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The Free Doofus and Numbers Memorial Chat Thread VII

2010-03-10T14:23:46Z

How low can you go?

Odds to the National Championship (From RJKarl)

2010-03-08T02:13:46Z

This can change dramatically over the next ten days due to seeding and draw. As of today, here's how I see it:

Kansas (3-1):They are very deep, experienced and should have the #1 overall seeding.

Kentucky (9-2): The most talented team, but UK could implode at any time.

Syracuse (5-1): I don't like putting them this low. I never like having a zone in The Dance.

Ohio State (8-1): When you have the best player on the court, you are in every game.

Duke (12-1): If one of those four don't someone has to win. I don't like their chances.

Kansas State: (15-1) I don't see them doing it, but someone has to be put here.

Villanova (18-1): Too small. If Yarou or Harwood had come through they'd be in the Top 4.

West Virginia (18-1): See Villanova, but they don't have any big guys who could step up.

Purdue (20-1): Would be 5-1 with a healthy Hummel.

Michigan State (25-1): Would be 50-1 or more without Izzo.

Tennessee (25-1): Have beated two #1s, but they aren't very bright.

Gonzaga (35-1): Lots of parts, but kinda soft.

New Mexico (40-1): They have overachieved all season. don't think they can win it all.

Wisconsin (40-1): Bo Ryan gives them a puncher's chance.

No one else under 75-1

Thoughts?

Clemson Game

2010-03-07T17:50:53Z

what will be the result?

I say wake loses by 10, at home, on senior night 74-64. Let's all hope im dead wrong

Coach who should find a ride to work

Dino Gaudio (53), Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons have plunged from near lock to somewhat iffy NCAA status after three straight losses, two of them to lower-division Tobacco Road residents North Carolina and NC State. Gaudio did a spectacularly bad job in the postseason last year, being upset in the first round of the ACC tourney (by Maryland) and the first round of the NCAAs (by Cleveland State). Is the late fade happening again?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4958649

Positives From Tonight's Game

2010-03-04T04:01:38Z

Here is a quick run through of the positives of tonight's game to keep it positive around these parts!

> CJ Harris regains some of his form and hopefully his confidence after a shaky start.

>Wake Forest defense looks fantastic at times and often held the Seminoles scoreless for minutes at a time.

>Ari Stewart picked right up where he left off on Saturday by draining three 3's in a row in the first half (2 counted)

>Ish Smith looked outstanding in the first half and showed glimpses of his play over the first part of the season.

I can't really sugarcoat things more than that. Those were our bright spots, but unfortunately the game as a whole was ugly and the loss did not help things. If y'all think of anything else you want to contribute then be my guest and don't be afraid to comment.

Leader of the Deacs

2010-02-24T16:06:17Z

Who is going to put this team on their back and carry them to the ACC Tournament?

This Deacon team has shown flashes of greatness over the past few months, while also falling into last year's mindset of playing to the level of your opponent. What's going to happen the rest of the way? Will we play with our opponents, or play at our own level and win these last three games in an impressive fashion?

We know what we are getting from Aminu (although he was absent from the 2nd half of the VT game), getting 17 and 11 is great for the team, we depend on it. Moving away from Farouq, we have to look to see what has worked in our wins: mainly Ish has played well, LD had played good defense and the freshmen have contributed.

Will LD step up and lock down the opposing team's scorer and maybe even contribute offensively himself? The biggest points in most of our wins are points scored by LD on a fast break, a huge dunk that changes the momentum of the game. LD knows that he is not an offensive force and we don't need him to be to win, but we do need him to play the best defense on the team and be the spark to start offensive runs.

With the freshmen, it's easy, score. CJ Harris and Ari Stewart score 6 more points a game in wins vs. losses. If Mt. Ari can hit his open threes and CJ can penetrate the lane, this team gets a bonus offensive threat. Can the freshmen get through "the wall" and play like they were 2 months ago? Is the strain of an ACC schedule catching up with them? I feel that while legs get tired over the course of a season, when everything is on the line they won't be thinking about their legs, rather they will be looking to drain the shot.

