#Payton Wofford

[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Naeem Khan, Spring 2023

[full-imagination]

Carter Dean Bates

Carter Dean Bates, 73, of Spartanburg, was called back home to his Father in Heaven, on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. He died following a brief illness due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. Born September 5, 1946, in Spartanburg, he was the son of the late Andrew Lafayette and Frances Pauline Couch Bates, and brother to Andrew Lafayette Bates, Jr. and Cynthia Bates Woodrum. Carter was a graduate of Spartanburg High School and Wofford College. He enjoyed a long career in sales in the meat industry, working for Oscar Mayer, Wilson Foods, Smithfield Foods, and King B Jerky, and retired from Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where he was a dedicated driver, confidant, and friend to hundreds of patients who required transportation for medical services. His friendly nature, personal charm, and genuine concern for others made him a fast friend to all he met. He lived by the saying: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” He was a gifted storyteller and delighted in being in the company of his friends and family, and all who knew him will miss his irrepressible laugh, his incredible smile, and the twinkle in his eyes. Carter’s greatest joy and satisfaction came from being a son, brother, uncle, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his sister, Cynthia Bates (Michael) Woodrum, of Spartanburg, SC; his niece, Catherine Woodrum (Kevin) Pogue, of Spartanburg, SC; and by his loving children and step-children, Matthew Carter (Suzanne) Bates, of South Jordan, UT, Andrew Bennett (Amy) Bates, of Surprise, AZ, Christopher Michael (Danielle) Bates, of Bountiful, UT, Julia Bates (David) Bettencourt, of Morgan Hill, CA, Hillary Turner (Ron) Charles of Reidville, SC, and Bradley Dean (Kristy) Turner, of Lyman, SC. He is also the grandfather to 19 grandchildren – Isaac, Joseph, Thomas, Anna, and Benjamin Bates; Michael, Zachary, Daniel, John, and Finley Bates; Caldwell, Mason, and Seth Bates; Henry and Mabel Bettencourt; Megan, Ethan, and Caroline Charles; and Payton Turner. Due to social distancing concerns, a family-only, graveside memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens on Friday, September 11, 2020. Friends are encouraged to view the private webcast of the memorial service. For additional details, please RSVP at carterdeanbatesmemorial@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider offering a donation to Cannons Campground United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC, which he often attended, or to Latter-day Saint Charities (https://bit.ly/32499iu), which provides humanitarian aid to people around the world without regard to cultural or religious affiliation. Floyd’s North Church Street from The JF Floyd Mortuary via Spartanburg Funeral

[biofunmy]

College Basketball Is Wide Open, and Could Stay That Way

This college basketball season has been about much more than just the blue blood programs. The season has been wide open — four of the top five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 lost last week. Similar upsets are allowing several nontraditional names to step into the spotlight.

Things could very well stay that way all season.

What We Learned

Chris Beard will keep Texas Tech nationally relevant. The Red Raiders, who dropped out of the rankings at the beginning of December, again showed why they have become one of the toughest teams in college basketball since Beard became coach. Despite three consecutive losses and a leg injury to the star freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey, Texas Tech earned a signature victory last Tuesday over Louisville at Madison Square Garden. “It’s a confidence builder,” Beard said. “You’ve got to have success to validate what you’re doing every day.” Texas Tech, which made the national final last season before losing to Virginia, held Louisville to 34 percent shooting and 18 percent from 3-point range. It jumped to No. 24 in the A.P. poll on Monday, while Louisville dropped to No. 3.

Ryan Woolridge is Gonzaga’s unsung presence. The graduate transfer from North Texas has stabilized the Bulldogs’ backcourt after the losses of Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell from last season’s team. “He’s been our most valuable player,” Gonzaga Coach Mark Few said of Woolridge, who has averaged 9.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4 assists while defending against top players from other teams. In an impressive 4-point win over Arizona in Tucson on Saturday, Woolridge held Nico Mannion to just 7 points on 3-of-20 shooting.

North Carolina is officially facing a crisis. The Tar Heels are 6-4 after a home loss on Sunday to Wofford. North Carolina freshman Cole Anthony is also out indefinitely because of a knee injury. The 6-3 Anthony was averaging 19.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. The team’s supporting cast was in question before Anthony’s injury. No other player on North Carolina’s roster has made more than 10 3-point shots this season. The Tar Heels will next play Gonzaga on Wednesday in Spokane.

What We’re Looking for This Week

Auburn finally faces a power conference team. The Tigers (9-0) are one of four remaining undefeated teams in college basketball, along with San Diego State, Duquesne, and Liberty. But Auburn’s game against North Carolina State on Thursday will be its only game against a high-major opponent before league play in the Southeastern Conference begins on Jan. 4 against Mississippi State.

