Harrison Small's Sports Blog

Premature College Basketball Predictions:

harrisonsmall — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:11:14 +0000

I have to admit that it will be really difficult for me to watch the NCAA Tournament this year because I won’t have a vested interest. My team, UNC, is in the midst of a free-fall despite a solid start to the season. Unless they manage to win the ACC Tournament, which would be a miracle, they will be watching the tournament at home for the first time under Roy Williams. Nevertheless, here are my early tournament related predictions:

Number 1 Seeds

Kansas

The Jayhawks arguably have the most talented team in the country this season. Point guard Sherron Collins is lightning quick with the ball and can create plays by getting into the lane. In my opinion, he is a slightly slower version of Ty Lawson. Kansas also has a dominant inside presence in center Cole Aldrich. Aldrich rebounds, blocks shots and scores in bunches, but sometimes, he gets lost in the shuffle on offense. Collins and Aldrich are the straws that stir the drink, but the Jayhawks also have numerous role players who can fill it up on any given night. Freshman Xavier Henry has slowed down since the start of the Big 12 season, but he had some explosions earlier in the year. Also, the Morris twins have proven to be quality role players who do a lot of dirty work. In addition, I think Bill Self will have his team ready to compete on the biggest stage.

Villanova

‘Nova has certainly done enough to get a #1 seed this season with only one loss in the Big East so far. They will go as far as Scottie Reynolds takes them. Reynolds has always been able to score, but he was often criticized for his inefficiency. He always took a ton of shots, and really did not shoot a great percentage. However, this year, he has improved his efficiency greatly and is shooting a much higher percentage than he has in the past. He is a tremendous player, but it is his leadership and experience that carry the team. My problem with ‘Nova though is that they really do not have an inside presence. They are vulnerable to teams with athletic big men (for example the loss to Georgetown and Greg Monroe). I think their weaknesses will be exposed in the tournament.

Kentucky

There is no debating that Kentucky is a #1 seed, but how they will perform in the tournament is anyone’s guess. They have all the tools to go all the way, but will their youth catch up with them? Nobody can deny they have the talent. The backcourt is led by John Wall, who can take over a game on his own. The frontcourt is headed by DeMarcus Cousins, another freshman. Cousins’ play has been really impressive of late, and he is a physical specimen on the block. I personally believe that Kentucky will fold. They do not have enough experience despite being extremely talented.

Syracuse

I have watched a bunch of ‘cuse games this year and I have loved what I have seen. Their famous 2-3 zone has been dominant this year with Andy Rautins patrolling the top of the key and Arinze Onuaku providing solid help defense. There are very few ways to penetrate their zone and they force tons of turnovers. Their offensive game is also very refined. They get solid point guard play out of Brandon Triche. Andy Rautins is a sharp shooter from outside, and Wes Johnson is a future lottery pick who can beat the defense in a multitude of ways. They have all of the tools to win the national championship.

My Final Four:

Kansas

Syracuse

Purdue

Georgetown

My National Champion:

Syracuse

All-American Team:

Evan Turner, Ohio State

John Wall, Kentucky

Wesley Johnson, Syracuse

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

Damion James, Texas

2^nd Team:

Jon Scheyer, Duke

Sherron Collins, Kansas

Robbie Hummel, Purdue

Greg Monroe, Georgetown

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

All-Freshman Team

John Wall, Kentucky

Avery Bradley, Texas

Xavier Henry, Kansas

Elias Harris, Gonzaga

Hassan Whiteside, Marshall

Oh Tiger, Where Art Thou?….And Others Behaving Badly

harrisonsmall — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:48:31 +0000

So, I was on my way home the other day listening to The Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio, and word leaked that Tiger is currently at a sex-addiction clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Now, with the way that this whole Tiger drama has unfolded, I should not really be surprised by anything I hear regarding the story. But, to me, this has to be one of the biggest public cop-outs of all time. My guess is Tiger’s conversation with his publicist went something like this:

Publicist: Tiger, I think you should admit yourself to a sex-addiction clinic.

Tiger: Uh, why? I just cheated on my wife. I am not a sex addict.