Finally, will Ish Smith be the guy to take this team to the postseason? Can he lead this team from the point guard position and facilitate a high powered offense? I think we will ultimately need Ish to step up and take responsibility for this team and take over on the offensive end. This team is at its best when Ish is playing his best. Look for this Wake team to go as far as Ish can take them.

side note: David Weaver, STOP GOING FOR EVERY BLOCK AND REBOUND, thank you

A Conversation with MLS Draft Pick, Wake Forest's Ike Opara

2010-02-22T01:39:59Z

Ed. Note: Thanks to Berkeley Sports Blog for posting this. It is great to get an update on Ike. For soccer fans, BSB is a nice destination to get some good info. Plus, BSB isn't too far off from BSD, so they've got that going for them. Check out the site and enjoy the interview (MRickman84).

Billed as one of the greatest defending prospects that the United States has ever produced, the Earthquakes Number 3 overall pick Ike Opara trained with San Jose during the club's recent training camp in Arizona. Opara enjoyed an illustrious career at Wake Forest being named Atlantic Coast Conference defender of the year in 2008 and 2009 while also being a member of the Demon Deacons National Championship squad in 2007. Ike also spent time with the United States U-20 Men's National Team and appearing in the 2009 U-20 World Cup in all three matches for the Yanks. I spoke to Ike to get his impressions of playing for the Quakes and his goals for 2010.

Berkeley Sports Blog: How was it training with the San Jose Earthquakes last week?

Ike Opara: “It went really well. It was a great experience; I worked hard and I learned a good amount during the two days that I was there. I’m looking forward to getting back as soon as possible and integrating more with the team."

BSB: Did any of the team speak to you on your performance training with the team?

Ike: “I spoke to the coaching staff who told me that I did pretty well but had some things to improve. A number of the guys gave me some helpful advice. I think that they showed some great leadership in helping me out.”

BSB: How did the club receive you when you arrived in Arizona?

Ike: “I was very nervous, but the players are a great group of guys who treated me very wel during my time with them. I know that at the combine, Coach Yallop said that they were a great bunch of guys and he was right about that.”

BSB: What was a typical day like for you when you were training with the club?

Ike: “When I first got there, the team had a game the next day so I just worked on the building my physical base with the Strength and conditioning coach, they told me that I did pretty well for the first day. From there on, it was practicing, scrimmaging 11 v. 11 and 6 v. 6. It was good to get out there and work with the team."

BSB: Let’s go back to the draft, what were you thoughts on being drafted by the Earthquakes and what do you think you can add to their defensive corps?

Ike: “I was very excited to go to San Jose. That was actually the team that I was most interested in going to. I spoke to the coaches during the combine and they got me really excited about what they were building in San Jose. I thank God that I heard my name called. I’m looking to bring some athleticism to the back line, but also a new mentality to the foundation that the Quakes have. I’m also really excited to head over to the Bay Area, it’ll be a nice change of pace compared to the snow in North Carolina.”

"Thank God I was selected"

BSB: A lot is made about the jump between College Soccer and MLS, what are you expecting and what are you doing to prepare for that jump?

Ike: “I’m definitely expecting to hit a few speed bumps along the way. Whether it be physicality or the speed of play or just the way that the game is played, I’m definitely expecting to deal with a difference between the two style of games. I’ve definitely got to pay attention to all of the little details now. I’ve been communicating with the coaching staff and the players to see what I need to work on to become a better player, both on and off the field. I know that Coach Yallop was a defender in his day so he has plenty of tips for me on improving my game."

BSB: Because you’re staying in school and not taking part in the training camp, are there any worries with you or with Coach Yallop, on you having a trouble integrating with the squad?"

Ike: “This is one of the things that we talked about when we were in Arizona. That's why we worked on a schedule that will allow me to be with the team a lot more than people would think during the preseason. Obviously, I'm going to have to get the okay from my professors, but if everything goes according to plan then I'll be with the team a lot more than people would think. With that being said, I'll still be behind a little, but hopefully I'll be able to lessen that gap and by a certain point of the season be completely caught up."

BSB: What about your own impressions, are you disappointed that you don’t get to have that training camp experience?

Ike: "When I was in Arizona, I was worried about how the team would receive me, but it's a great group of guys and I think that no matter what, my integration won't be as difficult as some might think. Thank God for that, because I believe that it's really important to be comfortable with your teammates. Hopefully on the field, we'll be able to come together and achieve success on the field whether it's this year, next year or in the future."

