The Weekend Slate…

I think we can safely say that the Mason win over Drexel is a Good, Bad, and Ugly entry unto its own. In other CAA action this weekend:

Delaware travels to New Rochelle, NY tonight to play winless Iona. That’s two teams with a combined 0-9 record on a cold Friday night. I can feel the excitement from Richmond. Previously, Iona lost to ODU by 11. For the love of Harding Nana, Delaware needs to win this one. They will, by a score of 71-63.

Saturday greets us with three conference tilts:

JMU at Nor’Easter: This ain’t the California Penal League. JMU is better than previous years, but they aren’t winning at Mathews. Cap’n Matt 78, JMU 74.

The Ub at Hofstra: The Pride has not looked crisp so far this season. What they need is a team that doesn’t play much defense. Like UNCW. Vladie Kools against Greg Washington will be funny to watch. Hofstra 78, UNCW 74.

ODU at Georgia State: The Panthers are showing signs of life. The Monarchs are in need of an identity. Everything points to Georgia State keeping this close and perhaps upsetting ODU. That why ODU will win 75-59.

Also on the Saturday slate is Creighton returning their BracketBusters game with Drexel. I don’t know what to make of 85-38, do you? Does anyone? Dad’s Rule applies. Dragons 62, Creighton 58.

Sunday brings us the BB&T Classic with the historically-significant East Carolina vs. George Mason matchup. Yeah, I made that up for drama purposes. All I know about East Carolina is that Mack McCarthy is coaching them, which means hide the kids. Andrew Dice Clay has nothing on McCarthy. The Mason Machine rolls along, but there’s enough sputtering to keep Larranaga interested. Mason 74, East Carolina 64.

VCU and Maryland hook up in the nightcap. This isn’t fair for me to pick. Maryland stands for everything I despise in sports. Their coach whines a lot and sweats a lot. Their point guard should be playing for Duke. They’ve never accepted they could do anything wrong. Their fans are the worst. I mean the most crass, least intelligent, most belligerent, stupidest, ugliest, think-they’re-funny-but-are-not lot I’ve ever seen. That said, I think Maryland wins. And that stinks. Terps by six.

***

Did I really just invoke the name “Andrew Dice Clay?” Stella !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Can I Say But: “Oh Wow.”

Never could’ve seen that coming. Not in one million and 50 years. To say George Mason took Drexel behind the woodshed would be like saying VCU and Towson laid eggs last night.

The final score, 85-38, stands on its own merit. Any analysis of this game is like like talking about yesterday’s weather. The sun came up, it was chilly, a little wind, and then the sun went down and it got colder. So what…let’s talk about tomorrow’s weather.

And that’s what we’re going to do.

You can bet Bruiser won’t go all Bobby Knight on his team. A remarkable combination of events convened to produce the lopsided game and he knows that. Yelling is useless. He will likely pick out about 10-15 plays that show the differences in these two teams and talk to the Dragons about execution, fighting through adversity, and togetherness. The result of this game is about something bigger than attacking a zone defense.

He won’t discuss how Drexel found themselves down 29-9 and then 40-15 at the half. He will focus on how it got worse from there. The lesson: tomorrow. We said in the preseason that Drexel will be a much better team in February because they had to mix in freshmen guards. This is the sign.

As for Mason, all I can muster is: machine. We wrote the other day that they look very-good-team-good, or something like that. Wow. The Patriots have all the parts and they are working together stunningly well right now.

I look at their schedule–because as fans we have the luxury of looking ahead–and I cannot see George Mason being threatened until they visit Pecora and Hofstra on January 16. They’d be 15-1 heading into that contest on The Island.

Impressive.

Ridiculously impressive.

***

It ain’t fun-and-games in Richmond right now. VCU got the wake up call of all wake up calls last night in losing 64-55 to Hampton. Sure, everyone talked about getting that phone call in Puerto Rico:

VCU: “Hello?”

College Hoops Karma: “You’re not that good.”

VCU: “Got it. You’re right. We took Miami and Arkansas for granted.”

College Hoops Karma nods, knowing the hubris in that statement.

The Hampton loss will open eyes. You can equivocate a loss to a BCS team, but there is no hiding from losing to a MEAC team, even the team picked to win the conference.

