Nothing Beats The Feel Of Victory

There is nothing better for getting the sour taste of defeat out of your mouth better than winning. Last night the Rocky Mount Gryphons hosted the Firebirds of Southern Nash. The Gryphon boys who lately have played ten minutes of great basketball and twenty two minutes each game as if they were not quite sure which players standing at each end of the court were teammates. Last night they knew which color uniforms were on there side and rip Southern Nash by a 73-48 score

The win gets the Gryphons to 2-1 in conference with a major trip Tuesday night to Northern Nash. It is odd at how perception makes you feel. A 2-1 record sounds a whole lot better than 1-1 or 1-2 heading into your biggest rival game of the year. The Northern Christmas tournament loss at home to the Knights is what started Rocky Mount’s tumble through the Twilight Zone over the past month.

There are no issues in girl’s basketball to worry with as once again the Lady Gryphons run Southern Nash ragged in winning their third conference game without a loss 63-34

The ladies are solid getting consistent play from the big three Tia Hudgins, J’Kyra Brown and Timisha Walker. The tandem of Marquita Hines and Tias Cooper at the guards are quick and I think the best thing you can say about them is they are consistent enough that you don’t notice them which means they are not messing things up. Carmen Richardson is adequate backup for either guard. The only thing this team lacks is height.

During the winter if you love track you go out and they say they you are on the indoor track team. There is a group of Gryphons that show up everyday and travel out to the football stadium and practice in their special event.

The biggest difference in indoor track over the spring when outside is the official place is how the events results are viewed. In the spring if you line up and finish first you win. The winter you are trying to beat a time which has been established by the state. If you run and win a race but the time is not fast enough you won a race that day but not in the eyes of the state.

Because indoor is limited space available for when the championships finally are run you only get to the state finals by having run what they call a qualifying time. So far this year ZiKeener Parker who runs various events has qualified and Paul Lilley has qualified in the mile. Both have chances to win state titles during the State indoor championships next month.

The East-West Shrine football Game is today. The big controversy is not who the best player is but whether Marvin Alston formerly of UNC should be allowed to wear the UNC head gear in the game. Alston is the player who was kicked off the team for all the illegal benefits he received starting back in 2009 from agents. He never played one down this season and very well may wind up costing UNC their entire season in 2009 if they have to forfeit their wins.

Should he be allowed to wear UNC gear? That we can argue about for the rest of our lives. I say no, what say You?

Weather and Exams

Any coach who coaches during the winter months faces several obstacles when they are trying to get on a roll. First off basketball now -a -days starts in mid November and there is the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

You have three weeks and think that you are finally finding some rhythm and here comes the Christmas Holiday and another ten days. The new year brings on exams and yes snow days.

Tonight marks the third Friday night of the conference season for Big East teams. The first conference game was two weeks ago tonight and the following Monday was suppose to start exams. Monday through Thursday exams and let's play basketball Friday night which happened. Unfortunately snow threw a monkey wrench in the schedule which had to postpone this past Tuesday's conference game.

The result leaves Rocky Mount with seven conference games after tonight to play in three weeks. Tonight they host Southern Nash which will leave five of the seven remaining games on the road. Oddly all three games in which they have played have been at home on Fridays.

The boys have struggled to find their identity in this world. This team has had a hard time bearing the label defending state champs. The girls on the other hand are probably the best in the conference so road games will not wear on them like the boys who are in a more even league. I doubt whether the girls will go through conference undefeated but they will not lose many between now and the playoffs.

I would suspect the girls will finish up as the #1 seed which will provide them at least one home game. Should they last during the first couple of rounds then by the third round when the better teams in the area are all that is left whether they play on the road or at home will be vital for them without a big center. The girls played a full court pressing game which will keep them in games with teams that have a big center but big centers also slow our offense down going to the basket.

The boys are faced with needing to finish first or second during the league race. This team is probably not good enough having to play every playoff game on the road and advancing very far. 1-1 in the league tonight really starts their push for the playoffs. In a bunched up race like this year's Big East seems to be a three way tie for third during the regular season and you might not even make the playoffs despite the conference tournament being in your house.

Flash or Fundamentals

There is a tremendous amount of frustration in Raleigh over the N C State basketball team. Yes I am one that is disappointed that this years Pack who was suppose to be maybe one of the best teams in thirty years is not better than tenth in the ACC. I had no conception going into last night's game that the Pack could win so instead of jumping up and down on every call and turnover I sat back and tried to look at Duke and see what they have that the Pack doesn't. Here are some of my views. There are Carolina fans that probably need to look at their team the same way because believe it or not Carolina and State almost look alike.

