#Usc basketball coaching staff

[thesportssoundoff]

“The XFL is a thing. Should you care about it?”

Joey

February 2nd, 2020

Another winter, another money mark attempt to figure out winter football.

The NFL has wrapped up another successful season and now it's Vince McMahon's turn to try once more with a brand new football league. In 2019, the son of his friend Dick Ebersole tried with the AAF which fell apart before the season finale could even take place. Vince McMahon seems more prepared than Charlie Ebersole and his backers, especially when you consider that the XFL apparently has long term financial backing place to absorb what figures to be some money losing seasons. The XFL's rule set which features things like a revamped overtime, a double forward pass concept, a continuously running game clock and a variety of different special teams related rules designed to entice an improved pace of play. Is the XFL going to revolutionize the NFL? Probably not. Will it provide some concepts that inevitably get stolen? I'm going with a pretty solid "oh yeah absolutely." It's live sports and chances are if you're reading this you know that the SportsSoundoff is all about live sports and activities that are able to cosplay as sports (axe throwing and chainsaw-ing come to mind).

If you're looking for more football to take in then the XFL figures to give you that and with readily-ish available-ish games across FS1/2, Fox, ABC and ESPN/2 platforms. Long story short, games will be out there for ya if you want to spell some time between the NBA's second half kicking off and the start of baseball and college basketball's tournament run. With a neat and tidy eight teams across a variety of markets, I'd like to go team by team and detail why you should try your hardest to give each team the benefit of your time. Some teams figure to be easy and some teams figure to be impossible BUT I've got free time and I gotta do something, right?

The Dallas Desperados The most intriguing coaching staff in the entire league

Let's start from the obvious; if Bob Stoops truly wanted to, he could be coaching in the NCAA right now. This is a guy who left Oklahoma as an insanely successful well liked legacy coach who won a national title and 10 conference championships. Bob Stoops took Oklahoma football to a level not seen since the Barry Switzer run and is clearly one of the greatest coaching minds of his era. Health and perhaps a general all around malaise for football led to Stoops stepping down but when you look around the number of college teams divided by the number of quality of minds currently available for head coaching jobs, there's zero doubt Stoops could've been the guy at any school he wanted to over the past two years. Hell, I would NOT be surprised if Stoops would've been on the radar of NFL teams if he did an Urban Meyer-esque TV gig as opposed to just falling off the face of the Earth and living life in the shadows. Instead he re-emerges in the XFL as the GM and head coach of the Dallas Desperados. Stoops admittedly took this gig because of its proximity to his recruiting trails of the past and just general all around comfort with the area. Stoops was the prized announcement of the XFL, the first coach they revealed and put in the biggest football media market of the entire XFL league. Long story short? Bob Stoops was a rare coup for the XFL and he's being advertised and promoted as such. So much so in fact that when Stoops stopped appearing in XFL promotional material for a short spell, there were rumors that the XFL was going to lose the only drawing card it had with Stoops maybe making a move all the way up to the NFL for the Cowboys head coaching gig. The fact the XFL has Stoops gives it something the AAF never had; a familiar well liked face who isn't tired or old hat; the two knocks that basically hurt the AAF when Steve Spurrier was limping around on the sidelines for the Orlando Apollos.

The intrigue goes beyond JUST Bob Stoops as the Bob Stoops coaching staff is genuinely pretty ridiculous. If you love the Lincoln Riley and Mike Leach style offenses then you know of the name of Hal Mumme. Mumme is the father of most of the modern air raid offenses you see today, the likes of which that get mediocre-y college coaches like Kliff Kingsbury head coaching gigs in the NFL. Mumme is a bit of a college coaching legend with concepts that have bled into the highest levels of football. Stoops will be the offensive coordinator for Stoops' offense and with a few years away from the coaching circuit, I'm intrigued to see if Mumme has anything new left to offer. Defensively, Chris Woods and Jim Jeffcoat have long ties to Bob Stoops or Hal Mumme. The offense has a mastermind, the defense has a glut of former defensive coordinators and there's a damn good chance that Bob Stoops could turn a solid run in the XFL into a head coaching job elsewhere. Just keep an eye on the Desperados coaching staff as a potential breeding ground for coaches into the next level.

DC Defenders Name defensive talent = ???

It seems like the XFL is going to make it a lot harder for defenses to really play a meaningful part in the games with rules clearly designed to go for more of a high paced scoring first and foremost brand of play. That said, the DC Defenders do have some defensive talent to keep an eye on. They've got a name defensive line with guys like former Giants starter Jay Bromley, USC's Kenny Bigelow, Washington Huskie Elijah Qualls and a linebacking core with Arizona undersized legend Scooby Wright, former Atlanta Falcons player Jonathan Massaquoi and former Bills player and early retiree from football AJ Tarpley. In the secondary is where things really have "could play in the NFL potential" with former draft picks Jalen Myrick and Bradley Sylve and former starters Shamarko Thomas and Matt Elam at the safety spots. Most of the attention will be on former National Championship winner Cardale Jones at the QB spot with name weapons like Malachai Dupree and Rashad Ross but in truth, I'm curious to see if their defensive talents can find their way back into the NFL.

Houston Roughnecks Actual NFL name talent

Soooo yeah, let's take a second to talk about the Houston Roughnecks. There's a WEALTH of NFL level talent on here, if not in actual talent but in name value. We can start at the QB spot where the Roughnecks at the very least boast an interesting "What if?" scenario. Going into the 2016 NFL Draft, a lot of teams needed QBs and the draft boasted some really interesting ones. The top two were pretty much locked in (Carson Wentz and Jared Goff depending upon your preference) and Paxton Lynch seemed like a solid lock as the #3 QB. After that? Free for all! The likes of Cardale Jones, Dak Prescott, Jeff Driskel, Connor Cook, Nat Sudfield and Christian Hackenberg were all fighting for spots to try and eek themselves into that next tier. There was a belief of sorts that Cook was the leader in that clubhouse but concerns about his personality and how teammates viewed him at Michigan State dogged him all the way down to the 4th round. The Cowboys were going to take Cook (who they had as a late 2nd round pick on their draft board) but he got snagged up as the Raiders as a developmental QB behind Derek Carr. The Cowboys, not exactly heartbroken but not exactly thrilled, moved to taking Charles Tapper out of Oklahoma and then with their comp pick (thanks Eagles! Thanks DeMarco Murray!) picked Dak Prescott at the behest of their coaching staff, bucking scouts who had him behind Jeff Driskel. Dak Prescott will likely earn anywhere from 30 to 40 million next year and Cook is trying to carve out his path in the XFL after failed stints in Oakland, Cincinnati and Detroit. It's a fun "What If?" scenario to toss around while Cook can perhaps reset his career in the XFL.

Beyond Connor Cook? Houston boasts a kicker in Sergio Castillo who as an all star in 2019 and boasts an NFL quality leg potentially. Kickers come and go in the NFL and if Castillo is good then he probably has a chance to pop up somewhere. RB De'Angelo Henderson was a 7th round pick who has bounced around the NFL and figures to probably get similar looks as a 3rd round COP back somewhere if he's good in the league. Cam Phillips and Kahlil Lewis are former NFL camp bodies while Sammie Coates played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. SS Marqueston Huff played in the NFL for a variety of teams and has a pedigree as a former 4th round pick. DL Kony Ealy, Gabe Wright and Walter Palmore could probably fill out the back end of an NFL defensive line rotation right now. There's some actual NFL talent lurking in these waters, even if most of it is probably training camp filler variety. Those guys still have merit!

