Monday: Five things to get us started
The big five for Monday:
1. CAVS FIND ROAD FORMULA
If you watched Virginia’s 80-69 victory at Maryland on Sunday, you’d never guess that this was just the second ACC road win of season for the Cavaliers. Their deliberate offensive style and tenacious halfcourt defense put on a clinic on how to hush a hostile crowd. Remaining trips to UNC, Duke and Miami (see No. 3) figure to be tougher than this one, but UVa’s late-game toughness was encouraging. And hitting 58 percent from 3-point range? Well, you could win on Pluto doing that.
2. WHO WANTS IT?
You get the feeling we’ll all be throwing darts at our brackets next month. Another 14 ranked college basketball teams lost this past week, including six on Saturday. The AP poll comes out today and is expected to have a new No. 1 for the sixth straight week. With No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Florida and No. 3 Michigan all losing this past week, the door was open for No. 4 Duke, which needed a defensive stop at the buzzer to escape Boston College with a 62-61 win last night.
3. STILL HOT IN SOUTH FLORIDA
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were among those in attendance Saturday for the University of Miami’s 87-61 dismantling of North Carolina. You can make a strong case that the Hurricanes, winners of 11 straight, are playing better than anyone in the country right now. Miami coach Jim Larranaga credits a five-minute speech from Chris Bosh two summers ago for helping turn the program around. Miami hosts Virginia a week from tomorrow, while Virginia Tech visits on Feb. 27.
4. EXHAUSTED HOKIE
Not sure what else there is to say about Erick Green and the lack of help he’s been getting from his Virginia Tech teammates. That image of him collapsed on the bench from dehydration at the end of Tech’s loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday probably said it all.
5. RITE OF SPRING
Pitchers and catchers report today. Maybe that should be No. 1. Also, I saw in Baseball America that shortstop Xander Bogaerts, the teenage star of last year’s Salem Red Sox team and the top-ranked prospect in the Boston system, is expected to play for The Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. All we need is some warmer weather and spirits everywhere are bound to rise.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Snedeker sets tourney record at 19-under to win Pebble Beach Pro Am — his sixth top-3 finish in his past nine events…After seven-month absence, Nadal falls in singles finals in Chile, calls return “very positive”…Paterno family review calls Freeh report “profound failure.” Did you expect any other conclusion from them?
NAME THAT TUNE
I am tired of this Devil
I am tired of this stuff
I am tired of this business
Goin’ when the going gets rough
I ain’t scared of your brother
I ain’t scared of no sheets
I ain’t scare of nobody
Girl when the goin’ gets mean…
February 11, 2013 - 8:24 AM
Congrats to Snedecker on his solid victory. Dude is on a roll, and should be considered for the Masters just as much as the media EZ Button of Woods/McIlroy/Mickelson.
The Paternos are still trying to pretend JoePa was the saint they always proclaimed. I don’t know why anyone gives them an ounce of publicity. The horrid nature of what was done and allowed to continue should merit making a point of ignoring the Paternos already. Why not just stop talking about them? I’m going to from now on, I wish the media would, too.
My biggest concern about Green’s dehydration is that he wasn’t taken to the locker room immediately to receive fluids, instead of waiting until the game ended. Even then, evidently it was decided to not give him an IV or take him to the hospital to check him out. That disturbs me. Better to err on the side of caution.
Hokies – hoo’s tomorrow night at the JPJ.
Great win by UVA yesterday. I still think they may need 22 wins to get in the NCAA this year though. That means they will have to win all the games they should plus win against Carolina, Duke, or Miami to get in. If they only get to 21 they will have to win at least one ACC tournament game. Those bad losses hurt their chances especially ODU.
With the cast of idiots we have playing college bastketball this year, I think the Cavs are in barring some late season slump.
As for Green, he does need some help but would that really make them a better team? I have to think if someone else stepped up that would take shots away from Green and he would have fewer points. VT took 62 shots compared to 59 for GT. Green took 20 of those 62. Unless you are replacing some of Green’s misses with a high percentage dunk I think I like the ball in Green’s hands with this team.
O.G. — When I think help, I’m mostly thinking of guys knocking down the 3 on the kickout. No doubt you want the ball in Green’s hands every time down the floor, but what’s missing is the ability to punish defenses from long range when they collapse on a driving Green and force him to pass.
