TicketsPromise I haven't lost my hold on reality after I labeled yesterday's Breakfast as 4.29.12. I don't know what you did your Memorial Day weekend, but, let's just say if that's the dumbest move I made on the first day back then I undershot the projection.
Back to equilibrium today with the date (I believe) correct and focus returning to UC and the Big East.
Let's eat...
--- Much of the talk during this lull in the year revolves around the non-conference scheduling. It certainly does on on this blog, anyway. I'm constantly delving deeper into the topic than anybody not named Mick Cronin.
I won't do that today. Andy Katz broke out the story to end all stories about non-conference scheduling, which even includes a quote from Mick about finding teams in your boat.
We all yearn for the day UC could pick football arenas and top-tier teams to play every year, but for now, they live in a different neighborhood. And this neighborhood has plenty of empty lots.
If you've ever wondered about the difficulties facing Mick and building non-conference schedules, you'll want to read this.
--- Still waiting on the Big East-SEC Challenge pairings.
--- Adam Zagoria ranked his top 21 players in the Big East next season. Only Sean Kilpatrick made the list. Zags is pretty well respected and does call SK a POY candidate, but the fact Cashmere Wright was left off makes little sense from my angle.
Rob Dauster believes leaving USF PG Anthony Collins off the list was the biggest mistake. This brings up a topic that probably won't be disputed: The Big East will have the best collection of point guards in basketball next season.
Take a look at this list with their 2011/12 stats/notes:
Player, School, Year P/G A/G TO/G A:T NOTE
Cashmere Wright, UC, Sr. 10.9 4.2 2.2 1.91 School rec for steals/season (2.4)
Anthony Collins, USF, Soph. 9.0 5.2 3.4 1.52 Avg 14 points/4 ast/2 TO in NCAAs
Shabazz Napier, UConn, Jr. 13.0 5.8 2.8 2.07 Avg 18.2 ppg over final five
Vincent Council, PC, Sr. 15.9 7.5 3.5 2.14 Led BE conference play (8.0 A/G)
Peyton Siva, UL, Sr. 9.1 5.1 3.4 1.50 3.1 A/TO during Final 4 run
Tray Woodall, Pitt, Sr., 11.7 6.1 3.2 1.90 Missed first 11 games
Junior Cadougan, Marq., Sr. 6.3 5.4 2.6 2.08 T-3 A/G during conference play
Brandon Young, DePaul, Jr. 14.5 4.7 2.4 1.96 One of two w/ 14+ppg/4.5+apg
Jerian Grant, ND, Soph. 12.3 5.0 1.9 2.63 Only soph? Top A/TO ratio returning
--- Who would you even dub the top returning point guard? You could make a legit argument for half of this list.
--- Cash's argument? Tough to find a better all-around player as far as scoring and adding possessions. His 2.4 steals per game combined with his 2.2 TO/game (second-best on list) and top 10 among 3-point shooters creates the entire package.
--- Much love has been given to Vincent Council and a fresh influx of weapons will only improve his stock, but aren't the numbers skewed on a team that plays as much defense as the last-place finisher in the Deveroes league?
-- Siva owns the splash factor and can point to a Big East title and Final 4 run. Nobody else can do that. Of course, only one other player is turning the ball over as much as Siva. Yet, his 3.1 A/TO during the five-game Final 4 run stands as impressive as any PG in the nation, much less the conference.
--- Collins improved more than any player on the list over the course of the season and was the primary reason USF made the run it did late in the year. Another year of seasoning and addition offensive weapons make him a darkhorse for first or second team.
--- The senior point guard stands as one of the most revered team characteristics come NCAA tournament time. They know how to win and guards win games in March. This league posts five premier senior PGs. Toss in two top junior guards and you won't find a league with the same haul anywhere.
-- Whoever ends up as the first-team Big East point guard will likely be a first- or second-team All-American considering the horses in the conference.
--- Moving on.....
--- Surprised to see UConn pull out of port on the Carrier Classic (you like that?). To be honest, not a big fan of multiple aircraft carrier games. It's a cool concept, but let's not go crazy down the slippery slope where there's a day full of aircraft carrier games and TruTV is televising Ohio vs. Robert Morris on a Hocking River barge.
--- Zags with an interview (video) with Yancy Gates following his workout with the New York Knicks.
--- Andrea Adelson wondered how the divisional breakdown would occur in the future Big East with the current stable of members. First observation of the three different scenarios she offered? None included UC-UL in the same division.
Hard to see anything but East-West considering the significant distance differential between the two sides.
--- Randomness...
--- Jim Tressel talks about his departure from OSU with the Plain-Dealer. Interesting piece.
--- We didn't need a senate primary to tell us this, but it most definitely did: Craig James -- not well liked.
--- Tweet of the Day: @darrenrovell: Since Facebook went public Mark Zuckerberg lost $15.7 million PER HOUR.
--- I'd prefer there weren't zombie attacks going on in America.
--- Bob Dylan: cooler than everyone.
--- There is a sequel being made of In the Army Now with Pauly Shore and Andy Dick. I'm not adding a punchline, because none is needed.
--- Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello turns 48 today. So many great songs to choose from. My RATM flavor of the week is this one, though.
Back to equilibrium today with the date (I believe) correct and focus returning to UC and the Big East.
Let's eat...
--- Much of the talk during this lull in the year revolves around the non-conference scheduling. It certainly does on on this blog, anyway. I'm constantly delving deeper into the topic than anybody not named Mick Cronin.
I won't do that today. Andy Katz broke out the story to end all stories about non-conference scheduling, which even includes a quote from Mick about finding teams in your boat.
We all yearn for the day UC could pick football arenas and top-tier teams to play every year, but for now, they live in a different neighborhood. And this neighborhood has plenty of empty lots.
If you've ever wondered about the difficulties facing Mick and building non-conference schedules, you'll want to read this.
--- Still waiting on the Big East-SEC Challenge pairings.
--- Adam Zagoria ranked his top 21 players in the Big East next season. Only Sean Kilpatrick made the list. Zags is pretty well respected and does call SK a POY candidate, but the fact Cashmere Wright was left off makes little sense from my angle.
Rob Dauster believes leaving USF PG Anthony Collins off the list was the biggest mistake. This brings up a topic that probably won't be disputed: The Big East will have the best collection of point guards in basketball next season.
Take a look at this list with their 2011/12 stats/notes:
Player, School, Year P/G A/G TO/G A:T NOTE
Cashmere Wright, UC, Sr. 10.9 4.2 2.2 1.91 School rec for steals/season (2.4)
Anthony Collins, USF, Soph. 9.0 5.2 3.4 1.52 Avg 14 points/4 ast/2 TO in NCAAs
Shabazz Napier, UConn, Jr. 13.0 5.8 2.8 2.07 Avg 18.2 ppg over final five
Vincent Council, PC, Sr. 15.9 7.5 3.5 2.14 Led BE conference play (8.0 A/G)
Peyton Siva, UL, Sr. 9.1 5.1 3.4 1.50 3.1 A/TO during Final 4 run
Tray Woodall, Pitt, Sr., 11.7 6.1 3.2 1.90 Missed first 11 games
Junior Cadougan, Marq., Sr. 6.3 5.4 2.6 2.08 T-3 A/G during conference play
Brandon Young, DePaul, Jr. 14.5 4.7 2.4 1.96 One of two w/ 14+ppg/4.5+apg
Jerian Grant, ND, Soph. 12.3 5.0 1.9 2.63 Only soph? Top A/TO ratio returning
--- Who would you even dub the top returning point guard? You could make a legit argument for half of this list.
--- Cash's argument? Tough to find a better all-around player as far as scoring and adding possessions. His 2.4 steals per game combined with his 2.2 TO/game (second-best on list) and top 10 among 3-point shooters creates the entire package.
--- Much love has been given to Vincent Council and a fresh influx of weapons will only improve his stock, but aren't the numbers skewed on a team that plays as much defense as the last-place finisher in the Deveroes league?
-- Siva owns the splash factor and can point to a Big East title and Final 4 run. Nobody else can do that. Of course, only one other player is turning the ball over as much as Siva. Yet, his 3.1 A/TO during the five-game Final 4 run stands as impressive as any PG in the nation, much less the conference.
--- Collins improved more than any player on the list over the course of the season and was the primary reason USF made the run it did late in the year. Another year of seasoning and addition offensive weapons make him a darkhorse for first or second team.
--- The senior point guard stands as one of the most revered team characteristics come NCAA tournament time. They know how to win and guards win games in March. This league posts five premier senior PGs. Toss in two top junior guards and you won't find a league with the same haul anywhere.
-- Whoever ends up as the first-team Big East point guard will likely be a first- or second-team All-American considering the horses in the conference.
--- Moving on.....
--- Surprised to see UConn pull out of port on the Carrier Classic (you like that?). To be honest, not a big fan of multiple aircraft carrier games. It's a cool concept, but let's not go crazy down the slippery slope where there's a day full of aircraft carrier games and TruTV is televising Ohio vs. Robert Morris on a Hocking River barge.
--- Zags with an interview (video) with Yancy Gates following his workout with the New York Knicks.
--- Andrea Adelson wondered how the divisional breakdown would occur in the future Big East with the current stable of members. First observation of the three different scenarios she offered? None included UC-UL in the same division.
Hard to see anything but East-West considering the significant distance differential between the two sides.
--- Randomness...
--- Jim Tressel talks about his departure from OSU with the Plain-Dealer. Interesting piece.
--- We didn't need a senate primary to tell us this, but it most definitely did: Craig James -- not well liked.
--- Tweet of the Day: @darrenrovell: Since Facebook went public Mark Zuckerberg lost $15.7 million PER HOUR.
--- I'd prefer there weren't zombie attacks going on in America.
--- Bob Dylan: cooler than everyone.
--- There is a sequel being made of In the Army Now with Pauly Shore and Andy Dick. I'm not adding a punchline, because none is needed.
--- Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello turns 48 today. So many great songs to choose from. My RATM flavor of the week is this one, though.