Ike displaying his trademark athleticism for the U-20 US Men's National Team

BSB: What do you think will be a successful year for you and the team?

Ike: “I definitely want to become a player and help my teammates become better as well. Hopefully this will lead to a playoff push and maybe even something special.”

BSB: You come from Wake Forest University, which has such a great soccer program, what separates them from the rest of College Soccer?

Ike: “First of all, Coach Jay (Vidovich) and his supporting staff provide a good schedule and a lot of discipline which a lot of programs don’t have. Obviously coming to Wake Forest, Coach Jay is a great teacher of the game and also teaches you to become a better person. He has a saying which “Winning people make winning players, winning players make winning teams” and he’s stuck by that. Obviously when you come to Wake Forest, you’re not going to come in immediately and be a superstar, you’ll have to put in the hard work on the field and off the field to succeed. Coach has been doing a wonderful job there and the future is incredibly bright there.”

"Winning people make winning players and winning players make winning teams": Ike (Far Left) and Wake win the 2007 College Cup.

BSB: What spurred you to decide to stay in school and finish up your degree?

Ike: “To myself and my family, it made sense for me to stay in School. I really didn’t want to pass on this opportunity. At the end of the day, I had to do what was the best for me and my family and I felt like this was the best route for me. If I hurt short term with soccer, or what not right now, it’s fine. Hopefully down the road it will all end up being fine and I’ll end up becoming a great player.”

BSB: What is the degree that you’re finishing up?

Ike: “I already finished my major in Communications, but now I’m finishing up my minor in Entrepreneurship. It’s going to be a little difficult because I’ve got to do an internship, but I think later down the road it will pay off.”

BSB: Let’s change gears, what is your favorite type of music?

Ike: “I love hip-hop. Right now, my iPod is playing a lot of Wyclef."

BSB: What about television, what are you watching?

Ike: "I've been way too busy right now to sit down and watch TV, but during the summer when I have the time I like to watch Entourage and of course SportsCenter."

BSB: And lastly, where do you see yourself in five years, Ike?

Ike: “I have different feelings about that every day. What I want is to be playing somewhere, being successful as a player and most of all being happy. Wherever that may be, but one thing for is that I’m looking for to the future.”

Scoreboard Watching

2010-02-18T16:40:16Z

Looking at the remaining games of top ACC teams to see where Wake can gain ground in the standings.

Things are getting interesting in the ACC and for the first time in awhile Wake does not control their own destiny when talking about the 2 seed. Let's look at the major players in the ACC and see what each team has for their remaining schedule.

Duke: VT, Tulsa, @UVA, @MD, UNC

In my mind I feel like Duke can help us the most by winning out, strengthening our loss/strength of schedule and beating the teams that are above us in the standings. If Duke can beat both VT and MD, it would be a huge help to Wake.

Virginia Tech: @Duke, @BC, MD, NCST, @GT

Tough Schedule with 3 road games, I feel like the game @BC could be a huge one. Assuming a loss @Duke, Virginia Tech will need to rebound quickly and travel all the way to Chestnut Hill to play a physical BC team. If Virginia Tech can get by BC with a win, look for them to be back in control with a huge game against Maryland. I feel like Virginia Tech has the toughest schedule down the stretch and could finish these five games anywhere between 4-1 and 1-4. Much has been said of their extremely weak strength of schedule, with a home win against Wake being their best win. These next 5 games will really assert VT as either a strong team or prove so many correct for the smoke and mirrors record they have assembled.

Maryland: GT, CLEM, @VT, Duke, @UVA

Another brutal schedule, but having more home games is definitely an advantage. UVA has fallen off as of late, so I will count that game as a win for MD. The other 4 games for Maryland are all tough, no breather here. GT and CLEM both need to win to insure NCAA bids and will be hungry for a road win to bolster their resume. Then comes @VT and DUKE. I feel little sympathy for MD, they have taken care of business against the rest of the ACC (bottom portion) and positioned themselves well up to now. This 4 game stretch will tell us if they are a 4 seed in the NCAA tourney, an 8 seed or even a bubble team. I would look for a strong finish for MD, under the leadership of their point guard, Greivis Vasquez.

