NCAA Basketball Quiz: I got this idea from the Wall Street Journal’s Kevin Clark and a bit he did back in December. I’m listing the national champions since 1997. Name the only five that were ranked #1 in the AP poll for at least one week during the regular season. Answer below.
2011 – UConn
2010 – Duke
2009 – North Carolina
2008 – Kansas
2007 – Florida
2006 – Florida
2005 – North Carolina
2004 – UConn
2003 – Syracuse
2002 – Maryland
2001 – Duke
2000 – Michigan State
1999 – UConn
1998 – Kentucky
1997 – Arizona
March Madness
1 Syracuse 72…16 UNC-Asheville 65…if Asheville star Matt Dickey goes just 5 for 13 from the field, rather than 1 for 13, history is made, you would think.
6 Murray State 58…11 Colorado State 41…Murray holds CSU to 33% shooting from the field. I’m pumped for the next one.
West Virginia star Kevin Jones ended his terrific four-year career on a sour note, going just 5 for 14 from the field in the Mountaineers 77-54 loss to Gonzaga. Jones, though, will be a terrific NBA ballplayer. Great kid, too. Draft him, New York!
11 N.C. State 79…6 San Diego State 65…last year’s adopted team for the kid just didn’t have the horses in this one, though America got to see a sprinkling of the talent that sophomore guard Jamaal Franklin has as he had 23 points and 8 rebounds. But I told you ahead of time, if James Rahon didn’t hit 2 threes, the Aztecs were doomed and sure enough, after he hit his first, he missed his next four, any one of which could have easily swung momentum in SDSU’s favor. But the Aztecs are loaded when it comes to next season, with some transfers becoming eligible, and it seems there is zero talk Franklin will head out early. Ergo, this is your hot ticket for 2012-2013. Top ten all season, baby! Aztecwear will be back!
15 Lehigh 75…2 Duke 70…yes, Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum was outstanding, 30 points, and he’s a future NBAer, but Duke did hold him to 9 of 24 from the field. What I was most impressed by was the super solid play of Lehigh’s big men. Talk about not being intimidated by the Plumlee boys. And what a choke job by Seth Curry, who just isn’t that good. Curry, who was 1 for 9 from the field, should have stayed at Liberty. Freshman sensation Austin Rivers’ performance (5 of 14 from the field) certainly was underwhelming, though it appears he’ll hit the draft just like Kyrie Irving. I think my friend, and Duke alum, Ken P., put it best. For starters, it’s time for Coach K. to shake up his staff.
12 South Florida 58…5 Temple 44…as Mark R. said, and as I noted in my AP/Seeding breakdown last time, Temple ended up proving it clearly didn’t deserve this seed.
15 Norfolk State 86…2 Missouri 84…what a great game. And it sure is fun every March watching a guy like Kyle O’Quinn burst on the scene. If you had heard of this kid before Friday, you’re a better man than me.
3 Florida State 66…14 St. Bonaventure 63…what a great effort by the Bonnies, who hardly looked like a team that needed to win the A-10 title game to get into the Big Dance. It’s just super seeing a small school like this step up and hopefully now have a consistent winner.
Pac-12…Cal lost to South Florida in the play-in game, 65-54; and in the NIT, there was a true shocker. Bucknell defeated Arizona by the same 65-54 score…in Arizona…Bucknell…
3 Marquette 62…6 Murray State 53…can we talk? What a frustrating conclusion to the Racers’ season. I invested a lot in my adopted team for 2011-2012 (as long as Wake Forest blows, I’m entitled to another school), literally, in both time and money, catching at least 12 of Murray’s games on ESPN plus my trip there in February, and I know these guys well. Let’s just say that superstar guard Isaiah Canaan came up woefully short…flat-out choked. After going just 4 for 13 from the field in the Colorado State win, Canaan went 4 for 17 against Marquette. You can’t win with that kind of play from your star.