Congrats to UVA! – Great road win over Maryland yesterday!!
I do agree that they are still a NCAA bubble team and will need a win over ACC leaders Miami or Duke and probably one win in the ACC Tournament…….j
After watching Duke escape bottom-feeder Boston College yesterday, UVA’s best chance will be against them and they get them in John Paul Arena…..I think Miami, especially on their home turf, is too talented and complete for the Wahoos to escape there with a win.
But, you never know!!!!!
OG, I agree with Aaron, it would be interesting to see how many assists Green would actually have if someone, ANYONE, could only knock down an occasional open look he has created for them.
Think about the number of easy shots Green gets if he has some help from outside. Dribble penetration he sees a min of 3 collapsing. Still usually draws a foul, UNC?(do not get me started, Duke will be the same) amac right again. Probably more shots available to everybody and his assist total thru the roof. Pretty amazing amount of assists as is.
Green doesn’t so much need help in the way some people think…he needs the current cast to hit some shots. At one point in the first half of the GT loss, Green was 4-8 from the floor with 12 points…the entire rest of the team was a combined 1-18 shooting with 3 points. Not going to win many games when only one guy is shooting decently. The GT game was one of the 3 realistically winnable games they had left on their schedule, and the team, as a whole, looked flat awful in the first half.
Unfortunately, Green has a much chance of getting player of the year as the pope does resigning. What? Well tit`s still a long shot. He deserves it as much as Mike Scott and look what happened there. Yesterday, after Nadal lost to a journayman pro he could have left the court to get ready for his doubles final. Instead, he participated in the awards ceremony. Class act. I hope his comeback is a success. If i had to pick who Huck Finn lo0oked like, I might pick Brendt Snedeker. Hottest player on tour, plays fast and great putter. Hope there`s a major in his future.
# 7 OJ, you want to consider a frightening thought? Next year, we’ll have the same team, only with some low-ranked freshman reserves. Except no Erick Green. Remove Erick Green from this team and consider what our record would be this season. That’s going to be the picture next year. Nobody we have coming in for next season would crack this starting lineup, even if they played to their peak of college potential immediately.
The next layer after that is how to convince HS recruits to come to Blacksburg with the current conditions in place. That’s how quickly it evaporates.
AM I see your point. Looking at the box score Brown’s horrible effort didn’t help them any. Brown was 4-16 and had 4 turnovers. He also played 39 minutes. I guess my point is I don’t think this team has anyone for Green to get the ball too. Wouldn’t a Luke Hancock or Seth Curry sitting out on the wing look good right about now? What about both of them on either side of Green? That would be a very talented team.
Speaking of Luke Hancock, did anyone else see the Louisville vs. Notre Dame game Saturday night? That was the most exciting game I’ve seen in a long time. 5 OTs!
Here’s one of the many reasons Roanoke needs minor league hockey back: a live condor getting loose during the national anthem.
Not sure what the surgeon tweaked in my brain, but I’ve been watching a ton of NHL games since I got out of the hospital. That never happened before. I’m actually really enjoying the sport.
The Comcast Center is a tough place to play and MD is a decent team so a win by the Hoos helps their chances for the NCAAT but they still have work to do. Have to agree with Jay that Duke would be a easier opponent than Miami after watching them play at BC last night.
I’ve been watching a lot more hockey this year, and a lot less college basketball, than in past years. I think the parity in college hoops has made it much less interesting to me, although that 5 OT game Saturday night was quite memorable! My biggest problem is, as a casual fan, I don’t have a chance to get to ‘know’ enough players before they jump to the pros anymore. It becomes cheering for or against a school based on nothing more than the logo on the uniform or my personal feelings about the coach.
Also, I’ve recently discovered that the NHL Network airs Hockey Night in Canada (from the CBC) on Saturday nights. The best hockey broadcast one can find, complete with Don Cherry and his wacky suits. It’s become can’t-miss TV for me on the Saturdays when I’m at home.
I confess that I have not watched near as much college basketball as I would football. My interest comes and goes with basketball, even if UNC is playing, and I have discovered I feel indifferent if UNC wins or lose. Strange.
If Roanoke is able to lure a minor hockey franchise back, how long can the franchise stays before calling it quits? I think Roanoke’s track record speak for itself. Contrast that with the city of Salem’s ability to keep a minor league teams for years in the Red Sox’s organization. I wonder what makes Salem more successful than Roanoke. I don’t have the foggiest idea, and I leave it to the natives to debate.
