September 2011
51 posts
Who's In Charge at Syracuse Again?
Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor on Tuesday:
We haven’t gotten that far, but we absolutely have plans to do that – absolutely. I wanted to make sure that (the ACC was) interested in playing competitions in the New York City area, because that’s very important to us. We see ourselves as New York’s college team.
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim on Wednesday:
That was never a part of us...
Emmert: Well, It's a Start... →
We like that NCAA president Mark Emmert is thinking about and talking about these things, but he’s going to have to become more of a czar than he probably wants to be if he truly hopes to keep the NCAA alive in the long term.
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“Let’s get to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If my...”
– Rick Pitino, on his site rickpitino.com, discussing the underlying reasons for the ACC poaching Syracuse and Pittsburgh in recent weeks. Considering that all but four current ACC coaches have been at their schools three seasons or less, is there any doubt who the ‘certain’ coaches are?
Cool Concept: UK Pros vs. Collegiate "Villains"
With no NBA on the schedule for the foreseeable future, there is an interesting concept to involve out-of-work pros coming out of the Bluegrass State. The names on the Villains team are a who’s who of former collegiate All-Americans. Can they trot out a 40-year old Christian Laettner too? Seriously, we’d contribute a few hundred bucks to his per diem…
According to WKYT, the...
Mateen Cleaves' MSU HOF Induction Speech →
Mateen Cleaves was the cornerstone to Tom Izzo building Michigan State into one of the nation’s pre-eminent programs. A three-time AA from 1996-2000 and the MOP of the 2000 national title team, he is beloved in East Lansing. Congrats, Mateen.
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“The source said that Scott had worked tirelessly to get USC and UCLA to agree to...”
– Andy Katz, citing a source familiar with the Pac-12 discussions about adding Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. This makes two leagues — the ACC and Pac-12 — now unwilling to accept UT’s “special deal.”
Country Roads, Take Me Where? →
If true, WVU might be staring at a marginal conference affiliation again. Although we tend to think that the SEC is just covering its legal bases here rather than outright rejecting the school forever (see: TAMU). The ACC, on the other hand, legitimately has no interest.
Jim Boeheim Speculates
Speaking earlier today at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said that in ten years he’ll either be “dead wrong” about the current conference realignment craze, or…
…everybody is going to be like, why did we do this again? Why is Alabama playing Texas A&M this week and going to Texas Tech next weekend? And why is...
Nate Silver, Crushing... →
The NYT’s Nate Silver explains why some media markets matter more than others when it comes to conference realignment. As usual, he crushes it.
“So much tradition and success. The words of the Pitt chancellor ring out at the...”
– Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, referencing The Godfather as to Pitt & Syracuse’s decision to bail on the Big East after so much tradition and success there.
NCAA President Not Anxious About Nuclear Option →
NCAA President Mark Emmert said on Sunday that he is not anxious about super-conferences eventually leaving the NCAA to form its own entity. Um… ok?
“It’s about the time zone. If we’re going to do this at 14, I would...”
– Coach K, clearly not enamored of the idea of adding Texas to the ACC (Austin, TX, being located in the Central time zone).
RIP to Dave Gavitt, Architect of the Big East
On a day when news broke that two of the Big East’s biggest and baddest programs are pulling up stakes and heading to the ACC, sad news that the Big East’s architect, Dave Gavitt, passed away on Friday night at the age of 73. It truly is the end of an era today, in more ways than one. RIP.
“This danger helps explain why the NCAA steps gingerly in enforcements against...”
– Historian and The Atlantic columnist Taylor Branch, roasting the NCAA for its outright refusal to bring the hammer on renegade programs while also explaining that the concept of amateurism is nothing more than a relic of a distant past. READ IT.
“He’s the third-most talented guy who has ever been in my gym, behind Kobe...”
– John Lucas, referring to Mississippi State center Renardo Sidney’s talent, in an interview with CBSSports. It also happens to be EXACTLY what we thought!
“Texas would rather not have to share all of its revenue. Oklahoma doesn’t...”
– Andy Katz, discussing conference realignment possibilities with respect to its impact on basketball in an ESPN round table writer’s discussion.
An Interesting Look at Downstream Effects of...
The Oklahoman published a weekend article examining the effects on the city of Oklahoma City should the state’s two Big 12 schools bolt for the Pac-12 in coming weeks or months. OKC has hosted the Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as well as NCAA pods (sponsored by the Big 12) in the past, and there’s some question whether those opportunities would continue...
Way to Not Step Up, Mark Emmert... →
In this article from the Hartford Courant over the weekend, columnist Jeff Jacobs sought to get an answer from the NCAA president over the Andre Drummond/Michael Bradley scholarship situation at UConn. The NCAA’s response was rather less than inspiring…
“It’s hypocritical to think that APR (Academic Progress Report) is so...”
– Preach on, Bill Self.
“The Kansas basketball team is one of five teams being considered by Connecticut...”
– According to Brady McCullough (via the AP), The 2012 Carrier Classic will feature UConn vs. one of five other big-time names being bandied about…
WatchRising HS senior Shabazz Muhammad discussing the craziest incentive from fans he’s experienced so far in his recruitment.
ESPN's Kieran Darcy Remembers His Father, a 9/11...
Simply heartbreaking…
Ten years … it’s been 10 years since we last spoke the night before that fateful morning. Three-thousand, six hundred and forty-nine days and counting without you — that’s a big number, yet it feels like even more. I know, I know — we talk every day; I just have to use a different organ to hear what you have to say. The ears don’t...
EDSBS' Brilliant Behind the Music History of the... →
“Expansion panic is producing more intriguing, if unsubstantiated stories. The...”
– NY Daily News basketball writer Dick Weiss, writing about the conference realignment rumors floating around.
“The Palestra is a Philadelphia basketball assault to the senses. It smells of...”
– ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil, referring to her choice for favorite CBB arena in the game, and perhaps exhibiting the first usage of the word “sepia” in an article about NCAA basketball.
Baylor Considering Its Options
Thanks to @cuppycup for sending this along.
Big East Expansion Would Result in Four Divisions...
Interesting story from the NY Post’s Lenn Robbins detailing how the 20-team Big East would look if the league is able to poach Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri from the flaming embers of the Big 12 (assuming total destruction soon).
The Big East has studied the creation of four five-team divisions in basketball and two divisions — East and West — in football, The Post has...
“It’s shaping up to be arguably the best list of Midnight Madness visitors that...”
– Scout.com’s Evan Daniels, referring to the 2011 Midnight Madness visitors UK has lined up this year.
WatchBobby Hurley will be inducted into the Duke HOF on Friday. People have forgotten just how good this guy was.
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WatchGotta give it up to the Beebs here. He juked Nash a bit - the only thing missing was the bounce off Nash’s forehead and a little dance afterward.
gotemcoach:
JUSTIN BIEBER CROSSES UP STEVE NASH
You know Nash hasn’t guarded anyone in his 45 years in the league, but this is a new low. Biebs got ‘em, then went to the reverse, and his girlfriend’s cheering for him on the sidelines. You...
“With Texas A&M trying to leave the Big 12 (It doesn’t happen until the SEC...”
– Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, giving his reasoning as to why the pending Era of the Superconference is a bad idea for everyone.
