The Confidential

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Archive for the tag “basketball”

06 Aug 2012
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Today in the A.C.C. (August 6, 2012)

Here is a quick look at what is newsworthy in the Atlantic Coast Conference today, August 6, 2012:

  • In football, Duke WR Blair Holliday has been transferred to an Atlanta hospital.

Holliday suffered brain injuries in a July boating incident.  Hopefully, his recovery goes well.  Also, the report notes as follows: “Duke updated Holliday’s status in an announcement about the creation of a trust endowment in the receiver’s name.”  That’s a classy gesture, Duke.  Nice work.

  • In basketball, North Carolina State freshman guard Rodney Purvis is having eligibility issues.

Purvis was a McDonald’s All-American and prep basketball player of the year for North Carolina, so he is supposed to be a major  contributed for the Wolfpack this year.  Unfortunately, this eligibility issue stems from a review of his high school, and will keep/delay him from going with the rest of the team on an exhibition tour of Spain.  Hopefully, it gets sorted out fairly and appropriately before the season starts.

  • Interestingly, ESPN is touting North Carolina State as perhaps the favorite in the conference this year for hoops.

Time will tell.  Although a bit dated, the article does provide a nice overview of all the conference teams.   A worthy read.

  • Also in hoops, Duke will be joined in the Battle 4 Atlantis this year by a stacked lineup of Louisville, Memphis, Stanford, Missouri, Minnesota, VCU, and Northern Iowa.

WOW!  Where is the easy game there?  Remember that least year Harvard won this tournament too.  Don’t count out VCU and Northern Iowa.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Football, Today in the ACC and tagged , , , ,
16 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Lucky 13: Syracuse Will Officially Join the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2013

Syracuse University has announced that it has reached a deal with the Big East that will allow Syracuse to join the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2013.  Syracuse will pay $7,500,000–only $2,500,000 more than the buyout of $5,000,000.  With this move, the Atlantic Coast Conference is certain to have 13 teams for the 2013 football season.  It is likely that Pitt will join the ACC for 2013 as well, however, that dispute is in the court system right now.

Reports are that West Virginia paid $20,000,000 to exit the Big East in time for the 2012 football season.  However, the exit fee for West Virginia was $10,000,000, based on changes to the rules after Syracuse and Pitt announced they were leaving.  Kudos to Syracuse and the Big East for being able to resolve their differences without the need for attorneys.

For the ACC, it is not looking like there will be 7-team divisions in 2013.  Let’s hope that the powers that be finally get around to logical geographical divisions.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Football and tagged , , , , ,
23 Apr 2012

Virginia Tech Fires Seth Greenberg

After a 16-17 season, the Virginia Tech Hokies have decided to go in a different direction with its basketball program, firing Seth Greenberg.  Abandoning all class, the Hokies decided to make the move last week, but only bothered to tell Greenberg today–about 3 hours before an already-announced press conference.  This is particularly true when the season has been over for several weeks now.

As such, it is hardly shocking that Greenberg was stunned by the decision:

“I was completely shocked and blindsided by the decision of Jim Weaver and the administration. These past nine years have been some of the most rewarding for me both personally and professionally,” Greenberg told ESPN.com just after 6 p.m. Monday. ” … I appreciate the support from (Virginia Tech) president (Charles W.) Steger, the Hokie Nation, the student body, my coaching staff and all our players. Our program was built on family, trust and relationships. I leave the program in far greater shape than when I was hired nine years ago.”

Greenberg is right.  The Hokies ARE in better shape than they were nine years ago.

Still, it has been bubble-season after bubble-season for Virginia Tech under Greenberg.  The team never did turn the corner.  And this year, they lost sight of the corner completely.

It’s just a shame that the Hokies could not have handled the transition a little classier and smoother.  So it goes.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , ,
06 Apr 2012

Good News/Bad News on Early Entries

One ACC team received good news with respect to the NBA Draft, while another ACC team received bad news.  The good news is that North Carolina’s James Michael McAdoo will be returning for his sophomore season.  The bad news is that Syracuse’s Fab Melo has declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft.  While both moves were expected, that does not lessen the impact.

For North Carolina, it is already looking at a season without Josh Henson, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, and ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller.  And there was talk that McAdoo would be a lottery pick.  That is somewhat surprising given that he averaged about 15 minutes a game, and only six points per game.  But the NBA is all about potential and McAdoo’s potential is clear.  Also, he played very well down the stretch.  This is a win-win, as North Carolina gets one more experienced player and McAdoo gets a chance to develop his game.