Florida State: @UNC, CLEM, WAKE, @Miami

Spoiler alert: Florida State has the schedule in front of them to run the table and really crash the ACC party. They have the team to do this, but have proven time and again that they are not able to put together a solid winning streak. Can they finally live up to the hype? Personally I would put this as a long shot, but something to keep an eye on. With 4 winnable games left, they can finish at 11-5 and be right in the middle of the byes come ACC tourney time.

All Presidents Team for Presidents and All Star Weekend

2010-02-13T11:54:28Z

What better way to celebrate Presidents' Weekend and NBA All-Star Weekend than by naming an All-Presidents Hoops Team.

Have to start with the Man in the Middle. He’s the type of player you build around. He defines TEAM. He also can put up four score and seven. The Big Guy from the heart of Hoops Country Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky Abe Lincoln.

You need a Power Forward. This guy moves surprisingly well for a big man and he has the ability to post you up. Plus, he played on the Supreme Court. From Cincinnati, Ohio William Howard Taft.

Every team needs a defensive specialist. He shut down one of the major powerhouses. And, he defined Strategic Defense Initiative. He also was an "All-American in football at Notre Dame," from Illinois, Ronald Reagan

He's synonymous with the greatest offensive assault ever. He’s a consummate 3, he'll attack from anywhere on the court, inside or bombing from beyond the Arc. Like Coach K, he’s from West Point Dwight D Eisenhower.

This was the easiest pick. You need a playmaker and scorer, able to explore and penetrate or beat you with the blow-by. Plus he loves poetry and is always interesting in a Presser, who better than Arkansas' William Jefferson Clinton.

The 6th man is important. He was a key substitute at multiple positions, plus brings athleticism and a football mentality on the court. He also keeps a team loose and focuses on the WIN, from Michigan, Gerald Ford.

We need a coach. The best General, better than even THE General Robert Montgomery Knight, from Virginia, he is the father figure of this team and will give you the truth in Pressers, George Washington.

An advance scout and assistant coach who can figure out others' schemes and plays. He is better with recorders than Bill Belichick. He's a Dukie and a sneaky little dude, from California, Richard M. Nixon.

Finally, we need a color analyst who can keep up with Dickie V. Eloquent, but with brevity. He can even design the new arena and write a few books. Another Virginian Thomas Jefferson.

Omissions? You ask what about Barack Obama and his showcased hoops talents against UNC. He has too much of a European game.Despite being coached by brother-in-law and Oregon State Coach Craig Robinson, and trained by former Dukie Reggie Love, the tryouts exposed his main weakness -- he can't go to his right.

Please recommend other Presidents for this special Presidents and NBA All Star Weekend.Team.

Maryland and Virginia this week

2010-02-12T15:37:52Z

Look for this week to be a big one for both Maryland and Virginia. Due to the snow-out of their game which was origionally scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th, both teams will now be playing 3 ACC games in 5 days.

Maryland will play Saturday @Duke, Monday vs. Virginia then Wednesday vs. NC State

Virginia will play Saturday @VA Tech, Monday @Maryland then Wednesday vs. Florida St.

Quite a difficult road for both teams. This stretch could really separate the top teams in the ACC from the mid-level teams. I would expect both Maryland and Virginia to go 1-2 during this time. Major gainers from this schedule could be Virginia Tech and Florida State. Florida State can gain the most, getting a great chance for a road win at a tired Virginia.

ESPN's Chad Ford Analysis of Basketball Underclassman

2009-04-14T17:26:54Z

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=InOut

As of today he still says Aminu is on his way out the door to the NBA. Chad needs to check his facts before he writes these articles.

What do people think of Blair declaring and hiring an agent? I think he stock is a high as it is going to get but I am not convinced of his ability as a pro. Is Blair going to be draft mid-first round as many project and will he have a good NBA career??

Official NBA Playoffs Thread

2009-04-14T00:22:10Z

I know a lot of people do not feel the same way, but I'm excited. NBA playoff basketball is played at an extremely high level and it gives me something to watch in the summer, so I am glad it lasts an extremely long time.

Go Mavs!

