Basketball « On Tap

December 27, 2009

College Football Bowl Preview: EagleBank Bowl

Filed under: Adrian Robinson, Akeem Ayers, Army, Basketball, Bernard Pierce, Brian Price, College, EagleBank Bowl, FBS, Football, Garden State Bowl, Johnathan Franklin, Kevin Craft, Kevin Prince, MAC, Matt Brown, NCAA, Navy, Nelson Rosario, Pac-10, Rick Neuheisel, Sports, Temple Owls, UCLA Bruins — Tags: Adrian Robinson, Akeem Ayers, Army, Basketball, Bernard Pierce, Brian Price, College Football, EagleBank Bowl, FBS, Garden State Bowl, Johnathan Franklin, Kevin Craft, Kevin Prince, MAC, Matt Brown, Navy, NCAA, Nelson Rosario, Pac-10, Rick Neuheisel, Sports, Temple Owls, UCLA Bruins — SportmeisterRyan @ 4:08 am

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

The NCAA post-season kicks off December 19^th, with 33 games being played in a three week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their season on the winning side, in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwords. The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 33 games that lie ahead, and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

EagleBank Bowl, December 29th, 4:30 PM, Washington, DC

Temple (9-3) vs. UCLA (6-6)

About Temple: Temple and winning have not gone hand in hand for much of the past, and this season started off as much of the same. Two straight losses had fans thinking, when does Basketball season begin? But then, something clicked, and nine straight wins gave the Owls life. Even though they lost their final game of the season, Owl fans are flying high this year as they roll into a bowl game.

They win by putting the ball on the ground, and grinding out victories. 23^rd in NCAA FBS with 192.33 yards a game, and that can be attributed to Freshman RB Bernard Pierce. His 1308 yards and 15 touchdowns in only 11 games helped him earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Though he missed the final game with a shoulder injury, he is fully expected to play in the bowl game. If he’s a no go, the burden will fall on Freshman RB/WR Matt Brown, who had 446 yards and four touchdowns, including 172 yards and a touchdown in the season finale that Pierce missed.

The defense gets enough practice chasing Pierce down, that it led to a top twenty rushing defense (20^th at 108.83 yards per game). Sophomore DL Adrian Robinson led the team with 11 of its 33 sacks, and led the team with 12 tackles for loss. It’s that pressure that forces team to pass, where Temple struggles, giving up 226.83 yards a game. Temple has the tools and the players to contend in the bowl game, but could use an improved secondary preventing deep passes.

About UCLA: A 3-0 record had fans and pundits thinking the Bruins were back with Head Coach Rick Neuheisel. Five straight losses quickly had those fans and pundits hiding. UCLA bounced back, winning three of their last four to make bowl eligible at 6-6. Due to the Army/Navy game, they would have been bounced if Army had won.

The Bruins have had some trouble finding consistency on offense. They switch between Freshman QB Kevin Prince (1829 yards, six touchdowns) and Senior QB Kevin Craft (722 yards, two touchdowns), with both expecting to see time in the bowl game. Their leading rusher, Freshman RB Johnathan Franklin, has 560 yards with five touchdowns. To top it off, their No.1 WR, Sophomore Nelson Rosario, has only one touchdown to go with his 657 receiving yards. Needless to say, UCLA has some struggles.

Defensively, there is a little more structure. Though their numbers are still middle of the pack (338.33 yards per game, 21.25 points per game), there are a couple players who stand out. Junior DL Brian Price was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year after recording 43 tackles (22.5 for loss), seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. Sophomore LB Akeem Ayers added 64 tackles (10.5 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble return for a touchdown, and three interceptions (one returned for touchdown). UCLA was eighth in tackles for loss per game (7.83), so expect to see a lot of powder blue in the Temple backfield.

The Matchup: Temple is 1-1 in their bowl history. This is their first bowl appearance since a win in the Garden State Bowl in 1979.