In Syracuse, the expectation that Fab Melo was finished does not lessen the impact.  Melo was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.  However, he had eligibility troubles all year–making it unlikely that he would return to work on his improving, but subpar, offensive game.  Syracuse does have a few returning big men, plus incoming McDonald’s All-American DaJuan Coleman.  So all is not lost for the Orange.  Still, they would have preferred one more year of Melo.

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , , , ,
04 Apr 2012

Here comes the 2012-2013 Preseason Polls

While most of the college basketball world has shifted from the 2011-2012 season into preparing for the Mayan End of the World in December 2012, a few brave souls have decided to issue early pre-season basketball polls.

CBS’s Dennis Dodd decided to go away out on a limb by projecting Kentucky #1.  Syracuse, at #7, is the highest ranking ACC team, while North Carolina is at #10.  North Carolina State at #15 edges out Duke at #18.  No other ACC team made Dodd’s list.

ESPN’s Andy Katz at least tries to do something different, projecting Indiana as #1.  Katz has North Carolina State at #6 and North Carolina at #11.  Syracuse and Duke are #14 and #15, respectfully.  He also has Florida State, Pitt, and Maryland “on the cusp.”

NBC’s Mike Miller also has Indiana as the projected #1.  So maybe Katz is right and Dodd is the one that is clueless.  Miller has North Carolina State #4, Duke #11, Syracuse #15, and North Carolina all the way down at #22.  Miller also “considered” Maryland, which is nice.

Combining these three polls, reveals the following results:

  • North Carolina State: #15, #6, and #4 = 25 pts
  • Syracuse: #7, #14, and #15 = 36 pts
  • North Carolina: #10, #11, and #22 = 43 pts
  • Duke #18, #15, and #11 = 44 pts

There it is, folks.  Looks like the North Carolina State Wolfpack are you early favorites to take home the ACC Championship in 2012-2013.  Assuming we make it that far, of course.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Predictions and tagged , , , , , , ,
03 Apr 2012

Kentucky Wins National Title

If, by chance, you were living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you might not have noticed that Kentucky defeated Kansas to win the National Championship last night, 67-59.  For John Calipari, his recruitment of one-and-done players has finally panned out with a national title.  For the rest of college basketball, it is a bit disappointing that such a non-traditional roster was able to achieve what it did.  Still, there is no question that Kentucky was the best team in college basketball in 2011-2012.  The team deserves the title.

For most ACC fans, there is little to really complain about.  Other than North Carolina and Syracuse, nobody was going to beat Kentucky.  Not Duke.  Kentucky was that good.

For North Carolina and Syracuse, there is disappointment.  A healthy Tar Heels squad would have competed with Kentucky.  After all, Kentucky only beat North Carolina 73-72 when both teams were at full strength.  Of course, the Tar Heels were not healthy for most of the last several weeks of the season.  Ultimately, no rematch happened for the 32-6 Tar Heels.

Syracuse did not suffer injuries, but was plagued by the academic (allegedly) woes of Fab Melo.  The Orange battled valiantly without the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.  At the same time, the Kentucky front line would have given the 34-3 Syracuse Orange all it could handle.  Plus, Kentucky’s outside shooting last night suggested that the zone might not have posed much of a problem–especially without Melo.

In the end, it was Kentucky’s year.  Although bittersweet, it is what it is.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Game Review and tagged , , , , ,
30 Mar 2012

Pittsburgh Defeats Washington State, Wins CBI

The 2011-2012 edition of the Pittsburgh Panthers basketball team will not go down in history as a good one.  At one point, the team was 11-1 and looking like a fairly normal edition–except for a stunning home loss to Long Beach State.  And then Pitt lost to Wagner. And then Pitt lost its first 7 conference games.  By the end of the regular season, Pittsburgh was a pedestrian 16-15.  But, while this team will not go down in history as a great team, it will go down as the champions of the 2012 College Basketball Invitational after defeating Washington State 71-65.

The hero for Pittsburgh was Lamar Patterson, who scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished five assists en route to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.  Pittsburgh was able to win even without star Ashton Gibbs, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.  Of course, Washington State was playing without its leading scorer, Brock Motum, who injured his ankle against Oregon State.  Motum was the Pac 12’s leading scorer.

Even without the leading scorers, both teams played a competitive Best of 3 series.  The total margin of victory in all three games 11 points.  Tonight’s game was the most “lopsided,” if it can be called that.

All in all, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon has to be pleased with the ability to get his young team all these additional games.  The Panthers end the season with a 21-17 record.

