The WB Show: February 23
Williams and I chat about I-State's ugly loss to K-State, Hilton Magic "vanishing," Baylor's struggles and Craig Brackins starring in the Matrix. Click to listen.
The WB Show: February 17
Williams and I discuss I-State's guard problem, Dom Buckley's PT and the Brackins to the NBA chatter.
The WB Show: February 15th
Williams and I discuss last night's NBA Dunk Contest, which former Cyclone would be the best in a dunk contest, Shawn Taggart's cell phones, Shaq's wife and Blum being dunked on by a former I-State football player. Click to listen.
My New Broadcasting Hero
As you all know...Williams and I are both broadcasters for our day job. But...needless to say neither of us are anywhere near the talent level of Florida Panther's broadcaster Randy Moller. Just listen to this awesomeness.
I am anxiously awaiting Williams to break one of these out for the girls regional final in Southwest Iowa this week. Make it happen CW.
I am anxiously awaiting Williams to break one of these out for the girls regional final in Southwest Iowa this week. Make it happen CW.
Don't Get Buffaloed
It has been far too long friends. Lately, we've been about as active on here as Shawn Taggart playing defense. My apologies.
But onto the topic at hand.
The Colorado Buffs come to Ames tonight. This usually equates to good things. Even in the Chauncey B-B-B-Billups days the kids from Boulder never had success.
I distinctively remember a ranked Colorado team visiting Ames in 1997. My 12 year old self was in attendance in section 124 and roaming the concourse behind me was then Milwaukee GM Mike Dunleavy, closely following him was Dallas' Don Nelson and also in attendance that night was Jerry Krause (who surprisingly was not eating a ho-ho.) I was quite proud of the fact I recognized three NBA GM's, while other twelve year olds were playing Sonic the Hedgehog on their underrated game gear. (Game Boy Color was just a Game Gear hater.)
Turns out they were there to see Mr. Billups, Mr. Cato and as we would find out Tim Floyd as well. Thanks Jerry!
#13 ISU won the game that night 65-54 over #19 CU, as Shawn "The Forehead" Bankhead did a number on the All-American Billups.
That was part of a 15 game winning streak at Hilton for the Clones over the Buffs. That streak ended in 2005, in a 54-52 OT loss to CU in a game that was an early indicator of the demise Wayne Morgan would see the next season. This was the Andy Osborn game...you remember him, the clown who wore the long socks and who I could all but guarantee is familiar with Michael Phelps' water-bong activities. "Osbong" hit a three in OT to give CU the two point win in one of the most lackluster performances I have seen from an Iowa State team. That was not fun.
ISU has since won three straight over the Buffs. Win four tonight would be a huge shot in the arm. These guys need a victory in the worst way. It's been almost a month since the last one. Confidence is so fragile for most of these guys, I don't want to envision what being swept by a bad Colorado team would do. Positive thoughts.
I won't be able to watch the game because the Magic host Denver and of all people Chauncey Billups. If only the Magic had "The Forehead" Bankhead on the roster.
I'm Sick and Tired of Losing to K-State!
This speech by Robert Montgomery Knight always makes me feel better after an Iowa State loss. Just insert the team Iowa State lost to in for Purdue and you're set. In this case it's K-State.
(Warning, very extreme language)
A Ridiculously Long Collection of Thoughts
What a start to the week. I still can't get over the fact that the last play in the Super Bowl wasn't reviewed. All of my referee friends agree (Yes, I have lots of referee friends)...I received about a dozen text messages within seconds of the end of the game, saying to some extent, "How the eff was that not reviewed!?!?!"
I had the same feeling after the 2001 Independence Bowl, where I still maintain Tony Yelk's kick was good. That still pisses me off to this day.
Onto other Iowa State matters....not looking forward to the result tonight in Manhattan. Very little good has happened there for the good guys. They haven't won there in eight years!! And back in the early part of the decade, K-State was rolling players out there like Pervis Pasco and Gilson DeJesus. (K-State always has some of the Major League (the movie), "Who are these effing guys?")
