sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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- Aug 15, 2011
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SU News
Mike Hopkins Wonders Why People Are Fussing About Rak's NBA Combine Domination (PS; Carlson)
Former Syracuse center Rakeem Christmas was, arguably, the biggest standout on Day 2 of the NBA Combine. Some might have considered him the biggest surprise of the 5-on-5 competition.
And if you're one of them, well, Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins just doesn't get you.
During the reaction to Christmas' 20-point, six-rebound outing, Hopkins Tweeted that the only surprise to him was that Christmas' domination caught anyone by surprise.
While the Syracuse assistant might not have been shocked by anything, Christmas entered the NBA Combine as a candidate to go undrafted in some mock drafts.
On Thursday, though, Christmas seemed to only help his stock.
He showcased a mid-range jumper that he'd kept tucked away while serving as the Orange's low-post option, and operated effectively at center, a position some wonder if he is big enough to handle in the NBA.
Christmas dominated at center in the tough ACC despite being double-teamed but he also rarely faced post players considered NBA level. On the two most highly-hyped occasions, he was out-played by projected lottery pick Jahlil Okafor.
Most NBA players, however, aren't Okafor.
...
Dick Vitale Honors Jim Boeheim in Annual Gala for Pediatric Cancer (PS; Ditota)
Dick Vitale, in a manner anybody who watches the ESPN college basketball personality would instantly recognize, is talking enthusiastically by telephone about the aptly-named Dick Vitale Gala.
The event, in its 10th incarnation, raises money for pediatric cancer and the V Foundation and takes place Friday at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla. Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim will be honored at the gala, along with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith and Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher.
"This is going to be off the charts, a phenomenal night!" Vitale said. "It's going to be a special, special night. A phenomenal night. We've got 70 celebs. We have people in the entertainment business. We've got an array of people coming."
The event is "totally sold out," Vitale said. The venue seats 840 and the gala has attracted 870 guests at $1,000 per person. The death of Payton Wright, a 5-year-old girl who succumbed to brain cancer, inspired Vitale to make raising money for pediatric cancer his mission. In nine years, Vitale has raised $12.7 million for that cause. He hopes to raise $2.3 million by Friday to reach $15 million.
Vitale credits his wife, Lorraine, and his family for tending to details of that effort, but the ESPN personality is the effervescent face of the fund-raising.
"He's great," Boeheim said. "He works extremely hard to get this where it is. That's a huge amount of money to raise and it's not that easy to do."
...
Sean Miller Replaces Billy Donovan as US Men's U19 Coach (espn; Borzello)
Arizona's Sean Miller will replace Billy Donovan as the head coach of the men's U19 world championship team, USA Basketball announced.
Donovan withdrew after leaving Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder last month.
Miller was an assistant coach on last summer's U18 national team, when the United States won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship. He also won a gold medal as a player on the 1991 World University Games team.
"I am honored to be named head coach of the USA Basketball men's U19 world championship team," Sean Miller said. "It is exciting to be coaching such a talented group of young players, as well as working alongside a great coaching staff. I look forward to the responsibility and challenges that lie ahead in our journey to win the gold medal at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship."
Providence's Ed Cooley will remain as an assistant coach, while Dayton's Archie Miller, Sean's brother, will join the staff as an assistant coach.
"The appointments of Sean Miller, Ed Cooley and Archie Miller to lead the USA Basketball men's U19 world championship team gives that group of players three of the most successful teachers in college basketball," said Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball junior national team committee. "All three coaches have taken their respective programs to an elite level, and now they will combine their talents to have the U19 group prepared for a gold-medal run."
Miller is 163-52 in six seasons as the head coach of Arizona, reaching the Elite Eight three times.
...
Maryland Looking at 2017 Guard Trevon Duval (testudotimes.com; Myers)
Terps extend offer to an extremely talented five-star guard from Delaware. What could he bring to Maryland?
This Spring, Mark Turgeon and his staff have been traveling across the country scouting high school players that will best fit their system and help continue Maryland basketball's recent winning ways. Given the success of Maryland's 2014-15 team, and the potential for a deep tournament run in 2016, the Terps have a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail. With five-star recruit Diamond Stone selecting the Terps over his hometown Wisconsin Badgers, Maryland has the example of a top-tier prospect deciding that College Park was the best place for him. While each player's situation is different, the coaches will look to use Diamond Stone's commitment to their advantage with other elite prospects.
Turgeon ventured to New Orleans in mid-April to watch the Under Armour circuit, where Trevon Duval was playing. The 6-foot-3 guard captured the eye of Maryland coaches and earned a scholarship offer. Duval is listed as the 13th-best player and second-best point guard in the nation, for the class of 2017, according to 247Sports.
