SB Nation User Blog: Laughing Stock

USC Golf advances to 4th round of NCAAs UPDATE

Laughing Stock — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:11:37 -0000

This is the first year the NCAA has instituted a fourth-round match-play format. The top-eight teams, after three rounds of competition, advance to compete for a national championship.

In the quarterfinal round of match-play, Arizona State will face Texas A&M, USC competes against Michigan and Washington will vie against Arkansas. Oklahoma State, who finished in first after three rounds, will face Georgia in a match-up of the nation's top-two teams.

Arizona State shot a three-round total of 10-over 862 to become the second team to advance to the match-play format. USC and Washington shot a 13-over 865 to also qualify.

Congratualtions to USC men's golf and good luck out on the course today. It is amazing that they are continuing to fight and advance despite the injury that knocked out star golfer Jamie Lovemark. Here's to continuing the run to an NCAA championship!

UPDATE: USC lost to Michigan 3-2, but still a very impressive run for SC. Do not be surprised if the Trojans bring home a national title in golf next year.

Mens Golf Advances to NCAA Finals Round

Laughing Stock — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:03:50 -0000

Sorry, I'm a little late on this, but USC men's golf advanced to the final round of play in the NCAA tournament despite an injury to All American and former NCAA individual champion Jamie Lovemark. From CSTV:

USC finished a combined 11-under 853 (285-284-284), one stroke ahead of sixth-place New Mexico (854-280-292-282) and four ahead of San Diego State (857-286-287-284). The Trojans, who started the day in fifth, fell behind both teams early but managed to rally on the back 9, where they were a combined 5-under.

Only the top 5 teams advance from each region, and as you can see the Trojan men just barely made it. Last year USC fell just short of a title, finishing in third overall and just two strokes behind ucla for the championship. However, if Lovemark can return healthy then SC has a strong shot at the title, especially consdering the great season that Sophomore Matthew Giles is having.

Even if this year isn't the year, USC should return nearly everyone save for Glissmeyer, and make a run at the tutlke again next year. ...But it would be nice to take home a golf championship this year anyways. FIGHT ON!

Sports Mythology: Lakers/Rockets Game 7 (Definitely Off Topic)

Laughing Stock — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:05:12 -0000

via FreeDarko

The amazing thing about sports is that despite, or even perhaps in spite of what happens on the court or what appears in the box score is that people tend to construct a narrative and mythology around various teams in players. Any USC fan knows this all too well. Look at the preseason hype machine of over four years ago that made Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart into demi gods and then the same system that created a seemingly immortal legacy left by Vince Young's sensational man-against-the-world performance in that now legendary Rose Bowl game. But this isn't about football,but instead about another So Cal and Texas showdown.Tthis is about a modern sports myth in the making, the final game of the Lakers v. Rockets playoff series.

Yes, even before the playoffs had been started it already had been declared an inevitibility that a Lakers/Cavs Bryant/James armageddon matchup would be the one to decide the champions, and even with the larger than life (literally) Yao Ming, the Rockets weren't really given a chance at the series. Yet we have the birth of a hero in the diminuitive Aaron Brooks leading the supposedly less talented Rockets to a nearly dominant game 1 victory, and when the series turned back to Houston anything seemed possible even though the Lakers had just shown that they could be the Lakers everyone thought they were.

But Houston lost the next game, and lost Ming to an unfortunate (but not unlikely) foot injury and the feisty Rockets were given no hope. Then the Rockets won! Then they lost! By 40 points, and once again the decree from the pundits on high was that Houston had no chance and that now the door had definitively shut. But as we have seen now the door was not really shut at all, and that perhaps there was no door in the first place.

So here it is. Kobe Bryant. Ron Artest. Pau Gasol. Shane Battier. If you watch ESPN or ABC you already know that the Rockets once agins have no chance and that LA is basically the consensus pick. And who knows, this series may not even be remembered even two months from now. However, at this moment it has taken on a near Biblical David and Goliath vibe and seems to have the seeds of greatness sewn (sown?) into its very fabric. So I'll just leave you with some smirking words from Aaron Brooks when asked by a reporter if his team had a chance after the end of game 6, "Oh, I don't think we have any chance of winning. But I think we'll come out to play anyways."