UCLA is 13-15-1 in bowl games. They have lost two in a row, most recently in 2007, their last bowl appearance. This is the first matchup between the two teams.

UCLA gives up 144.42 yards per game on the ground, a number they will have to shrink against a rushing attack such as Temple. Whether it’s Price or Brown, Temple has speed to burn. UCLA gets pressure in the backfield and makes plays, but they will need to make a number of them. This will force the Owls to turn to Junior QB Vaughn Charlton (1231 yards, nine touchdowns, nine interceptions).

UCLA needs to find some consistency in their offense. Temple isn’t the strongest against the pass, and whether it’s Craft or Prince, someone needs to throw the ball in the air, and make crisp throws. Temple recorded 15 interceptions on the season, so accuracy is a must.

The Prediction: Temple snaps a 30 year waiting streak with a victory, 30-17.

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December 20, 2009

The Sportmeisters Top 10 Games Of The Decade: #10, Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 2008 NBA Finals Game 4

Game # 10 – Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Game 4 2008 NBA Finals

With the end of the decade nearing, Sportmeisters Derek and Ryan have decided to present their top ten games of the past decade. Today’s discussion is on the tenth best game from 2000-2009. What follows is a transcript of their discussion.

Sportmeister Derek: Ryan, today we are here to discuss something that will be debated for the next few weeks. With 2010 on the horizon, we are naming our top ten games of the decade.

Sportmeister Ryan: Absolutely Derek, these games will bring an enormous amount of discussion, as it did in just us figuring out our list. Nevertherless, we’ll start with Game #10, Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

SD: Let’s go back to the 2007-2008 NBA Preseason. The Celtics had traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to join with Paul Pierce to make the Big Three and Kobe Bryant was trying as hard as he could to get out of LA.

SR: Kobe was trying to get out of Los Angeles, but his mindset changed when the Lakers brought in Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and Aaron McKie. Critics called that trade a huge favor for the Lakers, but it brought newfound aggressiveness for the Lakers.

SD: Los Angeles went 22-5 following the Gasol trade, giving them a 57-25 record and the number one seed in the West. Boston, who already was on the fast track to success, destroyed the East, finishing with the number one seed at 66-16.

SR: Derek, it reminded me of the Chicago Bulls from the second half of the 90s, with the dominance and flair Boston played with. The passion Garnett possessed from being on a perennial playoff team rubbed off on Allen and Pierce. The team also had solid contributors from guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins.

SD: Both teams had solid players, Boston with the players you mentioned, Los Angeles with Kobe, Gasol, forward Lamar Odom, guard Derek Fisher, and bench contributors in guard Jordan Famar and forward Trevor Ariza.

SR: In the playoffs, the Celtics were expected to breeze through the Playoffs to the finals, but barely squeezed by the Atlanta Hawks in round one, going a full seven games, and again going seven games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals, before beating the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Conference Finals. That’s 20 out of a maximum 21 games, which is a lot for a team that isn’t young to begin with.

SD: The Lakers had a much easier time. They breezed through round one, sweeping the Denver Nuggets and then beat the Utah Jazz in six games and the San Antonio Spurs in five. Clearly, heading into the NBA Finals, you could argue the Lakers were the more rested, and possibly, better team.

SR: That setup the all-time great matchup of the Lakers and Celtics for the 11^th time in the NBA Finals. Coming in, Boston had an 8-2 advantage over their western counterparts, but had lost the last two times they faced, in 1985 and 1987.

SD: The Celtics were up 2 games to 1 going into Game 4 and the Lakers appeared determined to tie it up, and keep them in the series, as a 3-1 deficit would have been near insurmountable.

SR: LA came out on fire, taking an NBA Finals record 35-14 lead in the fourth quarter and an NBA finals record 58-40 lead at halftime. Los Angeles was playing like a team possessed.

