[Deleted]

Just thought I'd get this rolling with a fun little quote.

Georgia coach Mark Fox on adapting to his new job and surroundings after five seasons as head coach at Nevada: “I drink sweet tea and I love the Waffle House,” Fox said. “So I feel like I’m fitting in.”

[Deleted]

I know it was just an exhibition game, but this can't bode well for the Gators' SOS or RPI. (They play 'Cuse on 12/10.)

Johnson, Le Moyne stun Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Christopher Johnson and Laurence Ekperigin hooted and hollered as they skipped off Jim Boeheim Court, huge smiles creasing their faces and seemingly as stunned as the Orange at what had just transpired.

Johnson scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining, and Division II Le Moyne stunned No. 25 Syracuse 82-79 in an exhibition game Tuesday night.

"We've got an experienced group," Le Moyne head coach Steve Evans said. "Did we ever think that a day like this would happen? Probably not. But we put together a game plan. We didn't want to play Syracuse's way. We wanted to play our way. It was just one of those days for Le Moyne basketball. The kids will remember this forever."

Wes Johnson, who led Syracuse with 34 points, hit a 3 from the left corner to put Syracuse ahead 79-78 with 22 seconds left.

Then Christopher Johnson responded with his sixth 3-pointer of the game, which came from the left side after Syracuse's Kris Joseph backed off defensively.

"We were sort of out of whack a little bit," Christopher Johnson said. "Everyone was rushing. But as soon as I caught the ball, I saw an opening and I just let it fly. Luckily, it went in."

After Wes Johnson missed a 3, Can Ozkaner added a free throw with 1.3 seconds left for Le Moyne and Syracuse had its first preseason exhibition loss since a setback against the Harlem Globetrotters six years ago.

"Le Moyne really outplayed us from the beginning of the game to the end," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "They [the Orange] are very, very young mentally. They really have got to grow up. We couldn't stop them on the dribble. That's something we've been looking at in practice."

Ekperigin had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Damani Corbin had 11 points and five assists and Kevin Roth added 10 points for Le Moyne, which outscored Syracuse 42-30 in the paint.

Andy Rautins had 13 points and Rick Jackson finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Orange, who led 47-37 early in the second half.

But the Dolphins, who play across town, never let down. Three 3s by Christopher Johnson helped narrow the gap and a three-point play by Ekperigin gave Le Moyne a 56-55 lead with 8:41 remaining.

The Dolphins, who repeatedly took advantage of Syracuse's man-to-man defense with drives and back-door cuts, went up 76-71 after Ekperigin converted a lob from Corbin with 57.9 seconds left and held on.

"It's very disappointing," said Wes Johnson, in his first season after transferring from Iowa State. "Hopefully, we can learn from this and move in the right direction."

"It's just embarrassing the way we played," said Rautins, born and raised in Syracuse. "It's embarrassing to ourselves and our fans. It wasn't luck that they won. They came out and beat us fair and square."

Evans said he wasn't really looking forward to reading and watching the news on Wednesday.

"I feel bad that the story tomorrow will be, 'What's wrong with Syracuse basketball?' I don't think there's anything wrong," he said. "They've got tremendous players. It's an exhibition game. They're young. They're going to be terrific."

[Attitude Adjuster]

Syracuse was ranked No. 25 by AP. They were ranked No. 9 in the Big East by Sporting News. So much for national sports writers.

[Deleted]

Jordan's son wears Nike, costs UCF adidas deal

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's 84-65 win in an exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site. Jordan has said he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment.

"We are disappointed to learn that adidas has chosen to discontinue its relationship with UCF Athletics," the school said in a statement Wednesday night released by spokesman Joe Hornstein. "Once we receive official notice we will be able to further respond."

[Eric O'Mac]

Three things come to mind when I hear this story.

1) If the shoes were that damn important to you, why don't you go to a school that wears that brand?

2) If I'm coaching this team or if I'm the athletic director in charge of getting these deals, there's no way he's getting any kind of special treatment just because his daddy is Michael Jordan and he wants to wear his dad's brand of shoes. Unless...

3) Any chance UCF gets a Nike deal now?

[Deleted]

I wouldn't be shocked if his dad paid off the $3million already.

And I would hope a Nike deal would be in order. I'm fairly certain the football team is aligned with adidas, though. Not sure how these deals work across sports.

[Attitude Adjuster]

Nov 5, 2009 12:39:59 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

I'm fairly certain the football team was aligned with adidas, though. Not sure how these deals work across sports.

