Gopher Basketball
* This is the part of the Ramble where I usually start off with some commentary about the Gopher’s men’s basketball team-but to be honest, I have no idea what to make of this squad yet. I’ve seen two of their four competitive contests thus far (live vs. Bemidji State and TV vs. North Dakota State) and have missed their less stellar efforts against Winona State and Long Island. I’m guessing that we’re looking at an up and down squad this year, particularly as the team looks to establish its identity and playing rotation. I am concerned that the scoring options beyond Lawrence McKenzie and Dan Coleman seem fairly limited right now, but am encouraged by the additions of Kevin Payton, Limar Wilson, and Damien Johnson to the roster. The team seems very athletic, like they could be a stellar defensive unit, and reliant upon three juniors (Tollackson, along with the aforementioned two) to really lead the team. As others have said, we should have more insight into the Gophers after Iowa State and their Florida tournament; however, I also think there may be games in February where we still have no idea what to make of the squad. I’m guessing it will be an up and down season, and I don’t know how that bodes for Monson and his staff.
* With Travis Busch’s shaggy hair and dark suits, every time I see him behind the bench, I feel like the lead singer of The Hives has dropped into Williams Arena to catch a game.
* I graduated from Winona State in 1994, and never in my wildest dreams did I expect that this program could beat a Minnesota Gopher basketball team. Obviously, the Gophers have declined since those days, but I think it’s more of a testament to what Mike Leaf has built down in Winona. Without having seen them play the Gophers, I’d venture to say that this squad could handle itself against many D-1 programs quite adeptly.
* The early returns on the college basketball season again show me why I love this game so much (and why I don’t think college football can match it). You can see an elite team like Kansas suffer a shocking upset, but not worry that their season is now being played for pride; you see teams take on top competition to make their squads battle-tested, rather than avoid stiff non-conference competition for fear of suffering a damning defeat; and if two heavyweights clash during the regular season and indicate they may be the elite teams in basketball, you can eagerly anticipate a showdown between these squads in the tournament. That the games are played as the tempertures dip and the skies turn dark early is a great bonus too, as it alleviates the guilt I may feel that I could be doing something more worthwhile (so bring on Hodger’s daily pick-’em, I’ve talked myself into not feeling guilty about it anymore!)
* I cannot recall a season where three teams like Florida, North Carolina, and Kansas seem so head and shoulders above the competition, at least on paper. Kansas had the first setback of these teams with their loss versus Oral Roberts. Given their recent tournament difficulties, the injury of Sasha Kaun, and the removal of C.J. Giles from the team, they certainly seem the most vulnerable of these squads. What would another disappointing finish for the Jayhawks mean for Bill Self in Lawrence?
* The early season showdowns on ESPN and the deuce gave us the opportunity to see two of the very best mid-major programs over the past several years in Butler and Winthrop. Butler’s Todd Lickliter and Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall seem to be likely names to emerge when big programs come calling this spring-in fact, Marshall reneged on an agreement this past off-season to coach the College of Charleston and returned back to Rock Hill, South Carolina. Before I leave this topic, Butler takes on Purdue December 16th, with a chance to sweep the big dogs in the state (already having defeated Notre Dame and Indiana) and Winthrop spent their Sunday afternoon beating Mississippi State, after having scared the Tar Heels earlier this week.
* Watching the ESPN scroll this week, I saw a couple familiar names from the Minnesota prep scene-as mentioned previously by ‘hole poster JP, Watertown’s Matt Janning was the leading scorer for Northeastern in his college debut at Syracuse. He’s averaging 8.5 ppg for a Northeastern team off to a 0-4 start. From Idaho State, Minneapolis Roosevelt alum Akbar Abdul-Ahad is the leading scorer for the Bengals, who are off to a 1-2 start, with the two losses being heartbreakers to Marquette and BYU in overtime. Abdul-Ahad is averaging about 18 ppg and 4 apg so far. (for summer Pulley fans, he’s the quick lightning bug type who plays on the team with Ariel McDonald, Randy Carter, and Trenton Hassell).
* Joel Maturi receives a great deal of criticism for his managing of the athletic department at the “U”, but compared to what’s going on at Colorado, he must look like the poster boy for athletic director success. With the football team still recovering from their awful national public image (a renegade football squad with members accused of raping the female football kicker doesn’t get Gary Barnett fired, but a shellacking at the hands of Texas does), the basketball team is shackled with a lame-duck coach in Ricardo Patton who has stated he’s leaving at season’s end since his contract wasn’t extended. Coming off a NCAA berth, the team lost ten seniors and have eight freshman on the squad, along with Richard Roby who withdrew his name from the NBA draft to return to campus. In their last two games the Buffaloes have lost by 41 points at New Mexico and 38 points at home to Air Force. Roby’s averaging about 13 ppg while shooting an awful percentage-I’m wondering if he’d rather be plying his trade in the D league now rather than beautiful Boulder.