He also holds offers from several other high-profile programs including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova. Louisville is the early leader in the Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports.
...
ACC News
Trey Lewis Will Use His Final Year of Eligibility at Louisville
Top 10 ACC Newcomers (foxsports.com)
And rightfully so. However, it's never too early to start forecasting what next year's college basketball teams might look like. With so much turnaround each year thanks to transfers, diaper dandies and the NBA Draft, this week, we'll take a look at the power conferences in college basketball and break down some of the best newcomers in each league.
To kick off, here are the top 10 transfers and incoming freshmen to enter the Big Ten this year. To clarify, not every single player will be eligible to play this year because of transfer rules, but they are still important to monitor moving forward. Does your team have a chance to make that crucial step towards greatness?
Find out right here.
10) G Marcquise Reed – Sophomore – Clemson (Transferred from Robert Morris)
Reed has to sit out 2015-16 due to NCAA transfer rules, but after that, he’ll have three years of eligibility remaining. The Tiger backcourt could desperately use some offensive firepower, and that is precisely what Reed can provide. The NEC Rookie of the Year averaged 15.1 points per game in his freshman campaign, and his team lost to Duke in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.
9) C Rafael Maia – Senior – Pittsburgh (Transferred from Brown)
In an effort to get back to the ground and pound identity, Pitt plucked the Ivy League’s leading rebounder of the last three seasons away in Maia.
NBC Sports said of Maia and his fit as a Panther, “Making the jump from the Ivy League to the ACC isn’t easy, but Maia adds depth and a particular skill (rebounding) to a Pittsburgh roster that can use that kind of boost in 2015-16. Last season the Panthers ranked tenth in the ACC in defensive rebounding percentage (68.7 percent), a number that needs to improve if they’re to get back to the NCAA tournament after missing out a season ago.”
8) G Malachi Richardson – Freshman – Syracuse
Many thought Jim Boeheim and Syracuse’s sanctions may hurt their future recruiting efforts, but Richardson still chose to play for the Orange. He figures to be a one-and-done, but he should make quite the impact on a Syracuse team looking to rebound. From his Draft Express profile:
“Streaky scorer who can get hot quickly and knock down a barrage of outside shots. Talented prospect missing a good amount of polish and experience. Reclassified and is now much older than most of his classmates. Will turn 20 during his freshman season in college.”
...
Other
Syracuse's Best Diners: Where to Grab a Seat and Settle in for Home Cookin' in CNY (PS; Cazentre)
Eggs Over Easy. Meatloaf like your Mom made it. An endless cup of joe. A big slice of apple pie.
These are the hallmarks of a great diner, and Syracuse and Central New York are loaded with good ones. Some are greasy spoons in every sense of the word. Some may surprise you with their, um, elegance.
And this is where you find the famous Central New York frittata, or fretta.
Here's our guide to the best diners in Syracuse and Central New York:
All Night Eggplant
• 5781 Bridge St., East Syracuse; (315) 446-8178
See the menu
It's not open all night (just to 1 a.m.) and it doesn't serve eggplant. But this place has been a popular destination in the eastern suburbs for decades on the strength of its terrific food and welcoming atmosphere. And almost everyone enjoys the kitschy posters -- '70s and '80s vintage. You can get about 40 different items added to your omelets, and pancakes nearly a dozen ways (Banana Walnut is a personal favorite). Don't forget to try the Toasted Honey Buns or the Lox, Onion and Cream Cheese Omelet.
B'ville Diner
• 18 E Genesee St, Baldwinsville; (315) 635-3180
See the menu
Since 1934, the B'Ville Diner has helped define the village of Baldwinsville. It's one of the few local diners committed to staying open 24 hours. It's also know for its Wednesday flea markets and Thursday classic car cruisin' nights. But people come for the food. Check out the Chevy Bob (a chicken sandwich with ham, bacon, Swiss cheese and Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce) or the Pickup Truck (meatloaf sandwich with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese). And the pies and milkshakes, too.
The Gem
• 832 Spencer St. Syracuse; (315) 314-7380
It used to be the Little Gem, and it used to be open 24 hours. It's also had a song written about it. Now expanded and remodeled, The Gem now sports a "cleaner" look and reputation. Owner Doug LaLone features the classic diner menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- in generous portions. "The meatloaf was excellent, with finely chopped sweet pepper and seasoned bread crumbs," our reviewer Jane Marmaduke wrote in a recent review. And don't forget the ice cream and pie.
