I have No Idea

Been trying to find out over the last couple of hours the score of the baseball game today. I did the Girls soccer game at Northern Nash tonight so it was near 9.00pm before I started trying to find score.

All of (my sources) are ignoring me tonight so I have no idea if we played or not. Gryphon baseball team will be in action at 4.30 Thursday at Gryphon stadium against Roanoke Rapids.

I hope I am being ignore because the game wasn't played over getting beat and nobody wants to talk about it.

Tonight for the "Stretchlon Sports Show" I was on the scene at Northern Nash to do play by play of the Northern-Rocky Mount girls soccer game.

Lady Gryphons dominated the ball probably 60 of the 80 minutes of action on the attack but it took a Kelsey Benson one on one move with 1.21 to play for the Lady Gryphons to get the final lead and win 2-1,

Tonight was the opening of conference play so the Lady Gryphons are off to an excellent start. The overall record is now 4-1 and they have allowed only two goals all year.

Good crowd at the game. It wouldn't matter whether it was checkers if Northern and Rocky Mount play anything a crowd will show up.

The Wachovia Cup after the winter sports have been added to the fall standing and Rocky Mount falls six points behind Fike. With the excellent winter that Nash Central had they have moved past Rocky Mount into second place in the conference standings.

Carolina gets the NCAA tournament going at 2.25 pm Thursday afternoon in Greensboro. According to Roy Williams today it looks like they will try to get by the first round without Ty Lawson's big toe.

Duke plays the late game in Greensboro tomorrow night.

Good start by the ACC in the NIT. Both Virginia Tech and Miami win. Miami went to Big East country and beat Providence in their gym by ten. A really good win for the Hurricanes.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, those hockey Canes beat New Jersey tonight in Raleigh and now have a hold of eighth place in the standings by three points. The Canes have seven of their remaining games at home. It think they are going to make the playoffs this year. They Have won six in a row at home.

Bobcats are hot they win again tonight. I wish someone around here carried their games on TV. I really don't care that much for the NBA but if Tim Duncan or in Charlotte's case trying to make the playoffs I would like to see them over the next three weeks.

22 Days of Basketball

The NIT is underway and the first game on the schedule Davidson knocks off South Carolina to start 22 straight days of Basketball.

Yes, between now and April seventh there will either be men's or women's basketball on TV every night.

What does it say about the Southeastern conference that a ten conference win team in South Carolina is handled rather easily by Davidson at South Carolina. Curry made his points but at the last count I saw had seven turnovers and yet they handle South Carolina.

In case you haven't already heard Gryphon baseball was postponed until Wednesday at 5.00pm at South Granville, wet grounds.

This means that the Gryphons have two straight days of ball as they have a home game scheduled for Thursday against Roanoke Rapids.

It's the stretch run for the Carolina Hurricanes as they have ten games to play and are in a fight for a playoff spot. Unlike last year where they had a playoff position until the last day, this year they have been just out of the playoff picture but have played rather well lately. They hold down the last playoff spot but by only a single point over two teams.

The round ball Charlotte Bobcats are a scant one game out of the playoffs. If they pull it off it will be the first for the Bobcats. They have 14 games to play and are breathing down the neck of two teams for eighth spot while two teams are nudging at their heels.

Rumors are floating that New England wants Julius Peppers from Carolina for a second round pick. If I understand the Franchise player rule the only way they can get him from Carolina is for two 1st round draft picks.

Tonight I will leave you with a stat that you probably didn't know. Dick Vitale joined ESPN in 1980 and there is no telling how many games he has done for ESPN, but did you know he has never done an NCAA tournament game.

CBS and Billy Packer have had control of the NCAA tournament since 1978. I know a lot of you folks hated Billy Packer but I think he is the best color basketball analyst of all time.

Packer not only did the ACC games back in the 70's but he became the executive producer for CBS coverage of basketball and you can thank him for the rivalry games that are now part of college basketball.

I really miss him on the games. I really like Mike Gminski now that Packer is gone.

Bracket Time

Well let's see, so Far I'm trying to win the million on WRAL.com. After this posting I will be going on line to ESPN and before Wednesday night I will be in about ten college bracket games.

The #1 seeds the Big East gets three. Does anybody remember why the ACC was formed? The Southern Conference was so big that seven schools formed the ACC. The BiG East their top three teams did not all play each other. So then how can you tell whether the best are the best or just the luck of the scheduling?

My Final four: Carolina if Lawson stays healthy they win it all. Louisville, If you go back and look at one of my blogs in late Febuary I said then Louisville was the best in the BIG East. Memphis, I have tried not to let them make it to the final four but who can beat them. Florida State, there is something about this team I like even though I am not crazy about Leonard Hamilton. He is a Lefty Drizell. Great recruiter but somebody else needs to sit on the bench while the game is going on.

