The NCAA Tournament AKA The ACC Tournament

There has always been a dream of mine that one day two ACC schools would play for the national title.  My biggest hope has been that either State, Carolina, or Duke would play each other to win it all.  Since I am a big dreamer there has been a hope that some day all four teams that play in the final four would be from the ACC and if you add Wake Forest to the list they would all be from North Carolina.

The ACC has set the record six having the most teams ever make it to the sweet 16.  Just last year the ACC tied the record held by the old Big East with five teams surviving to the final 16.  You know Louisville should have made the field but are on a self imposed sanctions got an up and coming NCAA investigation.  I almost hate to add this but you know old ACC reject Maryland is in the 16 but they do have a Duke transfer which still kind of makes them an ACC entry.

It is still possible that all six could make it to the final eight before they will begin to whittle each other.  It is possible that there could be an all ACC Final Four.  Duke the lone team in the west bracket meets the top seed in the west Oregon Thursday at around 10pm.  If they survive that second seed Oklahoma could be waiting for a chance to the final four dance.

There of course is  the faction that says so far the ACC has not beaten any team lower than an 11 seed.  Just ask Michigan State how good East Tennessee State is and the ACC's ten seed Syracuse beat ETST by 25.  There has been some nice upsets that have helped the ACC teams play what would be considered easier seeds in the second round but ask Baylor about Yale.

Well, I hate to pour rubbing alcohol on an open wound but the ACC teams that made the NIT Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Florida State all won their opening round games.  Tonight Georgia Tech knocked off the top seed in the NIT South Carolina to give the ACC a 4-2 record in the NIT

Syracuse will have their hands full with Gonzaga.  Virginia will be favored but Iowa State will be a load.  Villanova will be favored over Miami but this is a two/three seeding matchup.
 Notre Dame is the luckiest of them all with a last second tip in.  Wisconsin makes this a six/seven matchup.  Duke as a four seed will be matched up against Oregon the top seed in the west.  Carolina the top seed in the east will be matched against the Big Ten champ Indiana who carries a five seeding tips sometime around 10pm Friday.  That's the price you pay when Duke and Carolina get higher TV ratings that others playing the same night.

So of the six still alive Carolina and Virginia will be favored everyone else will have to find more of that NCAA magic to continue.  Should Carolina and UVA make it to the final four they would match up each other in the semi finals.  Is it asking too much for the only ACC losers rest of the way be against each other?.

Baseball Season Begins This Week For Real

The Big East kicks off conference play this week weather permitting with baseball games on Tuesday and Friday.  The overall records of every team so far are not impressive but like every teams non conference record we will not know the quality of the team's until the playoffs begin.  You can bet the race will be wide open probably right down to the last game.  Let's take a look at the conference as we know it right now.

Fike:  5-2 so far.  Many teams in Big East have played many of the same teams that others in the conference have played.  Fike so far has the best overall record.  They are averaging 7.5 runs per game and their pitching and defense has held their seven foes to 4.5 runs.  Might have best pitching staff in league.

Southern Nash:  5-4 thus far.  For several years Southern has not been a factor in baseball but starting last year were trouble for everyone.  Scoring seven runs a game and giving up nearly seven a game.  Can the Firebirds improve on the most improved team last year?

Rocky Mount:  4-3 to date.  Their hitting over the past few years is improved as they are scoring right  at eight and  a half runs per game.  What was thought in the preseason as the best parts was the pitching but as a team not showing it so far.  Despite only giving up four point five runs per game.  Could be dangerous if the expected pitching comes around.

Northern Nash:  3-3 early on.  The defense is giving up less than five runs per game but to this point scoring at a three and a half runs per game.  Their problem last year was scoring runs.  Looks as though  pitching is again strong point  and if hitting comes around could be a contender.

Nash Central:  3-6 right now.  Biggest changes in the conference with Tony Guzzo retiring at Christmas.  Struggling to score just a tad over three runs per game while the defense and pitching allowing over five a game which is not bad.  Need a good start to get momentum.

Hunt:  2-7 at this point and time.  So far has played the toughest schedule of any team in the league.  Will this pay off against other members of the league.  Not quite scoring four runs per game and giving up just over four.  To me this indicates their record means nothing.  Will be a player in the run for the conference title.

Schedule this week Tuesday:

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Fike @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Hunt

Friday

Rocky Mount @ Hunt
Nash Central  @ Fike
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash

Let the games begin,

ACC Dominance

Duke has once again made it to the sweet 16 under coach K.  Despite how short handed they might be  K is the most tactical coach alive.  There is of course a limit to how far coaching can push a team that is short handed.  I doubt the Devils survive next weekend.

The mystery of the Virginia Cavaliers continues.  The first half against Butler the Cavs scored but 23 points to trail by two.  The second half they scored 54  to best Butler by eight.  To me Virginia has five guys that can handle the ball and when they attack the basket they are awesome on offense.   I can't see any reason now that Michigan State is gone that Virginia will not win twice next weekend.