LA Wildcats The Josh Johnson Situation

So let's chit chat a spell about this. Josh Johnson is one of those guys that seems to pop up once a year on an NFL roster. He's been in the league since the dying days of the Gruden Era in Tampa Bay, a former fifth round pick who carved out a career as a somewhat competent-ish back up. He bounced around, played in the United Football League (consider THAT one) and seemed set to flame out. When the Redskins brought Josh Johnson in in 2018 after injuries to Alex Smith and Colt McCoy, Johnson stepped into the starting role and actually played pretty well! Not well enough to get brought back but well enough to earn another shot in the NFL as a back up for the Detroit Lions. Johnson was let go and continued his playing days by adding onto the XFL. I think Josh Johnson is the only dude to play in all three short term gimmick leagues (the UFL, AAF and XFL) but that's not where our story ends. Injuries to Jeff Driskel and Matt Stafford opened the door to play the NFL again when the Lions came calling. Surprisingly the XFL refused to follow the AAF's lead and kept Johnson to his XFL deal, forcing him to pass on a Lions opportunity. Josh Johnson basically has to be the best QB in the league to justify the XFL's decision to force him to stay in the league. Otherwise they'll probably be looked at unfavorably by future players for robbing a guy of an NFL opportunity. Also keep an eye on Nelson Spruce to be a big third down guy who racks up 1st downs.

New York Guardians ???

So I've looked over the roster a bunch, taken a gander at the coaching staff and honestly? I mean I don't have anything. This team on paper is pretty boring with no real flashy star name value and a head coach and offensive coordinator in Kevin Gilbride who had his best years some fifteen years ago if not longer. I suppose there may be some interest in seeing former AAF names like Jamar Summers and Luis Perez do stuff? This team is boring but boring teams can win games and boring games can win championships. Just don't expect the Guardians on paper to be something you'll feel compelled to go out of your way to see. In a way the Guardians match up pretty well with Vince McMahon's current WWE product; a severe lack of storylines and star power that compel and force you to go out of your way to tune in on a weekly basis.

St. Louis Battlehawks Football is BACK in St. Louis!

The Rams left St. Louis for LA in 2016 and to be entirely honest, I'm not sure if it worked out any well for the NFL. Surely the Rams bring in more money and notoriety in theory but it sure feels like the Rams have not exactly caught on with the locals in LA who are clearly baseball fans during the summer/fall and basketball fans every other time else. The Rams boast a tremendous team and watching a city like Kansas City enjoying its first Super Bowl win (in the great state of Missouri or Kansas or Kansourri) has me wondering how much more fun the NFL would be if the Greatest Show On Turf stayed in St. Louis as opposed to venturing out west and had kept up the tradition of having two teams playing in a rather "small" market. The fans of St. Louis will get to show how much they support football when the Battlehawks take flight (Ugh) in a few days. The Battlehawks have an intriguing roster with plenty of Mizzou names on it like WRs L'Damian Washington and former TE turned WR Markus Lucas. They also have swagmaster Marquette King trying to rebuild his NFL case after his falling out in Oakland. To add to the madness, the Battlehawks boast the most QBs on any of the 52 man rosters in the XFL and are led by Ole Miss QB legend Jordan Ta'amu who is coming off a failed stint in the NFL. I still really like Ta'amu and think he's got developmental upside for what it's worth but that's neither here nor there.

Seattle Dragons Holy shit Jim Zorn is still around?

The Redskins have a rather....interesting history in the modern era. Outside of a few brief periods of success from the likes of Joe Gibbs and Mike Shanahan, the Redskins head coaching history is rather no bueno. Among those bodies lost to the annals of history you have Jim Zorn. Zorn was a bit of a QB whisperer for the likes of Mike Holmgren and Dennis Erickson before surprising folks by making a massive leap from QB coach to head coach for the Washington Redskins in a stunning move. Zorn's move went...about as well as you'd expect. Jim Zorn became the latest victim of Redskins incompetence and then sort of just disappeared. He coached QBs for a bit after getting fired and then became the NFL equivalent of a ghost. Well Jim Zorn's back and back in Seattle where he led Matt Hasselbeck to some insane-o Seahawks records. The Dragons roster overall isn't exactly must see as it's mostly AAF leftovers with the occasional 2019 UDFA but at the very least seeing if Jim Zorn can wash off the Redskins stench some 10+ years later might be a bit of fun.

Tampa Bay Vipers A Florida all star team

The Vipers have the world's most name recognizable pseudo all star squad in the entire XFL. With former Bears head coach Marc Trestman at the helm, the Vipers boast a wide array of talents from various schools in the state of Florida. Miami Hurricanes WR Stacy Coley, Florida OL Martez Ivey and TE DeAndre Goolsby, South Florida QB legend Quinton Flowers will be trying his hand at RB as well as FSU RB Jacques Patrick and DB DeMarcus McFadden. That doesn't even begin to cover the number of Central Florida, South Florida and FAU players on this team as well. Also Aaron Murray is here and it seems like people are still going to try and make him into a thing after being a 4th round pick back in 2015.

[jethomme]

Los Angeles Times gets headline right, the story wrong

The deep story lies in what characterizes higher education today and how, through suspect achievement tests like the SAT and ACT, and inflated grades, students arrive on campus to be funneled through to graduating a specialist without the liberal (meaning broad and deep) educational background their predecessors from 1900 through 1970 experienced.  The SAT and ACT alone favor parents wealthy enough to spend from $500 (bare minimum) to $5-8,000 and more on test preparers who will use workable strategies to boost test scores, not I.Q. or aptitude, test scores, and it’s all legal if grotesquely unfair to the majority of poor to middle class students--the MAJORITY of students!  In Colombia students are rising up

“...calling for the recognition of higher education as a universal, inalienable right, for greater autonomy and self-government for students, professors, and administrators and for the production of scientific, humanistic, and artistic knowledge, with the aim of overcoming the legacy of decades of violent conflict and reducing aberrant levels of inequality.”  Perhaps American higher education should set such a standard rather than producing a nation of student debtors worthy of a novel by Charles Dickens.

With regard to the universities caught up in the latest scandal:  USC, UCLA, Stanford, Yale, and several more, they were easily duped, just as most large institutions would be.  Notice that these schools are, with exception, all private universities.  Also appreciate that each thus far has identified solely department malefactor/criminals guilty of participating in racketeering.  Recently, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times, Dylan Hernandez, in an expansive mood described the actions of a few USC athletic department members as showing the “depths of the school’s decline.”  The University of Southern California is hardly in decline notwithstanding the criminality of two wanton physicians and rogue coaches and families. In the #MeToo era we have learned that misogyny riddles the whole culture, rich to poor, irrespective of race, that cheating characterizes too great a portion of collegiate and professional operations.   

A handful of super rich malefactors involved in a legitimate racketeering operation is a juicy “social impact” story but hardly qualifies as a having a major impact nationally given the inequities characterizing SAT and ACT test preparation described above, truly a pay-to-play exercise that favors the upper middle classes to the rich, for it is they who can afford to pay test preparers and testing coaches the thousands of dollars necessary to raise the scores of beneficiaries enough to qualify for entrance to university.

More on USC, some wish to lay all the blame on athletic director Lynn Swann on up to the President of the University, an interim president.  None of the higher ups in this case, nor on the others, Mike Garrett, Pat Haden, in past and recent past should be singled out.  In this case a top Athletic Department administrator, Donna Heinel, operated from the "top" down including water polo coach Jovan Vavic who apparently was funneling cash to assistant coaches who possibly were not paid well enough.  Nevertheless, Vavic produced 16 championships between women's and men's water polo--16!  This is surely one of the great NCAA feats of all time in any sport.  He did it with help.  How much did he take personally, not yet known.  As for Reggie Bush, that's on the Bush family and Reggie.  This writer never liked Pete Carroll's libertine approach to discipline even as he can appreciate Carrol’s abilities.  One shouldn’t lay the Bush fiasco on Carroll and his staff.  Then there's Tony Bland who worked with a member of De'Anthony Melton's family unbeknownst to USC basketball coach Andy Enfield. 

