Ticket prices have been coming down since yesterday and all I do when I'm in my office is hit refesh on the "Raleigh - All for Sale/Wanted" page on Craigslist.
I want that ticket.
I need that ticket.
I'm so close to just driving down there and scalping. I think I can get in for $200 based on internet prices. The prices in person are always lower than the prices at the actual event. The online price includes a "comfort charge" for actually having the ticket in your hand when you get there.
I wonder who will get their 2nd foul quicker in the first half (resulting in a quick seat to the bench)...Summers or Monroe?
If Karl Hess is working this game I might get really worked up and break my new TV. Oh well at least I can take it back to Circuit City...Oh wait....
BTW: I am so lucky that the game is on CBS. That means I don't have to listen to that POS Vitale give Coach K and Paulus a verbal BJ for 2 plus hours.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
breathe if you hate syracuse
"Hey baby. We gonna be here all day baby. I like this kind of party. I like this kind of party baby."
You know a lot is wrong with the way the new Big East is set up. I could go on for days and days with all of my grievances. But for the second year in a row they got my most important criteria right.
A home and away series with Syracuse. That's the first thing I look for when the schedule comes out.
Hoyas get to host round one tonight. I can't wait to see them shut down Darth Vader. Last year it was Jon Wallace who came into this game in a bit of a shooting slump, a funk if you will. This year it's Jessie Sapp. I can't think of a better stage than tonight to come out of it. He needs to mix in a little physical defense on Johnny Flynn and the world will be right again. We need the Mayor of Onion Town to show up.
Things I need to see:
1) Jessie taking shots from the top of the key
2) Chris and Austin taking shots from the corners
3) Chris attacking Flynn on offense
4) Greg hanging out near the foul line and making crisp passes against the zone
5) Hard cuts by everybody the entire game...not just when you are behind in the second half
6) Omar to hit a shot or two
7) Austin to cut down the lazy asses passes and to attack the hoop from the baseline
8) DaJuan to play under control
9) Jason to provide energy off the bench
10) Julian to get a effing rebound
Get the early lead and never look back. There isn't any place for those all too familiar scoring draughts tonight. Score early and often.
I wish I was in the Acela Club right now. I can't take it anymore.
Fix it Jessie.
Ok so back to stuff that actually makes sense - I'll make my picks.
Points - Freeman
3 pointer - Sapp
Sub - Sims
FT - Summers
Dunk - Summers
The Hoyas hold the Orange to 35% shooting tonight and get a very important conference win to the tune of 71 - 62.
You know a lot is wrong with the way the new Big East is set up. I could go on for days and days with all of my grievances. But for the second year in a row they got my most important criteria right.
A home and away series with Syracuse. That's the first thing I look for when the schedule comes out.
Hoyas get to host round one tonight. I can't wait to see them shut down Darth Vader. Last year it was Jon Wallace who came into this game in a bit of a shooting slump, a funk if you will. This year it's Jessie Sapp. I can't think of a better stage than tonight to come out of it. He needs to mix in a little physical defense on Johnny Flynn and the world will be right again. We need the Mayor of Onion Town to show up.
Things I need to see:
1) Jessie taking shots from the top of the key
2) Chris and Austin taking shots from the corners
3) Chris attacking Flynn on offense
4) Greg hanging out near the foul line and making crisp passes against the zone
5) Hard cuts by everybody the entire game...not just when you are behind in the second half
6) Omar to hit a shot or two
7) Austin to cut down the lazy asses passes and to attack the hoop from the baseline
8) DaJuan to play under control
9) Jason to provide energy off the bench
10) Julian to get a effing rebound
Get the early lead and never look back. There isn't any place for those all too familiar scoring draughts tonight. Score early and often.
I wish I was in the Acela Club right now. I can't take it anymore.
Fix it Jessie.
Ok so back to stuff that actually makes sense - I'll make my picks.
Points - Freeman
3 pointer - Sapp
Sub - Sims
FT - Summers
Dunk - Summers
The Hoyas hold the Orange to 35% shooting tonight and get a very important conference win to the tune of 71 - 62.
