ACC Basketball Starts in Earnest Today

If their has been a surprise team so far this basketball season it is the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. So far this season they are 9-3 and one of those losses was Xavier who right now in the college basketball RPI is the number one team.

Today they play their first conference game at Louisville who has started the season 11-2 and in the RPI is rated 30th.  The Deacs are 53rd.  You can see this game on ESPNU at 8pm

North Carolina started out rated preseason number won and thus far stand at 12-2.  They have loss twice and they can lay claim that injuries lead to both losses.  Carolina is 10th in RPI and already stand 1-0 in the ACC and today they play Georgia Tech 10-3 and 68th in the RPI and the game is in Chapel Hill.  This is the second straight home game for the Tar Heels they need to start 2-0.

North Carolina State is off to a 10-3 record and in the college RPI stand at 94th.  Even though  they have won ten times they.  have been most unimpressive in their wins.  They travel to Virginia Tech who stand at 8-5 and their RPI is up to 165.

Duke gets the long trip of the day traveling to Boston College who is just 7-6 on the team.  Their RPI is over 200 at 211.  The Devils have produced a 11-2 record and they have a RPI of 18.

Carolina seems to have everything that it will take to win the national championship.  There is one person they cannot afford to lose and that would be Marcus Paige.   Grayson Allen is second in the ACC in scoring and much of Duke's hopes ride with him.  Duke has already much of the season only used a seven man rotation and any hopes they have they can't lose anybody to injury any more and need Jefferson back.

State has the leading scorer in the league in Cat Barber and when he is not in the game State doesn't have anyone to take his place.  They were picked eighth in pre season and unless they start playing defense I see no NCAA for them this year. Wake Forest has four players averaging in double digit and Devin Thomas is averaging a double double getting 16 points and 10 plus rebounds per game.

So today begins two months of  hopes and dreams that the ACC can win another  national championship.  It would really be good if a team from North Carolina could bring home another title.

Last Half Of 2015

July:

Southern Nash football player Aramahs Martin plays in the East/West high school all star football game in Greensboro.

Leonard Allen resigns as baseball coach at Northern Nash to head to Riverside in Williamston

Kent Cox resigned at Rocky Mount baseball to head to be Chris Lee's assistant in football at Nash Central.  Pat Smith returns to coach Rocky Mount baseball.

Holly Fryar dies.  The former Gryphon soccer goalie five year battle with cancer ends.  Her legacy continues with the Holly Project.

Nash  County Babe Ruth team wins Eastern North Carolina State Championship and finishes second in Southeast Regional.

August:

Big East Coaches pick Fike to win Big East football Championship. Rocky Mount voted to tie for third.

Nash Central breaks their 25 game football losing streak beating Smithfield Selma 36-21.

SouthWest Edgecombe football player Quantellas Norwood was shot by a drive by shooter after a Cougar football in Rocky Mount.  He would return to action in October.


September:  Winston Salem State beats Elizabeth City State 17-10 to win annual Down East Classic at Bishop Stadium.

October:

Lady Gryphon Tennis team finish undefeated in regular season 12-0.

Lady Gryphon doubles team of Brenna Bryant and Chandler Brice finish 3rd in state doubles finals.

Northern Nash wins 3A cross Country regional.


Northern Nash finishes 3rd in state cross county championships

November:

Devonte Brown Gryphon JV football player was gunned down in the streets just hours before Northern Nash and Rocky Mount played the final regular season football game.

Former Gryphon Nick Hahula named the CIAA special teams player of the year for his punting, field goals and kickoffs while playing at  Chowan University.

Grover Battle wins his 500th career basketball game as head coach of the Northern Nash girls basketball team.

December:

Rocky Mount wins 3A state football title beating South Point 24-21 in overtime

The Gryphons win the WRAL Fabulous 15 trophy as best football team in the TV five viewing area.

Northern Nash boys and Rocky Mount Girls win Nash County Christmas basketball
Tournament.

Tarboro's Todd Gurley rushes for over a thousand yards for the St Louis Rams and is
named to the Pro Bowl team.

Like always many good things happened in the Twin Counties in 2015.  Looking for more in 2016.

2015 Review The First Half

Let's look back that what happened locally on the sports scene in 2015 covered by this blog.

January:
Big East boys  Basketball started after one week with all six teams tied at 1-1

Angie Miller Nash County Athletic Director won the distinguished Service Award from the National
Interscholastic  Athletic Administration Association.

February:

Weather plays Havoc with high school sports as basketball sectionals could not be finished and regional were forced to play three games per night instead of two.

Wilson Smith Rocky Mount sophomore won the state championship in the 126 pound weight class in wrestling.

Even though he had nothing to do with local sports legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith died.  There are many people locally affected by his life.

Northern Nash girls basketball team completes and undefeated regular season going 21-0

March:

Spring sports went in some cases three weeks without a day of practice as weather continued it's hold on eastern North Carolina.

