SBNation.com User Blog: Sir Sci

NBA Recommendation: Kings to Stay in Sacramento

Sir Sci — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:08:20 -0000

ESPN was the first to report that the NBA Board of Governors has recommended that the Kings stay in Sacramento and not become the new Seattle Supersonics. First it was all over twitter, and then journalists received official confirmation.

OFFICIAL: NBA has sent me statement confirming that BOG has denied Kings request to relocate to Seattle.
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels5) April 29, 2013

I for one am ecstatic to hear this. Sure, Seattle was robbed when they lost their Sonics to OKC in the first place, but as a Pacers fan I feel obligated to root for the smaller market team that only has an NBA team against Seattle (which has MLB, NFL, and MLS already).

I am also really hoping that if Seattle ever receives an NBA team that it is through expansion (as doubtful as that is), not relocation. I've already seen fans on Sonics Rising talk about maybe taking the Bucks or Pacers. All I have to say is "Shut Up Sonics Rising." I sympathize with losing your team and I feel bad for Sonics fans in general, but you already have two major sports (plus MLS), why should you get to take a team from a city that only has one (or in Milwaukee and Indy's case) or two teams?

Here's to being happy for Sacramento, having a little bit of pity for the average Sonics fan, and hoping that the Seattle ownership group does not try to target another team.

Missouri Valley Expansion: Loyola and "Something Great"

Sir Sci — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:55:05 -0000

The press conference announcing what we have known for a while began with some really bad music, featured a commissioner who stumbled over himself trying to justify not including Larry Bird on a Power Point, and broke out into a forced attempt at a cheer with one one side of the room yelling "Loyola!" and the other side responding "Valley!" Awkwardness aside, the announcement that Loyola will be the newest member in the Missouri Valley should result in opportunities for the conference and optimism amongst its fans.

Coach Porter Moser, who is heading into his third season, does not think that it is going to take long for Loyola to compete in the Valley. Correct or not, his confidence was inspiring and his goals were clear. He told a story of when he was a student playing basketball at Creighton there was a buzz of excitement at the school. At the time they had not been to the Tournament in the last decade, but even so, there was a feeling that something "great" was going to happen. Over the next 24 years, Creighton would make 11 Tournament appearances, proving the students correct, and according to Moser that same "buzz" is on Loyola's campus now.

Of course, there is room for healthy skepticism, as Loyola hasn't been to the Tournament since their Sweet 16 appearance three years before Moser even began playing college ball. There is also the problem that Moser does not have a track record of much success, having only one winning season during his four seasons at Valley member Illinois State, and his first two seasons at Loyola have amassed a 22–39 combined record. While the Ramblers are expected to improve next season, as significant playing time was given by freshmen and sophomores last season, the increased competition in the Valley will not be conducive to a winning record renaissance.

So why should Valley fans believe in a losing coach of a losing program that likely will not finish outside the bottom three teams in the conference next season? The answer is a new found commitment to athletics that was previously not possible. Current president Father Michael Garanzini (or Father Mike for short) took over a university in 2001 that had a deficit of over $35 million and that had to take massive sums from its endowment to continue operations. After years of fixing problems on the financial, academic, and student life levels, it is finally "athletics' turn" according to Father Mike.

Part of Loyola's investment in athletics was a recent renovation of its basketball facilities and Gentile Arena. However, Valley fans had to feel a bit uncomfortable during the press conference when Commissioner Elgin showed pictures of other Valley basketball arenas and said that they take great pride in the facilities in the conference. While Gentile Arena may have been one of the premier basketball stadiums in the Horizon League, it is immediately the smallest in the Valley. The "Joe," as it has been called (after donor Joseph Gentile), has seating for only 4,963 fans and had an average attendance of 2,277 people last season. To put that in perspective, Loyola's stadium is barely larger than the smallest average attendance in the Valley (Drake's 4,488). Before Loyola's membership the smallest basketball stadium in the Valley was Northern Iowa's with a capacity of 7,018. Even with the hope that Loyola's move to the Valley will spur more attendance because of an increase in quality opponents and the large alumni bases other Valley schools have in Chicago, the ceiling on fan support seems relatively low.

There are many reasons to also be hesitant about a program that has not had much success in any of its sports in recent history, but there are also many reasons to be excited about Loyola's induction into the MVC, such as the conference now having a former National Champion in its ranks. Maybe if Father Mike and Porter Moser believe that something "great" will happen and that the Ramblers will compete for a Valley Championship soon, then maybe we can believe that too.

