On the last day of February, No. 5 Duke falls to Virginia. The pattern continues. The mighty have fallen often in college basketball this season.
Could this be a preview of a crazy March Madness? Or with high expectations, will we be disappointment?
People say there is no clear cut favorite to become the Madness champion. Maybe we should just throw the school names in a hat and draw a winner. It would save money and stress.
I have a feeling that things are going to even out in the NCAA tournament. The so-called favorites will rise to the top. Upsets won’t happen as often as past seasons.
We have been conditioned in this regular season to expect upsets because they are happening frequently. But why are they happening. Is it because the talent is about equal? Could the home court and fan emotion play a big role?
I suspect the favored teams have been put on high alert. They have experienced the pain in the regular season. Their chests will become a little flatter in the postseason. Focus shouldn’t become a problem.
Plus, tournaments play on neutral courts. This favors the better team. Yes, there is emotion, but not as much. There are fewer props for the underdog. Talent rises on the neutral court.
Yes, it’s true: there is no dominant team this season. And the teams who come up short at the end will probably loss against a top contender not Cinderella.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*****I need to do some traveling and take care of some other matters, so my blog will go on a little vacation. I hope to be back again for the major conference tournaments. Enjoy the basketball everybody.
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday, August 19, 2011
Cheering Your Favorite Team
I am looking for a little interaction today. Why do you cheer for particular college teams?
Personally, I need a connection to faithfully cheer for a school. Or sure, I can pick a team during a national contest (usually the underdog), but there isn’t a real investment there. Plus, it’s a one-shot deal and nothing long term.
My local team is the Iowa State Cyclones. I attended school and worked in athletics there. My connections are deep. Enough said. Now, I wish the Cyclones would string some victories together in football and basketball.
I also cheer for the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. I also attended school and worked in athletics there. It’s a little more difficult to follow ULM due to the distance and lack of national exposure. But the Warhawks are coming to Iowa this fall to play the Hawks, so I can root for them then.
One team that will probably drop from my list is North Carolina State. I have a dear friend who was in athletics there. He retired last year, so there went the connection. The investment was there for a long time and thus the divorce is difficult.
I also follow two specific basketball teams but don’t cheer for the schools in general. With connections at Baylor and Virginia, I keep a close eye on the Bears and Cavaliers.
Sometimes it’s a judgment call tracking the teams. If they play at similar times on the same dates that presents a problem. I only have two eyes and ears and one television.
So who do you follow and for what reasons?
Personally, I need a connection to faithfully cheer for a school. Or sure, I can pick a team during a national contest (usually the underdog), but there isn’t a real investment there. Plus, it’s a one-shot deal and nothing long term.
My local team is the Iowa State Cyclones. I attended school and worked in athletics there. My connections are deep. Enough said. Now, I wish the Cyclones would string some victories together in football and basketball.
I also cheer for the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. I also attended school and worked in athletics there. It’s a little more difficult to follow ULM due to the distance and lack of national exposure. But the Warhawks are coming to Iowa this fall to play the Hawks, so I can root for them then.
One team that will probably drop from my list is North Carolina State. I have a dear friend who was in athletics there. He retired last year, so there went the connection. The investment was there for a long time and thus the divorce is difficult.
I also follow two specific basketball teams but don’t cheer for the schools in general. With connections at Baylor and Virginia, I keep a close eye on the Bears and Cavaliers.
Sometimes it’s a judgment call tracking the teams. If they play at similar times on the same dates that presents a problem. I only have two eyes and ears and one television.
So who do you follow and for what reasons?
Friday, July 15, 2011
Anthony Hubbard Situation Appears Strange
Word out of Iowa City, Iowa yesterday that former junior college player Anthony Hubbard has left the Iowa basketball team to pursue opportunities closer to home on the surface is not really strange. Players transfer frequently and often want to play closer to family and friends.
But Hubbard is a special case. Iowa gave the 26-year-old a scholarship earlier in the year after much scrutiny and controversy. Hubbard spent nearly four years in prison for armed robbery.
He was playing in a summer league near Iowa City and apparently doing well. He apparently enjoyed the Iowa program. Then poof: he’s gone without ever playing a game for the Hawkeyes.
Did Hubbard really suffer from homesickness and want to return to the East (he grew up in Virginia and played junior college basketball in Maryland) or was there another reason? Why did Iowa release him from his scholarship and allow him to transfer to any other school in the country? Often, programs won’t allow players to transfer to a different conference school and/or an opponent on the team’s schedule.
One sports talk show guy speculated that Hubbard broke a rule. The University of Iowa has been obviously tight lipped about the situation and comments reported are of the usual public relations variety.
People may never really know what happened in Hubbard’s case (if it wasn’t homesickness), but in this Internet age you can be sure someone or some people are trying to uncover further information.
Stay tuned.