...
Mike Hopkins Wonders Why People Are Fussing About Rak's NBA Combine Domination (PS; Carlson)
Former Syracuse center Rakeem Christmas was, arguably, the biggest standout on Day 2 of the NBA Combine. Some might have considered him the biggest surprise of the 5-on-5 competition.
And if you're one of them, well, Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins just doesn't get you.
During the reaction to Christmas' 20-point, six-rebound outing, Hopkins Tweeted that the only surprise to him was that Christmas' domination caught anyone by surprise.
While the Syracuse assistant might not have been shocked by anything, Christmas entered the NBA Combine as a candidate to go undrafted in some mock drafts.
On Thursday, though, Christmas seemed to only help his stock.
He showcased a mid-range jumper that he'd kept tucked away while serving as the Orange's low-post option, and operated effectively at center, a position some wonder if he is big enough to handle in the NBA.
Christmas dominated at center in the tough ACC despite being double-teamed but he also rarely faced post players considered NBA level. On the two most highly-hyped occasions, he was out-played by projected lottery pick Jahlil Okafor.
Most NBA players, however, aren't Okafor.
...
Dick Vitale Honors Jim Boeheim in Annual Gala for Pediatric Cancer (PS; Ditota)
Dick Vitale, in a manner anybody who watches the ESPN college basketball personality would instantly recognize, is talking enthusiastically by telephone about the aptly-named Dick Vitale Gala.
The event, in its 10th incarnation, raises money for pediatric cancer and the V Foundation and takes place Friday at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla. Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim will be honored at the gala, along with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith and Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher.
"This is going to be off the charts, a phenomenal night!" Vitale said. "It's going to be a special, special night. A phenomenal night. We've got 70 celebs. We have people in the entertainment business. We've got an array of people coming."
The event is "totally sold out," Vitale said. The venue seats 840 and the gala has attracted 870 guests at $1,000 per person. The death of Payton Wright, a 5-year-old girl who succumbed to brain cancer, inspired Vitale to make raising money for pediatric cancer his mission. In nine years, Vitale has raised $12.7 million for that cause. He hopes to raise $2.3 million by Friday to reach $15 million.
Vitale credits his wife, Lorraine, and his family for tending to details of that effort, but the ESPN personality is the effervescent face of the fund-raising.
"He's great," Boeheim said. "He works extremely hard to get this where it is. That's a huge amount of money to raise and it's not that easy to do."
...
Sean Miller Replaces Billy Donovan as US Men's U19 Coach (espn; Borzello)
Arizona's Sean Miller will replace Billy Donovan as the head coach of the men's U19 world championship team, USA Basketball announced.
Donovan withdrew after leaving Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder last month.
Miller was an assistant coach on last summer's U18 national team, when the United States won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship. He also won a gold medal as a player on the 1991 World University Games team.
"I am honored to be named head coach of the USA Basketball men's U19 world championship team," Sean Miller said. "It is exciting to be coaching such a talented group of young players, as well as working alongside a great coaching staff. I look forward to the responsibility and challenges that lie ahead in our journey to win the gold medal at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship."
Providence's Ed Cooley will remain as an assistant coach, while Dayton's Archie Miller, Sean's brother, will join the staff as an assistant coach.
"The appointments of Sean Miller, Ed Cooley and Archie Miller to lead the USA Basketball men's U19 world championship team gives that group of players three of the most successful teachers in college basketball," said Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball junior national team committee. "All three coaches have taken their respective programs to an elite level, and now they will combine their talents to have the U19 group prepared for a gold-medal run."
Miller is 163-52 in six seasons as the head coach of Arizona, reaching the Elite Eight three times.
...
Maryland Looking at 2017 Guard Trevon Duval (testudotimes.com; Myers)
Terps extend offer to an extremely talented five-star guard from Delaware. What could he bring to Maryland?
This Spring, Mark Turgeon and his staff have been traveling across the country scouting high school players that will best fit their system and help continue Maryland basketball's recent winning ways. Given the success of Maryland's 2014-15 team, and the potential for a deep tournament run in 2016, the Terps have a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail. With five-star recruit Diamond Stone selecting the Terps over his hometown Wisconsin Badgers, Maryland has the example of a top-tier prospect deciding that College Park was the best place for him. While each player's situation is different, the coaches will look to use Diamond Stone's commitment to their advantage with other elite prospects.
Turgeon ventured to New Orleans in mid-April to watch the Under Armour circuit, where Trevon Duval was playing. The 6-foot-3 guard captured the eye of Maryland coaches and earned a scholarship offer. Duval is listed as the 13th-best player and second-best point guard in the nation, for the class of 2017, according to 247Sports.
