CincyFan
November 30th, 2004, 03:10 AM
well its finally here folks....hope you all enjoy...with the stats i tried the best i could...
...sportscenters music....
(voice again in warmups...what a crazy week in College basketball, more new Coaches taking over schools, Sunday's Convesation with the Thunder God himself, NCAA already cracking down on schools, moster dunks, pretty 3's in peoples eyes, and of couse upset central, more this year than in past, and how guards are taking over the game....this is sportscenter)
Linda: Hi I'm Linda and the man next to me is of couse reall the Man, Stuart Scott.
Stuart: Thanks Linda lets start out with the team who has the highlights to out do everyone else, and I am not talking about the dirty birds either. This year it looks to be Cincinnati's year. Or also like I like to call it, Nasti Nati. Boy are they nasty too. 4 games this week, and again 4 straight wins. Taking their record to 8-0 and ranked now 12 in the nation. First game this week was their off game. Some of the people out there just looking at the score thought that Cincy only played their second string the whole game since they won by 6 over Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was the closest anyone has gotten to UC this year as they were the first team not to get beat by at least 20. What went wrong with Nasti Nati this game you might ask. Well....
Linda: I think I know this can I take a shot?
Stuart: By all means Linda.
Linda: Ok, if I understand this game right you have to put the ball in the hole, and at least try to stop them from doing that. Well thats what my notes say, but hey don't we all know this. Anyways well Cincinnati decided not to play any defense the whole game until the final 4 minutes when they were still losing. Where the Bearcats when on a tear and won 80-74. We all know they can shoot the lights out...or so they have been this year, as in the upcoming games.
Stuart: Thats right, the next three games it did look like the #12 ranked team in the nation as they won their next 3 games by a total of 88 points. An average of 29 points. As you can see how the Bearcats can easily shoot from anywhere when beating teams this bad and scoring in the 80's every game this week except for NorthWestern who held them to 75. The other scores for the Bearcats this week was 87-54 over Detroit (and no their was no fights in this game), 75-56 over NorthWestern, and last was against Jackson St. who is in the Southwestern conference, who Dicky will say later why they aren't the powerhouse conference anymore, and who rolled over Jackson St. 81-45.
Linda: Well keeping with the Southwestern conference lets go see how Alabama A&M is doing in the preseason NIT. Last week after pulling off a huge upset win over Niagra, only played 1 game this week and that was the third game in the NIT against George Washington. A couple of people thought ther was some unforseen nature that had AA&M do so well off the bat, but the NCAA came in quick and sound and found out faults with the program. Well with the NCAA search it looked like AA&M wasn't ready to play or was just outmatched in this game early. Down huge in the first half, 15 to be excat, it looked like a long day. After some three's and a couple of steals the half ended and AA&M was only down by 1. Alabama A&M came out as hot as they were when half ended to jump out to a bigger lead. G. Washington wouldn't give up and fought its way back to tie the game up with a minute left. It came down to the final seconds as the Man of the Game and probably the shooter of the Nation, Rickey "Rocket" Ricketts came through for another big basketball to win the game 89-87. Final Game in the NIT preseason will be against Arizona. Also starting off the year 3-0.
Stuart: Talking about the NCAA checking out schools early, they also checked out the powerhouse team in that league, as in Coach Gary George's Texas Southern. And the NCAA found many problems. The only positive that came out of it was that the A.D. and Coach had nothing to do and was clean of any wrong doing. The A.D. and Coach both left as the team fell to shame and now can't play the rest of the season. Coach Gary George and A.D. found new homes at Charl. Southern. This already boosted the teams moral up as they went on a tear in the first week starting out the year going 4-1. The last lost came to #9 Georgia Tech. But don't think this team is a walk over as they started off the year with a nail biter win over #11 Notre Dame 95-93. The next game coming out with a huge win for moral and victory over #9 Cincinnati, not the Nasti Nati team we talked about before, as they cruised to a 76-67 win. Finally playing an unranked team in Clemson (2-3) it looked like they were going to finally lose, but Coach George showed why he is a great coach already pulling his team through and telling them to play hard to the end. Moving back to the top rated teams as in #10 Conneticut, they pulled out a win that no one would believe was possible with a commanding 91-75 win. Last they play #9 Georgia Tech. With shooting the lowest percenting in the first half ever under a team of Gary George it was too hard of a hole they build as they fell hard to the Yellow Jackets 81-62. Next 2 games are equally hard as they face 2 more ranked teams in Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Linda: Keeping on the Eastern side we switch now to Navy, who was also busy this wek playing in 5 games. They didn't want to take a day off this week and they showed why. Proven that when they are hot, they stay hot. Winning a total of 4 out of the 5 games, only loss coming to power house Seton Hall. But by all means the games were close and fun to watch. First off starting on Monday we had they play VMI and came away in the last 2 minutes of regulation to win 41-37. Next game was so close that if you have shortness of breath or get dizzy, please not watch as this game went back and forth so much it cause most people at the game to have headaches. Navy came out on top of this one too barely with a 48-46 win in the final seconds of play. Taking a day off and coming back on Thrusday they faced Ohio Unversity as this game was also close. Now they didn't want to have a repeat or give anyone a headache so they won with a 5 point lead this time. Friday game against Belmont looked to be a little better as they went on to win 53-47. Last game was on Saturday and it looked like the Navy's fast pace offense wasn't with them, maybe they need more long distance drills in the Navy after this week as they lost by 10 to Seton Hall 58-48. Navy's record on the year is an impressive 5-2. With a couple of days off till their next game will they be well rested after the week they just played?
