Anchor Of Gold: FanPosts

Silly Season 2013: The Case For Vanderbilt FC

2013-06-12T17:03:56Z

So if you're any kind of patriotic American, you stayed up late to watch the US Mens National Soccer Team do their best work of the Klinsmann era last night. They were fluid, they were dynamic, they scored a couple of awesome goals and should have had a couple more, they kept a clean sheet - everything you could ask from a match, really.

And then there was the crowd. Seattle is the best soccer town in America - this is a fact, and it is indisputable after last night - and they brought the noise. It's not on YouTube yet as far as I can tell, but on your DVR (you did DVR the match right?) or (if you have it) on WatchESPN here, go to the 70-minute mark of the match. And just watch. And listen.

This is something I've had in mind for a couple of years now, even before the coming of CJF. Look: we are not a typical SEC school. In fact, a lot of people don't consider us a real SEC school at all, least of all the paste-eating nerds of EA Sports (judging by the NCAA 2014 team ratings. See if I buy that now). Not to mince words: we are hands-down the smartest and wittiest fan base of the league, so we should take advantage of that fact. If anybody can do synchronized chanting and singing, it's us, right? Music City, for crying out loud.

Think about it. Pre-game, the student section unfurls an enormous black banner with a huge gold anchor that reaches from the top of the stands to the bottom. Then 40,000 fans are holding up black-and-gold scarves over their heads singing along with the national anthem at the top of their lungs. As the teams line up for kickoff chanting a Utah State-style "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN" at full voice. Then as we go on defense, that synchronized clap - my God, it sounded like a freakin' gunshot punctuating otherwise silence. We stall on offense, settle for a field goal, the whole stadium is singing "ROCK ME MAMA LIKE A WAGON WHEEL, ROCK ME MAMA ANY WAY YOU FEEL," you know damn well you know all the words. The students can let fly with "IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN EAGLE, IF I HAD THE TAIL OF A CROW, I'D FLY MYSELF STRAIGHT OVER NEYLAND, AND SHIT ON THOSE BASTARDS BELOW!" (That was going full blast at the 17-minute mark last night, and ESPN just let it go.) And if you need some loud drumming to keep the crowd together, well, we have a whole damn marching band, right?

In fact, the band could well be the linchpin to this whole thing. Have the drum major calling cheers and songs, have the band lead off, have the students follow along with the band and the crowd follow along with the students. In about 10 seconds, everyone's synced up. Teamwork makes the dream work, etc etc. Plus, in the fourth quarter against Tennessee last year, how much would you have loved to hear clearly over the ESPN announcers a chant of "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO A BOWL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO A BOWL, YOU'RE NOT GOING, YOU'RE NOT GOING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO A BOWL"? Hell, even if we're getting our clock cleaned by Alabama, what's to prevent a chorus of "WE WILL HAVE SOME FRIES WITH THAT, DOO DAH, DOO DAH, WE WILL HAVE SOME FRIES WITH THAT, THANK YOU AND KEEP THE CHANGE." Try it! I'm sure somebody else could finish "EIGHT BLIND REFS, EIGHT BLIND REFS, SEE HOW THEY'RE DUMB, SEE HOW THEY'RE DUMB."

You get the idea. All it takes is a few repurposed singalongs from Vacation Bible School, some determined coordination, and just like that, Vanderbilt football is must-see TV for casual fans all over the country who want to see what kind of antics the Robber Barons are up to this week - and a nightmare for visiting fans who have to sit through three and a half hours of this nonsense, win or lose.

You'd love it. TV would love it. The players would almost certainly get a kick out of a loud raucous focused crowd having fun week in and week out. Do it. Embrace your inner hooligan. Make the terraces ring. Sing along with me: "TYLER BRAY, SUPERSTAR, THROWS AT THE DUMPSTER AND HITS A CAR!"

In happier basketball news: Stallings hires recruiting specialist

2013-05-23T16:10:53Z

Vanderbilt hires Harvard assistant Yanni Hufnagel

Hufnagel is one of the guys responsible for Harvard’s resurgence mainly because he’s a terrific recruiter. He brought in players that are far more talented than typical Ivy League players because he was able to target the elite kids with the grades to get into Harvard and sell them on the idea that Harvard, as he told me two years ago, “isn’t a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision.” That same style of recruiting will work at Vanderbilt, another elite academic institution.

Vanderbilt hires Harvard assistant Yanni Hufnagel

Hufnagel is one of the guys responsible for Harvard’s resurgence mainly because he’s a terrific recruiter. He brought in players that are far more talented than typical Ivy League players because he was able to target the elite kids with the grades to get into Harvard and sell them on the idea that Harvard, as he told me two years ago, “isn’t a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision.” That same style of recruiting will work at Vanderbilt, another elite academic institution.

The NYT on Mike Yastrzemski and Vandy baseball

2013-05-12T14:49:23Z

Much more about Yaz III than Vandy, and the treatment of Vandy is a bit disappointing, particularly given the author's revelation:

Yastrzemski said he knew Vanderbilt — where this writer graduated from in 1997 — only because of an N.C.A.A. video game. The virtual Commodores dominated the game because they were based on a team that included the future major leaguers David Price, Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty.

Kepner is clearly playing to the reader's perceptions about little ole Vandy, not the reality of college baseball just four years ago. Corbin had already made us an elite national team by then, so the notion of a serious prospect not having heard of us is either a lie or an indication that Mike Yastrzemski probably wasn't smart enough for Harvard.

Frankly, it would have been nice if rather than playing on stereotypes about his own school being some sort of quixotic underdog saved by Yaz III, Kepner had mentioned that Corbin has built his alma mater into the sort of powerhouse program where Yaz III doesn't even stand out. (He's good, but the numbers seem to indicate at least 4 comparable players.)

Still, not often you see nearly a thousand words about college baseball in the paper of record, so I'll take it.

Much more about Yaz III than Vandy, and the treatment of Vandy is a bit disappointing, particularly given the author's revelation:

Yastrzemski said he knew Vanderbilt — where this writer graduated from in 1997 — only because of an N.C.A.A. video game. The virtual Commodores dominated the game because they were based on a team that included the future major leaguers David Price, Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty.

Still, not often you see nearly a thousand words about college baseball in the paper of record, so I'll take it.

For the Graduating Class of 2013

2013-05-09T16:31:32Z

It's been fifteen years since I stood where you were, out on Alumni Lawn in those preternaturally straight ranks of chairs. I was just back for the ceremony, because technically I graduated in August 1997 with an MA; I was just there to walk. Turns out it's the last time my dad would see me alive, but that's another post.

