The Zany Continues

You thought Hunt had complete control of Big East Boys basketball right.  The team with the worse record  overall Northern Nash has gone to Wilson County and come away with a 59-55 win.  What has that done to the league. Hunt still sits atop of the league  but there is a four way tied in the middle.  Northern Nash, Nash Central, Southern Nash and Fike are all 3-3 while Rocky Mount sits in last at 2-4.

Darius Spragley lead Northern with 22 points while Tuesday's hero Adam Renner's added 18.  That is two thirds of  Northern' s scoring came from those two. Northern 3-3 6-11 Hunt falls 4-2 12-7.

It went down to the wire  but Rocky Mount comes up short and Nash Central holds their home court in knocking of Rocky Mount 54-50.  The Gryphons lose their third straight dropping to 2-4 9-6 while Nash Central  jumps to 3-3  11-6

Just when it looks like one team has figured out  how to be one of the best in the league they hit a bump in the road  and all of a sudden they fall back to rest of the pack.  Tonight Fike has knocked Southern Nash for a loop with a 73-70 win in Bailey.  This league is nuts.

Home teams can't hold down their their own home court.  Visiting teams play better at somebody else's court. Southern drops to 3-3 11-8 while Fike's ups their record to 3-3 12-5.

How far do you have to go back to to find  where Rocky Mount lost three straight games?  Hunt's lost put Rocky Mount still at two games out of first and still a shot to take the regular season title.  Any team that wins three of the last four games can take first.  Rocky Mount even not out of the running would have to win all four games they have left and hope for help.  The way this season is unfolding it is not beyond the possibility that 6-4 could tie for first.

This basketball season has been full of intrigue with so many teams tied going into tonight's action and the mystery continues as the Rocky Mount Girls who on certain nights can't dribble or shoot but when it comes to playing Nash Central they play like world beaters.  Tonight the Lady Gryphons on the home court of the Lady Bulldogs  get their conference record back to 500 as they down Nash central 63-45.  Now 3-3  8-7 the Lady Gryphons hold any tie breaker with Nash Central that might be in the future.  Nash Central 2-4  11-9 has half there conference losses administered by Rocky Mount.

Records Are Deceiving

Five of the six Big East basketball teams have winning records that exceed a 60 percent winning ratio.  That a nice percentage of 83 per cent of the league.  That's their overall records but when you start to analyze the conference teams this year the  league is full of  so so average teams.  Four have lost more than they have won 2-3.  Only two of the six made it through the first round of games able to win more than they lost.

Hunt 12-6  4-1 right now is heading down the backstretch with the lead.  They look like a lead horse.  They have a fairly big front line and guards to handle any pressure any up and comer can throw at them.  Look back a month ago I predicted Hunt to win the regular season despite at that time being only 6-4.  They played a tough schedule.  It is hard to penalize any team about their schedule when yearly they play people near them and there is always this factor other teams wanting to play you. There are years that your schedule is not good because the teams on it are having a bad year.  Hunt's case is  they got caught playing several really good non conference games early.

I saw in the Telegram after Southern Nash 11-7  3-2 beat Nash Central that Robbie Kennedy stated that a lineup change had made a really big difference for his team in a positive way.  Whether we think about this but teams change lineups more than you think.  Injuries leads the way and why one player sits while another plays.  Kennedy made his move and what the move has done for his team is it has made every part fit.  I look a lot better in clothes that fit over ones I wear when the button is about to pop off because I have out grown it.   Southern is a talented bunch and they can be a force when they play as one.

There is no doubt this is a transition year for Rocky Mount 9-5  2-3.  No longer the big bad wolf in size compared to everyone else they have gotten really good guard play  and when you look at past years with the play they have now why is it they  have led just the last week late in the game against Southern and Northern an yet lost.  It is not necessarily guard play but foul shooting, poor choices when to shoot and when not to. 

Nash Central 10-6 2-3 is just like everyone else  in that 2-3 tight battle for third-fourth-fifth- sixth.  We already know who ever finishes last in the league will be no worse that 2-8.  The way we stand at the midway point I can't see any  not at least finish 3-7.  During my preseason picks I picked the Bulldogs for last.  Right now they are right on schedule so if they are on schedule about half of this league is way behind in their schedule.  Central has played better during the first round of conferences games than I saw at the Christmas tournament.  If they improve as much the second go round as the first they will contend for a playoff spot.