Stuart: Well talking about being tired in there game was FAU as they could not keep their lead on Albany in the first game as they lost 57-53. Again Albany getting a new Coach, and again getting his first win in his first game. Albany just started off the year but would make up for the late start in the season by having 4 games this week. Next game for Albany was against Jacksonville. This time there was no lead for a late charge to pull off the win, as they had the lead going into the last 6 minutes of play and came out with a 11 point victory over Jacksonville, 56-45. Next game was against newly added Big East team Miami. Not being ranked this year showed why as little Albany came up huge in this blow out win as they won 55-36. What happen to this Miami team, as Albany bench their starters at half and watch as the bench went on to score 22 points. Last game of the week was against big powerhouse school Texas. Now with Albany scoring a average of 56 points a game for the year, and blowing away Miami while only scoring 55 last game. Also they been losing a point this year in each game, 57 then 56 then 55, it looked like Albany was on pace to score 54 and Texas was averaging 74 a game. Everyone thought this was going to be a blow out, but it wasn't as Albany held them under their average to 71 this game. Ohh and by the way Albany was just kidding around after saying they can't break 60 a game, when they went off and scored a team high 79 points this game to win by 8. Only small team other than Alabama A&M to start off the year perfect. They have 1 up on AA&M by going 4-0 this year.
Linda: Next new-comer to this league is Radford with a new coach. They have had the most rocky road out of all the new coaches as they start the year going 3-3. Maybe it had to do something with the 6 games they played in this week. Only three games were televised as the games of West Virginia, which they lost in blow out fasion to 77-44. Next was Hampton who Radford came away with the win 74-69. Last game on TV was another lost to Colorado with a 76-46 lost. Next week they only have 1 more non-conference game before they start league play which should go a little smoother.
Stuart: Last year after the NCAA cracked down on another school, similar problems that happen to Texas Southern this year, had Coach Brian Gladney step in as new Coach of Long Island this year. Even though he didn't coach after the NCAA investagations last year he decided to sit the season out and look at his options and make sure he choose a good clean school, which he belives is Long Island. Started his first game with his new team and came away victorious as his team beat Lehigh 57-47. Even with a early bigtime lead in the game they couldn't put away Lehigh as they came back only to lose by 10. Next game was role-reversal as Long Island was down early to Columbia. They glided their way back in the leading role and took the lead and game home with them as they came out with another win 68-60 over Columbia. Third game of the week would be there first big test as they took on Boston College. It was a test which if it was a grading test would of got a F, since they lost huge, 80-51. But in the learning test it would of been a B, morlatity test would of a C- for the next game to come. Last game of the week came to Wagner as the game was a nail biter all the way to the buzzer as the Long Island Blackbirds came away with the close win over Wagner 59-57.
Linda: Now we get to the real dirty birds. Actually the fight to be called the true dirty bird, between Illinois St. and Louisville. How come Long Island isn't in here?
Stuart: They are the BLACKbirds. They are already dirty.
Linda: Ohh thats right, well moving on in the first game with Illinois St. vs. Penn State it was a close one all the way through. At half it was a 2 point game in favor of Illinois St. With the last 2 seconds to play it was Illinois St. ball on the sideline. They tried to throw it in but was tipped and the ball rolled in bounds as the time expired as the Red Birds the first loss under new Coach Daniel Bishop.
