I'm not going to write much, but wanted to pass along a couple quick items for the legions of Hangover readers.
First, on a tip from our friend Goldman, we want to share Ty Lawson's dunk on DJ Mbenga of the Lakers from last week. It's worth clicking that link and checking out the 47 second YouTube clip. Trust me. Please remember that Lawson is 5'10" on a good hair day and Mbenga is 7 fet tall.
As many of you may be aware, the #1 high school basketball recruit in the country, Harrison Barnes, committed to UNC on Friday. It was a huge recruiting victory for the Heels. Roy will tell you that the Heels really needed Barnes, and trust me, he's going to be a big time player for UNC. However, the most satisfying part about the entire recruitment is that Barnes was long considering a heavy Duke lean. As in, most recruiting experts just assumed he was going there.
Well, he's not. He's going to be a Tar Heel. And, understandably, Mike Krzyzewski wasn't too pleased about it. Now, I can't vouch for the entire authenticity of what I'm about to post, but I can vouch for the person who sent it to me. I'm assuming that he trusts his source, which is someone who works at Duke Hospital. Anyway, thanks to my man Warren, here is how Coach K's Friday afternoon progressed.
"Barnes contacted the 5 coaches who were recruiting him on Thursday night and thanked them for recruiting him, etc - and told them that he was setting up a skype call to the coach/school he picked.
All of the coaches were, of course, near a computer when the presser was going on - waiting to see if Barnes contacted them. The Rat was so convinced that dook had him that he had the entire team in the bball lounge WITH several of the dook cheerleaders to add to the celebration.
When Barnes was having technical difficulties, he started yelling at someone in the office to fix the computer, was getting all pissed off.
After Barnes said "Hello Coach Roy Williams" he apparently went nuts -- stormed out of the lounge, slammed the door (knocking a picture off the wall) and went in the coaches office and knocked over a table of DVD's and threw a book across the room.
She said Chrissy Collins followed him down the hall and was yelling "How could he turn on us like this" with a few other choice words.
This was all witnessed (and told) by a Sports Therapist who works part time with the womens bball team and was hanging around like everyone else -- her twin sister works in the department with my wife and she was telling everyone how crazy it was."
So, as I said, I cannot attest to the accuracy of these claims, but that was the story making the rounds at Duke on Friday. And, frankly, it all sounds pretty reasonable. I mean, maybe he didn't flip a table over, but who doubts that he was cussing and acting like Barnes betrayed him. He does have a history of turning on players who he feels wronged him somehow. William Avery anyone?
Anyway, it was a huge weekend in Chapel Hill. Hoops landed Barnes, football beat Miami and then hoops capped off the weekend with a win over Valpo. Sure, it wasn't the most impressive win, but as Roy said, "it goes in the right column." The competition steps up a notch this week as the Heels make the trip to NYC to take on Ohio State Thursday and then either Cal or Syracuse on Friday.
In meantime, go watch Ty Lawson's dunk again. Seriously.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Tailgate
As promised, let's talk some football. Sure, the Heels play hoops on Sunday against might Valpo, but the biggest game of the weekend takes place on the other side of South Campus from the Smith Center on Saturday, when the Heels take on Miami. In football. It should be a great atmosphere for the 3:30 kickoff to greet the Canes and hopefully the Heels will continue to lack hospitality to the winless-in-Chapel Hill Hurricanes.
As you should be able to tell, we're fired up. Let's fire up the Weber, cram the Coleman full of ice and beverages and get the Tailgate started.
#1 Florida @ South Carolina
Williams-Bryce will be running real hot for this one, as Spurrier will look to pull off a miracle upset, especially considering the 56-6 beating the Gators put on them last year. Since I'm all for a little BCS chaos, I'm taking the Gamecocks in the upset.
#2 Alabama @ Mississippi State
Another tricky conference road game for one of your BCS favorites. Florida struggled on its trip to Starkville - probably due to the dirt roads and lack of indoor plumbing. Alabama, which is more familiar with those conditions, won't have as much difficulty. Roll tide.
#3 Texas @ Baylor
I tell you, if something crazy were to happen at the top of the polls, this is the week. All 3 on the road. Sure, Baylor's not any good, but Texas knows that and you wonder if complacency will set in. I can see a close game for a half and then a Jordan Shipley punt return breaking things open. Hook em.
#4 TCU vs. #16 Utah
TCU is the highest ranked team to have a home game, and it's against the most difficult opponent. With two BCS bowl wins, Utah is the most accomplished non-BCS conference in this system. TCU wants to show that they can win a BCS bowl and a win here all but assures them the chance. A little turmoil above them also means that TCU could play for the national title. Too much on the line - TCU wins.
#5 Cincinnati vs. #25 West Virginia
Friday the 13th, as well as a mini-quarterback controversy that I don't think Brian Kelly is handling all that well, will be too much for the Bearcats. WVU in the upset.
#6 Boise St vs. Idaho
This is the toughest game Boise has left. On the blue field, it won't be that tough, but Boise will probably get locked out of the BCS because of TCU. Unless, everyone else loses and we get a Boise St vs. TCU title game! If anything's going to lead to a playoff of some sort, that would be it.
#7 Georgia Tech @ Duke
I'll be honest, I was shocked to see Georgia Tech ranked this high. Impressive work by the Jackets and they better not lose to Duke. A win clinches the Coastal Division (and also gives Miami an opportunity to lose some motivation). After seeing Ryan Houston steamroll through the Duke defense in person last Saturday, I like the Jackets chances.
#8 LSU vs. Louisiana Tech
LSU. Give me a break.
#9 USC vs. Stanford
The Cardinal are feeling pretty good about themselves after dismantling Oregon. Back to back wins over Oregon and USC is a tall task. Too tall in fact. USC wins to keep its BCS bowl hopes alive.
#10 Iowa @ #11 Ohio State
It's common practice to call Iowa a fraud now that they've lost, to Northwestern of all teams. But, I think any top 10 team would struggle if it lost its quarterback...ok, except Cincy. Regardless, I don't see Iowa going into the Shoe and beating Ohio State with a backup QB. Especially considering what the Buckeyes did to Penn State last week.
#12 Pitt vs. Notre Dame
I was more than a little surprised to see Pitt ranked this high. Of course, Dave Wannstedt doesn't have the best November and December record going back to his stint with the Dolphins. But, at home, against a terrible Notre Dame defense, I say Pitt gets the job done. Just like Wanny's stache has been getting the job done for the last twenty years.
#13 Oregon vs. Arizona State
The Ducks still control their own destiny for the Rose Bowl, so they should come out focused enough to beat the Sun Devils. After all, Oregon responded pretty well to their last loss.
#14 Miami @ UNC
As I said before, Miami has never won in Chapel Hill. Sure, it's only 3 games so it's not quite like Clemson's hoops futility, but still impressive for the Heels. In order to keep the streak alive, UNC needs to get some plays out of the passing game. Last week, Yates missed a wide open receiver for a would be 70-yard TD and really never got into any sort of rhythm. UNC won't be able to hand the ball off 37 times and be successful against Miami. This will also be the stiffest challenge the UNC defense has faced. Aside from the fourth quarter against FSU, the defense has been up to every challenge. Forcing turnovers, as always, will be important. The Charles Brown interception last week swung the momentum firmly to the Heels. Something similar needs to happen this week for UNC to win. Going to be a fun one. Go Heels.
#15 Houston @ Central Florida
The Case Keenum for Heisman campaign rolls on with another 500 yard passing day.
#17 Arizona @ Cal
Motivated by Jahvid Best's recovery from a horrific looking injury, the Bears will pull the upset. All 12 hippies who attend will go nuts, then retreat to their tents.
#18 Penn State vs. Indiana
Penn State wins. Indiana's not good.
#19 Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have been pretty quiet this year. They're due to pull an upset in a 52-49 shootout. How about this week?
#20 Wisconsin vs. Michigan
It wasn't that long ago that Michigan fans had delusions of 2 or at worst 3 loss season. Well, now they're just fighting to be bowl eligible. The trip to Madison won't help.
#21 Virginia Tech @ Maryland
Maryland is terrible. Hokies win.
22 BYU @ New Mexico
New Mexico is worse than Maryland. BYU wins.
#23 Oregon State vs. Washington
The Beavers haven't been in the news much, at least not in Charlotte where they usually get a ton of air time, so I'm surprised to see them creep into the top 25. They'll keep the good times rolling against a competitive but ultimately undermanned Washington team.
NFL
Broncos @ Redskins
The only hope for the Skins is that Denver suffers from jet lag, the early East Coast start time and short week after playing on Monday night and somehow the Skins keep it close. WIthout Portis or Cooley - the only two offensive threats - I don't think the Skins will ultimately be able to score enough points to actually win. I'm just hoping they don't further humiliate themselves.
Falcons @ Panthers
Panthers fans still have delusions of making the playoffs, but this game should put the final nail in their coffin.
Jaguars @ Jets
Two teams battling for a wild card, neither of which is any good. Don't you just love the NFL? Jets win at home.
Bengals @ Steelers
A battle for NFC North supremacy. I've been incredibly impressed with the Bengals this season - even going so far as to read an entire SI article on Cedric Benson's resurgence. That said, the Steelers are at home and with Polamalu (or however you spell his ridiculous name) back roaming the secondary, they defense is playing great. Steelers in a close on.
Cowboys @ Packers
Cowboys are in first place in the NFC East but a little trip to cold of Green Bay should cool them down. The cold temperatures will make Romo feel like its December or January, and we all know what happens to Romo then. Good things for the opponents.
Eagles @ Chargers
Chargers are surging, Eagles are reeling from a home loss to the Cowboys. Last time the Eagles ventured to the West Coast, they lost to the Raiders. I sense another loss.