Poll

When will the Loyola Ramblers be able to compete for a Missouri Valley basketball championship?

Next Season

4 votes

In Two Seasons

4 votes

In Three to Five Seasons

38 votes

In Five to Ten Seasons

33 votes

After at Least a Decade

31 votes

110 votes | Poll has closed

MVC Recruiting 2013: Darius Carter Commits to Wichita State, Team Continues JUCO Trend

Sir Sci — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:09:48 -0000

Darius Carter knows what it's like to play in the Final Four, so naturally another Final Four team has picked him up. On March 23, Darius Carter scored 23 points, had 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots for the Vincennes University Trailblazers in a double-overtime loss to Spartanburg Methodist College in the third place NJCAA game. Two weeks later he committed to the Wichita State Shockers.

The 6-7 forward from Akron, Ohio, was already ranked the 10th best JUCO recruit in the nation by jucorecruiting.com, but the accolades didn't end there. It did not take long for the Shocker faithful to wake up to find their new recruit was named a 2013 NJCAA 1st Team All American. Carter's older cousin decided to weigh in.

Congrats to my lil cuz dcarter12_ on the achievement. On to the next journey instagram.com/p/X09QxDCTKL/
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 8, 2013

It honestly is not surprising that Greg Marshall was able to sign an NJCAA AA, considering he does every season. Carter is the fifth NJCAA All-American to join the Shockers since 2010, including essential players Cleanthony Early and Carl Hall. Marshall has always proven adept at pulling in the best of the JUCO ranks while at WSU, but with a Final Four under his belt it may be all the easier to compete for the talent that was overlooked coming out of high school.

The 2013-2014 Shockers may prove themselves an even deeper and more talented team than their predecessors, in spite of tournament stars Malcolm Armstead and Hall graduating. While questions still remain this early in the offseason, such as how Marshall will deal with having more recruits than available scholarships, the near future seems bright for the Shockers.

Missouri Valley Commissioner Pushing for Big 12 Opportunity, Conference Doubleheader Possible

Sir Sci — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:05:51 -0000

The sign of a good leader is being able to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. For the Missouri Valley there are two major opportunities. The first is a potential expansion after Creighton's departure. The second opportunity is of course Wichita State's advancement to the Final Four.

According to Kellis Robinett of The Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star, Missouri Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin may be trying to turn this tournament's success into big games for the Valley:

Missouri Valley commish Doug Elgin tells me he is pushing for a MVC/Big 12 doubleheader at Sprint Center next season involving Wichita State
— Kellis Robinett (@KellisRobinett) April 1, 2013

Just because Elgin wants to set up a doubleheader with the Big 12 doesn't mean it will actually happen or that the Big 12 is really interested at all. I don't think, though, that Elgin would pass along that sort of information to a reporter if his initial overtures were met with a "thanks, but no thanks," so there may be some chance of this Midwestern showdown actually happening. I am skeptical however because Robinett is the only primary news source to report this rumor.

The potential benefit to the Valley is clear: Some of the Valley schools have difficulty arranging a home-and-home series with larger schools that don't have any reason to go on the road to a smaller school. A neutral-court double header could help the MVC get some marquee matchups. What would the benefit be for the Big 12, though?

Robinett reports Elgin's reasoning:

"I think the upside of Wichita State going to the Final Four is everybody knows your name. The downside is people aren’t going to want to risk playing you, but we are hoping to get Big 12 teams involved. It would be an attractive set of games."

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/01/4156799/missouri-valley-revels-in-wichita.html#storylink=cpy

Good nonconference matchups could be the key to convince the Big 12 to participate in the doubleheader. Although scheduling quality mid-majors is sometimes an anathema to major conference teams, Wichita State's Final Four run could make them an attractive game for a Big 12 bubble team. For these teams a WSU game wouldn't be a game against the Sisters of the Poor where wins do little good because you're supposed to beat them, but loses are embarrassing. Instead, a win looks strong on the resume, while a potential loss looks a little bit less humiliating. After all, they beat Gonzaga and Ohio State last season, right?

If Elgin's wildest dreams come true and it's assumed that this doubleheader happens, what sort of games can we expect? We can rule out Iowa State versus either Northern Iowa or Drake -- the four major universities of Iowa already will be playing each other -- and Wichita State against Kansas. Bill Self has already made it clear that big brother won't be playing little brother any time soon.