Publicist: But this will make it seem like you have a problem and are at least making an effort to get better. Everyone will come out and say that addiction is a disease that can’t be controlled, and then you’re off the hook.

Tiger: That still doesn’t solve the problem that I’m not actually a sex addict.

Publicist: You lied to Elin for months. I think you can pull this off.

Tiger: Fine. I’ll consider it. Where the hell is the place? Palm Springs?

Publicist: Actually, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You know, Brett Favre territory.

Tiger: Go Fu*k yourself.

Publicist: Planes leaving in an hour.

Bottom line, this is possibly the biggest cover up in sports scandal history. Tiger was unfaithful because he thought he was invincible and that he could walk away from it all with a clean public image. Well, here’s a lesson for you Tiger: most of the American public is not senile enough to believe this whole plot. We all know now that you’re a pompous, disloyal, arrogant person, who just happens to be good at golf. You cheated on your wife because you thought you were better than everyone else and could get away with anything, NOT because you’re a sex addict. May as well find the next flight out of Hattiesburg and start preparing for the masters because that’s about the only thing that could help Tiger’s cause at this point.

College Coaches Gone Wild

Where do I even begin with this? I guess I’ll start off with the abusive coaches and then move on to the liars.

For a few weeks, I thought Sportscenter was covering the conduct of a kindergarten class.

“Mike’s in trouble for locking someone in a closet”

“Jim was put in time-out for grabbing someone by the throat”

As it turns out, they were just talking about a bunch of college football coaches. My favorite of the stories is the one where Mike Leach, formerly the coach at Texas Tech, locked Adam James, who was suffering from a concussion, in a dark equipment closet on a few separate occasions. Obviously I don’t know Mike Leach personally, but I am guessing he is psychotic, a moron, or both. Did he not realize that the kid he locked in the closet is the son of an ESPN analyst!?!? To me, that has bad press written all over it. Plus, aside from the poor choice of player, locking people in closets is just not something normal people do. He deserved to get fired even though die hard Tech fans were so devoted to him. Many of the players actually expressed relief when he was let go. The shame of it is Adam James, the victim, is probably going to have to transfer because he is being brutalized by fans who did not want to see Leach go. People need to realize that even though tyrannical coaching can produce wins, it could also involve barbaric behavior.

My other favorite is Jim Leavitt, formerly of South Florida. I have watched a few South Florida games in the past and can tell you that Leavitt is an intense looking fellah. I mean, he’s got the whole Bill Cowher protruding jaw thing down to a science. Anyway, reports indicate that he grabbed one of his players by the throat at half time of a game (certainly would not shock anyone who has seen him on the sidelines.) Subsequently, he was fired, but that’s not even the climax of this story. Sportscenter later reported that South Florida contacted Mike Leach about their coaching vacancy. Yes, the same Mike Leach from the previous paragraph. What’s the thought process behind that? Is it just a lesser of two evils thing? I literally laughed out loud when that came across the ticker. You really can’t make this stuff up.

Lane Kiffin comes next and at least he didn’t cause physical harm to anyone. Kiffin left Tennessee after one mildly disappointing year to become the new head coach at USC. By the way, how he got that job is beyond me. He failed while coaching the Raiders. Even Al Davis, who belongs in an asylum somewhere far away, saw right through him. He then took the Tennessee job and immediately accused Urban Meyer of recruiting violations, but then made a bunch himself. Tennessee finished 7-6 this year. Not exactly BCS worthy. I think I might be more qualified than he is. Anyway, when he left, he was quoted saying something to the effect of, “I think Vols fans will understand the decision I made.” Yup, Vols fans understand all right. That’s why a Tennessee attorney is hoping to name a new waste water treatment facility after Kiffin to show how “honored” Tennessee was to have him as a coach. The Lane Kiffin Center for Waste Water Treatment certainly does have a nice ring to it. I wonder if they will invite him to grand opening. (Jeremy Seltzer, I hope you appreciate this)

