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By Kyle Nagel
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 01:36 PM
Just as Dayton faced a tough ACC opponent on the road two seasons ago in North Carolina, Xavier will take its shot this season by playing Duke in East Rutherford, N.J.
“We don’t want to overplay it,” Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said, “but the chance to play a national TV game against a program with the success and tradition of Duke was too good to pass up.”
The game reflects coach Sean Miller’s emphasis on toughening the Musketeers’ nonconference schedule. Last season, XU established itself as an NCAA Tournament contender by faring well against teams such as Indiana and Kansas State in the regular season.
This game underscores the Atlantic 10 Conference’s new emphasis on scheduling. The conference has worked out a plan that says the teams at the top should face the toughest competition while the teams in the middle should play opponents that can help their RPI and the bottom teams should play anyone they can beat.
The difference so far has been that Xavier holds a realistic chance of beating Duke. In the past few years, the Flyers haven’t held the same success in beating big-conference teams away from home. Pittsburgh, of course, was at home. Louisville was a big win for Dayton last season, but it came against a less-than-full-strength Cardinals team.
That could change in the next season or two, as Dayton brings in local recruits about whom fans are excited — Josh Benson, Matt Kavanaugh, Juwan Staten.
Regardless of how Flyers supporters feel about Xavier, they should root for a Musketeers win against Duke. That kind of victory would look very good for the conference — and look even better if UD can break its losing streak against XU.
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University of Dayton
By Kyle Nagel
| Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 01:01 PM
The letter to the editor this morning on the Opinion page is entitled “Why is busing for sports still funded?”
Here’s a snippet:
(A story on possible cuts to busing) discussed limitations and cuts to the educational field trips and transportation to classes. Why not also discuss the added expenses of school sports and recreational activities? Why are these recreational activities usually protected by school districts from cost cutting, while transportation to school and other educational opportunities are limited? Why do schools prioritize and protect these essentially recreational activities for relatively small groups of privileged students?
Good points, no question. The letter cuts to the heart of discussions we often have about the place sports holds at schools, whether high schools or colleges.
But, like at other places, there are different rules for sports. I can’t speak to any particular high school in the area, but at many places, the athletic department pays for the athletic busing. Just as, at colleges, the athletic departments use their own revenue to pay for traveling and other expenses.
People often ask the fair question about why tuition rises at Ohio State while the athletic department is making more then $100 million a year. The schools, though, tell us that they operate in different piles of money. There’s one for the school (or many for the many other parts of the school) and one for the athletic department. Theoretically, the athletic department is in charge of making and spending its own dough.
Now, back to high school busing. I don’t know how every high school does it, but often sports have to earn their own way. That’s why they charge to get into football and basketball games and why you see teams doing fundraisers.
I know the writer of this letter, as she sometimes e-mails wanting to discuss the business of sports, particularly at the college level. Many feel that the business of sports is ruining parts of the educational foundation.
That could be true. But, many times, they do often earn their own way.
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Issue Discussion
By Kyle Nagel
| Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 01:31 PM
While we still wait and wonder what can happen to Brian Roberts in tomorrow night’s draft, let’s turn to the potential fate of Daequan Cook on draft night.
An ESPN.com Insider report says that he could be leaving the Heat in a trade involving — you guessed it — Mike Conley Jr.
One source told Insider that the Heat are revisiting trade talks with the Grizzlies. Insider reported several weeks ago that there was talk that Memphis would give up Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the No. 5 pick as part of a package for the No. 2 pick. The same source said the Heat are asking the Grizzlies to sweeten the deal by substituting Mike Conley for Lowry. The deal would be Conley and the No. 5 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook.
These two just can’t get away from each other, whether they were AAU teammates, college teammates and now NBA draft rumor mates. Some could wonder why a team would want Cook at all, considering he started fast but faded in his rookie season and even spent some time in the NDA’s developmental league.
But, he did play in 59 games with the Heat and averaged 8.8 points and 3 rebounds.
One of the things that got Cook into the league, though, involved shooting lights out in pre-draft exhibitions and private workouts. During his rookie season, Cook made just 33.2 percent from 3-point range.
Although more celebrated, Conley actually wasn’t much better, averaging 9.4 points in 56 games (although he did give out 4.2 assists per game).
A trade would just be one more way their names would remain linked.
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Ohio State
By Kyle Nagel
| Monday, June 23, 2008, 12:40 PM
The NBA Draft is Thursday. We’ll find out a few things that day: Whether Kosta Koufos should’ve left Ohio State, whether Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose is the most desired player, whether the Heat will do something that makes sense and whether we can find a way to be as interested in this draft as the NFL version.
Dayton fans will keep a close eye on Brian Roberts. But, should they?
ESPN.com’s draft page says Roberts can go “second round to undrafted.”
NBA.com says of Roberts: “Shoots the ball effortlessly from distance with outstanding form. Quick trigger in all shooting situations: catch-and-shoot, coming off screens or off the dribble. Takes his shots in the flow of the game.”
No question Roberts can shoot from the outside, sometimes far from the outside. Many of the shots, though, come off screens, so execs could worry that Roberts has trouble creating his own shot. Regardless, though, every team wants someone who can consistently find the basket from mid-range to 3-point range.
