Thursday, March 31, 2011

Podcast for Show 7 now available!

Due to some technical difficulties, we were not able to record our show last week.  However, we did webcast it!  Click here to view our Youtube Channel.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

NCAA players and the money issue

There was an interesting piece in the USA Today about college athletes and how they contribute to their schools' financial success.  This front-page story had Arizona star Derrick Williams sinking the game-winning free throw against Texas, which apparently earned his school an extra $1.4 million. 

Epic championship performances by high profile athletes certainly add to their school's bottom line.  The question is: should they get a cut of their contribution?

My answer: no.  Imagine if Chris Wright or Austin Freeman were in Derrick Williams' shoes (hard to imagine, I know).  They don't need any "extra" compensation because they are already receiving a full tuition (which totals over $200,000 in a four-year period) plus additional services and benefits like tutoring, free tickets and medical coverage.  USA Today found that a men's basketball scholarship can total over $120,000 annually!

The point is, they are not being employed by the university; in the end, they are simply students.  On the other hand, coaches are employees, so don't be complaining when guys like Rick Pitino get $7.5 million extensions.  That's their job.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Jordan Was Right, Na Nana Boo Boo

For those of you who missed the show on March 25th, I would like to include the transcripts of the sound bytes played during the show. Little bits of factual information will be included after key points in the transcript, just to drive those points home.


5:28-6:00


Jordan: I am cynical of this Georgetown team because Georgetown…Georgetown has not shown me what they need to show me this year. They won 8 games in a row and that’s excellent, great for them. But they have not shown me the resolve that I think that they need to do well in a tournament. And Tyler’s slapping his head, well, you know, when you’re playing down the stretch and you’re playing without your best player and you need wins and you just fall flat on your face every single game…show me something, get something going, this team is soft

--Georgetown lost their last 5 games by an average of 15.2 points while scoring just 52.4 points per game--

8:45-9:20

Nick: So, what does VCU have to do to beat Georgetown?

Jordan: Three-pointers. They have to hit their three-pointers because Georgetown cannot guard the perimeter. If VCU hits their three-pointers, then they will win this game.

Nick: It’s that simple? Really?

Jordan: Yeah, I think it is that simple. I think when you look at how Georgetown gets beat, they get beat because they can’t guard people on the perimeter…

Ed: That is not true at all.

Jordan: We have been to soooo many of their basketball games this year and what is it? The opposing teams are always getting wide open three-point looks and they’re hitting them.

Ed: That is not true, that is not true.

Jordan: In Georgetown losses, they hit their three-pointers. Look at the stats, look at the stats.

--In Georgetown losses this year, Georgetown opponents shot a combined 67-179 on three-pointers, a whopping 37.4%. In Georgetown wins, opponents shot 108-345, only 31.3%. The 12-25 (48%) performance by VCU on Friday evening was the only game this year in which Georgetown had allowed an opponent to hit more than 9 three-pointers--

10:38-10:50

Jordan (on what Georgetown has to do to win the game): I think it’s gotta be interior play. I think for Georgetown, in order to succeed in this game, they have to get some sort of presence inside. Julian Vaughn is gone.

11:12-11:49

Jordan: But see in case you haven’t noticed, the big men have been bad during our losing streak…

Tyler: Because they don’t have Chris Wright…

Jordan: I don’t think you can completely blame Julian Vaughn’s lack of ability to hit a shot on Chris Wright not getting him the ball. Julian Vaughn cannot hit a shot, and that’s why…

Ed: Julian Vaughn does not have opportunities to hit shots…

Jordan: Julian Vaughn takes ten shots a game! I think that’s plenty of opportunities. If you hit one of those shots, that’s not very good…

Ed: And they’re all poor quality shots…

Jordan: No, when you’re on the interior, there are no open looks. You’re never gonna get an “open look” unless it’s a dunk with nobody around you…

--During Georgetown’s 5-game losing streak to end the season, Julian Vaughn shot a miserable 2-21 to end the season. In fact, Julian Vaughn went from 6:47 into the FIRST Cincinnati game to 5:05 left in the 1st half against VCU without making a shot. His scoring draught spanned 168 minutes and 8 seconds of basketball. To top it all off, Georgetown’s three big men, Lubick, Vaughn, and Sims, combined for an astonishing 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 8 turnovers, 7 fouls, and TWO points--

12:08-12:26

Jordan: You’ve got to hit shots on the interior in order to keep your exterior game from becoming way too exposed. In case we haven’t noticed, Georgetown isn’t exactly good at hitting three-pointers lately either. So if you can’t score inside and you can’t score outside, you’re not gonna score at all.

