In hopes of competing with the likes of the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles made some off-season transactions that might be pretty good help in doing that.
1B Derrek Lee (from Atlanta)
3B Mark Reynolds (Arizona)
DH/OF Vladimir Guerrero (Texas)
RHP Justin Duchscherer (Oakland)
RHP Kevin Gregg (Toronto)
SS J.J. Hardy (Minnesota)
With Derrek Lee (1B) and Mark Reynolds (3B) set to man the corners of the infield, the middle of the infield is left with no questions at all. Brian Roberts (2B) hopefully will have a healthy back and be able to play more than the 59 games that he was limited to in 2010. Shortstop will be a combination of J.J. Hardy and Cesar Izturis.
The outfield is pretty full of depth for 2011. At the start of Spring Training, Felix Pie (LF), Adam Jones (CF) and Nick Markakis (RF) are projected to roam the outfield grass. Luke Scott, Jake Fox and Vladimir Guerrero, who will start as Designated Hitter, will be slated as backup outfielders.
The pitching rotation is the real question for the Orioles this season. The rotation order is what should really puzzle Baltimore management as the regular season approaches. They are a group of unknowns that expect to make their presense known. The rotation will go as follows:
1-Jeremy Guthrie
2-Brian Matusz
3-Jake Arrieta
4-Brad Burgesen
5-Justin Duchscherer
The bullpen will have some issues as well, having names that are basically considered unknown. These players aren't really known names in the baseball world because in the American League East, Boston, New York and Tampa Bay seem to completely overshadow teams like Toronto and Baltimore. When you have the success that those three teams have had in recent years, it makes total sense. Recently acquired Closer from Toronto, Kevin Gregg, is only name that sticks out that baseball fans wouldn't really have to look up information and statistics to see if and what they've actually done in the big leagues thus far.
Manager Buck Showalter is in his first full season with Baltimore. He took over leading the Orioles in late July 2010. Showalter is entering is 12th season as a manager in the major leagues. He has also managed the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers, twice becoming manager of the year.
COME BACK TO CHECK OUT A PREVIEW OF THE BOSTON RED SOX LATER THIS AFTERNOON!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Upset Saturday Surely Turning Heads...
It was "upset Saturday" in the college basketball ranks, and that's putting it mild.
Virginia Tech (19-8, 9-5 ACC) is strongly making its case for a berth in the NCAA's field of 68. The host Hokies upset #1-ranked Duke (26-3, 12-2 ACC) 64-60 on Saturday night inBlacksburg
Kansas State
Colorado (18-11, 7-7 Big 12) helped its cause as a bubble team by nipping the #5 Texas Longhorns (24-5, 12-2) in Boulder, 91-89 on Saturday night. With Nebraska (18-10, 6-8) losing to Iowa State 83-82 in OT on Saturday, this makes Colorado's win over Texas that much bigger AND it also makes March 5th's regular season finale at home against Nebraska just that much bigger of a game. It depends on if the Buffaloes and Cornhuskers make any noise in the Big 12 tournament, whether or not the NCAA selects one or both for the NCAA tournament's field of 68.
#20 Syracuse (24-6, 11-6) and winners of four in a row, played some great defense at #11 Georgetown (21-8, 10-7) on Saturday, 58-51. Spoiling the Hoyas' Senior Day, Scoop Jardine dropped in 17 for the Orange, leading all scorers, and Austin Freeman led Georgetown with 16.
Staying in the Big East conference, what has Steve Lavin done with the St. John's Red Storm??!! #25 St. John's (19-9, 11-5) won a huge road game at #14 Villanova (21-8, 9-7) in convincing fashion, 81-68. Dwight Hardy is also making a case for Big East player of the year honors as well. Hardy lit up the nets for 34 points on 9-of-16 from the floor (5-9 on 3's) and is averaging 17.9 in Lavin's first season at the helm.With this win over Villanova, St. John's has no won 6 games over Top 15 teams. They've won six games in a row and look to finish on a strong note this week at Seton Hall and at home versus South Florida before "hosting" the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden March 8-12.