Seton Hall tries to regain momentum. Despite being picked to win the Big East by coaches before the season, the Pirates are just 6-4 entering Thursday’s game against Maryland in Newark. Seton Hall does not have a marquee win on its résumé. It also does not have a roster that is even close to full strength. Senior guard Myles Powell did not play in the second half of Saturday’s loss at Rutgers because of a concussion, and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili is out until at least mid-January with a wrist injury.

Kansas plays a true road game for the first time. The Jayhawks (9-1) are scheduled to visit Villanova on Saturday, and have not lost since falling to Duke in their season opener. Kansas has arguably the sport’s top inside-outside duo in point guard Devon Dotson and center Udoka Azubuike. Eight of the Jayhawks’ nine victories have come by at least 10 points.

More to Consider

Payton Pritchard of Oregon is playing like an all-American. Pritchard, a senior point guard, shined in an overtime win at Michigan on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 Pritchard had 23 points against the Wolverines, including 13 straight for his team spread over the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime. “I’ve probably never been in an offensive rhythm like that in a setting like that,” said Pritchard, who is averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds. The Ducks’ win at Michigan came without forward Shakur Juiston.

Memphis continues to show that it has an incredibly high ceiling. The Tigers beat Tennessee on Saturday on the road without James Wiseman or Lester Quinones. Once the Tigers are fully stocked, they are capable of beating anyone. Memphis’ only loss so far this season was against Oregon on Nov. 12 in Portland.

Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans is starting to blossom into much more than just a great defender. In the Wildcats’ six wins since losing to Evansville, the 6-3 sophomore is averaging 16.3 points and 8.7 assists. He’s also shooting 41.6 percent from 3-point range during that span. If Hagans becomes a consistent offensive threat, he will be one of the best two-way guards in college basketball.

Trayce Jackson-Davis of Indiana is quietly playing like one of the best freshmen in the country. “He’s an old-school power forward who probably could have played in the ’80s or ’90s,” Indiana Coach Archie Miller said. “He’s got great hands and great agility. He’s different than any guy I’ve had in the sense that he’s a true big man.” Jackson-Davis had 25 points and 15 rebounds in Indiana’s win over Nebraska last Friday. He leads the Hoosiers in both scoring and rebounding.

Georgetown guard Mac McClung is on an offensive tear, averaging 25 points over his last three games in wins over Oklahoma State, Southern Methodist and Syracuse. McClung shot 48 percent from 3-point range in those games. “I’ve just tried to stay aggressive,” McClung said. Georgetown’s roster has had serious upheaval lately with four players transferring, including two players who had a restraining order issued against them, ordering them not to communicate or go near a fellow student who said she was threatened and stolen from.

Louisiana State will get a major boost this week when Marlon Taylor returns to the lineup. The 6-5 wing has yet to play because of a foot injury. “We were 21-3 with him in the starting lineup last year,” L.S.U. Coach Will Wade said. “He’s going to play both forward spots for us.” The Tigers are 7-2, with their two losses coming by a combined 4 points.

Duquesne is 9-0 for the first time since the 1968-69 season. The Dukes have not been to the N.C.A.A. tournament since 1977. Many observers wondered why Coach Keith Dambrot left the comfort that he had at Akron for Duquesne. It’s hard to argue with the results. Dambrot is a combined 44-29 in his three seasons with the Dukes.

Games to Watch

All times are Eastern.

TUESDAY Florida vs. Providence (7 p.m., ESPN2), Oklahoma at Creighton (9 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

WEDNESDAY Tennessee at Cincinnati (7 p.m., ESPN2), North Carolina at Gonzaga (9 p.m., ESPN2), Utah vs. Kentucky (11 p.m., ESPN2)

THURSDAY Maryland at Seton Hall (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1), North Carolina State at Auburn (9 p.m., ESPN2)

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Captain Obvious Is Probably Winning Your Bracket Pool

gfoster (Geoff Foster, sports editor): We have 52 games in the books of the men’s NCAA Tournament. And there has been one prevailing theme: chalk. There has been a staggeringly small amount of bracket busting. Other than Oregon (a No. 12 seed but a Power Five conference winner), the highest seed remaining is Auburn at No. 5! In the round of 32, the favorite won 100 percent of the games! If you picked all favorites in your bracket (like my mom probably did), you’d be 87.5 percent right. I could go on and on. So, do you think this is just an aberration, or is there something behind the dearth of Cinderellas?

jplanos (Josh Planos, contributor): FiveThirtyEight’s model was pretty chalky when the draw was announced. It certainly could be a matter of more appropriate seeding or merely an opportunity for the committee to pat itself on the back before next year goes haywire.

jakelourim (Jake Lourim, contributor): I was surprised like everyone else by that trend. Even given the slim chances to reach the Sweet 16 given to those double-digit seeds, we would expect at least one Cinderella to make it, right?

sara.ziegler (Sara Ziegler, assistant sports editor): It does seem like the committee did a pretty good job of seeding this year, as our colleague Neil Paine wrote.