Monday, January 12, 2009
sims showing signs of life
Oh! Henry: It took him about 14 games but Henry Sims finally looked the part of a top 100 recruit. Summers got hit with his fourth foul with just under 16 minutes remaining in a "way too close for me" ballgame and Sims got the call.
Gone was the deer in the headlights look he had been giving while on offense. While finishing with modest numbers - 5 points, 2 boards and a block in 14 minutes - he looked fluid. He looked like he belonged. He made the moves. He had the cuts going to the hoop. He didn't just hoist up three pointers like me in a KG Vets game.
Guess the Bum: I do two things when the AP poll comes out.
1. Check out where the Hoyas are ranked
2. Look at the last couple of teams in the receiving votes portion of the poll and guess which lame duck Feinstein put at 25
So this week the Hoyas are hanging on at 13 - no real surprise as I figured they would be somewhere in that 12 to 15 range.
Feinstein out did himself this week. He has been going Mason at 25 the last few weeks, which, to be honest, has been the easiest guess of all time. So when I saw that Mason had 2 votes this week, I knew Junior was voting them as his #24. Who did he have at #25? Harvard. That was so easy. The only wildcard was the fact that somebody had put VMI as their #25.
They should seriously take away his voting privileges.
NFL Playoffs: I don't understand the local love for the Ravens.
Has Snyder alienated people so much that they are willing to root for that hot trash from Charm City? During their playoff game on Saturday, I caught parts at two separate bars (one in DC and one in VA) where fans were openly rooting for the Ravens. I guess people just want to have a dog in the fight so bad that they will root for that old version of the Cleveland Browns that now wears purple. I'll never get it and you know what...I don't ever want to understand it.
NBA Tonite: Durant
Gone was the deer in the headlights look he had been giving while on offense. While finishing with modest numbers - 5 points, 2 boards and a block in 14 minutes - he looked fluid. He looked like he belonged. He made the moves. He had the cuts going to the hoop. He didn't just hoist up three pointers like me in a KG Vets game.
Guess the Bum: I do two things when the AP poll comes out.
1. Check out where the Hoyas are ranked
2. Look at the last couple of teams in the receiving votes portion of the poll and guess which lame duck Feinstein put at 25
So this week the Hoyas are hanging on at 13 - no real surprise as I figured they would be somewhere in that 12 to 15 range.
Feinstein out did himself this week. He has been going Mason at 25 the last few weeks, which, to be honest, has been the easiest guess of all time. So when I saw that Mason had 2 votes this week, I knew Junior was voting them as his #24. Who did he have at #25? Harvard. That was so easy. The only wildcard was the fact that somebody had put VMI as their #25.
They should seriously take away his voting privileges.
NFL Playoffs: I don't understand the local love for the Ravens.
Has Snyder alienated people so much that they are willing to root for that hot trash from Charm City? During their playoff game on Saturday, I caught parts at two separate bars (one in DC and one in VA) where fans were openly rooting for the Ravens. I guess people just want to have a dog in the fight so bad that they will root for that old version of the Cleveland Browns that now wears purple. I'll never get it and you know what...I don't ever want to understand it.
NBA Tonite: Durant
Monday, January 5, 2009
the best part is....you get to play again
And that "again" is tonight at 7pm.
Ok it's over. 29 straight home wins followed up by a real kick in the pants at the hands of a team that now sits atop both the Coaches and AP polls. Keep in mind that during the Final Four season of 06-07 they lost 3 games at home, including a 13-point loss to Old Dominion.
Look I hate when a team lets a game slip away. That didn't happen on Saturday. Pitt was the better team for the last 14 minutes and came away with a well deserved victory. The 3 game killer stretch ends tonight with a chance for 2-1. I would have taken 2-1 in a heartbeat in August if you would have let me.
Bobby B Philosophy: You get 29 or 30 regular season games in College Basketball and the breakdown goes a little something like - 5 games at your absolute best, 5 games at your worst, and 20 games about right where you are. The really, really good teams find a way to win most of those games when they are playing at their worst. The Hoyas couldn't do that the other night and that's a credit to their opposition.