#7 BYU (27-2, 13-1 MWC) showed that the NCAA Selection Committee should consider the Cougars as a possible #1 seed. Led by Jimmer Fredette's 25 points and 9 assists, BYU beat down the #4 San Diego State Aztecs (27-2, 12-2 MWC) on SDSU's home floor, 80-67. The Aztecs' lone two losses came at the hands of BYU, each of them by 13 points. Fredette wasn't the focal point of the Cougar offense. Charles Abouo had 18 (9 rebounds), Noah Hartsock 15 (4 blocks) and Jackson Emery 13 (3 steals) as BYU showed the nation how good they really are.
UCLA (21-8, 12-4 Pac 10) had the widest margin of victory on Saturday as they took the #10 Arizona Wildcats (23-6, 12-4) straight to the woodshed in a 71-49 thumping at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
#22 Kentucky (20-8, 8-6 SEC) came away with a 76-68 victory over #13 Florida (22-6, 11-3 SEC) at Rupp Arena. This win over the Gators extends the Wildcats' home winning streak to 33 games.
More college basketball talk to come this week! Great weekend of college hoops. Lots of upsets and more to come. It's almost Christmas in March (March Madness)!!
Virginia Tech (19-8, 9-5 ACC) is strongly making its case for a berth in the NCAA's field of 68. The host Hokies upset #1-ranked Duke (26-3, 12-2 ACC) 64-60 on Saturday night in
Colorado (18-11, 7-7 Big 12) helped its cause as a bubble team by nipping the #5 Texas Longhorns (24-5, 12-2) in Boulder, 91-89 on Saturday night. With Nebraska (18-10, 6-8) losing to Iowa State 83-82 in OT on Saturday, this makes Colorado's win over Texas that much bigger AND it also makes March 5th's regular season finale at home against Nebraska just that much bigger of a game. It depends on if the Buffaloes and Cornhuskers make any noise in the Big 12 tournament, whether or not the NCAA selects one or both for the NCAA tournament's field of 68.
#20 Syracuse (24-6, 11-6) and winners of four in a row, played some great defense at #11 Georgetown (21-8, 10-7) on Saturday, 58-51. Spoiling the Hoyas' Senior Day, Scoop Jardine dropped in 17 for the Orange, leading all scorers, and Austin Freeman led Georgetown with 16.
Staying in the Big East conference, what has Steve Lavin done with the St. John's Red Storm??!! #25 St. John's (19-9, 11-5) won a huge road game at #14 Villanova (21-8, 9-7) in convincing fashion, 81-68. Dwight Hardy is also making a case for Big East player of the year honors as well. Hardy lit up the nets for 34 points on 9-of-16 from the floor (5-9 on 3's) and is averaging 17.9 in Lavin's first season at the helm.With this win over Villanova, St. John's has no won 6 games over Top 15 teams. They've won six games in a row and look to finish on a strong note this week at Seton Hall and at home versus South Florida before "hosting" the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden March 8-12.
#7 BYU (27-2, 13-1 MWC) showed that the NCAA Selection Committee should consider the Cougars as a possible #1 seed. Led by Jimmer Fredette's 25 points and 9 assists, BYU beat down the #4 San Diego State Aztecs (27-2, 12-2 MWC) on SDSU's home floor, 80-67. The Aztecs' lone two losses came at the hands of BYU, each of them by 13 points. Fredette wasn't the focal point of the Cougar offense. Charles Abouo had 18 (9 rebounds), Noah Hartsock 15 (4 blocks) and Jackson Emery 13 (3 steals) as BYU showed the nation how good they really are.
UCLA (21-8, 12-4 Pac 10) had the widest margin of victory on Saturday as they took the #10 Arizona Wildcats (23-6, 12-4) straight to the woodshed in a 71-49 thumping at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
#22 Kentucky (20-8, 8-6 SEC) came away with a 76-68 victory over #13 Florida (22-6, 11-3 SEC) at Rupp Arena. This win over the Gators extends the Wildcats' home winning streak to 33 games.
More college basketball talk to come this week! Great weekend of college hoops. Lots of upsets and more to come. It's almost Christmas in March (March Madness)!!
Monday, February 21, 2011
NCAA Predictions:
These might be my predictions or I might be sharing the same as the college basketball experts. Let me know what you think. Things will probably change in the next couple weeks until the field is announced on Sunday evening March 13.
