Was interested in reading a March 5th Jay Bilas article on ESPN but was rudely surprised (but not really) when I scrolled down a smidge only to find out that said article was an “Insider” article. Makes me wonder why I ever venture onto ESPN in the first place, it’s like freakin rooting for the Yankees, it represents the worst in people… greed, pomposity and underachievement. Ok, maybe that last one was just meant for the Yankees, honestly, I can’t gripe too much about the world wide leader’s programming.

Even though I knew I already disagreed with Bilas about his argument for just allowing the 64 best teams make the tourney instead of all these little mid-major froufrou teams, (hey Jay Bilas, wake up and listen here, have you forgotten what makes the tourney so fun and exciting? It’s when teams like VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH BEAT TEAMS LIKE DUKE and look darn good doing it) I was actually intrigued to read what his reasons were because most of the time Mr. Bilas does not annoy me. Jay and Grant Hill are alright in my book.

Who is Jay Bilas to tell everybody that teams like Oakland University or North Dakota State University (tonight 8pm, ESPN 2, bring it home Grizzlies) are not better than a Maryland, a Notre Dame or a Kansas State. Screw that! If you can’t get in even though your conference gets anywhere from 4-8 teams in the dance every season, then I got news for you,

YOU’RE JUST NOT THAT GOOD!

Geez almighty, I bet Jay also hates the electoral college. The Big bully.

Bubble watch alert

Upon learning this just a little while ago, I have determined that in NO WAY should a certain Big East team be allowed to go dancing.

That certain team is none other than Providence. The reasoning behind my decision is Doris Burke.

Have a listen and a look

Bubble watch alert #2

After much back and forth on this issue, I’ve concluded that Florida should be IN the tourney based just alone on this well known Gator alumna.

A look will do, don’t mind Tom

Hope that cleared things up a bit on the bubble front. Just trying to do my part.

Recap: Providence OUT, Florida definitely IN

Post from: EveryJoe

Jay Bilas and ESPN annoy me

But here’s Thursday’s quirky stat…

Ben Woodside of North Dakota State, arguably the best player in the Summit League and a guy who scored 60 earlier in the season, shot a perfect 0-12 from the field against Western Illinois. To Ben’s credit, he did have 6 assists and 3 steals, but that 0′fer is cooky.

Not even close to being cookier than Woodside’s “off” night was the final score, a 61-52 victory on the road for the North Dakota State Bison (17-5, 11-1), the favorites to represent the Summit league in the Big Dance.

Best player can’t hit a shot, no problem, the Bison are ready to bust your butt anyway.

Look out 12 and 13 seeds, you don’t want to face this group.

Post from: EveryJoe

STAT of the DAY (Feb. 5th)

That is NOT the STAT of the DAY!

STAT of the DAY-

The 35 free throws Ben Woodside attempted.

And if you’re counting, Woodside knocked down 30 of em.

This 30/35 free throw performance just barely beat out the 55 minutes played by Stephen F. Austin’s Josh Alexander.

Way to be a trooper Josh.

Both of these teams play today, by the way.

Post from: EveryJoe

STAT OF THE DAY!

Correspondent duty at its finest by yours truly.

Checking in on the…Summit League

—
Summit League Digest (NOV.21)

The first 10 days or so of the college basketball season has been refreshingly cosmic. My penchant has always been my college hoops fandom. It’s an impulse that will not die.

It’s like Rasheed Wallace snapping “Ball Don’t Lie” after an errant free throw.

It’s, you know, automatic.

Summit League Headlines

–Two days before Oakland’s opener at Cleveland St., star guard/forward Derick Nelson injured his foot. He’ll be out until late Decemberish. A huge blow to not only Oakland, but also to the dozens of participants who selected Derick in their fantasy mid major only college basketball draft.

–IUPUI senior guard Gary Patterson (12.9 ppg last season) has missed the team’s first 3 games because of a broken left hand he suffered in late October.

–0-9. The Summit League’s record versus other DI teams before Oakland’s overtime win @ Oregon on November 17th. And it wasn’t as if Summit League teams were playing perennial powerhouses like UCLA or UNC every game. Some of these losses were against Kennesaw State (yes, they’re DI), San Jose State, Northern Illinois, Cleveland State and Northeastern. UMKC even lost to first year DI team North Dakota. So technically that’s a 0-10 DI record prior to the Oakland win.

The Breakdown

Oral Roberts (1-1) So far in 2 games of action only Robert Jarvis is averaging double figures in points. Jarvis is also averaging 5.5 rebounds as well. Don’t expect that to continue.

Key upcoming games: Nov. 30 @ Mizzou, Conference opener Dec. 4 @ North Dakota State

UMKC (1-2) 5 days after losing to DI newbie North Dakota, the Kangaroos beat Wichita State on the road by 3. Sophomore guard Reggie Hamilton is averaging 15.3 ppg.

