Urban Meyer's freak out not his best move

Urban Meyer didn’t scream his age or declare his manhood like Mike Gundy, but the Florida coach certainly made waves when he confronted an Orlando Sentinel reporter earlier this week.

Jeremy Fowler quoted Gators’ wide receiver Deonte Thompson in his blog as saying “You never know with Tim. You can think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With (New quarterback John) Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.”

Meyer didn’t take too kindly to the story, and during the post-practice confrontation, told Fowler “If (Thompson) was my son, we’d be going at it right now.”

Obviously Thompson has been embarrassed by the remarks, saying he did not mean to take anything away from Tebow.

It’s no secret how close Meyer and Tebow’s relationship became by the end of Tebow’s career, so it’s no surprise that a quote involving the former Heisman winner has Meyer fired up.

Throughout his career, I have been a huge fan of Meyer, dating back to his days as the Bowling Green head coach in 2001.

I even gave him a pass when his retirement-turned-leave of absence-turned-glorified vacation unfolded this winter.

But this time, Meyer may have overstepped his boundaries.

I applaud Meyer for protecting his player, who was obviously disturbed by the situation.

However, Fowler did nothing wrong by using Thompson’s direct quote in perfect context.

Fowler’s blog was supposed to be about Thompson hopefully breaking out after a couple of disappointing seasons in Gainesville.

Where Meyer should have directed his frustration is obviously with the player, and giving the kid a tutorial on word choice.

After Meyer nearly retired due to health concerns stemming from dangerous levels of stress, he doesn’t seem to be pulling any punches already.

This really brings about the question of just how much Urban truly cares about his health.

Whether he admits it or not, getting so frustrated and visibly violent in a situation as petty as this one doesn’t exactly say, “I’m handling my stress issues really well.”

What began as a simple misuse of words by a underachieving junior wide receiver has blown out of proportion, and will turn the eyes of critics far and wide directly to Meyer.

ObaMarch Madness, or the New America's NCAA Tournament

We Americans always seem to be wanting more. More money, more food, more healthcare -- more college basketball.

Debates about whether or not to expand the NCAA Basketball Tournament from its current field of 65 teams have intensified this spring.

Bloggers, fans and anyone else with a laptop computer have poured his or her two cents into the discussion.

The recent bill passed by the United States Congress to provide equitable healthcare to any American signaled a critical shift in the philosophy of lawmakers in this country.

President Barack Obama has endeared himself to the realm of sports fans stretching from Tampa to Spokane. In the past two years, he has made several cameos on ESPN’s “Sportscenter”, attended a number of sporting events (mostly around the nation’s capital), and on the night before he was elected, sharply advocated for a playoff system in college football.

After overseeing the most decisive change to his country’s law in decades, the president has etched his name in the legacy of modern world leaders.

After colluding with the legislative branch to pass such a heavily debated law, it’s only natural he should use his power for a much simpler task: expanding the big dance.

Should it move to 68 teams? Nah.

What about 96? Don’t think so.

124? Why stop there?

If the president wants to be truly consistent –a trait each of his predecessors strived to be, successfully or not – he should make an immediate motion to include all 347 teams.

Rejoice Chicago State University! Your six-win, 22-loss season won’t withhold you from the fruits of the postseason any longer.

Under this new plan, everybody wins.

Before we get ahead of ourselves and sign this bill into law, we should really look at why the tournament is held to only 65 teams today.

By allowing the 31 conference champions to automatically qualify for the dance, we reward the outstanding effort those teams put forth in becoming the absolute best in their respective leagues. If your program recruits good players, keeps them eligible, molds them into a strong team, keeps them out of legal trouble, and graduates them, you have a strong formula for success and an increased likelihood of punching a ticket to the dance.

This also includes the 34 best teams not included in the group of conference champions. By allowing other teams that worked very hard to create a strong team and succeeded, it creates an extremely competitive environment for the three-week spectacle that the tournament is in its current state.