The seeds followed what the stats would have recommended — and the top teams do seem to be better than in years past.

gfoster: So there hasn’t been a shocking upset, with all due respect to Mississippi State, but some teams have had an easier time with their first two opponents than others. Which team has impressed you the most in the early going?

jplanos: I think Gonzaga has looked pretty tough with two double-digit victories. The 38-point opening-round victory over Fairleigh Dickinson was the most lopsided tournament game in two years.

Baylor and Fairleigh Dickinson aren’t strong defensive teams, to be sure, but the Zags have decimated both. In each win, Gonzaga posted at least 19 assists, was at least plus-10 on the glass and shot 35 percent or better from three and 53 percent or better from the field. According to Ken Pomeroy, two of the team’s three best performances this season in offensive rebounding percentage have come in the tournament.

Brandon Clarke somehow got glossed over for every major award and has gone berserk. Against Baylor, he joined Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in NCAA Tournament history to put up 36 points and five blocked shots in a single game.

sara.ziegler: Kentucky had a tricky draw against a very talented Wofford team, but they looked pretty good. Michigan has looked good, too. And Purdue has been under the radar — my radar, at least — but the Boilermakers have posted two convincing wins.

It’s funny — even though the bracket has been so chalky, several of the top seeds have looked suspect at times.

jakelourim: I think from a performance standpoint, I’d have to say Texas Tech. I thought Buffalo played great on Friday and would give the Red Raiders some trouble on Sunday, but Chris Beard’s team hammered Buffalo and got back to No. 1 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. That clash with Michigan on Thursday is going to be a slugfest.

gfoster: I’ve also been impressed by the Texas Tech defense. Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald was the conference player of the year, and he was completely erased from the game in the first round, scoring only 5 points. Likewise, the Red Raiders more or less shut down Buffalo’s best player in CJ Massinburg, who couldn’t get much going. It will be interesting to see how they do against Michigan, which isn’t dependent on a top-heavy scoring guard like those two are.

jakelourim: It might just be my impression, but I think after UMBC knocked off Virginia last March and Virginia remained such a prominent storyline all season, both the No. 1 and No. 16 seeds were on guard Friday — the 1s to avoid being embarrassed, the 16s because maybe UMBC brought new hope. Duke, North Carolina and Virginia together were -2.3 in scoring margin in their first halves. Then they all recovered and won by double digits.

jplanos: Pretty typical for teams of all strengths to start opening-round games tight, too.

gfoster: OK, so which high seed has looked the most vulnerable? It’s hard to knock a team for winning two games, but let’s do it anyway.

sara.ziegler: I still think Virginia could find itself in trouble because of its slow play. The Cavs looked much better against Oklahoma on Sunday, but still.

jakelourim: I’d be worried about Tennessee. That was a near-disaster Sunday against Iowa, giving up a 25-point lead to go to overtime before pulling it out. That’s not a great Iowa team, either, and Tennessee’s next opponent (Purdue) won’t be as forgiving.

sara.ziegler: Jake, I think Tennessee should be worried, too. Though how much of that game was the Volunteers getting up so much, then taking their foot off the gas?

jplanos: And what was up with Admiral Schofield requesting not to play in OT?

jakelourim: Very weird, Josh, regarding Schofield. All around, it was a very weird way to end a game in which the Vols led by 21 at halftime. I do think a lot of that was just diminished intensity in the second half, but even that was a concern. Purdue, by contrast, was up by 19 at halftime and then built that lead to as many as 35 before winning by 26.

gfoster: I also agree that Tennessee’s days are numbered. The Vols’ offense is supposed to be the third-most efficient in the country, but that isn’t what we’ve seen so far. Colgate’s defense is objectively bad, one of the worst in the tournament. Only scoring 77 points there is kinda a letdown, even though it’s a respectable number.

And Iowa’s defense is far from stellar, too.

jplanos: I never thought UCF could compete with Duke — and the Knights came about as close to an upset victory as possible. Granted, it was in Orlando. But Duke’s inability to adjust at halftime seemed problematic. Plus, it wasn’t like the Blue Devils had an off shooting night. Going 10-for-25 from 3-point range is a really good performance for Duke, and it resulted in a 1-point win.

sara.ziegler: Agree. And it wasn’t just Tacko Fall who was a problem for Duke!