Individual things I want to see tonight:
1. Jessie wearing Kyle McAlerney's uniform.
2. DaJuan to continue his offensive explosion, while at the same time, grabbing some rebounds and boxing out.
3. Omar to provide some points off the bench.
4. Austin taking it to the rim. He is settling for three pointers.
5. Greg to stay out of foul trouble and to dunk instead of lay it in.
Team things I want to see tonight:
1. Help on Harangody.
2. Good rotation on the 3 point defense.
3. Team rebounding
4. JT3 to avoid the zone.
5. Token pressure.
Points: Monroe
3 pointer: Sapp
Sub: Vaughn
Dunk: Summers
Free throw: Wright
NBA: Wade.
Ok so the new rankings are out and I'm having trouble digesting them. Last week Georgetown was 11 in the AP and 8 in the Coaches Poll. Uconn was 2 and Pitt was 3. To me the rankings indicate that Georgetown should lose both. Well they went 1-1 and moved DOWN in the Coaches to 10 and UP in the AP to 9.
It seems to be that going 1-1 against the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams in the country would move you up or at worst, keep you the same.
My advice? End that 43 game home winning streak that the Irish are holding and escape this insane start 2-1.
Hoyas 70 - Irish 62 tonight.
Ok it's over. 29 straight home wins followed up by a real kick in the pants at the hands of a team that now sits atop both the Coaches and AP polls. Keep in mind that during the Final Four season of 06-07 they lost 3 games at home, including a 13-point loss to Old Dominion.
Look I hate when a team lets a game slip away. That didn't happen on Saturday. Pitt was the better team for the last 14 minutes and came away with a well deserved victory. The 3 game killer stretch ends tonight with a chance for 2-1. I would have taken 2-1 in a heartbeat in August if you would have let me.
Bobby B Philosophy: You get 29 or 30 regular season games in College Basketball and the breakdown goes a little something like - 5 games at your absolute best, 5 games at your worst, and 20 games about right where you are. The really, really good teams find a way to win most of those games when they are playing at their worst. The Hoyas couldn't do that the other night and that's a credit to their opposition.
Individual things I want to see tonight:
1. Jessie wearing Kyle McAlerney's uniform.
2. DaJuan to continue his offensive explosion, while at the same time, grabbing some rebounds and boxing out.
3. Omar to provide some points off the bench.
4. Austin taking it to the rim. He is settling for three pointers.
5. Greg to stay out of foul trouble and to dunk instead of lay it in.
Team things I want to see tonight:
1. Help on Harangody.
2. Good rotation on the 3 point defense.
3. Team rebounding
4. JT3 to avoid the zone.
5. Token pressure.
Points: Monroe
3 pointer: Sapp
Sub: Vaughn
Dunk: Summers
Free throw: Wright
NBA: Wade.
Ok so the new rankings are out and I'm having trouble digesting them. Last week Georgetown was 11 in the AP and 8 in the Coaches Poll. Uconn was 2 and Pitt was 3. To me the rankings indicate that Georgetown should lose both. Well they went 1-1 and moved DOWN in the Coaches to 10 and UP in the AP to 9.
It seems to be that going 1-1 against the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams in the country would move you up or at worst, keep you the same.
My advice? End that 43 game home winning streak that the Irish are holding and escape this insane start 2-1.
Hoyas 70 - Irish 62 tonight.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
road still goes through dc brah
UCONN came for a game, Georgetown came for a fight - Jay Bilas.
I'm not sure I totally agree with that quote, but I like it. A lot even.
Last night was one of the best coaching jobs, in terms of game management, I have seen out of JT3. Monroe, as I feared, got into foul trouble by picking up his 3rd early in the 2nd half. Thompson did a magnificent job of shuffling him in and out with Vaughn. He also gets valuable minutes of Omar Wattad, which, in my opinion, is beyond amazing.
Why did they win?
1. They only took 13 threes - most were good shots as they made 6
2. They ran when the opportunity presented itself
3. Played some of the best match up zone I have ever seen them play (and for the longest period of time)
4. Kept going at Thabeet even though he was blocking shots (7 in all)
5. Made their last 18 free throws
6. Nearly matched UCONN on the offensive glass (10 to 14)
7. They never get rattled and it bothers the other team
What's that AJ? "They are very solid on both ends of the floor," UConn senior point guard A.J. Price said. "They never seem to get rattled. When you look at the tape, you can't ever tell if they're up 10 or down 10 and that showed tonight."