No team that allowed players to join the order of power that is the National Collegiate Athletic Association illegally has the opportunity to play in the postseason.

Pay recruits to come to your school, and you’re toast. Allow your players to fall short of the (insanely lenient) academic requirements, and they are history.

But all that can change with the new era of American justice, which only makes sense to extend to the most entertaining month-long spectacle this country has to offer.

The tournament, which will now quintuple in size, comes with some further stipulations of course.

The non-conference season, including early-season tournaments that reward strong programs with increased revenue and exposure, must be eliminated. With a postseason that will take more than two months to complete, there is not enough time to allow those games to take place. The NCAA, and only the NCAA, will tell every team when and where each game will be played. No more scheduling your own opponents for the benefit of your players, fans, and university – that’s way too much freedom.

In addition, there will be no more sanctions handed down by the NCAA that would bar teams from playing in the tournament. Illegal recruiting will go unpunished, and academic failures will have no impact on a team’s standing with the tournament selection process. As long as you have enough players to suit up on the court, you’re in like Jonny Flynn.

The regular season will take place from mid-November, and conclude at the end of January.

Once that is complete, the field of 347 teams will be arranged based on a set of pre-existing criteria. It’s impossible to assume the Seeding Committee can see every team play. It would be unfair to the less exposed teams when they were put through the seeding process unless there was a list of specific criteria the committee had to follow when placing teams. The phrase “that’s why the games aren’t played on paper” will soon be rendered obsolete. It’s now statistical comparison at its finest.

Once the teams are placed in the field, there will be three weeks of preliminary play, in which the top 64 teams have no games, instead are rewarded with a lengthy idle period.

So, in essence, the teams that would currently be the only ones to make the field would now be forced to wait while other teams who never deserved to make the postseason before are given permission to see what the big dance is all about.

Does it matter that those teams are the only ones that really deserve to be playing? Not at all.

This is not your father’s older brother’s America, after all. This is a nation where the playing field is even, and life’s regular season isn’t that important. The Syracuses and Kentuckys of the world would not have any motivation for winning upwards of 28 games during the year. In the end, everyone will be on the same grounds anyway.

Maybe now Chicago State can brag about winning an NCAA opening round game against Bryant University. At least it’s something more than simply being Kanye West’s (see: West’s multiplatinum album “College Dropout”) former school.

We are in the midst of an era of change in America, and here’s hoping the powers that be leave no stone unturned in revamping a country that has thrived as the world’s most powerful for more than two centuries.

*Ali Farokmanesh 2012!*

ACC Tournament Day One Preview

Don't forget to pick the winners in the poll on the right-hand side of the page!

#9 Virginia vs.

#8 Boston College, 12:00 p.m.

ACC Championships –

Virginia – 1 (1976)

Boston College – 0

Regular season results: Boston College won at home 68-55

Team Records: UVA 14-15 (5-11) Boston College 15-15 (6-10)

Projected Starters:

Boston College

G- Reggie Jackson (12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.5 apg)

G/F- Rakim Sanders (10.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)

F- Joe Trapani (14.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

F- Corey Raji (11.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

C- Josh Southern (4.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Virginia

G- Mustapha Farrakhan (6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

G- Sammy Zeglinski (8.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 38% 3pt.)

F- Mike Scott (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg)

F- Will Sherill (3.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

C- Jerome Meyinsse (6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

Team Statistical Comparison

BC	STAT	UVA
69.4	Points Per Game	66.0
12.9	Turnovers Per Game	10.8
4-9	Record Away From Home	3-9

Overview – Virginia will play tomorrow’s game, and any possible game after that, without leading scorer Sylvan Landesburg, who was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons. The Cavaliers began the conference season very promising, winning five of their first seven games, before ending the season on a nine-game losing streak.

Boston College has played about to its ability level this season. After losing Tyrese Rice to graduation, the cupboard was pretty empty for coach Al Skinner. Winning six games in conference play is nothing to brag about, but it doesn’t have Skinner, a well respected coach in the league, anywhere near the hot seat.