Conference (# of teams):
America East (1): Vermont
Atlantic 10 (2): Xavier, Temple
ACC (5): Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson
Atlantic Sun (1): Belmont
Big 12 (7): Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Baylor, Nebraska, Kansas State
Big East (10): Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Louisville, St. John's, Connecticut, Villanova, Syracuse, West Virginia, Cincinnati
Big Sky (1): Montana
Big South (1): Coastal Carolina
Big Ten (7): Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan
Big West (1): Long Beach State
Colonial (CAA) (2): Old Dominion, George Mason
Conference USA (3): Texas El-Paso (UTEP), Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), Memphis
Horizon (2): Butler, Cleveland State
Ivy (1): Princeton
Metro Atlantic (1): Fairfield
Mid-American (MAC) (1): Kent State
Mid-Eastern (1): Hampton
Missouri Valley (2): Missouri State, Wichita State
Mountain West (4): BYU, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico
Northeast (1): Long Island
Ohio Valley (1): Murray State
Pacific 10 (3): Arizona, UCLA, Washington
Patriot (1): Bucknell
SEC (6): Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
Southern (1): College of Charleston
Southland (1): Stephen F. Austin
Southwestern (SWAC) (1): Texas Southern
Summit (1): Oakland
Sun Belt (1): Florida Atlantic
West Coast (2): Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
Western Athletic (WAC) (1): Utah State
Conference (# of teams):
America East (1): Vermont
Atlantic 10 (2): Xavier, Temple
ACC (5): Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson
Atlantic Sun (1): Belmont
Big 12 (7): Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Baylor, Nebraska, Kansas State
Big East (10): Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Louisville, St. John's, Connecticut, Villanova, Syracuse, West Virginia, Cincinnati
Big Sky (1): Montana
Big South (1): Coastal Carolina
Big Ten (7): Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan
Big West (1): Long Beach State
Colonial (CAA) (2): Old Dominion, George Mason
Conference USA (3): Texas El-Paso (UTEP), Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), Memphis
Horizon (2): Butler, Cleveland State
Ivy (1): Princeton
Metro Atlantic (1): Fairfield
Mid-American (MAC) (1): Kent State
Mid-Eastern (1): Hampton
Missouri Valley (2): Missouri State, Wichita State
Mountain West (4): BYU, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico
Northeast (1): Long Island
Ohio Valley (1): Murray State
Pacific 10 (3): Arizona, UCLA, Washington
Patriot (1): Bucknell
SEC (6): Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
Southern (1): College of Charleston
Southland (1): Stephen F. Austin
Southwestern (SWAC) (1): Texas Southern
Summit (1): Oakland
Sun Belt (1): Florida Atlantic
West Coast (2): Saint Mary's, Gonzaga
Western Athletic (WAC) (1): Utah State
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Who's the new #1...?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
With #11 Purdue's convincing 76-63 Big Ten victory over #3 Ohio State at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette today, there is definetely going to be a new #1 team in college basketball this week.
How the Top 4 managed to go 1-1 this week...
#1 Kansas (25-2) went down to unranked Kansas State, 84-68, on the road Monday. The Jayhawks then evened out their week Saturday with an 89-63 win over visiting Colorado.
#2 Texas (23-4) took down the Oklahoma State Cowboys 73-55 on Wednesday. The Longhorns were brought back down to reality in the Big XII with a 70-67 loss at Nebraska (18-8).
#3 Ohio State (25-2) fought off a tough Michigan State squad for a 71-61 Tuesday night win. But, the Buckeyes were just schooled by the Boilers in today's 76-63 meeting in West Lafayette.
#4 Pittsburgh (24-3) beat South Florida earlier this week 67-55. Yesterday, they saw their possibility of jumping to #1 thrown back in their face by St. John's, 60-59 at Madison Square Garden. Dwight Hardy drove the right baseline and went up and under with a floating layup with 1.2 seconds left to give St. John's the huge upset.
The questions will remain this week. With all four teams in the Top 4 going 1-1, it might be up to one team as this week's game wind down.. #5 Duke (24-2) hosts Georgia Tech (11-14) tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The odds obviously favor the Blue Devils in this one, but Paul Hewitt's club could come to Durham and surprise everyone. The isn't going to happen. Duke seems like they're going to just cruise right back into the #1 slot this week with tonight's win over the Yellow Jackets.