Fike 11-5  2-3 I thought during their nonconference campaign had the easiest schedule of every conference member.  They have been up and down getting crushed by Rocky Mount at home and then beating Southern at Southern.  They have been a yo yo so far.  They are like so many teams in this league if they get hot they could still be the best team in the league.

Northern Nash 5-11 2-3.  Had about as tough a luck as you can have during many games in December.  Lack a big man like so many others that keeps them from being a real contender.  They knocked off Hunt and Rocky Mount at home so their next step is beating somebody on the road. If that starts happening more than once their overall record will start to improve and with it their conference standing.

Action tonight finds Northern traveling to Hunt a team they have already bit once.  Rocky Mount is at Nash Central and Southern is at Fike.  Let's wait till midnight to find out how many ties we have now.

Finally, who will win the Super Bowl.  I'm pulling for the Seahawks but with Sherman and Thomas hurting in the secondary for the Hawks I find it hard for Seattle to slow down the Pats.  If they were healthy I think it would be the Hawks all the way.  NE 27 Seattle 20

If It Is Going To Happen

So far this basketball season Northern Nash girls opened the season against 4-A East Wake with a four point win.  Early in December another  four point game to 4-A Conley.  Other than those two games Northern Nash has not been pressed by anybody no way no how.  Their average victory margin for the season is 24 points a game.  Big East play is almost twenty six per game.

If there is to be someone who thinks they just might clip the Lady Knights then Friday night is going to have to be the night.  Friday starts the second time around in conference play and the unbeaten Knights travel to Hunt who is led by six one Brionna Pate who when all is said and done this year just might be the Big East player of the year.  She is averaging almost 19 points per game  for the Lady Warriors who have worked their record to 14-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

Don't all you Northern fans jump up and down and say how can the top player in the league not be from Northern?  Pate has been the one man wrecking crew for Hunt.  Northern has so many good players that it appears they are winning as a team while for Hunt it has been that they got one really good one.

If Northern was to fall during the regular season you would expect that Hunt has to be the team to do it.  They lost by 18 at Northern first time around.  The way the Knights have played against everyone this year  you would almost say if Hunt can keep it under ten points would be a major accomplishment.  If they can't who is left to give Northern a tussle?

I'm going to remind you can look it up if you wish but back in 2010 when in late January the Rocky Mount Gryphons were putting together their run to the state title I told everyone that they could win it all.  I'm telling you right now the Northern Girls have a real chance to hang their second banner.  Injuries are always a factor in the luck process of being healthy at the right time.

Luck just might be falling Northern's way.  What I have seen all year as their biggest weakness is coming together at just the right time.  Kianna Thomas has been terrific all season leading the Lady Knights in scoring, blocked shots and the like.  Her height at six three she can be intimidating standing there waiting for you as you drive to the basket.  If she gets in foul trouble  or needs rest  the Northern weakness all year has been at her back up.

Those of you that don't pay attention would not notice at all that Ceyanna Harrison has not played this year for Northern due to knee surgery she had.  Just at the right time CC has played in the last three games for the first time this year.  Is Northern getting ready to pull an 1983 N C State on everyone?  CC was a major twin tower player last year and will probably be a backup for the rest of the season as she gets back into playing shape.  Six feet three she is the hole filler for the only weakness that I can see in this Northern team unless another injury befalls this team.

So Northern 16-0 5-0 and Hunt  14-4 4-1 scrap for the top spot Friday three of the other four teams are battling for third or fifth.  Rocky Mount 7-7 2-3 travels to Nash Central 11-7 2-3 and Southern 0-18 0-5 visits Fike7-9 2-3.

Nip And Tuck

We have talked several times this year that all four Nash County High School teams were all a like.  No big men but a team all the same size.  This past Friday Rocky Mount and Southern two of those teams just alike went over time and tonight Northern hosting Rocky Mount go over time again and this game was close all the way.

It will not be decided until the end of overtime on senior Adam Renner's three as Northern gets themselves back in the playoff  hunt as Rocky Mount is stung for the second game in a row when it looked like they had the game. 74-73.  Northern moves up to 2-3 in the conference and Rocky Mount falls to 2-3.

