Yeah, we know. It's a commercial pitch. It's "Selling Out to the Man". Sure, we get it.
But we are also big fans of Robert Rodriguez. He's a one of a kind movie director who has a pretty unique view on just about everything.
With that in mind, he was commissioned to make a "Mini-Film" with Kobe Bryant to use as a pitch for Bryant's new Nike shoes. And yeah, it's pretty cool. If you've got Danny Trejo, Bruce Willis and Kanye West co-starring in a Robert Rodriguez production, it has to be cool.
Check out "The Black Mamba":
Monday, February 21, 2011
Coach Loses Clothing In Fit Of Anger
((HT: PuckDaddy))
Ya gotta love the Central Hockey League...
And you also have to wonder what happens when Colorado Eagles head coach Greg Pankiewicz loses a game...
He was winning a game against Memphis this past weekend, but one of the linesmen rough-housed one of his players during a brawl...
The coach, not having sticks or any other gear to throw, went the next step...
And the only one he could go, really...
The only thing missing was the stripper music...
Absolutely awesome, but we now know that Pankiewicz will go through a wall and a wardrobe for his players...
Ya gotta love the Central Hockey League...
And you also have to wonder what happens when Colorado Eagles head coach Greg Pankiewicz loses a game...
He was winning a game against Memphis this past weekend, but one of the linesmen rough-housed one of his players during a brawl...
The coach, not having sticks or any other gear to throw, went the next step...
And the only one he could go, really...
The only thing missing was the stripper music...
Absolutely awesome, but we now know that Pankiewicz will go through a wall and a wardrobe for his players...
Doug Williams Heading Back To Grambling
To coach again... not a misprint...
Williams who was GM of the UFL's newest franchise, the Virginia Destroyers, will be introduced tomorrow. He succeeds Ron Broadway who went to North Carolina A&T after this season.
Williams played for the late Eddie Robinson at Grambling and succeeded him as coach following Robinson's retirement from 1998-2003.
Williams will have the chance to coach his son, D.J., who committed to play next season at the school.
"It is very rare that a father gets to coach his son at the college football level," Williams said in a statement released by the UFL. "I went to school there, I coached there, and now I have a great opportunity to coach there again."
Here's Doug digging on the sidelines...
Dig-Doug...
((HT: youtube/NBC))
Williams who was GM of the UFL's newest franchise, the Virginia Destroyers, will be introduced tomorrow. He succeeds Ron Broadway who went to North Carolina A&T after this season.
Williams played for the late Eddie Robinson at Grambling and succeeded him as coach following Robinson's retirement from 1998-2003.
Williams will have the chance to coach his son, D.J., who committed to play next season at the school.
"It is very rare that a father gets to coach his son at the college football level," Williams said in a statement released by the UFL. "I went to school there, I coached there, and now I have a great opportunity to coach there again."
Here's Doug digging on the sidelines...
Dig-Doug...
((HT: youtube/NBC))
The WAC Adding Four More...???
And, boy, are the guys really reaching here...
An article in the Salt Lake City Tribune has four more schools going in that direction- and if this doesn't sound like a basketball conference, the HQ doesn't know what will be...
Although we still think the conference is reaching beyond reaching...
Utah Valley State, Cal-Davis, Seattle, and Lamar...
UVU Athletics Director Michael V. Jacobson confirmed talks to the Trib's Tony Jones...
“It’s a fluid situation,” Jacobson told The Tribune. “We would be very interested in joining the WAC. That’s been a great conference for a long time. It certainly has great history. Right now we just have to see how things go.”
Here's a campus tour, thanks to the folks from Orem...
((HT: UtahValleyUniversity))
Lamar AD Larry Tidwell says nothing has been done "officially" from his point-of-view. Haven't heard anything from Seattle or Cal-Davis at present...
Here's some Lamar highlights from this past football season as they've started football all over again under Ray Woodard...
((HT: youtube))
An article in the Salt Lake City Tribune has four more schools going in that direction- and if this doesn't sound like a basketball conference, the HQ doesn't know what will be...
