At the end of last year’s college basketball season, Big Soda and I blessed you with the All 1992 Retro Team , a team of players we collected over the season that looked like they had either been playing college ball since 1992, or looked like they belonged playing ball back in 1992. This year, we are going for a new team, and we need your help!
This year’s team will be the All Accessories Team, a team of players that wear/have tons of out of the ordinary things. Take Marcus Jordan above. He’s a perfect example, and very well may end up being a starter on the squad. Marcus has:
- The headband
- The Goggles
- The Arm Sleeve
- The Leg Pads
- The High Socks
- Jordans XI Cool Greys (which at the time of picture, had not yet dropped)
So you can see how he is a great candidate. Other things to look for? Dreadlocks or crazy hair, finger sweat pads (these automatically get you +2 points), sweat bands, crazy tats, etc. The MORE accessorizing a player does to stand out, the better.
So throughout this year, we need your help spotting these players! We don’t even need the name. If all you catch is the team and the number, that works! Feel free to submit “#23 on Eastern Idaho Tech State South Community College” if needed. We can look him up later, getting him down is important.
Feel free to submit your picks via comment on this blog throughout the year, or by email (themixtapemonster(at)themixtapemonster(dot)com) or by twitter to either myself (@themonsterblog) or Big Soda (@bigsoda). We will certainly give you credit on the final post at the end of the season.
So one day in late 2009, Big Soda and I were watching a college basketball game (regrettably, I do not remember the teams playing, or the player that spurned this) but there was a guy on the court and as soon as we saw him, we busted out laughing. It wasn’t that he was funny looking. It wasn’t that he was bad. He just looked like he should be playing in 1992, and not 2009-2010. This got us thinking a few days later, and we decided that over the course of the 2009-2010 basketball season we would build a list of these types of players. They may look like they should have played in 1992, or maybe look like they have been playing since 1992. The following are those players. They make up the 1st Annual Mixtape Monster Blog All 1992 Retro Team.
It should be noted that being on the 2010 Mixtape Monster Blog All 1992 Retro Team is an honor. It has nothing to do with skill, and everything to do with psyche.
Without further delay, I present to you (after the jumpy-jump), The 2010 Mixtape Monster Blog All 1992 Retro Team…
Well March Madness is here, and the brackets are now out. I’ll be guest blogging via The Good Look Newsletter for those of you who subscribe to that on some of my picks (if you aren’t a subscriber, go peep http://www.thegoodlook.net and check it out). Many a people have been asking me on my first impressions of the bracket. I have NOT filled out my bracket yet, so take these observations with the grain of salt which they are given.
For those of you who follow The Mixtape Monster Blog on Twitter , you probably saw me tweetin’ up a storm during the selection show about some of my impressions. In fact, I dropped so many of them, @BigSoda might have un-deviced a player’s updates. Hopefully not though.
Anyhow, some impressions:
I am happy with UNC’s draw. Sure, Oklahoma is the 2 and Syracuse the 3, but overall I don’t think we have the hardest road to the Final Four out of all the number 1 seeds (which I felt we did have last year), so that’s a good thing. As is opening in Greensboro.
The Boston College – USC matchup in the first round is going to be a GREAT game.
I’m a little nervous for FSU against Wisconsin, though I think FSU is a clearly better team
People need to be quiet about Penn State. They didn’t deserve to get in. How the Big Ten got 7 teams anyway is already beyond me.
VERY intrigued by a possible Wake – Arizona matchup in the second round. Same for Texas – Dook.
Clemson – Oklahoma could be another barn burner in the second round
Everyone (even some random guy on Twitter) keeps telling me Missouri is for real. Still not sure if I buy it, and I don’t know why.
VCU over UCLA in round one…..I MIGHT be picking that upset. Maynor is a beast, UCLA has disappointed all year
Remember, these are just quick impressions. Haven’t filled out my bracket yet, might let y’all in on some of those secrets when I do…but probably not.
One thing I can assure you of though….I’m picking the HEELS all the way, baby! No surprise there.
Dexter Strickland aka DEX NASTY will be in Tar Heel Blue next year. Cue DJ Khaled ultra-cliche-and-incredibly-annoying-yet-in-this-case-very- true catchprhase: WE THE BEST!!!!!
The Heels finally came to play in the second half on Saturday for like the first time in 5 games. Danny “Mother F***ing” Green had 2 highlight reel blocks back-to-back and Ellington hit 8 striaght shots (7 of them from behind the arc) in the second half. This is the type of firepower we need from our wings for the rest of the season.
One of Florida State’s finest goes hard to the hoop for the YAM, but apparently forgot how high he can actually jump. Come on, Von, even the Monster can do that move. In fact, I think I busted that out at the gym last weekend……
Can you name other missed dunks you remember? I can name at least 4 other significant missed dunks:
1. The Cota to Carter Alley Oop against dook in the Dean Dome when we were crushing them (perhaps the most famous missed dunk of all UNC time)
2. Marcus Ginyard last year on the breakaway against NC State (I think?? anyone??)
3. Hansbrough this year against Evansville, right after he broke the scoring record. Steal off the inbounds, then missed the 2 hander.