SD: With 5:50 left in the third quarter, Los Angeles had a 20 point lead (70-50), but, as it has been said, good teams find a way to win. The Celtics proceeded to go on an amazing run to catch the Lakers. They had a 21-3 run in the final five minutes of the third quarter and that decimated the Lakers hopes and pretty much spelled the end of that game.

SR: It wasn’t just the run, but they did the run on the road, which is amazing in itself. Los Angeles kept trying to fight, not relinquishing the lead until 4:07 left, but once they lost the lead, they had nothing left. Boston took the game and all but the series, winning 97-81.

SD: Ryan, let’s take a closer look at that run, which is the big reason why this game is #10 on our countdown. Within that 5:50 period, guard Eddie House contributed six of his 11 points on two key three pointers. Forward Paul Pierce had five of his team leading 20 points, and Ray Allen had six of his 19 points.

SR: Los Angeles went one of ten in that period, and actually, didn’t score a basket until there was 9:32 left in the fourth, meaning the team went scoreless for a five minute period. You can’t do that in the NBA Finals and expect to win.

SD: Through adversity, Boston didn’t run and hide and say, wait until we get home. They continued to fight and claw back and effectively ended the series, even though they still had to win their fourth game. Los Angeles had nothing left.

SR: Derek, this game had it all and that is why we have named it our number 10 game of the decade. Stay tuned for the rest of our Top 10 coming up in the next few weeks. Any questions or concerns, feel free to email us at Derek@Sportmeisters.com or Ryan@Sportmeisters.com.

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December 1, 2009

Thank You, Bobby Bowden

Filed under: ACC, Alabama, Basketball, Bobby Bowden, Boston College, College, FBS, FSU, Fans, Florida Gators, Florida State, Football, Hurricanes, Miami, NCAA, Notre Dame, Penn State, SEC, Seminoles, Sports, Virginia Tech — Tags: ACC, Alabama, Basketball, Bobby Bowden, Boston College, College Football, Fans, FBS, Florida Gators, Florida State, FSU, Miami Hurricanes, NCAA, Notre Dame, Penn State, SEC, Seminoles, Sportmeisters, Sports, Virginia Tech — SportmeisterRyan @ 10:50 am

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

Early Tuesday morning in Afghanistan, I awoke to the news that Coach Bobby Bowden was announcing his retirement Tuesday on the East Coast. All too much in sports, both collegiate and professional, fans are of the “what have you done for me lately” mindset. While many fans will point to a 16-16 record since 2005, six straight losses to the University of Florida, and an overall decrease in the quality of play, Coach Bowden should be remembered for what he brought to not just a football program, but the entire Florida State University. I’d like to step out of the mindset of recent success, and instead, look back and give thanks to a coaching legend, and all he has done.

I want to thank Coach Bowden for raising the bar on NCAA Football. He has amassed 33 straight winning seasons, and 37 overall, tied for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He took a struggling Florida State football team, and made it the standard for a successful football program. His 14 straight seasons of ten or more wins (1987-2000), is a record that he holds alone. During that same period, Florida State finished in the top five of the polls each year, another unprecedented run. His 12-0 1999 National Championship squad was the first ever to go the entire season at number one. Coach Bowden even raised the bar in the post-season, winning eleven straight bowl games from 1985-1996, and ensuring his team was bowl-eligible for 28 straight seasons, the nation’s longest streak.

I want to thank Coach Bowden for bringing FSU to the ACC. His guidance, and approval of joining the ACC over the SEC, was instrumental for the entire athletics program, and university as a whole. Back in 1990, being an independent was all the rage, but with many of the big independent programs (Penn State, Miami, and still-independent Notre Dame) taking the lucrative offers of conference play, FSU decided to join the fray. Both the SEC, a football-rich conference, and the ACC, made plays, and FSU, with Coach Bowden involved in the process, ultimately decided on the ACC. With conference expansion the big piece of the early 1990s, FSU’s allegiance to the ACC has helped them gain fame, as well as the entire conference.