(Though his absence at the end of the game certainly helped the Blue Devils.)

jplanos: No doubt, Sara. I have a hard time believing Duke snags that last-second rebound for the put-back bucket with him in the game. To say nothing of the multiple fouls on that play.

sara.ziegler: ^^^ THIS

jakelourim: Absolutely, Tacko fouling out was a game-changer. Even if the rebound does still bounce to Duke, he probably blocks any put-back attempt if he’s there. It’s crazy to me that UCF was up by 3 with what ended up being one possession left and lost in regulation. That’s almost impossible!

sara.ziegler: Look at the crazy swings in our live probabilities at the end of Duke-UCF:

jplanos: Most games are filled with tens of what-ifs, but it almost makes it worse for UCF that Aubrey Dawkins, who played a masterful game, missed the alley-oop late that probably would’ve put it away (and then the tip in the waning seconds).

UCF's blown lob followed by a Duke 3 was the swing pic.twitter.com/ou8agdH4ZT

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 24, 2019

sara.ziegler: That sequence was a 5-point swing in Duke’s favor.

gfoster: All this said about Duke, I haven’t been that impressed by Virginia Tech. Both of the Hokies’ wins were ugly affairs against lesser teams. The Saint Louis game was an absolutely brutal free-throw contest. So I don’t think Duke is going anywhere just yet. Do you disagree? If not, what other high seed could be on upset watch?

jakelourim: I definitely thought entering the tournament that Virginia Tech had a great (and underrated) chance to upset Duke in the Sweet 16. The Hokies beat Duke in Blacksburg last month, and while Zion didn’t play in that game, neither did Virginia Tech star Justin Robinson. But now, after watching the first weekend, I do doubt Virginia Tech’s chances against Duke. It just doesn’t seem like Robinson has eased back into the lineup as seamlessly as Tech had hoped.

gfoster: He seems like he’s playing hurt, to be honest.

jplanos: I agree with you, Geoff. I’m not high on the Hokies. I mostly expect chalk to play out in the Sweet 16.

jakelourim: The flip side of the first weekend lacking upsets is that it set up some awesome matchups for the Sweet 16, including four No. 2-vs.-3 seed matchups (three of them between top-12 teams in KenPom).

sara.ziegler: The West region could be fun — Florida State has a real shot against Gonzaga, and I like Texas Tech over Michigan.

jplanos: I think the best thing that could happen for Texas Tech is for Jordan Poole to drill two threes to open the game. For my money, there isn’t a more inconsistent Overconfident Guy left in the field.

gfoster: I think Oregon has a legitimate shot against Virginia. The Ducks are by far the lowest KenPom team, and it’s not close. But that doesn’t speak directly to how well they are playing right now. Point guard Payton Pritchard is a man on fire.

sara.ziegler: I refuse to believe in Oregon.

jplanos: I refuse to believe in the Pac-12.

sara.ziegler: YESSSSS

And for good reason.

gfoster: Both that game and the Michigan game will be complete rock fights: 60 to 65 points will be enough to win either.

jakelourim: While this belief burned me in the bracket’s first weekend, I just think the Pac-12 has nothing to show for itself this weekend. How did Oregon lose so many games out of that league? The Ducks also skated by against a lesser second-round opponent — seemed like the mighty Anteaters used up all their juice in upsetting K-State on Friday.

sara.ziegler: The Ducks have the 74th adjusted offense in the country, according to KenPom. That’s not how you beat Virginia.

gfoster: Gardner-Webb was beating Virginia for a half. I just feel like the Cavs tighten up when they are playing from behind. Oregon is the opposite — they have been playing with nothing to lose for weeks.

sara.ziegler: I agree, Geoff — I just don’t think Oregon is good enough offensively to get a lead.

jakelourim: I really like Virginia’s path because the Hoos play a No. 12 seed first and are 26-0 against teams outside the KenPom top 15 this season. An underrated part about that region: Virginia will play in Louisville’s home arena, which is as familiar to the Cavs as you could hope to be at this stage in the tournament. The Hoos have played and won in that building in each of the past four seasons, including an inconceivable comeback last season from down 5 with less than 7 seconds left.

gfoster: So Josh, you wrote about Murray State. Jake, you wrote about Wofford. It’s really sad that the mid-majors are all but gone (depending on how you define Gonzaga and Houston). Which one were you most disappointed to see exit the tournament?

jplanos: Wofford, but only because Murray State would’ve gotten waxed by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 had the Racers advanced. With Wofford’s perimeter shooting, they might have had a puncher’s chance against Houston. Loved the offensive flow of their game(s).

jakelourim: I’d say Wofford, too, because of how the Terriers lost to Kentucky on Saturday. Watching the tiny SoCon upstart hang with Kentucky, only to watch Fletcher Magee clank shot after shot off the rim, was painful. You have to feel for Magee, who is now the most prolific 3-point shooter in NCAA history but just went cold at the worst time.

gfoster: That was awful.

jplanos: I know the myth of the hot hand will be argued for eternity, but at what point do you tell a guy to stop shooting? Especially when the guy’s offensive output seems to almost exclusively consist of inefficient jump-turn-and-figure-it-out jumpers.

gfoster: The truth is, he had to keep shooting. He’s a huge cog in their scheme, and they don’t have enough talent to just let the other four to six guys pick up the slack. People were comparing him to Steph Curry at Davidson! So I, like everyone else, was shocked that NONE of those dropped, even the crazy off-balanced shot attempts.

sara.ziegler: Live by the three, etc.