I don't have fond memories of Bramlage Coliseum either. Last year, while broadcasting with the women's basketball team I got lost in the bowels of that god-forsaken place while trying to leave. The signage is very poor in the Bramlage basement. I ended up taking a wrong exit, got locked out, circled the outside of the place while carrying all of the radio equipment in sub zero temperatures, before finally locating the only entrance to the media parking lot. It was disastrous.
Let's hope the men can break the Bramlage hex tonight and John Walters and Eric Heft escape the place in an efficient manner.
***********************************
This may deserve it's own post at some point, but I stumbled across some interesting info in regards to Iowa State's ability to get to the free-throw line. As my fifth grade AAU coach told me, "Blum, since you can't make a shot ....at least try to get fouled." That coach was more than likely being sarcastic, but he had a point. The Cyclones I'm sure have been told similar things, yet they don't seem to be reacting to said information. Check this out:
In 96-97 ISU was 86th in the nation in FT's attempted
97-98: 90th
98-99: 187th
99-00: 10th
00-01: 123rd
01-02: 228th
02-03: 213th
03-04: 13th
04-05: 76th
05-06: 24th
06-07: 196th
07-08: 244th
This year: 326th!!!
Brackins and DG have combined for 207 of the 322 FT's this season. Only Justin Hamilton is averaging any more than 1 FT a game (23 attempts in 21 games).
I relate free throws in basketball to a Johan Santana in baseball. They can stop the bleeding and end draughts. Most great teams get to the line regularly. (UCONN is #2 in the nation in FT's attempted, Oklahoma is #4, Xavier is #9 Marquette is #10, North Carolina #13.)
That's where Colvin and Gilstrap will greatly help next season.
******************************************
Now for your Craig Brackins draft update. Brackins helped himself quite a bit Saturday in his matchup with Blake Griffin and OU. Although, Blake only guarded CB about a dozen times, Brackins showed he could score on a taller, athletic defender. CB took it at him, had a couple and1's and also hit a turnaround on Blake in the post. But, perhaps just as importantly Craig battled on the glass with OU, grabbing a dozen rebounds.
Draft Express (who I think is the most reputable NBA draft site) continued their meteoric rise of Brackins, moving him up to the #8 overall pick in the 2010 Draft. He was in the low 30's 12 days ago. Again, that's the 2010 draft, but needless to say people are starting to notice Craigers.
***************************************
-Final thought....With signing day tomorrow, ISU has a chance to sign a guy nicknamed Pooh Bear and another guy named Money. Meanwhile, current Cyclone "Bo" Williams has changed his name on Cyclones.com to Johnny. Henceforth, I want to be known as the Bullet.
And now for the YouTube clip of the day.
I Wouldn't Hire Bob Knight...
So the General is talking about making a return to coaching. Yesterday, Knight was quoted saying that if the "right situation" came open; he'd love to coach again. I'd love to see him coach another time. Bob Knight is one of my favorite sports personalities of all-time. Luckily for Knight, he works at ESPN. Yesterday, the worldwide leader reported information about Knight's possible return from an anonymous source. I guarantee you that Knight was the guy feeding this story information. This happens all the time in sports. If a sports figure, usually a big-name, wants/needs something to happen, they call their best friend in the media to file one of these reports. So yesterday, Knight went on the ESPN gauntlet of interviews throwing his name out into the mix for not only the Georgia job, but also any other soon-to-be opening throughout the country.
Though I love the General, I wouldn't hire him if I were a modern day athletic director. Not only is he old, he hasn't been a consistent winner for quite some time. The one thing that Knight can bring to a program right now is a big name. If a program was having problem selling some tickets, bring him on. After all, that's what Tech did when the hired him.
Other than that, I say away from the greatest college basketball coach of all-time.
Though I love the General, I wouldn't hire him if I were a modern day athletic director. Not only is he old, he hasn't been a consistent winner for quite some time. The one thing that Knight can bring to a program right now is a big name. If a program was having problem selling some tickets, bring him on. After all, that's what Tech did when the hired him.
Other than that, I say away from the greatest college basketball coach of all-time.