I'm taking Carolina over Louisville in the championship game 81-78.

I think the new Ryan Leif in pro football is Jay Cutler. Where in the world does he come off telling Denver what he wants. I think they are 17-20 since he has been their quarterback. Need to ship him to Detroit where we will never hear from him again.

Rumors abound that Julius Peppers is on his way to the Patriots. How do the Patriots keep coming up with all these good players?

If the rain stops the Rocky Mount Gryphons will try to play baseball at South Granville at 5.00pm Tuesday.

Tuesday night I will be at Northern Nash doing the Girls soccer game between Northern and Rocky Mount forthe Stretchlon Sports Show.

Last year after the first afternoon session of the NCAA tournament I was 8-0. There is something about going on line and when I pulled up my score on ESPN tournament bracket I was #1 through eight games. Unfortunately there was a night session. I finished in the 200,000 range out of 3.9 million last year in the ESPN bracket.

Big Four Continues Domination

Duke won it's 17th ACC basketball tournament championship tying North Carolina who also has 17. North Carolina State who hasn't won the tournament in twenty years has ten championships and Wake Forest has won four. Wake has won more than any other ACC school has outside of North Carolina.

That's 48 of 56 winners have come from the big four.

I thought Florida State would give Duke a run for their money today but Duke had too much coaching.

There is one trend in college basketball in which I do not like which will not change as long as the 3 point line remains. Coming out of time outs the passing the ball around the three point line and taking a three point shot. Maryland shot one yesterday without the ball hitting the floor following a time out.

Today FSU did make three passes out side the 3 point line before they fired up. I could understand it if the time clock was running down but right out of a time out I hope the coaches wanted something besides that or they wasted their time outs.

Carolina gets a #1 seed and will play in Greensboro. They will be joined by Duke and both will play Thursday. Games time will be announced Monday afternoon.

I bet Carolina will play the noon game and Duke the 7.00pm game.

Back in 1988 when the Dean Dome hosted the opening round for the first time I went to that weekend of games in Chapel Hill. It was a Thursday Saturday deal.

I don't remember who all eight teams were but at Thursday There was a 12.00 noon game and then the next game was Syracuse and Rhode Island and the Rhodies upset Derrick Coleman and Syracuse.

Between games we walk over to the baseball stadium where Bobby Richardson and South Carolina were playing the Heels. The game was like in the fourth inning and we stayed until the completion, then went back to the Dean Dome and saw a 7.00pm game and Duke played at 9.30

That Friday morning we went and played golf in Raleigh in the morning and then Friday afternoon went to the Doak to see N C State play Georgia Tech in baseball. I remember there was a play in that game (one of those you see something new every time you go to a game deal)

State had a left handed pitcher and Georgia Tech had a left handed batter The pitcher sails one behind the Georgia Tech batter who ducks. However he left his bat sticking up and the ball hit his bat rolled toward the area where coaches hit grounders to infielders while taking batting practice and spun back and stopped right on the 1st base line, this all the time happening while the batter is getting up off the ground in the batters box.

Saturday we were back to the Dean Dome where Duke won the second game that day on their way to the final four with Danny Ferry.

Tomorrow we will look at the brackets.

Semi Final Saturday

If there was ever any doubt about whether the ACC championship was more important than the NCAA tournament, then Roy Williams gave you the answer today.

Quite frankly Carolina showed me something today that I have not seen from this team this year and if Lawson is able to play starting next week without any noticeable limp then I think Carolina can win the NCAA.

I thought today without Lawson that Florida State would win by near ten. It didn't happen.

Despite losing Carolina had two shots at the buzzer to tie.

Duke will be heading to the ACC tournament final game for the 28th time in the 56 year history of the tournament,

You have got to give coach K credit. He is the best coach in the ACC. Whenever a style of play is not working he is capable of changing to what fits his team. He did that this year when he moved Schyer to point guard.

I thought for a while today that no triangle team would be playing tomorrow but Duke came through.

I don't know how they did it but East Carolina and N C State played baseball games on Saturday. Both won.. Carolina played at Virginia Tech Friday but was washed out Saturday.

State and Carolina both play double headers Sunday since these are conference games.

I don't know why I haven't seen anything on this before now, but I see JJ Arrington has signed with the Denver Broncos. It is a two year deal. He did this last weekend.

Rocky Mount did not. Their game with Riverside was washout and I doubt it will be made up.

Cousin Lauren Doughtie improve 43 spots in the standing Saturday shooting a 70 in the second round of a womens college tournament. After a 76 Friday she jumped to 15th.