But Magee did set the 3-point record again Seton Hall, which was cool to see.

gfoster: I actually think Belmont could have made some noise if the Bruins could have gotten past Maryland. (They lost at the wire.) They are an electric, up-tempo team, and I think they would have beaten LSU and then been a fun test for Sparty.

And they would have extended the First Four streak!

sara.ziegler: Would have loved to see more from the Bruins.

jakelourim: I agree, Geoff. I think Belmont could have made some noise. LSU was not the dominant, unflinching No. 3 seed that Houston, Texas Tech and Purdue proved to be, so Belmont could have hit enough threes to make it a game at the end. And then once that happens …

jplanos: That was a tough matchup for Belmont. Maryland coughs it up constantly, but Belmont doesn’t force turnovers. When you’re already operating at a talent deficit, and you can’t even depend on additional chances, it’s almost impossible to overcome unless you shoot the lights out.

That game was Maryland’s season-best performance in terms of turnover percentage, according to KenPom.

jakelourim: That’s why I think this chalk-heavy first weekend was a one-year deal — just a collection of momentum swings that went toward the favorites. If that backdoor pass from Belmont goes through, Aubrey Dawkins’ tip rims in and Magee makes even, what, two of 12 3-pointers, this is a totally different tournament.

gfoster: So, which conference has impressed the most? I know who it is not: The Big East. Pretty sad effort from the conference that has won two of three titles (granted, that’s just Villanova, so a generous way to praise the conference).

jplanos: Agreed, Geoff. When your second best team gets dusted by nearly 20 by a team from the Ohio Valley Conference … yikes.

sara.ziegler: The Big 12 has been pretty pathetic. Texas Tech has the whole conference on its shoulders now.

jplanos: The SEC has been the most impressive. But how about the Big Ten getting three teams into the Sweet 16? Maryland and Iowa were about as close as you can get to advancing, too.

gfoster: Is there any team that has completely defied what you thought of them entering the tournament?

jplanos: Purdue. Mark me down as having never believed in the Boilermakers all season. All too often it seems to be Carsen Edwards or bust, with the latter winning out.

Purdue lost two of its last three games entering the tournament, including an opening-round loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament. But after two double-digit victories, including an 87-61 thrashing of defending champion Villanova, well, I’m still not ready to believe in their chances moving forward. But I am ready to eat crow.

I wasn’t all that surprised that the Wildcats were eliminated before the Sweet 16, but I am surprised that the Boilermakers reduced them to rubble and are still standing.

gfoster: Mid-majors or non-mid-majors, which team has let you down the most?

I know Sara’s.

sara.ziegler: LOL

*cough, Cyclones, cough*

jplanos: In my opinion, the biggest disappointment is Nevada, by a considerable margin.

Most of this roster reached the Sweet 16 a year ago, and the Wolfpack ostensibly were primed for another deep run in the tournament. Instead, Nevada failed to win its conference tournament and then got bounced in the opening-round of the NCAA Tournament by a fairly average Florida team. They allowed the Gators to dictate the pace and played at the slowest tempo of any game this season, according to KenPom. Not only that, they posted the second lowest effective field goal percentage of any game this season and the highest turnover rate of any game this season.

I even talked myself into Jordan Caroline smashing a fire extinguisher as a galvanizing moment for the team! Turned out it was just a representation of their frustrating season.

jakelourim: Even given everything that happened this season, can I still say Kansas? I know, I know — the Jayhawks played the season under the cloud of player eligibility issues, lost Udoka Azubuike early, ended The Streak and generally looked very un-Kansas-like. But this was still supposed to be a really talented team. Watching them not just lose but get run off the court by a football school in the second round was very odd to me.

sara.ziegler: I think that loss is what they deserve for being placed in the Kansas City regional.

jplanos: LOL

sara.ziegler: STOP GIVING KANSAS SUCH A GOOD REGION

jakelourim: And also, Cincinnati was sent to Columbus and collapsed against Iowa in the first round. That’s like when you draw a bad foul call and go to the line and miss the free throws.

gfoster: Mine is Buffalo. I had the Bulls in the Sweet 16 in all the brackets I filled out. And felt vindicated when they absolutely steam rolled their former coach Bobby Hurley. But Texas Tech absolutely closed down shop from the tip-off on. They didn’t even make a run.

jakelourim: Nevada is another good (bad?) one, Josh. I would have been very worried for Michigan if Nevada were on the other side in the second round. That’s no seventh-seeded roster. But Eric Musselman’s team never put it together like it did in last year’s tournament.

gfoster: That’s another thing about this tournament: There really hasn’t been much drama, Duke and LSU aside. Of the 16 winners in the round of 32, only three didn’t cover the spread: Tennessee, Duke and Gonzaga (and they won by 12 points).

sara.ziegler: My disappointment is actually that Oregon made it this far. I hate it when major-conference schools that played like crap for most of the season make it to the Sweet 16. Seems unjust.

gfoster: Would you like them better if they had Bol Bol?