Vanderbilt means a lot of things to a lot of people. More to the point, what everyone takes away from this place is different. I came here for all the wrong reasons. I was trying to launder a BA from a nothing college somewhere else. I was trying to have a "real" college experience to make up for the failed undergrad years. I was trying to get some sort of paper vindication that I could hold up as proof that I was, in fact, just as smart as my mama insisted on telling everyone. And...come on, I grew up in the South. My relatives in east Tennessee were more ecstatic that I was coming to Vanderbilt than they would have been for any Ivy League school.

Honest confession time: I didn't exactly get out right. I was in a PhD program. It didn't work out. The MA was as much a lovely parting gift as anything else. My plans for my career and my life changed abruptly, and fifteen years on, instead of being a colorfully sardonic political scientist pulling the strings in DC while drinking my way through every green room on the Sabbath Gasbag shows, I'm...a colorfully sardonic technology professional drinking my way through every speakeasy in Silicon Valley.

What I was taught at Vanderbilt was excellent and insightful, but it was pearls before swine. On the other hand, what I learned at Vanderbilt - the problem-solving, the self-reliance, the importance of not telling your friends you have $68 on you when somebody wants to make a beer run to Mapco, the fact that your cocktail should carry the message that you don't have to prove anything, the power and importance of esprit de corps - what I learned at Vanderbilt has carried me ever since.

When I first set foot on campus, Nashville felt like home to me from day one. No place I've ever lived, before or since, immediately felt like I belonged there from the instant I arrived. It was a wrench to leave, and for a long time, the circumstances of my leaving (and the rest of a crappy 1998) made it feel like I couldn't really call it home anymore. Then, a few years later, I decided to suck it up and make the effort, and it was rewarded. The alumni club in San Francisco, the management and population of this blog, the people foolish enough to follow the Twitter, and then I showed up last September for a game - and for the second time, Vanderbilt felt like home from the minute I arrived.

I hope you had a great time here. If you did or if you didn't, I hope that what you learned here is something that stays with you, something that helps you through the rest of your life - even if what you were taught disappears in the mists of time and early-onset senility. And I hope that if it comes down to it a decade later, when you're at loose ends and wondering, that Vanderbilt will be there to take you in again for the second time.

Also, good luck parking for Graduation. That will never, ever be fixed. =)

BREAKING: James Franklin to Step Down as Vandy HC, Return to Maryland

2013-04-01T17:02:55Z

In a press conference called early this morning in Nashville, James Franklin (6'5", 215 lbs) announced his immediate resignation as head football coach at Vanderbilt University.

He also announced to the shocked room of reporters his immediate intentions to return to the University of Maryland, his former employer, where he was once "coach-in-waiting" under athletic director Debbie Yow (now athletic director at North Carolina State University).

"I know this comes as a shock to a lot of you, but like I tell my players every single day: 'six seconds at a time. Live your life six seconds at a time.' I truly believe that you can only make important decisions in your life six seconds in advance, and this was exactly the kind of spur-of-the-moment thinking I try to instill in my players."

When pressed for details by ESPN reporter Chris Low, he added, "Randy [Edsall, former head coach of the Maryland Terrapins] called me up at five this morning and said to me, 'James, I've been thinking, and I think you got a raw deal on this one. You clearly deserve a chance to run this program. We're moving to a new conference and God knows we're gonna need all the help we can get." The world-weary Edsall has struggled in his two years since taking over the Terrapins football program, managing only a 6-17 record in the struggling ACC. With the move to the B1G conference surprising everyone, including Edsall himself, many wondered if he would seek outside help while adjusting to his new conference.

"When he asked me, I thought to myself, 'this is it. This is my big break!'" Franklin said, stifling giggles. "I was surprised by the call, sure, but I was the coach in waiting. They just didn't make it clear how long I would have to wait, those sneaky Petes!" He also admitted that their university-wide handling of their move to the Big Ten conference was a big part of his decision. "From the way their Board of Directors handled their move to the Big Ten, I can see we share the same philosophy on split-second decision-making."

Will his family be upset by the move? "I doubt it," Franklin said. "Fumi and I have been running two-minute drills since our first daughter was born. She's already got a house in College Park furnished, Ava and Addi are sitting in their new classrooms right now, and as soon as we finish this conference I'm trading in my Vandy hoodies for some sweet Turtle-swag. Terps fo' life, guys!" He then flashed the 'VU' handsign, seemed momentarily confused, then used both hands to create a turtle using its thumb-fins to swim through the air. "What do you guys think, does this look cool?"

As of press time, there is no official replacement for Franklin. David Williams, Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics/Athletic Director/General Counsel/University Secretary/Virgo/Never-Nude, was quoted as saying, "Sure, James was an integral part of our football history, but we see no reason that Vanderbilt won't continue our upward climb in the SEC. We're looking for another scrappy, blue-collar coach with the same kind of drive and vision to push our players to achieve more both on and off the field. What do you guys think about Marshall Henderson - do you think he knows how to play football?"

In a press conference called early this morning in Nashville, James Franklin (6'5", 215 lbs) announced his immediate resignation as head football coach at Vanderbilt University.

Next Year Is Here Already.

2013-03-17T18:34:07Z

For the teams that started their seasons in 2011, it was a miracle year. Vandy baseball wins the SEC title, wins the super-regional in spectacular fashion, goes to the College World Series and finishes third in the nation. Vandy football gets six wins under a new coach for the first time since before television as James Franklin opens his account. And Vandy basketball, with the most heralded team ever, gets its first SEC tournament title in 61 years with a triumph over a Kentucky team starting five NBA draft picks.

Then the 2012 starts happened. Baseball began by getting thrashed up and down the West Coast in ignominious fashion; it would be May before they reached .500. Football opened 1-3, the only win against lowly Presbyterian College while getting pounded mercilessly in Athens. And basketball showed the loss of five scholarship seniors plus John Jenkins, with back-to-back losses to Davidson and Marist signaling that it was going to be a long year.

But.

Baseball roared all the way back, made it into the SEC tournament, and finally dislodged Florida in heroic fashion to reach the title game. Football rattled off seven consecutive wins, decapitated Tennessee for the first home win against the Big Orange in thirty years, won the bowl game, reached 9 wins for the first time since radio became a thing. And basketball suffered through the worst snakebit luck - a missed winning layup against Tennessee, two losses to UK by a combined six points and one egregious clock error, Ole Miss catching the river card of a lifetime with a ridiculous 35-foot buzzer beater to get OT and the win - before things suddenly began to shift. One win. Then another. Then another. Then the first Saturday home Senior Day win for the 'Dores under Stallings to save the Wednesday bye. Then a 10-7 upset over Arkansas. And finally another tournament win over Kentucky, bringing them back to .500 for the year - and putting them over .500 against the Cats all-time in SEC tournament play. Five months ago, a Saturday game in the SEC tournament would have been a pipe dream - and yet there we were.