But the second big scorer for Murray, Donte Poole, was 3 for 13 from the field, 1 of 9 from downtown. Poole and Canaan combined to go 3 of 17 from three, when Isaiah entered the game hitting .464 from deep and Poole was at .390.
And then you have big man Ivan Aska, a senior like Poole. Aska, who at worst should have a 10-year career in Europe, though he has NBA potential, could not have sucked more, missing one chippie after another down low, just 3 for 13 from the field.
So your top three scorers go a combined 10 for 43, and yet the Racers were up 46-41 with 7:30 to play, only to see Marquette go on a 21-7 run to close out the game.
For Murray State fans, what a huge disappointment. They should be going to their first ever Sweet Sixteen.
I know one thing, Canaan, who is now developing quite a reputation for choking in NCAA tourney play, better return for his senior year. He owes his school, coach, and teammates, big time. Should he do so, however, he’ll team with Zay Jackson to form one of the best backcourts in the land. And that’s a memo. [Oh, nice effort, on the other hand, by forward Ed Daniel, who has nowhere near the tools Aska has, but came to play. Daniel is back next season.]
As for Sunday’s action, first off, I assume I’m not the only one who wishes CBS et al had compressed the schedule, as was traditional on Sundays. I’m old and tired! I’m not staying up beyond the Lehigh game, wrote the grumpy editor; Lehigh’s clock striking midnight as they ran out of gas and succumbed to Xavier, 70-58.
Of course the big story on Sunday was North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall suffering a broken wrist, with no further details as to whether he will be available this week or the Final Four, should Carolina win its next two without him. Marshall has been playing great…a huge blow for the Tar Heels’ title hopes, even as Jon Henson returned against Creighton, a 87-73 victory, and had a double-double.
And 13 Ohio advances to its first Sweet Sixteen ever in beating 12 South Florida, 62-56.
–You know who is the most overrated coach in sports, and most egregiously overpaid? Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, who saw her grossly underachieving Lady Scarlet Knights, sixth-seeded in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, lose to 11th-seeded Gonzaga, 86-73, in first round play. Stringer makes $1.035 million a year!!! That’s outrageous. The men’s b-ball coach, Mike Rice, makes $650,000 by comparison. She sucks! [Channeling Eric Burdon…It’s my site, and I’ll do what I want…]
–We have a strong candidate for “Idiot(s) of the Year,” the Southern Mississippi band, some of whose members unbelievably chanted “where’s your green card?” at Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez. I’m being serious. Those who are optimistic about the future of America need just know this to feel otherwise. So freakin’ stupid. At least Southern Miss president Martha Saunders issued a statement after the game that read, “We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today’s game. The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriguez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident.”
I’d throw the kids in jail for just one night…that would shape ‘em up. “Hey, kids. My name is Jose. Heard what you’re in for. Look, Enrique. It’s the guys we were talking about.”
–And back to the action…how stupid was it for UConn’s Jeremy Lamb, his team down by 13 to Iowa State on Thursday, to attempt a windmill dunk at the buzzer?! Which he missed. What a disastrous year for the defending champions on so many different levels. Recall they can’t compete in the NCAA tourney next year because of poor academic ratings, for starters. Coach Jim Calhoun needs to step down to save his legacy (cutting him slack), let alone his health.
–How did Jim Boeheim end up with such a beautiful wife, Julie? Back to the action on the court….
–Like many of you, I was watching Syracuse vs. UNC-Asheville on Thursday and wondering about the lane violation that Reggie Miller in particular was bitching about. I just assumed, as Reggie was telling us, that it was a horrible call against Asheville.
Then, after the game, they go to the studio and Seth Davis sets us all straight…it was the right call. But there we were, thinking Reggie was right. We all should feel like a bunch of schmucks.
