Unverified Voracity Considers The Moon Comment Count

Brian

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NEXT UP

But have you thought about Tokyo? Assertions abound that the Big Ten might fling a conference tournament to DC:

That would be convenient for Maryland fans and the expat lawyers Big Ten schools fling to major metropoli across the country. Not so much anyone else who cares about basketball—the only other schools within one BILLION miles of DC are Penn State and Rutgers. But we must #footprint and #footprint and #footprint until our #footprints are #footprinted across the land.

All right. The Big East and Big Ten have announced one of those challenge-like things, though this one is partial:

The Big Ten and the Big East on Monday will announce a new partnership, the Gavitt Tipoff Games, an annual series of eight games between the two conferences that will run through 2020.

All of these games will come in the first week of the season, a time generally reserved for Michigan versus Five Guys We Found On A Farm, Yes We're Pretty Sure They're People. Every Big Ten team will participate at least four times in the eight-year deal. (That leaves eight free slots over the eight years, FWIW.)

Thanks, I guess. Corn Nation points out a thing:

Q: How will the seeding committee determine which teams play in which semifinal?

A: In theory, priority will be given to placing the No. 1 seed in the bowl geographically closest to its campus. For instance, if Florida State is No. 1, it would play in the semifinal at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, which would send the No. 2 team to the Rose Bowl.

So the CoFoPoff acknowledges that being close to home is a nice thing. Wonderful. Let's envision a scenario where Purdue finishes the year #1 to the committee. They get slotted in…

uh…

Atlanta! Congratulations, Purdue.

Corn Nation's not too happy about that:

TRADITION! was the battle cry for Delany, the world "tradition" meaning "bullshit most of you will still buy" as any pretense that college football is about money has been swept away by more, more, more of it. TRADITION! - even though the Big Ten expanded with Nebraska, Rutgers and Maryland throwing out decades of tradition - but Delany knowing that all those alums from Michigan and Ohio State and et al would buy into "tradition" because they've been eating that Rose Bowl bullshit so long that they don't realize what low-grade bullshit it is.

Hey man don't look at me I was advocating home sites just like everyone else from the #footprint that offered an opinion.

Draft projections. With the deadline passed, people get serious about their mock drafts. Results are good for Stauskas:

"Stauskas seems to be garnering more and more buzz of late," Ford wrote. "His abilities as a shooter with deep range and a quick release are unquestioned. It's his ability to also play a little point guard that has moved him into the lottery. This is the highest he has been ranked on our Big Board, and I don't think it's out of the question that he could go even higher when all is said and done. The Sixers, Nuggets, Wolves and Suns are all options in the lottery."

Robinson's hanging on to the end of the first round on Ford's draft but not DX; Chad Ford and DX don't have McGary in the first round. I have to believe that as it gets late in that first round some good team is going to think they could use a pile of rebounding and enthusiasm who's at least going to be a good player.

Good idea. I give it ten seconds to live. Penn State is going to visit Georgia State's camp en masse this summer:

New Penn State James Franklin and his entire staff will work as guest coaches for Trent MilesFootball Camp at Georgia State on June 10.

The radical arrangement appears to be a win-win for both programs: Penn State gets to personally evaluate high school players who would never travel to its camps in Pennsylvania, while Georgia State will get exposure to more high-profile recruits than normal.

This is an end-around of NCAA rules that prohibit folks from having a camp outside their home state unless it's within 50 miles of campus and will probably get nerfed the next time someone comes around with the rule stick. Clever idea for now, though.

BONUS: That article contains a quote that NCAA lawyers trying to flog competitive balance in court are going to hate:

“We’re not going to recruit the same person, you know? There’s no way. The Sun Belt doesn’t recruit against Penn State. Let’s face it: I’m not competing for kids against Penn State, or Georgia and Alabama. I’m just not. Nor will we ever. It is what it is."

/NCAA lawyer hits self in face with already-empty bottle of whiskey

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Coleman can get buckets

AAU business. The annual Spiece tournament is going on in Indianapolis, featuring a number of Michigan targets. The most prominent is IN SG Jalen Coleman, who is still in no hurry to come to a decision:

When asked for an updated list of schools, Coleman rattled off Indiana, Purdue, NC State, Providence, UCLA, Arizona, Michigan, Michigan State and noted that several other Big Ten schools are also involved.

He didn’t name a leader, a top group or even mention that any schools are recruiting him harder than others.

In actual news, IL PG Jalen Brunson has cut his list to eight; Michigan is one. Temple, Villanova, Kansas, UConn, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue. If one of those programs doesn't look like it belongs, Brunson's dad played at Temple. "But that doesn't explain Purdue," you exclaim, and I agree.