(Yes, the answer to that is yes.)

sara.ziegler: Yes, of course. They’d also be way better.

jplanos: I think if Auburn had dropped that opening-round game, we’d be talking about this tournament wayyyyyyyyy differently. That would’ve given us two all-timers in the opening weekend.

sara.ziegler: Oh, yeah — I forgot how close that game was!

jakelourim: New Mexico State could have gone on and handled Kansas, too, no?

jplanos: Yeah, my analysis is that Kansas is bad.

sara.ziegler: ENDORSE, Josh.

gfoster: Before we get to our updated Final Four picks, let’s talk about the women’s tourney, which has been objectively better from an entertainment standpoint. What is your biggest takeaway so far?

sara.ziegler: There were three overtime games in the first round alone!

jplanos: I’m glad offense is winning out on the women’s side, as seven of the top 10 teams this season in points per possession remain in the hunt, according to Synergy Sports. I for one am pleased that we get more opportunities for Sabrina Ionescu to do crazy things on the court, like intentionally missing shots for triple-doubles

jakelourim: Absolutely, the women’s tournament has been more entertaining, I think.

gfoster: According to our model, this is still a two-team tournament. Baylor and Notre Dame combine for a 60 percent chance of winning (32 percent and 28 percent, respectively). Although Louisville and UConn appear to be mutually hurting each other’s chances by just being in the same region.

sara.ziegler: Though most of the top women’s teams have all advanced, we’ve seen closer games than we have in the past.

No. 2 Iowa had all it could handle from Mercer. And No. 10 Buffalo acquitted itself nicely against UConn.

jakelourim: Yes, Buffalo played well, and didn’t even have to kidnap any players!

sara.ziegler: OMG, Jake. That’s amazing.

jakelourim: Mercer took Iowa to the wire in an effort to produce what I believe would have been the first 15-2 upset in the history of the tournament.

sara.ziegler: That game was great. I loved the chart for No. 7 Missouri against No. 10 Drake, too:

Look at that excitement index!

jakelourim: That is a crazy game.

gfoster: All right, let’s quickly update our men’s Final Four picks. This is not like a bracket pool — you can easily change from what you picked previously. No one will judge you. (Someone may judge you — it’s the internet.)

Let’s go lightning round through the regions, starting with the East.

I had Michigan State, I’m staying with Michigan State.

jakelourim: Had Duke, staying with Duke. MSU doesn’t have the dudes to take them down.

sara.ziegler: Yeah, I’m sticking with Duke. There’s just so much talent there.

jplanos: I had all No. 1 seeds because I’m not fun at parties. So I’m sticking with Duke.

sara.ziegler: Hahahaha

gfoster: OK, West. I had Gonzaga in my bracket, I said Michigan on our podcast. I’m going with…..

Michigan.

sara.ziegler: Texas Tech. BIG 12 REPRESENT

jakelourim: Had Michigan, staying with Michigan. Happy to die on this hill.

jplanos: Allow me to re-plug Hot Takedown and say that I’m finally ready to go with my heart. The Wolverines have been tenacious throughout the tournament, as best showcased by a Michigan tuba player running down the Gators mascot.

Michigan tuba girl FTW: pic.twitter.com/ZOPFtsCsNY

— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) March 24, 2019

gfoster: Only because I think they are showing again that they are the best-coached team in the country. They don’t do any of the things that cost teams games: turn it over, foul trouble, bad shots, etc.

jakelourim: Yes, I think they have the best coach in that region. That’ll be enough.

gfoster: OK, in the South. I had UVA. I might have said Nova on Hot Takedown, but that was clearly me being an idiot.

sara.ziegler: I believe that went something like, “Jay Wright is amazing, he will obviously win.”

jplanos: You did indeed say that, Geoff. I will withhold my opinion on that pick.

gfoster: That was a product of me not liking ANY team in the region. And I still don’t!!!!!!

sara.ziegler: Wait … that was the region I didn’t like, Geoff.

