The Drubbing

Hank Gathers

20 years ago today, Hank Gathers took his last dunk, his last shot, and collapsed on the court against Portland.  There have been many articles written about Hank, and even a movie.  I was only 10 years old at the time, and it didn’t quite sit in what had happened.  Why such a great athlete in great shape passed out and died right there on the court.  One of the most memorable scenes for me was when LMU made the NCAA tournament and Bo Kimble, with a heavy heart, shot every one of his first free throws left handed as tribute.  To this day that image sticks with me.
Continue reading “Remembering Hank Gathers” →

While I was taking a break from reading the bible that is the menu at Cheesecake Factory, I glanced up to the TV screen to see Duke beating a small school by about 35 points.  This got me to thinking, what made Duke so consistently successful in college basketball over the past 20 years?  Duke has won at least 22 games since ’96!  Now, some bitter Tar Heel and Terp fans may say the reason for this is because of biased officials, i disagree.
Continue reading “Why is Coach K so successful?” →

I often hear about how coaches in the college game really care about their kids. If you truly believe that, then this should interest you.

Meet Jim Boeheim, winner of the 2003 National Championship.

Meet Paul Harris. Boeheim once called him the best freshman that he recruited since Carmelo Anthony. (Thanks for that Jim, since Paul started all of three years after Melo).

Paul Harris didn’t declare for the NBA Draft but someone declared for him. Syracuse University issued a press release stating that Harris declared for the Draft. Concerning his entrance of the NBA Draft, Harris told the Post Standard “I didn’t know a thing about it, I didn’t do that. I don’t have a clue who actually did it.”
Continue reading “College Basketball Is Not Where Caring Happens” →

Where do you find ties this long?

Just when we thought we’d heard the last out of Isiah Thomas. He’s back. Now as the head coach of the Florida International men’s basketball team. In charge of teaching young men how to be better basketball players, and better citizens of the world. Perfect.

As a gesture of goodwill, he’s voiced his intent to donate his first year salary back to the athletic department at Florida International. The terms of his contract have not been released, but I’m sure he’ll really miss whatever they’re paying him.
Continue reading “Enough is enough, Isiah Thomas needs to go away” →

I’m tired of Clark Kellogg ruining NCAA tournament games. There is such a great pool of announcers, there is no excuse to continue to let him make a fool of himself and a mockery of the NCAA and the game of basketball. And I love Jim Nance, but Jimmy’s best place is up in the tower at Amen corner broadcasting The Masters live from Augusta National. Let’s leave this game to the professionals (that doesn’t mean you Doris Burke).

Don’t get me wrong, removing Billy Packer was a welcome change, and long overdue. But replacing one bad announcer with another isn’t really a change. It was really just an ACC shift. I’ve never heard any announcer openly root for any team than Billy Packer for Duke. Until maybe I heard Clark Kellogg root for UNC while doing the championship game.

In case there is anyone out there besides Clark “Kelly” Kellogg and Jim “Nancy” Nance, that don’t think they should be replaced, I decided to collect a few of Kelly’s rambling buffoonery during this year’s contest. Cause we all know, the game wasn’t that entertaining to begin with.
Continue reading “Clark Kellogg must go” →

Blue Chips 2, feature John Calipari

The “Blue Chips” award to John Calipari, for going to Kentucky.  How does a coach get really good young recruits to go to schools like UMass and Memphis?  I have no idea, but Calapari has a knack for it.  I am not accusing John of any illegal recruiting violations or shawdy academic records (although i did hear a funny rumor that Joey Dorsey is illiterate, not that illiteracy is comical, but the fact someone can graduate college not being able to read).  What i am saying is that i foresee some troubles down in bluegrass country as this school has a lot higher visibility than Memphis or UMass.

The “Poster” award goes to Durrell Summers from Michgan St.  The majority of the time Stanley Roberts will posterize other players, and on certain occasions, whole teams (like he did later in the game against the Spartans).  Unfortunately for him, when you contest as many shots as he does, you are bound to get dunked on.
Continue reading “2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four Awards” →

I remember looking at the bracket the day after it was announced (my cable wasn’t hooked up yet on selection Sunday) and thinking, this is either a really weak field, or a really strong field. I just wasn’t sure which.

I couldn’t believe that Louisville and UConn were number one seeds. And I was shocked that Memphis and Duke were number two seeds. But then the question remained, if not those teams, then who? And I had no answer.
Continue reading “A forgettable NCAA tournament” →

As we near the end of the college basketball season, i wanted to take a look back at my top 3 home courts in college basketball.

3. Wake Forest.  I know they screwed the pooch in my bracket, and trust me i did not want to include them on this list for that reason alone, but when you come out to Guns ‘N Roses, “Welcome to the jungle“, along with the mascot riding a Chopper, that’s pretty bad ass.

2. *Howard University. A lot of other schools copy this, but the Bison originated this hysterical, and very coordinated send off to an opposing player who has fouled out.  The player is already salty he fouled out of the game, mix that with hearing this every time he walks until he sits down on the bench, and you have a recipe for humiliation.  Under any other circumstance, this would be my favorite, but….

1. North Carolina A&T. Now, i have already given NC A&T props where you can watch all the antics here, but i did some more research.  The song that is played when a player fouls out is called “Sit Down, Ho” by Maceo. How many schools will play this song during a game? Zero, never mind playing this EVERYTIME an opposing player fouls out.

*editors note: This is actually Harding University.  With the recent credit crunch The Drubbing R&D staff has been slashed tremendously.  We apologize for the error, and should have known it was not Howard with the large amount of white fans in the stands.

Now that the first two rounds of the 2009 NCAA tournament are finished, and the Sweet 16 is set, let’s hand out some awards:

I have no idea either Dino, how a team that talented can be coached so poorly.

The “Thanks for effing my bracket” award to the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest.  You may have 3 top 20 NBA talent players on your team, but you decided to mail in the first round game to Cleveland St.  May you enjoy a long year of high ankle sprains, Jeff Teague.

The “How the hell did you punch a ticket to the Big Dance” award to Minnesota.  Nothing against the Gophers, i actually like Tubby Smith as a coach, but Minnesota is just not good and because they got into the tournament we do not get to enjoy Steph Curry or Patty Mills carry their teams.  Davidson lost all 7 of their games to teams with 20 plus wins.  3 of St Mary’s 6 losses were to a very good Gonzaga team.
As a side note, a great game between those two talented players will be on ESPN 2 tonight, i highly suggested you check it out.
Continue reading “2009 NCAA Tournament 1st Weekend Awards” →

The ball is tipped, and there you are. You’re running for your life, you’re a shooting star. That song means one thing, March Madness has returned. The time of year when every office secretary throws caution to the wind and ponies up the cheddar to enter their office pool and for some unknown reason automatically get the best odds of actually winning the whole thing.

To help you bring home the bacon in your own bracket pool, we’ve polled our staff of NCAA basketball experts to get their final four predictions.
Continue reading “NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness is finally here” →