Linda: Next was how would Louisville do under new Coach Lewis Capel as Rick Pitino has decided to test the waters in the NBA once again. Louisville would come out strong against Sam Houston St. and cruise away with an easy win, 77-58. Even though they were down by 2 at half, it looked like the old Pitino team as they went on a 14-0 run and never looked back. Next game in the tournment was against Missouri. People thought this would be a game for the NCAA Tournment but was found in a season tournment, and would not disappoint either. In the first half the leading scoring for Louisville had 23 points as they lead by 10 at half. Second half would be played out almost excatly as the first half as they came away and won by 9 points, 96-87. With this huge win as moved up Louisville in the polls to #16.
Sunday Converstion
Dan: On tonights show we have amazing shooter from Alabama A&M Rickey Ricketts. Thanks for coming Rickey.
Rickey: Hey man, no problem.
Dan: Lets start with wondering how you manage to end up at Alabama A&M?
Rickey: I don't know, it was just passed up by other schools and this school was the only one who actually wanted me and knew what my potential was.
Dan: Well, now I think everyone in the nation knows your name as you are the leading scorer. How does that make you feel about the teams that passed you up and your gameplay now?
Rickey: It doesn't really bother my gameplay now mostly. I mean all through high school, and all the times I remember playing basketball I was always a factor in scoring. People have always been trying to shut me down, and I just found a way still to just go out there and score. Now with the teams who didn't want me to come to their school thats ok, I just hope we can play them so I can show them personally what they are missing out!
Dan: Why do you think most colleges passed you up.
Rickey: Without a doubt my defense. Its not really my strong point the last couple of years and in high school, but I been practicing on it and its improving.
Dan: Heard you had a nickname?
Rickey: Yea its "Rocket".
Dan: How did you get that?
Rickey: (laughing) Man, when I was growing up I had the most awkward shot and would shoot it with 2 hands and would just fly directly to the rim. When I found my shoot I was dead on and well you know the rest.
Dan: Well currenly your team is 3-0 and I hope you have a successful season. Hope to see your team make it to the NCAA tournment.
Rickey "Rocket" Ricketts: Ohh you will see us there. No doubt.
(Dicky V talks and stats will be up shortly)
...sportscenters music....
(voice again in warmups...what a crazy week in College basketball, more new Coaches taking over schools, Sunday's Convesation with the Thunder God himself, NCAA already cracking down on schools, moster dunks, pretty 3's in peoples eyes, and of couse upset central, more this year than in past, and how guards are taking over the game....this is sportscenter)
Linda: Hi I'm Linda and the man next to me is of couse reall the Man, Stuart Scott.
Stuart: Thanks Linda lets start out with the team who has the highlights to out do everyone else, and I am not talking about the dirty birds either. This year it looks to be Cincinnati's year. Or also like I like to call it, Nasti Nati. Boy are they nasty too. 4 games this week, and again 4 straight wins. Taking their record to 8-0 and ranked now 12 in the nation. First game this week was their off game. Some of the people out there just looking at the score thought that Cincy only played their second string the whole game since they won by 6 over Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was the closest anyone has gotten to UC this year as they were the first team not to get beat by at least 20. What went wrong with Nasti Nati this game you might ask. Well....
Linda: I think I know this can I take a shot?
Stuart: By all means Linda.
Linda: Ok, if I understand this game right you have to put the ball in the hole, and at least try to stop them from doing that. Well thats what my notes say, but hey don't we all know this. Anyways well Cincinnati decided not to play any defense the whole game until the final 4 minutes when they were still losing. Where the Bearcats when on a tear and won 80-74. We all know they can shoot the lights out...or so they have been this year, as in the upcoming games.
Stuart: Thats right, the next three games it did look like the #12 ranked team in the nation as they won their next 3 games by a total of 88 points. An average of 29 points. As you can see how the Bearcats can easily shoot from anywhere when beating teams this bad and scoring in the 80's every game this week except for NorthWestern who held them to 75. The other scores for the Bearcats this week was 87-54 over Detroit (and no their was no fights in this game), 75-56 over NorthWestern, and last was against Jackson St. who is in the Southwestern conference, who Dicky will say later why they aren't the powerhouse conference anymore, and who rolled over Jackson St. 81-45.