On the Valley side of the equation Robinett's conjecture is that Missouri State would be the second team. The Bears would make sense considering possible location and the school's closer proximity to the Big 12 schools as opposed to Bradley or Indiana State. The con to the Bears' participation is that they finished second to last in the Valley last season, so there would be little guarantee of them being an RPI boost or quality win for a team like Kansas State or Oklahoma.

For the Big 12, I find it unlikely that any of the Texas schools or West Virginia would be pining to travel to Kansas City, so I think the possible teams would be Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, or Oklahoma State.

Even if it doesn't happen, you can't blame Elgin for trying to capitalize on the first Valley Final Four team since Larry Bird.

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brandon Williams - NT, Missouri Southern State

Sir Sci — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:27:39 -0000

Editor's Note: Another excellent guest write-up, this time from Sir Sci.

A question going into next season is who will start at defensive tackle for the 2013-2014 Indianapolis Colts? While many of us may hope that Josh Chapman is the answer, this upcoming season will constitute his first NFL snaps.

Apart from Chapman, the Colts have depth with Antonio Johnson, recently tendered Martin Tevaseu, and Brandon McKinney (who was injured last season). While Johnson and Tevaseu played admirably last season, it would be disappointing to see either of them start if Chapman ends up being less than advertised. The Colts are faced with an unusual conundrum, because the depth at the position makes it unlikely that the Colts pursue a NT at the very top of the draft (like some mock drafts I've seen assert), but still leaves it open for adding another player who could potentially solidify the line.

My answer to the Colts' NT problem is Missouri Southern State's Brandon Williams. Williams displays talent and strength beyond what you would expect from most defensive linemen from a Div II school. Apart from his talent, which I'll get to in a bit, the reason I think Williams fits the Colts' need is because of his versatility. While he projects as a NT in the NFL, when asked about what schemes he sees himself playing in he replied:

I can play in either scheme, a 3-4 or 4-3 because in college I played the whole D line and then, and when we went to our 3-3 stuff, I was the outside 5-tech as well as over the center. I played in any and every position, so I am comfortable playing in any scheme.

So if horseshoe fans have their wildest dreams fulfilled and Chapman ends up being the beast that he could be, Williams would have little problem competing for playing time either as the backup NT or at possibly at other defensive line positions. Unlike most small school prospects, I believe that Williams's versatility makes him a low risk prospect (well, as low risk as a prospect can be) who will certainly make a contribution somewhere on the line.

The big question, though, is if he's actually good. First, the raw information. At MSSU he broke the school record for career sacks with 27 of them, with 8.5 of them coming in his senior season, when he also had 68 tackles (16.5 for loss). At the combine he didn't dazzle in most drills, but he displayed his strength when it mattered, tying with Margus Hunt (SMU) for the most bench presses with 38 reps, beating out the likes of fellow Missourian Sheldon Richardson (Mizzou). It's also important to note that Williams is a three time All-American. That is notable no matter what level you're playing on, but he is only the second Div II football player to ever achieve that feat.

I asked a friend of mine from Joplin, MO who knows his coach at MSSU, who was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills. Apparently Brandon reminds the coach of Cortez Kennedy (Seahawks). This is some of what my friend had to say about Williams:

Pros:

Plays with good power. Shows agility and a good motor for a guy his size. Displays good short-area quickness. Plays with good pad level, often gets under his opponents pads and drives them back. Locks out and disengages off of blocks well. When run goes away, does a good job of getting flat down the line of scrimmage to make the play. Does a good job taking on and splitting double teams.

Cons:

Did not play against elite competition at MSSU. Does not possess the elite explosive first step you would like to see. Needs work on using his hands to create leverage.

Looking at other tape and this compilation of him at the Senior Bowl, it's easy to see many of his strengths. On many occasions you can see him get by a blocker with ease. On the occasions he is double teamed he manages to push back both of his men or at least disengage from one to take the other on one-on-one.

What is the feasibility of the Colts drafting Williams? At the beginning of the offseason he was being projected largely as a possible fourth round pick or a steal at later rounds. After a great showing at the Senior Bowl he is now being projected mostly as a mid-third rounder, although I've seen some projections as high as the late second round. While I doubt the Colts would (or should) move up to get him, if he's available in the third round I would not be surprised to see him as the pick.

Scouting Profile from NFL.com:

Strengths

Presents a low center of gravity and strong upper body to push consistently push man-up blockers into the backfield. Gets hands on his man fast, extends his arm to get leverage and can hold his ground. Uses his hands to swim or rip past blockers into the backfield. Also wins gaps by attacking a shoulder or out-quicking his man with a first step. Moves down the line adeptly while engaged to flow with plays.