Yeah they just go out there and methodically beat that ass. The Michael Myers of college hoops. I told ya brah
I love quotes like these: "With a win, as with a loss, we have to go back and see if we can get better," Thompson said, noting that Georgetown hosts No. 3 Pittsburgh on Saturday. "The commissioner's not handing out any trophies after tonight."
Did everybody hear that? The only reward being presented to the Hoyas after being UCONN is a home date with the third ranked Panthers of Pitt. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Winning last night meant one thing...that they won't start 0-3 with their ridiculous hard start to the "real" season.
Tonight's NBA pick: LeBron.
I'm not sure I totally agree with that quote, but I like it. A lot even.
Last night was one of the best coaching jobs, in terms of game management, I have seen out of JT3. Monroe, as I feared, got into foul trouble by picking up his 3rd early in the 2nd half. Thompson did a magnificent job of shuffling him in and out with Vaughn. He also gets valuable minutes of Omar Wattad, which, in my opinion, is beyond amazing.
Why did they win?
1. They only took 13 threes - most were good shots as they made 6
2. They ran when the opportunity presented itself
3. Played some of the best match up zone I have ever seen them play (and for the longest period of time)
4. Kept going at Thabeet even though he was blocking shots (7 in all)
5. Made their last 18 free throws
6. Nearly matched UCONN on the offensive glass (10 to 14)
7. They never get rattled and it bothers the other team
What's that AJ? "They are very solid on both ends of the floor," UConn senior point guard A.J. Price said. "They never seem to get rattled. When you look at the tape, you can't ever tell if they're up 10 or down 10 and that showed tonight."
Yeah they just go out there and methodically beat that ass. The Michael Myers of college hoops. I told ya brah
I love quotes like these: "With a win, as with a loss, we have to go back and see if we can get better," Thompson said, noting that Georgetown hosts No. 3 Pittsburgh on Saturday. "The commissioner's not handing out any trophies after tonight."
Did everybody hear that? The only reward being presented to the Hoyas after being UCONN is a home date with the third ranked Panthers of Pitt. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Winning last night meant one thing...that they won't start 0-3 with their ridiculous hard start to the "real" season.
Tonight's NBA pick: LeBron.
Monday, December 29, 2008
going for 3
So it's like this, if the rest of the conference wants to take the title away from the two-time defending Big East Champs, they better put them in an 0 -3 hole by next Monday night at around, oh I don't know, 9pm est.
It's their only chance.
Georgetown (28 - 6 the last two years in the Big East) opens up the season at Connecticut - the school that most publications have already crowned as this years champion. They have a good squad. Lots of length and athleticism across the board. They probably have more depth than this year's version of the Hoyas.
My advice so them is to come out with everything they have because if you let Georgetown hang around, they will do you wrong.
They are the Michael Myers of college hoops. You always look back and see him just walking towards you, not in any particular hurry. Problem with that is that the next thing you know, they are in front of you going for the kill.
My keys to the game for the good guys:
1) Freeman needs to relax on those sloppy ass passes he seems to get cised for
2) Monroe has to stay out of foul trouble
3) Using Monroe to break the press
4) FGA/3FGA ratio - there will be good shots available even with Thabeet in the game - take them
5) Wright getting into the paint to score/dish
6) Limit the offensive rebounding by the Huskies
I expect a fast-paced tempo where Connecticut stays in the game due to their advantage on the offensive glass. The Hoyas should limit them to a low shooting percentage. I expect Sapp to hit a late shot that enables the Hoyas to leave Hartford with a very important early season win.
Most points: Sapp
First three: Summers
First sub: Clark
First dunk: Monroe
The Skins: So they finished at 8 - 8. It's funny how expectations can take such drastic changes. After watching their first game of the season against the defending Super Bowl champs, I struggled to see them winning 5 games. Fast forward 4 weeks later and the Skins were 4-1 and people had them in winning the division. The problem was that they had only scored 11 more points than they had given up. Something had to give and it gave fast in the form of the dreadful St. Louis Rams.
