Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Memphis Tigers Play
The Tigers take on top ranked Kansas in St. Louis this evening with revenge on their minds from a loss to the Jayhawks in the NCAA title game two seasons ago. Memphis takes the floor under the lead of new head coach Josh Pastner, former Tigers assistant. With Memphis 7-0 ATS as a dog of nine or more points when seeking revenge. With all the pressure on Kansas look for the Tigers to take home the cash.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Boeheim's 800th
In his 34 years as Syracuse's head coach even during the years when his face was one of those synonymous with Big East basketball, not even when he won a long-awaited national championship -- never was Jim Boeheim the type to dwell for long on his own accomplishments. On Monday night, when he earned his 800th career victory over Albany at the Carrier Dome, he was quoted in the Syracuse Post Standard this way: "I guess there's a 'wow' factor, winning 800. But then, it's not like playing golf with Tiger Woods. I mean, that's a real 'wow' factor.''
Boeheim playing down his feat was as expected as was his reference to his other favorite sport. But is it really possible to look at 800 victories, all at one school, with that school being his alma mater, and not greet it with at least a 'wow'?
If the fact that only seven other coaches with at least 10 years in Division I have done it doesn't elicit that reaction, then consider some of the legends who either have not gotten there yet, or never got there at all.
Take John Wooden, for example. He finished with 664 wins. He won 10 national championships and coached for 30 years. They weren't all at UCLA, and right now it's four fewer seasons than Boeheim, whose entire head coaching career has taken place since Wooden's retirement in 1975.
Or Lute Olson. When he finally moved awkwardly into retirement before last season at age 75, accompanied by health and personal issues, he had 780 wins, the bulk of them in his 25 years at Arizona. Boeheim turns 65 a week from Tuesday and has not even hinted at retirement, with the exception of having longtime assistant Mike Hopkins lined up for the last two seasons as his heir apparent at some undetermined time. Then again, Boeheim remains on Mike Krzyzewski's U.S. national team staff, so barring some massive upheaval in the next three years, he will be coaching at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Then there are the other recent members of the 800 club. Jim Calhoun, longtime friend and Big East rival at Connecticut, has battled health problems the last several seasons, including late last year as another wave of alleged recruiting violations bounced off him and the program. Calhoun, 2-1/2 years Boeheim's senior, won his 800th last season. Eddie Sutton's tenure at Oklahoma State, and seemingly his career, ended uncomfortably late in the 2005-06 season, two wins short of the milestone. His next job began just as uncomfortably, taking over in a controversial coaching change at San Francisco early in the 2007-08 season; he went 6-13, nabbed No. 800 and got out again.
Boeheim hitting the mark, though, was such a foregone conclusion, he entered this season mildly miffed that the win, and the surrounding attention, hadn't happened last season. Of course, that would have entailed either winning the Big East tournament (never mind that it was a miracle the Orange had reached the final, after the six-overtime classic over Connecticut and the overtime stunner over West Virginia in the previous rounds) or reaching the NCAA Elite Eight after all the Big East drama.
Back then, Boeheim was the one who could never get his perpetually-loaded team over the hump, the one that couldn't get to the Final Four the way the others did, the one whose team was the first to lose to a 15-seed in the expanded NCAA Tournament (1991, to Richmond in College Park, Md.), the one who looked more agitated at each call, each frustrating loss, each aggravating postgame question than all the other coaches combined.
Now Boeheim has a national championship, led by Carmelo Anthony in 2003, and two other title game appearances (very quietly, one in each of the last three decades), a won-loss record that puts him in the very elite of the sport's history, a career that seems to have no end, and no one closing in that much on his victory total.
Not Roy Williams, with one more national championship; North Carolina's opening-game win over Florida International Monday put him within five -- of 600. A trio of lifers in Bob Huggins, Tom Penders and Gary Williams are several seasons away from 700.
Rick Pitino is two seasons away from 800 -- total games coached, that is (he goes into the season at Louisville with 552 wins). John Calipari, now at Kentucky, has 445 career wins. Both had stints in the NBA to break their totals up. Both have worked at other schools besides their current one. Only two Division I coaches have won more at one college (Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp) and only two have coached more games at one college (Jim Phelan and Smith).
