Random thoughts on a not so random Friday. Happy Veterans Day and a huge thank you to all who have served our country in uniform....
Now then, another reason to celebrate today: college basketball season begins tonight. There should be plenty to be interested in around here.
Mick Cronin has something he hasn't had in his time at the University of Cincinnati. Cronin has the team everyone in the American Athletic Conference will be chasing. The Bearcats are pre-season favorites to win that conference. Cronin thinks he knows why.
"Returning guards are the things that make coaches sleep well at night. Because, they've got the ball in their hands. And college basketball is such a guard control game"
UC has the the AAC pre season player of the year in its back court: Senior Troy Caupain. He averaged 13 points per game last season....
At Xavier, Chris Mack's team has a legitimate chance to make the Final 4. The Musketeers' back court may be the best in the Big East Conference. The electrifying Edmond Sumner is back for his sophomore season, fresh off making the Big East Conference All-Freshman team. Trevon Bluiett is one of the deadliest shooters in college basketball. The Musketeers are ranked seventh in the country.
"You know that just means people coming against us will look at us, you know, as the team to beat," said Bluiett. "So they're going to come with their best shot."
A challenge for Xavier will be replacing James Farr and Jalen Reynolds, the heart of their front court for the last several seasons.
In Lexington, John Calipari's team is ranked second nationally and may have the fastest player in college basketball. Guard D'Aaron Fox brings a new level of speed to the Wildcats this season.
UC opens the season tonight, at home against Brown. Xavier is at the Cintas Center tonight for season tip off against Lehigh. And at Northern Kentucky University, the Norse open their season against Earlham...
Reds General Manager, Dick Williams, again said this week there won't be many roster adjustments this offseason. He said Joey Votto isn't on the market. He said he may look at adding a veteran starting pitcher to his roster. And he thinks Devin Mesoraco, the often injured catcher, will be good to go this season. So here's my question: How does he sell that to the fan base? "Come See Us This Season Because We'll Be the Team Projected to Win 69 Games Last Season If We Stay Healthy?".....
I like the Eagles at home Sunday over the Falcons, largely because the Eagles are 4-1 and have the best point differential in the NFL. But #1 receivers on opposing teams have torched the Philly defense this y ear, including Antonio Brown, who caught 12 passes for 140-yards when the Steelers rolled into Philly in week #3. Of course, the Eagles rolled the Steelers in that one....
I'm also taking the Patriots over the Seahawks Sunday night. This isn't a rematch of the Super Bowl a few years back. The Pats are good, if not better, than that game and the Seahawks are worse. Fun fact: this will be Pete Carroll's first game back New England since leaving the Patriot. Bill Belichick replaced Carroll as the Pats head coach in 2000....
The Giants are a one trick pony on offense. All the Bengals have to do is deal with Odell Beckham Jr. and they'll beat the Giants. Easier said than done though. Beckham has caught 30 touchdown passes in 35 NFL games....
And the Giants can't run the ball to save their collective lives. Their leading rushing is Rashad Jennings with 168 yards in just eight games. That's the lowest rushing total for a team leader in the NFL this season....
38 years ago today, this song hit the airwaves in the USA
This was off their self titled 1978 album. It only hit #35 in the USA. But a couple of things in this song made it it unique. It was the first song released on a picture disc, a quirkily '70's invention. And the Cars' lead guitarist Elliott Easton said the riff he plays in the chorus was a direct lift from Paul McCartney's riff in the Beatles song "I Will" off their "White Album." The lyrics and driving melody was all Ric Ocasek, by the way, the group's leader, who moved with his family from his native Baltimore to Cleveland, when he was 16.