Patriots @ Colts
The game of the week gets the Sunday night treatment, which is nice since the Ravens-Browns Monday nighter won't draw much in the way of ratings. Indy is undefeated but Brady seems to be getting his sea legs back after some early struggles. Both teams' defenses are a little suspect. I'm going with the home team in what should be a great game. Cut that meat!
Basketball
There's not much to discuss - I'm not going to start picking NBA games or anything - but there are two items of importance.
1. Harrison Barnes. The top basketball recruit in the country chooses a college destination today around 4pm. He's from Ames, Iowa and the schools he's choosing from are UNC, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Oklahoma and Iowa State. Most experts think it's a choice between UNC and Duke. I won't go in depth into the ins and outs of his recruitment, but for a long time he's been considered to be leaning towards Duke. The Heels appear to have made up some ground, at least enough to add some serious intrigue to the proceedings. UNC already has a solid foundation for the next few years, but Duke desperately needs Barnes. He could put them back in the national title discussion they've been noticeably absent from recently. He would make UNC the favorite to win it all next season.
2. UNC does have an actual hoops game, so I'd remiss not mention it. It's the final tuneup before heading to New York to play Ohio State next Thursday. Keys to the game will be minimizing turnovers, better spacing on the fast break and finding the right combinations of players on the court. I don't think we'll settle on a rotation for awhile, but finding out who meshes together on the court is an important step in that direction. I'm guessing we'll see plenty of zone, so the more practice agaisnt zone defense we see, the better.
All right, friends. We've got a big weekend of sports ahead of us. When watching this much football, you need to stay nourished (I recommend sausage of some kind). Even more important than the sausage, though, is staying hydrated.
Bartender!
As you should be able to tell, we're fired up. Let's fire up the Weber, cram the Coleman full of ice and beverages and get the Tailgate started.
#1 Florida @ South Carolina
Williams-Bryce will be running real hot for this one, as Spurrier will look to pull off a miracle upset, especially considering the 56-6 beating the Gators put on them last year. Since I'm all for a little BCS chaos, I'm taking the Gamecocks in the upset.
#2 Alabama @ Mississippi State
Another tricky conference road game for one of your BCS favorites. Florida struggled on its trip to Starkville - probably due to the dirt roads and lack of indoor plumbing. Alabama, which is more familiar with those conditions, won't have as much difficulty. Roll tide.
#3 Texas @ Baylor
I tell you, if something crazy were to happen at the top of the polls, this is the week. All 3 on the road. Sure, Baylor's not any good, but Texas knows that and you wonder if complacency will set in. I can see a close game for a half and then a Jordan Shipley punt return breaking things open. Hook em.
#4 TCU vs. #16 Utah
TCU is the highest ranked team to have a home game, and it's against the most difficult opponent. With two BCS bowl wins, Utah is the most accomplished non-BCS conference in this system. TCU wants to show that they can win a BCS bowl and a win here all but assures them the chance. A little turmoil above them also means that TCU could play for the national title. Too much on the line - TCU wins.
#5 Cincinnati vs. #25 West Virginia
Friday the 13th, as well as a mini-quarterback controversy that I don't think Brian Kelly is handling all that well, will be too much for the Bearcats. WVU in the upset.
#6 Boise St vs. Idaho
This is the toughest game Boise has left. On the blue field, it won't be that tough, but Boise will probably get locked out of the BCS because of TCU. Unless, everyone else loses and we get a Boise St vs. TCU title game! If anything's going to lead to a playoff of some sort, that would be it.
#7 Georgia Tech @ Duke
I'll be honest, I was shocked to see Georgia Tech ranked this high. Impressive work by the Jackets and they better not lose to Duke. A win clinches the Coastal Division (and also gives Miami an opportunity to lose some motivation). After seeing Ryan Houston steamroll through the Duke defense in person last Saturday, I like the Jackets chances.
#8 LSU vs. Louisiana Tech
LSU. Give me a break.
#9 USC vs. Stanford
The Cardinal are feeling pretty good about themselves after dismantling Oregon. Back to back wins over Oregon and USC is a tall task. Too tall in fact. USC wins to keep its BCS bowl hopes alive.
#10 Iowa @ #11 Ohio State
It's common practice to call Iowa a fraud now that they've lost, to Northwestern of all teams. But, I think any top 10 team would struggle if it lost its quarterback...ok, except Cincy. Regardless, I don't see Iowa going into the Shoe and beating Ohio State with a backup QB. Especially considering what the Buckeyes did to Penn State last week.
#12 Pitt vs. Notre Dame
I was more than a little surprised to see Pitt ranked this high. Of course, Dave Wannstedt doesn't have the best November and December record going back to his stint with the Dolphins. But, at home, against a terrible Notre Dame defense, I say Pitt gets the job done. Just like Wanny's stache has been getting the job done for the last twenty years.
#13 Oregon vs. Arizona State
The Ducks still control their own destiny for the Rose Bowl, so they should come out focused enough to beat the Sun Devils. After all, Oregon responded pretty well to their last loss.
#14 Miami @ UNC
As I said before, Miami has never won in Chapel Hill. Sure, it's only 3 games so it's not quite like Clemson's hoops futility, but still impressive for the Heels. In order to keep the streak alive, UNC needs to get some plays out of the passing game. Last week, Yates missed a wide open receiver for a would be 70-yard TD and really never got into any sort of rhythm. UNC won't be able to hand the ball off 37 times and be successful against Miami. This will also be the stiffest challenge the UNC defense has faced. Aside from the fourth quarter against FSU, the defense has been up to every challenge. Forcing turnovers, as always, will be important. The Charles Brown interception last week swung the momentum firmly to the Heels. Something similar needs to happen this week for UNC to win. Going to be a fun one. Go Heels.
#15 Houston @ Central Florida
The Case Keenum for Heisman campaign rolls on with another 500 yard passing day.
#17 Arizona @ Cal
Motivated by Jahvid Best's recovery from a horrific looking injury, the Bears will pull the upset. All 12 hippies who attend will go nuts, then retreat to their tents.
#18 Penn State vs. Indiana
Penn State wins. Indiana's not good.
#19 Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have been pretty quiet this year. They're due to pull an upset in a 52-49 shootout. How about this week?
#20 Wisconsin vs. Michigan
It wasn't that long ago that Michigan fans had delusions of 2 or at worst 3 loss season. Well, now they're just fighting to be bowl eligible. The trip to Madison won't help.
#21 Virginia Tech @ Maryland
Maryland is terrible. Hokies win.
22 BYU @ New Mexico
New Mexico is worse than Maryland. BYU wins.
#23 Oregon State vs. Washington
The Beavers haven't been in the news much, at least not in Charlotte where they usually get a ton of air time, so I'm surprised to see them creep into the top 25. They'll keep the good times rolling against a competitive but ultimately undermanned Washington team.
NFL
Broncos @ Redskins
The only hope for the Skins is that Denver suffers from jet lag, the early East Coast start time and short week after playing on Monday night and somehow the Skins keep it close. WIthout Portis or Cooley - the only two offensive threats - I don't think the Skins will ultimately be able to score enough points to actually win. I'm just hoping they don't further humiliate themselves.
Falcons @ Panthers
Panthers fans still have delusions of making the playoffs, but this game should put the final nail in their coffin.
Jaguars @ Jets
Two teams battling for a wild card, neither of which is any good. Don't you just love the NFL? Jets win at home.
Bengals @ Steelers
A battle for NFC North supremacy. I've been incredibly impressed with the Bengals this season - even going so far as to read an entire SI article on Cedric Benson's resurgence. That said, the Steelers are at home and with Polamalu (or however you spell his ridiculous name) back roaming the secondary, they defense is playing great. Steelers in a close on.
Cowboys @ Packers
Cowboys are in first place in the NFC East but a little trip to cold of Green Bay should cool them down. The cold temperatures will make Romo feel like its December or January, and we all know what happens to Romo then. Good things for the opponents.
Eagles @ Chargers
Chargers are surging, Eagles are reeling from a home loss to the Cowboys. Last time the Eagles ventured to the West Coast, they lost to the Raiders. I sense another loss.
Patriots @ Colts
The game of the week gets the Sunday night treatment, which is nice since the Ravens-Browns Monday nighter won't draw much in the way of ratings. Indy is undefeated but Brady seems to be getting his sea legs back after some early struggles. Both teams' defenses are a little suspect. I'm going with the home team in what should be a great game. Cut that meat!
Basketball
There's not much to discuss - I'm not going to start picking NBA games or anything - but there are two items of importance.
1. Harrison Barnes. The top basketball recruit in the country chooses a college destination today around 4pm. He's from Ames, Iowa and the schools he's choosing from are UNC, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Oklahoma and Iowa State. Most experts think it's a choice between UNC and Duke. I won't go in depth into the ins and outs of his recruitment, but for a long time he's been considered to be leaning towards Duke. The Heels appear to have made up some ground, at least enough to add some serious intrigue to the proceedings. UNC already has a solid foundation for the next few years, but Duke desperately needs Barnes. He could put them back in the national title discussion they've been noticeably absent from recently. He would make UNC the favorite to win it all next season.
2. UNC does have an actual hoops game, so I'd remiss not mention it. It's the final tuneup before heading to New York to play Ohio State next Thursday. Keys to the game will be minimizing turnovers, better spacing on the fast break and finding the right combinations of players on the court. I don't think we'll settle on a rotation for awhile, but finding out who meshes together on the court is an important step in that direction. I'm guessing we'll see plenty of zone, so the more practice agaisnt zone defense we see, the better.
All right, friends. We've got a big weekend of sports ahead of us. When watching this much football, you need to stay nourished (I recommend sausage of some kind). Even more important than the sausage, though, is staying hydrated.