So 8-8 and was probably just about right for this group. The way things are currently done at Redskins Park, anything better than .500 is a random shot in the dark. A decade of Snyder has produced zero consecutive winning seasons. I hope it doesn't take him another decade to figure out what he is doing wrong. Time well tell.
NBA: I've got Devin Harris tonight.
It's their only chance.
Georgetown (28 - 6 the last two years in the Big East) opens up the season at Connecticut - the school that most publications have already crowned as this years champion. They have a good squad. Lots of length and athleticism across the board. They probably have more depth than this year's version of the Hoyas.
My advice so them is to come out with everything they have because if you let Georgetown hang around, they will do you wrong.
They are the Michael Myers of college hoops. You always look back and see him just walking towards you, not in any particular hurry. Problem with that is that the next thing you know, they are in front of you going for the kill.
My keys to the game for the good guys:
1) Freeman needs to relax on those sloppy ass passes he seems to get cised for
2) Monroe has to stay out of foul trouble
3) Using Monroe to break the press
4) FGA/3FGA ratio - there will be good shots available even with Thabeet in the game - take them
5) Wright getting into the paint to score/dish
6) Limit the offensive rebounding by the Huskies
I expect a fast-paced tempo where Connecticut stays in the game due to their advantage on the offensive glass. The Hoyas should limit them to a low shooting percentage. I expect Sapp to hit a late shot that enables the Hoyas to leave Hartford with a very important early season win.
Most points: Sapp
First three: Summers
First sub: Clark
First dunk: Monroe
The Skins: So they finished at 8 - 8. It's funny how expectations can take such drastic changes. After watching their first game of the season against the defending Super Bowl champs, I struggled to see them winning 5 games. Fast forward 4 weeks later and the Skins were 4-1 and people had them in winning the division. The problem was that they had only scored 11 more points than they had given up. Something had to give and it gave fast in the form of the dreadful St. Louis Rams.
So 8-8 and was probably just about right for this group. The way things are currently done at Redskins Park, anything better than .500 is a random shot in the dark. A decade of Snyder has produced zero consecutive winning seasons. I hope it doesn't take him another decade to figure out what he is doing wrong. Time well tell.
NBA: I've got Devin Harris tonight.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
christmas eve eve
When I think of Florida International, this is the vision that dances in my head. I really don't want to see anything remotely resembling this tonight on the court at the Verizon Center. But since you asked, I will tell you want I DO WANT to see tonight:
1. Vaughn getting minutes with Monroe as opposed to just giving him a rest. The schedule is about to turn absolutely nasty with size everywhere that the eye can see. This team needs some quality minutes with 3 Bigs on the court.
2. Sims to show signs of life. I feel like I'm going to keep saying this until he does it. He just looks completely lost out there. The weird thing is that the top 100 guys from Charm City are usually legit. Oh well. Maybe he's just waiting for Big East play to show everybody what's really up.
3. For the Jiffy Lube Trivia question to actually require a brain. This competition has become an absolute joke. It's so bad that non basketball fans are answering it correctly before the choices are even presented. I'm sure tonight's question will be something along the lines of: What arena are you in right now? Tough one.
Tonight's Superlatives
High scorer: Freeman
First three: Summers
First sub: Vaughn
NBA High Scorer of the night: Dirk Nowitzki.
Happy Christmas Eve Eve to everybody out there.
First Dunk: Monroe
1. Vaughn getting minutes with Monroe as opposed to just giving him a rest. The schedule is about to turn absolutely nasty with size everywhere that the eye can see. This team needs some quality minutes with 3 Bigs on the court.
2. Sims to show signs of life. I feel like I'm going to keep saying this until he does it. He just looks completely lost out there. The weird thing is that the top 100 guys from Charm City are usually legit. Oh well. Maybe he's just waiting for Big East play to show everybody what's really up.
3. For the Jiffy Lube Trivia question to actually require a brain. This competition has become an absolute joke. It's so bad that non basketball fans are answering it correctly before the choices are even presented. I'm sure tonight's question will be something along the lines of: What arena are you in right now? Tough one.
Tonight's Superlatives
High scorer: Freeman
First three: Summers
First sub: Vaughn
NBA High Scorer of the night: Dirk Nowitzki.
Happy Christmas Eve Eve to everybody out there.
First Dunk: Monroe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)