Following up on last week's narrative effort, I will conclude my look back at the 2011-12 mens basketball season by delving into player performance and team-wide statistical analysis. Let's jump right back in, shall we?
Click below for part two of my season review...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Quick Post: ... and I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't those pesky recruiting violations
Ah Baylor. Once again you've crossed into my consciousness with your outright dickishness.
Over the past few years Baylor, once the athletic laughing stock of the American Southwest, suddenly became a Waco behemoth, seemingly capable of no wrong on the court. Football? Check. Men's hoops? Check. Women's basketball? Double-check. A combined 80 wins this past season in football, mens and womens basketball set an NCAA record. Sic 'em, indeed.
Of course, everyone knew, with a wink and a nudge, that Baylor had accomplished these feats with typical SWC aplomb (read: they cheated), but the proof was lacking. That is, it was lacking until today.
Finally getting around to it, the NCAA has let it be known that the saintly Baptists in Central Texas are just as scum ridden as the rest of us heathens. 1,671 acts of impermissible contact with recruits across nine different sports (including equestrian!), the illegal hiring of recruiting services, and an assistant coach encouraging witnesses to lie? Not very Christian of you, Baylor. The NCAA even threw in the old "failure to monitor" chestnut to top the sundae off.
The Bears tried to sweep this all under the rug by self imposing a few extra recruiting silent periods and a few empty scholarships. However, since the mens basketball program was still under probation when some of these major violations were alleged to have taken place, we might just hear more about this in the coming months.
No wonder El Jefe and his millions of "Pac-12 Funbucks"© wanted nothing to do with them two years ago.
Over the past few years Baylor, once the athletic laughing stock of the American Southwest, suddenly became a Waco behemoth, seemingly capable of no wrong on the court. Football? Check. Men's hoops? Check. Women's basketball? Double-check. A combined 80 wins this past season in football, mens and womens basketball set an NCAA record. Sic 'em, indeed.
Of course, everyone knew, with a wink and a nudge, that Baylor had accomplished these feats with typical SWC aplomb (read: they cheated), but the proof was lacking. That is, it was lacking until today.
Finally getting around to it, the NCAA has let it be known that the saintly Baptists in Central Texas are just as scum ridden as the rest of us heathens. 1,671 acts of impermissible contact with recruits across nine different sports (including equestrian!), the illegal hiring of recruiting services, and an assistant coach encouraging witnesses to lie? Not very Christian of you, Baylor. The NCAA even threw in the old "failure to monitor" chestnut to top the sundae off.
The Bears tried to sweep this all under the rug by self imposing a few extra recruiting silent periods and a few empty scholarships. However, since the mens basketball program was still under probation when some of these major violations were alleged to have taken place, we might just hear more about this in the coming months.
No wonder El Jefe and his millions of "Pac-12 Funbucks"© wanted nothing to do with them two years ago.
Monday Grab Bag: Alright, fine, I'll talk about football
I hope everyone's Zombie Jesus Day was enjoyable. Look for the second (and final) part of my basketball season wrapup either Wednesday or Thursday, with a special edition of the Friday Beer Post on Friday in anticipation of Saturday's Spring Game festivities.
Today in the bag I'll finally get around to talking some football, recap my Masters experience, and talk about baseball's opening weekend.
Click below for the bag...
Today in the bag I'll finally get around to talking some football, recap my Masters experience, and talk about baseball's opening weekend.
Click below for the bag...
Thursday, April 5, 2012
2011-12 Review Part 1: A hell of a ride
It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of March. The beauty of the collegiate game is that, with the lose-and-go-home tournament format, anything is possible at the end of the year. In 2012, CU finally took advantage of that system, and ran the table in LA, securing the program's first conference title in over 40 years. That alone makes the season a resounding success.
However, to properly understand the value of a season, you need to pull back your lens and refocus on the year as a whole. After the jump, I'm going to go on a narrative journey through the 2011-12 basketball season, delving into the story lines to get a better appreciation for how the season developed. Next week, I'll conclude with some thoughts on player performance, and an overall look as the team's statistical trends.
Click below for part one of my season review...
However, to properly understand the value of a season, you need to pull back your lens and refocus on the year as a whole. After the jump, I'm going to go on a narrative journey through the 2011-12 basketball season, delving into the story lines to get a better appreciation for how the season developed. Next week, I'll conclude with some thoughts on player performance, and an overall look as the team's statistical trends.
Click below for part one of my season review...
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Quick Post: One shining moment
That's all folks. Season's over.
