Well my derby picks didn't exactly work out, but Mrs. W randomly picked the winner, "I'll Have Another", probably because she's a raging alcoholic and that brought in some dough. Which, naturally, she immediately assumes is hers and has already been trying to figure out what to buy with it. Funny how that works. When I win and make a withdrawal, she's buys something. When she wins and I don't make a withdrawal, she's buys something. Frankly as long as she keeps reading that book I don't much care what else she does. In any case, sorry for the shitty derby picks. Here's some other thoughts on what's going on.
- Gopher dream transfer Trent Lockett picked Marquette over the Gophers, and it appears that your favorite team was never really in the mix. Whether it's because Lockett had no interest (understandable), Tubby and no interest (ridiculous), or simply because they didn't have a scholarship (come on), from what I can tell from very limited research he never even considered the U. It's too bad because he would have been the second or third best player on the team depending on where you want to slot Dre Hollins, but if the Gophers were going to lose a player (well kind of) losing one on the wing was the way to go. They should have enough perimeter guys to get them through, but this puts a ton of extra pressure on the Hollins twins. Assuming Mbakwe is healthy (yes a big assumption) it's going to be on those two how good/how far this Gopher team can go. Well, them and Charles Buggs, the next Hakim Warrick/JaJuan Johnson. Give it time. Love has patience.
- Sticking with college basketball, inside sources have confirmed for me that Butler is moving to the Atlantic-10, which is a great move for both parties. Butler gets to step up and challenge itself with programs like Xavier and Temple (assuming they're not moving because frankly I can't keep up with all the moves), while the A-10 grabs another marquee school (I know they weren't last year, but back-to-back Final Fours says a lot). Apparently the A-10 is also looking to grab VCU and George Mason out of the Colonial, and that pretty much has to vault them ahead of the Mountain West for basketball power, doesn't it? Certainly Conference USA if they weren't there already, and possibly even the Pac-10 the way things are going lately. Crazy basketball world. Next thing you know San Diego State will be in the Big East.
- I know, I should talk Twins but they suck worse than Woody Allen movies. I mean, all these people are in the lineup tonight: Komatsu (I literally have no idea who this is, where's Ben Revere?), Brian Dozier, Danny Valencia, Trevor Plouffe, Drew Butera, and Jamey Carroll. How many of those guys are big league hitters? Valencia and Plouffe combined make one? Honestly how many Twins could you even write anything positive about this year? Span (for being a good leadoff guy), Willingham (for not completely tanking after his hot start), and Doumit (for doing exactly what he's supposed to - be average at everything with average defense at 3 positions)? I mean for fuck's sake they were just praising Mauer for hitting a double - a double that was a blooper down the left field line (yes I'm actually watching the game, but just until Mrs. W is out of the shower because she won't watch this garbage and they're way too shitty for me to go all the way downstairs to watch.)
I guess the bullpen has been better than expected because three guys are having good years out of there (Burton, Gray, Burnett), but you Burnett and at least one of those other two is going to go back to sucking, the most important reliever (Capps) might be the worst one in the pen not named Maloney, and pretty much all of this is moot because the Twins have to have the worst rotation in all of baseball. And there's no hope for the future. None. The only possible prayer is the Twins' knock this upcoming draft out of the park with a bunch of college players who are going to be close to ready and can get here before Morneau and Mauer are completely washed up, because you know damn well the Twins are stuck with those two for the rest of their careers because nobody else is going to overpay to that extent. A terrible present and a non-existent future. This is exactly how the Wolves used to feel. I guess the Twins need a Rubio in this draft. What would that be, some kind of pitcher with studly stuff who makes the game fun to watch? Yeah, I'd take that. Thanks for nothing, Kyle Gibson. But apparently this team completely owns Dan Haren, which makes total sense.