This is what Brand New Vanderbilt means. No longer do we have to cling to dear life, waiting to see how we'll blow it. No longer do we have to run out to a huge lead at the outset as insurance against the inevitable collapse. No longer does a painful start always guarantee a painful finish. If we've learned one thing from the youngest hoop team in the SEC - possibly the youngest team we've ever fielded - it's this: to the last ball, to the last man, to the last shot, to the last tick of the last second, we fight. No giving up. No giving in. Stand firm. Yield nothing. Here today, built to last. And that - you people in Knoxville and Lexington and Birmingham and Bristol - that is what it means to Anchor Down.

2013 and 2013/14 is here. Let's make it happen.

But.

2013 and 2013/14 is here. Let's make it happen.

Silly Season 2013: The Winning Look

2013-03-14T19:30:21Z

So I made notes toward this post during the bowl game. Then I went out and drank about six Vandy Lifestyles (that's two parts Makers Mark and one part St George Spirits absinthe, shaken and served with one big rock) on New Years Eve and then somebody at work realized HIPAA liability runs into the tens of millions of dollars and then basketball depressed me and long story short, here we are. Therefore:

"You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy."

-Crash Davis, Bull Durham (who is my spirit animal as I turn 41)

"It's better to look good than to feel good."

-Fernando (aka Billy Crystal), title track, You Look Mahvelous, 1985

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

-a student government campaign poster at my high school, 1987

Our football team got nice new Nike uniforms last year, and we dodged a bullet. Instead of the Techno Chicken Oregon look or the I Think Kevin Plank Threw Up On This Jersey Maryland approach, we got clean and simple - solid black, solid white, and gold with black shoulders, and solid pants and helmets, mix and match. 27 different combinations, so we could go two years without repeating. Obviously we didn't, and for good reason - some combinations looks like canned ass, and some are just Not Right. So...how can we narrow it down? Why not with sheer superstition based on performance on the field? SOUNDS LEGIT.

Without further ado, the 2012 schedule and uniforms, helmet/jersey/pants and result:

SOUTH CAROLINA: ALL BLACK ERRTHANG (L AND WHERE'S THE !-ING FLAG FOR PASS INTERFERENCE)

NORTHWESTERN: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (L)

PRESBYTERIAN: Gold/Black/Gold (W)

GEORGIA: Gold-White-Gold (L, and worst L of the year)

MISSOURI: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (W)

FLORIDA: Black-Gold-Black (L)

AUBURN: Gold-Black-Black (W)

UMASS: White-Black-White (W)

KENTUCKY: White-White-Black (W)

OLE MISS: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (W)

TENNESSEE: Black-Gold-Black (STILL A W 41-18 SORRY BOUT IT)

WAKE FOREST: White-White-Black (W)

NC STATE (MUSIC CITY BOWL): Black-Gold-Black (W)

Total: 9-4 for the first time since the Kaiser got his. Well done young men.

Next, the breakdown by component. The win-loss records of the helmets:

BLACK HELMET: 2-2

WHITE HELMET: 5-1

GOLD HELMET: 2-1

Pretty clearly the white helmet is the winner here. Mea culpa; based on Cal's results with the stormtrooper look, I was loudly predisposed to think white helmets were a jinx, and after the Northwestern incident, I was proved wrong in every subsequent outing. LUV U WHITE HELMET.

Now the jerseys:

BLACK JERSEY: 3-1

WHITE JERSEY: 4-2

GOLD JERSEY: 2-1

Not to take anything away from the Gold for being present at the Tennessee victory or the bowl win, but it remains my least favorite jersey. I like black, what can I say. But all the shirts performed admirably, .667 or better. Thanks jerseys!

Pants:

BLACK PANTS: 5-2

WHITE PANTS: 3-1

GOLD PANTS: 1-1

Clearly the gold pants are helpless against anything tougher than Presbyterian (there's a hell of a delta between Presby and Georgia though), and the black pants racked the most wins (but the white pants have a superior winning percentage).

So in theory, the most successful composite Vanderbilt football uniform by total wins should be white helmet, white jersey and black pants. Which was actually worn to great success twice, at Lexington and Winston-Salem, and is the only undefeated combination. Of the uniform combinations worn more than once, B/G/B went 2-1 including arguably the two biggest wins of the year, while the P Diddy White Party In The Hamptons look was also 2-1 (and might have gone 3-0 with a little less Chicago rain and a little less erratic Chicago officiating). Gold helmet and black jerseys went 2-0, once with gold pants vs Presby in one classic Vandy look of my era and once with black pants against Auburn in the other classic Vandy look of my era. But those were the closest things this school will ever have to automatic wins, so tough to draw conclusions. My personal favorite look, the vaguely-futuristic white-on-black-on-white, did beat UMass in its only outing.

No uniform combination lost more than once. But the Johnny Cash all-black and the gold-white-gold against Georgia both lost in their only outings. The worst combination for looks and wins, and I think everybody from Carson Kressley to Trinny and Susannah to Vandy Lance would sign off on this, would theoretically be black helmet, gold jersey, and gold pants. Maybe not as bad as ALL GOLD ERRTHING aesthetically, but looking at the stats only the jersey piece of B/G/G has an above-500 record.

Now by winning percentage, rather than raw win totals, the winning set is white helmet (.833), black jersey (.750) and white pants (.750 by a hair over the .714 of black). Which was the winning uniform over UMass. In theory, therefore, and in what I can only assume will be a HIGHLY controversial conclusion (COME ON PAGEVIEWS) we should arguably wear ONLY the white helmet in 2013, and wear black jersey and white pants at home and the reverse white jersey and black pants on the road - and eschew the gold components altogether.

In a world of IT'S GOOD TO BE GOLD and SHOW YOUR GOLD and Trinidad James (what, did nobody think they could get him for Rites?) and - gulp - Anchor of Gold, it would take a serious belief in the power of sartorial superstition to forego our defining metallic shade for a purely monochromatic look. But hey, if it's good enough for the most powerful man in the world and his favorite team - yes, I mean Jay-Z, ILLUMINATI SON WHAT - why not give it a ride and see what develops?

Or, you know, we could just count on outstanding talent and superior work ethic coupled with superlative coaching. I suppose that's fine too, if you believe in that sort of thing. I still think leaving Tony Kemp off the return team is a mistake.

"You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy."

-Crash Davis, Bull Durham (who is my spirit animal as I turn 41)

"It's better to look good than to feel good."