At some point trust is the only quality you have to work with in an open, pleasant, productive working environment.  You must be able to trust all members of the team, including sports administration, parents, assistant coaches, athletes, matriculators (we suppose the rich ones particularly).  An over reaction which now riddles American culture might produce a Draconian reaction which dampens esprit de'corps and may stifle the kind of healthy internal environment that makes the whole thing work well. 

[newsfact]

College basketball rankings: AP Top 25 preseason poll released for 2021-22 NCAA season

This upcoming college basketball season has numerous prominent storylines heading into 2021-22 following a year in which the NCAA Tournament returned amid the COVID-19 pandemic and wherein Baylor downed Gonzaga for the Bears’ first title in school history.

It’ll be the first season at the helm for several coaches at prominent schools — Hubert Davis at UNC, Mike Woodson at Indiana, Shaka Smart at Marquette, Tommy Lloyd at Arizona and Porter Moser at Oklahoma, to name a few.

Similarly and perhaps most notably, it’s also the last season of Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, with all eyes on the Blue Devils as Jon Scheyer prepared to take the reins from a college basketball legend in 2022.

At Memphis, Penny Hardaway has one of the nation’s top recruiting classes thanks to Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren and even added Hall of Famer Larry Brown and former NBA All-Star Rasheed Wallace to his coaching staff, making the Tigers one of the more compelling Group of 5 schools and one of the more compelling programs in the Volunteer State.

SN EXLCUSIVE: Coach K reflects before final season leading Duke

Kentucky and Kansas also will look to return to prominence, with the Wildcats not even making last year’s tournament and with Bill Self’s Jayhawk squad getting bounced in the second round.

There will also be several prominent coaches of perennial top 25 teams absent for games ��� most notably Gonzaga’s Mark Few, who will miss his team’s first game against Dixie State following a DUI arrest and Louisville’s Chris Mack, who will miss six games amid myriad scandals, including ones stemming from Dino Gaudio’s extorition conviction.

The Associated Press released its preseason top 25 poll for the 2021-22 college basketball season on Monday. Here’s a first look at where teams start before play begins Nov. 9.

College basketball rankings for preseason

AP Top 25

Rank Team Record Points (No. 1 votes) 1 Gonzaga 0-0 1,562 (55) 2 UCLA 0-0 1,459 (8) 3 Kansas 0-0 1,427 4 Villanova 0-0 1,332 5 Texas 0-0 1,315 6 Michigan 0-0 1,255 7 Purdue 0-0 1,213 8 Baylor 0-0 992 9 Duke 0-0 963 10 Kentucky 0-0 894 11 Illinois 0-0 861 12 Memphis 0-0 831 13 Oregon 0-0 775 14 Alabama 0-0 713 15 Houston 0-0 694 16 Arkansas 0-0 673 17 Ohio State 0-0 581 18 Tennesee 0-0 563 19 North Carolina 0-0 547 20 Florida State 0-0 381 21 Maryland 0-0 294 22 Auburn 0-0 267 23 St. Bonaventure 0-0 238 24 UConn 0-0 161 25 Virginia 0-0 125

Others receiving votes: Michigan State 87; Indiana 41; USC 30; Arizona 26; Virginia Tech 25; Oklahoma State 25; Xavier 22; Texas Tech 17; Richmond 13; Rutgers 11; Colorado State 11; LSU 7; Belmont 7; San Diego State 5; St. John’s 5; Mississippi State 5; Syracuse 5; Drake 4; Colorado 4; BYU 3; Notre Dame 3; Louisville 3

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[tkmedia]

Big 12, Pac-12 heads meeting to discuss options, potential merger or alliance

By Barrett Sallee, CBS Sports: Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and first-year Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff are set for a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a number of options including a scheduling alliance and even a possible merger between the two conferences, according to The Athletic. This comes one day after Bowlsby floated both ideas during a meeting at the Texas Senate hearing regarding the future of college sports in the Lone Star State. Read the full story… —Recent News Feed Stories—- Preseason CBS Sports 130 team ranking for 2021 season - Former Notre Dame edge Devin Aupiu transfers to UCLA - Sun Devils release 2021-22 men’s basketball nonconference schedule - Bobby Hurley excited about prospects for new-look Sun Devils - Eastern Washington hoops transfer Kim Aiken Jr. commits to Arizona, again - Colorado Athletics receives largest-ever one-time gift - Colorado senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Doss out for season - Athlon’s college fantasy football 2021 quarterback rankings - Raley: We’re already in the first quarter of the UW-Michigan game - WSU fall camp kicks off Thursday, will wildfire smoke get in the way? - USC wide receiver Bru McCoy suspended from team activities after July arrest - Western Michigan transfer LB Treshaun Hayward back with Arizona, per report - Alabama head coach Nick Saban finalizes contract worth nearly $85 million - Report: Clemson, Florida State have reached out to SEC - Stalled ‘Air Raid’ set for second flight at Miss State under Mike Leach - What opposing coaches & players are saying about Husky freshman QB Sam Huard - 4-star WR Darrius Clemons, the No. 1 player in Oregon, places Ducks in top 3 - Keyan Burnett’s commitment represents larger success for Arizona football - Former Washington coach Chris Petersen joins Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff - ESPN’s Position U: Schools that produce the most CFB talent at each position - Arizona lands 4-star legacy tight end Keyan Burnett, flips him from USC - There’s a strong Pac-12 presence in water polo at the Tokyo Olympics - Desmond Howard: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian knows what it takes in SEC - Huskies offer Isendre Ahfua, a 14-year-old Kid from the neighborhood - Seahawks sign former Beavers quarterback Sean Mannion - Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Bruce Arians raves about former Husky Joe Tryon - Oregon women’s basketball lands 5-star point guard Chance Gray - Seismic changes mean college football entering new era - Oregon makes impression on elite OL Spencer Fano - Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno strongly considered coaching at USC - Former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley signs with the Indianapolis Colts - What possible conference realignment means for USC - Takeaways from Oregon’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ recruiting event - TJ Hall on flip from UA: ‘I knew in my heart Washington was the right place’ - Utah football enters fall camp with high expectations, again - SEC commissioner addresses state of relationship with Big 12 commissioner - Former Bruin Earl Watson to join Toronto Raptors staff - Arizona Football success will be contingent on the offense - Former Trojan Tahj Eaddy signs with the Orlando Magic - Big Ten football: If Conference expands, which teams are candidates to join?

The SportsPac12 News Feed does not link to stories behind a paywall. News is added periodically throughout the day, so check back regularly.

Latest posts by News Feed (see all) Read the full article

[junker-town]

How Stanford women’s basketball built a national championship team

This is how coach Tara VanDerveer assembled a championship team.

The No. 1 seed Stanford Cardinal won their third national championship in program history and their first national title in 29 years by knocking off an elite Arizona Wildcats squad that shocked many in the tournament with their tenacious defense and will to win.

What makes this win even sweeter for Stanford is that head coach Tara VanDerveer led the Cardinal to each of their three national titles in 1990, 1992, and 2021. VanDerveer and her staff built each team from the ground up, and this year’s team was no different. Putting the pieces together of talented players spanning multiple positions and classes, VanDerveer continues to add to her illustrious coaching career, her Hall of Fame resume, and further cement her name in Stanford’s history books.