Poll: Wake Forest Wide Receivers

2009-04-10T15:50:24Z

After the scrimmage, I am really curious, so:

Poll

Who on the Demon Deacons will have the most yards this season?

Marshall Williams

8 votes

Jordan Williams

4 votes

Terrance Davis

4 votes

Chris Givens

5 votes

Devon Brown

7 votes

Ben Wooster

0 votes

28 votes | Poll has closed

Poll: Wake Forest Running Backs

2009-03-27T01:51:25Z

Poll

Which Deacon running back will rush for the most yards next season?

Josh Adams

35 votes

Kevin Harris

21 votes

Brandon Pendergrass

27 votes

83 votes | Poll has closed

Bill Gillispie Fired at UK

2009-03-26T15:27:47Z

Sources out of Big Blue Land are reporting that Gillispie has been fired, done deal. See this site for headline, log in required for more information.

Speculation out of Kentucky has been that Travis Ford should come home to revitalize the Wildcat program. He turned Oklahoma State into a NCAA 1st round winning team that gave Pitt all it could handle in the 2d round last Sunday. Another site says to hire Ford (or Pelfrey) would be malpractice. Gillispie was 40-27 in two years at UK. That just doesn't get in done in Lexington. Big Blue Nation unrealistically expects errr demands to compete for the Final 4 every year. Tubby's exit was because he couldn't quite meet those expectations of the rabid fans. All he did was take Minnesota to the Tourney. That also has to grate on the Wildcat Faithful. The fact that The Ville is a Final 4 contender and Rick Pitino is coaching them adds additional and intense pressure for any coach at UK.

Seth Curry Transferring

2009-03-24T21:45:51Z

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29865560/

This kid was a stud at Liberty. Where do you think he will end up? Is it a good move on his part? Will he be as dominate in a more competitive league?

Bill Raftery Bingo

2009-03-19T01:59:13Z

Starting tomorrow is wall-to-wall NCAA hoops action for the next four days. At least for part of those 4 days, you can curl into your snuggie, open a refreshing beverage of choice, and listen to the sonorous commentary of Bill Raftery. The Raf has a dazzling array of catch phrases that rival the "master" Dickie V, but Raf's tend to have more flair. To help you through CBS coverage of March Madness during Raf's games, you can play Rafferty Bingo.

Tin	The Delivery	Puppies	*MantoMan*	Turn Up the Steam
Lingerie on the Deck	WITH THE KISS	Send It Home	Big Fella	Onions
Jacking Deep	Heart & Soul	Billy Packer Retired – Free Space	The Find	Seton Hall
Send it in [ ]	Dribble Drive	With the Blow By	BIGS	The Rub
Catch & Finish	*MONEY*	Head & Shoulder Move—No Dandruff	Drive and the Dish	Nickle-Dimer

You can determine various ways to play -- for bottle caps, pennies or other valuable prizes. Others of college age my find more creative options for this game.

Let us know what some of your favorite ways to watch the game are or might be. Or let us know if you need a glossary for the phrases above.

Poll: Favorite Deac

2009-03-18T21:09:43Z

Poll

Who is your favorite current Demon Deacon basketball player?

Gary Clark

1 votes

James Johnson

11 votes

Jeff Teague

3 votes

Ish Smith

11 votes

L.D. Williams

5 votes

Al-Farouq Aminu

3 votes

Tony Woods

1 votes

Chas McFarland

0 votes

Harvey Hale

0 votes

35 votes | Poll has closed

USA! USA! USA!

2009-03-18T03:08:38Z

USA comes from behind to beat Puero Rico in an elimination game in the World Baseball Classic!

Down by 2 going into the 9th, the bases were loaded, Youkilis walked and David Wright singled in Rollins to win the game!

This should have been on TV, come on world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwpTj_Z9v-c

Deacon B-Ball Wisdom

2009-03-14T18:30:21Z

So let's see here: the Deacs were a 'no show' for the ACC tourney this year. What do you suppose our young team (and coach) can take home from this experience? Well, let's couple it with the regular season wins and loses. Great wins against Duke and Carolina; bad losses to the likes of Virginia Tech (at WFU) and NC State, for example. We've shown up at every game (and in particular away games) with a big question mark hanging over the team. Who's going to play today? No real consistency. No consistent tough defense. A bunch of hot dog dunks. Very little finesse. The Deacs are just not a seamless team. Not yet.