While we are on the topic of Tennessee athletics, I think I would be remiss if I did not talk about the recent heart and determination displayed by their basketball team. Recently, four players were arrested for various reasons and were immediately suspended. One of the four was Tyler Smith, Tennessee’s best player and senior “leader”. Smith was charged with gun possession and kicked off of the team. My immediate thought was that there was no way Tennessee could possibly compete this year after such turmoil. But, I was so wrong. Instead of the incident tearing the team apart, it brought them closer, and they went on to upset Kansas, who was ranked #1 at the time. The Tennessee rotation featured numerous walk-on players who had only experienced some garbage time minutes. One of the walk-ons, a tiny player named Skylar McBee, hit an off-balance three pointer to ice the game. This story is really special, and I feel like it could only happen in college basketball. In the NBA these days, talent almost always wins out. But, in college, a united, focused team can win on any given night. Tennessee has shown great resilience and Bruce Pearl has done an unbelievable job of keeping the team focused. Athletes of all ages should view the team as a source of inspiration.

That’s all for this post. I’m off to my chocolate addiction support group.

Random Thoughts and Diversions of the Mind

harrisonsmall — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:20:11 +0000

So after the Jets near flawless performance Saturday in Cincinnati, it is fair to say that I am still a phase one fan. In fact, I may even be a phase one fan until the start of next season. By no means does that mean I will be happy if the Jets lose on Sunday in San Diego, but, if someone told me at the beginning of the year that we would win a playoff game, I would have called them a lunatic. If not for the Jets 3-0 start, everyone’s expectations would have been modest for this season. The fact of the matter is that no matter what happens on Sunday, Jets fans should be proud of how far the team has made it this season and look forward to the future because given what we have seen, it should be bright.

Just one more Jets thought: It is ridiculous that Darrelle Revis did not win defensive player of the year. Anyone who has seen him play a game this season knows the impact he has on the outcome. Charles Woodson had a great season statistically, but in terms of the wide receivers he was paired up against, they do not even come close to what Revis was forced to face. Revis locked up his man every week no matter who it was, and he eliminated a whole side of the field. Quarterbacks tried to avoid him, yet he still came up with 6 interceptions. To me, it is extremely difficult to imagine that anyone was better than him.

College Basketball

Ok, ladies and gentlemen. No more cupcakes against teams like College of Charleston. Oh wait, they beat UNC. Sorry for the disrespect. But, I think everyone can agree that it is about time to get into the meat of conference play. This is where the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders, but more importantly, it means the beginning of rivalry season. Arguably, no other sport can match the intensity of the rivalries within college basketball. Any team, no matter how talented, can lose a conference game to an inferior team. In addition, it means we are that much closer to March Madness, which is probably the only annual sporting event that is guaranteed to be entertaining. I know I can’t wait.

The Mets finally land Bay

I honestly think Mets fans will be slightly disappointed with what they are getting out of Bay. I think his career has been defined by inconsistency. He had a few consecutive good years with the pirates, but was hit with injuries as well. With the Red Sox, he was streaky. He began the year on a tear only to drop into a MAJOR slump in the middle of the year. Obviously, the amounts being paid to free agents are ludicrous to begin with, but I just don’t think Bay deserved the elite money he received. Also, unless the Mets find a way to get some pitching, I think they are in for another long season.

I’ve got nothing else for now. Comments are always welcome.