The validation of the one-and-done philosophy is complete as Coach Cal and Kentucky have their title. It played out exactly as I expected. Kentucky kept Kansas away from the rim, got some easy transition baskets, and generally kept KU at bay for most of the game. A late Kansas comeback notwithstanding, the Wildcats dominated for 40 minutes.
The story, of course, was the play of freshman sensation Anthony Davis. The Chicago native (!) struggled offensively, only scoring six points, but still managed to dominate the game. All told, the probable #1 pick in this summer's NBA draft provided 16 rebounds, five assists, six blocks, and three steals in his MVP-worthy performance. That only extends the fact that, throughout the tournament, he blocked or altered 18.2 percent of opponents' 2-point field goal attempts. The way he can affect a game without scoring is incredible.
Kudos to Kentucky, they were the best team all season, and rode that potential to a title. It's a shame that we'll never see any of those players play another minute in college, but that's life. At least the hoops world got one season of them together.
--
Stray observations...
- "There were times early in the season when Self and his old buddy and mentor, Larry Brown, would stand around at practices and wonder whether this was a team that could even make the tournament. It did. Won its eighth straight conference title, too." (-link)
That's a nice pile of revisionist bullshit that Bill Self has spun. Kansas was a top-15 team in preseason polls, and early "set-backs" include neutral site defeats to Duke and Kentucky. Hardly the resume of a non-tournament team. Kansas is Kansas, and they'll always have the level of talent required for a Tournament berth. If anyone wearing a goofy-looking chicken tells you KU overachieved this season, kick them squarely in the balls.
- CU made One Shining Moment; this year continues to amaze. Check out the 1:50 mark of this video:
Carlon Brown is awesome.
The validation of the one-and-done philosophy is complete as Coach Cal and Kentucky have their title. It played out exactly as I expected. Kentucky kept Kansas away from the rim, got some easy transition baskets, and generally kept KU at bay for most of the game. A late Kansas comeback notwithstanding, the Wildcats dominated for 40 minutes.
 |
| Deserving champs. |
Kudos to Kentucky, they were the best team all season, and rode that potential to a title. It's a shame that we'll never see any of those players play another minute in college, but that's life. At least the hoops world got one season of them together.
--
Stray observations...
- "There were times early in the season when Self and his old buddy and mentor, Larry Brown, would stand around at practices and wonder whether this was a team that could even make the tournament. It did. Won its eighth straight conference title, too." (-link)
That's a nice pile of revisionist bullshit that Bill Self has spun. Kansas was a top-15 team in preseason polls, and early "set-backs" include neutral site defeats to Duke and Kentucky. Hardly the resume of a non-tournament team. Kansas is Kansas, and they'll always have the level of talent required for a Tournament berth. If anyone wearing a goofy-looking chicken tells you KU overachieved this season, kick them squarely in the balls.
- CU made One Shining Moment; this year continues to amaze. Check out the 1:50 mark of this video:
Carlon Brown is awesome.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Quick Post: Football season ticket renewals
Hey football season ticket holders: if you haven't checked your inbox today, you may want to get on that. Ticket renewal forms went out today, and the athletic department wants your money in by April 13th. That's less than two weeks away!
Much like last year, CU is incentivizing early return of your payment. The sooner you get your money in, the better your chance of winning Buff swag. Enter by the following dates to be entered into a drawing to win prizes:
Despite the rocky season last year, CU fans turned out in droves. That level of fan commitment must continue as the Embree regime moves forward. So, get to renewin'!
Much like last year, CU is incentivizing early return of your payment. The sooner you get your money in, the better your chance of winning Buff swag. Enter by the following dates to be entered into a drawing to win prizes:
- By April 4th - An official jersey.
- By April 7th - A replica helmet.
- By April 10th - A CU polo.
- By April 12th - A CU sweatshirt
Despite the rocky season last year, CU fans turned out in droves. That level of fan commitment must continue as the Embree regime moves forward. So, get to renewin'!
Monday Grab Bag: Championship Night
I'm still efforting the completion of my season-in-review post. I'm hopeful that I can release it Wednesday.
In the meantime, check out today's bag where I'll be talking Final Four and tonight's title game, status quo on the mens roster, the continuing coaching carousel, and the long-awaited return of baseball. (That's right, I'm still not talking football.)
Click below for today's bag...
In the meantime, check out today's bag where I'll be talking Final Four and tonight's title game, status quo on the mens roster, the continuing coaching carousel, and the long-awaited return of baseball. (That's right, I'm still not talking football.)
Click below for today's bag...
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