Linda: Well keeping with the Southwestern conference lets go see how Alabama A&M is doing in the preseason NIT. Last week after pulling off a huge upset win over Niagra, only played 1 game this week and that was the third game in the NIT against George Washington. A couple of people thought ther was some unforseen nature that had AA&M do so well off the bat, but the NCAA came in quick and sound and found out faults with the program. Well with the NCAA search it looked like AA&M wasn't ready to play or was just outmatched in this game early. Down huge in the first half, 15 to be excat, it looked like a long day. After some three's and a couple of steals the half ended and AA&M was only down by 1. Alabama A&M came out as hot as they were when half ended to jump out to a bigger lead. G. Washington wouldn't give up and fought its way back to tie the game up with a minute left. It came down to the final seconds as the Man of the Game and probably the shooter of the Nation, Rickey "Rocket" Ricketts came through for another big basketball to win the game 89-87. Final Game in the NIT preseason will be against Arizona. Also starting off the year 3-0.
Stuart: Talking about the NCAA checking out schools early, they also checked out the powerhouse team in that league, as in Coach Gary George's Texas Southern. And the NCAA found many problems. The only positive that came out of it was that the A.D. and Coach had nothing to do and was clean of any wrong doing. The A.D. and Coach both left as the team fell to shame and now can't play the rest of the season. Coach Gary George and A.D. found new homes at Charl. Southern. This already boosted the teams moral up as they went on a tear in the first week starting out the year going 4-1. The last lost came to #9 Georgia Tech. But don't think this team is a walk over as they started off the year with a nail biter win over #11 Notre Dame 95-93. The next game coming out with a huge win for moral and victory over #9 Cincinnati, not the Nasti Nati team we talked about before, as they cruised to a 76-67 win. Finally playing an unranked team in Clemson (2-3) it looked like they were going to finally lose, but Coach George showed why he is a great coach already pulling his team through and telling them to play hard to the end. Moving back to the top rated teams as in #10 Conneticut, they pulled out a win that no one would believe was possible with a commanding 91-75 win. Last they play #9 Georgia Tech. With shooting the lowest percenting in the first half ever under a team of Gary George it was too hard of a hole they build as they fell hard to the Yellow Jackets 81-62. Next 2 games are equally hard as they face 2 more ranked teams in Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Linda: Keeping on the Eastern side we switch now to Navy, who was also busy this wek playing in 5 games. They didn't want to take a day off this week and they showed why. Proven that when they are hot, they stay hot. Winning a total of 4 out of the 5 games, only loss coming to power house Seton Hall. But by all means the games were close and fun to watch. First off starting on Monday we had they play VMI and came away in the last 2 minutes of regulation to win 41-37. Next game was so close that if you have shortness of breath or get dizzy, please not watch as this game went back and forth so much it cause most people at the game to have headaches. Navy came out on top of this one too barely with a 48-46 win in the final seconds of play. Taking a day off and coming back on Thrusday they faced Ohio Unversity as this game was also close. Now they didn't want to have a repeat or give anyone a headache so they won with a 5 point lead this time. Friday game against Belmont looked to be a little better as they went on to win 53-47. Last game was on Saturday and it looked like the Navy's fast pace offense wasn't with them, maybe they need more long distance drills in the Navy after this week as they lost by 10 to Seton Hall 58-48. Navy's record on the year is an impressive 5-2. With a couple of days off till their next game will they be well rested after the week they just played?
Stuart: Well talking about being tired in there game was FAU as they could not keep their lead on Albany in the first game as they lost 57-53. Again Albany getting a new Coach, and again getting his first win in his first game. Albany just started off the year but would make up for the late start in the season by having 4 games this week. Next game for Albany was against Jacksonville. This time there was no lead for a late charge to pull off the win, as they had the lead going into the last 6 minutes of play and came out with a 11 point victory over Jacksonville, 56-45. Next game was against newly added Big East team Miami. Not being ranked this year showed why as little Albany came up huge in this blow out win as they won 55-36. What happen to this Miami team, as Albany bench their starters at half and watch as the bench went on to score 22 points. Last game of the week was against big powerhouse school Texas. Now with Albany scoring a average of 56 points a game for the year, and blowing away Miami while only scoring 55 last game. Also they been losing a point this year in each game, 57 then 56 then 55, it looked like Albany was on pace to score 54 and Texas was averaging 74 a game. Everyone thought this was going to be a blow out, but it wasn't as Albany held them under their average to 71 this game. Ohh and by the way Albany was just kidding around after saying they can't break 60 a game, when they went off and scored a team high 79 points this game to win by 8. Only small team other than Alabama A&M to start off the year perfect. They have 1 up on AA&M by going 4-0 this year.