Peyton Manning Chase
Here I thought Peyton Manning said he’d make up his mind on where he wanted to play, quickly, out of respect for teams like Arizona that had to make expensive roster decisions. Guess I didn’t hear that right because Peyton is taking his time and Arizona had to pay the price, committing to quarterback Kevin Kolb and taking themselves out of the Peyton hunt because Kolb was owed a $7 million roster bonus on Friday. The Cardinals couldn’t afford to miss out on Peyton and then be without Kolb, too, who would have become a free agent.
I mean that sucks. Arizona was the perfect situation for Peyton. Not that winning a Super Bowl with the 49ers wouldn’t be a distinct possibility should Manning choose San Francisco, which suddenly seems likely. Or is it Tennessee? Or Denver?
Meanwhile, New York Giants Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham signed with San Francisco. The Giants couldn’t hold onto him, already committing to 1,000-yard receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. The Niners also signed Randy Moss.
And the New York Jets, looking for a backup now that they’ve committed to Mark Sanchez for another two years, or more, signed Detroit Lions backup Drew Stanton. Who? Oh, I remember he was a decent QB at Michigan State, and he was a second-round pick, but he’s been largely invisible for four years, starting just four games. Whatever.
The Jets also signed receiver Chaz Schilens. Chaz who? Now this guy has also been in the league four years, with Oakland, and caught all of 72 passes during that time, but I love this move. He’s 6-4 and does a 4.38 (40) when healthy. That’s the problem. He is seldom healthy. I’m guessing he becomes a New York favorite…as long as the New York Mets trainers don’t get near the guy. [Inside joke for Mets fans only.]
Who says punters can’t make good money? The Giants signed Steve Weatherford to a five-year, $12.75 million contract, including a $3.25 million signing bonus! The guy is good, I must say. Jets should have kept him!
2012 Sports Person of the Year
Folks, can we just get Sports Illustrated to issue a cover of Lindsey Vonn and end the suspense early? After all, Vonn is clearly Sports Person of the Year, declared first here, unless you tell me Rory McIlroy wins three of golf’s four majors, or Matt Kemp wins the Triple Crown and leads the Dodgers to an improbable World Series, or Novak Djokovic wins the Grand Slam, otherwise, it’s Vonn. End of story.
The world’s greatest skier set a record for the most World Cup points in a season on Saturday as she has already clinched her fourth overall World Cup title. On Wednesday, she won a downhill in Austria, her 12th victory of the season and 53rd of her career. Only Vreni Schneider of Switzerland won more races in a single World Cup season, with 14 in 1988-89. Vonn also has 17 podium finishes this year (top-three), leaving her just one short of that record.
Go on, be a Tiger…not…
I have to admit; from the excerpts I’ve seen from Tiger Woods’ former swing coach Hank Haney’s book, “The Big Miss,” it seems like the perfect work for a long plane ride or the beach.
Here’s one…from the New York Post’s Susannah Cahalan and Michael Gartland:
“No more porn stars – unless he really, really loves them.
“That’s the lesson Tiger Woods learned from sex-addiction therapy, according to his swing coach Hank Haney.
“ ‘There are some girls who are going to be after me even more now, especially the wild ones,’ the golfer told Haney after finishing therapy. ‘But what I learned is that for the rest of my life I can’t have sex with someone unless I genuinely feel something for them. If I do, I’m putting myself in jeopardy.’
“Haney, in his tell-all…paints his student of six years as a tempestuous, rude, cheap, porn-watching superstar oblivious to those around him.
“Woods referred to his hired help as ‘friends,’ but he hardly treated them like it, Haney writes.
“For example, once Tiger would finish his dinner at a restaurant – even when he was with his wife, Elin – he’d get up, leave without a word and expect everyone to follow, even if they were still eating.
“ ‘When he was done – and he habitually ate fast – you were done,’ Haney recalls.
“And whenever they got takeout, Haney would have to pick up the food – and the tab. ‘He seemed to think it was funny to be cheap.’
“Haney recalls cringing when Tiger would completely ignore ‘little-kid autograph seekers who were begging him to stop.’