You didn’t like the Midwest.

gfoster: I like that more, now. I have an answer there.

sara.ziegler: LOL

I still don’t like anyone in the South. I have Tennessee … which I don’t feel great about.

jplanos: I’m still going with UVA. Whoever reaches the 20-point mark first is deemed the winner.

jakelourim: Had Virginia, staying with Virginia. Still think Tony Bennett’s team is the most consistent in the country — NCAA Tournament demons notwithstanding.

gfoster: OK, let’s do the Midwest.

jplanos: Tar Heels. Never a doubt.

sara.ziegler: Remember when they were trailing to Iona at halftime of that game? That was fun.

jplanos: I said never a doubt, Sara!

sara.ziegler: LOL

I still like Kentucky.

jakelourim: I’ve got Ol’ Roy and UNC.

sara.ziegler: You guys are BORING.

jakelourim: This tournament started it!

gfoster: Only because I need to pick something that can be mocked later, I’m taking Auburn. Bruce Pearl’s team is here to provide the madness of 2019. The Tiger offense is so impressive. I love these teams (like some Beilein teams) where every guy on the court can knock down the three.

jakelourim:

jplanos: HAHA, Geoff. Come on now.

sara.ziegler: What a pick.

gfoster: You think there will be no surprises at all? We’ll see.

*checks bracket pool standings, sees self in 90th*

Check out our latest March Madness predictions.

from News About Sports https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/captain-obvious-is-probably-winning-your-bracket-pool/

[othersportsnews-blog]

Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis irked talks joined to GM firing

New Post has been published on https://othersportsnews.com/carolina-panthers-thomas-davis-irked-talks-joined-to-gm-firing/

Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis irked talks joined to GM firing

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis is “exceptionally irked” about reviews that basic manager Dave Gettleman’s firing was joined to negotiations for extensions for him and tight finish Greg Olsen.

Davis, 34, commenced negotiating an extension prior to Gettleman was fired on July 17, eight times prior to gamers reported to instruction camp at Wofford University.

He explained negotiations are ongoing with interim basic manager Marty Hurney, who was the basic manager with Carolina from 2002 by means of the sixth video game of the 2012 season.

Panthers veterans Thomas Davis, remaining, and Greg Olsen are even now trying to get agreement extensions as instruction camp opens for Carolina. Jim Dedmon/Icon Sportswire

Davis explained at no level have been negotiations with Gettleman combative. Gettleman had a status for talks with some veteran gamers receiving complicated in the past.

The most new was final 12 months when Gettleman rescinded the franchise tag of Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman, whose departure to Washington performed a part in final year’s six-ten season.

“To his credit score, he advised me to my experience that he failed to see a decline in my perform,” Davis explained on Wednesday. “He [explained] he had never noticed anything like it prior to for a dude my age.

“I guess it type of put him in a hard situation earning a selection going ahead, but there was never a time the place he explained one thing destructive to me about me as a player or me as a individual.”

Many sources advised ESPN.com that Gettleman’s dealing with of contracts in the past performed a element in the selection to fireplace him, with Davis’ and Olsen’s extensions being mentioned.

But Davis is just not fired up that some of the blame for Gettleman’s firing has been positioned on him and Olsen, both equally group captains.

“Some of the things being explained, it truly is unbelievable to imagine of two guys that was being talked about,” explained Davis, the 2014 Walter Payton NFL Person of the Year. “You imagine about myself and you imagine about Greg Olsen and what we try to characterize and stand for, not only as gamers but as pillars of the group as leaders of this football group, it was completely unfair and uncalled for some of the things that was being explained.”

Olsen explained on Monday that a holdout for instruction camp at just one level was on the desk, but following the “chaos” bordering Gettleman’s firing, he failed to want to be a distraction.

Olsen explained on Tuesday that there was no animosity involving him and Gettleman.

“Certainly we might not often have noticed eye to eye on issues,” he explained. “But as considerably as the respect level involving the two of us, strictly, I failed to ever imagine there was an difficulty.

“He treated me with respect and we gave him the respect in return.”

Olsen, 32, has two a long time remaining on his deal. He explained there have been no ensures from Hurney or the Panthers he will get an extension this 12 months that would make him between the top-compensated tight finishes in the league.

Olsen, the initial tight finish in NFL heritage to have 3 straight seasons with 1,000 yards receiving, ranks seventh in the league between tight finishes with an normal wage of $7.5 million a 12 months.

Olsen indicated he might have to perform out his agreement.

All indications are that Davis, moving into the last 12 months of his agreement, will get a new deal.

“It’s not one thing that is heading to transpire right away,” explained Davis, who has manufactured the Pro Bowl the past two seasons. “I am fired up that we’re even in a situation the place we’re negotiating while I have this 12 months remaining on my agreement. For the firm, it truly is one thing they do not have to do. I am fired up they have chosen to do it.”

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[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Greedilous, Fall 2022

[full-imagination]

Myles Wentworth Whitlock, Jr.