Although we still think the conference is reaching beyond reaching...
Utah Valley State, Cal-Davis, Seattle, and Lamar...
UVU Athletics Director Michael V. Jacobson confirmed talks to the Trib's Tony Jones...
“It’s a fluid situation,” Jacobson told The Tribune. “We would be very interested in joining the WAC. That’s been a great conference for a long time. It certainly has great history. Right now we just have to see how things go.”
Here's a campus tour, thanks to the folks from Orem...
((HT: UtahValleyUniversity))
Lamar AD Larry Tidwell says nothing has been done "officially" from his point-of-view. Haven't heard anything from Seattle or Cal-Davis at present...
Here's some Lamar highlights from this past football season as they've started football all over again under Ray Woodard...
((HT: youtube))
Coach suspended after plowing over player
((ht: myfoxphilly/ajc.com))
Whoa! You have to see this video to believe it. Holy Family University basketball coach John O'Connor gets physical with one of his players in basketball practice.
You can clearly see O'Connor lower his shoulder and knock down sophomore Matt Kravchuk during practice, O'Connor kicks him later for extra measure. It's followed he by an expletive filled rant from the coach afterwards.
Kravchuk filed a police report saying he was assaulted.
Your can read the story from MYFOXPHILLY.com RIGHT HERE
Wow! We aren't condoning what happened because it's wrong. O'Connor clearly should have pulled up before making contact. Yes, basketball is a physical game, much more so than you would think, but really, was that necessary?
The school, which plays Division II hoops in the Philadelphia area, will have another coach leading the team.
Here's your video from FOX 29, and it's well worth watching:
Whoa! You have to see this video to believe it. Holy Family University basketball coach John O'Connor gets physical with one of his players in basketball practice.
You can clearly see O'Connor lower his shoulder and knock down sophomore Matt Kravchuk during practice, O'Connor kicks him later for extra measure. It's followed he by an expletive filled rant from the coach afterwards.
Kravchuk filed a police report saying he was assaulted.
Your can read the story from MYFOXPHILLY.com RIGHT HERE
Wow! We aren't condoning what happened because it's wrong. O'Connor clearly should have pulled up before making contact. Yes, basketball is a physical game, much more so than you would think, but really, was that necessary?
The school, which plays Division II hoops in the Philadelphia area, will have another coach leading the team.
Here's your video from FOX 29, and it's well worth watching:
Jarrett Jack charged with DUI
 |
| Jarrett Jack Booking photo/Courtesy: gwinnett co.sheriff's/AJC.com |
This...isn't good. Especially on NBA All-Star weekend. New Orleans Hornets guard and former Georgia Tech standout Jarrett Jack, spent the early morning hours of Monday in trouble with the law.
The reason...he was pulled over in Snellville, Georgia and charged with DUI.
Read the story from AJC.com RIGHT HERE
We knew, and covered Jack when he was at Tech and we know he has a lot of ties to the Atlanta area. But we wonder what the bloody hell he was thinking? While he was borderline "Over-the-limit", he should never have put himself in that situation.
Jack hasn't been an incredible success in the NBA, playing for 4-teams in the past 6-years. But he's been a solid backup player and carved out a moderately successful career for himself. No, this won't cost him his job, but it will make his employers nervous, whether he's convicted or not. Professional sports owners don't like their investments having legal issues, and while there are far worse things he could have done, a DUI is fairly high on the list of no-no's.
Here's Jack hitting a game winner in the ACC Tourney several years ago against North Carolina...somewhere on the baseline in the group of cameras, was yours truly...
Arizona State Baseball player fractures spine stealing base
 |
| Hahn trying to slide/Courtresy: Ron Galosic-LATimes |
This sounds rough. Arizona State freshman outfielder and pitcher Cory Hahn badly injured himself on Sunday in a game against New Mexico.
He apparently tried to slide head first while trying to steal second base in the 1st inning of the game. He hit the knee of the New Mexico second baseman, which appeared to knock him out. He was taken off the the field on a stretcher to a local hospital.