* Most of the national scribes have affixed the SEC with the title of best conference, and they certainly have some heavy hitters with Florida, LSU, and Alabama leading the charge. However, after just a couple weeks, I’m thinking the ACC is going to be the most entertaining conference to watch on the national scene this year. Carolina’s an elite team, Duke is Duke, but teams like Georgia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, and Florida State look to be much improved and then you have Boston College and Virginia Tech to consider too. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Rambling Wreck play this season and I’m hearing great things about the Virginia backcourt (who already sprung the upset against Arizona). I’m also hoping some of these squads can put a spanking on Duke this season, since we’ll be assured of seeing the Dukies ad nauseum on our television screens.
* A couple thoughts about the Michigan State-Texas game earlier this week-Texas is going to be a bear to handle come spring, Kevin Durant looks to be a superstar, but the other freshman DJ Augustin, Damion James, and Matt Hill are worthy complements also. Throw in marksmen AJ Abrams and they’re going to be a dangerous team coming out of the in-transition Big 12. As for Michigan State, Raymer Morgan is going to be a stud (bga’s comparision to Ricky Davis seems spot-on, but I’m guessing Izzo hopes the similarities end on the hardcourt) and they did well to get the win against the Horns, but I still don’t see a NCAA team in the Spartans. If Izzo can get this squad to an upper division finish in the Big Ten and a NCAA berth, well, I think it’ll be one of Tommy’s finest coaching jobs.
* Most disappointing team in the early season? Has to be DePaul, and not just because they didn’t cover by a long shot against Northwestern (okay, I promise, that’ll be the last reference to my Pick ‘Em results this year-I don’t want to turn into Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football with his fantasy football digressions). This team was projected as a potential top 25 by some and a March Madness-bound squad by others, and they start the season with two double digit losses to Bradley (which lost a lot) and Northwestern. Not a way to start the season when you play your conference games in the Big East.
* A couple other teams from the big conferences who were projected as sleepers by some (including me) because they had some nice moments last year and were returning much of their lineups were Penn State and Providence. Both have gotten off to inauspicious starts, with the Nittany Lions having lost to Stonybrook (and as reported by Hodger’s brother, looking ill-prepared for life in the Big Ten) and Providence falling to Brown.
* I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m already sick of the OJ Mayo story. The kid seems like a self-important jerk who believes he walks on water (and is probably told so repeatedly by his entourage and handlers). It’ll be an interesting year for Tim Floyd next season.
* Hearing Bill Raftery’s voice earlier this week brought a smile to my face, as to me he’s the voice of college basketball. I know he has his critics, but I enjoy his schtick. It’s especially enjoyable when Jay Bilas joins him for the broadcast, and Bilas tries to match up to Raftery’s style. It’s the verbal equivalent of Mark Madsen’s celebration dance when he was with the Lakers.
* Pat Williams, welcome to the Club. I promise to laugh heartily at every one of your jokes and aim to beat you to the buffet line during every meal.
* I’m glad to see Scrubs now in the rotation for the syndicated sitcom time. I’m a big fan of Seinfeld, the Simpsons, and Friends, but since I’m regularly beating those characters to their lines after uncountable viewings, it’s good to mix it up a bit. Scrubs is good for a few hearty laughs every half-hour, even if Zach Braff does wear on my nerves at times.
* With the dark days of winter upon us, here’s a song for you which will give you three minutes of relief from the winter blues: “Night & Day/Reach for the Sun” by Polyphonic Spree.
* This isn’t a basketball book review, but if you can get a hold of “Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is Burning” by Jonathan Mahler, I implore you to do so. I read it over the summer, and it’s about the summer of ’77 in New York City, with the primary focus upon the Yankees (that was the season where Reggie Jackson joined the Bombers and fought with Billy Martin), but throughout the book the author covers the Son of Sam, the blackouts and riots in Brooklyn, the mayoral race between Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo, and Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of the New York Post. It’s an incredibly entertaining read that I just flew through, and I’ve heard ESPN is going to be producing it into a movie or mini-series which we’ll be seeing promos for very soon, I’m sure.
* Alright, that’s it for now. . .Happy Thanksgiving to you all and enjoy the copious amounts of college basketball that will be coming our way, starting with the Maui Invitational which begins tomorrow.