That's most likely what's going to happen. There are people that love Duke or they hate Duke, bottom line. With an umblemished week, who else would slide into the #1 ranking, aside from Duke??
Thoughts on this...let me know!!
With #11 Purdue's convincing 76-63 Big Ten victory over #3 Ohio State at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette today, there is definetely going to be a new #1 team in college basketball this week.
How the Top 4 managed to go 1-1 this week...
#1 Kansas (25-2) went down to unranked Kansas State, 84-68, on the road Monday. The Jayhawks then evened out their week Saturday with an 89-63 win over visiting Colorado.
#2 Texas (23-4) took down the Oklahoma State Cowboys 73-55 on Wednesday. The Longhorns were brought back down to reality in the Big XII with a 70-67 loss at Nebraska (18-8).
#3 Ohio State (25-2) fought off a tough Michigan State squad for a 71-61 Tuesday night win. But, the Buckeyes were just schooled by the Boilers in today's 76-63 meeting in West Lafayette.
#4 Pittsburgh (24-3) beat South Florida earlier this week 67-55. Yesterday, they saw their possibility of jumping to #1 thrown back in their face by St. John's, 60-59 at Madison Square Garden. Dwight Hardy drove the right baseline and went up and under with a floating layup with 1.2 seconds left to give St. John's the huge upset.
The questions will remain this week. With all four teams in the Top 4 going 1-1, it might be up to one team as this week's game wind down.. #5 Duke (24-2) hosts Georgia Tech (11-14) tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The odds obviously favor the Blue Devils in this one, but Paul Hewitt's club could come to Durham and surprise everyone. The isn't going to happen. Duke seems like they're going to just cruise right back into the #1 slot this week with tonight's win over the Yellow Jackets.
That's most likely what's going to happen. There are people that love Duke or they hate Duke, bottom line. With an umblemished week, who else would slide into the #1 ranking, aside from Duke??
Thoughts on this...let me know!!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
#1 Kansas goes down on day voted #1
After losing to eventual national runner-up Butler in last season's Elite 8 Regional Final, Kansas State was expected to make much more noise here in the 2010-11 season.
Sitting at 17-9 (5-6) for 6th in the Big XII, Kansas State was looking nothing like they did last season. With newly #1 Kansas coming to town last night, there was something in the air at Bramlege Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.
The unranked Wildcats blistered #1 Kansas (24-2, 9-2) on the same day they were voted as the #1 team in the country. That sure was short-lived! Jacob Pullen drilling the Jayhawks for 38 points on 5-for-6 behind the 3-point arc and 15 of 19 from the charity stripe. Kansas State's defense held Kansas to two players in double-figures, Tyrel Reed with 14 and Marcus Morris with 13.
Avenging a 24-point loss from just 16 days ago, Kansas State has now raised some eyebrows across the college basketball nation. Even though they trail teams like Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor in the Big XII standings currently, anything can happen at this point in the season, especially with at-large NCAA Tournament bids on the line and conference tournaments playing a big role in those bids. KSU may have to either win a couple games in the Big XII tourney or at least a couple games in order to secure an at-large bid to the Big Dance.
But honestly, let's not all jump on the Kansas State bandwagon just yet. There really aren't a whole lot of people out there that were sold on the Kansas Jayhawks being #1 to begin with on Monday. Some thought that Ohio State should stay in the top spot with their one loss. Others think that Texas deserved the #1 ranking. Pittsburgh also got some consideration, but Kansas leaped into the #1 ranking, but that won't last long with being upset on the same day by in-state rival Kansas State.
Sitting at 17-9 (5-6) for 6th in the Big XII, Kansas State was looking nothing like they did last season. With newly #1 Kansas coming to town last night, there was something in the air at Bramlege Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.
The unranked Wildcats blistered #1 Kansas (24-2, 9-2) on the same day they were voted as the #1 team in the country. That sure was short-lived! Jacob Pullen drilling the Jayhawks for 38 points on 5-for-6 behind the 3-point arc and 15 of 19 from the charity stripe. Kansas State's defense held Kansas to two players in double-figures, Tyrel Reed with 14 and Marcus Morris with 13.