As for the game itself, the loss of Landesburg will make it very hard for the Cavaliers to advance past this game. His 17 points per game are virtually irreplaceable. Tony Bennett placed an emphasis on defense when he took over as Virginia’s head coach, but that is what has plagued them this season. The Eagles’ flex offense can be very effective, especially against slower teams – like Virginia.

The Cavaliers’ best hope in this game is for Zeglinski to shoot exceptionally well from beyond the arc, and Jeff Jones to come up big off the bench. Neither team is very deep, so expect a slow-paced, low scoring game.

Prediction – Boston College 61, Virginia 51

#5 Wake Forest vs.

#12 Miami, 2:30 p.m.

ACC Championships –

Wake Forest – 4 (Most recent: 1996)

Miami -- 0

Regular season results – Miami 67-66 at home Jan. 9, Wake 62-53 at home Feb. 2

Team records – Miami 18-12 (4-12) Wake Forest 19-9 (9-7)

Projected starters –

Wake Forest

G- Ishmael Smith (13.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.7 rpg)

G- C.J. Harris (10.0 ppg, 84% FT)

G- L.D. Williams (9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

F- Al-Farouq Aminu (15.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg)

C- Chas McFarland (7.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Miami

G-Malcolm Grant (9.4 ppg, 40.9 3pt. %)

G- James Dews (11.7 ppg. 2.8 rpg)

F- Adrian Thomas (7.3 ppg, 41.8 3pt %)

F- Reggie Johnson (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

C- Julian Gamble (3.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Team statistical comparison –

WAKE	STAT	MIAMI
73.4	Points Per Game	72.1
31.7	3-point %	36.2
42.1	Rebounds Per Game	35.9

Overview –

This game has the makings of a potential upset. The Demon Deacons ended a four-game skid by closing out the regular season beating Clemson 70-65. Before the losing streak, Wake seemed to be on its way to a big season. Wake seems to be a lock for the NCAA Tournament still, but a loss to Miami would force the Deacs to sweat it out on Selection Sunday.

Miami’s leading scorer Dwayne Collins is out with stress reaction in his tibia. The injury kept him out of the Hurricanes’ season finale against Florida State. Durand Scott may not start, but he will have a big impact on the game. The freshman guard has been sensational at times for coach Frank Haith, scoring 10 points and dishing out 3.5 assists per game.

This game will come down to Miami’s ability to control Wake in the paint. The Deacons average the third most rebounds in the country, and Al-Farouq Aminu is one of the most ferocious players on the boards you’ll find anywhere. He disappeared at times during the losing streak, but he will have to play well tomorrow and the rest of the way for Wake. If Miami can force turnovers, score in transition, and shoot the ball well in the half-court, they have a chance.

Prediction – Wake Forest 75, Miami 71

#7 Georgia Tech vs.

#10 North Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

ACC Championships –

Georgia Tech – 3 (Most recent: 1993)

UNC – 17 (Most recent: 2008)

Regular season results – GT 73-71 at UNC Jan. 13, 68-51 at home Feb. 16

Team records – GT 19-11 (7-9) UNC 16-15 (5-11)

Projected starters –

Georgia Tech

G- Iman Shumpert (10.0 ppg, 4.0 apg)

G- De’Andre Bell (6.4 ppg, 40.6 3pt %)

G – Glen Rice, Jr. (5.3 ppg, 46.9 3pt%)

F- Derrick Favors (11.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg)

F- Gani Lawal (13.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg)

UNC

G- Larry Drew II (8.6 ppg, 5.9 apg)

G- Will Graves (9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

F-Marcus Ginyard (8.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

F- John Henson (5.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

F- Deon Thompson (13.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Team Statistical Comparison –

GA TECH	STAT	UNC
74.7	Points Per Game	75.7
16.2	Turnovers Per Game	15.6
0.9:1	Assist/Turnover Ratio	1:1
66.3	Points Allowed Per Game	72.6

Overview –

The most glorified on-court struggles North Carolina have had this season deal with offensive inefficiency. Statistically speaking, the Yellow Jackets are equally inept. They average more turnovers, score fewer points per possession, and are equally as poor from the free throw line.