Look who is on the cover of NCAA Football 2010 for the PSP. Sure, it would have been cooler to be...

Laughing Stock — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:48:00 -0000

Look who is on the cover of NCAA Football 2010 for the PSP. Sure, it would have been cooler to be on the box for the Xbox or PS3, but being on the cover of a video game is pretty damn cool regardless. (from SI)

Everything Old is New Again: Oregon

Laughing Stock — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:57:10 -0000

Rare recent photo of Phil Knight. This is what happens kids when you promise your alma mater hundred of millions and a recession hits.

An absurdly early look at the 2009-10 Pac 10 Basketball season. Each team will be scrutinized in a ruthlessly clinical fashion, and a final post will wrap up the predicted final standings at the end of the season. For no particular reason I decided to go in alphabetical order, so up now are the woeful (but for how long?) Oregon Ducks.

Key Returners: Tajuan Porter (15.4 PPG, 50.7 eFG%), the entire team minus Churchill Odia

Key Departures: None

Key Recruits: Jamil Wilson (#31 ESPN 100, #94 Rivals 150)

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG          Garret Sim
CG          Tajuan Porter
SF           LeKendric Longmire
SF/PF     Joevan Catron
C             Michael Dunigan
6th Man Kent rotated a ton of players last year...

The Lowdown: Trying to predict how Oregon will do next year is like trying to take the angry out of bees... its just not happening. This coming year's flock of ducks is an interesting group, one born under a sign of potential yet without any truly dominant talent or any dominant returning players for that matter. Sure, Tajuan Porter, Joevan Catron, Michael Dunigan, Lekendric Longmire, etc... could all be "the guy" but it seems as though they are all hesitant to step up and assume the mantle of leadership. Well someone has to, there is no under-achieveing yet still awesome in a subdued way Malik Hairston, no ultra efficient Maarty Leunen, and no sure & steady Bryce Taylor to fall back on. And for the love of Mike it has been nearly two years since Aaron Brooks has donned the giant yellow O. Basically, Oregon last season (and potentially next season too) was a bunch of pieces that did not quite make a sensible and more importantly the team lacked a star that could force them to fit together anyways.

So whither Tajuan Porter? Supposedly the diminuitive combo guard was going to be made into a point guard and take over ball handling duties for the team, but I think by this point it is clear to most that Porter's basic essence is to score and that any dishing or passing (assisting, as it were) would only come as a result of seizing momentary opportunities. For the sake of next season its important for the coaches to let Tajuan just be what he is, a volume scorer with a reckless streak. And of course, they need to have him switch on defense, otherwise they will get owned. Actually, Porter should be the least of Ernie Kent's concerns as getting something out of his cast of underachieving talent.

I mean, what is the deal with Michael Dunigan? He was a force on the court, but the way the dominance would come and go was almost spectral. OK OK, the reasons why Dunigan was not much of an impact player are not nearly that mysterious as he could never stay in the game. On the season, the freshman center averaged a foul for about every 6.8 minutes he was on the court, and he had an annoying tendency to pick up fouls in rapid succession which lead to frequent bench time despite Oregon's lack of height and front court depth. But even when he was on the court Dunigan had really subpar shooting percentages for a big man, and he needs to add efficient scoring to his efficient rebounding and shot blocking. And what to say about the other front court key, Joevan Catron? Catron has some nice moves in the post, but he fails to truly assert himself or make use of his relatively advanced skill set. Joevan is a truly frustrating player to be sure, and at this point in his career (he will be a senior next year) he should be more of an impact player.

I have to wonder aloud if OU fans will tolerate another mediocre season from Ernie Kent. In all honesty I think Kent is a pretty good coach, but some strange recruiting have resulted a bit of a patchwork team. Word is that new Oregon AD Mike Bellotti is good friends with the embattled hoops coach, but with a team that could finish as high as 3rd and as low as last, its hard to say if even the AD can spurn the masses if they begin calling for blood. Oh well... here's to next season Ducks fans!

Magic 8 ball says: "Will Oregon finish in the top half of a watered down Pac 10?" "Outlook not so good."