The updated report on Hahn, according to College Baseball Daily, a C-5 fracture of the Spinal cord. He'll be in ICU at the Hospital for at least a week.
More from collegebaseballdaily.com RIGHT HERE
Hahn, a highly recruited athlete from the Los Angeles area faces a really uncertain future. The injury is not something easily recovered from. According to the report, it's similar to the injury suffered by Boston University hockey player Travis Roy a few years ago. We wish him the best in his recovery.
Here's 12News Bruce Cooper with an update...
And then it's KTVK-TV's report from Stacy Delikat
Kobe Bryant wins NBA All-Star MVP in his house
 |
| Can't say it--Kobe and LeBron/Courtesy: wally skalij-LATimes |
NBA's All-Star weekend finished last night with their night to show off. Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers led the West all-stars to a 148-143 win over the favored East squad last night on his home court at the Staples Center.
Bryant scored 37 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, bascially dominating a game which featured the Miami Heat "Big 3" and 4 out of 5 starters for the Boston Celtics on the East squad.
Read more from the LA Times, RIGHT HERE
Quite honestly, this was a good weekend for the NBA. The game, did well for them. It showcased their best players and the youngsters also had a role in the weeks success.
Perhaps the biggest talk of the week was the Dunk Contest, and for the league and the weekend, that is a good thing. The contest had gotten incredibly stale and uninteresting over the past several years and this years group brought unheard of excitement to it.
As for Bryant, while not forgetting his legal issues of a couple years ago, he's matured into the player and person that he had hoped to become. He's still the most dangerous player in the league when he goes all out and it showed on Sunday. Sure, there are question marks around his team, but do you think anyone wants a part of them...or Bryant in the Playoffs. Bryant doesn't seem to duck and cower over being asked tough questions, but he does a pretty good job of keeping it in perspective.
Your game highlights are here...
And here is Bryant talking about his day. Thanks CBSSports:
Dave Duerson wanted brain donated for research after Suicide
 |
| Dave Duerson/Courtesy: daylife.com |
It's impossible to know what that feeling must have been like. We reported on Thursday about the death of former Chicago Bear and New York Giant Dave Duerson. Duerson, according to police reports, shot himself in the chest.
Before doing that however, he apparently sent a text to his family members asking that his brain be donated to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy in Boston.
Read the story from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE
The reason. Duerson, like other NFL players with similar stories (the list is quickly growing), appeared to realize that something wasn't right.
The New York Times spoke to several former players about Duerson's passing, they all were shaken. You can read that story RIGHT HERE
Without going to deep into detail, one of the many issues up for discussion in the NFL versus the Owners labor negotiations, is the long-term affect of injuries on players. The league itself has done an admirable job of finally realizing that the impact and concussions players are suffering are having affects long after their playing careers end.
While there are some that seem to deal with it better than others, there is no denying the problem exists. Football players at all levels, not just professionally are showing signs of post-concussion problems. Researchers are calling it a disease, CTE, and it has been found in the post-autopsy results of numerous football players who have died...or like Duerson, took their own life.
While we talk often about how much athletes get paid, and sometimes it is an obscene amount of money, how do you put a price...or contract on a life? How can you say, "Oh, he made millions of dollars playing football". Yeah, sure, he...and others did, but what does it matter if you aren't around to spend it?
Here is a story about Duerson, from CBS News:
UPDATE: A memorial service for Duerson will be held Saturday morning at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago...
It's open to the public:
6248 South Stewart Avenue
(773) 873-4433
Who is Daytona champ Trevor Bayne and where did he come from?
 |
| Your winner/Courtesy: nascar.com |
A little more about Trevor Bayne, from the Daytona Beach News-Journal RIGHT HERE
He survived one of the more exciting, fun to watch Daytona races in a long time, holding off Carl Edwards to take the checkered flag in the NASCAR equivalent of double overtime.
Your highlights, from our friends at ESPN:
Bayne has had some success running in the Nationwide circuit, enough success that he got a shot to run with the big boys. He hasn't been around racing long, but, unless he goes the way of Derrick Cope, he'll be around awhile.