What the Jackets do have entering this game is motivation. A loss to Virginia Tech last Saturday made this first round game a must-win if they want to make the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, have gone on record saying their season was “screwed” and doomed from the start. The buzz out of Chapel Hill is not of a team on a mission to salvage a forgettable season.

Despite that aspect of the game, the Heels match up fairly well with the Jackets. The Heels have a deeper bench, and boast the kind of length on the interior that will make life difficult for Favors and Lawal. Glen Rice, Jr. and De’Andre Bell are deadly outside shooters, something the Heels have struggled guarding against all season.

Prediction – Georgia Tech 80, North Carolina 63

#6 Clemson vs.

#11 North Carolina State, 9:30 p.m.

ACC Championships –

Clemson – 0

NC State – 10 (Most recent: 1987)

Regular season results – Clemson 73-70 at NC St. Jan. 16

Team records – Clemson 21-9 (9-7) NC State 17-14 (5-11)

Projected starters –

Clemson

G- Demontez Stitt (11.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.6 t.o. per game)

G- Andre Young (9.1 ppg, 1.7 spg)

F- Tanner Smith (9.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

F- David Potter (7.2 ppg, 39.2 3pt. %)

C- Trevor Booker (15.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg)

NC State

G- Javier Gonzalez (10.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 t.o. per game)

G- Julius Mays (5.0 ppg, 88.5 FT%)

F- Dennis Horner (11.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

F- C.J. Williams (4.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg)

F- Tracy Smith (17.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Team Statistical Comparison –

CLEMSON	STAT	NC STATE
73.8	Points Per Game	68.3
70.3	Possessions Per Game	66.3
9.6	Steals Per Game	6.3
45.5%	Field Goal Percentage	43.9%

Overview –

Clemson is a tough team to figure out. Athletically, they can keep up with anyone in the league. They lack a true scorer on the perimeter. Stitt is a solid player who fits coach Oliver Purnell’s system well, but he is not a good creator in the half-court. Trevor Booker needs to have a strong performance all weekend for the Tigers to have a chance. Tracy Smith is a hard worker in the post for the ‘Pack; watching him and Booker battle it out under the rim will be fun.

The Wolfpack have one of the more anemic offenses in the country, which is not a good sign considering how heavily Clemson relies on creating extra possessions with heavy defensive pressure. The Tigers will give up easy scores on occasion, but Gonzalez and Mays turn the ball over nearly 6 times per game between themselves.

This game is not a foregone Clemson victory, mainly given the Tigers’ inconsistent performances during February. That being said, Clemson is the better team and had better win this game, or they’ll be headed in the wrong direction when the NCAA Tournament begins next week.

Prediction – Clemson 74, NC State 67

Previewing Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament -- Q & A with one of their own

Wake Forest opens their ACC Tournament tomorrow afternoon against Miami. After losing four straight games down the stretch, the Deacons won the season finale at home against Clemson to finish 9-7 in the ACC.

Though they seem to be comfortably in the tournament at this point, a loss to last-place Miami is something the Deacons can ill-afford.

Bart is a blogger for Wake Forest at http://www.bloggersodear.com/ and he agreed to answer some questions of mine leading up to the games in Greensboro.

The Playbook -- In the loss to Miami in the first matchup, Dwayne Collins went off for 23 points and 11 rebounds, what must Wake Forest do to keep that from happening Thursday?

Bart -- We had a tough loss down in Coral Gables and had plenty of chances to win that game including a shot by Ish Smith on the last possession of the game. In that game Dwayne Collins was certainly the spark for the Hurricanes and we are rather fortunate that most sources are indicating that Collins will either sit out our game because of injury or will be playing in a limited role. The key for the Deacs if Collins plays is to make sure that we don't allow him to front and get the ball because he has a deadly drop-step towards the baseline that our guys were unable to stop both times we took on the Hurricanes.