 Tonight Southern Nash has put their bid for the top  division in the Big  East beating Nash Central  63-56.  The Firebirds go to 3-2 in league play and Nash Central drops to 2-3.  Can you see a tend developing?  Depending on the outcome at Fike there may be a four way tie for last at 2-3 should Hunt beat Fike.

The Lady Gryphons so far this season have been an every other team. Win one, lose one,  one stretch they won two in a row then lost two straight.   Having won on Friday then it's time for a loss especially since Northern Nash will be defending their home turf.

The unbeaten Lady Knights did what they have done to everyone they were bigger, faster  and they were not going to give the Lady Gryphons any thought that they had a chance.  Northern Nash whips Rocky Mount 62-29.

Hunt has control of second in league play as they go to 4-1 in Big East play knocking off Fike 55 -37
Northern at 5-0 leads Hunt by a game.  Rocky Mount, Fike and depending on the Nash Central outcome at Southern there could be a three way tie at 2-3.

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The K Perspective

Duke's coach K won his 1000th college basketball game Sunday.  They said on TV Sunday that 212 of college basketball's  coaches have not won 1000 between them.  There is not a coach in NBA history that has won more and they play at least 80 games every year. Red Aurabach 938 is the NBA  leader,

Since K has been to Duke the Blue Devils have been ranked 85.7 per cent of the time.  Duke was in year four of the K career before they made poll for first time.  K has won 927 wins while at Duke.  That alone would rank third on the all time wins list.  His all time 1000 wins and Jim Beiheim 962.


K's teams have beaten Maryland the most 55 times.  Georgia Tech has lost 53, Clemson 52, Virginia 52 and NC State 51 times.  K has beat Carolina 40 times.  Carolina has also beaten him the most 38 times.  Wake Forest is next in beating Duke with 24 wins.  That is also the same number for Maryland 24 and next State with 22.

K doesn't have all the records yet.  He has won 421 ACC games.  That second to Dean Smith 422.  Teams that have a winning record over K stands at 10.  Lafayette 1-4, Holy Cross 2-4, Iona 2-3, Kings College 0-1, Long Island 0-1.  All those teams beat him while he was coach at Army.

The list is only five from division one.   Arizona 3-5, Louisville 2-4,  California, Tennessee and Stanford he is 1-2 against all three.  He has the most wins all time but he is second in D one  games coach 1307.  That's second behind Jim Phelen at 1356.

During the Month of February he will  turn 68 years old.  He has good health but I hope this fabulous career doesn't end like that of either of the college football imortals Bobby Bowen stayed too long and Joe Paterno who covered up crimes.

You know during his career his mate wife Mickey has grounded him when ever he needed to be.  It is my opinion that we will see K two more full years if his health keeps.  One more Olympics and then one more full year at Duke.  That would be the end of the 2017 season.

Ever how limited this statement might be but I have only seen two news conferences that when it was over the news media applauded the person who was being interviewed.  The news media is suppose to be dignified and cover the story for the story not the person.  When Arnold Palmer did his last interview playing at the Masters 400 news media personnel stood up when he walked away and the entire room gave him a standing ovation.

 Sunday when the news conference was over in the bowels of Madison Square Garden in New York City the news media there and you would have thought Duke won the national championship cause the news media swarmed the place like State had beat Duke and took over the basketball floor.  Once the Coach K news conference ended they all rose to applaud.  Sunday was special for everyone who loves Duke, The ACC  or basketball in generally.

Do Or Die For Northern

Just ten days ago there was a six way tie for first in the Big East when everyone after two games were 1-1 in the standings.  Two games last week and Northern was the only team to go 0-2 and as they host Rocky Mount Tuesday find themselves in dead last at 1-3. 

Hunt was the only team able to survive both games last week in winning both and find themselves on top of the heap at 3-1.  Rocky Mount, Fike, Nash Central and Southern Nash  all won one and lost one  so they are tied for second or fifth depending on how you view the  half empty glass theory.

Rocky Mount 2-2  9-4 @ Northern Nash  1-3  4-11.  Northern Nash is proving to be the team that you don't want to play.  They are almost as good as everybody else but keep finding a way to make life miserable for themselves.  They are how ever good enough to make everybody they play worry especially at Northern.  Rocky Mount is one big man away from being great and when you look at most Big East teams that's everybody but Hunt because they are the tallest team in the league.  Northern can't afford another slip and Rocky Mount can see the top spot in the league but another loss would not help that in any way on Tuesday.

