Tournament Flashback #8-Kansas and Memphis
One of the best games of the last decade took place as recent as 2008. The Championship Game between Kansas and Memphis.
Memphis coach John Calipari had a theory-even though his team had one of the worst free throw percentages in the country at 59%, it wouldn’t matter, because in a big game, his team would deliver. he found out the hard way, he was wrong.
With what appeared to be a victory for Memphis, simply needing a few free throws for the win, turned into a nightmare. Memphis missed 4 out of 5 attempts at the line, which gave Kansas just enough of a windiow to come back. Thanks to a Mario Chalmers, 3-pointer with 2 seconds left in regulation put the game in overtime. it was part of a fantastic 9 point comeback in the final two minutes.
In the end, Kansas upset Memphis 75-68 in OT. and Calapari got one of the better headcoaching gigs in the country at the University of Kentucky.
March 15, 2010 at 4:12 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Raiders Release Gerard Warren
In case you haven’t noticed, the Raiders are actually doing something right for a change. They are releasing older talent, making room for some younger bodies to get some playing money, while saving a little cash.
The latest casualty, DT Gerard Warren, who joins running back Justin Fargas, defensive end Greg Ellis and receiver Javon Walker.
Why not dump him. It’s not like he’s helping stop the run or anything.
How about the most obvious move of all…Jamarcus Russell!
March 11, 2010 at 6:09 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Tournament Flashback #7-Syracuse/Connecticut
Six overtimes, It took almost four hours, and if you were back east it spanned two days. It was the longest game in Big East history and became an instant classic. “I’ve got no words,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said “I’ve never been prouder of any team I’ve coached.” Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn played all but three minutes and finished with 34 points and 11 assists said after the game he just wanted the game to end. He didn’t care who one. “We lost the game because we turned the ball over 27 times and couldn’t make a foul shot,” Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said.
But the classic almost didn’t take place. As the game was tied at 71, Harris ran the baseline and threw an inbounds pass past midcourt that was deflected by Connecticut’s Gavin Edwards to Devendorf, who let a shot go from about 28 feet just as the red lights went off. It went in, and Devendorf jumped up on the courtside press table, pounding his chest and screaming as his teammates reached up and pulled him down to the court. It didn’t count.
March 9, 2010 at 3:15 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
How We See It-David Carr Good For 49ers? Plus Omri Casspi Benched
On How We See It, we had a couple of hot button topics to discuss.
How about this David Carr signing by the 49ers? Is this going to be a move that makes an impact? What about Sean Hill’s future?
Also, we discuss the “rookie wall” issue regarding Omri Casspi. Is Paul Westphal doing the right thing?
Take a listen below.
March 8, 2010 at 1:14 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Tournament Flashback #6-Houston and UCLA
It’s been labeled the game of the century. Houston and UCLA. The year was 1968. UCLA seemed unbeatable, riding a 47 game win streak, and they had the best player in the country in Lew Alcindor, who of course became Kareem-Abdul Jabbar. The #2 Houston team had Elvin Hayes, who was often considered a best player in the country candidate next to Alcindor. It was the first prime time game on television in college basketball history, paving the way for the madness of March for years. Played at the Astrodome to a record 53,000 fans, Alcindor was hindered with an eye abrasion, This would be the worst performance of his college career. It was the only time he shot less than 50% from the field.
Helped by Elvin Hayes and his 39 point performance, Houston beat UCLA by two, 71-69.
March 4, 2010 at 12:24 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Pro Bowl Headed Back To Hawaii, But Will Be Before Super Bowl
It looks like the Pro Bowl will move back to Hawaii for at least the next two seasons. However, it will still play a week before the Super Bowl, as that was proven to re-ignite interest this season. That’s a lot of traveling for players if they participate in the Pro Bowl, then are going to the big game the following week. Expect more players dropping out, like they do every other year.
March 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Tournament Flashback #5-Duke vs. Kentucky
In 1992, Six years earlier, Duke beat Kentucky in an overtime classic with the long pass and the Christian Laettner turnaround jumper. But in 1998, it was Kentucky’s chance for revenge.
Kentucky at one point trailed by 18 points, and looked to be in trouble in the first half. They couldn’t hit a shot and Duke was clicking on all cylinders. Kentucky’s 3-point shooting wasn’t a factor and Nazr Mohammed was off balance.
But thanks in part to Wayne Turner’s quickness, and playmaking ability, Duke’s lead slowly eroded. In fact, Kentucky took their first lead of the game after guard Cameron Mills made a 3 with 2:15 left as Kentucky lead 80-79. But the backbreaker was the three that Kentucky’s Scott Padgett made to control the game fopr good, as the cats of Kentucky staged an amazing 18 point comeback over Duke.
March 1, 2010 at 4:54 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Tournament Flashback #4-Georgetown Against Princeton
The year was 1989, sports bars everywhere were full on St. Patricks Day, and the game they were watching was this one…Georgetown against Princeton.
In a game where some thought the Hoyas would win by 30, turned into one of the greatest games ever in college basketball history. Ask King assistant Pete Carril..he was the Princeton mastermind that was always the dark horse, even though he had built a reputation for defense, and regularly would beat a team ranked in the top twenty.
The odds of Princeton turning an upset were so few that Dick Vitale proclaimed if Georgetown lost, he would serve as a ball boy at the next Tigers game. He came close.
The backdoor cutting Ivy Leaguers gave the Hoyas quite a scare. They spread the floor, forcing Alonzo mourning to guard at the free throw line. It came down to the final shot as Zo fouled Kit Mueller, but the refs didn’t call it, and Georgetown escaped 50-49.
Carill was now a hero in the media even after the loss. and said of the blown call, with his trademark humor, “We’ll have to take that up with God, when we get there.”
February 25, 2010 at 12:37 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | No comment
Tournament Flashback #3-Loyola Marymount and Michigan
In 1990, an incredible game took place featuring Loyola Marymount and Michigan. Loyola Marymount just had that look in their eye, as just two weeks earlier, one of their players Hank Gathers-died suddenly in a West Coast Conference tournament game. ”We’re an emotional hurricane,” guard Jeff Fryer said. ”A lot of our play is based on pure skill, but we’re also very focused because we’re doing this for Hank. We don’t think anything is going to stand in our way.”
Each Loyola player wore over their hearts a small round black patch with Gathers’s number, 44, in white.
After setting a national record that season for 124 points a game, they now set out on a crusade to walk all over the bigger Michigan opponent they faced, and they did. Thanks to Fryer’s unbelieveable record setting performance, going 11-15 from the 3 point stripe, Fryer had 41 points. Bo Kimble had 37.
Loyola Marymount 149, Michigan 115. It was the highest-scoring game in tournament history.
February 24, 2010 at 11:45 am | Derek Moore's Blog | 1 comment
We Look At Kevin Martin’s Highlights As A Sacramento King
There’s been a lot of negative talk about Kevin Martin over the last couple of seasons, thanks to injuries and team chemistry. Now that he’s a Houston Rocket, we decided to look at some of the great moments.
February 23, 2010 at 2:03 pm | Derek Moore's Blog | 1 comment
Powered by FireStats