Avenging a 24-point loss from just 16 days ago, Kansas State has now raised some eyebrows across the college basketball nation. Even though they trail teams like Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor in the Big XII standings currently, anything can happen at this point in the season, especially with at-large NCAA Tournament bids on the line and conference tournaments playing a big role in those bids. KSU may have to either win a couple games in the Big XII tourney or at least a couple games in order to secure an at-large bid to the Big Dance.
But honestly, let's not all jump on the Kansas State bandwagon just yet. There really aren't a whole lot of people out there that were sold on the Kansas Jayhawks being #1 to begin with on Monday. Some thought that Ohio State should stay in the top spot with their one loss. Others think that Texas deserved the #1 ranking. Pittsburgh also got some consideration, but Kansas leaped into the #1 ranking, but that won't last long with being upset on the same day by in-state rival Kansas State.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Miami Heat will NOT win the 2010-11 NBA Championship, Volume 2
The Boston Celtics obviously have the Miami Heat's number, to say the least. They're now 3-0 against the highly touted Heat this season and with Sunday's win in Boston, leaped over Miami into the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The two teams play for the fourth and final time on April 10th in Miami. The Heat plan to put an end to this three game skid versus the Celtics, but it won't be easy.
"They are the defending Eastern Conference champions. You have to go through them, and they ain't going to make it easy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We understand that this isn't going to be an easy ride for us, and that's where we're at our best."
Combining to score 62 of Miami's 82 points, the James-Wade-Bosh trio still couldn't overcome Boston's Rajon Rondo and his triple-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Five other Celtics joined him scoring in double figures, including Kevin Garnett with 19 to lead Boston.
Through three head-to-head games thus far, Boston has proved to all of us that it takes a team effort to pull off what Miami wants to do with three players.
Better luck on April 10th, Miami! The playoffs won't be pretty for you if you get swept in a season series to Boston...
The two teams play for the fourth and final time on April 10th in Miami. The Heat plan to put an end to this three game skid versus the Celtics, but it won't be easy.
"They are the defending Eastern Conference champions. You have to go through them, and they ain't going to make it easy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We understand that this isn't going to be an easy ride for us, and that's where we're at our best."
Combining to score 62 of Miami's 82 points, the James-Wade-Bosh trio still couldn't overcome Boston's Rajon Rondo and his triple-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Five other Celtics joined him scoring in double figures, including Kevin Garnett with 19 to lead Boston.
Through three head-to-head games thus far, Boston has proved to all of us that it takes a team effort to pull off what Miami wants to do with three players.
Better luck on April 10th, Miami! The playoffs won't be pretty for you if you get swept in a season series to Boston...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Miami Heat will NOT win the 2010-11 NBA Championship, Volume 1
It made me sick to my stomach and it still does to this day what the Miami Heat have tried, yes I said tried, to do with their team during the offseason. Building a team around one player is understandable. Building a team around two players, that was done in Chicago in the 1990's with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships in eight seasons during the 90's. Building a team that solely revolves around three players and their quests to put together a basketball dynasty in South Florida is just absolutely ludicrous!
Dwyane Wade expressed his interest in the offseason that he would like Miami to bring in some players that could help bring the Heat another championship in South Florida. They did just that in bringing free agents Lebron James and Chris Bosh to join him as part of their three-headed monster in search of dominating the NBA.
Tuesday night in Miami, the Heat had to rally to hold off an upswing Indiana Pacers squad, 117-112. It took that three-headed crew to put up 77 points, 23 rebounds and 16 assists to edge our Pacers.
Mark my words, the NBA Finals will pit the San Antonio Spurs versus the Boston Celtics. These two teams actually have their heads on straight and actually play as a team, not three cocky players who think they'll just cruise to an NBA title because they're superstars on one team. It doesn't work that way boys!
These jackasses are some of the main reasons why I don't watch the NBA on a regular basis like I used to in the 80's and 90's, when the NBA was actually exciting to watch.
I will place a bet with anyone right now on the Miami Heat not making it past the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. Any takers out there??
Lebron James may be a great player and all, but he sure as hell doesn't impress me with the way he displays himself. Lebron, quit it with the chalk right before tipoff! That got old during his rookie season, to be quite honest.
God he makes me sick.
Dwyane Wade expressed his interest in the offseason that he would like Miami to bring in some players that could help bring the Heat another championship in South Florida. They did just that in bringing free agents Lebron James and Chris Bosh to join him as part of their three-headed monster in search of dominating the NBA.