-Fernando (aka Billy Crystal), title track, You Look Mahvelous, 1985

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

-a student government campaign poster at my high school, 1987

Without further ado, the 2012 schedule and uniforms, helmet/jersey/pants and result:

SOUTH CAROLINA: ALL BLACK ERRTHANG (L AND WHERE'S THE !-ING FLAG FOR PASS INTERFERENCE)

NORTHWESTERN: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (L)

PRESBYTERIAN: Gold/Black/Gold (W)

GEORGIA: Gold-White-Gold (L, and worst L of the year)

MISSOURI: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (W)

FLORIDA: Black-Gold-Black (L)

AUBURN: Gold-Black-Black (W)

UMASS: White-Black-White (W)

KENTUCKY: White-White-Black (W)

OLE MISS: ALL WHITE ERRTHANG (W)

TENNESSEE: Black-Gold-Black (STILL A W 41-18 SORRY BOUT IT)

WAKE FOREST: White-White-Black (W)

NC STATE (MUSIC CITY BOWL): Black-Gold-Black (W)

Total: 9-4 for the first time since the Kaiser got his. Well done young men.

Next, the breakdown by component. The win-loss records of the helmets:

BLACK HELMET: 2-2

WHITE HELMET: 5-1

GOLD HELMET: 2-1

Now the jerseys:

BLACK JERSEY: 3-1

WHITE JERSEY: 4-2

GOLD JERSEY: 2-1

Pants:

BLACK PANTS: 5-2

WHITE PANTS: 3-1

GOLD PANTS: 1-1

Looking ahead to 2014

2013-03-06T21:19:43Z

With the 'Dores playing out the string this season -- this clearly isn't going to be an NCAA team, and even the NIT is a longshot -- it's looking like time to look ahead to next season. With everybody returning for next season, and with Eric McClellan and Damian Jones coming in, it's hard to see how this team doesn't improve. But what about the rest of the SEC? Here's a quick look at how the rest of the SEC stacks up for next season. Obviously, we don't know who all won't be back next season just yet -- some players will leave for the NBA, while some will leave for other reasons. We can, however, take some look at the returning and incoming talent for all 14 teams.

NOTE: Number listed in parentheses is Win Shares, as found at sports-reference.com. Star ratings for recruits are from Rivals.

Florida

Leaving: Erik Murphy (6.0), Kenny Boynton (3.5), Mike Rosario (3.5)

Possible early entry: Patric Young (6.2)

Incoming: Damontre Harris (SC transfer, 3.5 in 2011-12), Dorian Finney-Smith (VT transfer, 2.0 in 2011-12), Kasey Hill (5* recruit), Chris Walker (5* recruit)

Obviously, the losses here hurt, but with two talented transfers coming in and a pair of blue-chip recruits, the Gators won't drop off that much. This should still be an NCAA team and SEC contender.

Kentucky

Leaving: Julius Mays (2.4)

Possible early entries: Nerlens Noel (5.0), Alex Poythress (3.9), Willie Cauley-Stein (3.2), Archie Goodwin (2.6), Ryan Harrow (1.6)

Incoming: Aaron Harrison (5* recruit), Andrew Harrison (5* recruit), Marcus Lee (5* recruit), Derek Willis (3* recruit), James Young (5* recruit), Dakari Johnson (5* recruit)

It's Kentucky, so there are going to be some early defections to the NBA, but also some really talented players coming in. Calipari's recruiting class might not be complete yet, and there are whispers that this group could be even better than Kentucky's 2011 recruiting class. This team will be good.

Ole Miss

Leaving: Reginald Buckner (5.9), Murphy Holloway (5.2), Nick Williams (1.1)

Incoming: Dwight Coleby (3* recruit), Janari Joesaar (3* recruit), Sebastian Saiz (3* recruit)

Marshall Henderson should be back, but Buckner and Holloway are more important to this team than most people give them credit for. Ole Miss will likely take a step back next season, and might be breaking in a new coach, too.

Missouri

Leaving: Alex Oriakhi (5.7), Laurence Bowers (4.1), Keion Bell (3.7)

Incoming: Jordan Clarkson (Tulsa transfer, 3.7 in 2011-12), Johnathan Williams (4* recruit), Torren Jones (3* recruit), Wes Clark (4* recruit)

Mizzou loses their top three players (according to Win Shares, anyhow), and also might have to replace Phil Pressey, who doesn't appear on most draft boards but in theory could leave. But there is some talent incoming so I wouldn't write them off; this looks like a borderline NCAA team to me.

Alabama

Leaving: Andrew Steele (0.6)

Incoming: Jimmie Taylor (4* recruit), Shannon Hale (4* recruit)

The Tide's losses are minimal, and with two incoming bigs and Carl Engstrom returning from injury, there will be much more depth in the frontcourt. This looks like an NCAA team and possibly an SEC title contender.

Tennessee

Leaving: Kenny Hall (1.9), Skylar McBee (0.8)

Incoming: Jeronne Maymon (redshirt, 4.5 in 2011-12), Travon Landry (3* recruit), A.J. Davis (3* recruit), Robert Hubbs (5* recruit)

Getting Maymon back will be huge, and assuming Jarnell Stokes (4.2) doesn't leave, this should be an improved team next year as well.

Arkansas

Leaving: No one.

Possible early entry: B.J. Young (2.6)

Incoming: Alandise Harris (Houston transfer, 3.1 in 2011-12), Moses Kingsley (4* recruit), Bobby Portis (5* recruit)

Another team with a lot of talent back, though the return of Young is an open question, and the Hogs are currently set to be over their scholarship limit so a couple of guys will be gone (we just don't know who), but there's a good chance they'll improve.

LSU

Leaving: Charles Carmouche (2.9), Andrew Del Piero (1.8)

Incoming: Jarell Martin (5* recruit), Jordan Mickey (4* recruit), Tim Quarterman (4* recruit), John Odo (3* recruit)

The losses aren't insignificant, but both seniors should be replaceable, and that's a good recruiting class coming in.

Georgia

Leaving: Vincent Williams (1.1), John Florveus (0.8), Sherrard Brantley (0.5)

Possible early entry: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5.3)

Incoming: Houston Kessler (NR recruit, redshirt), J.J. Frazier (3* recruit), Juwan Parker (3* recruit)

Basically, it all comes down to whether Caldwell-Pope returns or not. If he does, it's easy to see Georgia improving as their other losses are fairly minimal. If he doesn't, it's hard to see how the Bulldogs contend.

Texas A&M

Leaving: Elston Turner (4.1), Ray Turner (2.9), Jarod Jahns (0.7)

Incoming: Antwan Space (FSU transfer, -0.1 in 2011-12), Shawn Smith (3* recruit, redshirt), Davonte Fitzgerald (3* recruit), Tavario Miller (3* recruit), Tony Trocha (? recruit)

Space played a grand total of 30 minutes in one season at FSU, but was a 4* recruit out of high school. The losses here are significant, but there are a couple of talented freshmen and the incoming players could surprise; expect A&M to stay about where they are.

Vanderbilt

Leaving: No one.