Myles Wentworth Whitlock, Jr., 83, was born on July 16, 1936, and passed away on Monday, September 23, 2019, following a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. Just hours prior to his passing, Myles was surrounded by many members of his large family for a Sunday dinner celebration in his honor. Myles was born in Spartanburg and was preceded in death by his parents, Myles W. Whitlock, Sr. and Florence Smarr Whitlock; brother, Wallace E. “Gene” Whitlock; and his wife of 44 years, Corrie M. Whitlock. He graduated from Spartanburg High School and Wofford College, where he received a BA in Business Administration and Psychology. Myles was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and lived a life of leadership and service to his church, community, and country. He was the retired owner/operator of Whitlock’s Furniture, Inc. and a retired Colonel from the U. S. Army Reserve, following 30 years of service and having served as Commander of 108TNG (Training Division) Reserve Unit. Myles was also a retired water commissioner, following 24 years of service as a member and Board Chair of both the Commission of Public Works of the City of Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District. The Myles W. Whitlock, Jr. Water Treatment Facility was dedicated and named in his honor in 2014. Myles was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and the Builders Sunday School Class. He served on the Spartanburg County School District 6 School Board for nine years and was a Board Chairman. He also chaired the Salvation Army, Hatcher Gardens and Woodland Preserve and Greenwood Methodist Home Board of Directors and was a member of the former United Service Council. He was a past president of the Downtown Sertoma Club and a loyal member of the Wofford College Terrier Club. He is survived by his wife, Camille Norris Whitlock of Spartanburg, SC; his four children: Leigh Anne W. Hoover (Brad) of Kingsport, TN, Myles W. “Trip” Whitlock, III (Kelly) of Moore, SC, Major General Joe Whitlock of Alexandria, VA, Chris Whitlock (Heather) of Lilburn, GA; ten grandchildren: Jennifer Hoover of Greenville, SC, Bradley Hoover of Kingsport, TN, Myles Whitlock, IV (Alexandrea) of Moore, SC, Payton Whitlock (Aubree) of Anderson, SC, Caroline Whitlock of Moore, SC, Sarah Whitlock of Washington, DC, Hannah Jean Whitlock of Falls Church, VA, Christopher Whitlock of Ann Arbor, MI, Corey Whitlock and Hannah Whitlock, both of Lilburn, GA; and great-grandson, Emmett Kelly Whitlock. Myles is also survived by his sisters: Anne Holmes of Spartanburg, SC, and Patricia Berry (Boyce) of Johnson City, TN; and Camille’s children: Tricia Liollio (Evan) and Greg Norris (Lisa), all of Spartanburg, SC; and their children, Robert, James, and Maggie Liollio and Rand Norris. Visitation will be 12:30-1:30 PM Friday, September 27, 2019, in the church sanctuary of Bethel United Methodist Church, with funeral services following at 2:00 PM, conducted by The Rev. Ben L. Barnett. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church Operating Fund, 245 S. Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306; or Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, c/o The Spartanburg County Foundation, PO Box 2337, Spartanburg, SC 29304. An online guest register is available at http://bit.ly/2lcbDXM Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel from The JF Floyd Mortuary via Spartanburg Funeral

[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Christian Cowan, Fall 2022

[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Naeem Khan, Resort 2023

[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Greedilous, Fall 2022

[therunwayarchive]

Payton Wofford at Private Policy, Spring 2022

[full-imagination]

Charles Edwin Gregory Sr.

Charles Edwin Gregory Sr., 80, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. Born January 7, 1937, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Paul E. and Margaret Reneau Gregory and husband of the late Margaret Kelly Gregory. A 1955 graduate of Spartanburg High School, Mr. Gregory attended the University of South Carolina and Wofford College and was a graduate of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. He was a member of Cudd Memorial Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Prayer Ministry Coordinator, was a member of the Seekers Sunday School Class, as well as the Lord’s Supper Committee and Future Sanctuary Committee. He was employed by Milliken & Company for 26 years and retired from the Spartanburg County Detention Facility in December 2000. Survivors include his daughter, Kelly Whitlock (Myles W. III) of Moore, SC; son, Charles E. Gregory Jr. (Stacy Walker) of Campobello, SC; grandchildren, Myles W. Whitlock IV (Alex Whitlock), Payton K. Whitlock (fiancé, Aubree Edwards), and Caroline Margaret Whitlock; and sister, Elizabeth G. Pack Peters (Rev. Richard L. Peters) of Spartanburg, SC. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Friday, October 20, 2017, at Cudd Memorial Baptist Church, by the Rev. Danny Garrett, the Rev. Ronnie Norris, and the Rev. Dusty Martin. Burial will be in Westwood Memorial Gardens, 6101 Reidville Rd., Moore, SC 29369. Visitation will follow at the graveside. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cudd Memorial Baptist Church, 1301 Boiling Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303; or Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The family is at the home of Kelly and Myles Whitlock III. Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel from The JF Floyd Mortuary Crematory & Cemeteries via Spartanburg Funeral