If Lauren never hits another shot for the Wolfpack women's golf team she will leave as the best ever to wear the red and white. I hope during the ACC chanmpionships to go walk with her since the championships this year is in Greensboro.

That is in mid April.

Sunday night we will have the brackrets to look at.

ACC Tournament

I had a very hard time getting into the ACC Tournament on Thursday with only one "big Four " team playing N C State.

As I have done all year with this Wolfpack team I just sat back and watch the game and waited. Most of the time I scream at the TV but I have learned that you can't expect too much from this team. Sure enough they lose by five.

I could care less about the Virgina Tech -Miami game. Georgia Tech is the Georgia version of N C State and Clemson has never won many games in the ACC tournament. I don't think they have won as many games as Carolina has won Championships. Then Last night Virginia and BC. Who won? cause I didn't watch.

Since Pitt, U Conn and Oklahoma all losing yesterday I think Carolina will get a Number one seed for sure now. So whether Ty Lawson plays or sits with his big toe is not much of a national problem for Carolina.

However, How much value do you put in winning the ACC Title? Remember the ACC history book shows the tournament champion as the conference champ not the regular season #1 seed.

I doubt Lawson plays today but Saturday is a different story. If this big toe thing stays an issue over the next couple of weeks this years Carolina team chances are out the window for winning the national championship.

You know every team is hit with injuries which you can look back later and say that cost us a banner but I don't remember an injury any more fatal for Carolina than in 1984 when Steve Hale was slammed into the base of the goal post by an LSU player back in Michael Jordan last year. Hale broke his wrist.

It has been so long since it happened but I do not recall the LSU player being ejected from the game. It has been so long ago I can't remember. Carolina was like 19-1 at the time and without Hale the season slipped away a slow death.

The pro career that Michael Jordon had everyone forgets his college career was not as good as his pro years were, but everyone remembers his college years now as if he was the greatest college player ever. Jordan wouldn't even make my top ten all time ACC players.

But, everyone remember his shot in 82 when they won the title his freshman year.

The top three seeds in this years ACC tournament are UNC,Wake and Duke. I suspect two will play for the title with Florida State being the possible outsider.

If you catch my drift that means I'm picking Carolina and Wake in the finals Sunday.

So it's time for the real ACC tournament to start the quarter finals. Let me find my recliner and let the games begin.

Gryphons Back On Track

When you are the defending state champion, you can expect to see the other teams' No. 1 starter.

That was the case again Thursday as Roanoke Rapids sent UNC-Wilmington signee Tyler Deloatch to the hill in Roanoke Rapids against the Gryphons.

Deloatch is the fourth straight D-I recruit that the Gryphons have faced in their four games (South Granville's Josh Darroach - unsigned; Wesleyan Christian's Logan Self - Campbell; J.H. Rose's Tanner Merritt - ECU).

After pitching his ace on Tuesday, RM head coach Pat Smith chose to pitch his No. 3 starter in shortstop Dillon Cockrell and he rewarded Smith with four innings of one-hit baseball. Sophomore Benton Moss pitched the last three innings in relief allowing only one hit as Rocky Mount edged the Yellow Jackets 3-2.

All three Gryphon runs scored with the bases loaded, two on walks and one scored on a hit batter.

Deloatch struck out 14 of the 18 Gryphons he got out, but in between, Brian Goodwin had a double, Gabe Brown, Carter Varnell, Ben Fish and Thomas Berry all had singles mixed in with the walks and errors supplied by the Yellow Jackets.

The duo of Cockrell and Moss combined to strike out seven and allowed just two hits as the Gryphons have now started out winning three out of their first four.

Weather permitting, Rocky Mount travels to Durham Riverside Saturday to take on the No. 4-ranked 4-A team in the state.

In all three Gryphon victories this year, the starting pitching has thrown at least four inning and in each game allowed only one hit through four innings.

The Gryphons' top three starters have all won one game apiece with Hobbs Johnson, Benton Moss joining Cockrell with victories. Johnson and Moss each have a save to go along with a save provided by Nick Hahula in the season-opening win.

As reported a couple of days ago, Xavier Macklin and his N.C. A&T teammates played in Raleigh Wednesday against N.C. State in baseball. Macklin, the Nash Central grad, knocked in a run in the first inning, but it wasn't enough as the Wolfpack pounded A&T 16-3.

One day last week I predicted State and Davidson would be a first-round NIT matchup in basketball. After tonight, the Wolfpack awaits an NIT bid as any thoughts of winning the ACC Tournament are dashed by Maryland in first-round play The Wolfpack has played well in a lot of games - just well enough to lose.