Incoming: Eric McClellan (Tulsa transfer, 2.0 in 2011-12), Damian Jones (4* recruit)

If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with the players Vandy has coming back. (If not, there are plenty here who would be happy to tell you.)

South Carolina

Leaving: Lakeem Jackson (2.3), LaShay Page (0.3)

Incoming: Sindarius Thornwell (4* recruit), Desmond Ringer (3* recruit), Justin McKie (NR recruit)

Now, Frank Martin might decide to run some guys off (at this point he's intentionally playing walkons), but inking Thornwell is at least a good start toward improving this team.

Auburn

Leaving: Rob Chubb (2.0), Frankie Sullivan (1.8), Noel Johnson (0.6), Josh Wallace (0.5)

Incoming: K.T. Harrell (UVA transfer, 0.2 in 2011-12), Ronald Delph (NR recruit), Benas Griciunas (3* recruit), Tahj Shamsid-Deen (3* recruit)

Sullivan and Chubb seem like significant losses, but it's not like Auburn was any good with them, while Harrell was a highly-regarded recruit out of high school. Auburn could be slightly improved, but I don't really like the looks of this.

Mississippi State

Leaving: Wendell Lewis (0.6)

Incoming: Andre Applewhite (3* recruit, redshirt), Jacoby Davis (NR recruit, redshirt), I.J. Ready (3* recruit), Travis Daniels (JC), Quantel Denson (JC), Fallou Ndoye (3* recruit)

It's hard to see how the Bulldogs could actually be worse than they are this year. Lewis (who hasn't played since December) might get a medical hardship, for all we know, but just having a full roster will be a big plus.

In sum, while we expect Vandy to improve in 2013-14, it's worth pointing out that a lot of the other teams in the SEC are going to be improved as well, so even if the team is improved, moving up in the SEC standings will be a bit more difficult than it would be this year.

NOTE: Number listed in parentheses is Win Shares, as found at sports-reference.com. Star ratings for recruits are from Rivals.

Florida

Leaving: Erik Murphy (6.0), Kenny Boynton (3.5), Mike Rosario (3.5)

Possible early entry: Patric Young (6.2)

Incoming: Damontre Harris (SC transfer, 3.5 in 2011-12), Dorian Finney-Smith (VT transfer, 2.0 in 2011-12), Kasey Hill (5* recruit), Chris Walker (5* recruit)

Obviously, the losses here hurt, but with two talented transfers coming in and a pair of blue-chip recruits, the Gators won't drop off that much. This should still be an NCAA team and SEC contender.

Kentucky

Leaving: Julius Mays (2.4)

Possible early entries: Nerlens Noel (5.0), Alex Poythress (3.9), Willie Cauley-Stein (3.2), Archie Goodwin (2.6), Ryan Harrow (1.6)

Incoming: Aaron Harrison (5* recruit), Andrew Harrison (5* recruit), Marcus Lee (5* recruit), Derek Willis (3* recruit), James Young (5* recruit), Dakari Johnson (5* recruit)

Ole Miss

Leaving: Reginald Buckner (5.9), Murphy Holloway (5.2), Nick Williams (1.1)

Incoming: Dwight Coleby (3* recruit), Janari Joesaar (3* recruit), Sebastian Saiz (3* recruit)

Missouri

Leaving: Alex Oriakhi (5.7), Laurence Bowers (4.1), Keion Bell (3.7)

Incoming: Jordan Clarkson (Tulsa transfer, 3.7 in 2011-12), Johnathan Williams (4* recruit), Torren Jones (3* recruit), Wes Clark (4* recruit)

Alabama

Leaving: Andrew Steele (0.6)

Incoming: Jimmie Taylor (4* recruit), Shannon Hale (4* recruit)

Tennessee

Leaving: Kenny Hall (1.9), Skylar McBee (0.8)

Incoming: Jeronne Maymon (redshirt, 4.5 in 2011-12), Travon Landry (3* recruit), A.J. Davis (3* recruit), Robert Hubbs (5* recruit)

Getting Maymon back will be huge, and assuming Jarnell Stokes (4.2) doesn't leave, this should be an improved team next year as well.

Arkansas

Leaving: No one.

Possible early entry: B.J. Young (2.6)

Incoming: Alandise Harris (Houston transfer, 3.1 in 2011-12), Moses Kingsley (4* recruit), Bobby Portis (5* recruit)

LSU

Leaving: Charles Carmouche (2.9), Andrew Del Piero (1.8)

Incoming: Jarell Martin (5* recruit), Jordan Mickey (4* recruit), Tim Quarterman (4* recruit), John Odo (3* recruit)

The losses aren't insignificant, but both seniors should be replaceable, and that's a good recruiting class coming in.

Georgia

Leaving: Vincent Williams (1.1), John Florveus (0.8), Sherrard Brantley (0.5)

Possible early entry: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5.3)

Incoming: Houston Kessler (NR recruit, redshirt), J.J. Frazier (3* recruit), Juwan Parker (3* recruit)

Texas A&M

Leaving: Elston Turner (4.1), Ray Turner (2.9), Jarod Jahns (0.7)

Incoming: Antwan Space (FSU transfer, -0.1 in 2011-12), Shawn Smith (3* recruit, redshirt), Davonte Fitzgerald (3* recruit), Tavario Miller (3* recruit), Tony Trocha (? recruit)

Vanderbilt

Leaving: No one.

Incoming: Eric McClellan (Tulsa transfer, 2.0 in 2011-12), Damian Jones (4* recruit)

If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with the players Vandy has coming back. (If not, there are plenty here who would be happy to tell you.)

South Carolina

Leaving: Lakeem Jackson (2.3), LaShay Page (0.3)

Incoming: Sindarius Thornwell (4* recruit), Desmond Ringer (3* recruit), Justin McKie (NR recruit)

Now, Frank Martin might decide to run some guys off (at this point he's intentionally playing walkons), but inking Thornwell is at least a good start toward improving this team.

Auburn

Leaving: Rob Chubb (2.0), Frankie Sullivan (1.8), Noel Johnson (0.6), Josh Wallace (0.5)

Incoming: K.T. Harrell (UVA transfer, 0.2 in 2011-12), Ronald Delph (NR recruit), Benas Griciunas (3* recruit), Tahj Shamsid-Deen (3* recruit)

Mississippi State

Leaving: Wendell Lewis (0.6)

Incoming: Andre Applewhite (3* recruit, redshirt), Jacoby Davis (NR recruit, redshirt), I.J. Ready (3* recruit), Travis Daniels (JC), Quantel Denson (JC), Fallou Ndoye (3* recruit)

Dores add Combo Guard Darius Thompson to complete recruiting for 2013

2013-01-21T06:25:45Z

Blackman High senior Darius Thompson committed to Vanderbilt this weekend and will sign with the Commodores in the spring signing period. Thompson is the second of the two man class of 2013 and will join Center Damien Jones as a freshman next season.