Bartender!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Snap Observations
There are 11 minutes left in the Heels game against NC Central and with the Heels up 69-26, I can finally relax. In my tranquil state, I thought it'd be fun to give some quick thoughts on each player and the team in general on the entirely complete basis of one and a half games. I was going to call the column Snap Judgments, but I'm pretty sure someone on SI.com writes a column by that name, so I'd hate to have The Man take down our little Mom and Pop operation we have going on.
Anyway, enough of the digression. Let's make rash observations based on two games against completely overwhelmed opponents, shall we?
Larry Drew the Second: The Deuce has surprised me. I love the confidence he has on the ball. He's going to get moving too fast on occasion, he's going to have some stupid turnovers, but he's establishing himself as the point guard. He's taking the ball strong to the basket when its available and his jump shot looks much improved.
Marcus Ginyard - Marcus is back. He seems to be quicker than I remember, can elevate, hasn't missed a layup and his jump shot. Well, his jump shot is going in. His form is better - not great - and all we need is for him to knock down the open shots when the other teams collapse on our big men. Which will be often.
Will Graves - His shot didn't fall in the opener, but he found other ways to contribute - 6 rebounds. Against NC Central, he hit a 3 but other than that, wasn't much of a factor. He's had some back problems and he's fat, but he still has the best stroke on the team. Maybe the best weed connections too.
Deon Thompson - Deon's ready to go. Deon wants the ball and wants to be the leader of this team. Of course, he came out last season with new-found aggression which waned some throughout the season. That said, I'm not worried about Deon. Deon's the least of our issues.
Ed Davis - Still seems a little timid on the court. Needs a mean streak. I also think that the teams we've played haven't challenged him. When you can just stand there, be taller than everyone and just lay it in, it doesn't require much effort. Maybe he's just a guy waiting for the bright lights to come on. We'll find out more next week against Ohio State.
Tyler Zeller - It's going to be tough for Roy to keep this guy off the court. He might be the most skilled player on the team at this point. I'm calling shotgun on the Zeller bandwagon.
Dexter Strickland - Dexter was overwhelmed Monday night but calmed down tonight. I think we'll see a lot of him on the court with Ginyard so there's a second ballhandler out there. HIs jump shot looked smooth tonight. Maybe because they are both from Jersey, but Jason Williams seems overly excited about Strickland. I'm not ready to say he's going to be a star, but I think we're going to enjoy watching him play for the next few years.
John Henson - I'll be honest, I've been somewhat underwhelmed. Maybe he just got a ton of hype, maybe it's still early and maybe I was just hoping he'd be Kevin Durant, but I'm slightly disappointed at this point. Mostly because he can't shoot. He airballed two free throws in the exhibition game. That said, he is an athletic freak and almost had the most impressive alley-oop finish since Vince Carter was in town (he narrowly missed a reverse dunk after hanging in the air for seemingly 10 seconds). He has shown some good ballhandling and passing skills though. He's going to be really good. Just make some jump shots.
David Wear/Travis Wear - I'm lumping these guys in together becuase I can't tell them apart yet. I know hey have different numbers, but I can't remember which is which. Regardless, both looked solid. Knocked down some jumpers, handled the ball well, passed well, etc. Solid basketball players all around.
Leslie McDonald - I think Leslie will be a Ginyard/Noel player for the Heels. Just not this year. And that's not an insult. Eventually, the minutes for everyone won't be there. Come ACC play, some guys are going to get 30 minutes - namely guys like Marcus Ginyard. So, McDonald may end up getting squeezed out of the rotation a little bit.
Justin Watts - Another pleasant suprise so far. He might not get a ton of minutes as the season progresses, but he has the athleticism to play in the ACC. Made some careless turnovers tonight which won't endear him to Roy, but looks extremely confident on the floor.
The Heels get one more tune-up against Valpo on Sunday before the real competition starts. Defensively, the Heels are going to be one of the best teams out there. Sure, Florida International and NC Central aren't going to be pushing the Top 25 anytime soon, but with the size, quickness and athleticism on the roster, everyone's going to have a hard time scoring on the Heels.
The biggest question will be if the Heels can score. They won't have such an obvious size advantage against their toughest opponents. Zones will used frequently against us, and we won't be able to get as many offensive rebounds as the first two game has provided. So, jump shooting will be huge. Like any team, we'll have hot nights and cold nights. The key will be not falling in love with the three pointer regardless. We need to get the ball to the basket, no matter what defense we're facing. That goal is far more attainable if you can make jump shots occasionally.
Don't worry folks - we'll be back to discussing football tomorrow night to get you ready for the weekend on the gridiron. But, I mean, the Heels are back on the hardwood - did you expect anything less? We're a blog built on our extreme homericity regarding Tar Heels basketball. Without our overwhelming optimism, we'd just be espn.com. And no one wants that.
Anyway, enough of the digression. Let's make rash observations based on two games against completely overwhelmed opponents, shall we?
Larry Drew the Second: The Deuce has surprised me. I love the confidence he has on the ball. He's going to get moving too fast on occasion, he's going to have some stupid turnovers, but he's establishing himself as the point guard. He's taking the ball strong to the basket when its available and his jump shot looks much improved.
Marcus Ginyard - Marcus is back. He seems to be quicker than I remember, can elevate, hasn't missed a layup and his jump shot. Well, his jump shot is going in. His form is better - not great - and all we need is for him to knock down the open shots when the other teams collapse on our big men. Which will be often.
Will Graves - His shot didn't fall in the opener, but he found other ways to contribute - 6 rebounds. Against NC Central, he hit a 3 but other than that, wasn't much of a factor. He's had some back problems and he's fat, but he still has the best stroke on the team. Maybe the best weed connections too.
Deon Thompson - Deon's ready to go. Deon wants the ball and wants to be the leader of this team. Of course, he came out last season with new-found aggression which waned some throughout the season. That said, I'm not worried about Deon. Deon's the least of our issues.
Ed Davis - Still seems a little timid on the court. Needs a mean streak. I also think that the teams we've played haven't challenged him. When you can just stand there, be taller than everyone and just lay it in, it doesn't require much effort. Maybe he's just a guy waiting for the bright lights to come on. We'll find out more next week against Ohio State.
Tyler Zeller - It's going to be tough for Roy to keep this guy off the court. He might be the most skilled player on the team at this point. I'm calling shotgun on the Zeller bandwagon.
Dexter Strickland - Dexter was overwhelmed Monday night but calmed down tonight. I think we'll see a lot of him on the court with Ginyard so there's a second ballhandler out there. HIs jump shot looked smooth tonight. Maybe because they are both from Jersey, but Jason Williams seems overly excited about Strickland. I'm not ready to say he's going to be a star, but I think we're going to enjoy watching him play for the next few years.
John Henson - I'll be honest, I've been somewhat underwhelmed. Maybe he just got a ton of hype, maybe it's still early and maybe I was just hoping he'd be Kevin Durant, but I'm slightly disappointed at this point. Mostly because he can't shoot. He airballed two free throws in the exhibition game. That said, he is an athletic freak and almost had the most impressive alley-oop finish since Vince Carter was in town (he narrowly missed a reverse dunk after hanging in the air for seemingly 10 seconds). He has shown some good ballhandling and passing skills though. He's going to be really good. Just make some jump shots.
David Wear/Travis Wear - I'm lumping these guys in together becuase I can't tell them apart yet. I know hey have different numbers, but I can't remember which is which. Regardless, both looked solid. Knocked down some jumpers, handled the ball well, passed well, etc. Solid basketball players all around.
Leslie McDonald - I think Leslie will be a Ginyard/Noel player for the Heels. Just not this year. And that's not an insult. Eventually, the minutes for everyone won't be there. Come ACC play, some guys are going to get 30 minutes - namely guys like Marcus Ginyard. So, McDonald may end up getting squeezed out of the rotation a little bit.
Justin Watts - Another pleasant suprise so far. He might not get a ton of minutes as the season progresses, but he has the athleticism to play in the ACC. Made some careless turnovers tonight which won't endear him to Roy, but looks extremely confident on the floor.
The Heels get one more tune-up against Valpo on Sunday before the real competition starts. Defensively, the Heels are going to be one of the best teams out there. Sure, Florida International and NC Central aren't going to be pushing the Top 25 anytime soon, but with the size, quickness and athleticism on the roster, everyone's going to have a hard time scoring on the Heels.
The biggest question will be if the Heels can score. They won't have such an obvious size advantage against their toughest opponents. Zones will used frequently against us, and we won't be able to get as many offensive rebounds as the first two game has provided. So, jump shooting will be huge. Like any team, we'll have hot nights and cold nights. The key will be not falling in love with the three pointer regardless. We need to get the ball to the basket, no matter what defense we're facing. That goal is far more attainable if you can make jump shots occasionally.
Don't worry folks - we'll be back to discussing football tomorrow night to get you ready for the weekend on the gridiron. But, I mean, the Heels are back on the hardwood - did you expect anything less? We're a blog built on our extreme homericity regarding Tar Heels basketball. Without our overwhelming optimism, we'd just be espn.com. And no one wants that.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Tar Heels Basketball Preview
The banner has dropped, the rings have been awarded and the All-Americans have moved on to the NBA. So, what's next for Tar Heels? In the words of Roy Williams, "I don't know."
And that's why I'm so excited for this season.
Many people have compared this season to the 2005-2006 season where the Heels had to replace everyone except David Noel and Reyshawn Terry. While there are certain obvious similarities, it's really not a fair comparison for the 05-06 team because this one has considerably more experience returning.
With Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard and Ed Davis still around, to go with Will Graves and Larry Drew II who has some experience but not a ton, this team is far better equipped to be successful early in the year.
The comparison also diminishes how impressive the 2005 freshman class was. Let's be honest, there's not going to be a Tyler Hansbrough in this freshman class.