This mixed up tournament the ACC has Miami in the Sweet 16.  Their road block could be Villanova if Nova survives Sunday.  The way this tournament has gone surviving to play another game has been interesting.  Arizona already out of the way Miami still has Kansas the top seed and Nova number two ahead.

Carolina played both games in Raleigh just the way they needed to.  They took the best shot that both Florida Gulf Coast and Providence had and kept their foot on the gas.  Carolina's defense has been much better over the past three weeks and they are of course excellent on offense.  Next week in Philadelphia they have Indiana.  That will be tough but I see the Heels winning twice next week.

This weekend Roy Williams passed Dean Smith as the second winningest coach in NCAA tournament history.  Carolina is heading to the 27th Sweet 16 the NCAA record.

The ACC sent seven teams to the tournament.  Through Saturday night  the conference is 10-1 overall.  They have four of the eight teams in the Sweet Sixteen so far and can get two more on Sunday.  This is just maybe the best year ever for the ACC but it will not finish up as the best if one of the teams does win the title.  The ACC has sent two to the final four several times but they have never had three.  This could be their best chance ever.

I know many of you  have money in some bracket some where as  I have three locally.  I think we all guess and hope we pick the right game when the upsets occur.  The way I do mine is my first bracket is my first impression once I see the brackets.  My second one I flip the games that I call tossup games.  There were eight of those.  My third bracket is my wild one when I pick the underdogs who just might win one game and I had eight of those.  My problem this year was when I have missed a game I missed on all three brackets.  Never had that problem before.

Primed For Conference

Next week is two games of conference baseball and then a week of Easter baseball the week after.  It is time to make final decisions of who plays and who pitches as next week the road to the playoffs begin. Rocky Mount's last chance to show the coach what you can do was a game this afternoon at SouthWest Edgecombe.

Pat Smith sent Wesley Drake to the hill once again against the Cougars as just 10 days ago he was on the hill in the Gryphons 13-1 five inning affair.  He gave up five hits in five innings and struck out five so the question is can he do it again against the Cougars.

The answer is yes as Drake goes six innings allows three hits did not walk a single batter.  One batter reached second for the Cougars and six struck out.  Drake struck out the side in the second and the first two in the third..  The Gryphons ten run the Cougars 10-0 in six innings.

The  Gryphon offense scored four in the second and six in the sixth to put an end to this one.  The Gryphons started the second with a walk then two outs before Jamar Ellis, Logan Pearce got back to back hits.  An error added to the Cougar misfortune and Jake Philbeck lashed a single driving home two runs.  All four Gryphon runs scored with two out.

Once again the Gryphons had two runners on in the sixth with two outs when the flood gates opened. Forest Bell knocked home the first run followed by a dropped ball in the outfield.  A walk then a Will Hedgepeth doubled followed by a two RBI single by Ellis.  All six runs crossed the plate with two outs.

Jake Philbeck went 3-3 with 2 RBI.  Logan Pearce, Josh Pittman, and Jamar Ellis had two hits each.  Forest Bell, Josh Keeter, Will Hedgepeth add singles to the ten hit attack.  There is no doubt the Gryphons at this point have a solid starter in Wesley Drake. The big question for the success of this team is who is going to join him in being a dependable starter?

Conference play has two on the road next week Nash Central Tuesday and Hunt on Friday.  Both games start at 7pm.

4-0 Start

The ACC is the defending champion of college basketball.  If the ACC is to defend the title at least one of the seven  has to win six games in a row to win the title.. Today the NCAA tournament began and four of the ACC seven took to the floor and all four  were winners.  You can't win six in a row if you don't win the first one.

The Duke Blue Devils the defending champion will have a tough time winning six in a row.  Playing with six players just don't know that they have enough horses in the barn to win the race.  UNC Wilmington gave the Devils trouble but the Seahawks didn't have enough big men to compete with General Plumlee ..

Virginia is playing about as well as anybody except for Carolina.  Virginia is sitting pretty in their bracket as others around them are falling apart.  Hampton didn't have a chance against a team playing as well as the Whoo's .  The real negative  I don't like about Virginia in the past is their slow pace on offense.  I don't understand  as good as they are on offense why they would rather play at the snail's pace.  They can win six in a row if they try to score but let them get in a 63-62 game and they are beatable.

Miami finished third in the league.  They are the one team in the upper echelon of the ACC that nobody is talking about.  If they catch fire they are good enough to win six in a row..

Florida Gulf Coast shot 60 per cent in the first half and Carolina only 40.  Yet, the Heels were ahead.  I thought Carolina play pretty well on defense and FGC made some hard shots.  You knew the type shots they were making that there was no way they could continue the entire second half.