Weaknesses

Doesn't make a lot of plays outside the box because of average effort and closing speed. Inconsistent at finding the ball, lowers his head at times trying to win gaps, allowing himself to get ridden out of plays. Slow to spin off blocks, and double-teams can move him.

NFL Comparison

Brandon Thompson

CBS NFL Draft Scout Profile:

Strengths: Broad-shouldered and bulked up, especially in his upper body. Possesses the upper-body strength to shove opponents into the backfield and disrupt plays before they even have a chance to begin. Has enough short area quickness to slice through gaps. Possesses longer arms (32 3/4) than expected given his stout frame, which he uses well to keep offensive linemen off of him. Strong, heavy hands. Experienced playing on the nose, defensive tackle and out wide as a five-technique defensive end and has the length and awareness to be similarly versatile in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Possesses a disproportionately top-heavy build and a thinner than ideal lower body, which makes him less effective as a run-stuffing presence than he might appear "on the hoof." While active for his size, is not a quick-twitch athlete capable of providing a consistent pass rush in the NFL.

Compares To: Antonio Garay, NG, San Diego Chargers -- It was Garay's struggles with injuries that pushed him down draft boards rather than level of competition questions, but like the former Boston College standout, Williams' wide body and strength could make him a quality run-stuffer at the next level.

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
6'1"	335	5.37	38	8'6"	29.5"	8.09	4.91

Jacksonville Glitter Kitties get a Makeover (New Logo)

Sir Sci — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:26:51 -0000

I am here to break all of the exciting conjecture of free agents and mock drafts to bring some not so pertinent news! Our beloved division rival Jaguars have announced a new logo, one which seems to emphasize what an actual Jaguar looks like. My personal take is that a teal tongue still looks weird, but that the logo is itself an improvement, or at least not ugly, which isn't what always happens (exhibit #1: The Miami Marlins new logo). The new JaX logo with the text was well done, I think.

There is also an alternate logo that seems to be somewhat military themed with JAGS across the top.

Of course, I recommend visiting Big Cat Country if you want to say hi and tell them how absolutely FABULOUS their new kitty looks. Maybe they will even nix the glittery helmets.

There is also an alternate logo that seems to be somewhat military themed with JAGS across the top.

Of course, I recommend visiting Big Cat Country if you want to say hi and tell them how absolutely FABULOUS their new kitty looks. Maybe they will even nix the glittery helmets.

The Battle for Bell: A story about a baseball man

Sir Sci — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 03:41:23 -0000

This is not a story particularly about the Cardinals, instead it is just a story about baseball. Actually, it is a story about a baseball man.

Coach Howard Bell is a good man, a family man, and a baseball man. He graduated from Parkview High School in Springfield, MO and went on to play short stop for the Southwest Missouri State Bears. His last year at what is now Missouri State University, which was 1986, he was the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year, hit .396 (sorry I don't have more advanced stats on him), and SMS to a school-record 47 victories and its third straight AMCU Tournament title. He was drafted by the Mets, but after a car accident he never made it far in professional baseball.

Coach Bell was hired by Glendale High School in Springfield as a teacher and an assistant baseball coach. He worked diligently at Glendale and was finally rewarded for his hard work in 2005 when he was promoted to head coach. Under Bell Glendale has not been a powerhouse, but it's been formidable, often making it to the state playoff tournament and at the top of conference standings.

In December 2011, Coach Bell was diagnosed with ALS, "Lou Gehrig’s disease," and had to resign as coach and teacher. A baseman man facing a fate named after one of the greatest baseball men, although by no means appropriate, it is almost fitting.

Tonight, something amazing happened. Two college baseball teams in Springfield, D-I Missouri State and D-II Drury, met in exhibition for the first time in "The Battle for Bell." Missouri State is still under the same coach that Bell played for back in the 80s, and the current head coach at Drury is none other than the man who Coach Bell replaced as Glendale's head coach. Both teams banded together by competing to raise money to "Help Coach Bell Strike Out ALS," as the shirts say. Missouri State won 4-2, but that is hardly what was relevant. There were 3,753 people there tonight (at Hammons Field, the Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Bears home stadium, which donated the facilities for the night), each paying $5 to see a historic battle and to help a great man.