Highlight video here: Highlights

More highlights (plays #10, 9, and #1): Highlights 2

For more context, here is every play Thompson was involved in during last season’s Div III quarterfinal game against Memphis East: Playoff Game

First off a discussion of Thompson’s game – the thing that stands out most is Darius’ ballhandling, which appears to be excellent. He seems to be very much in control of what he wants to do with the ball and where he wants to go, and is able to use a crossover, behind the back and can change direction quite well all while keeping his dribble. He is a very creative passer and has excellent court vision. Very nice touch on his passes, especially to players running on the break, but overall has a good feel for where his teammates are and possesses the ability to get them the ball in a position to score.

His jump-shot looks odd, like he is releasing it as he is on the way down – somewhat reminiscent of Tayshawn Prince’s jumper. This year’s stats indicate that he is shooting 39% from 3 and 71% from the line – the latter number being decent, and also an indication that his form, while unorthodox, is not likely an impediment to his becoming a good shooter. Thompson’s size is very nice for his overall skills, as he is taller than your typical point guard, and can likely play at either wing spot if required. His overall athleticism is also above average, as he appears to have decent speed and good leaping ability (though not overwhelming). Overall, I like his potential, but the combination of his size and ballhandling/passing abilities are probably the most exciting thing about his game.

Now we get to where he fits into the overall picture – here is a breakdown of the team next season (assuming no transfers – positions are primary but not exclusive):

SR – Odom(PF), Fuller(PG)

JR – Johnson(PG), Parker(SG), Moats(PF), Henderson(C), Siakam(SF)

SO – Jeter(SF), Bright(SF), Astroth(SG), McClellan(PG)

FR – Jones(C), Thompson(PG)

It is interesting to see while we are a bit light in the post (with only two true center and two true PF’s), we elected to go with a PG in this class. It is also interesting to see how CKS will have a true PG in each class next season, though three of the four will be “bigger” PG’s, around 6’-4”. I believe that while it would have been ideal to get another post player, that having versatile players who can pass and dribble is a good backup plan. Seeing how our lack of these skill on the previous two teams really limited their overall play, (especially our ability to handle pressure), we are now taking a different approach, and one that can be successful, with the addition of a post player who can finish with authority.

While there may not be as much NBA talent as was on the previous team, the overall talent level is still very high (relative to traditional VU teams) and we have a chance to be an exceptionally good defensive team next year. We can look to have a much improved offense as well, with the addition of two players with PG level passing and ballhandling skills. As far as I can tell, this season is beginning to look more like a one year blip due to the mass exodous from a season ago. We will not be as badly affected in three season, when the current sophomore class moves on.

Congrats to Andrew UV '04 for Winning the AoG Bowl Pick'em Contest

2013-01-08T20:57:22Z

It was a drawn out battle, but ultimately Alabama's blowout win over Notre Dame in the National Championship Game game Andrew VU '04 35 vital points and the honor of being this year's AoG Bowl Pick'em Champion. He posted a league-best 27-8 record en route to topping 49 other pick sets to bring home the gold.

Andrew, shoot us a comment so we know who you are and we can work on getting your Earl Bennett Deuce Brand watch out to you shortly. And, congrats.

Funny thing from Butler basketball board

2012-12-29T18:42:39Z

http://buhoops.yuku.com/topic/9099/Vandy-Lookalikes

I'm a Butler fan, but I root for Vandy too. This should be an interesting matchup. Enjoy the big game, Vandy fans.

This is sort of a funny thing that this guy does for every Butler game. He takes the opposing team - this time Vandy - and compares their players and coaches to celebrities. Look-alikes he calls them. It is good stuff. Kind of a funny thing to break the tension before the big game. http://buhoops.yuku.com/topic/9099/Vandy-Lookalikes I'm a Butler fan, but I root for Vandy too. This should be an interesting matchup. Enjoy the big game, Vandy fans.

Agent Orange Contest: "Juke" Takes Vandy Collection from Ho-hum to High Octane

2012-12-14T23:20:16Z

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

Jay Cutler. I missed him by a year. I didn’t know a whole lot about Vanderbilt football when I applied. Like most things in my life, I set out to do what people thought I never could or should. I heard I could never get into a school like VU with my 2.5 high school GPA, so when I got the opportunity to leave the Marine Corps and go to college, I shot for the moon. I suppose the admissions committee was feeling rather patriotic that day or perhaps they were impressed with my junior college 4.0… Regardless of how I got in, I did. Then everyone started asking me about Jay Cutler.

I lived on a Marine base in Japan from 2003-2006, so I missed all that was so great about Jay Cutler. As a student and eventual Hustler sports writer I did not miss ole Earl. This essay is not so much about Earl the player – though I could elaborate for days on my experiences watching him on Saturday at Dudley, but rather how I became one of the country’s biggest Earl Bennett memorabilia collectors.

For those of you not familiar with the current state of sports card and memorabilia collecting, it is quite a different world than the late 1980s and early 1990s that was the true heyday of sports card collecting. Today’s cards are embedded with game-worn pieces of jersey and are frequently autographed and produced in very limited quantities – many times as few as one single card is produced.

In 2006 when Jay went pro, I started picking up his rookie football cards. I amassed a fairly good sized collection of Jay Cutler rookies and autographs, but as he was one of the top 3 quarterbacks of the 2006 draft, his stuff started out highly priced and continued to increase in price as time went on in Denver and now in Chicago. His least expensive autograph runs around $45-60 and nearly any jersey autograph card is $100 or more.

The rarest Jay Cutler piece is the 2006 Upper Deck Exquisite autographed rookie patch card. The card features an oversized swatch of Jay’s game-used college jersey. At its highest point, this card was sold for as much as $6,000. Though Cutler has faded a bit in the eyes of most collectors – with players like Cam Newton, Tim Tebow and RGIII commanding the highest prices for rare rookie cards today – this card is still bought and sold today for $2,000+.

What would make that card worth $2,000 or an eye-popping $6,000? It was limited to only 20 copies and it also features his black and gold college jersey. (All the rookie cards from that set featured patch swatches from the NFL Rookie Premier photo shoot – a made-for-fans event where players wear as many as 10 different pro-jerseys for a few minutes each and pose for photos. Those jerseys are then sold to various memorabilia companies who chop them up and put them on football cards.) Legend has it that Cutler had a wedding to attend that day, so instead of going to the photo shoot, he skipped it and sent Upper Deck a college jersey for inclusion in the set. The fact that it is actually game-used jersey and not just player worn from the photo shoot increased its desirability.