So, what does that leave us with? An extremely talented team - there are 9 McDonald's All Americans on the roster - with great potential but a steep learning curve.
We're going to look at the starting lineup, the bench players and then the schedule (preview: it's hard). And by the way, we're writing this as we're watching the Heels season opener against Florida International. It's early second half and so far, so good.
Starters:
PG - Larry Drew II
We start at the most important position which also is the biggest question mark for the Heels. Drew II will be handed the keys and we're going to have to hope he can settle in quickly. His jump shot is allegedly improved, which is nice but really he just needs to be able to push the tempo and get the ball to our big men with minimal turnovers. Easier said than done.
SG - Marcus Ginyard
Ginyard is the rock for this team. He's a great defender, vocal leader and is experienced playing the backcourt in big games. He'll be the guy Drew II looks to for a safety outlet. He's apparently in the best shape of his career, which is good because he's going to need to play a lot of minutes.
SF - Will Graves
Roy will give Graves every opportunity to start. A lot of people think John Henson will eventually take over this spot, but I'm not so sure. Graves has the best looking jump shot so if he can turn that form into actual baskets, he's going to be our zone buster. And we're going to see a lot of zone.
PF - Deon Thompson
Deon is the go to guy. He's the senior who really improved last year but only really seemed to excel when Hansbrough was out of the game. With Hansbrough in the NBA, Deon's game should flourish. He seems to be relishing his role as the go to guy, and that's important. He must rebound better and knock down free throws because he should be the guy going to the line the most all season.
C - Ed Davis
The Monster from the Mond is poised for a breakout season. He's going to erase a lot of defensive mistakes from our young guards with blocked/altered shots. He needs to develop a chemisty with Drew II so those blocks can turn into fast breaks the other way.
Bench
Backcourt - Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, Justin Watts
It will be interesting to see how this rotation shakes out - my guess is that Strickland will back up Drew II, McDonald will back up Ginayard and Watts will ultimately only see limited minutes. I also don't think these guys will be on the court at the same time very often either.
Frontcourt - Tyler Zeller, Travis Wear, David Wear
Zeller would be starting anywhere else in the country. He can run the floor, score inside and out and bulked up to improve his defense. The Wear brothers have talent and know what they're supposed to do, but may take some time to adjust to the speed of college basketball. From what I've seen (exhibition and FIU games), the Wears have all the tools to be successful, but they've just looked a little nervous, especially tonight. Occasionally tonight, they ended up matched up with small forwards and defensively they can't guard guys that quick. But I doubt that will happen much as the season progresses.
The Other Guy - John Henson
I have no idea what Henson's role will ultimately be. From the sounds and looks of things so far, he's going to play the 3. I'm sure part of that is due to the fact he weighs 17 pounds. Although, he can't really shoot, from what I've seen. And what I saw was him airball two free throws against Belmont Abbey. Of course, I think some nerves may been involved as he adjusts to the college game. He's going to be really, really good. But he's not going to be Kevin Durant this year like some people may have expected - you know, those rational UNC fans.
Key Games
The Heels have a brutal early schedule. By December 19th, the Heels will play teams currently ranked 2, 3, 5, 12 and 17. Only one of those games is at home. So, the Heels will be thrown into the fire from the start which means we'll learn a lot about these guys. More importantly, these guys will learn a lot. Let's take a look at who some of these teams are:
#17 Ohio State (Coaches v. Cancer - MSG) - This will be the first real test for the Heels, as well as the freshman's first taste of high level college hoops. Throw in primetime in New York City, and we'll find out how ready for the bright lights this team is.
#12 Cal (CvC - MSG) - This could also be Syracuse, but for discussion sake, let's assume the worst. Cal's backcourt of Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher will be one of, if not the best backcourts we face all season.
#5 Kentucky (Rupp Arena) - There may be some media coverage for this one. UK will have 6 warmup games, all at home, before the Heels come town for the first real home game of the Calipari era.
#2 Michigan State (Chapel Hill) - The lone home game of the stretch will be a payback game for the Spartans. I think they'll be ready for the Heels.
#3 Texas (Dallas, TX) - This made for TV matchup is meant to be a semi-test run for the future Final Four which is to be held in the new Cowboys stadium. Rick Barnes has a bit of a history with the Heels, so he would undoubtedly enjoy beating up on a young Tar Heels team. Of course, Texas has some youth itself.
I won't go through the whole ACC schedule since we know what the big games are there. Instead, we'll just take a minute to discuss Roy's scheduling.
Last season, with a veteran team, the schedule was pretty light. A trip to Maui, a home game vs. UK, the big showdown with Michigan State in the Final Four arena and that's about it. Of course, the thought process is brilliant. Scheduling tough made no sense. The team knew what the season was about, how to prepare for the tournament and didn't need teaching moments. So, why push things early in the season?
This year though, the team needs to be pushed. If this team wants to make a run in March, having a stretch where you play 3 of 4 games against Kentucky, Michigan State and Texas in December will be very helpful, even if you go 0-3 in those games. Sure, that's not what you want, but it's also not detrimental to the season. That's 3 of the 5 best teams in the country. You manage to knock off one of those teams and guess what? You've got the confidence you can beat anyone in the country.
This season will be, as its meant to be, fun. It will reflect 2005-2006 in that the team will win some games it shouldn't and lose some games it shouldn't. The team will make the fans want to pull their hair out one minute, then go nut celebrating something ridiculously impressive the next. And that's the fun with a season like this. There are no expectations.
Sure, some fans might think because we're ranked so highly right now that we should expect to be back in the Final Four. And sure, that's possible if the young guys develop like many think they will. But, don't go into the season with the weight of those expectations. It takes some of the fun out of it.
Seasons following titles are the best - you know, except for the ones where they win the title. But, if a game goes awry, you know, just look up at the banners and notice how we have 2 in the last four seasons. Pretty nice turnaround. So, while they may not always look like a great team, know that at some point, this core of players will be a great team. Why?
Because Ole Roy is that good. Go Heels
And that's why I'm so excited for this season.
Many people have compared this season to the 2005-2006 season where the Heels had to replace everyone except David Noel and Reyshawn Terry. While there are certain obvious similarities, it's really not a fair comparison for the 05-06 team because this one has considerably more experience returning.
With Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard and Ed Davis still around, to go with Will Graves and Larry Drew II who has some experience but not a ton, this team is far better equipped to be successful early in the year.
The comparison also diminishes how impressive the 2005 freshman class was. Let's be honest, there's not going to be a Tyler Hansbrough in this freshman class.
So, what does that leave us with? An extremely talented team - there are 9 McDonald's All Americans on the roster - with great potential but a steep learning curve.
We're going to look at the starting lineup, the bench players and then the schedule (preview: it's hard). And by the way, we're writing this as we're watching the Heels season opener against Florida International. It's early second half and so far, so good.
Starters:
PG - Larry Drew II
We start at the most important position which also is the biggest question mark for the Heels. Drew II will be handed the keys and we're going to have to hope he can settle in quickly. His jump shot is allegedly improved, which is nice but really he just needs to be able to push the tempo and get the ball to our big men with minimal turnovers. Easier said than done.
SG - Marcus Ginyard
Ginyard is the rock for this team. He's a great defender, vocal leader and is experienced playing the backcourt in big games. He'll be the guy Drew II looks to for a safety outlet. He's apparently in the best shape of his career, which is good because he's going to need to play a lot of minutes.
SF - Will Graves
Roy will give Graves every opportunity to start. A lot of people think John Henson will eventually take over this spot, but I'm not so sure. Graves has the best looking jump shot so if he can turn that form into actual baskets, he's going to be our zone buster. And we're going to see a lot of zone.
PF - Deon Thompson
Deon is the go to guy. He's the senior who really improved last year but only really seemed to excel when Hansbrough was out of the game. With Hansbrough in the NBA, Deon's game should flourish. He seems to be relishing his role as the go to guy, and that's important. He must rebound better and knock down free throws because he should be the guy going to the line the most all season.
C - Ed Davis
The Monster from the Mond is poised for a breakout season. He's going to erase a lot of defensive mistakes from our young guards with blocked/altered shots. He needs to develop a chemisty with Drew II so those blocks can turn into fast breaks the other way.
Bench
Backcourt - Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, Justin Watts
It will be interesting to see how this rotation shakes out - my guess is that Strickland will back up Drew II, McDonald will back up Ginayard and Watts will ultimately only see limited minutes. I also don't think these guys will be on the court at the same time very often either.
Frontcourt - Tyler Zeller, Travis Wear, David Wear
Zeller would be starting anywhere else in the country. He can run the floor, score inside and out and bulked up to improve his defense. The Wear brothers have talent and know what they're supposed to do, but may take some time to adjust to the speed of college basketball. From what I've seen (exhibition and FIU games), the Wears have all the tools to be successful, but they've just looked a little nervous, especially tonight. Occasionally tonight, they ended up matched up with small forwards and defensively they can't guard guys that quick. But I doubt that will happen much as the season progresses.
The Other Guy - John Henson
I have no idea what Henson's role will ultimately be. From the sounds and looks of things so far, he's going to play the 3. I'm sure part of that is due to the fact he weighs 17 pounds. Although, he can't really shoot, from what I've seen. And what I saw was him airball two free throws against Belmont Abbey. Of course, I think some nerves may been involved as he adjusts to the college game. He's going to be really, really good. But he's not going to be Kevin Durant this year like some people may have expected - you know, those rational UNC fans.
Key Games
The Heels have a brutal early schedule. By December 19th, the Heels will play teams currently ranked 2, 3, 5, 12 and 17. Only one of those games is at home. So, the Heels will be thrown into the fire from the start which means we'll learn a lot about these guys. More importantly, these guys will learn a lot. Let's take a look at who some of these teams are:
#17 Ohio State (Coaches v. Cancer - MSG) - This will be the first real test for the Heels, as well as the freshman's first taste of high level college hoops. Throw in primetime in New York City, and we'll find out how ready for the bright lights this team is.