I was keeping up with the hoops on Saturday against Georgia Tech via Twitter and seeing three pictures of Erick Green made me shake my head. I have stated over and over that Green needs help. How strange that the Hokies went from high-flying, unselfish, and distrubting the balls to knocking down jumpers after jumpers with ease, and now it’s basically Green and the rest.
I caught a few minutes of winter skiing competition on NBC yesterday and flipped channels. Winter sports has zero interest and golf would never cross my radar as a sport to watch on TV.
I guess I am more of a football fan than soccer (gasp!), baseball, golf, bowling, rowing, basketball, lawn darts, and etc.
Miami is the one that wants it. That is a team that is playig well, very well. I turned off that UNC/Miami game quicker than I have any Tech game this year. You knew it was over after the first 2 minutes.
Hopefully they have not peaked too soon. If they were playing like this in March, Larranaga would go to the Final 1, not just the Final 4. They are as hot as the 4th of July in Miami.
UVA is playing well, too. They deserve it. Guys are buying into Tony Bennett’s legitimate system, as opposed to the run/gun/no defense of Tech (but I’ll shut up after that), so hopefully, they can keep it up – as much as that pains me to say.
O’Greg, that Louisville/ND game was the best game I’ve seen since Gonzaga/Michigan State, in one of those early season tournaments a few years ago, 2005, or so. I think it was in Maui.
Interestingly, I got to know one of the officials, after jabbering with him during a few Tech games – Donnee Gray – who did that game in Maui (tough job). He did a Tech game shortly afterwards, and said it was the most exciting game he ever called. I think that one went 3 OT’s.
I don’t think Donnee does too many games any more, if any, but despite my riding him, he was pretty darn good. A very nice person. And, he explained a couple of things to me about the rules that I apparently did not know! That was back when there were about 26 people at Tech games, during the Stokes error (I mean era), which we are starting to relive.
Last year, I nailed Bubba W. for that really ugly green sport coat – but this year I have to go with Snedeker. He is on fire. Despite the fact he needs a haircut (I’m just jealous) he is my green sport coat pick. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll start finding out how he does each week instead of Tiger ‘whats his name?’
And, finally, only a four other words are sweeter than “pitchers and catchers report” – and those are “gentlemen, start you engines.”
Although, this year, we have to change ‘gentlemen’ to ‘drivers,’ because of that incredibly hot chick that is making left turns every week.
Is the song ‘Black or White?’
This year’s UVA team reminds me a lot of the 1992 team that won the NIT. They were a bubble team that year with a lot of youth (Cory Alexander and Junior Burrough were first year players)that probably benefitted more from making the NIT and having the run to the championship versus a possible one and done in the NCAA. Those first year players led UVA to one sweet 16 and elite 8 appaerance their last three years in Charlottesville.
Black or White it is. Nicely done, HokieGal.
Watching that condor video again, I’m amazed at the poise of the singer.
Miami’s up to No. 3 in the AP poll released today. Indiana stays at No. 1.
O.G., Usually the warm milk kicks in about 11 and I am asleep but I stayed awake until 12:30 watching that game. Sawyer and Grant were unbelievable in the overtimes. Our ex- boy Harrell kind of screwed at the end but he is going to be a star for Louisville. How about that official who called the Marquette game an then had to call the ND game and put in 5 overtimes. Bet he didn`t need warm milk to get to sleep.
cr, that’s something that has been thick on my mind as I’ve watched the team utterly flop and flail around since moving into ACC competition. We saw a few games against bad OOC competition where the supporting casts demonstrated they can actually make shots and contribute…but once the competition got tough, they’ve folded like cheap suits. I felt the team was a 12/4 win team since August, but I didn;t think they’d be playing quite like this. And what’s worse, is not only is this the team for next year minus Green, but they’re actually getting worse as the season goes…I’m not seeing improvement out of anyone. Green is consistent and carrying the team on his shoulders, and no one else is showing any semblance of consistency, shot/play-making ability, or that they’ll be ready to take the reins next year. Frightening indeed.