What they have shown me this season is they are individually greatly talented; as a team, though, they are typical of a bunch of young guys that just haven't had enough experience together to get their act on. It needs to jell. The message here to our gifted kids is 'stay put; no NBA aspirations for a year, if not two'. You've got the potential to get to the Final Four, but not this year. It'll come together for you in the next year or two. Just give it a chance as great teams and great college players have done in years past. Len Chappel took us there in '62, his senior year. It's high time to get there again. We can do it with all the talent we've got, but not if we lose the likes of James Johnson, for instance, if he should choose to exit at the end of the current year.

ACC Tourney Notes

2009-03-14T17:44:13Z

The ACC is unlike any other tournament I have been too (except for maybe the NCAA Tournament.) The reasons why are not necessarily the obvious (great teams and great players,) it’s the little things. Here’s a few. If you attended this year add some of your favorites.

Star Sightings. Because of the history of the ACC, you have 12 schools now that have lots of individual history and players. One thing you find at the tournament is “star sightings.” There’s the obvious stars in the stands. Yesterday, TO was in the house as was Frank Beamer and Doug Flutie, and so was Matty “Ice” Ryan. But, it’s running into the basketball history and “stars” everywhere. Like at the hotel, during the dinner break, running into the whole Duke team and having to see Wojo. He’s not very tall. Then this morning while working on the computer, Oliver Purnell was near me having his coffee. Mike Gminiski walked by where I was working. He was dressed way down from the suspenders dapper look of TV. On my way back to the room, I had to stomach seeing Wojo again. I went out to the ATM machine at Peachtree Center Mall and had the pleasure of exchanging pleasantries with Bob Ryan of ESPN and Boston Globe fame. I said “Good morning Mr. Ryan.” He responded “good morning.” Entering the arena, I was behind Al Wood, NC guard-forward 1978-81, and his family, including UNC women's hoops players and his daughters Martina Wood and Candace Wood. People around me (lots of Baby Blue), started buzzing. But, these diehard UNC fans could not come up with the name. One guy said, “hey there’s … oh what is his name?” I quietly helped him out “Al Wood”, I whispered. He was appreciative. You can do this all without a media pass.

Women Rule the World. Here’s another reason why the ACC tournament is fun. ACC fans I sat near during 4 sessions know their conference. Moreover, more women attend this event than the NCAA subregionals. And, ACC women know their ACC hoops!! I've known this for years, but the depth of knowledge can be impressive. One female fan next to me knew the name of the ref in the UNC/Va Tech game who was blowing calls in NC’s favor. She then without blinking returned to her novel. She also had the obligatory comments about Psycho T flailing and faking contact to go to the line. The NCAAs on the other hand is a “fraternity” event, 90% guys with their brackets and newspapers. They buy their blocks of tickets and plan for months for the event. The ACC is more couples.

They learn it early. UNC/Duke rivalry starts early. During timeouts, the cameras scan the crowd. During the evening session on Friday, they showed an “8-year old” showing off his Duke shirt. Another 8 year old jumps in front pointing at his UNC hat. Nonetheless, as much as UNC is disliked, Duke is hated more. Shirt seen on Carolina fan – “Duke S_cks.” Shirt on Maryland fan – “Duke S_cks.”

More Cowbell. Having been to as many college tourneys as I have, you start to appreciate the artistic part of the programs – halftimes and time outs. That’s when the bands, cheerleaders, mascots and dance squads have their time to shine. Awards for this year – best band was BC. The cowbell/cymbal player was going crazy. They played “Livin’ On a Prayer” just before Al Skinner overcoached the last minute. You can never have enough cowbell. Best mascot, hate to admit it, but the Blue Devil was the best during the first two days (and he only had one game). He was doing cartwheels and flips during one time out. With a mascot head on, that is skill! Best dance squad – FSU. They remind you of the old Metro Conference days. The squads would all perform on Championship Saturday. The Ville, Memphis and FSU were perennial top squads. FSU was a member from 1976-1991. Runner up was Virginia, although they did all their routines in their corner.