--In Georgetown’s last 7 games, they shot a dismal 40-148 (27%) on three-pointers, capped by their 5-26 performance against VCU--

Friday, March 25, 2011

Show 7: March 25, 2011

Due to some technical difficulties, we were not able to record today's show. 
On the docket:
STATE OF THE HOYAS
·         Loss to VCU
o    WHY WHY WHY?
·         Review of the season
o    How did it go?  Disappointed?  More than expected?
·         How will next year do without Chris Wright, Freeman, Vaughn?
·         Should John Thompson keep his job?
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
·         Butler v. Pitt – crazy end to a crazy game
o   Do you agree with the calls at the end?
o   Bigger question: how do you referee the last minutes of each game?
·         Which game from the weekend was the biggest shock?
·         Why are there so many low seeds in the Sweet 16?
o    Which low seed will advance the farthest?
·         What’s the next upset?  Will there be any more upsets?
·         Which team was the most impressive?  AKA Which will win it all?
·         MASCOTS!!!
o   Mascots not allowed to interact at all according to NCAA rules…but Pitt/Butler had dance-off and were reprimanded.  Do you agree with the rule?
o   Jack was not allowed to show up to the games…do you agree?
NFL
  • Summarize topic/what has happened?
  • Whose side are you on?  Players or owners?
  • Do you think a deal will get done?
  • Which NFL player will have the most successful career doing something else?
UNDER REVIEW
PREDICTIONS

Friday, March 18, 2011

Show 6: March 18, 2011

To listen to the show, click here: SHOW 6

On the docket:

STATE OF THE HOYAS
·         Matchup vs. VCU – Friday, 9:50pm
o    Return of Chris Wright: how big of a difference does it make?
o    Analyze VCU: how good are they?
o    Considering Georgetown is the higher seed/favorite, what does VCU have to do to beat Gtown?
o    Key factor to Gtown victory – what is it?
·         How far will Gtown go?
COLLEGE BASKETBALL/NCAA TOURNAMENT
·         Ben Hansborough: does he deserve to be the Big East player of the year?
·         TOURNEY!!!
·         Bigger impact to the tournament: return of Kyree Irving (Duke) or Chris Wright?
·         Which bracket is the toughest?
·         Which number 1 seed is likely to lose earliest?  And to whom?
·         Who is most likely to be this year’s Butler (5-seed or higher)?
·         Best finish to the game? UNC-Asheville, Butler, Temple, Kentucky, etc.
·         Who is the biggest “IT” factor for the entire tournament?
NFL
·         Summarize topic/what has happened?
·         Whose side are you on?  Players or owners?
·         Do you think a deal will get done?
·         Which NFL player will have the most successful career doing something else?
UNDER REVIEW
PREDICTIONS

Friday, March 4, 2011

Show 5: March 4, 2011

To listen to the show, click here: SHOW 5

On the docket:

STATE OF THE HOYAS

Loss to Syracuse
                Panic time for the Hoyas?
                How much was Chris Wright missed?
                Bigger impact: inability to hit 3-pointer or Julian Vaughn’s lack of presence?

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

Who scares you the most?
Double byes pretty much set, still a shot for a single?

MLB

AL West:
                Defending Champ: Texas Rangers
                Michael Young controversy: He’s the team’s leader, does it tear apart chemistry?
                Which is better, A’s pitching or Rangers’ hitting?
                Is the Angels’ dynasty over?
                Predictions

AL Central:
                Defending Champ: Minnesota Twins
                White Sox add Adam Dunn from Washington, does it make a difference?
Detroit adds Joaquin Benoit to bullpen from Tampa, is Detroit bullpen unstoppable (Zumaya, Valverde)?
Kansas City loses Greinke, possibly worst team ever now?
Predictions

AL East:
Defending Champ: Tampa Bay Rays
Boston adds Bobby Jenks, Dan Wheeler to bullpen, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to lineup…can anyone contest this team?
Yankees fail to make any big acquisitions in free agency, do they stand a chance?
What about Tampa? Add Manny and Damon to make up for Crawford
Does Baltimore addition of Vlad Guerrero make a difference?
Predictions

NL West:
Defending Champ: San Francisco Giants
Respect for the champs: do they continue their reign?
San Diego moving forward: they choked last year, can they do it this year without Adrian Gonzalez?
Los Angeles loses Manny, good or bad?
Predictions


NL Central:
Defending Champ: Cincinnati Reds
Adam Wainwright out for the year, does St. Louis stand a chance?
Milwaukee gets Greinke, significant difference, or still mediocre?
Houston started worst in the league, finished the year strong, does it carry over?
How good is Cincinnati with a healthy Edinson Volquez?
Predictions

NL East:
Defending Champ: Philadelphia Phillies
Is Philadelphia unstoppable now?
Does the rise of Bryce Harper with a possibly healthy Strasburg make Washington at least mediocre?
Will the Mets ever win again?
Will the Marlins average more than 1000 fans in attendance this year?
Predictions

BUZZERBEATERS

PREDICTIONS