- Staying with baseball for a moment, did you see my boyfriend Cole Hamels got suspended for five games for admitting to intentionally hitting Brian Harper's dickhead kid? And here's how it went down - Hamels plunked him in the back, not the head or anywhere, but the back - the most accepted place to hit someone intentionally. Harper went to first without a look, without a glance, without a reaction (which was kind of surprising because unlike his dad I thought he was kind of a dick). Then later Hamels comes up and Jordan Zimmerman hits Cole in the leg, to which he just jogs down to first without a look or reaction. Hard-nosed baseball where all parties understand exactly what's going on. But because Hamels admitted it he gets rung for five games (which for a starting pitcher means 1 game but still). What about Zimmerman, shouldn't he get a game too? It's all so stupid. I'm not a big whiner about the "pussification of America" since I think football and surfing should be outlawed as too dangerous, but this is so stupid. If somebody hits a dude in the head then yeah, hammer him. But this was harmless. Hamels should pitch in a skirt next time. If nothing else it'd be kinda hot.
- Last baseball thing quick. I was following a Mets' game the other night due to a wager I made (3 actually, and I won all 3 so suck it) and these were some Met players: Kirk Nieuwenheis, Andres Torres, Josh Thole, Justin Turner, Ruben Tejada, Mike Baxter, and Mike Nickeas. Those are all batters. I'm in a pretty deep fantasy baseball league and regularly play baseball player prop bets so I know players quite well even in the NL, and I'm only vaguely familiar with a couple of those guys. That team may be more messed up than the Twins, and they have more money (although most of it is wrapped up in Jason Bay lolololol oh wait Twins/Mauer right). Actually bite my tongue because apparently when your recreations all involve following players you sometimes miss shit like the Mets are 17-13. I'm not going to go sever my own limbs with a chainsaw and then drown myself in my own blood.
That was pretty morbid. Go Twins.
Showing posts with label Trent Lockett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trent Lockett. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Gopher Notes on a Sweet 16 Thursday
- Obviously the Sweet 16 is the big news tonight, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention at least a couple of Gopher related items - this NIT Final Four berth and the Trent Lockett news.
First, it's still the NIT. No matter what, it's the NIT, but I will say that I'm actually starting to care. The first win at LaSalle was an ok win. The win at Miami was pretty worthless because it was clear neither the Miami team nor their fans cared to be there, but there was some merit in blowing a team out like that. Now the win over Middle Tennessee? You can officially call that a very good win, and the whole string taken together is a nice little run. Middle Tennessee was the Sun Belt regular season champion with an RPI of 74 who probably would have made the NCAA Tournament if they hadn't lost in the first round of the conference tournament and lost only once before at home this season. Not to mention a program like that isn't going to just go through the motion in the NIT like Miami, because when are the Blue Raiders going to have another chance to play on a national stage like Madison Square Garden? This was a talented team, a motivated team, and a strong home team and the Gophers beat them and controlled the game.
I'm not even sure who to be the most impressed with, because there's a lot going right here. Rodney Williams seems to have figured out how to take his limitless athleticism and use it to create easy buckets for himself, because he's scored 20+ in four straight games and has shot 34-48 in that stretch, and no that's not a mis-type. Outside of the LaSalle game he's 25-31. I mean. Jesus.
And as much as I'm falling for Rodney all over again, Andre Hollins might be my true new love. I'm telling you man, my comparison of him to Russell Westbrook is pure genius, because he's got like, the same kind of game. Fearless, either driving to the rim or with his jumper, lightning quick, and just an incredible leader already and he's just a freshman. He's currently running a seven game streak of scoring in double figures with three of those games over 20. I don't know if he'll ever become a true distributor, but I don't know if he really has to considering we're just talking college success here. One thing is for certain - he's the kind of kid you can build a team around. As long as him, his brother Austin, and Rodney are around next year this team has as decent shot at getting back to the NCAAs, especially if Elliott Elliason can play more like he did against MTSU (12 pts/7 rebs) instead of like he did against LaSalle/Miami (1 pt/4 rebs combined) and Mo Walker comes back and can play. If Tubby lets them play this wide open style.