For the Cardinal, nearly every player had an outstanding resume heading into this tournament and even before signing to become part of the Stanford team. With that said, it’s no surprise they were in contention for a national title, but the fact that they were able to win it all despite this season’s ups and downs was impressive. Here is a look at how Tara VanDerveer built this year’s Stanford team and led them to a national championship.

Kiana Williams, Guard, Senior

Kiana Williams was one of Stanford’s three seniors and the heart and soul of this Cardinal team. A San Antonio native, Williams returned home for her last hurrah in the NCAA tournament and came out as a national champion.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Throughout her career, Williams had made her mark with the Cardinal, averaging 12.9 points in the regular season and 15.9 points per game in the postseason. From those stats, it is evident that Williams was a true gamer, raising her level of play when the games mattered most.

Like many on the Stanford Cardinal, Williams arrived at The Farm with more than a few accolades. She was a 2017 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic All-American, ranked 8th overall in the 2017 recruiting class by HoopGurlz, and was Stanford’s first top-10 recruit since Chiney Ogwumike signed Nov. 2009.

Haley Jones, Forward, Sophomore

Haley Jones was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her work in leading Stanford to the national title. Jones went off for 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Stanford’s one-point win over South Carolina in the Final Four, and then had 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the title game win over Arizona. Like Lexie Hull, she was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.

Jones’s resume prior to Stanford was also packed with individual honors. In 2019 she was a McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic All-American, won the Naismith Trophy Girls’ High School Player of the Year, was the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, and was named the USA TODAY High School Sports First Team All-American.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

To add, she was the No. 1 player in the country for her 2019 recruiting class, according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz. She also won gold with USA Basketball in the FIBA U17 World Cup in Minsk, Belarus, during the summer of 2018 and competed at the 2019 USA 3x3 U18 National Championship and her team won second place.

Lexie Hull, Guard, Junior

Throughout the season, Lexie Hull logged double figures averaging 11 points in the regular season and 12.9 points per game during the postseason. Her 6-foot frame made her a mismatch for many teams on the boards as she was able to grab roughly five per game throughout both the regular and postseasons. Her performance throughout the tournament landed her on the 2021 NCAA All-Tournament team.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Hull, like Williams, was littered with accomplishments before joining the Cardinal. She was a five-star recruit ranked the 14th best player in the country according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings. Hull was also a two-time Washington Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, made MaxPreps High School Girls’ All-America first team, and was Seattle Times Co-State sister Lacie, and was named USA TODAY High School Sports Washington State Player of the Year.

The 2021 NCAA #WFinalFour All-Tournament Team Haley Jones @StanfordWBB Aari McDonald @ArizonaWBB Lexie Hull @StanfordWBB Zia Cooke @GamecockWBB Paige Bueckers @UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/Noi3b5fKsK

— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) April 5, 2021

Cameron Brink, Forward, Freshman

Brink was only a freshman, and it was often hard to believe because she didn’t play like it. In her first season in the Pac-12, she leads the conference in blocks with 88. The next closest person was Angel Jackson of USC with 38. Brink averaged 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks this postseason and helped propel the Cardinal to the national title with her strong finishes and shot-blocking presence in the paint.

In high school, Brink was also an All-American. She was ranked No. 3 in the 2020 recruiting class by ESPN’s HoopGurlz and was a 2020 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic All-American. Brink was Oregon’s 2018 and 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year, three-time Naismith High School All-American (2018-2020), a three-time MaxPreps High School All American (2018-2020), and 2019 USA Today Oregon Player of the Year.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

To think these are only four of the Cardinal’s 14-player roster is mind-blowing. How much more dangerous would they have been this year if Jenna Brown, their junior guard and former McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic All-American, could play this year as well. She sat out with a medical redshirt. Not to mention, Anna Wilson was also highly ranked and a 2016 McDonald’s All-American.

To put it plainly, Tara VanDerveer knows how to build successful teams. She’s been doing it at Stanford for the past 36 years. And though she is not new to this, her 2021 Cardinals might be the most individually decorated team we’ve seen in a while. Fortunately, they were able to pull their talents together and win a collective national championship.

[anisanews]

NCAA Tournament official Bert Smith collapses, taken off on stretcher in Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game

Official Bert Smith was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of Gonzaga’s game against USC.

With about 16 minutes remaining in the first half, the broadcast camera panned over and Smith was on the court. A few moments before that, the broadcast showed Smith stumbling. Gonzaga then got a takeaway and a layup on the other side of the court.

When the action returned to USC’s side, you could see panic set in from people on the court. Another official ran over, as well as a Gonzaga assistant coach.

The medical staff then quickly brought out a stretcher as Smith laid down on the court.

The broadcast cut away to commercial, and during that time, Smith was able to get up on his own. When the broadcast came back, Smith was seen awake and sitting up on the stretcher.

CBS later aired the footage of Smith collapsing.

CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore provided an update on Smith based on the information he was given.

“He was feeling light-headed on the court and fell,” Steratore said. “He’s being attended to by trainers in the locker room. He is stable. What they will do now is Tony Chiazza, who was scheduled to be the standby alternate for the second game this evening will now move up and be the standby alternate for this game and the second game through the remainder of the evening.”

The NCAA released a statement on Smith at halftime of the game. The statement said Smith is “still alert and stable” and he will not be transported to a hospital. It also said Smith has been in contact with his family.

The college basketball world expressed their concern for Smith after his collapse.

Prayers up for Bert Smith. Hope he’s okay.

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 30, 2021

Official Bert Smith looked alert while being taken off the court. Let’s hope he is OK.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 30, 2021

Thoughts and prayers and everything for referee Bert Smith.

— Slipper Still Fits (@slipperstillfit) March 30, 2021

Glad that ref Bert Smith of @accmbb seems ok / let’s pray that he makes complete recovery .A ref in standby will replace him .

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 30, 2021

Thoughts and prayers to my friend Bert Smith. Scary sight and hope he is okay.

— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) March 30, 2021

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[theultimatefan]

Women’s 360 Hoops Invitational Elite Bracket Filled With Top Pro, Collegiate Players In Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday

It will be showcase of not just a new sport but elite women’s basketball talent on Saturday when a top field of 32 international professionals and collegiate players compete in the Elite Ladies Hoops bracket of the inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational (dmesportsacademy.com/360hoopsinvitational/) at DME Sports Academy (2441 Bellevue Ave., Daytona Beach) from 6-9 p.m. 360 Hoops partner Orlando Boom (www.theorlandoboom.com), the region’s premier women’s professional basketball organization and 2019 WBDA National Champions, will stock much of the talent, led by Antoinette Bannister, Aisha Brock, Alexis Prince, Ionna McKenzie and Stephanie Ball.

360 Hoops (www.play360hoops.com) is an exciting, inclusive addition to the shape of the game at all levels, incorporating a three-on-three, three-basket, three-team circular court form of the sport. Three teams compete at a time on the 30-foot diameter circular court, which features a single stanchion with three regulation baskets facing away in each direction. Players can score for their teams in any of the three baskets.

“360 hoops is an innovative way of how we view the game of basketball today,” said Orlando Boom owner/visionary Ontavius McCullough. “360 Sports will bring communities closer together, one neighborhood at at time.”

A sampling of the outstanding talent represented includes:

Georgia Soul: Alexis Prince, WNBA Georgia Soul prospect, Baylor Univ.; Aliyah Collier, Clemson Univ, Uniao Sportiva (Portugal); Dominique Wilson, N.C. State; Khadijiah Cave, Baylor Univ.