That's the neighborhood Boeheim is in now. Even Tiger Woods would probably say "wow'' to all of that.
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Boeheim playing down his feat was as expected as was his reference to his other favorite sport. But is it really possible to look at 800 victories, all at one school, with that school being his alma mater, and not greet it with at least a 'wow'?
If the fact that only seven other coaches with at least 10 years in Division I have done it doesn't elicit that reaction, then consider some of the legends who either have not gotten there yet, or never got there at all.
Take John Wooden, for example. He finished with 664 wins. He won 10 national championships and coached for 30 years. They weren't all at UCLA, and right now it's four fewer seasons than Boeheim, whose entire head coaching career has taken place since Wooden's retirement in 1975.
Or Lute Olson. When he finally moved awkwardly into retirement before last season at age 75, accompanied by health and personal issues, he had 780 wins, the bulk of them in his 25 years at Arizona. Boeheim turns 65 a week from Tuesday and has not even hinted at retirement, with the exception of having longtime assistant Mike Hopkins lined up for the last two seasons as his heir apparent at some undetermined time. Then again, Boeheim remains on Mike Krzyzewski's U.S. national team staff, so barring some massive upheaval in the next three years, he will be coaching at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Then there are the other recent members of the 800 club. Jim Calhoun, longtime friend and Big East rival at Connecticut, has battled health problems the last several seasons, including late last year as another wave of alleged recruiting violations bounced off him and the program. Calhoun, 2-1/2 years Boeheim's senior, won his 800th last season. Eddie Sutton's tenure at Oklahoma State, and seemingly his career, ended uncomfortably late in the 2005-06 season, two wins short of the milestone. His next job began just as uncomfortably, taking over in a controversial coaching change at San Francisco early in the 2007-08 season; he went 6-13, nabbed No. 800 and got out again.
Boeheim hitting the mark, though, was such a foregone conclusion, he entered this season mildly miffed that the win, and the surrounding attention, hadn't happened last season. Of course, that would have entailed either winning the Big East tournament (never mind that it was a miracle the Orange had reached the final, after the six-overtime classic over Connecticut and the overtime stunner over West Virginia in the previous rounds) or reaching the NCAA Elite Eight after all the Big East drama.
Back then, Boeheim was the one who could never get his perpetually-loaded team over the hump, the one that couldn't get to the Final Four the way the others did, the one whose team was the first to lose to a 15-seed in the expanded NCAA Tournament (1991, to Richmond in College Park, Md.), the one who looked more agitated at each call, each frustrating loss, each aggravating postgame question than all the other coaches combined.
Now Boeheim has a national championship, led by Carmelo Anthony in 2003, and two other title game appearances (very quietly, one in each of the last three decades), a won-loss record that puts him in the very elite of the sport's history, a career that seems to have no end, and no one closing in that much on his victory total.
Not Roy Williams, with one more national championship; North Carolina's opening-game win over Florida International Monday put him within five -- of 600. A trio of lifers in Bob Huggins, Tom Penders and Gary Williams are several seasons away from 700.
Rick Pitino is two seasons away from 800 -- total games coached, that is (he goes into the season at Louisville with 552 wins). John Calipari, now at Kentucky, has 445 career wins. Both had stints in the NBA to break their totals up. Both have worked at other schools besides their current one. Only two Division I coaches have won more at one college (Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp) and only two have coached more games at one college (Jim Phelan and Smith).
That's the neighborhood Boeheim is in now. Even Tiger Woods would probably say "wow'' to all of that.
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Marquette Signs Top 100 Prospect
My Alma Mater, The Marquette University men’s basketball program has signed prep standout Jamail Jones to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Buzz Williams announced Wednesday morning.
Jones, a 6-6, 205-pounder, will arrive on campus this summer and have four years of eligibility with the Golden Eagles.
“From the very first time I met Jamail, I genuinely appreciated his spirit,” Williams said. “In many ways, he reminded me of Wesley Matthews during that initial encounter. He has an outgoing personality, he is confident in who he is, yet humble and thankful for where he is. His parents and coaches have been perfect role models for him and within minutes he is someone you want to root for on and off the floor.”