“He says Woods was a walking contradiction – charming but cold, focused by aloof.”
Naila-Jean Meyers and Julie Bosman of the New York Times have this from Haney’s book:
“When we were watching television after dinner, he’d sometimes go to the refrigerator to get a sugar-free popsicle,” Haney writes. “But he never offered me one or ever came back with one, and one night I really wanted one of those popsicles. But I found myself sitting kind of frozen, not knowing what to do next. I didn’t feel right just going to the refrigerator and taking one, and I kind of started laughing to myself at how hesitant I was to ask Tiger for one. It actually took me a while to summon the courage to blurt out, ‘Hey, Bud, do you think I could have one of those popsicles?’”
Ball Bits
–The Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins said he thinks slugger Ryan Howard may be lost for the entire season as the first baseman recovers from his Achilles’ injury suffered back in the playoffs. It turns out Howard’s recovery has been set back by an infection, which sounds a little scary. The Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell has a story on how rapidly the Phillies are aging and what was once thought to be a dynasty could have trouble making the playoffs this year, with the rising, and far younger, Braves, Nationals and Marlins to deal wtih. The N.L. East is where it’s going to be happenin’ this year, baby.
Boswell points out, by the way, that the Phillies rely on 10 players who are 32 to 41. “Five of them have $337 million in guaranteed long-term contracts, including $125 million to Howard.”
While they won 102 games last year for their fifth straight N.L. East crown, the Phils’ run-scoring has dropped from 892 in 2007 to just 713 last season. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels can only carry the team so much.
–Out of nowhere, Andy Pettitte unretired, even though the Yankees are loaded with starting pitchers. Kind of bizarre, but then some think Yankees’ brass is worried about the lack of velocity on new acquisition Michael Pineda’s pitches thus far in spring training. Pettitte, who turns 40 in June, last pitched in 2010, going 11-3 in 21 games. It turns out that Yanks GM Brian Cashman had offered Pettitte $10 million to $12 million last December. Pettitte said he needed some time to think it over and work out to see if he was capable of a comeback and Cashman said he didn’t have the time, so the GM went out and got Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda. Pettitte will now get $2.5 million, but wouldn’t be ready until May.
–Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully is making further concessions to age. As in the 84-year-old is in his 63rd season! I should hope he makes some concessions. Scully said he’ll only do home games and road games in California and Arizona, which means he’ll still be doing 100 games. I need to remember to catch Scully this year on the Net.
–This is great…Ryan Braun was booed big time when his name was announced in a game with the Angels on Saturday, “rained down” on him, as reported by the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin. And not that it matters this early in the spring, but Braun is struggling mightily at the plate. Hehe. I hope he hits .224 with 9 homers and 43 RBI.
–So as I noted when I went to post last Bar Chat, New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was in the process of resigning and he was replaced on an interim basis for the balance of the season by Mike Woodson, who has extensive coaching experience in the NBA.
Woodson, known for his focus on defense, has suddenly seen the Knicks play inspired ball in winning three straight under his direction, including back-to-back efforts against the solid Indiana Pacers on Friday and Saturday. It’s going to be very interesting to see if he can guide them into playoffs, thus forcing Knicks management to either commit to him or go after Phil Jackson. It’s assumed they’ll do the latter, but Woodson could make the decision very difficult.
As for Linsanity, sales of merchandise are plummeting, an example being Cosby’s sporting goods store, adjacent to the Garden, where sales of t-shirts have gone from an average of 70 a day to a handful. Lin items, such as pennants and flags, are being marked down across the New York area. Coach Woodson, while standing by Lin for now, especially with Baron Davis hurt, has strongly hinted Lin may not be his starter.
–After jerking his team, and the New Jersey Nets, around, Orlando’s Dwight Howard agreed not to opt out of the final year of a contract that will pay him $19.2 million next season, saying he is committed to winning a championship for the Magic. Until now, he had been talking of joining his friend Deron Williams in New Jersey (next year Brooklyn). Poor Nets. Now they’ll likely lose Williams to Dallas.
