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Boston Sports TV Schedule, Dec. 27: Celtics attempt to end Clippers' streak, plus bowl games

tim.blank2 — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:43:57 -0000

A busy night on television in Boston culminates with the Celtics in a west coast showdown as they attempt to snap the longest winning streak in the NBA right now.

National Basketball Association:

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Boston Celtics - 10:30 p.m. EST (TV/Radio: TNT/ 93.7 WEEI FM): The Celtics get a chance on a national stage to defeat the hottest team in the NBA right now. The Clippers have won 14-straight games thanks to the play of guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin. But their bench is also coming up big, scoring 64 points in Tuesday's win against the Denver Nuggets. The Celtics have won three of their last four games against the Clippers and began their current road trip with a 93-76 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 8 p.m. EST (TV: TNT): The preceding game has the Thunder trying to snap a two-game losing streak against the struggling Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have lost six of their last seven games including three in a row. The Thunder fell in their NBA Finals rematch with the Miami Heat on Tuesday, 103-97 but have won six-straight games against the Mavericks, including last year's playoff sweep.

College Football:

Military Bowl: San Jose St. Spartans vs. Bowling Green Falcons - 3 p.m. ESPN

Belk Bowl: Duke Blue Devils vs. Cincinnati Bearcats - 6:30 p.m. ESPN

Holiday Bowl: Baylor Bears vs. UCLA Bruins - 9:45 p.m. ESPN

College Basketball:

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. New Mexico Lobos - 9 p.m. ESPN2

Matte Black Helmet Fad Finally Goes Too Far

Jason Kirk — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:49:32 -0000

The matte helmet thing was juuust about played out at some point last year, but now that Duke's apparently joined in?

Yeah, that'll do it. Eastern Michigan's going matte too, but at least it's not black. Either way, matte helmets are the new go away matte helmets.

Georgia Tech To The Big XII: Why?

Michael B&B — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:58:57 -0000

If DeLoss Dodds were Saddam Hussein, then Chip Brown would be Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, aka Baghdad Bob. With that caveat out of the way, Brown is reporting that Georgia Tech has put out feelers to the Big XII. To me, this calls into question how Georgia Tech sees itself in terms of its sports programs. If Florida State and Clemson were to move to the Big XII, then the ACC would return to its roots as a basketball conference. (A move by Virginia Tech to the SEC would complete the dynamic.) As Bobby Big Wheel pointed out this week, being a basketball conference isn't what it used to be, but at least the ACC would be firmly within its niche and could brand itself accordingly, as opposed to being a two-headed monster where the football schools are pulling in one direction and the basketball schools are pulling in another.

So where is Georgia Tech?

I'm probably the wrong person to be speaking for the Jackets because I did not go to school there and do not root for them, but Tech just seems to fit better in the ACC. For one thing, it fits the academic profile. It is a small, academically competitive school with greater-than-average standards for incoming players. It makes more sense to compete against Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, and North Carolina than it does to compete against bigger state schools like Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida State, with the latter two also having fewer recruiting restrictions.

For another, Georgia Tech is more likely to be a national power in basketball than football. I know that the Jackets have a great football tradition, but how much of that tradition is really relevant? How much comes from a time where Army and Minnesota were also national powers? Tech's size, its far-flung alumni base, and its academic restrictions all conspire against it in football. In basketball, these are issues that can be overcome because the need far fewer players. There are plenty of examples of schools that have been national powers in basketball in recent years while being small, urban, and/or academically restrictive. Perhaps Duke rings a bell?

In sum, Georgia Tech's natural home is in the ACC. It left the SEC to get away from big football schools that had a different sense of priorities. It would make no sense to join the Big XII and get back into the environment that it left 48 years ago.

Jabari Parker Deemed 'Best High School Basketball Player Since LeBron James' On Cover Of Sports Illustrated

Ricky O'Donnell — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:58 -0000

Jabari Parker's name has been known around local basketball circles since the small forward emerged as a freshman starter for perennial Chicago high school hoops powerhouse Simeon Academy, a feat not even Derrick Rose could accomplish. Now, Parker is good enough to be named the 2012 Gatorade National Player of the Year as a junior. He's considered the best high school player in the country, a future No. 1 overall NBA draft pick and the best player to come out of our city since....well, Anthony Davis.

But still. Jabari Parker is one hell of a high school basketball player. He's almost qualifies a local legend after leading Simeon to three straight state championships; yep, one for every year he's been in school.

A whole bunch of people who aren't familiar with Parker are about to get acquainted. Parker is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated.

Via NBC's CollegeBasketballTalk:

"The Best High School Basketball Player Since LeBron James"

It's the type of statement from a national magazine that could drown a teenager in pressure, but by all accounts, Parker will be up for the challenge. He's known a smart and humble kid from a successful family who's been bred his entire life to do something as insane as grace of the cover as Sports Illustrated as a 17-year old.

Parker has yet to make a decision on where he'll go to college, but the Duke Blue Devils and Michigan State Spartans are considered the front-runners.

Amile Jefferson Picks Duke, He Announces

Patrick_the_Ruminator — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:24:59 -0000

McDonald's All-American power forward (ranked No. 3 by Scout.com) Amile Jefferson (Wynnewood, PA/Friends' Central) picked Duke University on Tuesday during a live press conference.

Jefferson (6-7, 190) had offers from Duke, N.C. State, Kentucky, Ohio State and Villanova. He said his mind was made up about Duke "a couple of days ago." N.C. State was his runner-up (via Adam Zagoria's Twitter).