Hunt 10-6  3-1 @ Fike  11-4 2-2.  There is the chance should Fike beat Hunt and Rocky Mount beats Northern and it doesn't matter about who wins the Southern/Central game there could be a four way tie after Tuesday.  If any team is going to catch Hunt they had better do it at home.  Here is Fike's chance against their arch rival.

Nash Central 10-5 2-2 at Southern Nash 10-6 and 2-2.  If Rocky Mount needs one big man then Southern is a point guard away from the regional or farther.  They had 29 turnovers at Rocky Mount mostly from  not playing under control. They still won  the game which should tell every body Southern has some ball players.  Nash Central right there in the middle, if they steal one in Bailey they are upper division.

The story is  more  defined in the girls division.  No one has yet to give Northern Nash a tussle .  Hunt has beaten every one but Northern.  Rocky Mount and Fike win one and lose one .  Nash Central shockingly has lost three of four.  There is one good thing with Southern Nash girls.  They keep showing up.

Rocky Mount 2-2 7-6 @ Northern 4-0 and 15-0:  The Christmas Tournament in Rocky Mount was just like the rest of the games for Northern.  Wear you down after a while.  The Rocky Mount boys need a big men the girls need a point guard.  All Northern needs is to stay healthy and stay focused.

Hunt 13-4 3-1 @ Fike 7-8 and 2-2:  I think Hunt is the better team but this is the Wilson County Rivalry and this one is in Fike.  I think Hunt is the only team to really give Northern a Challenge for the title but a loss at Fike would kill that idea.

Nash Central 1-3 10-7 @ Southern Nash 0-4  0-16.  There is no doubt the Lady Bulldogs can not let Southern creep up and win this one.  The worse thing they could do is show up thinking it is over for they get there.

You know the regular season has three weeks to go so all this jumbled mess with all these 2-2 teams in both the boys and girls it is time for somebody to make a playoff push.

It All Depends On Who You Pull For

I throughly like being able to sit near the floor near coaches and hear their inter action with their players, and the referees.  You can see those that are good coaches the way they talk with their players  and then you can hear them plea with the refs.

I really like hearing Robbie Kennedy of Southern Nash as he pleas with the refs.  You would think  that all the refs were against him as during one moment in the action early in the third quarter Friday night after a Southern foul he pleaded with one of the refs that he didn't think he was getting a fair shake on the foul calls  that they were just calling everything on his team and nothing against Rocky Mount.

I looked at my play sheet and Rocky Mount had been charged with 14 fouls and Southern only six.  I chuckled and made a comment to Josh Walfish of the Telegram who sat beside me that Robbie's view of the game was with one eye closed.

Coaches surely have more invested in their team's outcome than those of us who sit in the stands and pull for one team or the other.  Just maybe the parents of those in action are the next vested in the outcome.  Everyone wants to win and we see a foul on the other side while everything we do is by the book.

In fact I am still rather hot under the collar that Kennedy Meeks of Carolina didn't foul out of the State game in Raleigh because he was on the back all night long against the Wolfpack big men when rebounding.  He had only one foul the entire game.  Couldn't the referees see anything in that game?

If you happen to be the only person in the stands that came to enjoy the game without pulling for one side or the other you see the game completely different  than those that are favoring one side.  We all want our side to win and in order to do that sometimes the refs have to make the calls that favor my view point which by the way they never seem to do.

Hardly ever do you hear a group of fans stand up and holler in unison  good call ref when the foul was against them.  You hear something like "that wasn't a foul just a minute ago at the other end, why is it now?'

Athletic competition is great for all who attend and take part from the players who get plenty of exercise during the contest.  Coaches who after games need to soak their throats in hot water to aid their sore throats from screaming at players and Refs.  Fans jump up and down in their seats whether they are applauding a great play or screaming at a dumb refs call.

We either all go home happy or we go home mad.  There is one thing that we all get  to do. We all had a good time at least until the final score.  If you think as you were riding home.  What a pleasure it was to watch our young people pour out their hearts  to do the best they could do.  Those of us in the stands did all we could do to sway the outcome in our favor by either telling the coach he didn't know what he was doing or screaming at some blind referee.

Boy, I can't wait for the next game!!!!