USC No Longer Recruiting Renardo Sidney

Laughing Stock — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:33:59 -0000

Bumped and edited...too important not to... Paragon

Take a look at this article from Andy Katz.

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Renardo Sidney earned a qualifying SAT score.

But he won't be playing at USC. A source close to the program confirmed that the Trojans are officially no longer recruiting Sidney, who had verbally committed to USC. The decision, according to the source, came from within the administration. UCLA also backed off in its recruitment of the 6-foot-9 power forward out of Fairfax High (Calif.) in a similar fashion, even though there was a strong chance the Bruins were going to land Sidney prior to him committing to USC.

I think this is for the best as it appears as though the administration had determined something was not quite up to snuff. It looks as though USC may be in for a bit of a rebuilding season, but with the incoming talent, newly eligible personnel, and the return of a few key reserves along with Dwight Lewis you just never know.

Also, head on over to USC Hoops to read some of The Sleuth's thoughts (FYI: The Sleuth is the web admin for the site). It sure has been one heck of a rollercoaster since the Pac 10 tournament started huh?

Kind of Strange... CampPete.com

Laughing Stock — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:10:37 -0000

I think everyone here might get a kick out of this:

CampPete.com is not the average computer or video game. It's also a LEARNING experience with real information for your kids about how to lead a healthy, active lifestyle on an off the football field.

I'm kind of at a lack of words, but the whole thing seems oddly appropriate. Carrol was after all one of the first (maybe the first) to use twitter and it only makes sense that he should be the first coach to create an interactive online football world for kids. Ok, it doesn't really make any sense at all, but whatever. Have at it in the comments.

...Everything New is Old Again?: California

Laughing Stock — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:28:49 -0000

And you probably though I was going to post the Marcus Johnson Dunk again huh? (via calathletics)

An absurdly early look at the 2009-10 Pac 10 Basketball season. Each team will be scrutinized in a ruthlessly clinical fashion, and a final post will wrap up the predicted final standings at the end of the season. For no particular reason I decided to go in alphabetical order, so third out of the gates was surprisingly strong Cal, the only Pac 10 team to finish in the top half of the conference that returns its top five players by minutes.

Key Returners: Jerome Randle (18.3 PPG, 60.9 eFG%, 5.0 APG), Jamal Boykin (9.6 PPG, 53.5 eFG%, 6.4 RPG)

Key Departures: maybe Jordan Wilkes... maybe?

Key Recruits: none

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG           Jerome Randle
SG           Patrick Christopher
SF           Theo Robertson
SF/PF     Harper Kamp
PF           Jamal Boykin
6th Man Jorge Gutierrez

The Lowdown: Last years California team is an excellent example of the limits of predictability. No one expected them to come out and contend for a Pac 10 title and absolutely nobody thought that Jerome Randle would end up being one of the nation's elite poing guards. Seriously the Cal team of last year is like some kind of Mandelbroatian fractal randomness nonsense that is almost impossible to predict outside of simply knowing that sometimes teams get hugely better for no readily apparent reason despite losing two players to the NBA. But here we are sitting in the present which at one time in the not so distant past was the incomprehensible future where the Golden Bears may actually be the favorite to win the Pac 10 in 2009-10. To be sure the merest notion would have been seen as the fevered dream of a madman, but as my goofy out of touch dad likes to say, "we are living in real reality". Are you following me? Ok good, because I promise I'll put the clamps down on the wild prose a little bit from here on out for the sake of readability, just bear with me...

So it may be a bit of a stretch to say that last year's team emerged out of some highly improbable soup to take the Pac 10 by storm. After all, Randle had a solid if unspectacular sophomore campaign, Boykin was a former Dukie who showed flashes of great potential, and Patrick Christopher had already established himself as a strong (albeit somewhat streaker) shooter. Add in the brilliant hire of semi-mythical college coach Mike Mintgomery and its easy to see (in hindsight) that all the pieces were there for a potentially great team despite some very key weaknesses. But now the team must face the burden of expectations along with the equally toilsome and ongoing burden of the lack of depth in the front court. Not that th're aren't options, 7+ footer Max Zhang has been riding the pine the past couple of seasons and a couple of JUCO players may help shore up the paint (Bak Bak anyone?). But I can't really say for sure how much effect a rag tag group of inexperienced big men will fare even in a somewhat depleted Pac 10.