Aaron…I’ve watched a ton of hockey this year, and not just Red Wings games. I’m a hockey fan for sure, but getting the NHL GameCenter on the Roku, PS3, and my phone…I’ve watched a lot that I ordinarily might not have, just because I can. I haven’t watched hardly any college basketball this year either, it’s just not compelling because there’s not many teams, let alone a single team, with true stand-out talent that is worth watching. The entire top 10-15 is fairly blah, and beyond that there’s a lot of truly dreadful and uwatchable programs out there.
I’m also thrilled that baseball season is upon us. Not only am I excited to see what the Tigers can put together this season in a fairly mediocre AL Central, but there’s plenty of other compelling teams out there that will be fun to watch this year. Plus, considering that I’m not a huge hoops or racing fan…I’ll need something else in addition to hockey to pay attention to this spring.
Help for Green. When we beat OK St. we hit threes. When we were winning, we hit 3s. When Eddie was hitting 3s, we won. When Brown was hitting, we won.
We need to hit shots. If we hit, we are pretty good (see OK St.). It opens up for Raines underneath and the role players contribute.
No 3s, no good. When we have had leads its because we hit shots. We can;t hold leads because we aren’t big enough to win inderneath if the shots stop falling.
Not too tough to understand in my view. No reason to beat up JJ or the other guys. Hit ‘em and we win. Miss ‘em and we lose.
All the other team has to do is get us to shoot from one step back of the line and it hurts us. Extend the zone, let Green kick it out. We hit, we win. We miss we lose.
I can live with bricks. I hate air balls. it would help if we followed our shots. The only real weakness I see in Green’s game is that he fires circus shots so often that he can’t follow his shot. From what I can see he can get his shot whenever he wants it. Trouble is, if he takes every shot the other guys stop playing.
So just make a few shots. PLEASE!
Especially tomorrow night since I am watching the game with a bunch of UVA people and our own alumni.
As a huge hockey fan when Roanoke Express was here in the valley I can tell you most of the city government does not want hockey. I started a movement with a few thousand fans signed on and Frank Anzalone our former coach was trying to help us as well. The former Johnstown franchise could have moved to Roanoke but all they ever heard was crickets from Roanoke when they tried to contact them about a lease. So Johnstown moved to South Carolina got a modern arena with luxury boxes for less than it would have cost to play here in Roanoke. People in Roanoke want hockey but there are so many costs in doing business with the civic center it will never happen unless big changes are made.
Shaun, you’re probably right, sadly. Both civic centers are so woefully outdated, that neither would be attractive to a potential team, and it’s made worse by looking at the past failed franchises here. Landing a new team, whether in hockey or basketball, will almost certainly require major upgrades in concessions/concourses, luxury boxes (at least a few, like at the baseball stadium in Salem), etc. I don’t see it happening, and I’d be as big of a supporter of either as anyone.
Zman…live by the 3, die by the 3. And right now, they’re dying by it because they have nothing else that is working.
I agree about the outdated civic centers in both Roanoke and Salem. They are woefully dated and while I go to them for regular events like VT ice hockey and gun shows, I really don’t particularly enjoy the experience at them because they’re so old. The last VT hockey game I went to, they had 1 concession stand open, and it took almost 20 minutes to get popcorn and a water…no excuse for that. Plus, getting out of the RCC parking lot after an event takes far too long. It took a half-hour for us to get out of there, and we were right next to Williamson.
It’s.kind of funny that people, rightfully, down the poor shooting of the VT ballers and then praise hockey where made shots are almost nonexistent. I guess basketball needs more fights where the Referees just stand around and watch.
When VT was playing the extra weak OOC schedule (excepting Iowa & OkState), in their first ten games, they weren’t playing defense then, either. It just was hidden by their scoring. If you watched their games, you’d notice why they weren’t rebounding that well, either. On the shot, everyone would rush back to play half court defense, not chase the offensive rebound.
Here are some numbers, broken down by the first ten games, when the Hokies were 8-2. Then the last thirteen games, when the Hokies are 3-10.
First ten games? 60 shots a game, .456 FG%. 18 3pt shots a game, .395%. 26 FT’s a game, .774%. Offensive rebounds, 9.5 a game. Total rebounds, 36 a game. Points per game – 81.3
Last thirteen games? 58 shots a game, .396%. 19 3pts shots a game, .260%. 20 FT’s a game, .634%. Offensive rebounds, 13 a game. Total rebounds, 39 a game. Points per game – 64.