The Tar Heels have a real chance to win six in a row due to the improved play of Joel Berry and the Gryphon Killer Isaiah Hicks.  Hicks has doubled his production in the past three weeks. And it just seems with Hicks in the game the Tar Heels are better defensively and he has added offensive punch to the offense.

Slugfest Heartache

Rocky Mount has not beaten Rose High in baseball since March 17th 2011.  Coming into today's game with the Rampants that would be eight losses in a row to the 4-a high school in Greenville.  Today in Rocky Mount the Gryphons had every chance in the world to stop the streak.  In fact twice it was down to one pitch from winning but the Rampants put five on the scoreboard in the 7th inning to beat Rocky Mount 11-9.

Let's see if we can keep up with how this one transpired.  David Harrison started on the mound for the Gryphons but Rose struck for two in the first on three hits and led 2-0 in first. Rocky Mount responded getting two hits and cutting lead to two one.

Harrison manage to keep the Rampants off the board in the second and Rocky Mount responded by scoring two in the bottom of the second to lead 3-2. Short lived lead however as Rose scored twice on two hits and two walks in the third.

The first two batters for Rocky Mount got hits but a double play killed a promising inning.  Rose plated two in the fourth on a single hit and an error.  The bottom of the fourth the Gryphons got three hits and failed to score.

Forest Bell came in relief in the top of the fifth and  struck out two of the three batters and went three up and three down. Rocky Mount plated two runs on three hits but the play of the game occurred with the bases load nobody out.  Isaiah Stewart hits a line drive probably didn't get two feet off the ground.  Rampant third baseman Lanier Eveleth makes a diving catch and falls across the third base bag doubling up the Gryphon runner on third.  No telling how many runs may have scored if that ball winds up in the corner for a double. It's 6-5 after five.

Bell once again struck out two of the three batters he faces and the Gryphons  batting in the bottom of the sixth.  The Gryphons plate four runs on three hits and Rose helped with an error to give the Gryphons a 9-6 game going to the 7th .

A walk and a double the Rampant cut it to two with no outs.  Two walks later the bases are loaded still nobody out.  Some how or other the Gryphons managed to get two out with the bases loaded with the score 9-8.  Got it down to two strikes when Greg Hardison laced a hard grounded over the first  base bag and before he stops at second with a double all three base runners score.

One pitch away at yet a mile Rose beats Rocky Mount again 11-9.  Rocky Mount outhit Rose 14-10 but big plays on defense was the difference right when the Rampants had to have a play.. Greg Hardison had three hits and the big three RBI.

Logan Pearce led the Gryphons with three hits two RBI.  Jake Philbeck two hits, David Harrison two hits, Zack Keeter two hits,Will Hedgepeth two hits.   Forest Bell's lone hit drove home two. Isaiah Stewart had a single and two RBI and Josh Pittman had the 14th hit.

This will either be the game that everyone saw Rocky Mount might be strong in conference play or the game that the writing is on the wall that the Gryphons don't have enough pitching.

Conference Play Next Week

This is the last of the so called tune up games heading into conference play next week.  Rocky Mount will be home Wednesday afternoon against the team over the years has been Rocky Mount's second best rivalry.  The Rose Rampants, over the last thirty years has dominated in almost every sport over the Gryphons.

The only time the Gryphons would beat the Rampants were when  ever the Gryphons had great teams or Rose was in a down year.  This year the six time state champions are off to a 4-1 start with wins over four 3a teams and a conference loss to their rival Conley.  Rocky Mount 3-2 has lost twice in games where the other team was better and  roughed up the three wins in games they were the best team.   After Wednesday Rocky Mount travels to SouthWest Edgecombe Friday before a home conference game next Tuesday Night.  The Rose game starts at 4:30.

I will be doing double duty during the Rose/Rocky Mount game as I will have the PA mic in one hand and the TV mic in the other.  WHIG will be showing this game on tv sometime this weekend.

Nash Central 3-4 plays North Johnson Wednesday and Saturday play East Wake.

Northern Nash 3-2 is on the road twice this week.  They played SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday winning 4-1 and on Thursday travel to South Johnston.

Southern Nash 4-3 played Cleveland on Tuesday losing 10-1.  They still have Smithfield Selma and on Saturday they will play in the WilsonTob Classic at Fleming Stadium Saturday.

Saturday during the 3A boys finals in Chapel Hill between Terry Sanford and JM Robinson Of Concord.  Sanford has three tips the last few seconds and all three rolled  off and Robinson won the game 56-55.  Right at the buzzer while a last scramble was going on a fan came out of the stands and struck one of the Robinson players in the face.

As of this time no charges have been filed against the Sanford fan.  I hope they throw the book at the fan and charge him with everything they can think of.  I even hope the parents of the player struck sues for millions of dollars against the indivual. I don't know whether this Luna tick is a parent of one of the players or not but he should be band from all public sporting events for the rest of his life.  I am sure he will claimed he was abused as a child and because of that had every tight to strike the kid.