For the first few years, I tried to compete with other Cutler fans for his collectibles and cards. But, being a college student and later Marine Officer, I didn’t have quite the budget that a lot of the most enthusiastic Jay Cutler collectors did. I realized that even with a degree from Vandy, it was going to be a while before I was able to afford a $2,000 Jay Cutler rookie card. I also came to grips with the fact that though Jay Cutler was a good pro-athlete and went to my alma mater, I had never actually seen him play live or seen him play in college.

That’s when I decided to switch the focus of my hobby from Jay Cutler to the Earl of Receptions.

To contrast the difference between collecting a starting quarterback like Cutler and a guy like Earl Bennett just take a look at Earl’s best rookie card. It comes from the 2008 Upper Deck Exquisite set – which cost $600 a pack at the time – yes a pack! But I picked up mine for $30 on eBay.

When I was a die-hard Cutler fan, I had champagne taste and a "Beer-30" budget. I always seemed to get out-bid on the good Cutler stuff. Once I switched to collecting Earl, I could afford to get his best stuff for the same money - multi-colored patch cards, limited edition stuff, etc. I enjoyed watching Earl Bennett on Saturdays and I enjoy watching him in Chicago now. I usually spend about $10-30 a month on Earl stuff and have some pretty sweet cards.

Collecting Earl Bennett was a lot more fun for me and now I have one of the best Earl collections in the country. Now, I am not hoping to inspire anyone else out there to compete with me for the best Earl Bennett cards on eBay, but collecting football cards is a fun hobby and I hope that my experience can introduce someone new to collecting – without breaking the bank or leaving them picking up the crumbs of others who collect only headliner stars like Cutler.

2012 has been a good year for collecting Vandy guys – Casey Hayward’s stuff is not that expensive at the moment (I just picked up some autographs and limited edition cards for less than $6 a card) and I think he has a great shot to make Defensive ROY, so his stuff may see a little spike in price after that. With Zac Stacey going pro next year and potentially Jordan Matthews (I really hope he stays though), if you’ve ever enjoyed collecting cards in the past but gotten out of it, now is a good time to get back into it from a Vanderbilt perspective.

Here is a little glimpse of my best Earl stuff:

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 UD Premier Earl Bennett Multi-colored Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 30 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Topps Finest Earl Bennett Refractor NFL Equipment Tag Autographed Rookie (Print run: 15 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Donruss Souvenir Stamps Earl Bennett Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 21 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Donruss Exquisite Earl Bennett Jumbo Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print Run: 199 copies)

2008 Donruss Elite Aspirations Die-Cut Rookie Card (Print run: 99 copies)

Things I have yet to get, but are on my radar to buy:

via metsthoughts.files.wordpress.com

2008 Playoff National Treasures Jumbo Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 99 copies)

via i.ebayimg.com

2008 SP Authentic Earl Bennett Jersey Autograph Rookie Card (Print run: 999 copies)

via i.ebayimg.com (There is a variation of this card which Earl signed only by his nickname "Juke." It's VERY rare.)

2008 Press Pass Earl Bennett "Juke" Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: unknown)

via assets.sbnation.com

Earl Bennett Agent Orange Watch - I need this one for my collection and so I'm not late for things.

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

That’s when I decided to switch the focus of my hobby from Jay Cutler to the Earl of Receptions.

Here is a little glimpse of my best Earl stuff:

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 UD Premier Earl Bennett Multi-colored Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 30 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Topps Finest Earl Bennett Refractor NFL Equipment Tag Autographed Rookie (Print run: 15 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Donruss Souvenir Stamps Earl Bennett Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 21 copies)

via i168.photobucket.com

2008 Donruss Exquisite Earl Bennett Jumbo Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print Run: 199 copies)

2008 Donruss Elite Aspirations Die-Cut Rookie Card (Print run: 99 copies)

Things I have yet to get, but are on my radar to buy:

via metsthoughts.files.wordpress.com

2008 Playoff National Treasures Jumbo Patch Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: 99 copies)

via i.ebayimg.com

2008 SP Authentic Earl Bennett Jersey Autograph Rookie Card (Print run: 999 copies)

via i.ebayimg.com (There is a variation of this card which Earl signed only by his nickname "Juke." It's VERY rare.)

2008 Press Pass Earl Bennett "Juke" Autographed Rookie Card (Print run: unknown)

via assets.sbnation.com

Earl Bennett Agent Orange Watch - I need this one for my collection and so I'm not late for things.

Agent Orange Contest: How good would Earl Bennett's stats be if he was the on a spread the ball Offense

2012-12-13T05:31:43Z

Earl Bennett was a stud in college. At Vanderbilt he had almost 3,000 yards receiving and 20 touchdowns, but as a profession football player on the Bears, he has only had 7 career touchdowns since he was drafted in 2008, and 1 touchdown this year. Many analysts are blaming the Bears offensive woes on the received dropping rountine passes, but it is astounding for a receiver so prolific and athletic as Earl Bennett to have only one touchdown through week 14.

One would have to wonder what Earl Bennett's stats would be if he was on a more prolifc passing attack like the Patriots, the Broncos, the Saints, or even the Chargers. Also, with Brandon Marshall taking away looks from Bennett, on a team that is not known for its offense, that makes it even harder for Earl Bennett to really shine. If Bennett has any chance to relive his glory days in college and have the kind of offensive statistical success that he experienced at Vanderbilt, then he will probably need to hook up with a more offensive minded coach and team up with a Tom Brady, Drew Brees or one of the Manning Brothers.

Otherwise fans of his may be wondering what if...

Another helping of complete bowls***

2012-12-11T23:48:12Z

So I'm sitting on the worst conference call of all time, bored to tears (NO YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE SURE EUDORA WILL WORK IT IS ALMOST 2013) and I decided to start totaling up the bowls and teams.

The following 15 teams with only 7 wins are in bowls:

Nevada

Arizona

BYU

Washington

W. Kentucky

Baylor

Texas Tech

W Virginia

Syracuse

Navy

Arizona State

TCU

NC State

USC

Oklahoma State

The following 13 teams with only 6 wins are in bowls:

SMU

Central Michigan

Duke

Virginia Tech

Minnesota

Rice

Air Force

Michigan State

Georgia Tech

Iowa State

Purdue

Pitt

Ole Miss

The following 10 bowls are matchups of teams with a combined 14 wins or fewer:

New Mexico Bowl

Little Caesars Bowl

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Heart of Dallas Bowl (ON JANUARY 1!!!)

BBVA Compass Bowl

The following four bowls feature a matchup of teams with only 15 combined wins:

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Hawaii Bowl

Belk Bowl

Russell Athletic Bowl

Amazingly, the math works out perfectly: if you make the minimum standard 8 wins, and only retain bowls that currently offer a combined-16-wins-or-better matchup, there are precisely and exactly enough bowls to go around. And face it: how many of the 14-or-less bowls would you miss? Hell, how many of those bowls did you know existed?