Tuesday night in Miami, the Heat had to rally to hold off an upswing Indiana Pacers squad, 117-112. It took that three-headed crew to put up 77 points, 23 rebounds and 16 assists to edge our Pacers.
Mark my words, the NBA Finals will pit the San Antonio Spurs versus the Boston Celtics. These two teams actually have their heads on straight and actually play as a team, not three cocky players who think they'll just cruise to an NBA title because they're superstars on one team. It doesn't work that way boys!
These jackasses are some of the main reasons why I don't watch the NBA on a regular basis like I used to in the 80's and 90's, when the NBA was actually exciting to watch.
I will place a bet with anyone right now on the Miami Heat not making it past the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. Any takers out there??
Lebron James may be a great player and all, but he sure as hell doesn't impress me with the way he displays himself. Lebron, quit it with the chalk right before tipoff! That got old during his rookie season, to be quite honest.
God he makes me sick.
Millers cruise at Zionsville 64-46
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Noblesville 64, Zionsville 46
Each game from here is is definetely a tuneup for the state tournament. The Noblesville Millers cruised to a 64-46 Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory at Zionsville on Tuesday night. Three players, led by Jacob Price five 3's (15), Daniel Purvlicis (14) and Sam Philpott (13), almost outscoring the host Eagles themselves, a deep bench allowed Noblesville to work with ease in front of a sparse crowd on the road.
There probably were some naysayers before the season starting and the jury may have been out on this group of Noblesville Millers. They've proved a lot of people wrong, to say the least.
With only Purvlicis and Brendan Elmore having previous varsity experience on last season's 2010 Sectional Championship team, head coach Dave McCullough probably didn't know what direction to take with this unique group that he was dealt.
Senior guard Phil Miller transferred from Fishers High School and has been quite a find at point guard. Seniors Reid Baker and Patrick Theisen have also made significant contributions in the backcourt, along with sophomore Jordan Goodman that has come on of late to start. Post players Purvlicis, Elmore, Jamares McCloud and Andy Sumner all are learning at the right time in the season how to compliment each other in the best ways possible. The four combined for 28 points and 17 rebounds, while also keeping Zionsville from developing any sort of inside game at all.
The bottom line here is that Noblesville controls their own destiny. At 10-4 (5-2 HCC), they have six game left before hosting the Class 4A Sectional 9 tournament at The Mill. The only team in the six team field that has a chance at challenging the Millers is Hamilton Southeastern (14-2, 7-0 HCC). The Royals beat Noblesville on the Millers' home floor back in December 56-55 in overtime, so it's very possible that the host Millers could return the favor come sectional time.
Each game from here is is definetely a tuneup for the state tournament. The Noblesville Millers cruised to a 64-46 Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory at Zionsville on Tuesday night. Three players, led by Jacob Price five 3's (15), Daniel Purvlicis (14) and Sam Philpott (13), almost outscoring the host Eagles themselves, a deep bench allowed Noblesville to work with ease in front of a sparse crowd on the road.
There probably were some naysayers before the season starting and the jury may have been out on this group of Noblesville Millers. They've proved a lot of people wrong, to say the least.
With only Purvlicis and Brendan Elmore having previous varsity experience on last season's 2010 Sectional Championship team, head coach Dave McCullough probably didn't know what direction to take with this unique group that he was dealt.
Senior guard Phil Miller transferred from Fishers High School and has been quite a find at point guard. Seniors Reid Baker and Patrick Theisen have also made significant contributions in the backcourt, along with sophomore Jordan Goodman that has come on of late to start. Post players Purvlicis, Elmore, Jamares McCloud and Andy Sumner all are learning at the right time in the season how to compliment each other in the best ways possible. The four combined for 28 points and 17 rebounds, while also keeping Zionsville from developing any sort of inside game at all.
The bottom line here is that Noblesville controls their own destiny. At 10-4 (5-2 HCC), they have six game left before hosting the Class 4A Sectional 9 tournament at The Mill. The only team in the six team field that has a chance at challenging the Millers is Hamilton Southeastern (14-2, 7-0 HCC). The Royals beat Noblesville on the Millers' home floor back in December 56-55 in overtime, so it's very possible that the host Millers could return the favor come sectional time.
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