DMT: Destiny Campbell, East Carolina Univ.; Micah Harvin, Thomas Univ; Tiffany Hodge, Flagler College; Ionna McKenzie, Australian pro, Texas Tech

Lady Elite Warriors: Vanessa Hardy; Diamond Cooper, Florida Tech; Simiah Blount, Troy Univ.; Taj Kollore, UDC

TC Hoopers: Brandy Montgomery, Auburn, Giannena (Greece) pro; Dyana Pierre, Olimpique Sannois St Gratien (France) pro, Univ. of Southern Illinois; Nene Johnson, Stephanie Ball, USC Aiken

Team Swish: Alexis Guadalupe; Di’Mon Steele, St. Petersburg college; Tifani Kerrison, Lynn Univ.

TBD: Jonae Gonzales, Tianna Ayulo, Johnson & Wales Univ.; Natalia Leaks, Virginia State Univ.

Cha$erz: Antoinette Bannister, East Carolina Univ.; Aisha Brock, St. Francis (Pa.) Univ.; Jaterra Bonds, Univ. of Florida; Zada Williams, Univ. of Florida

“The Elite Ladies bracket will feature an amazing array of talent,” said Shane Brey, Co-Founder, 360 Hoops. “Every division of college basketball as well as several overseas professional leagues are represented, which will result in an exciting style of play and a great showcase for the emerging 360 Hoops format. With this field and the deep men’s elite rosters, the national broadcast will be one fans won’t want to miss.” 

Play at the Invitational began Tuesday and continued through the week, with co-ed elementary age, middle school then high school age boys on girls taking the court. Top former collegiate athletes have their own bracket on Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by Elite Men at 1 p.m. and Elite Ladies at 6 p.m. All events are being conducted under strict COVID-19 protocol, including masks, frequent handwashing, facility access limited to athletes and staff only, daily temperature readings, social distancing and other practices.

360 Hoops Invitational games from the lower brackets are available on archive at the 360 Hoops YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/360hoops). The Elite finals will be featured on a tape-delayed national TV broadcast with Emmy-Award winning producer Harry Cicma. Innovative camera angles and technology, including 360 VR, will be incorporated.

The event will be followed by a lively and informative roundtable discussion with high-level basketball minds including Division I coaches which will also be filmed and aired during the television broadcast. Featured panelists scheduled to appear include Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney; Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey; Stetson assistant Brendan Ahearn Suhr; DME Sports Academy co-founder and owner Dan Panaggio; U.S. Army captain and former Augusta State Univ. star Ernesia Wright; Orlando Boom director of player development Mercedes Sirmons; and former Daytona State College and University of Central Florida standout Andrea Ayala. 

360 Hoops Invitational event partners include Dynasty Hoops, DME Sports Academy, Orlando Boom, and Ace League.

[junker-town]

How coronavirus is affecting the NFL’s offseason schedule

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The NFL’s annual league meeting has been cancelled, and teams have suspended travel for scouting.

NFL teams across the league have begun taking precautions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and across the globe. The virus had already caused disruptions in multiple sports, including the cancellation of conference college basketball tournaments. The NBA also suspended its season indefinitely after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus, and the NHL and MLS have followed suit.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton became the first person affiliated with the league to be diagnosed with the virus. On March 19, he announced that he had been diagnosed with the virus.

How much it will directly affect the NFL’s offseason schedule is an ongoing question. For now, most of the major events will go on as planned. NFL players passed a new CBA after voting ended on March 14. The NFL’s free agency period will start on March 18 at 4 p.m. ET. The NFL Draft begins on April 23 from Las Vegas.

However, the NFL’s annual meeting, which was scheduled for March 29-April 1 in Palm Beach, Florida, has been cancelled. Additionally there are some changes that have been made with most of them relating to the pre-draft process. The league has also encouraged team staff members to work from home until further notice, further announcing changes relating to team facilities on March 24.

Let’s run through how teams and various league events have been affected by Covid-19.

Free agency is still on

Though there was some discussion about potentially delaying the start of the new league year and free agency, that’s didn’t happen. The NFL sent a memo to teams informing them that the regular negotiation window and league year dates would be adhered to, and they were.

The deadline for teams to franchise tag players was Monday, March 16, at 11:59:59 a.m. ET, which was extended due to the ongoing CBA negotiations. Transactions could become official at the start of the new league year, at 4 p.m. ET on March 18.

With the knowledge that most of the negotiations between free agents and their 2020 destinations could take place remotely via phone or video chats, a ton of players got signed, though physicals were an issue the league needed to address:

We do understand the NFL can conduct free agency via the phones? You'd still need to do the physical, which can be done when the contract is officially signed in person. The framework of most deals are done even before the player arrives at the facility.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 12, 2020

A few hours into the NFL’s legal tampering period on March 16, the league released guidelines for free agency. Notably, they did not allowing teams or players to travel for workouts or physicals and closed team facilities through the end of March. Instead, physicals had to be completed at a neutral site, preferably in the player’s home city.

Joint statement from the NFL and NFLPA pic.twitter.com/JjzNqGQi9M

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 17, 2020

That went on for several days, but the policy regarding physicals again changed on March 23, when the league announced that all NFL-related physicals had been indefinitely discontinued. Signings and trades still require a physical, but that physical can simply be conducted in the future.

The league previously amended rules regarding when a team can announce an official transaction, which used to require a completed physical. Now teams are allowed to announce deals when the terms have been agreed on and the written contract has been sent a player and his agent.

The ban on NFL-related physicals extends to all free agent and trade deals, NFL Combine rechecks, and non-Combine player evaluations “until the health crisis has passed.”

Some pro days have been affected

Every year, pro days have been held at universities in early March ahead of the draft in April.

On March 11, some NFL teams were already taking travel precautions ahead of the NFL’s free agency and the draft. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were limiting commercial flights for coaches and scouts, and a couple other teams were responding to Covid-19. Another report from Yahoo Sports added that the Eagles had also pulled their coaches off the road from the pro-day circuit temporarily.

Some schools announced cancellations for their pro days, including Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and USC. Alabama has postponed its pro day to April 9. Penn State postponed its pro day as well. Clemson still held its on March 12.

However, schools that moved their pro days to next month might not be able to hold them either. The NCAA is prohibiting recruiting for all sports on and off campus until mid-April:

This would put a wrench in the plans of those schools trying to reschedule their March pro days for early April. https://t.co/lZDTOh9csv

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2020

In addition the NFL has also canceled its regional and HBCU combine dates:

A statement regarding the HBCU and Regional Combine Invitational: pic.twitter.com/viEGIjKDMs

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 12, 2020

As a potential solution, prospects could hold virtual pro days, as several Michigan players did on March 13.

Pre-draft visits have also been cancelled

NFL teams are permitted to schedule 30 pre-draft visits every year, which allow them to meet with prospects and have them undergo medical evaluations. The league has suspended those:

I’ve been notified that the @NFL has cancelled all draftee facility visits. •Jordyn Brooks (LB- Tx Tech)- had 15 scheduled. •Brandon Jones (DB- Texas)- had 8 scheduled. •Devin Duvernay (WR- Texas)- had 6 + 7 private workouts.

— Erik Burkhardt (@ErikBurkhardt) March 12, 2020

The NFL sent a memo to clubs saying "we have decided to prohibit all in-person pre-Draft visits involving draft-eligible players effective at the end of this business day, until further notice." More fallout from COVID-19.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2020

One NFL agent encouraged players to avoid traveling for team visits before the league announced their cancellations. Teams can still conduct one-hour interviews with draft prospects via phone or video call, though they are limited to three per week.