The Progression of a Jets Fan

harrisonsmall — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:43:47 +0000

Being a Jets fan has two very distinct phases. The first phase involves unwavering over-confidence and optimism that despite the Jets’ troubles; they will someday get over the hump and win when it matters most. The second phase is noticeably different. It is characterized by a sort of numbness that comes from being hardened through many years of disappointment while in phase one. Members of phase one get excited over every winning streak and believe it is a pre-cursor to great things in the future. However, members of phase two are emotionally unaffected, and thus, are prepared for disappointment. For now, I am still a phase one Jets fan while my dad is slipping into phase two territory. I get upset when he says something to the effect of, “they will find a way to blow it,” or, “this game is not over yet,” even though we are winning by three touchdowns. I want him to have some hope, some confidence, that just once; the Jets will pull through when it matters most. But, he knows better than to let the Jets manipulate his feelings too much. I wish I could say the same. I care way too much, and as a result, the Jets toy with me. Phase one Jets fans are destined for failure.
Let’s flashback to earlier this season. The Jets are 3-0 with wins over a talented Texans team, the best 0-3 team in NFL history (Tennessee), and most importantly, the Pats at the meadowlands. Rex Ryan was looking like a genius. Our defense looked impenetrable. Mark Sanchez was the next Namath. At that juncture, I felt it was safe to let myself go. I began bragging to my friends. I read every article in the newspaper and on ESPN.com, most of which were singing the Jets praises. My expectations had officially soared to Super Bowl or bust. I only made myself more vulnerable to disappointment. I should have known better. Three weeks and three losses later, I was devastated. My devastation only continued as we slumped to a 7-7 record and lost our most dynamic offensive player (Leon Washington) and our most important defensive player (Kris Jenkins). I had really thought this was the year we would find a way to put it all together. Instead, we have lost three games on the final drive of the game, and have home losses to Buffalo, Atlanta (without Michael Turner), and Jacksonville.
But, somehow, just as I was ready to give up on this season and prepare for the next one, the Jets aren’t finished messing with me yet. In a scenario that could seemingly only be thought up in a movie, all of the teams ahead of the Jets in the wild card race lost Sunday, leaving the Jets in control of their own destiny going into the game against the Colts. Putting the Jets in control of their own destiny is like allowing a drunk best friend to drive you home in the middle of rush hour on route 4. Yet, for reasons that I cannot fathom, the Colts pulled their starters in the second half, effectively forfeiting the game. They are aware that preseason is over, right? That sets up the following scenario: All the Jets need to do is beat the Bengals on Sunday Night Football, in the last ever game at the Meadowlands, and they are in the playoffs. It seems like an utter travesty based on the Jets poor play this season, but it is true. Once again, my expectations have soared, showing that I am still a phase one fan. I am confident that we can be competitive in the playoffs because our defense is strong, and we are able to run the ball effectively. Both are integral for playoff teams who could be subjected to playing in poor weather conditions. Oh wait, I almost forgot. We still need to beat the Bengals first! If we win, I will be the first to declare the Jets as super bowl contenders. But, if we, “find a way to blow it,” phase two may not be too far away. My hopes can only be shattered so many times.

Live from AP Statistics: The Hot Stove and Other Thoughts

harrisonsmall — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:03:58 +0000

I think this is a good time to write my second post as my Stat teacher is absent, leaving me with nothing else to do. So, I will cave to popular demand and give my thoughts on some of baseball’s most recent blockbuster moves.

Yankees get Granderson, D’Backs get Jackson, Tigers get Prospects

From a Yankee fan’s perspective, I am a little skeptical about this trade. Granderson brings speed and power to the table and immediately upgrades the Yankees’ outfield defense. However, he hit close to .250 last season with a relatively low on-base percentage. In addition, he stirkes out a ton. My main question is where he is going to fit in the batting order. Does he hit lead-off like he did in Detroit? Before or after Cano? My feeling is that he does not fill enough holes for the Yankees not to re-sign Johnny Damon. At the very least though, the Yankees have acquired a quality person who will contribute to the comraderie in the clubhouse.

I feel the Diamondbacks got the best out of this deal. Edwin Jackson is not yet a household name, and the only reason I know anything about him is because I had him on my fantasy team this past season. He quietly was among the AL leaders in ERA, and his win total would have been far higher had he received improved run support. He can overpower hitters with his fastball while also keeping them off balance with quality off-speed stuff. Additionally, despite the fact that he is now on his fourth team, (Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks) he is still really young. I think he will have a major season statistically as he moves to the hitting deficient NL.

Red Sox Acquire Lackey and Mike Cameron

The acquisition of Lackey means that in a given series, a team might be forced to face Lester, Lackey, and Beckett. All three have the capability to dominate the opposition on any given night, and all have excelled in the postseason. Quite frankly, I am a little scared of that top three. Even though Lackey has had some injury issues in recent seasons, I feel this is the best off-season move that has been made thus far. In terms of Cameron, quite frankly, he is terrible. Enjoy a .230 batting average and a 170 strikeout season, Boston fans.