To answer our headine question, Bayne was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he still has family. WATE-TV in Knoxville caught up with them on Sunday:
Perhaps the funniest moment of the day was caught on his two-way radio after the race, when upon trying to find Victory Lane, Bayne said "I don't even know where to go". We couldn't find the video clip online, but FOX cameras clearly showed him driving right past it, until a NASCAR official jumped in front of him and made him stop.
Here's an interview with Trevor's mom from FOX Sports:
Sunday, February 20, 2011
OSG Buzzer Beater: A 3 At The Buzzer Lifts Utah Over New Mexico
There were a few impressive buzzer beaters Saturday in college basketball. This is the only one with video the OSG HQ could find. We think its pretty good.
The Runnin' Utes' Chris Hines launched a bomb as time expired and the bank was open on Saturday giving Utah a 62-60 win over Nex Mexico.
Here are the highlights. (Thanks KSL-TV)
The Runnin' Utes' Chris Hines launched a bomb as time expired and the bank was open on Saturday giving Utah a 62-60 win over Nex Mexico.
Here are the highlights. (Thanks KSL-TV)
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
2011 Slam Dunk Contest: Yeah, Blake Griffin Jumped Over a Car
Really, there aren't a whole lot of words that we can use to describe Blake Griffin and his Slam Dunk awesomeness that haven't already been said.
With that in mind, imagine what his bosses in Clipper-land thought when they saw what he was planning to do to cap off the night.
By the way, if you don't know who JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards is, after watching this video, you will
Here's the 1st part of the competiton. Thanks NBA.com and YouTube:
The next round. As the stakes and the creativity gets larger:
And the finals:
With that in mind, imagine what his bosses in Clipper-land thought when they saw what he was planning to do to cap off the night.
By the way, if you don't know who JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards is, after watching this video, you will
Here's the 1st part of the competiton. Thanks NBA.com and YouTube:
The next round. As the stakes and the creativity gets larger:
And the finals:
Friday, February 18, 2011
BREAKING: So Much For That... Wittels Streak Ends At 56
The FIU shortstop went 0 for 4 against Southeastern Louisiana leaving him two games short of matching Robin Ventura's 58-game Division I record set back in 1987.
His streak goes down as the third-longest in collegiate baseball history. Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina had a 60-game streak from 2001-03- that is the the NCAA mark regardless of classification.
Southeastern Louisiana won the game 10-2 in the season opener for both.
Wittels' best chance for a hit came in the eighth inning, but his grounder to third was grabbed by Jonathan Pace.
Here's Wittels' presser before the SELa game where the school said he was cleared to play with the Bahamian charges hanging over his head...
((HT: MiamiHerald))
More when we know more...
His streak goes down as the third-longest in collegiate baseball history. Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina had a 60-game streak from 2001-03- that is the the NCAA mark regardless of classification.
Southeastern Louisiana won the game 10-2 in the season opener for both.
Wittels' best chance for a hit came in the eighth inning, but his grounder to third was grabbed by Jonathan Pace.
Here's Wittels' presser before the SELa game where the school said he was cleared to play with the Bahamian charges hanging over his head...
((HT: MiamiHerald))
More when we know more...
Spokane Shock Playing AFL Game Outdoors
((HT: KREM-TV Spokane))
Okay, we've seen NBA games played outdoors in the desert, and there's plans for a college game to be played on an aircraft carrier, but now indoor football goes back to its normal environment...
Outdoors... but only using half the field...
The Spokane Shock announced on that they're playing an outdoor game at something called Joe Albi Stadium.
They will take on the Utah Blaze on July 9th in a game the team is calling the Joe Albi Summer Classic.
“We are proud to bring such a unique event to the greatest fans in the AFL, right here in Spokane,” Majority Owner/CEO Brady Nelson said. “This is an idea that we have been toying with for a few years now and we are happy to bring it to our fans. The Joe Albi Summer Classic’ is going to be a memorable event that no one will want to miss.”
Here's KREM's take from their noon show...