NFL scouting and team evaluations are on hold, too

Most teams have officially announced they are suspending travel for their scouts and coaches including:

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington

Teams have also reportedly considered shutting down their workout facilities for the time being. Teams like the Eagles and Falcons announced theirs will be closed. Several other teams made such announcements at the same time they announced scouting changes. Some teams, like the Bears, have also canceled their April draft parties.

The annual league meeting has been cancelled

Every March, NFL owners and coaches gather to discuss the season that was, and the year ahead. Various conversations take place regarding rule changes and tweaks that can improve the game overall. Here’s the NFL’s statement on the cancellation:

New: pic.twitter.com/Jme2W77RYy

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 12, 2020

The meeting also serves the backdrop for several votes on new rules that affect the on-field product of the NFL. Last year’s controversial decision to make pass interference reviewable started with a yes vote at the annual event.

Instead of meeting in March, there will be calls with team owners and execs for the same days the annual meeting was scheduled instead of an in-person meeting. There might be votes on some of the discussions planned, too.

NFL owners, head coaches, and general managers will also all gather during the spring meeting on May 19-20. There, they will discuss the proposed rules and put them up for a vote. Those include rules about blindside blocking, the onside kick, automatic replay, and more:

Here’s a look at the 2020 rules change proposals submitted by the clubs: https://t.co/Wkwst9sraf pic.twitter.com/mTm5YTk86P

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 10, 2020

See the NFL’s full list of proposals here.

The 2020 NFL Draft is still on, but it won’t include public events

The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Las Vegas, the first time the city has hosted. On March 16, the NFL announced that the draft will still happen in Vegas, but the public events usually held alongside it will be cancelled. The league is also “exploring options” for how the draft process will happen:

NFL announcement on its draft plans: pic.twitter.com/ynRG3Bw6fw

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020

That means there likely won’t be any fans present at the actual draft. The Buccaneers have also cancelled their annual draft party, and the 49ers canceled draft events they had planned with fans.

The CDC has also recommended that for the next eight weeks, any gatherings of 50 or more people be cancelled or postponed.

The league’s general manager subcommittee unanimously recommended to Roger Goodell that the NFL Draft be pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic on March 24. Despite this recommendation, the league said they are sticking to its original April 23-25 schedule, per ESPN. The concern from general managers is that there won’t be enough time to get player physicals, psychological testing, and other information about players who aren’t allowed to visit their facilities. Another concern is that it could give an advantage to teams in places impacted less by the pandemic.

The NFL subsequently began making plans for a virtual draft that will include top prospects, although they won’t be on a stage per usual:

While they won't be together on a stage, NFL will reach out to top prospects this week to participate in the Draft set for Apr 23-25. In a letter to agents, the NFL said it is working on a virtual solution that will incorporate prospects in the broadcast from their own locations.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2020

Offseason activities are being postponed

In addition to announcing guidelines for how to handle free agency, the NFL and NFLPA also announced on March 16 that offseason team activities will be delayed “indefinitely.” They are still considering an appropriate start date for OTAs, which would include most coaches and players on the team in close proximity.

“During this period, the league and union, through their respective medical consultants, will develop a standard set of protocols for clubs to implement regarding facility cleaning and maintenance, equipment preparation, steps to identify players and staff who may be at an elevated risk for the coronavirus and other preventative measures,” the league said in a release.

In addition to that, players are not allowed to enter any NFL facility for a period of two weeks, beginning on March 17 and extended through March 31, except for those players who need access for ongoing medical treatment from the team’s staff.

Organized team activities were set to begin on April 4 for some teams and April 20 for others.

The league is moving forward with a “virtual offseason”

The league has approved a “virtual offseason” through the beginning of training camp, after negotiating with the NFL Players’ Association. Players can have virtual workouts to earn workout bonuses, with each individual team coming to their own agreements in terms of what counts toward offseason bonuses, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo.

Teams cannot resume specific types of work until all 50 states remove the lockdowns currently in place:

2. The NFL's offseason will remain virtual as long as all 50 states are under some kind of lockdown. This means NFL franchises cannot resume in-house work, OTAs or any form of camps until all 50 states have removed lockdown restrictions. This includes states without NFL teams.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 13, 2020

The union’s executive committee voted unanimously to accept the terms of this virtual offseason, per Robinson. Further information came from Adam Schefter of ESPN:

Virtual off-season now officially approved, and this went to all teams after players approved it to lay out new off-season guidelines. pic.twitter.com/R4Fm1L5jCn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 13, 2020

We’ll see how this plays out in the coming weeks, especially as high profile players set out to earn their workout bonuses.

[jethomme]

College Basketball Loses Again with “The Big O” leaving USC after only one year

Agree in some fashion, that Oneyka Okongwu leaving early for the National Basketball Association is good, if the “fashion” is one of a personal nature.  Surely, a nice, talented young man, son of African immigrants will make riches fulfilling the “American Dream” -- an overworked phrase --but must add, collegiate basketball is not helped by one-and-done.  Should we really expect a coach and his staff to build a coherent team identity?  This expectation proves very difficult for most programs these days, and a source of frustration for fans and alumni. 

Successful teams historically held a roster of juniors, seniors, and a complement of sophomores to groom the first year guys.  Granted, Okongwu was a super 1st year guy who is slated to go high in the draft, but the University of Southern California, its fan base, and alumni merit at least two years from such players.  Yes, good luck to Okongwu, but good luck to coach Andy Enfield and the promising program Okongwu and others leave behind.  Especially good luck to those players like senior Jonah Mathews who play through, get their degrees, and help lay a strong foundation.  Is the NBA grateful for the NCAA “farm system”?  Doubtful.  Go Celtics!

[garnernews]

The Story of Our Storyteller: Garner's Tim Stevens Inducted into North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

Garner News Features

 BY MARGARET DAMGHANI

Tim Stevens vividly remembers the December night over 30 years ago when Garner became a ghost town. There were only 12,000 residents of Garner at the time, yet 10,000 people traveled from this area to Charlotte to cheer Garner High’s football team on for Championship game. When a media team came to Garner that night to interview local residents, none could be found. Signs on the front of businesses said they were closed.

There are too many highlights of his five-decades long career in sports writing to mention, but he relates the story of the 1987 Championship Win by Garner High with a mix of fondness and pride that seems to portray his way of thinking about his work.    

“It had almost nothing to do with football. It was really about community.”

A life-long Garner resident, Stevens is one of twelve people to be honored later this year with induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, paying tribute to his 48-year career as a high school sports writer and editor for the Raleigh Times and later the News and Observer. During that time, he tirelessly covered all types of high school sports and anything else that he was moved to write about; the socioeconomics of high school athletics, concussions, transgender athletes, and more.

“I’m a storyteller. I tell stories in plays. I tell stories in sports. I’m not much of a sports fan at all. I’m a people fan.”

It’s clear he enjoyed the time he spent as a sportswriter, however, though not for the fame and fortune many associate with the highly publicized arena of college and professional athletics, or even the many other honors he’s received along the way. It’s the values that sports instill in young people that draw him to it; accountability, consequences and a sense of community. It’s because sports and high school work together to make better people.

“It doesn’t affect my life who wins the Super Bowl. But what is taught in high school does. I came to the realization high school is more important than anything,” Stevens said. “I got to write about all these diverse things. I got to write about society through the lens of young people. I got to write nice things about kids that may not have nice things being said to them.”

He is honored, of course, to be recognized in the Hall of Fame for his body of work, which includes other accomplishments like co-authoring the first North Carolina High School Records Book, along with some of the giants he grew up watching.

“I’m in there with people I grew up dreaming about, I can truthfully say I’m the most unathletic person in the NC Hall of Fame.”