#12 Cal (CvC - MSG) - This could also be Syracuse, but for discussion sake, let's assume the worst. Cal's backcourt of Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher will be one of, if not the best backcourts we face all season.
#5 Kentucky (Rupp Arena) - There may be some media coverage for this one. UK will have 6 warmup games, all at home, before the Heels come town for the first real home game of the Calipari era.
#2 Michigan State (Chapel Hill) - The lone home game of the stretch will be a payback game for the Spartans. I think they'll be ready for the Heels.
#3 Texas (Dallas, TX) - This made for TV matchup is meant to be a semi-test run for the future Final Four which is to be held in the new Cowboys stadium. Rick Barnes has a bit of a history with the Heels, so he would undoubtedly enjoy beating up on a young Tar Heels team. Of course, Texas has some youth itself.
I won't go through the whole ACC schedule since we know what the big games are there. Instead, we'll just take a minute to discuss Roy's scheduling.
Last season, with a veteran team, the schedule was pretty light. A trip to Maui, a home game vs. UK, the big showdown with Michigan State in the Final Four arena and that's about it. Of course, the thought process is brilliant. Scheduling tough made no sense. The team knew what the season was about, how to prepare for the tournament and didn't need teaching moments. So, why push things early in the season?
This year though, the team needs to be pushed. If this team wants to make a run in March, having a stretch where you play 3 of 4 games against Kentucky, Michigan State and Texas in December will be very helpful, even if you go 0-3 in those games. Sure, that's not what you want, but it's also not detrimental to the season. That's 3 of the 5 best teams in the country. You manage to knock off one of those teams and guess what? You've got the confidence you can beat anyone in the country.
This season will be, as its meant to be, fun. It will reflect 2005-2006 in that the team will win some games it shouldn't and lose some games it shouldn't. The team will make the fans want to pull their hair out one minute, then go nut celebrating something ridiculously impressive the next. And that's the fun with a season like this. There are no expectations.
Sure, some fans might think because we're ranked so highly right now that we should expect to be back in the Final Four. And sure, that's possible if the young guys develop like many think they will. But, don't go into the season with the weight of those expectations. It takes some of the fun out of it.
Seasons following titles are the best - you know, except for the ones where they win the title. But, if a game goes awry, you know, just look up at the banners and notice how we have 2 in the last four seasons. Pretty nice turnaround. So, while they may not always look like a great team, know that at some point, this core of players will be a great team. Why?
Because Ole Roy is that good. Go Heels
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Tailgate
We rarely get too excited about the UNC-Dook football game - that happens when one team wins something like 18 of the last 19 games - but this year is different. First of all, we'll be attending the game, which is all you really need to know. Second, the teams appear to be fairly evenly matched, which hasn't been the case in the last 20 years. So, we're headed to Chapel Hill to support the Heels in person. I imagine after the big time performance last week in Blacksburg that the Tar Heels faithful will be out in full force.
Anyway, that means we're going to do some real tailgating. Let's get started...I'm anxious.
#1 Florida vs. Vanderbilt
So, the SEC reprimands and fines Lane Kiffin for criticizing the refs and says the next person who does it will be suspended. Urban Meyer proceeds to criticize the refs. And doesn't get reprimanded, fined or suspended. I'll let you make your own conclusions. Florida wins.
#2 Texas vs. UCF
I hope UCF doesn't get too comfy in their adidas uniforms, as the brand is dropping the school because Michael Jordan's son wore Air Jordans in a basketball game. I'm guessing UCF will be getting some new Nike unis shortly. Which should help ease the pain of the beating they're going to take Saturday.
#3 Alabama vs. #9 LSU
A couple weeks ago, I thought Alabama was the best team, but their offense looks one dimensional. We'll see if they made some changes in the bye week. I think they McElroy makes enough plays, Ingram runs for about 150 and the Tide gets a win. Outside of Alabama and Florida, no one is really that good in the SEC.
#4 Iowa vs. Northwestern
I'll give you an upset - Iowa will dominate this game and it will be a blowout.
#5 Cincy vs. UConn
I'm guessing ABC didn't think they'd be showing this game on Saturday night primetime. I feel bad for UConn, who has yet to win since the tragic death of Jasper Howard. So, I'm taking the Huskies in the upset.
#6 TCU @ San Diego State
I hope the Horned Frogs at least get to pick up a breakfast burrito while they're in San Diego. The football game won't be very interesting.
#7 Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech
So a school from Idaho and a school from Louisiana are in the same conference? That is WAC. Haha...get it? Boise State wins.
#8 Oregon @ Stanford
Hello, trap game. Ducks struggle early, but make enough plays to survive their trip to The Farm.
#10 Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest
There's no logical reason to pick Wake to win this game. Which means, obviously, I'm picking Wake Forest.
#11 Penn State vs. #16 Ohio State
Penn State seems to have Ohio State's number of late. At least the last two years. I'll take the home team to make it three in a row.
#12 USC @ Arizona State
How good has USC been under Pete Carroll? Seeing them ranked 12th looks bizarre. They'll win and move back closer to where they belong, in the top 10.
#13 Pitt vs. Syracuse
Two seasons ago, Pitt beat Duke in basketball, in large parts due to the fact Greg Paulus couldn't guard Levance Fields. Now, Pitt will beat Syracuse because Greg Paulus also sucks as a quarterback.
#14 Utah vs. New Mexico
Utah. Whatever.
#15 Houston @ Tulsa
I heard today that Houston is actually an underdog in this game. If I were a betting man, I'd be all over the points in that one.
#17 Miami vs. UVA
Miami. Al Groh might just stay down in South Florida and look for a new beach house since he'll be selling his one in Charlottesville.
#18 Arizona vs. Washington St.
Iowa fans everywhere (even the ones in Indonesia) are rooting for Arizona to keep winning to boost the Hawkeyes SOS. More good news for Iowa - Zona wins. Iowa needs all the good news they can get.
#19 Oklahoma State @ Iowa State
OSU was all fired up to host Texas last week and proceeded to get blown out. Letdown City comes to Ames, Iowa. So does the Upset Special. Like I said, Iowa needs good news.
#20 Cal vs. Oregon State
Who wins a fight? A bear or a beaver?
#21 Wisconsin @ Indiana
Indiana has been on the verge of a couple big wins this year, only to blow it late and lose. This week, they'll blow it early and lose.
#22 Notre Dame vs. Navy
Notre Dame wins this one. I have nothing interesting to say. Charlie Weis is fat.
#24 Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
This game used to be one of the bigger rivalry games out there, but conference expansion has diminshed the significance. Nevertheless, this is a huge game for each team in terms of bowl placement. Not exactly what Oklahoma was hoping for this year. Nebraska wins at home because it means more.
UNC vs. Dook
The Heels infused the Tar Heel faithful with optimism once again with the win against VT. Now, the team needs to build on that success and make a little run to close out the season. The success by the team also coincides nicely with the return of several key offensive players from injury, so the hope is that those players stay healthy and the Heels start to play like everyone hoped they would.
The problem this year is that Duke isn't a complete joke. Sure, they did lost to Richmond, but the Spiders are undefeated, so I'm thinking they'd beat a few FBS teams that take them lightly. Everything revolves arouns Thaddeus Lewis for Duke. If the Heels defense can manage to contain Lewis - he'll get yards but the Heels need to make them settle for field goals, it should be considered a success.
As usual, the game will come down to turnovers. If the Heels can continue to force a couple turnovers as they have the last two weeks, they should be fine. If the defense can't get any takeaways and Yates decides to play like he did against UVA, then we're in trouble.
Regardless, we'll be doing our part to support our boys. And, if things go awry, basketball season starts Monday.
NFL
Skins @ Falcons
John Riggins came out this week and said that Dan Snyder is evil. Super. That's helpful to know. It will make me feel better watching the Skins lose again on Sunday.
Ravens @ Bengals
Bengals announced they were for real by beating Baltimore a few weeks ago in Baltimore. The Ravens will announce that they aren't to be forgotten yet by beating the Bengals in Cincy.
Chargers @ Giants
Are either of these teams any good? I don't know, but I'm guessing New York is better than San Diego.
Cowboys @ Eagles
Philly wins. They need some good news.
Steelers @ Broncos
With seven weeks of game film, I think teams are going to start to figure out the Broncos and new coach Josh McDaniels schemes. And no one's better at that than the Steelers.
If you're in Chapel Hill, come join us to make fun of Duke and cheer on the Tar Heels, hopefully to victory. I mean, it's actually possible we could lose to Duke in football. Oh geez...
Bartender!!
Anyway, that means we're going to do some real tailgating. Let's get started...I'm anxious.
#1 Florida vs. Vanderbilt
So, the SEC reprimands and fines Lane Kiffin for criticizing the refs and says the next person who does it will be suspended. Urban Meyer proceeds to criticize the refs. And doesn't get reprimanded, fined or suspended. I'll let you make your own conclusions. Florida wins.
#2 Texas vs. UCF
I hope UCF doesn't get too comfy in their adidas uniforms, as the brand is dropping the school because Michael Jordan's son wore Air Jordans in a basketball game. I'm guessing UCF will be getting some new Nike unis shortly. Which should help ease the pain of the beating they're going to take Saturday.
#3 Alabama vs. #9 LSU
A couple weeks ago, I thought Alabama was the best team, but their offense looks one dimensional. We'll see if they made some changes in the bye week. I think they McElroy makes enough plays, Ingram runs for about 150 and the Tide gets a win. Outside of Alabama and Florida, no one is really that good in the SEC.
#4 Iowa vs. Northwestern
I'll give you an upset - Iowa will dominate this game and it will be a blowout.
