Big Four Get Out The Brooms

Boy when was the last time that all four big four teams played a basketball game on the same day?

An even bigger question is when has all four won on the same day?

I don't have any idea the answer to either question but the new answer is today Saturday January 17th 2009.

The Wolfpack got the day off to a good start by finally finishing a game. It looks as if the guard tandem of Mays/Lagand is the only good answer for the pack. It might not be the perfect answer but it is the only one they have to have a chance in any game. Pack wins in OT 76-71 over winless Georgia Tech.

The Wolfpack stole TV time from the Blue Devils because of the overtime but when the cameras got rolling so did the Devils as they win their 68th straight non-conference game in a row in Cameron 76-67 over the Big East and Georgetown.

The ACC game of the day pitted Clemson 16-0 hosting Wake Forest 15-0. Leading most of the way Wake Forest showed the world that they are for real as Clemson made a charge at the Deacs to cut the lead to one point but Wake Forest next three trips down the court they got off shots less than a foot from the basket to quickly jump back up by seven and resume command.

If you weren't convinced before about the Demon Deacons you should be now as this is their best start in history 16-0. They should be the #1 team in the nation come Monday as Pitt fell at Louisville so Wake is the only unbeaten team left in the country.

Either Duke or Wake Forest will be one and the other #2 but it won't take long to settle any dispute as they play each other in Cameron Wednesday night.

Carolina finished off the good day for the Big Four as they handle Miami in the Dean Dome 82-65. Wayne Ellington score all 23 of his points in the second half to lead the Heels. The Tar Heels get back to level in ACC play at 2-2.

When it's contract time agents, players and teams will say anything to make their position look Strong. It is being reported that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina to play for a team that plays a 3-4 defense. That ought to get him an extra million or two.

The coaching carousel continues in the NFL as Tampa has gotten rid Of John Gruden. He might not be the last coach to lose his job this year as KC is still thinking over a possible change.

Between retirements, firings, and just plane quitting 25% of the league will have a new coach next year.

Four game Sweep For The Gryphons

Friday night the Gryphon hosted the Firebirds of Southern Nash and came away with a sweep of all four games played.

The JV boys and girls were winners.

In varsity girls action nursing a 22-15 halftime lead, the lady Gryphons held the Ladybirds to just one field goal in the 3rd quarter and ran away from Southern Nash 59-32. Dyonna Battle lead the way with 15 points.

This makes the Lady Gryphons 2-0 in league play and it is their 10 victory of the season in 14 tries.

Charles Alston let me look at the years stat sheet for both the boys and girls tonight and going into tonight's game the Lady Gryphons had 238 turnovers in 13 games. That is a whopping 18 plus per game. Just imagine how good this team could be if they could handle the ball.

In the boys game the Gryphons played without Tashawn Mabry but managed to win without him 60-47. One point in the second half the Griffs had a 21 point lead. Down the stretch the Gryphons missed 15 of 20 free throws and at one point had missed nine in a row.

Back to the stat sheet the Gryphon boys are averaging 15 turnovers a game.

Just before both teams took to the floor for warm ups Alonzo(Bobo) Sharpe was recognized for hitting the 1,000 point club last Friday at Northern.

The boys are now 1-1 and 8-7 in round ball play.

School is out until Friday as the administration squares away the kids schedule for next semester. Testing ended today and Tuesday and Wednesday teachers work on student schedules for the spring.

Because of that no basketball until a trip Friday night to Fike and then Saturday night to Southwest Edgecombe.

Gryphon basketball games are the place to be if you want to find out information. Tonight Terrell Hudgins was in the house watching little sister Tia play for the Lady Gryphons.

Of course I had to ask whether he might skip his senior year at Elon to go for the NFL draft. I already knew the answer since yesterday was the last day for under class men to commit to the NFL draft.

Terrell will be back for his senior season at Elon and if he stays healthy he will become the all time top pass receiver in football history. He already owns all of Elon's records and almost all of the Southern Conference records.

It would not surprise me if number 19 isn't retired one day at Elon Station the home of the Phoenix after Terrell breaks all of the national records.