Jefferson was confident he could fill a role for the Blue Devils that no one else on their current roster can. "Right now I don't think they have a player at my position. I don't think they have a guy like me." Jefferson also said that Duke provided a good combination of academics and athletics.

Jefferson's high school coach said that Jefferson possesses an all-around skill at the forward position and doesn't need to solely be placed in the low block area.

"He's more comfortable with his back to the basket but he has the ability to take the ball to the high post or go to the perimeter and play the '3,' " Friends' Central coach Jason Polykoff said. (via News Observer)

The five-star forward averaged 20.2 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game and 2.7 blocks per game in high school.

ACC/Big Ten Challenge 2012: Ohio State Will Face Duke In Rematch At Cameron

Brendan Porath — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:15:59 -0000

The Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team will travel to Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils in the 2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Buckeyes crushed Duke at Value City Arena in the 2011 Challenge, rolling to a 22 point win that was never in doubt. Thad Matta's club will head to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, November 28th for the rematch. Per ESPN, the telecast of last year's matchup was the highest rated game in the history of the two conferences' early-season clash.

Both Duke and Ohio State should be highly ranked at the start of the 2012-13 season. While they lose All-American Jared Sullinger, the Buckeyes do return the duo of Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas, who should ensure things continue to run smoothly on the offensive end. The Big Ten is going for its third straight win in the Challenge, after losing the first ten years. North Carolina will travel to Indiana in the other marquee matchup of 2012.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Buckeyes, visit Ohio State blog Land-Grant Holy Land.

Austin Rivers Candid About Decision To Leave Duke

sportsgirlkat — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:01:02 -0000

Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, says that Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski helped him make his decision to depart for the NBA Draft after only one year of college.

In a candid interview with Durham, SC's The Herald-Sun that was published Saturday, Rivers spoke about his thought process about leaving Duke after his freshman year and what he did gain from his single season of college basketball. He claims that rumors about Duke not being a good fit for him are unfounded, and says he may even return during the summers to finish his degree.

Rivers also talks about the influence that his legendary coach Krzyzewski had over his decision to head to the draft. Said Rivers:

"The first thing he said was, ‘I want you to do what’s best for you and I want you to do what you think is right.’ After putting the pros and cons together, I wanted to take my chances in the NBA. He thinks I can do it, too. It was the right decision that we made together."

Some basketball pundits believe that Rivers may be drafted by his father for the Boston Celtics when the NBA Draft occurs on June 28th.

ANIMATED/PHOTOS: This Is What It Looks Like When Duke Loses To Lehigh

Andy Hutchins — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:02:27 -0000

Duke's loss to Lehigh in the 2012 NCAA Tournament was not necessarily "one of the all-time shockers" -- heck, Missouri's loss to Norfolk State hours earlier may have been more shocking -- but it may set new records on the Internet Schadenfreude Meter. Just look at this Dukie.

You don't think there's more? You must not know us.

Keep in mind that the worst thing that will ever happen to most Duke fans are unflattering screencaps on national television after Duke loses and you will keep laughing!

Oh, and Coach K, your thoughts?

... can you still move?

Oh, good. I was worried.

The counterpoint to the tears of Blue Devils, of course, is the pure, buoyant joy Lehigh gets to soak in.

The band seems happy! This cheerleader seems happier!

When you're a Lehigh fan, and your team upsets one of college basketball's titans, you will treasure those tears forever. So, congrats, Crying Lehigh Cheerleader: you gave us what will likely be the image of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Friday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

VIDEO: Seth Curry's Desperation Shot Just Misses As Florida State Beats Duke

Brian Floyd — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:52:47 -0000

There will be no rubber match for Duke and UNC in the ACC Championship after the Blue Devils were knocked off by Florida State on Saturday. The loss likely ends Duke's hopes of stealing a No. 1 seed, though the Blue Devils will receive the nice consolation prize of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Duke came just inches from forcing overtime, though, with Seth Curry's heave at the buzzer just barely rimming out. Florida State decided to heave the inbound pass long with three seconds to go, and instead nearly made a costly mistake. Curry somehow came up with the ball, found room to get his shot off, and nearly sent the game to overtime.

If that had gone in, Florida State would've had a legitimate gripe. Count Curry's steps and you'll see why.

Instead, we get this. Hey, angry Seth!

ANIMATED: Duke's Miles Plumlee Commits Worst Turnover Ever

Brendan Porath — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:50:56 -0000

The Duke Blue Devils are trailing Florida State by two after one half of their ACC Tournament Semifinal game in Atlanta. It's been an ugly game on the offensive end, as the Devils have committed an amazing 14 turnovers through the first 20 minutes. The worst giveaway came late in the half, when senior Miles Plumlee, 90 feet from his own hoop and unguarded, decided to throw it backwards and out-of-bounds across his own baseline right to the referee.

Plumlee's reaction to committing this horribly embarrassing turnover? Naturally, a nice round of patented Duke floorslapping (although, admittedly, it was more of the melancholic variety and not the gritty intensity version we're used to).

An animated gif of the play after the jump:

For more on the two teams, check out Florida State Seminoles blog Tomahawk Nation and Duke Blue Devils blog Duke Basketball Report. For more on college tournaments nationwide, head over to SB Nation's dedicated NCAA basketball hub. For more on the ACC tourney, make sure to follow this StoryStream.