The Shots archive
SHOT SELECTION
Derek Schultz
With no big stories but tons of little stories, mostly related to the month of March and hoops in general, we've decided to give you another Shot Selection. Enjoy.
Swish: Jarrett JackWhen Jack came over from Portland in a Draft Day trade last summer, he was considered a throw-in that would add some depth but not much else. Fast forward to March and you can make the argument that Jack is the only thing keeping the Pacers’ faint playoff hopes alive. J-squared has averaged 20.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds over the past 12 games , helping the Pacers stay right in the thick of things in the craptacular Eastern Conference playoff race. Jack’s deal expires this summer, but you can bet that Larry Bird and the Pacers’ brass is going to really try to keep him in Indy. Thanks to Jack, the Pacers have been able to survive the entirety of Danny Granger’s foot injury. Granger should return this week meaning that the Blue and Gold still have an outside chance of breaking their two-year playoff drought.
Jack has been on fire lately, and the Pacers are still alive
Brick: Davidson
After being last year’s lone Cinderella with a memorable run to the Elite 8 and returning star guard Stephen Curry, Davidson had high hopes going into the 2008-09 season. But, Sunday’s 59-52 loss to College of Charleston in the Southern Conference Tournament semis ended whatever faint hopes the Wildcats had of making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Though they were 26-7 this season, Davidson was viewed as a disappointment because they went just 1-4 against NCAA Tournament caliber teams (Oklahoma, Purdue, Duke, Butler, and West Virginia), and lost three games in league play. Curry still led the nation in scoring () but he couldn’t win games by himself. It became clear that everyone severely underrated the departing senior class that made Davidson’s Cinderella run possible – guys like Thomas Sander, Boris Meno, and most importantly of all PG Jason Richards (12.7 ppg, 8.1 apg in 2007-08). Curry will likely head to the Draft, but Davidson will stay in contention for March as long as Bob McKilop is at the helm.
Air Ball: Billy Gillispie
Take a good look at Kentucky this year – this is the exact reason why I won’t sing the praises of Tom Crean until IU shows some results. Everyone was in love with Gillispie after his under-talented UK team scrapped their way to an NCAA berth last year. But, now that this year’s Kentucky team could head to the NIT despite having two sure-fire SEC first teamers in Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson, UK fans are having second thoughts. Kentucky hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament since 1991, and have won two championships since the last time they missed the Dance. Breaking the streak is even more frustrating considering that his year’s version of the SEC might be the worst major conference that we’ve seen in years, and Kentucky couldn’t do better than 8-8. Would UK be crazy to fire Gillispie after just two years? Absolutely. But at programs like Kentucky (much like Indiana), the fans still expect to compete for National Championships every single year. Gillispie will get another shot next year, but the honeymoon is clearly over.
The love affair with Gillispie in Lexington was short-lived
Swish: New York Yankees' PR department
In case you’ve been living under a rock, you might’ve seen that Alex Rodriguez will miss the next 6-9 weeks after undergoing hip surgery on Monday. While the Yankees’ brass is in full panic mode and Yankees’ fans are trying to figure out who the hell Cody Ransom is, the team’s public relations department has to be thrilled. Now that A-Rod will miss at least the first month of the regular season, that means that the new Yankee Stadium will open without a black steroids cloud hanging over the façade. The steroids questions will eventually be there, but dodging them for another month should help the Yankees begin focusing on the product on the field. As for the team itself, I’m not going to argue that the Yankees are a better team without A-Rod because they’re not. However, with the addition of Mark Teixera, and with a healthy Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada (who has been hitting the cover off the ball this spring), the Bombers should be able to compensate for the first few weeks.