Garner’s history and future are both important to Stevens. His family has been in the area for 200 years, he says, and long-time Garner residents may remember his mother Evelyn Stevens as an editor of the weekly Garner News that ended in 2013, and his father as Town Council member James R. Stevens. His son, one of three children, teaches and coaches at Garner Magnet High School.

Retired from the News and Observer in 2015, Stevens spends his time on his work at Aversboro Road Baptist Church and enriching the lives of Garner residents through his plays focusing on Garner’s history, such as the one he wrote about that 1987 win. He has written plays on the civil war, WWII, integration, and the Vietnam War, all focusing on Garner’s specific people and contributions.

The Wall that Heals will on display at Garner’s Lake Benson Park from April 16 to April 19, 2020.

He brings entertainment to the area with projects like the long-running Broadway Voices series. Most recently, he set his sights on successfully bringing to Garner the Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.

Stevens has also been inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the Garner High Hall of Fame, and the Broughton High Hall of Fame. He was honored in 2015 with the annual James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award, an award named after his late father.

“They’re all different but they all mean as much to you,” Stevens said, of the many recognitions he has collected over the years.

NCSHOF 2020 Inductees

A brief biography of each 2020 inductee follows; deceased inductees being inducted posthumously are indicated by an asterisk:

Debbie Antonelli – Entering her 30th season as a full-time broadcaster for ESPN, Antonelli is one of the best-known female college and professional women’s basketball television analysts in America today. An Emmy Award winner and Gracie Award winner for broadcasting, she is also known for her on-air commentary for men’s basketball and in 2017, Antonelli became the first woman in 22 years to be a color analyst during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues – After a standout career at Wake Forest, the 5-foot-3 Bogues defied the odds and played 14 years in the NBA. He remains the shortest player in NBA history. A first-team All-ACC selection as a senior, he led the ACC in both assists and steals in 1985, 1986 and 1987 and was the 12th overall selection in the 1987 NBA Draft. Bogues currently ranks 23rd in NBA history with 6,726 career assists and 20th in assists per game (7.6).  

Mack Brown – After recently completing his 11th season as head football coach at the University of North Carolina, Brown has compiled a record of 244-123-1 (.664) in his tenure as a head coach at the FBS level. His 244 career victories rank 10th on the all-time list and are the most among active coaches. A two-time national coach of the Year (2005 & 2008), Brown is 13-8 in post-season bowl games with his 2005 Texas team winning the national championship with a 41-38 win over USC.  

Dennis Craddock* – One of the most successful coaches in Atlantic Coast Conference history, Craddock coached the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams at the University of North Carolina for 27 years, winning 45 conference championships, more than any coach in any sport in the history of the league. He was named ACC Coach of the Year 31 times and 25 of his athletes won 38 NCAA titles while 19 of his stars competed in the Olympics winning five gold and two bronze medals.  

Dr. Charles Kernodle – The 102-year-old Kernodle has been the Burlington Williams High School football team doctor more than 60 years. He has lived in Burlington since 1949 and has missed only a few home or away games during that time. The football field at Williams High was named in his honor on his 90th birthday in 2007. In addition to his duties at Williams, he also helped with the football and basketball teams at Elon University.

Mac Morris – A member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame and the co-executive director of the North Carolina Coaches Association, Morris served as the head basketball coach at Greensboro’s Page High School for 25 years and compiled a 456-151 (.751) record, that included state 4-A titles in 1979, 1983 and 1990. Both his 1983 and his 1990 teams were undefeated at 26-0 and 31-0, respectively. The 1983 team ranked second nationally by USA Today and he was named the AP Coach of the Year.  

Trot Nixon - A two-sport star at New Hanover High in Wilmington, Nixon became a standout baseball player with the Boston Red Sox. As a high school senior, he was named the North Carolina player of the year in both football and baseball and was named Baseball America’s national player of the year. A right fielder, Nixon hit .274 in a 12-year major league career with 137 home runs and 555 RBIs. In 42 post-season games, Nixon hit .283 with six home runs and 25 RBIs.

Julius Peppers – One of the most celebrated players in pro football history, Peppers finished his 17-year career with 724 tackles, including 159.5 sacks – the fourth-best mark in NFL history. His 266 games played are a record for a defensive lineman and his 13 blocked kicks are the second most ever in the NFL, as are his 51 forced fumbles. At the University of North Carolina, he led the nation in sacks in 2000 with 15. A unanimous All-America in 2001, he also won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player and the Lombardi Award as the best collegiate lineman.  

Bobby Purcell - The Executive Director of the Wolfpack Club.  Purcell has served in a number of capacities since joining the N.C. State athletics department staff in 1981.  He served as an assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator under Monte Kiffin, Tom Reed, and Dick Sheridan.  At the Wolfpack Club he has overseen the construction of the Murphy Football Center and Vaughn Towers as well as the funding of nearly 300 student-athlete scholarships annually.

Judy Rose - The former Director of Athletics for 28 years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rose became the third female to serve as the athletic director of an NCAA Division I program when she accepted the position in 1990. In 1999-2000, she became the first female to serve on the prestigious NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. Chief among her accomplishments with the university was the overall growth of the 49ers athletics department, culminating with the unveiling of the school’s football program in 2013.

Tim Stevens - One of six North Carolinians in the National High School Hall of Fame, Stevens built a national reputation for his reporting of high school athletics. He covered high school sports for The Raleigh Times and The Raleigh News & Observer for 48 years, winning numerous national awards. Named as one of the top 10 sports reporters in the country by the AP Sports Editors, Stevens is a member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame and its media award is named in his honor.

Donnell Woolford – A three-sport star at Fayetteville’s Douglas Byrd High School, Woolford graduated from Clemson University, where he earned All-ACC and All-American honors twice. A first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1989 and a Pro Bowl honoree in 1993, Woolford started every game from 1989-1996 and ranks third in Bears history with 32 career interceptions. A Graduate Assistant Coach at Clemson in 2016, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2005.

https://www.thegarnernews.com/garner-news-features/tim-stevens-inducted-into-north-carolina-sports-hall-of-fame

[auburnfamilynews]

Mitchell PE Masilun

Two Arkansas natives will be in town this weekend!

With Auburn Football returning to the Plains this weekend after a month on the road, it also means that Auburn Basketball recruits will begin visiting the Plains once again.

Two Arkansas natives Chris Moore (West Memphis) and Jaylin Williams (Fort Smith) will be on campus this weekend for their official visit. With a big man not currently committed to next year’s class, this weekend is extremely crucial as the Tigers look to get one or both Moore and Williams on Auburn’s Class of 2020.

Chris Moore - West Memphis, Arkansas

Moore is down to a Final 3 of Auburn, Arkansas and Memphis. He is a 6’7”, 220 pound forward. He has already visited the Razorbacks and Tigers so of his final 3 schools, Auburn is getting the last visit. He is expected to make his decision within the next few weeks as the early signing period is November 13th-20th. With some of Auburn’s big guy targets off the board, the Tigers need to sign at least one for this upcoming class with Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore graduating after this season.

Auburn coaches Bruce Pearl and Wes Flanigan had an in-home vist w/2020 4-star CF Chris Moore @ChrisMo2020 in West Memphis on Wednesday ... pic.twitter.com/HF1zVcjoeS

— Kevin McPherson (@ARHoopScoop) September 19, 2019

Jaylin Williams - Fort Smith, Arkansas

What are the odds of having 2 Jaylin Williams on the same roster? That possibility could be become a reality if the Tigers are able to get Fort Smith’s Williams on board.

Arkansas have recruited both of these guys extremely hard but Bruce Pearl and Wes Flanigan are doing all they can to get these guys to join fellow Arkansas natives Allen Flanigan and Javon Franklin, both from Little Rock. It’s clear that Flanigan’s ties to the state from his days coaching at Little Rock are paying off as the Tigers have done well in the Natural State lately.

