Travis Leslie Bangs On ‘Em again

From the dude that brought you the YAM on DeMarcus Cousins earlier this year.

Where You At Wednesdays: Cherokee Parks and Greg Newton

In honor of the game tonight, we are asking where Cherokee Parks and Greg Newton are these days.

Now, I could have done the research and told you about Newton’s days with the Raleigh Cougars, or Cherokee’s lackluster NBA career in which he got more tattoos than points scored. But why do all that research and tell you where these guys are these days when I already know.

THEY ARE ON A POSTER GETTING DUNKED ON BY STACKHOUSE.

Johnny Flynn

This dunk from the other night by Johnny Flynn of Syracuse is straight out of control. He yams ALL OVER Mike Rosario (who dropped like 20 on the Heels during the game I was at). This shit is one of the nastiest dunks by a PG in college that I have seen in a while. Word bond.

Some College Basketball Predictions / Thoughts

the gravy train will be a force in years to come.

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.

Hansbrough Makes History

Congrats, Tyler. And thanks for all you do for the Heels.

And certainly not to be left out, a huge Heel thank you to Phil Ford as well!

Old School MJ – UNC Footage

Click here to see some old school MJ footage.

Shouts to Stonewall Jackson on the submission! (His first in a while, but it’s a good one!)

Bullock v. Marshall

Here are some highlights of the Bishop O’Connell vs. Kinston High School basketball match from not too long ago. Why is this up? Well because there are 2 UNC recruits going head-to-head in this game. Both are high school juniors and verbal commits to the Heels. On Bishop O’Connell you have Kendall Marshall who is racking up some ridiculously balanced stats this year. He’s a real box-score filler upper. On Kinston you have Reggie Bullock, who should also be a force to reckon with in the backcourt. Take a gander.

Cool Statistic for NCAA Basketball

Happy Holidays to all, I know the site hasn’t been updated in a while, I’ve been enjoying my holiday like I hope everyone else has.

I’m sitting at home watching the Maryland-Georgetown game right now (step it up Maryland, geez…) and they just put an interesting statistic up.

NUMBER OF RANKED OPPONENTS PLAYED SINCE 1997

1. UNC – 115

2. Michigan State – 114

3. Kentucky – 111

4. Maryland – 107

5. Georgia Tech – 106

 

For me, this proved several things. The first is that the ACC, despite being down the last few years, is still a dominant and deep conference (evidence of 3 ACC schools in the top 5 shows depth in the conference). The second is that the UNC Tar Heels do not schedule nearly as many cupcakes as some other (ahem…) schools might do. This is one list you will never see dook on.

Lawson to Green

This was a pretty sick play last night. Heels fans will remember in ’05 when we ran this play with Felton to Jawad Williams like every game. I think Jackie even got in on the action a couple of times. It’s a classic UNC alley play, kind of like the inbounds one we used to run with Felton to McCants or Noel.

Anyhow, gotta love it!

Game 2 tonight at 9pm EST for the Maui Invitational….GO HEELS.

Sheed and Stack UNC Mix

Love both of these guys big time. Along the lines of the last debate on here about Jamison vs. Carter…here’s another good one to debate….better NBA player….Sheed or Stack?

I’d like to hear some thoughts before I weigh in. GO.