#5 Cincy vs. UConn
I'm guessing ABC didn't think they'd be showing this game on Saturday night primetime. I feel bad for UConn, who has yet to win since the tragic death of Jasper Howard. So, I'm taking the Huskies in the upset.
#6 TCU @ San Diego State
I hope the Horned Frogs at least get to pick up a breakfast burrito while they're in San Diego. The football game won't be very interesting.
#7 Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech
So a school from Idaho and a school from Louisiana are in the same conference? That is WAC. Haha...get it? Boise State wins.
#8 Oregon @ Stanford
Hello, trap game. Ducks struggle early, but make enough plays to survive their trip to The Farm.
#10 Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest
There's no logical reason to pick Wake to win this game. Which means, obviously, I'm picking Wake Forest.
#11 Penn State vs. #16 Ohio State
Penn State seems to have Ohio State's number of late. At least the last two years. I'll take the home team to make it three in a row.
#12 USC @ Arizona State
How good has USC been under Pete Carroll? Seeing them ranked 12th looks bizarre. They'll win and move back closer to where they belong, in the top 10.
#13 Pitt vs. Syracuse
Two seasons ago, Pitt beat Duke in basketball, in large parts due to the fact Greg Paulus couldn't guard Levance Fields. Now, Pitt will beat Syracuse because Greg Paulus also sucks as a quarterback.
#14 Utah vs. New Mexico
Utah. Whatever.
#15 Houston @ Tulsa
I heard today that Houston is actually an underdog in this game. If I were a betting man, I'd be all over the points in that one.
#17 Miami vs. UVA
Miami. Al Groh might just stay down in South Florida and look for a new beach house since he'll be selling his one in Charlottesville.
#18 Arizona vs. Washington St.
Iowa fans everywhere (even the ones in Indonesia) are rooting for Arizona to keep winning to boost the Hawkeyes SOS. More good news for Iowa - Zona wins. Iowa needs all the good news they can get.
#19 Oklahoma State @ Iowa State
OSU was all fired up to host Texas last week and proceeded to get blown out. Letdown City comes to Ames, Iowa. So does the Upset Special. Like I said, Iowa needs good news.
#20 Cal vs. Oregon State
Who wins a fight? A bear or a beaver?
#21 Wisconsin @ Indiana
Indiana has been on the verge of a couple big wins this year, only to blow it late and lose. This week, they'll blow it early and lose.
#22 Notre Dame vs. Navy
Notre Dame wins this one. I have nothing interesting to say. Charlie Weis is fat.
#24 Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
This game used to be one of the bigger rivalry games out there, but conference expansion has diminshed the significance. Nevertheless, this is a huge game for each team in terms of bowl placement. Not exactly what Oklahoma was hoping for this year. Nebraska wins at home because it means more.
UNC vs. Dook
The Heels infused the Tar Heel faithful with optimism once again with the win against VT. Now, the team needs to build on that success and make a little run to close out the season. The success by the team also coincides nicely with the return of several key offensive players from injury, so the hope is that those players stay healthy and the Heels start to play like everyone hoped they would.
The problem this year is that Duke isn't a complete joke. Sure, they did lost to Richmond, but the Spiders are undefeated, so I'm thinking they'd beat a few FBS teams that take them lightly. Everything revolves arouns Thaddeus Lewis for Duke. If the Heels defense can manage to contain Lewis - he'll get yards but the Heels need to make them settle for field goals, it should be considered a success.
As usual, the game will come down to turnovers. If the Heels can continue to force a couple turnovers as they have the last two weeks, they should be fine. If the defense can't get any takeaways and Yates decides to play like he did against UVA, then we're in trouble.
Regardless, we'll be doing our part to support our boys. And, if things go awry, basketball season starts Monday.
NFL
Skins @ Falcons
John Riggins came out this week and said that Dan Snyder is evil. Super. That's helpful to know. It will make me feel better watching the Skins lose again on Sunday.
Ravens @ Bengals
Bengals announced they were for real by beating Baltimore a few weeks ago in Baltimore. The Ravens will announce that they aren't to be forgotten yet by beating the Bengals in Cincy.
Chargers @ Giants
Are either of these teams any good? I don't know, but I'm guessing New York is better than San Diego.
Cowboys @ Eagles
Philly wins. They need some good news.
Steelers @ Broncos
With seven weeks of game film, I think teams are going to start to figure out the Broncos and new coach Josh McDaniels schemes. And no one's better at that than the Steelers.
If you're in Chapel Hill, come join us to make fun of Duke and cheer on the Tar Heels, hopefully to victory. I mean, it's actually possible we could lose to Duke in football. Oh geez...
Bartender!!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
College Hoops Preview
I know it's hard to believe, but in the midst of the World Series, college football's last month of the regular season and the start of the second half of the NFL season, the start of the college basketball season is rapidly approaching. As in, it's on Monday. And what better way to start the season than Isiah Thomas bringing his FIU Panthers to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels.
But, before the games begin, we must preview the season. For the legions of Heels fans dying to see what my thoughts are for the upcoming season, fret not. We'll be sure to have those up before tip-off Monday night. But for now, we'll take a look at the big picture.
Since last season worked out so well for the Heels, we'll duplicate our preview from last season. We'll give you a Top 10 for the upcoming year, then go through each of the BCS conferences with a pick for conference champion and a sleeper team. As always, the definition of "sleeper" is entirely ambiguous and really just means a team I want to talk about. So, no, you won't find Duke and their collection of giant awkward white guys who mentioned elsewhere throughout this preview.
Without further ado, here's the Hangover's Preseason Top 10, with a brief comment about each team.
1. Kansas - This wasn't a hard decision
2. Michigan State - Neither was this. Core from national runner-up returns.
3. Texas - Immensely talented team, but will ultimately underachieve thanks to Rick Barnes.
4. Villanova - Core of FInalfour team returns plus strong recruiting class.
5. Purdue - If healthy, this is a veteran team that should live up to last years' expectations.
6. North Carolina - They might struggle early but you won't want to play them in March.
7. Kentucky - Tons of talent but young. Calipari still hasn't won anything.
8. West Virginia - Will be fun team to watch - Devin Ebanks is a stud.
9. Butler - The Bulldogs can ball.
10. Michigan - Bit of a dark horse but this is a vote for John Beilein.
Let's take a look at each conference:
ACC
Champion - North Carolina
This team will struggle, especially with a November and December that features a trip to Rupp Arena, a trip to Dallas to play Texas, a trip to NYC to play Ohio State then either Cal or Cuse and, don't forget, a visit from Michigan State. While the record may not be gaudy in early December, those games will serve to indoctrinate the young Heels into the rigors of college hoops. I'll go more in depth on this at a later date, but the talent is still there for the Heels to be the class of the ACC.
Sleeper - Boston College
Sure, the loss of Richmond's Finest, Tyrese Rice hurts, but we thought the loss of Craig Smith would hurt and the loss of Jared Dudley would hurt. Yet, BC keeps being a pain in the collective rear end of the entire ACC. They were the only team not named North Carolina to win in the Smith Center last season. Rakim Sanders should have a big year, and Al Skinner's squad will finish in the top half of the conference and fight for an at-large NCAA birth.
Big East
Champion - Villanova
Tough call between Nova and WVU, but I give a slight edge to the Wildcats due to an experience edge. I mean, Scottie Reynolds has been in college forever. Add in some ridiculously talented freshman to go with a wily group of veterans, and you've got a team capable of returning to the Final Four. WVU won't be far behind though.
Sleeper - Pitt
Pitt lost just about everyone of significance from last season's team. The best returning player is currently injured. So, it's no real surprise that some folks are predicting a bottom half of the Big East finish for the Panthers. And, with a conference as big as the Big East, that's not entirely an insult, but I'm guessing Jamie Dixon will take it as one. While this program can't reload like a Kansas, it's not going to slip too far as long as Dixon's around. As usual, a trip to the Zoo to play Pitt will not be welcomed by anyone.
Big Ten
Champion - Michigan State
As longtime readers are probably aware, I'm a huge Tom Izzo fan. He's a great coach and this team will be really, really good. He's worried that they lack leadership, but what they don't lack is talent and motivation. The last time anyone saw the Spartans, they were being run off the biggest stage in the sport, and it was right in their own backyard. Don't expect Izzo to let them forget that all season.
Sleeper - Illinois
College basketball is a lot about talent, but it's also about coaching. Not everyone is a great recruiter or at a school that can reel in any recruit it wants. So, some people have to be really good coaches to be successful. Bruce Weber is one of those guys. And this season, he's got some talent to match his coaching acumen.
Big 12
Kansas isn't as overwhelming of a favorite as UNC was last year, but that's only because Texas isn't far behind. The Jayhawks are deep, talented, experienced and well coached. There's nothing not to like. With Collins, it has a senior leader who played significant minutes for its national championship team in 2008. That's what separates Kansas from Texas. The Longhorns will be talented, but it won't have nearly the experience. Or the penchant to get in fights with the football team. I guess that happens when you're at a football school.
Sleeper - Oklahoma
At this point, no one is really giving the Sooners much of a chance to challenge the Top 2 in the conference. But, with Willie Warren back and Tiny Gallon leading a talented group of freshman, don't count them out. Throw in Tony Crocker for some senior leadership and dynamic freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin running the point, and these guys won't back down from anyone.
Pac 10
Champion - Cal
The Golden Bears, led by Mike Montgomery are poised to be back into the national consciousness for college hoops for the first time since Jason Kidd was confusing college basketball fans as to what race he actually is. Nevertheless, Montgomery has compiled some serious talent, led by Patrick Christopher and of course, Bak Bak. I mean, seriously, how can you not root for Bak Bak? It's unpossible. Washington will be fun to watch, but the Bears behind the coaching wisdom of Montgomery take the conference.