The Playbook -- After the Virginia Tech game and until the Clemson win, Al Farouq-Aminu seemed to disappear for those three losses. He was even held scoreless against Florida State. What happened to him, and did the Clemson game (18 points, 12 rebounds) show he is out of that funk?

Bart -- Aminu actually played very well against State in a loss, but other than LD not much of the team showed up and we lost that one. Aminu had 7 rebounds in the first 3 minutes of that game in Raleigh. He did disappear when we returned home to UNC and on the road against FSU and the key for Farouq is to avoid early foul trouble and avoid turning the ball over. Against both teams Aminu was trying to do more than he is comfortable doing in terms of being out around the perimeter and as such turned the ball over too much resulting in a loss of confidence. In Tallahassee he was in foul trouble and was just not able to get things going against their zone. The biggest difference between those two games and Clemson was his ability to hit the glass and get some garbage points. Farouq is one of the best offensive rebounders in the nation and has a great idea of where the ball is going to land to get second chance points. If Farouq is able to get on the glass, he is going to have a good game.

The Playbook -- Are these the final games we are seeing Aminu in a Deacons’ uniform?

Bart -- Aminu has not yet announced officially as to what he is doing next year, but all signs seem to indicate that he's not coming back. He has not said as much, but I would venture to say that most Wake fans are thankful that we got two years from Farouq and if he came back most would be shocked.

The Playbook -- Wake is next to last in the ACC in three-point percentage (31.7), and Miami is near the top (36.2). Wake is also first in three-point defense (28.3). How do you see Miami’s outside shot affecting the first round game?

Bart -- Miami is going to need to knock down some jumpers in order to keep the game close in my opinion. Wake has a lot of height on the team which makes perimeter shots tough as opposing guards are constantly having to shoot over a higher target than they are used to. Wake also does a good job of forcing shots from outside as the shot clock is winding down which certainly increases our defensive statistics. If Miami can make 8 threes they will have a good chance to win the game.

The Playbook -- Before the four-game losing streak, Wake Forest was a surefire lock for the NCAA Tournament. Throwing the ACC Tournament aside for a minute, make Wake’s case for why they should be in if the selection was made today.

Bart -- Wake has a top 35 RPI and has played a top 30 schedule in the country. We have gone on the road and defeated Gonzaga, as well as playing a very tough Purdue team close for 35 minutes on the road. We played Duke to a tie for 30 minutes in Cameron before fading at the end, and have been fantastic at home. Wake Forest clinched their bid with a win against Clemson on Sunday. 9-7 in the ACC as well as a top 35 RPI is not going to be kept out of the ACC tournament regardless of what happens in Greensboro this weekend.

The Playbook -- Handicap Wake’s chances to make a run in Greensboro.

Bart -- Wake has a good chance to make the weekend for the first time since 2006 when the tournament gets underway. A very favorable matchup against 12 seed Miami should get us through to the quarters where we get another shot at Virginia Tech, a team that many Wake fans feel we are better than. The game in Blacksburg is considered by many to be an aberration considering the free throw discrepancy between the two teams and the home court advantage that Virginia Tech had. Wake is salivating at the opportunity to play the Hokies again this year. If we do make it to Saturday I think we would be pretty tired going up against Duke in what is essentially the Duke Invitational, but anything could happen. We played them close for 30 minutes in Cameron and I see no reason why we couldn't challenge them on a neutral court if our perimeter shots are falling. Wake fans will be very disappointed if we lose on Thursday, many expect to beat the Hokies on Friday, and anything on the weekend would just be gravy for the Deacs.

Thank you for having me and good luck to the Hokies in this year's tournament!

---

Many thanks to Bart for his help. Wake Forest and Miami tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Once again, be sure to check out his blog at http://www.bloggersodear.com/!

The Warriors of War Memorial: Tartar Control embraces underdog role

Doubt them if you want, but the Tartar Control will always give you its best shot.