And a trophy.  Nobody else in the ACC can say that.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Game Review and tagged , , ,
30 Mar 2012

Tar Heels to Lose 4 or 5 Players to NBA

In an announcement that was equal parts expected and dreaded, North Carolina has announced that at least three of its players are going to make themselves eligible for the NBA Draft.  Sophomore Harrison Barnes, junior John Henson and sophomore Kendall Marshall are all entering the NBA draft.  In addition, senior center Tyler Zeller has also played his final game for the Tar Heels.  As if that were not enough, reserve freshman forward James Michael McAdoo is also considering his options.  As such, the Tar Heels will be losing 4 or 5 players to the NBA.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams provided a very classy statement:

It’s a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball.  On a very small stage, it’s a sad day for me because I won’t get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well. I really look forward to watching Harrison, John and Kendall play in the NBA.  I know they will be very successful. They have been and will always be great Tar Heels.

Do not weap for the Tar Heels, however, as they have the fifth rated incoming class.  According to ESPN, North Carolina has the top rated point guard prospect in Marcus Paige, the eighth rated power forward in Brice Johnson, the the 21st-rated small forward in J.P. Tokoto, and the 17th-rated center in Joel James.  So it is just a matter of reloading for the Tar Heels.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , , , , ,
29 Mar 2012

Pittsburgh Avoids Elimination in CBI

Congratulations to Pittsburgh, who was able to avoid elimination in the CBI Championship, which features a best-of-three format.  Pitt was able to hold on to a 57-53 win, which evens the series at 1-1 and forces a tiebreaker on Friday night.

Yesterday, the Confidential reported the following:

Tonight, Pittsburgh takes its home floor in a game against Washington State in the CBI Championship.  Interestingly, this tournament has a best of three final format.  Because Washington State defeated Pitt 67-66 in game 1, Pittsburgh faces elimination.  If Pitt wins, they host Washington State again on Friday.

Amusingly, the two teams shared a plane from Pullman, Washington, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Again, this is part of the uniqueness of the CBI.

In Monday’s game, the Cougars were able to win, even though they played without leading scorer Brock Motum, who averages 18 points a game.  In his absence, Washington State (19-16) was led by Abe Lodwick (16 points), Reggie Moore (14 points) and DaVonte Lacy (10 points).  Washington State converted 51% of their  field goals en route to the victory.

Tray Woodall and J.J. Moore led Pitt with 16 points each.  Pitt (20-17) had a multiple chances to win the game in the final seconds.  Woodall’s layup attempt was rejected by Washington State’s D.J. Shelton.  The Panthers’ Lamar Patterson missed a long jumper as time expired.

Returning home should help the Panthers.  Although this year was a tough one for Pitt, they are notorious for being a very tough team to beat at home.  It will be interesting, however, to see how active the fan base is.  The Oakland Zoo might not be as intimidating.

Although Pitt was forced to play without leading scorer Ashton Gibbs with an ankle injury, Pitt was able defend its home court by defeating the visiting Cougars.  Talib Zanna scored 14 points to lead Pitt.  3,349 fans showed up to cheer the Panthers.  Let’s hope more show up for Friday night’s championship game.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , ,
28 Mar 2012

Pittsburgh Faces Elimination in CBI

Tonight, Pittsburgh takes its home floor in a game against Washington State in the CBI Championship.  Interestingly, this tournament has a best of three final format.  Because Washington State defeated Pitt 67-66 in game 1, Pittsburgh faces elimination.  If Pitt wins, they host Washington State again on Friday.

Amusingly, the two teams shared a plane from Pullman, Washington, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Again, this is part of the uniqueness of the CBI.

In Monday’s game, the Cougars were able to win, even though they played without leading scorer Brock Motum, who averages 18 points a game.  In his absence, Washington State (19-16) was led by Abe Lodwick (16 points), Reggie Moore (14 points) and DaVonte Lacy (10 points).  Washington State converted 51% of their  field goals en route to the victory.

Tray Woodall and J.J. Moore led Pitt with 16 points each.  Pitt (20-17) had a multiple chances to win the game in the final seconds.  Woodall’s layup attempt was rejected by Washington State’s D.J. Shelton.  The Panthers’ Lamar Patterson missed a long jumper as time expired.

Returning home should help the Panthers.  Although this year was a tough one for Pitt, they are notorious for being a very tough team to beat at home.  It will be interesting, however, to see how active the fan base is.  The Oakland Zoo might not be as intimidating.

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , ,

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