• I counted 10 times Duke tried to take a charge, State None. That tells me that Duke defenders are trying to help out teammates.
• Once on a three on one fast break with the left side man handling the ball State tried a lob dunk. Duke intercepted the lob. They were down by 12 at the time. State is more concerned about being spectacular than scoring.
• Once on a drive through the lane State got a clear layup but instead of putting it up added muster to the shot and tried to double pump and the ball rolls off the rim.
• Another fast break attempt and State tries a fake behind the back pass but the player shot the ball. The announcer was all tore out of socket at how spectacular it was. The ball rolled of the rim.

Yes there are all kinds of complaints that State can't get a coach to come to Raleigh when they are #three in the area. I can't buy that. It doesn't take much of a coach to teach fundamentals. A good average high school coach can teach that and get them to play better. State had more than their share of chances that if they played sound basketball to win and even win big last night.

Take Nolan Smith off the floor and State's players are just as good matched up one on one with Duke's players. The problem for State is Duke cheats. Team mates actually help each other when one get in trouble on each trip down court. I didn't see behind the back passes or dribbling the ball between their legs like I saw State do.

What I saw from Duke was a team that worked together, looked like they had fun playing with each other. I didn't see any one player dominating the ball. There is talk that they are going to take the cast off Irving's foot February 4th. The Duke team I saw last night is about in my opinion is about 10th in the country. Any team ranked tenth has a shot to win it all once the playoffs start. If Irving comes back and just plays solid he doesn't have to be great like he was before the injury Duke will move up to the top.

What I saw last night was athletic team in State that doesn't really understand that in order to be like Duke you have to act like them. Do what they do and you will automatically be better. Duke only has one or two really super athletes they just have basketball players who will do what the coach says.

Duke will lose a couple more over the regular season but unless they have another major injury they play together too well to lose many. They also have a Hall of Fame coach which will not allow them to get too far of track. That right there will win you a few games every year.

Evaluating Duke is tough because I don't think Duke has the best players like everyone thinks. They have bought in on the idea that if you sell your soul to the team you can be great together. It works in Durham pretty well and could work in Raleigh with a salesman that believed that.

The biggest difference in Duke and State. Commitment to the team.

You Had Better win Your Home Games

North Carolina made it 55 in a row over Clemson in Chapel Hill last night. Eight minutes to go in the game Clemson having caught up and tied the game preceded to score only two points for the remainder of the game. Carolina was able to score 12 points to win by ten.

In a year when it seems everybody is equal you had better win your home games because road victories are going to be few and far between. Despite winning Carolina didn't do a whole lot the last eight minutes themselves to insure a victory. It was mostly how inept Clemson was.

When teams hit dry spells and can't score points most of the time it can be traced to point guard play. Not having anyone to get the ball to the people who can score. It seems other than Duke, Virginia Tech and Florida State every other team is searching for point guard play.

Speaking of losing at home Rocky Mount boys have lost three of their last four at home. This is not a good sign for the future when you still have five conference road games left. Wayne Wallace mentioned this to me last week about a quirk in the basketball schedule. Last year of five Rocky Mount conference home games were on Tuesdays and this year all five are on Fridays. I wonder if anyone else has seen that.

Ohio State is the new #1 in college basketball. They seem to be as good as anybody. I just don't see any team that I would hitch my wagon to and say were are winning the national championship. This year's NCAA tournament is pretty wide open.

I got an e-mail from David Hahula apologizing to me for taking that picture I talked about last week that was in the Fan Cam section of the Telegram. My response was no need to apologize for your camera telling the truth.

After my wife Pat looked at the photo she says to me. Looks just like you.

Streak On The Line

One of the longest streaks of one team dominating another is on the line tonight in Chapel Hill. Carolina has never lost to Clemson at home. Fifty four straight times Clemson has come to either Woolen Gym, Carmichael Auditorium or the Dean Smith Center and and every time went home losers.

Most of the time whether they thought they had a chance or not the games have not been that close over the years. I was at a game back during Eldon Campbell's time in Clemson where Clemson was as good as they have ever been but lost by 20. There has only been a couple of close ones and just maybe tonight is Clemson's night.

It depends a lot on which Carolina team shows up and for that matter which Tiger team plays.

You would think the way the students have been over the years at Duke that the Devils would have a streak over some conference teams but they don't.

Russell Wilson has decided to go to the spring training of the Colorado Rockies. Does this mean he has given up football at N C State? I doubt whether that decision will be made until we see his batting average come June.