Playing in Virginia Tech’s intramural basketball tournament for a second year, The Control has run the table so far, making it to the Elite Eight in the advanced division.

Despite winning every game by double digits, they face their toughest challenge yet tonight when they face Cool Runnings.

In two regular season games, the Runnings outscored their opponents by a combined score of 159-50.

“The thing about Cool Runnings is that they beat you mentally before they beat you physically,” Tartar Control captain Ross Tudor said, “but we pride ourselves on keeping our cool and playing smart.”

Tudor describes himself as the emotional leader of the team; he’s a captain’s captain. This season, he averages six points per game off the bench, but his impact is not bound to statistics.

On the court, Tartar Control is led by newcomer David Mustian, a six-foot five-inch transfer from Christopher Newport University. He came to Tartar after last year’s star, Eddie Willis, spurned the 2010 club in the eleventh hour.

Mustian has been fabulous so far, averaging 20 points per game. In the team’s sweet sixteen game against Delta Sig, he buried all five of his three point attempts in the team’s 62-45 win.

“(Mustian) has given us the ability to both score and defend on the inside…he’s also our best outside shooter,” Tudor said.

It’s has not been smooth sailing for Tartar Control, however. They faced their fair share of adversity when Matt Mattioli, the team’s star point guard, re-aggravated a heel injury. The injury has limited his playing time during the playoffs, and kept him out of a few games.

“I think I’ve played pretty well (since the injury),” Mattioli said.

Despite missing the second and final regular season game, he is averaging eight points per game and several more assists.

Unfortunately for Tartar, a biology exam will keep Mattioli out of the lineup for tonight’s game.

“You can never replace a Matt Mattioli,” Tudor said.

This may be true, but the cupboard is not empty in the Tartar backcourt. Elite combo guard Greg Van Dyke will have to play a vital role if The Control wants to pull off the upset.

Van Dyke is listed at six-foot-three, and is best when slashing to the basket. He averages 12 points a game, down from 19 in high school. His ability to sacrifice shots for the benefit of the team exhibits just how cohesive this group really is.

The other key player in the Tartar backcourt is German Club intramural chair Cullen Reed, whose deadly accurate midrange jump shot is a vital asset to this team. If one were to compare him to a former great, Reed resembles a Rip Hamilton with a quicker release. No word on whether he'll bust out the face mask for tonight's game.

Reed is second on the team with 13 points per game.

Other players on the Tartar Control roster include Eric Cohen, Garrett Busic, and Ben Vaughan.

“Ben Vaughan has a red beard,” Tudor said.

Paul Laumer rounds out the Tartar bench. Despite only averaging one point per game, he gives the team an enthusiastic lift. Tudor describes him as Tartar's version of Paul Debnam.

Busic provides a bruising presence inside. A bulky six-foot, one-inch post, what Busic lacks in height he makes up for in heart.

If any opponent decides to get in the face of a Tartar player, Busic will be the first to step between them and take matters into his own hands.

To help facilitate the strong motivation Tartar has for this late playoff push, Mattioli started a thread of facebook messages featuring game strategies and pieces of inspiration.

“I started the thread to talk some strategy, but then Garrett wrote an inspirational message that pumped everybody up. Now people are posting motivational speeches from all sorts of movies, and everybody is fired up,” Mattioli said.

Love them or hate them, they might not be loaded with athletic freaks, but Tartar Control is on a mission. That mission involves shocking the Virginia Tech campus, and it continues tonight.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in War Memorial Gym, Court Three.

TARTAR CONTROL PROJECTED LINEUP

STARTERS

PG - #10 Cullen Reed (13.0 ppg)

SG - #33 Greg Van Dyke (12.0 ppg)

SF - #13 Eric Cohen (8.0 ppg)

PF - #85 Garrett Busic (8.0 ppg)

C - #27 David Mustian (20.0 ppg)

BENCH

G/F - #9 Ross Tudor (6.0 ppg)

G - #83 Ben Vaughan (2.0 ppg)

G- #0 Paul Laumer (1.0 ppg)