Key upcoming game: Nov. 30 @ Florida

IUPUI (1-2) 3 point loss at Indiana on the 18th. 6′5 freshman Alex Young is leading the squad in scoring with 15.7 so far. Good young nucleus needs veteran Gary Patterson back to seriously contend.

Key upcoming game: Nov. 29 @ Western Michigan

IPFW (0-2) The Mastodons have played Xavier and Michigan State thus far and actually had a second half lead against the Spartans before succumbing to their freakish athleticism. Sophomore guard Ben Botts is the only player averaging double figures.

Key upcoming game: Conference opener Dec. 4 @ Southern Utah ( first of 7 straight road games)

North Dakota State (1-0) The Bison doubled up NAIA school Mayville State 128-64 on the 18th–7 players scored in double figures. Star guard Ben Woodside scored 28 in just 16 minutes.

Key upcoming game: Nov. 29 @ Minnesota

Oakland (1-1) Upset Oregon on the road (17th) in overtime with the help of a phenomenal 32 point performance by junior point guard Johnathon Jones. Even more impressive was the fact that Jones only made one three pointer.

Key upcoming games: Nov. 23 @ Iowa, Nov. 25th @ Kansas State.

Western Illinois (1-2) Senior guard David Dubois is averaging 20.3 ppg. He was named to the 100 Club Classic All-Tournament Team.

Key upcoming game: Nov. 28 @ Coastal Carolina.

South Dakota State (1-2) Sophomore guard Clint Sargent is averaging 17.3 ppg and 8.3 rebs/gm. He’s 10 for 20 from downtown thus far.

Key upcoming game: Nov. 29 @ Central Florida.

Centenary (1-2) 6′1 senior guard Nick Stallings scored 31 in a Nov. 20th win against Troy. Guards Chase Adams and Gary Redus II are playing well early on too.

Key upcoming game: Conference opener Nov. 4 @ South Dakota State

Southern Utah (1-1) The Thunderbirds gave the Florida Gators a decent game on the 20th in a 14 point loss. Junior guard Davis Baker had 23 points and 8 rebounds. 6′10 senior John Clifford struggled mightily (fouled out, scored just 5). John wishes Southern Utah could play the likes of DII Mesa State more often (scored 24).

Key upcoming game: Nov. 29 @ Boise State.

The Summit League is what it is. The guard dominated league will pull off a few solid upsets in the coming weeks against those big school beasts, but along the way there will be plenty of blowouts, some camel spider cringe worthy.

I digress.

Post from: EveryJoe

Summit League Digest

-2007/08 was the inaugural season for the Summit League.

-The league was called the Mid-Continent Conference from 1989-2007. From 1982-1989 it was called the Association of Mid-Continent Universities.

May 15th 2007

“Beginning June 1st, the Mid-Continent Conference will be known as the Summit League. The name change is part of the “Summit Plan” to try and turn the league into a premier academic and athletic mid-major conference. The Mid-Con has struggled in recent years to find an identity, as its schools are scattered throughout the country, and it has experienced turnover in member teams. Going forward, the league will consist of: Centenary College, IPFW, IUPUI, UMKC, North Dakota State, Oakland, Oral Roberts, South Dakota State, Southern Utah and Western Illinois. The new logo and name “summit” are meant to suggest the peak of excellence, and not have any association with being located around a mountainous region.”

Collegehoopsnet

-League consists of ten schools from nine different states. Travel budgets explode in this league.

-School enrollment’s range from a little over a 1,000 to more than 27,000.

-Western Illinois is the only member that has been in the conference from the beginning (1982).

-Valparaiso was a member of the conference as recently as 2006/2007. But Valpo apparently wanted to step their game up and arguably did so by escaping to the Horizon League.

-Oral Roberts has represented the league in the NCAA tourney for the past 3 years.

- Oral Roberts President Richard Roberts committed a couple of crimes and thought it would be all ok since God told him to do it.

-For the last two seasons the league has been nestled in the #22 slot (out of 30) in terms of conference RPI strength.

-Former IUPUI Jaguar George Hill chose to forego his senior year and it paid off big time. Selected in the first round of the 08 draft by the San Antonio Spurs.

-Not surprisingly the 08 Summit League’s Conference Player of the Year was George Hill.

-North Dakota State is somewhat of the favorite to take the regular season title and go into the conference tourney with a #1 seed. Collegehoopsnet.com believes they will come out of it with a NCAA berth. Oakland University is picked to be the Bison’s toughest challenger.

-This is the first season North Dakota State and South Dakota State are eligible for postseason play on the DI level.

-The conference tourney will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2009. The top eight teams qualify.

Enlightened anyone?

Post from: EveryJoe

Getting to know the Summit League (II)