Okay, we've seen NBA games played outdoors in the desert, and there's plans for a college game to be played on an aircraft carrier, but now indoor football goes back to its normal environment...
Outdoors... but only using half the field...
The Spokane Shock announced on that they're playing an outdoor game at something called Joe Albi Stadium.
They will take on the Utah Blaze on July 9th in a game the team is calling the Joe Albi Summer Classic.
“We are proud to bring such a unique event to the greatest fans in the AFL, right here in Spokane,” Majority Owner/CEO Brady Nelson said. “This is an idea that we have been toying with for a few years now and we are happy to bring it to our fans. The Joe Albi Summer Classic’ is going to be a memorable event that no one will want to miss.”
Here's KREM's take from their noon show...
OSG High: Female Wrestler Loses In Quarters
((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))
Cassy Herkelman, one of the first girls to qualify for the state wrestling tournament in Iowa, has been eliminated from the tourney after her second loss Friday. She was given a default win earlier in the week when her opponent refused to wrestle her because of his religious beliefs.
Here's when WHO-TV caught up with Cassy...
Cassy Herkelman, one of the first girls to qualify for the state wrestling tournament in Iowa, has been eliminated from the tourney after her second loss Friday. She was given a default win earlier in the week when her opponent refused to wrestle her because of his religious beliefs.
Here's when WHO-TV caught up with Cassy...
DEVELOPING: Sypher Sentenced To 87 Months
Karen Sypher has been sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in a federal prison and 2 years supervised release after being found guilty of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliation against a witness.
Sypher could have received a sentence of 4 ½ years to 9 years in federal prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.
Judge Simpson decided on the lowest end of the range of possible sentence, saying that the range he has settled on was from 87-108 months. 87 months was the lowest Sypher could have received within the range Judge Simpson selected. In sentencing Sypher, Judge Simpson said, “this is a serious crime because it involves serious money.” Simpson said it was a brazen offense, driven by "sheer greed."
Here's coverage from our friends at WHAS-TV in Louisville..
Sypher had demanded, as part of the extortion from Pitino, items with an appraised value of US$4.4-million- not including the college education demands she made. Her attorneys wanted their claims that Sypher suffered from ADHD and PTSD to be included in the consideration of her sentencing term.
Sypher could have received a sentence of 4 ½ years to 9 years in federal prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.
Judge Simpson decided on the lowest end of the range of possible sentence, saying that the range he has settled on was from 87-108 months. 87 months was the lowest Sypher could have received within the range Judge Simpson selected. In sentencing Sypher, Judge Simpson said, “this is a serious crime because it involves serious money.” Simpson said it was a brazen offense, driven by "sheer greed."
Here's coverage from our friends at WHAS-TV in Louisville..
Sypher had demanded, as part of the extortion from Pitino, items with an appraised value of US$4.4-million- not including the college education demands she made. Her attorneys wanted their claims that Sypher suffered from ADHD and PTSD to be included in the consideration of her sentencing term.
Attorney Says Kerrigan Too "Drunk" To Waive Rights
((HT: MyFoxBoston))
A Massachusetts judge is in the process of receiving more evidence submissions on a request by lawyers for skater Nancy Kerrigan's brother, Mark, to have statements he made on the night of his dad's death thrown out and termed otherwise inadmissable.
Mark Kerrigan pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the death of his 70-year-old father, Daniel, after a fight at their home last year. A police officer has testified Kerrigan told investigators he "grabbed his father by the throat" before he died.
Defense lawyers want such evidence barred from the case. They say Kerrigan was too drunk to waive his Miranda rights, and police questioned him after he said he didn't want to talk to them on the night in question.
Here's the update from FoxBoston on the case as it stands
A Massachusetts judge is in the process of receiving more evidence submissions on a request by lawyers for skater Nancy Kerrigan's brother, Mark, to have statements he made on the night of his dad's death thrown out and termed otherwise inadmissable.
Mark Kerrigan pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the death of his 70-year-old father, Daniel, after a fight at their home last year. A police officer has testified Kerrigan told investigators he "grabbed his father by the throat" before he died.