He also has good size at 6 feet 2 and has clearly developed good strength during his time at UD. He was a hit at the pre-draft camp, but that doesn’t guarantee a spot in the two-round event.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Roberts go undrafted but get a good training camp invite or two. He has played in some big-time venues, although never in the NCAA tournament and in the Atlantic 10 Conference, which might be another concern for draft board watchers.
If nothing else, I did learn one new thing about Roberts from this draft coverage.
His middle name is Lloyd.
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University of Dayton
By Kyle Nagel
| Thursday, June 19, 2008, 02:19 PM
Noticed on today’s Scoreboard page that Ken Griffey Jr. still ranks No. 3 in National League outfield All-Star voting. That’s curious, because Griffey isn’t having one of his best seasons, but neither are some of the others high on the list.
No. 1 Alfonso Soriano: 51 games, .283, 15 HR, 40 RBI, .978 fielding pct.
No. 2 Kosuke Fukudome: 69 games, .296, 5 HR, 30 RBI, .993 fielding pct.
No. 3 Ken Griffey Jr.: 68 games, .244, 7 HR, 30 RBI, .963 fielding pct.
No. 4 Ryan Braun: 70 games, .287, 20 HR, 55 RBI, 1.000 fielding pct.
No. 5 Carlos Lee: 71 games, .272, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .991 fielding pct.
No. 6 Pat Burrell: 72 games, .280, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 1.000 fielding pct.
No. 7 Carlos Beltran: 71 games, .271, 10 HR, 48 RBI, .995 fielding pct.
No. 8 Rick Ankiel: 60 games, .250, 10 HR, 30 RBI, .979 fielding pct.
No. 9 Matt Holliday: 55 games, .324, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 1.000 fielding pct.
No. 10 Hunter Pence: 69 games, .275, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 1.000 fielding pct.
I’m not saying I think the All-Star voting actually attempts to find the best player, but Griffey has received more than 1 million votes based on his chase for 600 home runs and his name.
The reason remains interesting is those around Griffey often argue that he doesn’t receive the support and attention he should. Fans have, at times, booed the future Hall of Famer when they’ve felt he hasn’t given his best effort. Cincinnati fans are big on effort.
But as we can see from the voting, baseball fans in general still like Griffey.
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Cincinnati Reds
By Kyle Nagel
| Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 04:07 PM
So, Tiger Woods is out for the year. Is golf in trouble?
Interesting to see the responses.
I will be enjoying the rest of the golf season. I readily admit Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time. But he is in the same class as Barry Bonds (I’m not talking about steroids): surly, arrogant and profane. He cares nothing about the integrity of the game or the real golf fans. With him it’s all about me. And media coverage by announcers is so unctuous as to be nauseating. Finally, those Tiger fans who move boulders for him are not golf fans I’d enjoy playing with.
Whether Tiger is playing or not, people will continue to talk about what he has accomplished this year, what he COULD have accomplished - if only - and how this surgery will affect the rest of his career.
I don’t watch golf based on who is leading, I watch as I have the time, so whether Tiger is playing or not won’t influence me at all.
OK, so golf’s not going to be ignored because Tiger Woods isn’t playing. But one can’t argue that a certain percentage of folks who watch the sport on TV just want to see Woods. You can say all you want that they’re not real golf fans and shouldn’t be watching anyway, but the television networks and tournaments don’t agree.
I’m anxious to see how much announcers do talk about Woods even though he’s not playing. I mean, during the tournament. Phil hits his third shot, cut to announcer, announcer says, “I wonder what Tiger’s up to right now. Let’s look at some of his highlights.”
Woods won’t be playing. But that doesn’t mean we won’t see him on tournament broadcasts, either.
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Golf
By Kyle Nagel
| Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 05:01 PM
Some — including my father — still dislike John Feinstein for Season on the Brink, his book about the Indiana University basketball program and Bobby Knight.
But, sometimes-Washington Post columnist almost always produces a thoughtful, entertaining column, especially from golf events. Just wanted to share some quick snippets from today’s piece about Tiger Woods.
Maybe they should make Tiger Woods start playing with one hand tied behind his back. After all, he proved that he’s better than everyone else in the world playing on one leg.
Rocco Mediate deserves kudos for the way he played for five days. He hung in and hung in — making three birdies on the back nine yesterday to shockingly go from two shots down to one stroke up with three holes to play — but he just didn’t have the wooden stake required to kill Woods in a pressure situation.
Let’s be serious here for a minute: Mickelson is a Hall of Fame player, but when it really matters — as in a major, not some trumped up ‘playoff’ event in Boston — he’s the groundhog on February 2nd: as soon as he sees Tiger’s shadow, he’s gone for the next six weeks.
What’s pretty clear is that the rest of the so-called big guys in golf just don’t want any part of Woods on a weekend when he’s anywhere close to playing his best golf.
All that said, what we witnessed the last five days was one of the most remarkable performances we will ever see in one of those remarkable careers in the history of sports. Woods is a champion in every way. Mediate, for one week, was a worthy and honorable challenger.
I told folks in the office as we gathered around the television to watch parts of yesterday’s playoff that that I thought Mediate would shoot 8-over par. That’s a reasonable expectation, too. But as our assistant sports editor Marc Pendleton noted — and he was right — guys who get along with Tiger just don’t get freaked out by him. And if Tiger likes you, it seems that you’re in for good.
I can’t say I was rooting for him, but it’s hard to root against him.
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