I don't know but probably not right now. Ross Fulton asks if Doug Nussmeier can fix Michigan's offense, detailing his history. It starts off with an involuntary moan from you:

Nusmmeier's primary plan to solve the situation is to bring a coherent offensive framework to Michigan.

Sounds like a plan, you guys.

We must destroy this buck in order to save it. Via Get The Picture, the NCAA has earmarked some funds for legal stuff this year:

For example, NCAA finances are as difficult to sort through as the numbers are high, and the figures can vary hugely with the bias of those reporting them. Most media outlets glibly equate “unionization” and “compensation” with professional salaries for NCAA athletes, but the association knows Huma isn’t pursuing any such thing. The only big number that concerns him is the $600-plus million announced as this year’s NCAA war chest for legal and legislative expenditures.

Six hundred million dollars available to defend amateurism. Meanwhile non-profits try to fill in the gaps left when dudes get spine injuries.

Etc.: Recruiting folks did rather well by this year's projected first round. Mmmm anti-SEC conspiracy theories. NCAA unionization gets a congressional hearing. I welcome the departure of teams that should not be in D-I from D-I. Eastern Michigan, looking at you. Michigan spends money on things. Lax got competitive this year.

Comments

dragonchild

May 5th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^

Is there an extra zero or two added?  If not, the NCAA needs to be marched out into the town square in chains.

$600 million to preserve their status quo??  No cause is that noble, because no noble cause would have that sort of money to spend on lawyers, because you only spend that money on a legal fund if you A) expect well-deserved trouble and B) stand to lose more if you, well, lose.

Mmmm Hmmm

May 5th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^

My guess is that the number got a little lost in translation, and the $600 million represents the litigation/lobbying expenses plus a liability reserve.  In other words, my guess is that the overwhelming majority of that money is going to a reserve that the NCAA is holding on its balance sheets (as it probably must) in case it loses its major litigation and has to pony up.  That's probably mostly about O'Bannon, where the NCAA itself (not member institutions) will have to pay in the event of an adverse judgment.

ak47

May 5th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^

Why are people flipping out about DC so much? It's not like fans from Iowa or Nebraska or Minnesota are driving to Indianapolis either.  DC is like an hour and a half further from Columbus than Chicago is and DC is a more interesting city to visit, so when your team gets bounced its actually worth it to just stay the weekend anyways, especially when its only a thing that is happening once.  Throw in the high number of alums in the area and chances are it will still be full which is all that really matters.  

It's not like Atlanta is centrally located in the SEC but they still have their championships there and it works out. 

KSmooth

May 5th, 2014 at 11:42 PM ^

I've been to the tourney in Indy.  It was before Nebraska joined, but Iowa and Minnesota were well represented.

Atlanta may not be the exact geographic center of the SEC, but it's not on the very fringe of it like Washington DC is.

The Western teams just got screwed on this one.

ak47

May 6th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^

I didn't say they weren't there, I said they probably didn't drive. It could also be their alums from chicago heading down which is inherently the same as if their alums from DC do the same thing.

D.C. Dave

May 5th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^

It's a shrewd move to hold the Big Ten tournament in D.C. one year, and not just because I live here, though that will get me buying tickets for sure. In terms of expanding the Big Ten footprint, the Mid-Atlantic area is far more up for grabs than the Midwest. It's a huge population base and it's important to not hold the tournament in the same city every year, especially if that city is Indianapolis.

My sister lives in Howell, Mich., and I have driven there from D.C. several times. It takes about nine hours. For a road trip, not a big deal at all. I would think it's smart to give different live audiences a chance to go to the tournament.

D.C. has been largely an ACC region. Holding the Big Ten tourney here helps change that. I'm all for it. Will the ACC be happy the Big Ten is doing this? No it won't, and neither will the SEC, which sees this region as part of the South and there to be claimed. So all the more reason to do it.

Raoul

May 5th, 2014 at 6:46 PM ^

Posted this on the board already, but Sam Webb this morning said he had talked to Jalen Coleman's father, who said they are going to try to bring Colemen's recruitment into focus in the next couple of weeks. So there should soon be some clarity on where Michigan stands with him.

Regarding the BTT, the latest word is that it will be played in Washington, D.C., in 2017, the beginning of it being rotated around to different venues, which sounds reasonable to me.

The Big Ten will hold its 2017 men's basketball tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., the league will announce Tuesday, marking the first time the event, which began in 1998, will be played outside of Indianapolis or Chicago.

TreyBurkeHeroMode

May 5th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

"Oh Lord, but what about the times when there was only one set of footprints in the sand?"

"Those were the times that Jim Delaney wandered off in search of additional revenues."

cutter

May 5th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

If you're going to be angry about having the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament in Washington, DC because it's not located near the geographic center of the conference, then I suppose you need to be upset at having the baseball tournament in Omaha, Nebraska this year.