And that's the last person I need to mention being impressed with, because Tubby seems more engaged in this tournament than he did in the last month and it shows. Even more impressive is he's shifted his philosophy or whatever you want to call it and it's playing to the strengths of his team. They're playing at a faster tempo (at least it seems like it, I was going to actually look up the numbers but I can't find them and am too lazy to calculate it myself) and that's played to the strength of a young team that's loaded with guards. He's also been willing to play his core far more minutes per game with four players on the floor for 30+ minutes against MTSU and three each against LaSalle and Miami. It's been a whole different team the last three games, and a big part of that is it's been a whole different coach. Or maybe this is all just a function of Ralph Sampson being out? Whatever it is, it's been a fun preview of next year's squad and it's not over yet. The next game might be the most fun yet, because Washington is up and down in a hurry and the kings of circus ball. With the new uptempo Gophers we might be looking at a 85-80 type game. Good times.
- The other Gopher news worth talking about is the speculation that Trent Lockett might be coming home. Lockett's a shooting guard from Hopkins who graduated in 2009 and was ranked by Rivals as the #80 recruit in the country and #19 shooting guard and he chose Arizona State for some reason which I can only assume was the super mega hot chicks down there and they gave him the Jesus Shuttlesworth treatment. Anyway, his mom is really sick and he's looking to transfer back home to be closer to her. The Gophers technically don't have a scholarship available, and many people (on the gopherhole at elsewhere) are saying that Lockett can't/shouldn't/won't come here because either the Gophers already have too many guards or that it isn't fair to take someone else's scholarship away just because Lockett is a better player. Too those people I say STFU.
I can't decide which reason is more idiotic. That Lockett, who has scored 13+ ppg both of the last two years and hit over 41% of his treys this year, would be afraid to come here because Austin Hollins or Chip Armelin would steal all his playing, is ludicrous. Assuming there's no miracle sixth year for Mbakwe, Lockett would immediately become either the second or third best player on the team, depending on where you want to put Dre Hollins. Playing time concerns aren't going to keep him out of here. And as far as it being a dick move to take someone's scholarship and give it to him, yeah, I agree it is kind of a dick move but you know what? Who cares? Guess what the basketball team's job is? To win games. I suppose it's also their job to get kids to graduate, but only in so much as it keeps them eligible to play and help win games. Who is going to help the Gophers win more, Lockett or Andre Ingram? Exactly. Sorry Andre, you seem like a nice kid and I bet you were really something before you destroyed your knee (I'm not making this up, right?) but it's time to pay your own way.
Also ha ha Wisconsin guess who is still playing when you aren't? Gophers totally win this season.
[EDIT: According to twitter all of a sudden, and all the caveats that entails, Trevor Mbakwe has indeed been granted a medical redshirt and will be eligible to play next year. I'd comment more on this, but my raging boner is getting in the way. I'm sure I'll write something when the news becomes official unless I'm too drunk]
First, it's still the NIT. No matter what, it's the NIT, but I will say that I'm actually starting to care. The first win at LaSalle was an ok win. The win at Miami was pretty worthless because it was clear neither the Miami team nor their fans cared to be there, but there was some merit in blowing a team out like that. Now the win over Middle Tennessee? You can officially call that a very good win, and the whole string taken together is a nice little run. Middle Tennessee was the Sun Belt regular season champion with an RPI of 74 who probably would have made the NCAA Tournament if they hadn't lost in the first round of the conference tournament and lost only once before at home this season. Not to mention a program like that isn't going to just go through the motion in the NIT like Miami, because when are the Blue Raiders going to have another chance to play on a national stage like Madison Square Garden? This was a talented team, a motivated team, and a strong home team and the Gophers beat them and controlled the game.
I'm not even sure who to be the most impressed with, because there's a lot going right here. Rodney Williams seems to have figured out how to take his limitless athleticism and use it to create easy buckets for himself, because he's scored 20+ in four straight games and has shot 34-48 in that stretch, and no that's not a mis-type. Outside of the LaSalle game he's 25-31. I mean. Jesus.
