Basketball diary (Vol. X)
"This town needs an enema!"
(This entry is dedicated to Brad, who knows why, given the volume number and what's going to happen Friday night.)
The quote is from Batman, the most recent movie I really like that has come on television lately. In the last few days I've seen Toys and Starship Troopers, in addition to Batman... good selections on HBO and Starz. That and NBATV showed the episode of "The White Shadow" where Coolidge gets self-conscious about his height, so Coach Reeves gets Bill Russell to come talk to him. Classic television there.
On to the task at hand: basketball.
It makes me mad to hear the local talking heads ripping Carl Krauser in the wake of Pitt's loss to Bradley. After all the guy has done for a program that, until his arrival, hadn't even come close to success since the days of Jerome Lane and Charles Smith. Krauser's redshirt season, 2001-2002, was the team's first NCAA tournament appearance in years (exact figures escape me), and they've been all five years he's been at Pitt. A Big East title, three Big East regular season titles, three Sweet 16 appearances, with the only common link on-court being Krauser, the only player in Pitt history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. On top of that, he's been a good leader, even when his game has been off, on a young team this season that most common folk who didn't know any better predicted 18ish wins and an NIT trip from. The guy probably isn't an NBA draft pick, but Pitt fans should give credit where credit's due and stop lashing out in anger because our team lost to a very decent Bradley team.
On an interesting side note, I predicted a bad performance against Bradley, not for any Xs and Os reason, but because the game tipped off at noon. Look at recent history: Villanova in the 2005 BET, Pacific in the 2005 NCAAs, St. John's and Georgetown in this year's regular season... all losses to (arguably) inferior opposition where the team put out a lethargic effort--and all of them noon tipoffs. Pitt is a night team, the proof is in the results. Not assigning blame, just pointing out a trend.
On to the Sweet 16, where I will let the degenerate gambler in me out: (FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!)
Duke -6, Texas -5, Gonzaga +3.5, Memphis -6, George Mason -2, Washington +6, Florida -3 and Boston College +2.5 are my picks, we'll see how I do later. (Memphis and Florida are the two I really like for cash considerations right now, the rest are just taking a stab.)
Free Tank Carter!
That's it for me tonight ladies and gentlemen....thank you.... enjoy the Beastie Boys.
(This entry is dedicated to Brad, who knows why, given the volume number and what's going to happen Friday night.)
The quote is from Batman, the most recent movie I really like that has come on television lately. In the last few days I've seen Toys and Starship Troopers, in addition to Batman... good selections on HBO and Starz. That and NBATV showed the episode of "The White Shadow" where Coolidge gets self-conscious about his height, so Coach Reeves gets Bill Russell to come talk to him. Classic television there.
On to the task at hand: basketball.
It makes me mad to hear the local talking heads ripping Carl Krauser in the wake of Pitt's loss to Bradley. After all the guy has done for a program that, until his arrival, hadn't even come close to success since the days of Jerome Lane and Charles Smith. Krauser's redshirt season, 2001-2002, was the team's first NCAA tournament appearance in years (exact figures escape me), and they've been all five years he's been at Pitt. A Big East title, three Big East regular season titles, three Sweet 16 appearances, with the only common link on-court being Krauser, the only player in Pitt history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. On top of that, he's been a good leader, even when his game has been off, on a young team this season that most common folk who didn't know any better predicted 18ish wins and an NIT trip from. The guy probably isn't an NBA draft pick, but Pitt fans should give credit where credit's due and stop lashing out in anger because our team lost to a very decent Bradley team.
On an interesting side note, I predicted a bad performance against Bradley, not for any Xs and Os reason, but because the game tipped off at noon. Look at recent history: Villanova in the 2005 BET, Pacific in the 2005 NCAAs, St. John's and Georgetown in this year's regular season... all losses to (arguably) inferior opposition where the team put out a lethargic effort--and all of them noon tipoffs. Pitt is a night team, the proof is in the results. Not assigning blame, just pointing out a trend.
On to the Sweet 16, where I will let the degenerate gambler in me out: (FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!)
Duke -6, Texas -5, Gonzaga +3.5, Memphis -6, George Mason -2, Washington +6, Florida -3 and Boston College +2.5 are my picks, we'll see how I do later. (Memphis and Florida are the two I really like for cash considerations right now, the rest are just taking a stab.)
Free Tank Carter!
That's it for me tonight ladies and gentlemen....thank you.... enjoy the Beastie Boys.
posted by Grubba | 11:45 PM
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