Phillies get Halladay, Mariners get Lee, Blue Jays get Prospects

This trade just confused me to be perfectly honest. So, the Phillies were not willing to give up prized prospect Kyle Drabek over the summer, but they were now? I don’t know what happened between now and then. In the end, I feel it will pay dividends for the phillies. I expect Halladay to far surpass what Lee accomplished last year and post huge numbers. The phillies were already the class of the NL and this move just further separates them from the pack.

The Mariners were able to add Lee to a rotation that already features King Felix Hernandez. They will form a very solid 1-2 punch that could push them over the top in the AL West. However, I expect his numbers to dip a little with a return to the AL.

Stat class is not quite over yet so I have time to write about some other topics.

First and foremost, Rest in Peace Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry. Although he had a troubled past that included five arrests, it seems as though he had gotten on the right path. But, this development brings me to another question I have been contemplating for quite some time. Why does it seem like NFL wide receivers are more troubled than players at any other position. It is almost as though they have a disposition that makes them act out inappropriately. Between Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and guys like Keyshawn Johnson, there is a large sample size of receivers who have acted detrimentally to their respective teams. You would think it was a pre-requisite in order to be any good.

The bell is about to ring so I am going to have to conclude this post. I think the blogging during school thing is going to have to become a tradition. Sorry Mom. Please feel free to comment on this, or any of my other posts.

Recent Scenes from the Sports World

harrisonsmall — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:34:58 +0000

Hello all. This is my first ever blog post so I hope it turns out well. On to sports:

Off the Wall
With his performance against a quality UCONN team last week, John Wall solidified himself not only as the nation’s best freshman, but arguably the most dynamic player in the country. Wall took over a hotly contested game at MSG and scored 12 of his team’s final 15 points. Wall iced the game on a driving layup which encompassed all of the things that make him so special: speed and an uncanny ability to finish around the rim. He could be for Kentucky what Carmelo Anthony was for Syracuse. Any non-Kentucky fan will be glad to see him move on to the NBA after this season.

Ingram takes the Heisman
After watching him gauge through the “vaunted” Florida defense in the SEC Championship Game, I feel this award was well deserved. All the respect in the world to Toby Gerhart, who had an unbelievable season in his own right, Ingram did it in the SEC and set the Alabama record for rushing yards in a season. He also seems like a model citizen, and I am rooting for him to do well both next year at ‘bama and in the NFL.

Pursuit of Perfection
Mercury Morris may want to start buying some housewarming gifts because the Colts and Saints are officially “in his neighborhood.” I can’t wait to see him on sportscenter in the upcoming weeks as he tries to maintain his dignity. It is always a pleasure to watch. Anyway, the Colts managed to beat a good Broncos team despite losing the turnover battle and allowing Brandon Marshall to snag and NFL record 21 balls to go along with 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. It is almost unfathomable to believe that the Broncos lost under those circumstances. Based on that and all of the Saints good fortune, I would be shocked to see any other team at the super bowl. (It’s ok Sean Suisham. The rest of the league will eventually forgive you for missing that 23 yard field goal and maitaining the Saints run. Seriously though, how much did they pay you to miss it? Was it worth being cut over? I have friends who would have made that kick.)

Out of the Woods?
So, news leaked today that Elin Nordegren is leaving Tiger and heading back to Sweden. Good for her. It shows she has a legitimate sense of reality. Tiger is clearly a bigger idiot than we all thought. But, does this new development mean Tiger might revoke the whole “I am taking an indefinite leave from the game of golf to improve my family life” thing? The golf tournaments and advertisers are certainly hoping that is the case because no individual means more to his/her sport than Tiger. I have never particularly cared for golf, but if Tiger was in his final round on a major sunday, I would be glued to the TV. Now what? Phil Mickelson is good, but is he going to make me watch golf? NO. There are people out there who watch golf only to see Tiger dominate. Plain and simple. Here’s to hoping “indefinite” does not last too long.

So, this concludes my first post ever. I am open to comments and suggestions because this is all new to me. I hope you all continue to read this in future.