Former Gryphon TaShawn Mabry a senior at Tarleton State in Texas finished third in the DII basketball national Tournament.

April:

DeShawn Freeman former Northern Nash  and Rocky Mount Prep basketball  player signs with Rutgers to  play basketball his junior and senior seasons.

Derrick Carter Northern Nash pitcher pitches a no hitter in Easter Tournament in Wilson.

May:

Two Rocky Mount girl's relay teams win state championship races.  London Green, NyAna Edwards, Laneeza Sheppard and Teyanna Dressure won the 4x100 relay.  Green, Edwards, Sheppard joined Brittany Bickford and won the 4x200 relay race.

SouthWest Edgecombe golfer Cole Jefferies won the boys 2A boys golf state championship.

Benton Moss pitching career at UNC finished when Carolina failed to be named to the NCAA playoffs.  Moss finished with a career 26-6 record 81% winning percentage top ten all time at Carolina. Finish with 318 strike outs second all time.

Collins Cuthrell playing at UNC Pembroke is named Peach Belt  player of the year and is named DII All-American after batting 443 hit 25 home runs and drove in 74 runs all top ten in the country.

BW Holt resigns at football coach at Rocky Mount Academy

American Legion Season starts without Post 58 fielding a team.

June:

Terrell Hudgins named RMA football coach replacing BWHolt

Former North Edgecombe basketball player Montrezl Harrell  is 32nd player selected in the NBA draft going to Houston.

Collins Cuthrell former Gryphon signs with Florence Kentucky after not being drafted during MLB draft.

Todd Gurley signs with the St Louis Rams after being drafted 10th for the former Tarboro Viking.

Former Gryphon pitcher Benton Moss is drafted and signed with Tampa Bay.  Moss would also be named Academic All American

Tomorrow will will look at last half of 2015.

Heading To Belk Bowl

One of the good things about the Belk Bowl is you can get up the day of the game and drive to the game.  Extra treat today Is Carrie Underwood will be performing at fan fest two hours before the game.  Good friend and fellow Wolfpacker Andy Holt will be with me.  He and I went together to the ACC basketball Tournament this past season.

The weather forecast is calling for thunder showers which is always a possibility during football games when it is outside.  I will be prepared with rain gear and will  sit in any amount of rain unless lightning.

I think it was 1999 and the Wolfpack was playing South Carolina on ESPN Thursday night football and Lou Holtz was the coach at South Carolina.  There was a tropical storm passing through the area and it never had a bolt of lightning all night.  It did however pour down most of the game and I mean came down in buckets at least three quarters of the game.

I had one of those clear plastic Ponchos on and during the entire game  the only place I was wet was my feet where I was either standing in water or it was running down my poncho until it ended just below my knees.

The game ended and the Pack won 10-0 and as I am heading to my car a gust of win practically rips my poncho off and the last 100 yards as I was running  to the car I have no poncho at all and I was soaked through and through.

I have always been a person who stays to the last play and if it rains during the game I hope the walk back to the car I will now be wearing a hooded jacket it will still be on when we get back to the car.

North Carolina has played the ACC championship and now their bowl game The Russell Athletic Bowl as if last year's defense is back in uniform.  They gave up 45 to Clemson and 49 to Baylor.  Where did the defense that played do well all season go?

Scouting Report Carolina Panthers

18 consecutive regular season wins dating back to December of 2014.  The streak is over and now what can we expect for the Panthers?  What did the Falcons victory show the Panthers and any other teams that may match up with the Panthers the rest of the way.

If I am a future opponent what would I try to do to beat the Panthers.  I would make Cam Newton beat me passing the ball.  Cam is less than a 60% completion passer. Sunday accuracy was a real problem.  Atlanta took away Cam's running lanes and missed too many passes that could have been completed.  If the Panthers have to win a playoff game totally having to depend on Cam's passing I doubt they can win.

The Carolina running game must be a major part of the Panther attack.  I realize That Jonathan  Stewart has been out for three weeks now and hopefully he is being protected for the playoffs.  There was no running game Sunday and with Cam forced to pass you could see than the receiving corp of the Panthers is not a group that scares other teams.

The front four for the defense is a  strong point.  Their linebackers may be best group in NFL so they are a strong point too.  The secondary has not been as good since the injury several weeks back to Binwikere Bene corner back.  They have lost with his injury their shutdown ability in the secondary.  Josh Norman Is a shutdown cornerback as long as he is covering outside receivers.  I would move my best pass catcher into the slot and make one of the other guys be on my best receiver.

The defense has had several lockdown games against bottom feeding teams and in three of the last four have given up 93 points.  It is vital the Panthers earn home field by beating Tampa Sunday.  
They have earned a first week bye and one home game but a victory Sunday would give the Panthers two home games if they win the first.  If they lose Sunday and Arizona wins Zona would earn the two game home advantage.  I don't care what team you are would you want to have to play at Arizona?