He also holds offers from several other high-profile programs including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova. Louisville is the early leader in the Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports.
...
ACC News
Trey Lewis Will Use His Final Year of Eligibility at Louisville
Top 10 ACC Newcomers (foxsports.com)
And rightfully so. However, it's never too early to start forecasting what next year's college basketball teams might look like. With so much turnaround each year thanks to transfers, diaper dandies and the NBA Draft, this week, we'll take a look at the power conferences in college basketball and break down some of the best newcomers in each league.
To kick off, here are the top 10 transfers and incoming freshmen to enter the Big Ten this year. To clarify, not every single player will be eligible to play this year because of transfer rules, but they are still important to monitor moving forward. Does your team have a chance to make that crucial step towards greatness?
Find out right here.
10) G Marcquise Reed – Sophomore – Clemson (Transferred from Robert Morris)
Reed has to sit out 2015-16 due to NCAA transfer rules, but after that, he’ll have three years of eligibility remaining. The Tiger backcourt could desperately use some offensive firepower, and that is precisely what Reed can provide. The NEC Rookie of the Year averaged 15.1 points per game in his freshman campaign, and his team lost to Duke in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.
9) C Rafael Maia – Senior – Pittsburgh (Transferred from Brown)
In an effort to get back to the ground and pound identity, Pitt plucked the Ivy League’s leading rebounder of the last three seasons away in Maia.
NBC Sports said of Maia and his fit as a Panther, “Making the jump from the Ivy League to the ACC isn’t easy, but Maia adds depth and a particular skill (rebounding) to a Pittsburgh roster that can use that kind of boost in 2015-16. Last season the Panthers ranked tenth in the ACC in defensive rebounding percentage (68.7 percent), a number that needs to improve if they’re to get back to the NCAA tournament after missing out a season ago.”
8) G Malachi Richardson – Freshman – Syracuse
Many thought Jim Boeheim and Syracuse’s sanctions may hurt their future recruiting efforts, but Richardson still chose to play for the Orange. He figures to be a one-and-done, but he should make quite the impact on a Syracuse team looking to rebound. From his Draft Express profile:
“Streaky scorer who can get hot quickly and knock down a barrage of outside shots. Talented prospect missing a good amount of polish and experience. Reclassified and is now much older than most of his classmates. Will turn 20 during his freshman season in college.”
...
Other
Syracuse's Best Diners: Where to Grab a Seat and Settle in for Home Cookin' in CNY (PS; Cazentre)
Eggs Over Easy. Meatloaf like your Mom made it. An endless cup of joe. A big slice of apple pie.
These are the hallmarks of a great diner, and Syracuse and Central New York are loaded with good ones. Some are greasy spoons in every sense of the word. Some may surprise you with their, um, elegance.
And this is where you find the famous Central New York frittata, or fretta.
Here's our guide to the best diners in Syracuse and Central New York:
All Night Eggplant
• 5781 Bridge St., East Syracuse; (315) 446-8178
See the menu
It's not open all night (just to 1 a.m.) and it doesn't serve eggplant. But this place has been a popular destination in the eastern suburbs for decades on the strength of its terrific food and welcoming atmosphere. And almost everyone enjoys the kitschy posters -- '70s and '80s vintage. You can get about 40 different items added to your omelets, and pancakes nearly a dozen ways (Banana Walnut is a personal favorite). Don't forget to try the Toasted Honey Buns or the Lox, Onion and Cream Cheese Omelet.
B'ville Diner
• 18 E Genesee St, Baldwinsville; (315) 635-3180
See the menu
Since 1934, the B'Ville Diner has helped define the village of Baldwinsville. It's one of the few local diners committed to staying open 24 hours. It's also know for its Wednesday flea markets and Thursday classic car cruisin' nights. But people come for the food. Check out the Chevy Bob (a chicken sandwich with ham, bacon, Swiss cheese and Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce) or the Pickup Truck (meatloaf sandwich with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese). And the pies and milkshakes, too.
The Gem
• 832 Spencer St. Syracuse; (315) 314-7380
It used to be the Little Gem, and it used to be open 24 hours. It's also had a song written about it. Now expanded and remodeled, The Gem now sports a "cleaner" look and reputation. Owner Doug LaLone features the classic diner menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- in generous portions. "The meatloaf was excellent, with finely chopped sweet pepper and seasoned bread crumbs," our reviewer Jane Marmaduke wrote in a recent review. And don't forget the ice cream and pie.
...