And as much as I'm falling for Rodney all over again, Andre Hollins might be my true new love. I'm telling you man, my comparison of him to Russell Westbrook is pure genius, because he's got like, the same kind of game. Fearless, either driving to the rim or with his jumper, lightning quick, and just an incredible leader already and he's just a freshman. He's currently running a seven game streak of scoring in double figures with three of those games over 20. I don't know if he'll ever become a true distributor, but I don't know if he really has to considering we're just talking college success here. One thing is for certain - he's the kind of kid you can build a team around. As long as him, his brother Austin, and Rodney are around next year this team has as decent shot at getting back to the NCAAs, especially if Elliott Elliason can play more like he did against MTSU (12 pts/7 rebs) instead of like he did against LaSalle/Miami (1 pt/4 rebs combined) and Mo Walker comes back and can play. If Tubby lets them play this wide open style.
And that's the last person I need to mention being impressed with, because Tubby seems more engaged in this tournament than he did in the last month and it shows. Even more impressive is he's shifted his philosophy or whatever you want to call it and it's playing to the strengths of his team. They're playing at a faster tempo (at least it seems like it, I was going to actually look up the numbers but I can't find them and am too lazy to calculate it myself) and that's played to the strength of a young team that's loaded with guards. He's also been willing to play his core far more minutes per game with four players on the floor for 30+ minutes against MTSU and three each against LaSalle and Miami. It's been a whole different team the last three games, and a big part of that is it's been a whole different coach. Or maybe this is all just a function of Ralph Sampson being out? Whatever it is, it's been a fun preview of next year's squad and it's not over yet. The next game might be the most fun yet, because Washington is up and down in a hurry and the kings of circus ball. With the new uptempo Gophers we might be looking at a 85-80 type game. Good times.
- The other Gopher news worth talking about is the speculation that Trent Lockett might be coming home. Lockett's a shooting guard from Hopkins who graduated in 2009 and was ranked by Rivals as the #80 recruit in the country and #19 shooting guard and he chose Arizona State for some reason which I can only assume was the super mega hot chicks down there and they gave him the Jesus Shuttlesworth treatment. Anyway, his mom is really sick and he's looking to transfer back home to be closer to her. The Gophers technically don't have a scholarship available, and many people (on the gopherhole at elsewhere) are saying that Lockett can't/shouldn't/won't come here because either the Gophers already have too many guards or that it isn't fair to take someone else's scholarship away just because Lockett is a better player. Too those people I say STFU.
I can't decide which reason is more idiotic. That Lockett, who has scored 13+ ppg both of the last two years and hit over 41% of his treys this year, would be afraid to come here because Austin Hollins or Chip Armelin would steal all his playing, is ludicrous. Assuming there's no miracle sixth year for Mbakwe, Lockett would immediately become either the second or third best player on the team, depending on where you want to put Dre Hollins. Playing time concerns aren't going to keep him out of here. And as far as it being a dick move to take someone's scholarship and give it to him, yeah, I agree it is kind of a dick move but you know what? Who cares? Guess what the basketball team's job is? To win games. I suppose it's also their job to get kids to graduate, but only in so much as it keeps them eligible to play and help win games. Who is going to help the Gophers win more, Lockett or Andre Ingram? Exactly. Sorry Andre, you seem like a nice kid and I bet you were really something before you destroyed your knee (I'm not making this up, right?) but it's time to pay your own way.
Also ha ha Wisconsin guess who is still playing when you aren't? Gophers totally win this season.
[EDIT: According to twitter all of a sudden, and all the caveats that entails, Trevor Mbakwe has indeed been granted a medical redshirt and will be eligible to play next year. I'd comment more on this, but my raging boner is getting in the way. I'm sure I'll write something when the news becomes official unless I'm too drunk]
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