So let's examine what there is to work with. Just by the sight test it seems like there is room to improve for all of Cal's players. It seemed like for much of the season that Randle could take over or alter games, but it always seemed as though he did so as a reaction to adversity on the court and not simply because he was a great player. Learning to assert himself for entire games could really elevate the Bears to another level. In a less philosophical way, Boykin is also capable of huge improvement over the off season and must live up to his potential if they want to talk seriously about a Pac 10 title. Finally, Patrick Christopher needs to be more consistent. To be frank I was shocked that Christopher was thinking about the draft because right now he is a scorer and not much else. If he really wants to make it to the association he needs to become a consistent volume scorer, and even then that Berkeley degree is worth more than the rookie minimum often thrown to 2nd round draft picks.

So Cal may be maddeningly incomplete, but the essential incompleteness will not prevent them from improving and getting more wins next season. If anything basketball has been moving away from the platonic mold of pure 1 2 3 4 5, if it ever even existed, and a teams ability to emphasize its strengths and talent level is the only true limiting factor. Mike Montgomery is a coach that knows how to get the most out of the hand he has been dealt, and theres little doubt in my mind that California will be in the fight for the Pac 10 title up until the bitter end... well, as long as they can figure out how to beat Oregon State!

Magic 8 Ball Says: "Will Jerome Randle be recognized as the best PG in the Pac 10 next year?" "As I see it, yes"

USC Basketball News Dump UPDATE: Momo to USC Confirmed

Laughing Stock — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:09:53 -0000

via www.nydailynews.com

First off, the strangest news of the day courtesy of the LA times:

Lamont Jones of Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy signed a letter of intent today to play for USC, making the Trojans' point guard position stronger, according to a source familiar with the program.

What the heck is going on here? First off there were reports that Jones was going to sign with SC on Friday, but then apprently he did not have a timeline and would take a visit to Arizona and possibly Florida. And now he has signed his LOI to play for Floyd? Honestly, I am not really sure what to make of this situation. Momo is certainly a welcome addition to the roster if the news is true, but I think a few more days need to pass before anybody takes this news at face value. **UPDATE** Erik McKinney over at We Are SC has confirmed the news. Welcome to USC Lamont Jones!

Next up, the Jordan Brand Classic (probably the second biggest HS All Star game behind McDonald's) was played last night in New York City at the Madison Square Garden. Both Lamont Jones and USC (verbal) commit Renardo Sidney played in the game, and Sidney came away with MVP honors from the White team. From ESPN:

This time the big men spoke loudly and carried their teammates, befitting a true Jordan Brand All-American.

On Saturday night the atypical ruled. Translation: Guard play was trumped by a pair of ultra-talented post players with bright futures.

Derrick Favors of South Atlanta (Atlanta) and Renardo Sidney Jr. of Fairfax (Los Angeles) were the game's Most Valuable Players for the Black and White teams, respectively.

I watched the most of the game before I went out last night, and I liked most of what I saw from Sidney. In addition to 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists Renardo also had at least two blocks togo with a couple of other nice passes that really should have gone for baskets. The Fairfax PF showed really nice handles for a big man and his shooting form was better than that of most of the guards at the game. His flaws were on display though too as it was clear that Sidney needs to get in better condition to get back quickly on defense and he was getting too comfortable on the perimeter at times. Luckily conditioning isn't too difficult to work on and defense is Floyd's specialty, but the desire to improve has to come from Sidney. Really though, its not a stretch at all to compare his game to Chris Webber.

Finally, a quick women's hoops note. From Scott Wolf:

During a team meeting last week with the administration, women's basketball players were told they would have a new coach within two weeks. That should give USC and the Sparks time to settle any differences regarding Michael Cooper.

I've mentioned it before, but I think its worth bears repeateing. USC has a lot of talent already in place, and whoever takes over the program should be in a great position to make a potential run at the Pac 10 title. Although I'm not the biggest fan of women's basketball I still hope that SC makes a splash with the hire and continues the strong tradition that the prgram has built up.