Linda: Next new-comer to this league is Radford with a new coach. They have had the most rocky road out of all the new coaches as they start the year going 3-3. Maybe it had to do something with the 6 games they played in this week. Only three games were televised as the games of West Virginia, which they lost in blow out fasion to 77-44. Next was Hampton who Radford came away with the win 74-69. Last game on TV was another lost to Colorado with a 76-46 lost. Next week they only have 1 more non-conference game before they start league play which should go a little smoother.
Stuart: Last year after the NCAA cracked down on another school, similar problems that happen to Texas Southern this year, had Coach Brian Gladney step in as new Coach of Long Island this year. Even though he didn't coach after the NCAA investagations last year he decided to sit the season out and look at his options and make sure he choose a good clean school, which he belives is Long Island. Started his first game with his new team and came away victorious as his team beat Lehigh 57-47. Even with a early bigtime lead in the game they couldn't put away Lehigh as they came back only to lose by 10. Next game was role-reversal as Long Island was down early to Columbia. They glided their way back in the leading role and took the lead and game home with them as they came out with another win 68-60 over Columbia. Third game of the week would be there first big test as they took on Boston College. It was a test which if it was a grading test would of got a F, since they lost huge, 80-51. But in the learning test it would of been a B, morlatity test would of a C- for the next game to come. Last game of the week came to Wagner as the game was a nail biter all the way to the buzzer as the Long Island Blackbirds came away with the close win over Wagner 59-57.
Linda: Now we get to the real dirty birds. Actually the fight to be called the true dirty bird, between Illinois St. and Louisville. How come Long Island isn't in here?
Stuart: They are the BLACKbirds. They are already dirty.
Linda: Ohh thats right, well moving on in the first game with Illinois St. vs. Penn State it was a close one all the way through. At half it was a 2 point game in favor of Illinois St. With the last 2 seconds to play it was Illinois St. ball on the sideline. They tried to throw it in but was tipped and the ball rolled in bounds as the time expired as the Red Birds the first loss under new Coach Daniel Bishop.
Linda: Next was how would Louisville do under new Coach Lewis Capel as Rick Pitino has decided to test the waters in the NBA once again. Louisville would come out strong against Sam Houston St. and cruise away with an easy win, 77-58. Even though they were down by 2 at half, it looked like the old Pitino team as they went on a 14-0 run and never looked back. Next game in the tournment was against Missouri. People thought this would be a game for the NCAA Tournment but was found in a season tournment, and would not disappoint either. In the first half the leading scoring for Louisville had 23 points as they lead by 10 at half. Second half would be played out almost excatly as the first half as they came away and won by 9 points, 96-87. With this huge win as moved up Louisville in the polls to #16.
Sunday Converstion
Dan: On tonights show we have amazing shooter from Alabama A&M Rickey Ricketts. Thanks for coming Rickey.
Rickey: Hey man, no problem.
Dan: Lets start with wondering how you manage to end up at Alabama A&M?
Rickey: I don't know, it was just passed up by other schools and this school was the only one who actually wanted me and knew what my potential was.
Dan: Well, now I think everyone in the nation knows your name as you are the leading scorer. How does that make you feel about the teams that passed you up and your gameplay now?
Rickey: It doesn't really bother my gameplay now mostly. I mean all through high school, and all the times I remember playing basketball I was always a factor in scoring. People have always been trying to shut me down, and I just found a way still to just go out there and score. Now with the teams who didn't want me to come to their school thats ok, I just hope we can play them so I can show them personally what they are missing out!
Dan: Why do you think most colleges passed you up.
Rickey: Without a doubt my defense. Its not really my strong point the last couple of years and in high school, but I been practicing on it and its improving.
Dan: Heard you had a nickname?
Rickey: Yea its "Rocket".
Dan: How did you get that?
Rickey: (laughing) Man, when I was growing up I had the most awkward shot and would shoot it with 2 hands and would just fly directly to the rim. When I found my shoot I was dead on and well you know the rest.
Dan: Well currenly your team is 3-0 and I hope you have a successful season. Hope to see your team make it to the NCAA tournment.
Rickey "Rocket" Ricketts: Ohh you will see us there. No doubt.
(Dicky V talks and stats will be up shortly)