The Final four of the NFL is set and it looks as if defense is the word of the year in the NFL. The best defenses won all four games regardless of what kind of offense each had. I think both games Sunday could be interesting and both could be played in the snow.

I think Pittsburgh will beat the Jets and Green Bay will get by the Bears setting up Pitt and Green bay in the Super Bowl.

The Gryphons are not playing their basketball game at Fike tonight. It has been moved because of the exams.

Hard To Figure

Those fans that thought Carolina had finally found the right combinations and was beginning to play Carolina basketball over the last couple of weeks, saw the same team of last year last night. There was hope that this team would win twenty by the ACC tournament was in everyone's mind but I tell you both State and Carolina had better hope they finish 8-8 in conference play and not worry about twenty on the season. Neither will hit twenty until the ACC tournament and ever how long they last in the NIT.

My son Brooks has it right. AAU basketball is all offense and all these players who were studs in AAU can't play a lick of defense and any coach who tries won't have them long enough to get them interested in defense. Those guys that think they are one and done only want to be on the high lights every night and are waiting for the NBA contract.

I know this will never happen but the NBA needs to adopt the baseball rule. Either sign out of high school or wait three years. Brooks has another thing right. Any pro team that has to hire a person to look after their players to keep them out of trouble should not be in the NBA. They are not mature enough.

After two weeks of NFL playoffs I''m 6-2 going 3-1 each weekend. Last week Seattle somehow beat New Orleans and the loud mouths Jets beat New England. You know that New England has lost their first game at home two years in a row. I like the way Green Bay is playing right now and were my Super Bowl Pick. My only hope is Pittsburgh in the AFC. Because of Rex Ryan I have become an anybody but the Jets fans.

As far as I know right now The Rocky Mount at Fike game is still set for Tuesday night. Exams have spilled over to this week and today being a holiday Tuesday is third period exam with fourth still to do.

Tonight Mike Fox from North Carolina baseball will be at Englewood Church as part of the annual SEAM Banquet. Kenny Dickerson and his sport envangelism missions don't get enough attention for all the work he is doing around the world.

World's Spotlight Coming To North Carolina

Next weekend the Carolina Hurricanes host the NHL All Star game. The finest hockey players from around the world will converge on Raleigh culminating Sunday with the world broadcast of the All Star game.

The very best that The Carolina Hurricanes can say is that they are a small market team who has managed in their brief history to win the Stanley Cup and played for the championship another time. Now as host of the All Star game this really puts the Carolina Hurricanes and Raleigh in high cotton. In my opinion Carolina has the best NHL franchise is the South and hosting the All Star game is the NHL's answer that they probably are.

The NHL converged on the South 25 years ago and Carolina is about the only place that can draw a crowd on a consistent basis. When the place is rocking the RBC Center is one of the loudest in the NHL. Even though you may not have a ticket the Convention Center in downtown Raleigh will host the Fan Fest next weekend . If you have ever been to an ACC Fan Fest then you know that is better than the games because it is free and you get the feel of what being inside the arena is like on game day.

Greensboro is not going to let Raleigh get all the attention next weekend as the Coliseum will be hosting the US National Figure Skating Championships. That is a eight day event which kicks of on the 22nd and runs through the 30th.

The women's skating events are the biggest night's in Olympic coverage as far as viewers watching. Women skating there is a beauty to it. I can't say the same for the men skating unless they are part of a team.

North Carolina gets national TV coverage in something other that basketball starting next weekend and it is all at our backdoor.

We are getting into the flow of the ACC basketball season and there are some opinions that we can now make.

Duke is the best but they are going to be pushed a lot more than they want to be without Irving in the Lineup. Carolina is better with Marshall in the lineup but they have one problem. He can't at this point play 40 minutes and he has to be replaced to rest. It's that time he is out they Carolina looks average. After all the hoopla that Came from State with the signing of C J Leslie. This team looks like every other Sidney Lowe team, Not very good.

Those of you that follow Rocky Mount Gryphon basketball you might think back to last season and at this same time that team was bumbling along and then there was lightning in the bottle and changed the whole season. This years team is still looking for someone to say "follow me boys". This team has just as much talent as last when it is all stirred in the pot with the right ingredients.

The only things the girls are missing is that big girl in the middle who can be a show stopper on defense. They play good defense, which is their biggest asset being an average size time. One player Tia Hudgins who is probably the best athlete in the conference boy or girl. They also have the next division one player from Rocky Mount in J'Kyra Brown who is still hampered by her knee surgery last year. If she stays healthy she will be fun to watch her last two years at Rocky Mount. Timisha Walker is the third member of the big three. She is consistent every time out and doesn't mind being third fiddle on this team.