Here’s the thing about that one. Everyone is going off the deep end, shouting for a shooter to emerge to for VCU. Hampton went zone almost exclusively. That excuse is too easy, as is a 35-1 free throw disparity the first 37 minutes of the game.

No, the problem is what Anthony Grant talks about in every single presser: value the basketball. VCU committed 21 turnovers last night and forced just 14. On the season the Rams turnover differential: 88 committed, 99 forced. Last season VCU was top 10 nationally in that category, and this year that number is average, at best.

Always lost in “94 feet both ways” is how important your 47 feet are to the process.

***

Finally, I have to admit zero knowledge of how Towson lost to Navy last night. It was a focus issue: the conference opener on teevee, VCU on the radio, and a game of Sorry! with my daughter took precedence.

I figured this was a easy one on which to turn my back. I was wrong. I actually thought ESPN had made a mistake when the score crawled across teh bottom of the screen. Again, I was wrong.

Hmph.

***

Weekend previews later today.

Three Games, Third Post…

Towson heads to one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever visited, Annapolis. I would move there, if not for the standard of living–a 2 BR house costs in the neighborhood of Larranaga’s salary. Not that that has anything to do with basketball.

PKs boys will complete the back end of its holiday Whole Lotta by drilling Navy. Your job is to look for maturation: Rodney Spruill set a career-high and led the Tigers in scoring last time out. POY Hairston, until someone proves me wrong, continues to improve. Oh, and we’re about three weeks from Thornton. Just file that away as Towson rolls 71-57.

VCU travels down I-64 to Hampton and will likely carry more fans than will show for Hampton. It’s a roadie on the books but neutral–at best–in the arena. And that’s where the game is played. VCU wins convincingly is what honestly will be a very, very ugly basketball game. Rams 65, Pirates 53.

One final game…hang on, I have to look it up…I’ve forgotten who is playing…ah, here it is.

Drexel to the Pat Dome for a gamer against the Fightin’ Larranagas. What a great way to open the season. This will be an all-out battle. Elegar v. Thomas. Nuf ced McGreevey. We don’t need hyperbole, it would cheapen this game.

If this game were played in February, the result may be different. But late November is a smidge early for Gerald Colds and Jamie Harris. Figure Elegar and Thomas cancel, that leaves two freshmen against Campbell and Carter. That’s two Final Fours against 12 total games. Egad.

If John Vaughan gets hot it will be a 10-plus point victory. He won’t, and we’re all treated to a defensive struggle. Final: George Mason 61, Drexel 56.

(Side note: Will Thomas vs. Elegar at the foul line is an interesting subplot. File away the number of attempts and successes.)

An Interlude…

Two things jumped out at me as I prepared to move on to paying work. I was checking out Radford and Mull, because those guys see ODU and UNCW every day and carry valuable insight nobody else can give you. And since those two teams are likely the most interesting, I’m paying closer attention.

Here’s what I’ve got (or more accurately, they’ve got):

Brian points out that UNCW is playing noticeably worse in the second half of games, and they are clearly a team in need of identity. That can happen when players get comfy with a new coach and system and then you plop several talented freshmen (Lacy, Tomko) and an All CAA senior performer (Carter) on top of them.

You get into tight situations and wonder who is going to do what, and when.

***

They are jumping off the Bay Bridge in Norfolk after a not-as-close-loss-as-anyone-wants-to-admit to Georgetown last night. Some “fans” are disgusted with the seniors and calling for their benching in favor of freshmen and sophomores. They are hysterically questioning the best coach the program has ever had–you know, the guy that coached them to an at large bid last season.

Rich correctly points out that “One thing you should realize: A lot of the successes of the freshmen came against the opposition’s bench. A lot of the frustrations of the seniors came against the opposition’s starters. Not to say that ODU’s bench right now isn’t outplaying the first line.”

Click through to the post because there are some great Taylor quotes as well.

I like Frank Hassell as much as the next guy but he’s not ready to get clubbed by Hibbert after facing Hanbrough and Company in Vegas. This isn’t to say that the youngsters won’t be rolling up the minutes and victories in early January. You just can’t throw them to the wolves.

Copycatting, or smart? Anthony Grant did the same thing with his talented freshmen in Puerto Rico.

The Double-Double…

We’re literally standing on the precipice of the conference season. Drexel is probably grabbing a bite to eat in some Fairfax hotel before reviewing some film for its roadie against Mason this evening as I type.