Brick: Purdue
The Boilermakers obviously haven’t lived up to their lofty preseason expectations, but I give them a bit of a break because of Robbie Hummel’s back injury (plus injury and illness issues with the rest of the team). However, I can’t give them a pass for losing at home to Northwestern. Sure, this isn’t your older brother’s Northwestern team, but that doesn’t make losing to them on Senior Night acceptable. Under Painter, Mackey Arena has once again become a house of horrors for opposing teams. Purdue beat Michigan and Michigan State by 18 points in that building, and they beat Ohio State by 25. Add in the loss to the Spartans in the regular season finale and the Boilers (22-9, 11-7) go limping into the postseason losers of 3 of their last 4. A Big Ten Tournament run may change my mind, but I’m starting to think that just winning a game in the NCAA Tournament should be the goal at this point.
Though Northwestern is improved, a home loss to the Cats is reason for concern
Air Ball: Bubble Busters
How many times have we seen “bubble” teams needing just one win over an inferior opponent to greatly enhance their NCAA Tournament resume only to gag all over themselves? How many times have we seen Maryland be that team? The Terps did it again last week, falling to ACC lightweight Virginia and severely damaging their hopes of an at-large bid. But, Maryland wasn’t the only team that crapped the bed. After an emotional last-second victory over Illinois, Penn State was unable to lock up a bid by losing to 10th place Iowa in double overtime. Last week they swept Duquesne and beat Dayton at the buzzer, yet Rhode Island was unable to put away an 11-win UMass team on Senior Night. Earlier in the week, Kentucky lost at home to last-place Georgia, Georgetown lost to St. John’s and Cincinnati lost to South Florida. This is why people like Jim Boeheim are not only wrong, but just plain stupid to think that the NCAA Tournament field needs to be expanded. These teams a shot at a National Championship? Please.
The Shots Fantasy Update:
Dry H***ing is Racing – 181 point week (1st place and 5th place in the two leagues)
Somehow I stayed atop of one of my friend’s league despite a dreadful week, but I did fall four spots in my other league. The lone bright spot was Brian Vickers, who accounted for almost half of my points thanks to a fifth place finish. Kyle Busch – who always sucks when I start him – stayed to form with an 18th place finish. David Reutimann (32nd) and Bobby Labonte (40th) combined for 40 points. It’s a nine-month season so weeks like this happen.
For some reason, Reuitmann always screws my team
Wii Golf Superstar – 156 point week (1st place)
I’m over 100 points onto the podium (from 4th place that is) meaning that I’m almost a full round up on placing. Ernie Els (42 pts), Davis Love III (44 pts), and Rory McIllroy (40 pts) all finished near the top of the leaderboard. At least this makes up for my garbage Fantasy NBA teams.
Chris Childs’ Fist def. Yes Sir! 5-4
DG for 3…Home Run! Def. DAntoniMR (explicit), 5-4
I’m 7 1/2 ames out of making the playoffs in my Knicks’ blog league with two weeks to go (aka I’m done), and tied for the 6th and final playoff spot in my friend’s league. It’ll all be over soon.
The Shots What to Watch this week:
Any of the Big Ten Tournament First Round games, Thursday
With so many bubble teams inhabiting the Big Ten, this is maybe the first time ever that all four of the opening round games are significant. Penn State, Michigan, Minnesota, and even Minnesota are all varying degrees of alive for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
Utah at Miami, Saturday
After watching the Jazz beat the Pacers live on Tuesday, I can tell you that there isn't a lot I don't like about that team. The lack a true superstar (Deron Williams is a star, but a cut below Wade/LeBron/Kobe/Howard, etc.), but they are extremely deep and they play great defense.
Guys like Millsap and Korver are what make Utah so dangerous
Team USA vs. Netherlands/Puerto Rico, Sunday
Depending on the outcome of Wednesday night's Pool C and D finales, the Americans could play either the Netherlands or Puerto Rico. With as good as they looked in the first two games, and with co-favorite Dominican Republic getting bounced, it looks like Team USA is the overwhelming favorite to win it all.
The Shots Chick Pick this week: Evangeline Lily
Remember when Lost was popular, like four years ago? I guess I'm late to the party.
See you next week.
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Shoot your own Shots in the mailbag: derek@XL950.com.