But Hubbard is a special case. Iowa gave the 26-year-old a scholarship earlier in the year after much scrutiny and controversy. Hubbard spent nearly four years in prison for armed robbery.
He was playing in a summer league near Iowa City and apparently doing well. He apparently enjoyed the Iowa program. Then poof: he’s gone without ever playing a game for the Hawkeyes.
Did Hubbard really suffer from homesickness and want to return to the East (he grew up in Virginia and played junior college basketball in Maryland) or was there another reason? Why did Iowa release him from his scholarship and allow him to transfer to any other school in the country? Often, programs won’t allow players to transfer to a different conference school and/or an opponent on the team’s schedule.
One sports talk show guy speculated that Hubbard broke a rule. The University of Iowa has been obviously tight lipped about the situation and comments reported are of the usual public relations variety.
People may never really know what happened in Hubbard’s case (if it wasn’t homesickness), but in this Internet age you can be sure someone or some people are trying to uncover further information.
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tony Bennett the Basketball Coach
There are two famous Tony Bennetts in the United States, but this is a piece about the less famous Bennett.
Most people have heard about the singer Tony Bennett. But there is also another Bennett laboring as head coach at the University of Virginia.
The basketball Bennett is having a tough season. In year two of his tenure at Virginia, Bennett’s team is just 12-12 and 3-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In all fairness, Virginia lacks bodies (injuries) and talent. In the ACC, you need talent or you go to the bottom of the league. It’s basically Duke and North Carolina on a yearly basis. Oh sure, there are exceptions with the likes of Georgia Tech, Maryland etc. occasionally, but this is generally a two-team league.
Bennett is a good coach. He did it at Washington State. He is building a basketball family at Virginia. Bennett needs time and better players. He needs patience from the administration and fans. This obviously will not be a quick fix. Will he be able to compete in a Duke-North Carolina dominated league? We wait for that answer.
I am a huge Tony Bennett supporter. I met the guy when he was playing professional basketball in New Zealand. I was impressed with his genuineness and humility. Word has it he is the same guy today.
Bennett will not failure due to lack of effort or love and care for his players. The guy is a winner no matter what happens.
Most people have heard about the singer Tony Bennett. But there is also another Bennett laboring as head coach at the University of Virginia.
The basketball Bennett is having a tough season. In year two of his tenure at Virginia, Bennett’s team is just 12-12 and 3-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In all fairness, Virginia lacks bodies (injuries) and talent. In the ACC, you need talent or you go to the bottom of the league. It’s basically Duke and North Carolina on a yearly basis. Oh sure, there are exceptions with the likes of Georgia Tech, Maryland etc. occasionally, but this is generally a two-team league.
Bennett is a good coach. He did it at Washington State. He is building a basketball family at Virginia. Bennett needs time and better players. He needs patience from the administration and fans. This obviously will not be a quick fix. Will he be able to compete in a Duke-North Carolina dominated league? We wait for that answer.
I am a huge Tony Bennett supporter. I met the guy when he was playing professional basketball in New Zealand. I was impressed with his genuineness and humility. Word has it he is the same guy today.
Bennett will not failure due to lack of effort or love and care for his players. The guy is a winner no matter what happens.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Surprise: Student Fees Help Pay for Collegiate Athletic Teams
I chuckled a bit yesterday when I read a USA Today story that described a mother’s displeasure not knowing her daughter was actually funding the university athletic program.
The mother wished the Virginia university fully disclosed its intentions of taking her daughter’s money. Apparently, the daughter wasn’t that interested in sports at the school but she attended a few games. Memo to both mother and daughter: welcome to the world of college taxes. There are numerous hidden taxes in life and colleges and universities want their piece as well.
And it could get worse.
The money in higher education continues shrinking and athletic departments feel the pain too. Some have depended heavily on their school’s general budget for funding and because of the economic mess need to wean the department from that money source.
Here in Iowa, according to reports, the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department receives about 38 percent of its money from the university general fund. In general terms, the Board of Regents recently told Northern Iowa (the school that shocked Kansas in the NCAA last season) to become more self-sustaining. One way to do that is to increase student athletic fees for each student that attends the university.
Obviously, universities cannot raise student fees too much or they might suffer admission problems. But this tax will not go away. It’s as they say, the price for doing business. And whether you enjoy sports or not, they aren’t going away either.
About the only hope for change in the situation is for the economy to improve. And that journey may take a long, long time.
The mother wished the Virginia university fully disclosed its intentions of taking her daughter’s money. Apparently, the daughter wasn’t that interested in sports at the school but she attended a few games. Memo to both mother and daughter: welcome to the world of college taxes. There are numerous hidden taxes in life and colleges and universities want their piece as well.
And it could get worse.