The playoffs will be the six best teams in the NFC so there will be no team that can't beat you if you don't play your best.  The Panthers need Stewart to play and be a factor in running the football to keep Cam's options to run available.  If the running game is working the Panthers will have a chance against anybody.  Without the running game there will be no Super Bowl.

What Would You Rather Be?

The Carolina Panthers lost their first football game of the season losing to the Falcons 20-14.  Would you rather go undefeated but lose in the playoffs?  Both Havelock and Eastern Alamance had great seasons going 11-0 during the regular season for Havelock a second round loss and for Eastern Alamance lost one step from the big game.

Rocky Mount lost two games during the regular season and both of their losses were to teams that went deep in the 4-A playoffs.  Today would you rather been undefeated in the regular season and lose in one of the five steps to the championship?  Does anybody any where in the state know what Rocky Mount's final record was, only that they were the the 3A state champs?

The case of the Panthers but the NFL in general the team that wins the Super Bowl is the hottest team playing when the playoffs start.  There are none hotter than Kansas City in the AFC and Arizona in the NFC.  I am afraid giving up the big lead against the Giants broke the momentum that the Panthers had going.

There is always the case of the team that matches up well against you loses to somebody else.  Part of the success of the Gryphons was getting the third playoff home game and avoided going to Havelock.    It would help the Panthers cause greatly if they beat Tampa This Sunday and if they meet make Arizona come to them.

The pressure of any streak whether it is a winning streak or a losing one can carry a heavy burden on any team.  Sometimes winning streaks teams play to keep from losing while losers keep looking for what is going to go wrong this week instead of playing the game.

There is one thing that winning hides sometimes is your faults.  One or two plays make a difference in every game.  You win you tend not to see how close you were to losing while losing you see how close you were to winning and what you have to do to win.  When you keep winning even when you don't play well you become immune to think you will never lose but one good slap back into reality to show you that you can be beaten might not be as bad as you think.  The way they play against Tampa will tell us if they learned anything.

Greatest Gifts Don't Always Require Money

Duke University won it's first Bowl game since the 1961 Cotton Bowl when they won over the Southeastern Conference champion Arkansas by a whopping  score of 7-6.  That game was seen by 70,000  plus people.   Arkansas was lead by future Hall Of Famer Lance Alworth.

Saturday two colleges known more for basketball played football in the the hallowed grounds used for baseball where the likes of Arod  plays in Yankee Stadium.  This is the fourth year in a row that Duke has played in a bowl and 41 points was not enough as the Devils had to make a field goal and had to watch as Indiana's kicker's kicked a ball that seemed by the end zone camera just three to four inches wide right but what complicated the call was the kick was higher that the goal post and the result Duke beats Indiana 44-41 in over time.

Sometimes you get Christmas presents that cost lots of money and then there are those that are priceless.   We open one gift at home and then load rest up to head to Stephanie's house in Wake Forest where we will open gifts Christmas Eve night with Steph's family.

My one gift opened Thursday after noon were letters.  The first letter was from Bob Burke retired basketball coach at Chowan College who has already invited me back to Chowan now University where on January 30th the court in the Helms Center will become Bob Burke Court.  I was the play by play voice of the Braves from 1981 through 1993 when Chowan was a national power in Junior College basketball.

Bob and I had already talked by phone when he invited me a couple of months ago and as the letter started I thought it was an official invitation but the letter went into how important our broadcast of the games meant to the growth of basketball at Chowan.  Already water in my eyes there was another letter from Alexus Hill's family.

 Not sure at this point what's going on there was more.  Ashley Moss and the Moss family, BW Holt, Mike Gainey and the last letter was from daughter Morgan.  Seems that Morgan has decided to start a scrap book about my career in sports.  Stunned by the letters from everyone there is just not enough space or hugs that I can give everyone for their comments.

If there is one thing that has motivated me more than anything else over the years was when I would receive a comment from a grand mother who thanked me for doing the games when she could hear her grand son play because her health did not allow her to attend games.

Whether it was radio, TV  or the blog reporting the wins is fun but when someone tells you that you have effected their life in a good way you have reached the ultimate in what you were trying to do.  This motivates me to continue to do what ever I can.  Doesn't seem to be much radio left in the area,  WHIG TV I'm in the emergency role when needed.  Right now the blog is daily and there is so much good going on in the area to keep me busy. PA is like radio only you can see those that hear your mistakes.

If all goes as planned last child Morgan will graduate from Campbell University majoring in sports management.  That will be two of the children that will be in sports.  Somewhere along the way I have passed on my passion for sports to all of you who have listened, watch or read me daily.

I thank each of you who have heard or felt what I have tried to pass along to each of you.  There is many things in our area that people need to know.  Life is better when the good is spread.  Life can be boring when it is all bad news.

Finally to Morgan, this may be your greatest gift to me. Love You!