Defense lawyers want such evidence barred from the case. They say Kerrigan was too drunk to waive his Miranda rights, and police questioned him after he said he didn't want to talk to them on the night in question.
Here's the update from FoxBoston on the case as it stands
Kerrigan lawyer asks court to toss out statements: MyFoxBOSTON.com
NHL Silly Season Begins In Boston
The trade deadline is the 28th of February this year...
And Boston isn't waiting around...
First, they traded for Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle by sending high prospect Joe Colbourne and two draft picks to Brian Burke. Since Kaberle makes US$4.25-million, they had to clear some cap space... they only had a little over $2-million going into the deal.
As a result, they sent Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart to Atlanta for face-off specialist Rich Peverley and defense-stiff Boris Valabik. Peverley has another year left on his deal and is a serviceable centerman at US$1.4M. Valabik never has lived up to his draft hype and should spend most of his time in Providence. What makes the deal more appealing for the Thrash and GM Rick Dudley is that Wheeler is a RFA at the end of this season and Stuart is an unrestricted free agent.
Rental upon rental for Dudley...
Brian Duff of the NHL Network analyzes from the site of the Heritage Classic- Calgary...
And Boston isn't waiting around...
First, they traded for Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle by sending high prospect Joe Colbourne and two draft picks to Brian Burke. Since Kaberle makes US$4.25-million, they had to clear some cap space... they only had a little over $2-million going into the deal.
As a result, they sent Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart to Atlanta for face-off specialist Rich Peverley and defense-stiff Boris Valabik. Peverley has another year left on his deal and is a serviceable centerman at US$1.4M. Valabik never has lived up to his draft hype and should spend most of his time in Providence. What makes the deal more appealing for the Thrash and GM Rick Dudley is that Wheeler is a RFA at the end of this season and Stuart is an unrestricted free agent.
Rental upon rental for Dudley...
Brian Duff of the NHL Network analyzes from the site of the Heritage Classic- Calgary...
Dave Duerson Found Dead In Miami Home
Dave Duerson, a starting safety on the 1985 Chicago Bears team that won the Super Bowl, was found dead in his Miami home today. He was 50 years old.
The cause of death was not released and is not immediately known.
"Our family asks that you please remember Dave as a good, kind, and caring man," Duerson's ex-wife Alicia Duerson said, according to NBCChicago. "He loved and cherished his family and friends and was extremely proud of his beloved Notre Dame and ... Chicago Bears. Please keep Dave and our family in your prayers."
Here's a feature our friends at Mouthpiece Sports did in Chicago with Duerson at a Golden Archers...
The cause of death was not released and is not immediately known.
"Our family asks that you please remember Dave as a good, kind, and caring man," Duerson's ex-wife Alicia Duerson said, according to NBCChicago. "He loved and cherished his family and friends and was extremely proud of his beloved Notre Dame and ... Chicago Bears. Please keep Dave and our family in your prayers."
Here's a feature our friends at Mouthpiece Sports did in Chicago with Duerson at a Golden Archers...
Broseph's Bits And The Friday Gospel
The hits keep on coming for the Gospel and now it's time for one of the more intriguing events of the season in the Bracket Busters. The theory behind it is sound as mid-majors get a crack at picking up another victory to add to their tournament resume. The execution isn't very sound as there are way too many games that just don't mean a thing. Sure, some of these teams can use this game as momentum, but how many squads really want to play a non-conference game in the heat of conference play. Kent State is going to go thru a stretch of three games in six days beginning Friday night in Philadelphia against Drexel.
There are some cases where it'll be a HUGE help to the team. Take the headlining contest between Utah State and St. Mary's for example. The winner of this game will get a much needed boost to their resume while the loser will probably dig themselves a bigger hole. The Gaels need this a lot more because they are home and are coming off a loss to San Diego whose RPI was in the 300's. Utah State has played very few good teams this season losing to their toughest opponents along the way to a gaudy record. VCU needs their game with Wichita State on Friday night to help their tournament resume. The Rams losing twice in a row at home to CAA opponents made this even more important.