The key word would be "was" aligned. Most college contracts go through all sports. So the football team got screwed by Jordan's son also, as did the volleyball team, the baseball team, etc. etc.

I can see the kid's point, and I can see him not thinking to check if the university had a shoe contract before he committed. And I can see adidas wanting a contracted honored. But you're telling me they couldn't find a middle ground? Like Jordan wears Nikes with the logo taped over?

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2009 12:47:27 GMT -5 Attitude Adjuster said:

I can see him not thinking to check if the university had a shoe contract before he committed.

I have to disagree here. With as much as his family has been involved with the basketball shoe business, I find it hard to believe ignorance factored in.

My sister graduated from UCF last year, and from what she says the school as a whole was happier than a pig in shit that he was coming there. I think they'll take their penalty for this year and gladly work out a deal with Nike. I can't fathom Nike not "coming to the rescue" for the son of the man who is almost single-handedly responsible for their meteoric rise over the past 2 decades.

[BC]

I bet there were some damn fine odds that the bulk of our college basketball coversation so far here at PH would be about Central Florida lol

[Mikey]

There's probably only one person here who really cares about this little nugget of info I came across this morning... and that person is me. I'm posting it anyway.

"Good chance" Auburn christens new arena with Carolina.

IJEOMK.

[Pun]

It's a pretty poorly kept secret here at UNCA that, because of Roy's connection to Asheville and his friendship with Coach Biedenbach, the Heels are going to open up the new arena here, too.

[Deleted]

UF needed a 3-pointer from Chandler Parsons with 31 seconds left in the game against Stetson yesterday to extend their streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 580. That's going back to 1992.

Anybody know if that's the record?

[Deleted]

Where's Gimmick been? He and I need to put a wager on Friday's game.

[columbo]

Nov 4, 2009 7:33:04 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

I know it was just an exhibition game, but this can't bode well for the Gators' SOS or RPI. (They play 'Cuse on 12/10.)

Just noticed this and thought I'd mention that The Cuse is going to murderize Florida.

[Deleted]

The same Florida that just knocked off #2 Michigan State over the weekend? I think not, my friend.

[Deleted]

Somebody please explain to me how an undefeated Florida can beat Michigan State on a neutral court and still be ranked behind them.

[columbo]

Nov 30, 2009 14:42:42 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

Somebody please explain to me how an undefeated Florida can beat Michigan State on a neutral court and still be ranked behind them.

The same reason there are 7 new teams in the top 25 this week. The people who vote on this shit are idiots.

[Jack Quinn]

that, and much like the football polls for the first month or so, the basketball polls are meaningless until after Christmas

[Mikey]

Nov 30, 2009 17:36:40 GMT -5 Jack Quinn said:

that, and much like the football polls for the first month or so, the basketball polls are meaningless until after Christmas

Agreed, but at least a skewed early season basketball poll doesn't screw someone out of a rightly earned shot at the national title.

Also... this gem from last year's thread:

Apr 7, 2009 11:58:12 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

Who's Ed Davis?

Ask Gimmick... he should know after last night.

[Mikey]

And in the complete polar opposite of college football's shenanigans, wouldn't expanding the NCAA Tournament to NINETY SIX TEAMS just be the most awesomest idea in the history of awesome ideas?

Are you fucking kidding me?

[Deleted]

Nov 25, 2009 18:44:30 GMT -5 columbo said:

Nov 4, 2009 7:33:04 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

I know it was just an exhibition game, but this can't bode well for the Gators' SOS or RPI. (They play 'Cuse on 12/10.)

Just noticed this and thought I'd mention that The Cuse is going to murderize Florida.

Care to make a small, friendly wager on the game tomorrow night?

[columbo]

Dec 9, 2009 12:55:02 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

Nov 25, 2009 18:44:30 GMT -5 columbo said:

Just noticed this and thought I'd mention that The Cuse is going to murderize Florida.

Care to make a small, friendly wager on the game tomorrow night?

Sure I love jinxing my favorite teams.

[Deleted]

If Syracuse wins, I'll use a Syracuse av of your choice until they lose a game, and vice versa?

[columbo]

Dec 10, 2009 13:49:29 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

If Syracuse wins, I'll use a Syracuse av of your choice until they lose a game, and vice versa?

Deal.

[Deleted]

I see the Gators' press wearing down Syracuse and putting them in foul trouble late with the Gators winning a close one.

Either that or a complete Syracuse domination.