Williams has Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Auburn, Connecticut, Texas A&M and Iowa State among his Final 7 schools. He’s been to Oklahoma State for an official visit and will visit Texas A&M in 2 weeks. Arkansas has been recruiting Williams extremely hard and I feel like he will eventually become a Razorback but we’ll see how this weekend goes for him as Auburn gets their shot to make their best pitch to he and Moore.

Jalen Green Update

Jalen Green recently visited USC and Auburn’s coaching staff has made a pair of trips to California to meet with Green over the last two weeks. Bruce and an assistant were there on Monday. Jalen is still committed to making his choice on Christmas Day between Auburn, Memphis, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Fresno State. While Memphis and Oregon are the perceived favorites, Auburn hopes that Green’s relationship with Sharife Cooper will play a big role in landing Green.

Clifford Omoruyi Update

Clifford Omoruyi is another big target for the Tigers both physically and theoretically. Auburn was in New Jersey on Tuesday visiting with Omoruyi. He was on campus for his official visit back on September 14th. Connecticut, Kentucky, Arizona State and Rutgers are some of the other schools, along with Auburn, hard after Omoruyi’s services.

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/10/31/20937704/auburn-basketball-recruiting-update

[junker-town]

How coronavirus is affecting the NFL’s offseason schedule

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The NFL’s annual league meeting has been cancelled, and teams have suspended travel for scouting.

NFL teams across the league have begun taking precautions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and across the globe. The virus had already caused disruptions in multiple sports, including the cancellation of conference college basketball tournaments. The NBA also suspended its season indefinitely after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus, and the NHL and MLS have followed suit.

How much it will directly affect the NFL’s offseason schedule remains to be seen. For now, most of the major events will go on as planned. The voting period on the new collective bargaining agreement is supposed to end March 14. The NFL’s free agency period will start on March 18 at 4 p.m. ET. The NFL Draft begins on April 23 from Las Vegas.

However, the NFL’s annual meeting, which was scheduled for March 29-April 1 in Palm Beach, Florida, has been cancelled. Additionally there are some changes that have been made with most of them relating to the pre-draft process. The league has also encouraged team staff members to work from home until further notice.

Let’s run through how teams and various league events have been affected by COVID-19.

Free agency is still on for now

For now, the NFL plans to continue with the free agency period and the league’s new year as scheduled.

NFL said it has "no plans to move the start of the league year."

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2020

The deadline for teams to franchise tag players is Monday, March 16, at 11:59:59 a.m. ET, which was extended due to the ongoing CBA negotiations. Clubs are permitted to contact players set to become unrestricted free agents after noon on March 16.

Transactions can become official at the start of the new league year, at 4 p.m. ET on March 18. While a signed contract will be required to finalize agreements between players and teams, most of the negotiations between free agents and their 2020 destinations can take place remotely via phone or video chats.

We do understand the NFL can conduct free agency via the phones? You'd still need to do the physical, which can be done when the contract is officially signed in person. The framework of most deals are done even before the player arrives at the facility.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 12, 2020

The league has not officially barred anyone from traveling to meet for free agency purposes, but teams and players may individually decide to negotiate remotely. The question now is whether the NFL will make accommodations for players to sign contracts without having to make an in-person visit with their new clubs. Players need to pass a physical before their deals are finalized. But if players aren’t traveling, it’s possible these won’t be completely done for some time.

Some pro days have been affected

Every year, pro days have been held at universities in early March ahead of the draft in April.

On March 11, some NFL teams were already taking travel precautions ahead of the NFL’s free agency and the draft. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were limiting commercial flights for coaches and scouts, and a couple other teams were responding to Covid-19. Another report from Yahoo Sports added that the Eagles had also pulled their coaches off the road from the pro-day circuit temporarily.

Some schools announced cancellations for their pro days, including Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and USC. Alabama has postponed its pro day to April 9. Penn State postponed its pro day as well. Clemson still held its on March 12.

Pre-draft visits have also been cancelled

NFL teams are permitted to schedule 30 pre-draft visits every year, which allow them to meet with prospects and have them undergo medical evaluations. The league has suspended those, according to one agent:

I’ve been notified that the @NFL has cancelled all draftee facility visits. •Jordyn Brooks (LB- Tx Tech)- had 15 scheduled. •Brandon Jones (DB- Texas)- had 8 scheduled. •Devin Duvernay (WR- Texas)- had 6 + 7 private workouts.

— Erik Burkhardt (@ErikBurkhardt) March 12, 2020

One NFL agent encouraged players to avoid traveling for team visits before the league announced their cancellations.

Some NFL scouting and team evaluations are on hold, too

Multiple teams have officially announced they are suspending travel for their scouts and coaches including:

Cleveland Browns

Carolina Panthers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington

Teams have also reportedly considered shutting down their workout facilities for the time being, and the Eagles announced theirs will be closed.

The annual league meeting has been cancelled

Every March, NFL owners and coaches gather to discuss the season that was, and the year ahead. Various conversations take place regarding rule changes and tweaks that can improve the game overall. Here’s the NFL’s statement on the cancellation:

New: pic.twitter.com/Jme2W77RYy

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 12, 2020

The meeting also serves the backdrop for several votes on new rules that affect the on-field product of the NFL. Last year’s controversial decision to make pass interference reviewable started with a yes vote at the annual event.

Instead of meeting in March, NFL owners, head coaches, and general managers will all gather during the spring meeting on May 19-20. There, they will discuss the proposed rules and put them up for a vote. Those include rules about blindside blocking, the onside kick, automatic replay, and more:

Here’s a look at the 2020 rules change proposals submitted by the clubs: https://t.co/Wkwst9sraf pic.twitter.com/mTm5YTk86P

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 10, 2020

See the NFL’s full list of proposals here.

No changes have been made to the 2020 NFL Draft yet

The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Las Vegas, the first time the city has hosted. League officials are reportedly closely monitoring the Covid-19 virus. Here’s more from the Dallas Morning News:

While a new plan has not been formally developed, NFL officials are closely monitoring a public health situation that is progressively reaching and impacting the sports landscape in America.

[...]

“The league office, the players association and the city and the state are working together,” Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a phone interview. “They’re making a measured decision. Health and safety will always be No. 1.”

We will update this story with any further information as it develops.

[jaydemayo]

(Central Virginia Sport Performance The Podcast)

Outside The Rack #45- Molly Binetti

“I used to pride myself on being right and having answers and having all this knowledge and being able to communicate that. I think more than anything right now now I pride myself on asking better questions and not be so concerned about having the answers, but realizing that I don’t have answers.”

What’s up everybody and welcome the 45th episode of Outside The Rack brought to you by Kinetic Performance the makers of Gymaware. In this show we are going to try to dive a little deeper into the minds of the top practitioners in the world of sport performance to learn a bit more about who they actually are and how they got to where they are at today. Today we are joined by The University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball’s Sport Performance Coach, Molly Binetti. Molly, thanks for being with us today.

Before we start, who is Molly Binetti?

Someone who’s obsessed with human potential.

1) Describe a learning situation that brought about an epiphany in your career

Coming to USC there was a specific player who was very talented, but was never in shape and didn’t like to work. Initially they didn’t get along, and it wore her out to the point she questioned everything she was doing. This made her realize there has to be a better way and reevaluate how she was handing her athletes.  

2) If you could ask one question and you know you would get the answer what would that be and why?  

How do we change? 

3) What’s your escape?

Getting lost in a book or in nature, and being around people who bring me joy.  

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