4. McCants on the breakaway missing the windmill (I wanna say this one was against Wake Forest, but I’m not positive….)
BTW, Redfly hit me off with the gossip that Rashad McCants is now dating Khloe Kardashian. Come on, McCants. I seen you pull better girls in Avalon like 6 years ago…..and when I say in Avalon, I mean literally IN AVALON, like getting freaky on the dance floor.
So, the College Basketball season is almost 1/3 underway. Most teams are starting conference play this week, which means teams have gotten their identity’s pretty much figured out. I’ve decided to list some of my thoughts and predictions on the season so far. Agree if you’d like, disagree if you’d like, but below is what the Monster has seen and noticed thus far.
GREG MONROE IS A BEAST AND A HALF
The Hoyas have something special in their starting center, Freshman Greg Monroe. He fits perfectly into the Georgetown system, and he’s already big, with a point-forward mindset. He posseses extreme patience in the post, something that sometimes doesn’t even come with age or experience (sad to say, but this is a fault in Hansbrough’s game). He’s got some good footwork with his back to the basket, but what makes him so dangerous is his ability to pop out and hit that 17 footer consistently. Monroe is also great at driving to the basket after facing up. Georgetown fans should be really happy to have him. The best part about Monroe is that he will probably be around a couple more years. Check out some of his highlights from the UConn win below.
THE BIG EAST IS GOOD NOW……BUT IT COULD HURT THEM LATER
Last year, all we heard about here in ACC country was how much better the Big East was than us, and how it was a down year for the ACC. While it was a down year for the ACC, I didn’t believe last year that the Big East was that much better. This year could be a different story. With so many Top 25 teams in the conference, there’s rarely a break in the schedule. While I agree with most of the Big East team rankings (not sure ‘Cuse is Top 10, and I think Marquette is better than their ranking…) I think that it is going to take a toll on the players throughout the season. Most seem to think that this schedule prepares you for March, and in a way it does. However, that many physical and close games will take a toll on player’s legs and conditioning at the end of the season (Think dook the last couple years). In order to go deep in the Tourney, these Big East teams will have to play deep during the regular season, something that thin bench teams like Georgetown should be worried about.
I predict no more than 1 Big East team in the Final Four this year. No more than 2 in the Elite Eight.
OKLAHOMA IS OVERRATED
Yeah, Yeah, I know all about Blake Griffin and his double-doubles. I know all about Blake Griffin being a Top 5 pick in next year’s (very weak I might add) NBA Draft. However, how this team made it up to the Top 5 for a while is beyond me. Willie Warren is a great talent, and a superb Freshman. Night in and night out though, he proves that is exactly what he is….a Freshman. He will put up 35 one night, and then 4 the next. Way too inconsistent. This is one of the more overrated teams in the nation in my opinion. While Griffin is good, he hasn’t really played anyone big enough to bang with him yet, and that will come in Big 12 play no doubt. Expect decent things in Big 12 play out of Oklahoma, but when the Tournament comes around, it’s Sweet 16 for the Sooners.
WILL GRAVES WILL BE BETTER THAN REYSHAWN TERRY
Most fans reading this might not know who either of these guys is, but since I’m a big UNC fan, I have to include something about our squad. I’ve chosen to focus on reserve Will Graves, aka “The Gravy Train”. The NC High School Player Of the Year 3 years ago, he redshirted his first year for the Heels, so is technically a Sophomore this year. Getting some quality minutes, Graves has proved that he can be a good outside shooter. This year, he’s improved his game to be able to take it to the basket more. He’s even had some high quality dunks. I look for him to be a lot like former Heel Reyshawn Terry, and to really blossom next year as a Junior.
TYRESE RICE IS ONE OF THE BEST LEADERS IN THE NATION
This guy is incredible. He can score all of Boston College’s points if he wants, or sit back and just dish. His ball control is amazing and he is a true competitor. He’s the only Senior on a team that starts 4 Sophomore’s and has them ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in a while after defeating the Heels in Chapel Hill. I’ve always been impressed with him, but especially this year. He could have easily come in and tried to drop 50 a game and help his draft stock, but instead he is focused on helping his team get better. His scoring is down, but his assists are up. And so is BC in the rankings. Not a coincidence.
LUKE HARANGODY IS THE BIGGEST WHINER IN THE NATION
Okay, yes, I will give you that Luke Harangody is probably an All-American. He puts up big numbers, I won’t dispute that. But after watching the Notre Dame-Georgetown game last night, I am DISGUSTED at this guy. Watching him play just pisses me off. Dude complained literally about every foul call against him. Bilas even called him out on it. I mean he’s jumping up and down, flailing hands over his first foul like 2 minutes into the game. He continued this on every single foul called on him. I also noticed that on 2 out of 3 missed shots, he complained on a “no call” to the official, one time costing his team a basket at the other end. But complaining on fouls against him or on him is not enough for Luke. He also likes to complain about foul calls on his teammates….pretty much every one. And if that wasn’t enough, he also threw up the number 1 in the sky on 3 straight baskets he scored.
Say what you want about Hansbrough, but if Psycho T complains, its during a dead ball situation so as not to cost his team. He also doesn’t do it every foul. I also don’t think I’ve ever seen Hansbrough celebrate an individual basket unless it was a game winner, or an “and-one,” which are both team-oriented.
My message to Harangody – Dude, you are pretty good, but you’d be a lot better if you stopped acting like a douche all the time.
the gravy train will be a force in years to come.
