7. Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri (53.6%)
8. Eugene-Springfield, Ore. (52.9%)
9. Syracuse, N.Y. (52.9%)
10. Columbia, S.C. (52.4%)
11. Memphis (51.4%)
12. Madison, Wisc. (48.8%)
13. Charlotte, N.C. (48.1%)
14. Indianapolis, Ind. (48%)
15. Little Rock, Ark. (47.6%)
16. Greensboro, N.C. (47.5%)
17. Dayton, Ohio (47.5)
18. Spokane, Wash. (47.3)
19. Kansas City (47.1%)
20. Grand Rapids, Mich. (46.5%)

Cats ‘D’ Is Wicked Good

Saw today on KSR that some Wildcats are making names for themselves in the NBA with their defense.

Point Guard 1st Team?

First team: Rajon Rondo, Boston (5.94)
A second-teamer last year, Rondo deservedly moves up to the first team this year. He’s as quick as any guard in the league, and his long arms make him an absolute pest to opposing point guards. Plus, he has the size to handle bigger guards in switches.

Last season, he had the best per-minute numbers at the position, and this season, he was second, so the numbers back up what the visuals tell me.

Small Forward 1st Team?

First team: Tayshaun Prince, Detroit (6.83)
For Prince, defense comes down to a simple premise — he can play further off his man than anyone else in the league because his arms are so long he can still challenge the shot. As a result, it’s very tough to get past him, yet it’s very tough to get a clean look from the perimeter against him.

He also is great at picking up guards on switches and, since Ben Wallace left, he has been more vital to Detroit’s defensive success.

What about Chuck Hayes? 3rd Team isn’t too shabby for a 6′ 6″ power forward.

Third team: Chuck Hayes, Houston (7.46)
A second-teamer a year ago, Hayes, at 6-6, is undersized for his position, but pound for pound, he’s one of the league’s strongest players. He knows how to use every ounce to push opponents out of prime post position.

His defensive stats have been ginormous all three seasons he’s been in the league, so even though he lost his job to Luis Scola, he still gets a top-three selection here.

That’s a pretty strong showing for the Kentucky Wildcats… way to go Cats!

NCAA Tourney Not Evil After All

Going into tonight’s games, I thought it likely that both UNC and UCLA would advance to the finals despite my most fervent wishes otherwise. Now, what you see below fills me with such delight, the likes of which you may never know.

My special thanks go out to all the players, coaches and even fans of Memphis and Kansas for their big wins. Now, if only Memphis can beat Kansas, I will have dodged the largest bullet known to man.

The Brackets Are Out!

The brackets are out! The brackets are out! So, how did the committee do? Very well, actually. Here are my only gripes:

• If Tennessee didn’t deserve one of the four #1 seeds after having the #1 RPI with the #1 strength of schedule (I don’t know what’s the deal with that) then they certainly didn’t deserve to be the #2 in the same bracket as the overall #1 seed North Carolina. Ooops!
• Duke received a gift with a #2 but hey, they’re Duke right? At least Georgetown took their Raleigh, NC location. I’d say Wisconsin deserved that spot a bit more than everyone’s favorite team to hate.
• UCLA has the easiest road to the Final Four of all the #1 seeds, by a large margin. Now watch A&M take them out in Round 2.
• Butler got the shaft with a #7; deserved at worst a #5.
• The ACC only got (4) teams in. Hahaha!
• Arizona didn’t deserve to get in, IMO. I would have given their slot to Dayton or Illinois St.
• The committee always puts Kentucky up against Marquette, UAB, Utah, Michigan St. or Iowa? Is that a rule I don’t know about?
• Rooting Interests: As always, pull against UCLA, North Carolina, Duke & Kansas. That goes w/o saying. Other than that, not a huge fan of Georgetown or UConn. Pulling for some SEC upsets and, of course, everyone’s favorite NCAA team, the proverbial underdog… (drumroll please)… let’s go UMBC! Who is UMBC? I’ve been doing brackets since I was 6 and I’ve never once heard of them.
• Prime Consideration: I hear all these mentally challenged talking heads talk about expanding the field. Can anyone tell me why we’d want to water-down the greatest post-season experience in all of sports?!? Oh… that’s right. Money. *sigh*

What do you think?

College Basketball Madness

In my book, this is the best time of the year to be a sports fan. NFL is good; their playoffs even better. The NBA season is a yawn but their post-season picks up a bit. Baseball? Seriously?!? Hockey, nope. Tennis, forgetabout. Golf? Only The Masters even gets a look.

I’m sorry, but no other sporting event demands my attention like March Madness. It’s like a bloody pit bull; grabbing me by the neck and refusing to let go. (How’s that for a pleasant metaphor?) So it’s with great anticipation that we come upon the 2008 Edition of March Madness. It’s especially grand this year because as recently as a month and a half ago, if you had told me the Wildcats would make the NCAA I would have fallen to the ground in a fit of laughter.

Selection Sunday is two short days away, but first, we get the Georgia Bulldogs in Catlanta. Let’s take care of business.

Go Big Blue!