Chicago and Indianapolis are great locations to host sporting events, but they aren't the only ones in the conference's geographic footprint.  There are plenty of great facilities and cities on the eastern and western ends of the BIg Ten, so why not have them host events as well?

 

 

 

 

 

Mich1993

May 5th, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^

As a resident of Northern Virginia with season football tickets, I'm excited the Big Ten Tourney will be in DC.  I don't think Maryland adds anything to the conference, but I will enjoy being able to see additional Michigan sporting events without traveling 500 miles.

It's only an 8 hour drive to Ann Arbor now that the speed limit is 70 mph in Ohio, and it's a big treat to the many, many alumni in this area. 

I would understand the dislike if it were going to be here all the time, but it's a nice bone to throw Maryland as long as it's only once every 5 years or so.

Alton

May 6th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^

If you had said "once every 14 years or so", I would have conceded that you had a fair point.

If we worked out a system where the tournament was held in an NBA arena (or NBA-sized arena) acceptable to 1 member of the Big Ten each year on a rotating basis, what would we have?

Every 14 years, we would have 1 in Washington, 1 in New York, 1 in Pittsburgh (they could convert the hockey arena to basketball I assume), 1 in Cleveland, 2 in Detroit, 2 in Indianapolis, 3 in Chicago, 1 in Minneapolis and 2 in Kansas City (they haven't torn down Kemper Arena, right?)

As long as the tournament isn't in Washington again until 2030, I'm okay with it.  And yes, I know they have a new arena in Kansas City.  I just like Kemper Arena.

2manylincs

May 7th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^

I have been in favor of rotating sites for the football championship since the B1G expansion. Why should Indy recieve all of the patronage?

DC, Philly(NJ/ DC closeby, nice stadium), NY/NJ, Det, Chi, Indy, Cle, Pitt, Minny, GB, KC, STL are all in the B1G footprint now, and offer a top class (NFL) facility and a decent destination.  The basketball tourney would work similarly.

This is the Big Ten, there are alums and fans everywhere. I wouldnt want the championships to be played in NY or DC every year, but I also dont want them played in Indy every year either.

There is no reason to be an old school Big Ten, "3 yards and a cloud of dust," "when men were men, and the sheep were scared" nostalgist here. DC, NY, Minny, KC(great BBQ) and Philly are all a nice vacation. No reason not to use the B1G championship that UM makes in 2020 in NY/NJ as a chance to comp a heck of a "business trip" (where you get lost at scores..LOL)

WindyCityBlue

May 6th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

...a couple if east coast/NYC types in my circle of friends while at Michigan. Great guys all around, but they did have that "NYC is the center of the universe" attitude. I remember them once saying that the east coast had so much power and money that if they wanted, they could take over the big ten and control it. I laugh at their absurdity. Turns out, they were right.

Hardware Sushi

May 6th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^

You are insufferable with this East Coast stuff. Just let it be; we know you hate it. At least UVA Wahoo guy has seemingly stopped complaining every opportunity.

It's your website so say what you want, but it's way old and you can do better work than just bitching about Maryland. 

EDIT: I take back the Wahoo comment now that I see his comment several above mine :)

WindyCityBlue

May 6th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^

1. You really think that's the only thing he bitch's about? He spreads the bitch love nicely and evenly. I don't think he overdoes it here.

2. You really think he's the only one bitching. He's echoing the feelings of the majority of this blog.

dahblue

May 6th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^

I'd much rather see (in person) the BTT in DC than Indy or even Chicago, but that's probably because I lived in DC years back and wouldn't mind a visit.  As far as B1G history...yeah, it has about as much to do with B1G history as Dallas.  Oh well, the world is flat and whatnot.

Sports

May 6th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^

"Mewmewmew not the EAST COAST?!? Not an 8 hour drive to one of the most densely populated B1G alumni zones on the planet?!?!? Oh the humanity!"



-Dedicated Rose Bowl fans

Mr. Yost

May 6th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^

I called him Grevis Vasquez with a much better jump shot and I think that's still a decent comparison. Vasquez saw his stock rise because he could "play a little PG" while being athletic enough to get to the rim, create his own shot, and at least stay in front of his man on defense. I think Stauskas is that, but who can also pull up from deep and space floor.

He's going to go around #15, but if there was any way the Thunder could get Stauskas, I'd pick them to win the championship NEXT year. He's the perfect piece for a team that struggles on offense even with Durant and Westbrook. He'll space the floor like the shooters on the Heat do for LeBron, but he's a better basketball player and can actually get to the rim or create his own if need be.

He's not James Harden, but he'd be a NICE 3rd piece in the way Harden was for them. Even moreso than Jackson who is better coming off the bench and Thabo should come off the bench behind Stauskas to give them better defense.

Stauskas is MADE for OKC...just no way they could ever get him.