And I want to point out that if All Conference ballots were submitted today, mine would look, well, odd:

Frank Elegar, Drexel

Will Thomas, Mason

Lennie Mendez, Ga State

Junior Hairston, Towson

Terence Carter, JMU

Carter had 17 and 10 last night in JMUs win over EKU, and Hairston went for 15 and 12 in Towson’s sleepwalk victory over NC Central. It was Hairston’s fourth double-double of the season and Carter’s second. Thomas has three and Elegar has two. Mendez’s teammate Rashed Chase has three himself.

I point this out because neither Carter nor Hairston were on anyone’s preseason anything other than depth chart. They deserve mention, and Hairston for POY.

Yes, I know it is the end of November, but these are things to keep in mind as the conference season begins. You will want to talk Jalloh and Maynor and TJ Carter. You can. Just don’t forget these guys, too.

***

Special attention is also mertied for Gerald Lee, who managed a career game against Georgetown and All American and SI cover boy Roy Hibbert despite having his entire team on his back. Impressive.

Final captip to Cap’n Matt, who poured in 34 points in Nor’Easter’s loss to Rhody.

More coming later. Re: tonight’s games.

Leave It To Poor Bill…

Schedules himself a bit of a break–respective to the rest of the Huskies’ noncon slate–and travels a short distance to face Rhode Island of the A10. All he gets is a 6-1 team whose only loss was at Boston College by four on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

The Rams are no slouch 6-1 either (”Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a tremendous slouch.”). They’ve beaten South Florida and UAB.

This would be a nice-to-have win for Nor’Easter and the CAA. Vegas agrees, slotting Rhody as double-digit favorites. Honestly, I like Cap’n Matt and the Unmentionables. Huskies win 74-70.

The Tribe will play about three miles from my house this evening, and I won’t be there. (The whole cold thing.) It is an amazingly circular game, proving, perhaps, that the entire world revolves around the Richmond/Williamsburg corridor. Try to stay with me on this:

Former Richmond (the university of) player Monty Sanders transferred to Elon, who visited Richmond (the city) last week to play VCU. Also last week, Drexel traveled to Charlottesville to play UVa, who has former W&M guard Calvin Baker coming off the bench. William & Mary is in Richmond (the city) tonight to play Richmond (the university of). The first Thansksgiving was held in Williamsburg. Surely they needed a Baker for the meal. And a Butler, as in Richmond (the university of) guard Ryan Butler, who hails from Richmond (the city).

While I reconsider dosage amounts, I’ll call Tribe 61, Spiders 58.

Georgia State hosts Jacksonville, a 2-1 team that is unimpressive. Plus, Artis Gilmore is in his 60s and Dee Brown in his 40s. Panthers roll 84-71.

The Ub (sorry, no D there yet) hosts a Toledo team that is, well, not good. They’ve beaten Missouri State, but that is the outlyer. Old Dominion made them look pitiful, and there’s nothing like a trip to the east coast in between Thanksgiving and exams. The Ub wins easily 81-71.

James Madison, with Richmond (the university of) transfer Steven Kendall, heads to Richmond, KY–you doubted me, didn’t you?–to play Eastern Kentucky, who was once coached by ex-VCU head coach Mike Pollio. EKU hasn’t won yet and will not tonight. JMU 85, EKU 76.

Two Full Days…And Entries…

First, let me just say that a bad cold is the world’s worst malady. I’ll take a broken leg, the flu, or even malaria before I choose a head cold.

You see, many health issues knock you down. You feel awful, but it is in-bed awful. A cold? Not so much. No, you feel horrible, but you still feel good enough to do some things. There is the guilt of laying around useless when you know there are things that can be accomplished–especially when it involves sitting in a chair typing on a computer.

So you make the effort–because you can–and feel worse. It’s a terrible, terrible existence and a hell I’m in the middle of right now. I’d rather be out cold. Or better yet healthy.

But anyway…

***

Tonight’s heavyweight fight is an Ali/Frazier-esque rematch. Hoya Paranoia is in full swing as JT3 brings Georgetown to The Ted to face ODU. You may remember last season, when ODU went to some junior high gym in DeeCee and knocked off the seventh-ranked team in the country.

