I just dropped my daughter off at school, came over to Dunkin' Donuts to grab a bagel and write this blog - and I'm headed back for a parents arts and crafts project (I am TERRIBLE at arts and crafts). Then I think I may run out to Sears, take the plunge and buy a snow blower.
I really don't feel like shoveling a foot or so of snow tonight (as what's been predicted), so I'm debating whether to spend the money and make my life easier and and my back lighter.
CARROLL'S BRAGGING RIGHTS
Austin Carroll finally has bragging rights.
For the past year, the St. Mark's duo of Erik Murphy (Florida) and Nate Lubick (Georgetown) have taken
their jabs at the Worcester Academy (Mass.) guard after a 40 or so-point rout last season.
Carroll should be able to talk plenty of trash with his New England Playaz
summer teammates in the future after a 30-point performance on Thursday
afternoon in which Worcester pulled off the 90-87 upset against St. Marks.
Carroll was unconscious from the perimeter, knocking down six trifectas. He
also had a terrific pass with a little more than a minute left when he found
George Washington-bound forward Daymon Warren on the break to give Worcester a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Warren (19 points), Gabe Kindred (Loyola-Chic.) and Deshawn Dockery all played
well for Ed Reilly's club.
Murphy had 27 points while Lubick was in foul trouble throughout the game and
finished with 21.
HANSBROUGH NEARLY A GATOR
Just imagine how different Tyler Hansbrough's career might have been had he
gone to Florida.
It nearly happened.
According to several sources, if not for Hansbrough's father, Gene, he would
have signed with the Gators. Gene Hansbrough wanted his son to play at North Carolina and it's hard to argue with the results.
Hansbrough became the school's all-time leading scorer last night, breaking Phil Ford's mark.
He would have battled Joakim Noah and Al Horford - who were both a year older -
for playing time at Florida. Would he have received the same opportunity to play
immediately as he did in Chapel
Hill?
Doubtful.
KENNEDY'S BAD DAY
Andy Kennedy's day began by being arrested amid accusations from a cab driver
that the Ole Miss coach punched him and also made racial slurs.
Then the Rebels head man nearly pulled off the upset against Louisville before
his star player, sophomore point guard Chris Warren, suffered a knee injury
late in the game when he drove to the basket and fell to the ground grabbing
his left knee.
Sources indicated that it's likely a torn ACL -
which would mean that Kennedy has lost three guards for the season. Trevor
Gaskins and Eniel Polynice are already out for the year.
Ole Miss was leading Louisville midway through the second half and it wasn't out of
the realm that the Rebels - even without Gaskins and Polynice - could have
earned a postseason berth. However, without Warren, the team's top overall
player, it seems highly unlikely.
NO LIGHT LOSS
Ohio State has stayed unbeaten because of the sum of its parts.
In the last couple of years, the Buckeyes have been far more dependent on a
couple of key players. Two years ago, it was Mike Conley and Greg Oden. Last
season it was Jamar Butler and Kosta Koufos.
This year it's been far more balance in Columbus - and that's why the left foot injury that will keep
David Lighty out for 6-12 weeks could be critical to the Buckeyes postseason
chances.
Lighty had surgery yesterday to repair a broken bone in his foot suffered late
in Wednesday's win against Jacksonville.
Lighty was averaging 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds and was coming off a
career-high 21 points against Jacksonville.
Look for talented freshman William Buford, who has logged about 15 minutes per
game, to get a shot at an expanded role.
EVANS DEBUT FOR FLASHES
Kent State's Tyree Evans finally made his D-1 debut and started
off slow with just three points in the first half, but the former junior
college star went for 18 points after the break in the Golden Flashes win
against UNC Greensboro.
Evans was 7-of-11 from the field, 5-of-8 from long distance and Kent State assistant Rob Senderoff said he was equally as
impressive on the defensive end of the floor.
RANDOM NOTES: I spoke to former Providence guard Dwain Williams last night and he said that
while he likes Kent State, he has not yet committed to the Golden Flashes - and
won't make a decision until he takes visits. Williams is taking classes this
semester at Woodland Hills (Calif.) and hoping to become eligible for next season. He
said that Kent State has expressed interest in addition to LSU, Louisiana
Tech and Maryland. ... Coaches at the St. Mark's-Worcester game included Georgetown's Kenya Hunter, Quinnipiac's Scott Burrell, Fordham's Jared Grasso and St. Francis' Allen Griffin. Burrell was there to watch St. Mark's senior point guard Dave Johnson, who is a nice pickup for Tom Moore & Co.