Sleeper - Arizona
Arizona is not a team that anyone would have considered to be a sleeper a few years ago. But, with the instability around the program, they haven't been up to their usual lofty standards. Now, they've got a coach who probably won't leave for a long, long time and who will win a lot of basketball games. Sean Miller is one of the best young coaches in the game, and with Arizona's reputation, he should be able to recruit the talent to compete for national titles. But this year, they're trying to deal with the loss of two first round draft picks from a team that wasn't all that good last year. But Nic Wise is around to run the show and Miller scrambled to pick up a few big time recruits. Don't plan on this being the year the Wildcats miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in a few decades.
SEC
Champion - Kentucky
You have to go with Wildcats due to the immense talent on their roster. Calipari never seems to have a problem making sure deep rosters all get their touches. I would be slightly concerned that Patrick Patterson might not enjoy the freshman getting all the attention, but I don't think that will be the problem. The reason you can't pick Kentucky to win it all is that a team led by freshman doesn't win championships. But they can win conferences.
Sleeper - Vanderbilt
I'm not just saying this because Vandy beat the Heels in a closed scrimmage this past weekend (for Heels fans concerned about that - get a life. It's simply a great practice experience and will be far more valuable than the 50 point beatdown of Belmont Abbey Friday night. Which I'll be attending). Kevin Stallings is a great coach and he has players this year. Andrew Ogilvy needs to be more assertive on both ends of the floor, but if he is and freshman John Jenkins is as good as advertised, don't be surprised to see the Commodores near the top of the SEC.
Well, there you go. Rest assured, we'll be writing more and more about the college hoops season as the games start. We'll do a Heels preview, and ACC preview and generally just spend way too much time obsessing about teams that I know nothing about. Like Le Moyne. You'll notice I didn't mention the Cuse as a sleeper team, right?
But, before the games begin, we must preview the season. For the legions of Heels fans dying to see what my thoughts are for the upcoming season, fret not. We'll be sure to have those up before tip-off Monday night. But for now, we'll take a look at the big picture.
Since last season worked out so well for the Heels, we'll duplicate our preview from last season. We'll give you a Top 10 for the upcoming year, then go through each of the BCS conferences with a pick for conference champion and a sleeper team. As always, the definition of "sleeper" is entirely ambiguous and really just means a team I want to talk about. So, no, you won't find Duke and their collection of giant awkward white guys who mentioned elsewhere throughout this preview.
Without further ado, here's the Hangover's Preseason Top 10, with a brief comment about each team.
1. Kansas - This wasn't a hard decision
2. Michigan State - Neither was this. Core from national runner-up returns.
3. Texas - Immensely talented team, but will ultimately underachieve thanks to Rick Barnes.
4. Villanova - Core of FInalfour team returns plus strong recruiting class.
5. Purdue - If healthy, this is a veteran team that should live up to last years' expectations.
6. North Carolina - They might struggle early but you won't want to play them in March.
7. Kentucky - Tons of talent but young. Calipari still hasn't won anything.
8. West Virginia - Will be fun team to watch - Devin Ebanks is a stud.
9. Butler - The Bulldogs can ball.
10. Michigan - Bit of a dark horse but this is a vote for John Beilein.
Let's take a look at each conference:
ACC
Champion - North Carolina
This team will struggle, especially with a November and December that features a trip to Rupp Arena, a trip to Dallas to play Texas, a trip to NYC to play Ohio State then either Cal or Cuse and, don't forget, a visit from Michigan State. While the record may not be gaudy in early December, those games will serve to indoctrinate the young Heels into the rigors of college hoops. I'll go more in depth on this at a later date, but the talent is still there for the Heels to be the class of the ACC.
Sleeper - Boston College
Sure, the loss of Richmond's Finest, Tyrese Rice hurts, but we thought the loss of Craig Smith would hurt and the loss of Jared Dudley would hurt. Yet, BC keeps being a pain in the collective rear end of the entire ACC. They were the only team not named North Carolina to win in the Smith Center last season. Rakim Sanders should have a big year, and Al Skinner's squad will finish in the top half of the conference and fight for an at-large NCAA birth.
Big East
Champion - Villanova
Tough call between Nova and WVU, but I give a slight edge to the Wildcats due to an experience edge. I mean, Scottie Reynolds has been in college forever. Add in some ridiculously talented freshman to go with a wily group of veterans, and you've got a team capable of returning to the Final Four. WVU won't be far behind though.
Sleeper - Pitt
Pitt lost just about everyone of significance from last season's team. The best returning player is currently injured. So, it's no real surprise that some folks are predicting a bottom half of the Big East finish for the Panthers. And, with a conference as big as the Big East, that's not entirely an insult, but I'm guessing Jamie Dixon will take it as one. While this program can't reload like a Kansas, it's not going to slip too far as long as Dixon's around. As usual, a trip to the Zoo to play Pitt will not be welcomed by anyone.
Big Ten
Champion - Michigan State
As longtime readers are probably aware, I'm a huge Tom Izzo fan. He's a great coach and this team will be really, really good. He's worried that they lack leadership, but what they don't lack is talent and motivation. The last time anyone saw the Spartans, they were being run off the biggest stage in the sport, and it was right in their own backyard. Don't expect Izzo to let them forget that all season.
Sleeper - Illinois
College basketball is a lot about talent, but it's also about coaching. Not everyone is a great recruiter or at a school that can reel in any recruit it wants. So, some people have to be really good coaches to be successful. Bruce Weber is one of those guys. And this season, he's got some talent to match his coaching acumen.
Big 12
Champion - Kansas
Kansas isn't as overwhelming of a favorite as UNC was last year, but that's only because Texas isn't far behind. The Jayhawks are deep, talented, experienced and well coached. There's nothing not to like. With Collins, it has a senior leader who played significant minutes for its national championship team in 2008. That's what separates Kansas from Texas. The Longhorns will be talented, but it won't have nearly the experience. Or the penchant to get in fights with the football team. I guess that happens when you're at a football school.
Sleeper - Oklahoma
At this point, no one is really giving the Sooners much of a chance to challenge the Top 2 in the conference. But, with Willie Warren back and Tiny Gallon leading a talented group of freshman, don't count them out. Throw in Tony Crocker for some senior leadership and dynamic freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin running the point, and these guys won't back down from anyone.
Pac 10
Champion - Cal
The Golden Bears, led by Mike Montgomery are poised to be back into the national consciousness for college hoops for the first time since Jason Kidd was confusing college basketball fans as to what race he actually is. Nevertheless, Montgomery has compiled some serious talent, led by Patrick Christopher and of course, Bak Bak. I mean, seriously, how can you not root for Bak Bak? It's unpossible. Washington will be fun to watch, but the Bears behind the coaching wisdom of Montgomery take the conference.
Sleeper - Arizona
Arizona is not a team that anyone would have considered to be a sleeper a few years ago. But, with the instability around the program, they haven't been up to their usual lofty standards. Now, they've got a coach who probably won't leave for a long, long time and who will win a lot of basketball games. Sean Miller is one of the best young coaches in the game, and with Arizona's reputation, he should be able to recruit the talent to compete for national titles. But this year, they're trying to deal with the loss of two first round draft picks from a team that wasn't all that good last year. But Nic Wise is around to run the show and Miller scrambled to pick up a few big time recruits. Don't plan on this being the year the Wildcats miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in a few decades.
SEC
Champion - Kentucky
You have to go with Wildcats due to the immense talent on their roster. Calipari never seems to have a problem making sure deep rosters all get their touches. I would be slightly concerned that Patrick Patterson might not enjoy the freshman getting all the attention, but I don't think that will be the problem. The reason you can't pick Kentucky to win it all is that a team led by freshman doesn't win championships. But they can win conferences.
Sleeper - Vanderbilt
I'm not just saying this because Vandy beat the Heels in a closed scrimmage this past weekend (for Heels fans concerned about that - get a life. It's simply a great practice experience and will be far more valuable than the 50 point beatdown of Belmont Abbey Friday night. Which I'll be attending). Kevin Stallings is a great coach and he has players this year. Andrew Ogilvy needs to be more assertive on both ends of the floor, but if he is and freshman John Jenkins is as good as advertised, don't be surprised to see the Commodores near the top of the SEC.
Well, there you go. Rest assured, we'll be writing more and more about the college hoops season as the games start. We'll do a Heels preview, and ACC preview and generally just spend way too much time obsessing about teams that I know nothing about. Like Le Moyne. You'll notice I didn't mention the Cuse as a sleeper team, right?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tailgate
We're still basking in the glow of the Heels victory (Greg Little for Heisman!) and with the Skins on their bye week, we know it'll be a good weekend of football. Halloween does provide some scary matchups for our national title favorites, so before you get all dressed up and make a fool of yourself (which is highly recommended), make sure to watch some serious football.
The grill's been cranking since last night, we've already had to restock the beverages and we're pretty sure this would be about the best weekend to be an undergrad in Chapel Hill. There's a decent chance no one's sober again till Tuesday morning. Not that I would have any experience with that.
Anyway, let's Tailgate.
#1 Florida vs. Georgia
Georgia's either going to shock the world or get blown out. I'm guessing they'll get blown out, but as always, the Cocktails will be flowing regardless in Jacksonville.
#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma State
Despite an early loss and some off the field distractions, the Pokes stand poised to take control of the Big 12 South division with a win Saturday night. Unfortunately for them, the Texas offense awoke last week and should be ready for a statement win.
#4 Iowa vs. Indiana
The Hawkeyes should be on alert for a letdown after two narrow road victories. Indiana's not going to scare anyone (unless you're Michigan), but expect this one to be close. I don't think Iowa will need another last second touchdown, but they aren't going to run away with this one either.