Anyways, this event allows the public to view the mid major teams that they'd normally shun on the weekends. It also gives the road teams a chance to take on their opponent at home the next season. Utah State will get the Gaels at their place next season. As an aside, please youtube the Utah State student section. This is one of the most underrated sections in college basketball. These students have great passion and great cheers. They could actually be cheering the Gospel as we continue our win streak hitting two overs yesterday. Tonight's pick doesn't have a number yet, but we qualified it in the writeup. If the number that comes out doesn't fit this, then there is no pick. Why waste the win streak on a weak card?
Weber State/San Jose State Over -- The total for this contest isn't out as of this writeup, but as long as this number is anywhere up to 150 or so, I'm on the over. Bracket Buster games involving teams that don't really involve teams with a postseason future are good chances for teams to get up and down and have some fun. Weber State is 15-9, 9-4 in the Big Sky. They score almost 74 points per game while giving up 67.8. This is a team that has scored at least 70 points in five of their last six with that sixth game putting up 68. The Wildcats lost leading scorer Damian Lillard after nine games, but Scott Bamforth (12.7 ppg), Lindsey Hughey (12.4 ppg), Kyle Bullinger (10.6 ppg) and Trevor Morris (10.3 ppg) have picked up the slack. They'll face a San Jose State team allergic to playing defense as they've allowed 75 points per contest. They'd have a better record if this was fixed because they score almost 75 per game as well. Adrian Oliver (24.5 ppg), Justin Graham (15.7 ppg) and Keith Shamburger (11.6 ppg) lead the way for the Spartans. This team has allowed 70 points or more in four straight and five of their last six contests. They've scored over 70 in four of those games over that same time period. My theory is that games like this produce high scores considering the lack of anything at stake.
There are some cases where it'll be a HUGE help to the team. Take the headlining contest between Utah State and St. Mary's for example. The winner of this game will get a much needed boost to their resume while the loser will probably dig themselves a bigger hole. The Gaels need this a lot more because they are home and are coming off a loss to San Diego whose RPI was in the 300's. Utah State has played very few good teams this season losing to their toughest opponents along the way to a gaudy record. VCU needs their game with Wichita State on Friday night to help their tournament resume. The Rams losing twice in a row at home to CAA opponents made this even more important.
Anyways, this event allows the public to view the mid major teams that they'd normally shun on the weekends. It also gives the road teams a chance to take on their opponent at home the next season. Utah State will get the Gaels at their place next season. As an aside, please youtube the Utah State student section. This is one of the most underrated sections in college basketball. These students have great passion and great cheers. They could actually be cheering the Gospel as we continue our win streak hitting two overs yesterday. Tonight's pick doesn't have a number yet, but we qualified it in the writeup. If the number that comes out doesn't fit this, then there is no pick. Why waste the win streak on a weak card?
Weber State/San Jose State Over -- The total for this contest isn't out as of this writeup, but as long as this number is anywhere up to 150 or so, I'm on the over. Bracket Buster games involving teams that don't really involve teams with a postseason future are good chances for teams to get up and down and have some fun. Weber State is 15-9, 9-4 in the Big Sky. They score almost 74 points per game while giving up 67.8. This is a team that has scored at least 70 points in five of their last six with that sixth game putting up 68. The Wildcats lost leading scorer Damian Lillard after nine games, but Scott Bamforth (12.7 ppg), Lindsey Hughey (12.4 ppg), Kyle Bullinger (10.6 ppg) and Trevor Morris (10.3 ppg) have picked up the slack. They'll face a San Jose State team allergic to playing defense as they've allowed 75 points per contest. They'd have a better record if this was fixed because they score almost 75 per game as well. Adrian Oliver (24.5 ppg), Justin Graham (15.7 ppg) and Keith Shamburger (11.6 ppg) lead the way for the Spartans. This team has allowed 70 points or more in four straight and five of their last six contests. They've scored over 70 in four of those games over that same time period. My theory is that games like this produce high scores considering the lack of anything at stake.
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