The differences? We’re taking 3 less 2pt shots and 1 more 3pt shot a game. Our 2pt FG% is down some, but is still average to good. Our 3pt shooting has gone from being good to being horrid. We’re shooting 6 less FT’s a game, and making a really bad % of them. We’re doing a really good job of offensive rebounding, when we were horrible. We still need to rebound better on defense, though.
The ball movement has stopped. Virtually stopped completely. Johnson MUST figure out how to break a zone, the most fundamental defense. The players need to penetrate and draw the defenders. Greenberg’s offenses were criticized for lack of ball movement, Johnson’s current offense is no different. His defenses are much weaker, though.
To think, folks were tired of being a bubble team.
Donald has returned as Crooked road. I agree last four in first four out doesn`t look to bad right now, does it?
One more thing to consider – we’re only making 2 less three point shots a game. We making 7 less free throws per game, though. Taking 6 less free throws a game and missing even more than that. Lack of penetration…
Virginia’s team this year is practically VT’s team in recent years. Almost there but not quite. As crazy as the bubble stuff was it sure beats the past 2 seasons. I would love to be in Virginia’s shoes right now.
OJ,
Large truck with 4WD is the only way to attend anything at the RCC. Then park where all you have to do is drive over the curb and head home…..
No UVA fan, but I find it hard to believe we’re talking about a team that is 7-3 in the ACC and 16-7 overall being on the bubble. They have a crushing defense and are extremely well coached. Considering their youth UVA is on great footing for the future.
Other John – you stole my line. Live by the 3, die by the 3. We were never going to win in the ACC relying on the 3 and Johnson’s decision to play uptempo is beyond belief. You can’t complain about your bench out of one side of your mouth and run an offense that is not supported by the same bench.
I don’t understand why Brown is still on the court so much. His head is so messed up he’s not recovering from this tail spin until he realizes that it doesn’t matter any more – no one’s watching. You never know they could get hot and win a game or two in the ACC tourney, but beyond that the season was over several weeks ago.
I also don’t like some of JJ’s comments to the press. He’s really rolled over on his players and has taken absolutely none of the blame. You’ll rarely hear him utter word defense. The effort is there, but the execution is unfocused and the team lacks the discipline necessary.
Grit your teeth, we’ve got a few more years of him and then there will be the inevitable coaching change. If given 7 or 8 years JJ might have a chance, but after Seth Greenberg’s relative success the natives will not stand for being a perrenial loser for very long.
Will the real Mr.Tony Bennett please stand up and sing!! UVA Coach Bennett is doing a great job with this program. Wahoo faithful keep a close eye on this guy or he may be singing one day he left his heart in C’ville.
Bob H, that’s kind of what I figured! Took my Focus, had to wait in line for way, way too long…and eventually I just shot a gap in the parking lot, swung a right on Williamson and did a U-turn at Magic City Ford…and another at the Sheetz to get to 581. And the place wasn’t even 1/4 full that night! We’ll take the Escape next time…
VTRedwolf…yeah, it’s simply not a style conducive to winning unless your team is built around that strategy…meaning a lot of really good perimeter shooters, which has become abundantly clear that we really don’t have. And, quite honestly, why would we? Players that good aren’t choosing VT to play hoops. We get lucky every so often with a Custis, Coles, Curry, Bristow, or Green…but the fact that you can essentially name the memorable players on one hand it all about the team’s historical performance. SG’s teams tended to be about 80-85% where they needed to be, but the 2-3 inexplicable losses each year combined with a general dearth of marquee wins is what did him in. Unfortunately, it’s looking more and more like the cheap decision is going to cost the program more in the long run. I had high hopes, and the initial 7-0 start looked promising, despite the obvious problems with defense and rebounding, but the collapse since then has been far worse than I could have imagined. The team is a dumpster fire. To think they have the nation’s leading scorer…and are tied for last in the ACC. In terms of in-league play, they also have the league’s worst scoring margin, are tied for last in shooting %, have fallen to mid-pack in free throws, are 11th (only 0.2% better than WF) for 3 pointers, tied for last in assists (no surprise with the dearth of non-Green scoring), last in steals, next to last in fouls…but they are mid-pack in rebounding and top third in fewest turnovers…so I guess that’s something.