#5 USC @ #10 Oregon
The Ducks are playing some of the best football in the country while USC keeps winning but not in entirely convincing fashion. Autzen is never an easy place to play, and when you throw in a night game on Halloween where everyone is that much crazier, I'm taking the Ducks in the upset.
#6 TCU vs. UNLV
The Horned Frogs are in prime position to get to their first BCS game. Probably a bit of a letdown here after the big road win against BYU, but the defense is good enough to take care of business.
#7 Boise State vs. San Jose State
If Oregon beats USC and wins out, should they jump ahead of Boise? That could be a huge potential debate as Boise continues to beat up on weaklings.
#8 Cincy @ Syracuse
Cincy looks to be legit and Greg Paulus certainly isn't going to change that.
#9 LSU vs. Tulane
LSU continues to fail to impress me. Beating Tulane isn't going to change that.
#11 Georgia Tech @ Vandy
The Jackets got a huge boost from the Heels win over VT and now should be able to cruise to the Coastal Division crown. That means they're primed to ease up and blow a game they should win. Lucky for them, it'll be against a non-conference opponent.
#12 Penn State @ Northwestern
Northwestern isn't terrible, which is a step up from most of Penn State's opposition this year. The Nittany Lions get a road win, but still don't justify their ranking.
#16 Utah vs. Wyoming
The Utes are the last road block for TCU and the Horned Frogs hope Utah keeps winning so beating them will have more cache. So, for TCU's sake, I'll go with Utah. I'm pulling for a TCU title game appearance.
#17 Ohio State vs. New Mexico State
I'm pretty sure New Mexico State's coach pulled a Tom Cable and beat the crap out of an assistant. That doesn't bode well for the season, much less a trip to the Horseshoe. Expect another big day from Pryor.
#18 Houston vs. Southern Miss
I'll take Southern Miss. Why not? It's not like anyone's reading this.
#19 Miami @ Wake Forest
The Canes are still alive for the Coastal Division but can't afford another loss and need some help from Georgia Tech's opponents, most of which suck. Kind of like Wake Forest.
#21 West Virginia @ South Florida
The Mountaineers are quietly 6-1 this year. After Friday night, they'll quietly be 6-2.
#22 South Carolina @ Tennessee
Last time these two teams met in a night game at Neyland Stadium, Brother of Hangover was removed from the stands before the end of the first quarter and Tennessee lost. This time, Bro will pace himself better (we hope) and Tennessee will get the win.
#23 Notre Dame vs. Washington State
Glad to see the Irish challenging themselves. At least Wazzu won a game this year already to match their total from last season. Where have you gone Ryan Leaf? Oh yeah, prison. My bad.
#24 Cal @ Arizona State
After a bumpy patch in the middle of the schedule (ie, playing Oregon and USC), Cal has rebounded. And Jahvid Best will still run all over ASU.
#25 Ole Miss @ Auburn
Making the trip to the Plains is never easy, but if Auburn's only going to score 10 points, it's not as difficult. I think good Auburn shows up and gets the win.
NFL
Skins @ Bye
Loser: common sense. I'm sure Snyder will do something stupid to make sure the team is being talked about and ridiculed during it's bye week.
Rams @ Lions
Loser: anyone forced to watch this debacle. Fortunately for Detroit residents, the game is blacked out.
49ers @ Colts
Can the Alex Smith Redemption Tour continue? No.
Giants @ Eagles
While the Yankees and Phillies battle it out in the World Series, the cities' respective football teams also meet. Since both teams can't lose, I'll take Philly in this game since I think the Yanks are winning the Series.
Broncos @ Ravens
The Josh McDaniels Experience suffers its first loss at a hungry Ravens team.
Vikings @ Packers
Apparently, someone on the Vikings used to play for the Packers or something. I'm not real sure, but hopefully one of the NFL pregame shows will mention it.
Falcons @ Saints
I'm guessing ESPN is a little more excited about this game than forcing its viewers to watch the Redskins last week. I'm taking the Saints at home because if the Cowboys can roll up points on Atlanta, the Saints might score 100.
Without having to spend 3 hours watching the Redskins, I'm pretty excited about getting to relax and just watch good football. Unfortunately, I'm sure they'll be showing the Panthers in Charlotte, but it's always enjoyable to watch Jake Delhomme challenge the all-time interception record.
Meanwhile, I tend to revel in the Tar Heels victory - I may even dress up as Ryan Houston and walk around feasting on a turkey leg. I'll need something to wash it down with though...
Bartender!
The grill's been cranking since last night, we've already had to restock the beverages and we're pretty sure this would be about the best weekend to be an undergrad in Chapel Hill. There's a decent chance no one's sober again till Tuesday morning. Not that I would have any experience with that.
Anyway, let's Tailgate.
#1 Florida vs. Georgia
Georgia's either going to shock the world or get blown out. I'm guessing they'll get blown out, but as always, the Cocktails will be flowing regardless in Jacksonville.
#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma State
Despite an early loss and some off the field distractions, the Pokes stand poised to take control of the Big 12 South division with a win Saturday night. Unfortunately for them, the Texas offense awoke last week and should be ready for a statement win.
#4 Iowa vs. Indiana
The Hawkeyes should be on alert for a letdown after two narrow road victories. Indiana's not going to scare anyone (unless you're Michigan), but expect this one to be close. I don't think Iowa will need another last second touchdown, but they aren't going to run away with this one either.
#5 USC @ #10 Oregon
The Ducks are playing some of the best football in the country while USC keeps winning but not in entirely convincing fashion. Autzen is never an easy place to play, and when you throw in a night game on Halloween where everyone is that much crazier, I'm taking the Ducks in the upset.
#6 TCU vs. UNLV
The Horned Frogs are in prime position to get to their first BCS game. Probably a bit of a letdown here after the big road win against BYU, but the defense is good enough to take care of business.
#7 Boise State vs. San Jose State
If Oregon beats USC and wins out, should they jump ahead of Boise? That could be a huge potential debate as Boise continues to beat up on weaklings.
#8 Cincy @ Syracuse
Cincy looks to be legit and Greg Paulus certainly isn't going to change that.
#9 LSU vs. Tulane
LSU continues to fail to impress me. Beating Tulane isn't going to change that.
#11 Georgia Tech @ Vandy
The Jackets got a huge boost from the Heels win over VT and now should be able to cruise to the Coastal Division crown. That means they're primed to ease up and blow a game they should win. Lucky for them, it'll be against a non-conference opponent.
#12 Penn State @ Northwestern
Northwestern isn't terrible, which is a step up from most of Penn State's opposition this year. The Nittany Lions get a road win, but still don't justify their ranking.
#16 Utah vs. Wyoming
The Utes are the last road block for TCU and the Horned Frogs hope Utah keeps winning so beating them will have more cache. So, for TCU's sake, I'll go with Utah. I'm pulling for a TCU title game appearance.
#17 Ohio State vs. New Mexico State
I'm pretty sure New Mexico State's coach pulled a Tom Cable and beat the crap out of an assistant. That doesn't bode well for the season, much less a trip to the Horseshoe. Expect another big day from Pryor.
#18 Houston vs. Southern Miss
I'll take Southern Miss. Why not? It's not like anyone's reading this.
#19 Miami @ Wake Forest
The Canes are still alive for the Coastal Division but can't afford another loss and need some help from Georgia Tech's opponents, most of which suck. Kind of like Wake Forest.
#21 West Virginia @ South Florida
The Mountaineers are quietly 6-1 this year. After Friday night, they'll quietly be 6-2.
#22 South Carolina @ Tennessee
Last time these two teams met in a night game at Neyland Stadium, Brother of Hangover was removed from the stands before the end of the first quarter and Tennessee lost. This time, Bro will pace himself better (we hope) and Tennessee will get the win.
#23 Notre Dame vs. Washington State
Glad to see the Irish challenging themselves. At least Wazzu won a game this year already to match their total from last season. Where have you gone Ryan Leaf? Oh yeah, prison. My bad.
#24 Cal @ Arizona State
After a bumpy patch in the middle of the schedule (ie, playing Oregon and USC), Cal has rebounded. And Jahvid Best will still run all over ASU.
#25 Ole Miss @ Auburn
Making the trip to the Plains is never easy, but if Auburn's only going to score 10 points, it's not as difficult. I think good Auburn shows up and gets the win.
NFL
Skins @ Bye
Loser: common sense. I'm sure Snyder will do something stupid to make sure the team is being talked about and ridiculed during it's bye week.
Rams @ Lions
Loser: anyone forced to watch this debacle. Fortunately for Detroit residents, the game is blacked out.
49ers @ Colts
Can the Alex Smith Redemption Tour continue? No.
Giants @ Eagles
While the Yankees and Phillies battle it out in the World Series, the cities' respective football teams also meet. Since both teams can't lose, I'll take Philly in this game since I think the Yanks are winning the Series.
Broncos @ Ravens
The Josh McDaniels Experience suffers its first loss at a hungry Ravens team.
Vikings @ Packers
Apparently, someone on the Vikings used to play for the Packers or something. I'm not real sure, but hopefully one of the NFL pregame shows will mention it.
Falcons @ Saints
I'm guessing ESPN is a little more excited about this game than forcing its viewers to watch the Redskins last week. I'm taking the Saints at home because if the Cowboys can roll up points on Atlanta, the Saints might score 100.
Without having to spend 3 hours watching the Redskins, I'm pretty excited about getting to relax and just watch good football. Unfortunately, I'm sure they'll be showing the Panthers in Charlotte, but it's always enjoyable to watch Jake Delhomme challenge the all-time interception record.
Meanwhile, I tend to revel in the Tar Heels victory - I may even dress up as Ryan Houston and walk around feasting on a turkey leg. I'll need something to wash it down with though...
Bartender!
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