As a Glendale High alum who had Coach Bell as a teacher, and as a current Missouri State student, I wouldn't have missed the chance to see this game. What I saw were four communities melded: Missouri State students, Drury students, Glendale students, and high school baseball players and coaches from around Southwest Missouri. A crowd of a little over 3,500 may not be overwhelming, but the common cause and unity that I saw there was astounding. There were some who had no clue who this baseball man was, while there were others that could have cared less about baseball but cared about the man, but in the end we came together to help the same person.

So, no, this is not a Cardinals story, but it is a story that I felt compelled to share tonight. If you are interested in hearing about the game itself, the link is here: Link

If you would like some sort of Cardinals connection, Tate Matheny, our glorious, sac-bunt-loving manager's son, is a freshman at Missouri State this year and started in center field in today's exhibition. Although he was playing D-II talent, he went 1-2 with a single and a walk.

Colts fan gets his dying wish

Sir Sci — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:08:19 -0000

Colts fan gets his dying wish

Just a cool little story from Yahoo Sports about a Colts fan and this upcoming game.

Kolten Wong: Big-league pedigree, big-league patience

Sir Sci — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:41:27 -0000

Kolten Wong: Big-league pedigree, big-league patience

An article from Springfield, MO's TAG Magazine about Kolten's approach to baseball and what being a baseball player means to him.

David Freese is "like a 13 year-old"

Sir Sci — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:02:36 -0000

David Freese is "like a 13 year-old"

Collegehumor.com interviews David Freese and Jon Jay on "questions you would never think to ask, because they're not very good questions." Not very serious, but I find it fun.

"Somebody asked 'are you in a slump?' and I said I guess maybe I was, but I've been on an eight and...

Sir Sci — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:49:21 -0000

"Somebody asked 'are you in a slump?' and I said I guess maybe I was, but I've been on an eight and a half year hittin streak."

Manning in the post game interview after the win over the TItans.

Forget personal stats: Granger has sights set on Pacers playoff berth

Sir Sci — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:35:08 -0000

Forget personal stats: Granger has sights set on Pacers playoff berth

Nice article by Lee Jenkins of SI about Granger's desire to make the playoffs.

Just my opinion. - Image from Nike (obviously), editing by me -

Sir Sci — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:33:40 -0000

Just my opinion.

- Image from Nike (obviously), editing by me -

Colts Motivational Posters

Sir Sci — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:29:54 -0000

Nobody doubts that the Colts and Saints will be greatly motivated in the Super Bowl, with both teams preparing excessively and trying to stay focused in Miami. Here's some posters to help motivate Colts fans to go above and beyond in supporting the future Super Bowl XLIV. Go Colts!

Love them? Hate them? Recommendations, suggestions, or requests? Let me know. And yes, I know that Vinny won't be playing, but I couldn't help but make one for him.

EDIT: Due to requests, I have made the following.

Love them? Hate them? Recommendations, suggestions, or requests? Let me know. And yes, I know that Vinny won't be playing, but I couldn't help but make one for him.

EDIT: Due to requests, I have made the following.

YAY, Mitch Daniels!

Sir Sci — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:09:54 -0000

YAY, Mitch Daniels!

Gov. Daniels is a bettin' man!

Is this where I admit that I think the Colts put Curtis Painter in after a few plays against the...

Sir Sci — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:03:08 -0000

Is this where I admit that I think the Colts put Curtis Painter in after a few plays against the Bills and still win?

"Don’t blitz him, dumbass."

Sir Sci — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:59:21 -0000

Let me begin by saying that Michael Silver still isn't the brightest sports writer in the world, but at least he knows who to interview.

We all know the beast of a defensive Brian Urlacher, and he knows Peyton Manning from personal experience. I just found this quote interesting, so I thought I would share.

Just before the Colts’ Peyton Manning threw a fade Reggie Wayne to for Indy’s first touchdown against the Houston Texans, sparking a comeback victory, Urlacher exclaimed, “Don’t blitz him, dumbass.” When I asked him the best way to defend Manning, Urlacher said, “There is none – the guy’s so good, and so aware of what’s going on, that it’s a nightmare. We beat them up [29-13] in last year’s opener, and what we did was we showed blitz every single snap, no matter what defense we were going to play. … I wish we’d been able to do something to stop him in the Super Bowl [a 29-17 Colts victory in February of ’07]. He killed us.”

GO COLTS!

Let me begin by saying that Michael Silver still isn't the brightest sports writer in the world, but at least he knows who to interview.

We all know the beast of a defensive Brian Urlacher, and he knows Peyton Manning from personal experience. I just found this quote interesting, so I thought I would share.

GO COLTS!