Most everyone will be talking the near 15 feet worth of centers battle of Hibbert vs. Harris. But I want to see Jessie Sapp and Brandon Johnson sqaure off. It will be a battle of strong, aggressive guards. And look for a donnybrook between DaJuan Summers and Gerald Lee.

Blaine Taylor is the better coach and the Ted will be off the hook, but Georgetown is the better team. This one will be close from minute 1 to minute 40, possibly 45. Hoyas prevail 61-59.

***

Other games…next entry.

Tonight, A Coupla Primers…

Sorry for the delay, I’ve been stuck analyzing weather patterns and phases of the moon and even consulting some parapsychology journals. I’ve been trying to explain Will Thomas going 14-17 from the free throw line in Orlando and I cannot figure it out. Some things, I guess, must remain a mystery.

***

Tonight’s agenda features a must-win (in the spirit of “can’t lose”) and a nice win.

The can’t lose moment is brought to you by Junior Hairston and the Towson Tigers. They host North Carolina Central. The Tigers have posted the Ye Olde Splitteroo so far. Towson is 2-2, 1-1 at home and on the road. Their record is about as expected.

This is a get-em-going game. NC Central is 1-6 but has played an aggressive schedule. The telling part, though, is that NCC has lost games by 65 points, 25 points, 54 points, 53 points, and 48 points. PKs boys have got to win this one by a Whole Lotta.

It would be nice to see Monte Ross and Delaware knock off Hampton. The Pirates are beginning a three-game swing through the CAA (with VCU and Mason up next) and will be a test. Hampton has a kid Rashad West who could easily play and start for any CAA team. Plus, they feature a couple big men that were named to the MEAC all freshman team last year.

Won’t be easy but I’ll take the homestanding Hens in a nailbiter.

***

Irrelevant side note: Missouri versus West Virginia for the national title in college football? The BCS must be proud. Pardon me while I laugh so hard milk shoots out my nose.

From the Home Office in Richmond, VA…

Thanks to the CAA office for the following official awards:

CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Will Thomas, George Mason

Sr., F, 6-7, 230, Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph

Thomas repeats as CAA Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists to earn all-tournament honors at the Old Spice Classic. The senior forward recorded a team-high 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in an 87-77 win over 18th-ranked Kansas State, had 15 points and eight boards in an 84-76 loss to #20 Villanova and finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds as Mason beat South Carolina 69-68 to place third in the tournament. Thomas shot 55.6% from the floor and made 14-of-17 at the FT line.

CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Chad Tomko, UNC Wilmington

Fr., G, 5-11, 165, Charlotte, N.C./Independence

Tomko averaged 12.0 points, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals as UNC Wilmington went 2-1 in the Chicago Invitational Challenge. The freshman nailed 5-of-7 three-pointers and scored a career-high 17 points in a loss at 8th-ranked Indiana, contributed 14 points and three steals in a victory over Longwood and had five points and three assists in a win over Coppin State. Tomko shot 57.1% from the floor for the week, including 9-of-13 from beyond the arc.

And A Few Early Impressions…

It’s becoming important because conference play begins on Thursday with Drexel at Mason. Really.

Mason looks good. I mean really good. As in good team good. Dre Smith and Folarin Campbell aren’t playing well and we haven’t even seen Darryl Monroe yet. Jordan Carter is playing out of his mind, and Will Thomas still doesn’t have a 15-foot jumper and it still doesn’t matter.

For its wins and losses–they’ve done exactly as expected–Old Dominion is also a contender. Brandon Johnson learned how to shoot this summer, and Gerald Lee will be very good if he can remain aggressive in the face of stiff competition.

VCU and Drexel are similar in that you can see the pieces of very good basketball teams. They need freshmen to contribute and second-scorers to emerge.

JMU has flipped the paradigm: they have shown flashes of ineptitude (VMI) amidst a handful of very good games. In years past it has been the other way around.

The jury is out on Towson and Nor’Easter (though signs look good for Cap’n Matt and Junior Hairston), as well as UNCW and the Tribe (signs not so good…no D in the Dub and mixing issues at WM).

Georgia State and Delaware are Georgia State and Delaware.

Hofstra is in obvious adjustment mode and searching for its identity–you don’t lose the conference POY and four-year point guard and transition smoothly. Pecora is good enough to get them going in the right direction.

Maybe more depth later. Time for lunch. A turkey sandwich.