—Luke Donald regained the No. 1 world ranking as he captured his 5th career PGA Tour title in a four-way playoff at the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook. Donald defeated Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus, and Korea’s Bae Sang-Moon.
But the event will also be known for a major choke job by Ernie Els, as he had the lead but missed two, 4-foot putts in the final holes. Els is in danger of missing The Masters for the first time since 1993.
–Former Penn State and NFL great Franco Harris said the entire PSU board of trustees should be replaced for failing to show leadership during the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Harris also called the decision to fire Joe Paterno “unconscionable.”
A Quinnipiac University survey of Pennsylvania’s registered voters found 46% feel Penn State’s football stadium should be named after Paterno, while 40% were opposed. I say we need to wait 2 years on that one. More of the truth needs to come out. Beaver Stadium, by the way, is named for James Beaver, a Pennsylvania governor of the late 19th century; and not Nate “Eager” Beaver, the prodigious builder who eluded trappers during the same period.
—College Baseball Top Ten (USA TODAY Coaches Poll)
1. Florida
2. Stanford
3. South Carolina
4. North Carolina
5. Rice
6. Florida State
7. Arkansas
8. Texas A&M
9. Arizona
10. Miami (Fla.)
–Sunday, March 18, would have been racing legend Mark Donohue’s 75th birthday. The 1972 Indy 500 champ died in a crash during a practice round for the Austrian Grand Prix on Aug. 19, 1975. Long-time readers know that Donohue grew up in my hometown of Summit, New Jersey, and that he is buried a half mile from where I live. So I just got back from paying my respects. A few toy cars are always respectfully placed on the tombstone, with some small checkered flags in the ground. If I remember, I’ll place a car there myself on Memorial Day, the 40th anniversary of his Indy triumph.
Team owner Roger Penske once said, “Mark Donohue was the catalyst for all we have achieved at Penske Racing. When I look at the 300-plus victories and what we’ve been able to accomplish, it was Mark who set the standard.”
Here’s some major trivia for you. It was Mark Donohue who gave Penske his first NASCAR win, a road course victory at Riverside.
–Update: After commenting on it last time, HBO was forced to cancel “Luck” following the death of a third thoroughbred during production. The move was made by David Milch, the show’s creator, even though they had already started production on a second season. Boy, with stars such as Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, that had to be a painful decision. Imagine being a writer, or a production staffer, where you’re just trying to put food on the table and you think you have another year wrapped up.
–On a better equine note, legendary horse Zenyatta gave birth to her first baby the other day, a colt weighing 130 lbs. that has yet to be named. And to answer the question, “Who’s your daddy?” it’s Bernardini, winner of the 2006 Preakness on one of the saddest days in racing history; think Barbaro.
–As of Saturday, Anchorage, Alaska was just 3 inches shy of its all-time snow record, which is 132.6 inches (the average is 69 inches). The city has hauled off 250,000 tons of snow and the six disposal sites are overflowing. Now that would be a fun bet…what day this summer does it all disappear.
Consider this. The maintenance superintendent said the 125,000 truckloads of snow hauled by city crews would stack up to almost 1,200 feet if they were dumped onto a football field surrounded by walls. [USA TODAY]
–Uh oh…Yellowstone National Park officials are concerned about the upcoming tourist season and bear encounters, this after two hikers were killed in separate grizzly attacks last summer. The estimated grizzly bear population in the lower 48 is said to be 1,700, with roughly a third in or near Yellowstone. There are 35,000-40,000 in Alaska. There are an estimated 800,000 black bears across 41 states and Canada. Did you know there are 3,000 black bears in Florida?
“An earless baby bunny that was a rising star on Germany’s celebrity animal scene had his 15 minutes of fame brought to an abrupt end when he was accidentally stepped on by a television cameraman.