Since joining the ACC in 1991, FSU Football has won 12 Conference Championships, including a record nine in a row (1992-2000). Beyond that, FSU Football helped bring a sense of focus and relevance to a conference known primarily for basketball. If it wasn’t for FSU, the ACC likely would not have brought in Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College. Florida State, especially with their early success, forced their opponents to step up their football programs, allowing for strong parity in the conference over the past few years. FSU’s success in the ACC is not just held to football, though. The rest of the sports moved over from the Metro conference (the Metro conference did not have a football league), and all found continued success, thanks to greater exposure, and a higher quality of opponent. All told, FSU athletics have won 41 ACC Championships, and five national championships in 12 different sports.

I want to thank Coach Bowden for what he brought to FSU. As a alumnus, I grew up following FSU Football, and from there, developed a love for the school that it was one of only two I applied to during high school. His contributions as a coach helped Florida State grow into one of the top universities not just in Florida, but in the United States. It’s little surprise that athletics bring in the big dollars, and FSU football is the biggest contributor in that.

At the same time, I want to thank Coach Bowden for never leaving Florida State. All too often, coaches leave at the chance for bigger and better. Even when his favorite team growing up, Alabama, called, Coach never wavered in his support and loyalty to the Seminoles, a trait that many coaches forget today. He instead, focused on raising young boys into men, and won an amazing 388 games doing so.

As I close an article I never wanted to write, I’m sorry Coach Bowden leaves under these trying times for the Florida State program. However, I choose not to look at what was done lately, but the body of work that has allowed the Florida State football team to have such high expectations year after year.

Thank you Coach Bowden. I hope you enjoy sitting back in your chair, enjoying some lemonade, remembering the days of FSU lore.

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November 13, 2009

Talking Sports In The War Zone: Madden Mania

Filed under: Basketball, College, Football, Madden, NBA, NCAA, NFL, Sports — Tags: Basketball, College Football, Madden, NBA, NCAA, NFL, Sportmeisters, Sports — SportmeisterRyan @ 11:52 pm

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

Ryan of The Sportmeisters is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While there, he is continuing to write about sports and it’s effect on the troops. This is his latest update.

Sports are a release, whether it be in the states or overseas. To take three hours on a football game, even if it is at midnight or one in the morning, it allows a soldier to take his mind away from the work, and remember a simpler time. The same can be said for video games. For most of us, sports at a professional level were a pipe dream, but in the virtual world, anything is possible. Following that, it’s another way for a troop to release for thirty minutes to an hour.

We call those times to release an MWR event, standing for morale, welfare, and recreation. Of course, for a base with over three thousand people, there are a number of events. TVs playing sports, basketball and volleyball tournaments, karate classes, and even sanctioned running events (I did the Army 10 Miler!). But a new event, hosted by yours truly, was a Madden 2010 tournament.

Eight teams of two signed up for what promised to me some bone-crushing, smack-talking action, in front of the entire base in the dining facility. True to their word, they didn’t disappoint in the first round. One team required some fourth quarter magic to seal a win, and another lost on a questionable fumble. Needless to say, for the three hours we played, setting up next week’s semi-finals and finals, not one participant was concerned with their job.

Sure, the mission does come first, and we all are aware of whats going on here, but to let it slide to the side of the mind for a few hours, it helps us refocus. We’ve all worked the 12 hour days, seven days a week here, and people get burned out. They need these events to allow the energy to flow out, and come back the next day refresh and recharged.

Madden is the most popular football video game on the market, and so, a big turnout was nice, but what has spun from it is even greater. Talks of more Madden, NCAA Football, NBA, and other games have been given interest for more tournaments in the future.

Take 3,000 plus personnel and you get 3,000 plus different likes and dislikes. It seems like, with Madden and the effect on its morale, we get quite a few personnel with similar feelings.

As the days get shorter to coming home, keeping the morale up is pivotal for a young solider, and helping them keep their eye on the prize. A little Madden Sports picks up the morale every time.

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