Jones is considered one of the nation’s top prospects by several recruiting services. He is ranked 61st by ESPN.com’s ESPNU 100, 65th by Rivals.com, 74th by Hoopmasters.com and 112th by HoopScoopOnline.com.
He competed his junior campaign in 2008-09 at Green Forest Christian Academy in Decatur, Ga., and posted season averages of 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 3.0 blocks per game. The Eagles advanced to the state playoffs after capturing the regional title and concluded the year with an overall record of 26-4. For his efforts, Jones was named the region’s most valuable player and he claimed the same accolade from his team.
Jones helped the squad to a 16-9 overall record in 2007-08 and was named the program’s offensive player of the year after contributing 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per contest. He also earned a spot on the all-region team.
A three-year letterwinner at the school, Jones was tabbed to the all-region roster as a freshman and was also the squad’s newcomer of the year.
On the AAU circuit, Jones competed for Hoop Planet in tournaments across the nation, including the Grassroots Basketball of America event.
Jones will play at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., in 2009-10 under head coach Kevin Sutton.
“He has continued to improve since he committed, and I anticipate that is what I will be saying this time next year,” Williams added. “His versatility will allow him to do multiple things on both ends of the floor and as we continue to shape our roster, that is one of the characteristics we value the most.”
College basketball has officially tipped off. Get your College Basketball odds at Doc Sports today.
Jones, a 6-6, 205-pounder, will arrive on campus this summer and have four years of eligibility with the Golden Eagles.
“From the very first time I met Jamail, I genuinely appreciated his spirit,” Williams said. “In many ways, he reminded me of Wesley Matthews during that initial encounter. He has an outgoing personality, he is confident in who he is, yet humble and thankful for where he is. His parents and coaches have been perfect role models for him and within minutes he is someone you want to root for on and off the floor.”
Jones is considered one of the nation’s top prospects by several recruiting services. He is ranked 61st by ESPN.com’s ESPNU 100, 65th by Rivals.com, 74th by Hoopmasters.com and 112th by HoopScoopOnline.com.
He competed his junior campaign in 2008-09 at Green Forest Christian Academy in Decatur, Ga., and posted season averages of 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 3.0 blocks per game. The Eagles advanced to the state playoffs after capturing the regional title and concluded the year with an overall record of 26-4. For his efforts, Jones was named the region’s most valuable player and he claimed the same accolade from his team.
Jones helped the squad to a 16-9 overall record in 2007-08 and was named the program’s offensive player of the year after contributing 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per contest. He also earned a spot on the all-region team.
A three-year letterwinner at the school, Jones was tabbed to the all-region roster as a freshman and was also the squad’s newcomer of the year.
On the AAU circuit, Jones competed for Hoop Planet in tournaments across the nation, including the Grassroots Basketball of America event.
Jones will play at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., in 2009-10 under head coach Kevin Sutton.
“He has continued to improve since he committed, and I anticipate that is what I will be saying this time next year,” Williams added. “His versatility will allow him to do multiple things on both ends of the floor and as we continue to shape our roster, that is one of the characteristics we value the most.”
College basketball has officially tipped off. Get your College Basketball odds at Doc Sports today.
Shaq vs. Superman
It's hard not to like Shaq, the most compelling NBA player of his era and arguably the best center in history. His love of the spotlight, his often-outrageous, sometimes-egotistical, always-entertaining behavior made him a must-see attraction since he entered the league with Orlando a long, long time ago.It's why there will be some sadness in seeing him get destroyed on his former home court Wednesday night by Superman, Dwight Howard.
O'Neal's belief -- and insistence -- that he won't need any double-team help to manage Howard around the basket when his Cavs play Howard and the Magic on national television Wednesday, is a fantasy.
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All Star Ballot Released
I wrote in September that perhaps there would be no worthy center to start for the west in the All-Star Game.But this isn't the way I want to see that solved. Do it on the court, not with the ballot.