“The fate of 17-day-old Til, a rabbit with a genetic defect, was plastered across German newspapers on Thursday, the same day a small zoo in Saxony was to have presented him to the world at a press conference.
“The cameraman told Bild newspaper he had not seen Til, who had buried himself in hay, when he took the fateful step backwards on Wednesday.
“Zoo director Uwe Dempewolf told Spiegel magazine that Til did not suffer.”
Zoo officials were to freeze Til, before deciding whether to stuff him. Sounds like Til is more suited to be a refrigerator magnet.
–Among the many magazines I subscribe to is Britain, which is basically a travel mag and if you like to dream of taking trips to quaint villages, or hiking in the hills and mountains, it’s top notch.
But I see this piece titled “The Regent’s Park Beekeeper,” the place being in central London, and there are some incredible stats on bees. So herewith…”The Buzz About Beekeeping.”
150 million…The number of years that it is believed bees have been producing honey in the same way.
27 kilograms…The volume of honey an average hive can produce in one good season.
55,000 miles…The distance bees fly to make one pound of honey. It equates to one-and-a-half times around the world!
20 second…The time the queen bee takes between laying eggs.
35,000 bees…The typical amount of honey bees in a hive during the height of summer.
150 bumbles…The typical bumble bee population (much smaller than the 35-50,000 of the honey bee).
Five eyes…Yes, honey bees have five eyes, which are capable of seeing color.
20 mph…The speed at which a worker honey bee can travel. Once laden with pollen this speed slows to 12mph.
One million…The number of pollen loads (each weighing 20mg) that a honey bee can collect each season or year. [Source: The British Beekeepers Association]
There’s only conclusion to draw, sports fans. Honey bees vault to No. 24 on the All-Species List! Man, owing to his actions in the likes of Syria, falls to No. 197, just ahead of the moth.
–Don Kaplan of the New York Post reports some distressing news for Stones fans looking forward to a 50th anniversary reunion tour this year. It seems Mick Jagger is still very torqued off at Keith Richards for the latter’s insulting Mick’s manhood in Richard’s tell-all autobiography.
Supposedly Richards apologized last week in an effort to patch things up, but Jagger is having none of it. A Stones source told London’s Daily Mail:
“Mick feels that Keith violated their friendship completely, damaging his reputation and that of the Rolling Stones.”
Top 3 songs for the week 3/19/83: #1 “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson…he’s dead, you know) #2 “Shame On The Moon” (Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band…good effort) #3 “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” (Culture Club…this was one of the most depressing sounding songs of all time, plus I was going through a rough stretch in my life…again…nothing but misery and despair…and lots of beer!!!)…and…#4 “Hungry Like The Wolf” (Duran Duran…blows) #5 “Back On The Chain Gang” (Pretenders…dreadful) #6 “You Are” (Lionel Richie… eh) #7 “We’ve Got Tonight” (Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton…prior to Kenny having surgery on his face, which made him a walking advertisement for not having this procedure done) #8 “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (Journey…whatever) #9 “One On One” (Daryl Hall & John Oates…can’t complain about this one given the crappy era overall) #10 “Mr. Roboto” (Styx…incredibly bad tune…surprised God didn’t recall it… “We can’t have this on the radio, boys!!!” God being a big listener of Top 40)
NCAA Basketball Quiz Answer: Peak AP ranking for the last 15 national champions, only five of which were #1 during the regular season.
2011 – UConn…4
2010 – Duke…3
2009 – North Carolina…1
2008 – Kansas…2
2007 – Florida…1
2006 – Florida…2
2005 – North Carolina…2
2004 – UConn…1
2003 – Syracuse…11
2002 – Maryland…2
2001 – Duke…1
2000 – Michigan State…2
1999 – UConn…1
1998 – Kentucky…4
1997 – Arizona…6
*This year, heading into the tourney, there have been only three AP #1s; North Carolina, Kentucky and Syracuse.