If you set the minimum standard at 7 wins (and that's where it ought to be in a world of 12-game regular seasons; if nothing else it would end the necessity of waivers to allow 6-7 teams that lost a conference title game to go to a bowl), you end up lopping off 6 or 7 bowls (assuming that some 7-win team goes begging a la Vandy in 1975). To keep the ESPNU announcers happy, we could allow the 6-win team with the highest APR to get in and keep the numbers straight. But seriously, you can't find 7 bowls on that list to kill? And that list still leave intact the matchups of high-win mid-major teams in the Idaho Famous Potatoes Bowl or the GoDaddy.com Bowl or the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl (how's this for a start: any bowl named for nothing BUT a corporate sponsor gets whacked first).

To be clear, I'm going to want all the football I can get my hands on now - with the regular season over, there isn't much left and we should cherish every opportunity to watch. But this is a modest proposal toward restoring some of the old-time magic to the bowl system - coupled with the end of automatic bowl bids down the line below the conference champion, this could and should get us some shiny matchups to carry us through the week between Christmas and New Years, not to mention the classic moveable feast of 14 hours of killer games all January 1 while we nurse our hangovers and swear we really will go to the gym this year.

Whaddya think?

So I'm sitting on the worst conference call of all time, bored to tears (NO YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE SURE EUDORA WILL WORK IT IS ALMOST 2013) and I decided to start totaling up the bowls and teams.

The following 15 teams with only 7 wins are in bowls:

Nevada

Arizona

BYU

Washington

W. Kentucky

Baylor

Texas Tech

W Virginia

Syracuse

Navy

Arizona State

TCU

NC State

USC

Oklahoma State

The following 13 teams with only 6 wins are in bowls:

SMU

Central Michigan

Duke

Virginia Tech

Minnesota

Rice

Air Force

Michigan State

Georgia Tech

Iowa State

Purdue

Pitt

Ole Miss

The following 10 bowls are matchups of teams with a combined 14 wins or fewer:

New Mexico Bowl

Little Caesars Bowl

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Heart of Dallas Bowl (ON JANUARY 1!!!)

BBVA Compass Bowl

The following four bowls feature a matchup of teams with only 15 combined wins:

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Hawaii Bowl

Belk Bowl

Russell Athletic Bowl

Whaddya think?

What are the stats telling us so far?

2012-12-08T05:14:56Z

It has definitely been a rough start to the season, though this should really surprise no one. We started the year with an unfortunate combination of both lack of depth (due to the Parker suspension and Astroth injury) and inexperience. This is generally not a recipe for success, especially when you don’t have 4 or 5 H.S. All-Americans on your roster.

What has resulted is a general collapse of our offensive efficiency. Again, when you lose the likes of John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor, who were both uber-efficient while taking a ton of shots, your offense tends to suffer the next season. It suffers more when the only returning players who played any significant minutes were both inefficient and low usage players.

So what does this look like from a team level? Well, offensively we have not shot the ball well from any area of the floor, though we are not quite as bad as we have seemed overall. The main issues is that while we are below average from the floor and from three (though not significantly so), we are well below average from the line (and don’t get there very often) and are a very poor offensive rebounding team. Our turnovers are also about average, so we aren’t getting any great boost in the number of bites from the apple. The two areas where we are actually good at are avoiding steals and blocks. The former is an indication that our turnover issues are mainly of our own doing, and the latter is probably due in part to our avoiding shots inside the paint. All together not a pretty offensive picture.

Defensively, this team actually hasn’t been that bad considering the lack of any size inside. We have given up a good percentage inside, but have done an excellent job protecting our defensive glass (far exceeding anything seen from the 2010-2012 teams), have forced a decent number of turnovers, and have generally avoiding fouling (this is a trademark of CKS coached teams). It seem that we should be able to force a few more turnovers once DJP return, which will help continue to mitigate our height and size disadvantage inside.

Individually, two players have really stepped up their games. Kedren Johnson has increased his efficiency dramatically while also increasing his usage by 50% and almost doubling the number of shots he is taking. He has dropped his TO rate while likewise increasing his steal rate. Johnson has stepped up to a leadership role in a very big way, and would likely be even more impressive when his teammates start knocking down shots of their own. Kyle Fuller has also stepped up his game in a very similar fashion, increasing his efficiency while making huge jumps in usage. Fuller has also dramatically dropped his own TO rate (by over 1/3) and supplementing his offense with frequent trips to the line. Most impressively is that Johnson and Fuller are shooting 57% and 52% respectively from inside the three point line. If OGKF can manage to raise his three point shooting to 33% his stats are going to look even more impressive.

Rod Odom has struggled, and this is somewhat expected as he went from nearly invisible on offense to a significant contributor. His shooting struggles are disappointing, but he has made a better effort on the boards, cut down on his fouling, while drawing many more fouls. He can stand to do better on the offensive glass and knock down more of his shots, and that will get him to a decent place. Kevin Bright has been an intriguing player so far, mainly on the strength of his defensive rebounding. James Siakam caused a stir in the exhibition game by going crazy on the glass, but Bright has been amazing and consistent on the boards, grabbing an insane 27%(!!!) of available defensive boards. To put that into perspective, 27% is the same percentage as Al Horford brought down during his junior season. How a 6-5 freshman is able to do this is beyond me, and one would expect his numbers to come down to earth, though his knack for getting defensive rebound while playing almost completely below the rim is amazing. Bright has also been our most efficient player, and the one guy who could look to shoot a lot more. He could stand to cut down on his TO’s and make some more of his two point attempts, but otherwise we will see more of him and hopefully he takes on more offensive responsibilities.

Our post players are a bit of a mess, as nobody is really stepping up or being particularly efficient. Siakam is efficient, mainly because he never looks for his shot and is the only decent offensive rebounder on the team, so he gets a lot of looks inside. Henderson and Moats numbers are a bit ugly, though it seems as though Moats could look to shoot more inside and less from three. I really like what Shelton Jeter can become, but he hasn’t really determined what his role will be. All we are seeing right now are glimpses of his athleticism, where he gets after it on the defensive glass, a nice steal rate, and a good amount of fouling.

So the stats are ugly so far, but anybody who expected differently was being a bit overly optimistic. It is just very difficult for some many players to all simultaneously pick up both their efficiency while also dramatically increasing their usage, which is what we have asked of them so far this year. On a side note, John Jenkins would have definitely helped this season. The talks of double teams is pretty silly, in that he handled the ball relatively infrequently compared to how much he shot it, and nobody is going to double a guard who is playing off the ball. But besides drawing much of the attention of opposing defenses, he would have allowed players like Johnson, Odom and Fuller to take on not quite a big of a responsibility, which is a pretty big thing. Even had his efficiency dropped several point he would still be a far above average offensive player who was taking on a huge offensive load. Oh well.