Everything Old is New Again: Arizona State

Laughing Stock — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:42:10 -0000

Fired Up ASU Coach You Played Like Poop 4/1/2009 (via simpsonetter)

Key Returners: Rihards Kuksiks (10.3 PPG, 61.6 eFG%), Derek Glasser (8.8 PPG, 50.7 eFG%, 4.8 APG)

Key Losses: James Harden (20.1 PPG, 55.3 eFG%, 4.2 APG), Jeff Pendergraph (14.5 PPG, 66.0 eFG%, 8.2 RPG)

Key Recruits: Trent Lockett (UR ESPN 100, #73 Rivals 150)

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG          Derek Glasser
SG          Ty Abbott
SG          Jamelle McMillan
SF           Rihards Kuksiks
C             Eric Boateng
6th Man    Jerren Shipp

The Lowdown: Its difficult to imagine what life will be like in a post James Harden/Jeff Pendergraph world. No longer will our television screens be graced by the sort of Ginobili-esque play of college basketball's highest IQ player, nor will we get to delight in the repeated top of the key screens and put back dunks of the player so fondly called Pendergrass by tongue twisted announcers. Truly that unceremonius 2nd round exit at the hands of Syracuse cut short the careers of two of the Pac 10's best players, and left a hole in the hearts of hoops fans everywhere. But seriously, aside from all of the overwrought hyperbole and flourish it is a pretty big deal that ASU is losing its two most ruthlessly efficient players and in the process must find a way to make do with a roster filled with no true stars or impact players.

Speaking of leaving holes in things, the biggest issue that Herb Sendek will have to deal with next year is the huge gaping hole left in the paint. Technically former Dukie Eric Boateng is a McDonald's All-American, but he sure hasn't played like one and is entering his final year of eligibility off of a season where the 6'10" center averaged only 1.8 PPG and 2.0 RPG despite a relatively thin front court. There are a number of 6'8"-6'9" guys riding the bench, but none of them averaged more than a minute or so of playing time per game. And to top it off, the Sun Devils lost out the recruiting battle too Arizona for big man Kyryl Natyazhko. ASU has a number of quality shooters, but its hard to make a living bombing threes when your team has literally zero interior presence and the team's best slasher is headed of to the NBA to make his millions.

So it seems as though hoops success will be somewhat on the horizon once again for Arizona State, but at least they aren't looking at a season of futility like the 06-07 version of themselves. To be sure, there is decent experience and strong shooters returning to the squad, but the talent equilibrium has tipped against their favor. Who knows for sure though, and much of the problems that face State this off season are similar to that of Cal before this past season. Still though, take a look at that (potential) starting five and just try to tell me that group is a consistently winning team. Its a group of players that could upset teams if they have a good shooting night, but from top to bottom the lineup presents a number of defensive liabilities and little in the way of players that could be described as dynamic.

So is where does Herb Sendek stand among the pantheon of quality Pac 10 Hoops coaches? Turning a relative doormat into a conference power in two short years certainly merits a lot of praise, but actually keeping the team at the top will be the true litmus test. Only the next couple of years will say for sure.

Magic 8 Ball Says: "...ARIZONA STATE!?" "Concentrate and ask again"

Update: 6'8" Combo forward Victor Rudd is set to sign with ASU. Don't be surprised if he earns a starting role due to his size and raw athleticism. You can read about Rudd here.

SB Nation User Blog: Laughing Stock

USC Golf advances to 4th round of NCAAs **UPDATE**

Mens Golf Advances to NCAA Finals Round

Sports Mythology: Lakers/Rockets Game 7 (Definitely Off Topic)

Look who is on the cover of NCAA Football 2010 for the PSP. Sure, it would have been cooler to be...

Everything Old is New Again: Oregon

USC No Longer Recruiting Renardo Sidney

Kind of Strange... CampPete.com

...Everything New is Old Again?: California

USC Basketball News Dump UPDATE: Momo to USC Confirmed

Everything Old is New Again: Arizona State

USC Golf advances to 4th round of NCAAs UPDATE