The money in higher education continues shrinking and athletic departments feel the pain too. Some have depended heavily on their school’s general budget for funding and because of the economic mess need to wean the department from that money source.
Here in Iowa, according to reports, the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department receives about 38 percent of its money from the university general fund. In general terms, the Board of Regents recently told Northern Iowa (the school that shocked Kansas in the NCAA last season) to become more self-sustaining. One way to do that is to increase student athletic fees for each student that attends the university.
Obviously, universities cannot raise student fees too much or they might suffer admission problems. But this tax will not go away. It’s as they say, the price for doing business. And whether you enjoy sports or not, they aren’t going away either.
About the only hope for change in the situation is for the economy to improve. And that journey may take a long, long time.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Virginia Program is on the Rise
Ralph Sampson is a definite reminder of Virginia basketball glory. If Tony Bennett's start as basketball coach is any indication, Bennett might help lead the Wahoos to some more glory. Something Virginia have yearned for in a good while.
Virginia was picked next-to-last in the ACC preseason ratings. The Wahoos have surprised the so called experts with a 5-5 (through Feb. 16) league mark and a 14-9 overall record.
Bennett has brought his signature defensive style to the ACC and the players have responded. There have been some bumps in the road (including lately), but fans are excited about Virginia basketball again.
Bennett preaches team, team and more team. He learned from his father Dick and Wisconsin Bo Ryan that you can become successful with a group of hard-working players even without stars.
Sylven Landersberg is a very good player and a go-to guy and might be considered the star. However, you probably won't hear that from Bennett. I think he enjoys coaching teams without stars.
I like Bennett's style. He talks about players serving each other and being humble. One of his players even mentioned the word humility one day. When was the last time you heard that from a college basketball player?
Virginia has an excellent chance to make a postseason tournament. The building blocks are definitely in place.
Howver, it's too early to know if Bennett and Virgina can compete against the Dukes and North Carolinas consistently in the ACC. But under Bennett, if Virginia does arrive there, it will be as a team.
What do you think of Bennett's chance for success with the Wahoos?
Virginia was picked next-to-last in the ACC preseason ratings. The Wahoos have surprised the so called experts with a 5-5 (through Feb. 16) league mark and a 14-9 overall record.
Bennett has brought his signature defensive style to the ACC and the players have responded. There have been some bumps in the road (including lately), but fans are excited about Virginia basketball again.
Bennett preaches team, team and more team. He learned from his father Dick and Wisconsin Bo Ryan that you can become successful with a group of hard-working players even without stars.
Sylven Landersberg is a very good player and a go-to guy and might be considered the star. However, you probably won't hear that from Bennett. I think he enjoys coaching teams without stars.
I like Bennett's style. He talks about players serving each other and being humble. One of his players even mentioned the word humility one day. When was the last time you heard that from a college basketball player?
Virginia has an excellent chance to make a postseason tournament. The building blocks are definitely in place.
Howver, it's too early to know if Bennett and Virgina can compete against the Dukes and North Carolinas consistently in the ACC. But under Bennett, if Virginia does arrive there, it will be as a team.
What do you think of Bennett's chance for success with the Wahoos?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Carolina Blues
North Carolina won its third game in the ACC today. Yes, the same Carolina team that won the national championship last year and seem to compete for the title each season.
The victory over North Carolina State keep the Tar Heels out of last place in the conference. They are only 3-7 (14-11 overall).
Forget about defending the national championship , Carolina probably won't even make the tournament.
How bad Carolina has slipped this season came home to me about two weeks ago when it played Virginia in Chapel Hill. Virginia just crushed the Tar Heels in their backyard. Yes, that was surprising but something else caught my eye. Toward the end of the game coach Roy Williams put his deep reserves in. That act has happened many times before, but when they were doing the crushing. I then realized how far Carolina has fallen.
New players and injuries have plagued Williams' team. The Tar Heels are getting a taste of what average or below average teams often experience.
It's a sickness, but Carolina is having difficulty finding a cure. One problem is that the Tar Heels don't have much experience being sick.
Apparently, this season it is time for such experience.
The victory over North Carolina State keep the Tar Heels out of last place in the conference. They are only 3-7 (14-11 overall).
Forget about defending the national championship , Carolina probably won't even make the tournament.
How bad Carolina has slipped this season came home to me about two weeks ago when it played Virginia in Chapel Hill. Virginia just crushed the Tar Heels in their backyard. Yes, that was surprising but something else caught my eye. Toward the end of the game coach Roy Williams put his deep reserves in. That act has happened many times before, but when they were doing the crushing. I then realized how far Carolina has fallen.
New players and injuries have plagued Williams' team. The Tar Heels are getting a taste of what average or below average teams often experience.
It's a sickness, but Carolina is having difficulty finding a cure. One problem is that the Tar Heels don't have much experience being sick.
Apparently, this season it is time for such experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)