When the All-Star ballot came out Tuesday, Phoenix power for Amare Stoudamire strangely was listed as a center. Yes, Stoudemire has played center before, but he's started all eight games for Suns this season at power forward, with Channing Frye being the starting center.
It is true the ballot, which was selected by six media members from around the country, had to be decided upon before the season began in order to provide time for printing. But it has been apparent since at least September that Frye would Phoenix's starting center, with Stoudemire at power forward.
Yes, the crop of centers in the West is not strong, with Shaq having departed from Phoenix to Cleveland in the East and Houston's Yao out for the season due to injury. Still, I don't think it's proper to move players on the ballot to positions at which they don't start.
Anyhow, so much for the Lakers' Bynum or Minnesota's Al Jefferson getting the starting nod at center for the West. Stoudemire figures to win the fan voting for the Feb. 14 game in Dallas in an election that conjures up memories of Nixon over McGovern in 1972.
Omissions on the ballot were Yao and New Jersey big man Yi Jilian, but I have no problem with either. Yao is obviously hurt, so it would have been ridiculous to have listed him -- especially because he probably would have won. As for Yi, a 9.8 scoring average last season does not guarantee inclusion on the ballot.
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Our Prayers Are With You, Kareem
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, my father’s favorite basketball player and the leading scorer in NBA history, revealed that he has leukemia. In an interview on GMA, Jabbar said that when he found out last December, he thought it was a “death sentence.” But like his former teammate who has HIV, Magic Johnson, Jabbar is doing well today. I took in my first NBA game on Dec. 17, 1985 with my Dad when the Lakers visited the Knicks. LA won, as Jabbar bested 1st year pro Patrick Ewing (at least that’s how I remember it). The game was scintillating, and afterward, we memorably walked about 20 blocks in freezing weather and marveled at how a 38-year-old Jabbar looked so graceful flipping that skyhook over the awesome young rookie from Georgetown. That’s the day I began to love the NBA.
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Sunday Play, Get Your Free Money Now
The Jaguars got back to .500 at 4-4 for the third time this season last Sunday when they beat Kansas City, 24-2, and now head to New York to take on a Jets team that has lost four of its last five games.
David Garrard threw for 264 yards, including a 61-yard TD pass to Mike Sims-Walker, and had a 110.7 QB rating against the Chiefs.
Expect to see a lot of Maurice-Jones Drew in this one as well as the RB continues to excel this season.
After allowing the Titans 305 rushing yards last week, they held the Chiefs to just 60 yards in 14 carries.
It's true that Jacksonville is just 1-4 ATS its last five overall, but its 4-2 SU its last six and is on a long-term 5-0 ATS run vs. New York.
On the other side of the field: Mark Sanchez is the seventh-lowest rated starting QB in the AFC, and his eight fumbles are a major red flag.
New York is coming off a disheartening loss to the Dolphins and I expect a "letdown" this week; the Jets are 1-4 ATS their last five and are a horrible 2-5 ATS their last seven at Giants Stadium.
Bottom line: I look for Jones Drew to have a big day and test the Jets defensive line and believe this game will come down to a FG; look for the JAGUARS to improve to a perfect 3-0 ATS this season as an underdog of 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 points and for the Jets to fall to 2-4 ATS their last six as a favorite.
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David Garrard threw for 264 yards, including a 61-yard TD pass to Mike Sims-Walker, and had a 110.7 QB rating against the Chiefs.
Expect to see a lot of Maurice-Jones Drew in this one as well as the RB continues to excel this season.
After allowing the Titans 305 rushing yards last week, they held the Chiefs to just 60 yards in 14 carries.
It's true that Jacksonville is just 1-4 ATS its last five overall, but its 4-2 SU its last six and is on a long-term 5-0 ATS run vs. New York.
On the other side of the field: Mark Sanchez is the seventh-lowest rated starting QB in the AFC, and his eight fumbles are a major red flag.
New York is coming off a disheartening loss to the Dolphins and I expect a "letdown" this week; the Jets are 1-4 ATS their last five and are a horrible 2-5 ATS their last seven at Giants Stadium.
Bottom line: I look for Jones Drew to have a big day and test the Jets defensive line and believe this game will come down to a FG; look for the JAGUARS to improve to a perfect 3-0 ATS this season as an underdog of 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 points and for the Jets to fall to 2-4 ATS their last six as a favorite.
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Monday, November 9, 2009
Case of the Mondays
On Monday night, the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks crack skulls on the hardwood. The oddsmakers have made the Jazz modest favorites in this one, but the number I'm focusing in on is the posted 'total' of 210, which is too low for my money.
It's an understatement to say that both of these teams have been struggling defensively. Utah just conceded a whopping 104 points at home to a Sacramento team that was playing without its best shooter. The 104.0 points per game that the Jazz are allowing ranks 21st in the NBA. They're allowing opposing teams to knock down 45.9% of their shots from downtown. However, save the clunker of a 96-85 loss to Dallas back on November 3rd, the offense for HC Jerry Sloan has done its job. Yes, he would've loved to see a lot more points hit the board against the Kings on Saturday, but 113 points against San Antonio proves that this team can score and score in bunches.
Then there are the Knicks, who not only play an up and down game like no one else in the Eastern Conference, but they also do a very poor job of playing defense. The Bucks, playing without G Michael Redd, dropped 102 points on New York's 'D' on Saturday night, easily the most embarrassing performance for HC Mike D'Antoni's team this season. The Knicks have allowed every opponent to score at least 100 points this year, and that's very unlikely to change on Monday night.
It's not like New York doesn't have the ability to score as well. The team is averaging 100.6 points per game, and will likely finish well above that by the team the '09-'10 season is over. However, the unit has been held to an average of 89 points in its L/3 games, a number which is incredibly unacceptable by Knicks fans.
In addition to the fact that both teams should be able to run to this 'total', they can both shoot free throws as well. The Knicks rank 3rd in the NBA at 81.9% from the charity stripe, while the Jazz are just behind them in 4th.
The 'over' has cashed in ten times in Utah's L/12 road games overall and is 10-4 in its L/14 games following an ATS defeat. Even though the Knicks have played 18 of their L/25 games 'under' the number, 'over' bettors have cashed in nine times in New York's L/12 home games when it is a dog by less than five points. The last outing between these teams ended in a 112-104 victory for the Jazz. Expect at least that many points on the scoreboard on Monday. Book it!!!
It's an understatement to say that both of these teams have been struggling defensively. Utah just conceded a whopping 104 points at home to a Sacramento team that was playing without its best shooter. The 104.0 points per game that the Jazz are allowing ranks 21st in the NBA. They're allowing opposing teams to knock down 45.9% of their shots from downtown. However, save the clunker of a 96-85 loss to Dallas back on November 3rd, the offense for HC Jerry Sloan has done its job. Yes, he would've loved to see a lot more points hit the board against the Kings on Saturday, but 113 points against San Antonio proves that this team can score and score in bunches.
Then there are the Knicks, who not only play an up and down game like no one else in the Eastern Conference, but they also do a very poor job of playing defense. The Bucks, playing without G Michael Redd, dropped 102 points on New York's 'D' on Saturday night, easily the most embarrassing performance for HC Mike D'Antoni's team this season. The Knicks have allowed every opponent to score at least 100 points this year, and that's very unlikely to change on Monday night.
It's not like New York doesn't have the ability to score as well. The team is averaging 100.6 points per game, and will likely finish well above that by the team the '09-'10 season is over. However, the unit has been held to an average of 89 points in its L/3 games, a number which is incredibly unacceptable by Knicks fans.
In addition to the fact that both teams should be able to run to this 'total', they can both shoot free throws as well. The Knicks rank 3rd in the NBA at 81.9% from the charity stripe, while the Jazz are just behind them in 4th.
The 'over' has cashed in ten times in Utah's L/12 road games overall and is 10-4 in its L/14 games following an ATS defeat. Even though the Knicks have played 18 of their L/25 games 'under' the number, 'over' bettors have cashed in nine times in New York's L/12 home games when it is a dog by less than five points. The last outing between these teams ended in a 112-104 victory for the Jazz. Expect at least that many points on the scoreboard on Monday. Book it!!!
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