Bleacher Report - Articles by Richard DeLancey

Marquette Drops Villanova 79-72 On New Year's Day

Richard DeLancey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:52:46 -0500

Fourteen missed three-pointers doomed the Villanova men’s basketball team as they fell 79-72 to Marquette in the Big East opener for both teams. A New Year’s Day crowd of 16,446 celebrated the Golden Eagles win over the 15th ranked Wildcats at the Bradley Center.

Marquette senior Jerel McNeal scored a game high 24 points. His 3-pointer with 3:55 remaining capped a 7-0 run, giving the Golden Eagles an eight-point lead that Villanova couldn’t overcome. Three other Marquette players scored in double figures including senior Wesley Matthews, who had 19 points on 5 of 6 shooting.

"Just letting the game come. Jerel and Dominic got it going early, they had the matchups and we were just playing in the flow of the game,” Matthews said. “We were obviously each playing our part and I tried to play defense and rebound and get the team involved. Whenever that little outburst took place, I was just playing my spot, playing my position and the shots were falling."

Sophomore Corey Fisher scored 21 and senior Dante Cunningham added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.

"I came out tonight being more aggressive, just taking open shots, looking for my teammates," Fisher said. "I just kept trying to score."

The normally stingy Villanova defense loosened up in the loss. The Wildcats held each of their first 13 opponents to 68 points or less. Before Thursday Villanova was allowing just 57.6 points per game and holding opponents to 37.9 percent shooting from the field.
Marquette shot 46 percent, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range.

"I think they're one of the better defenses in the country, actually," McNeal said of the Wildcats.

Offensively, however, Villanova struggled to find a rhythm. Their 30% shooting from 3-point range was made more difficult with only 11 offensive rebounds. Villanova entered the game averaging just 11.8 turnovers per game for the season but had 10 miscues in the first half and finished with 16 turnovers, its second-highest total of the year.

Villanova returns to action Tuesday against Seton Hall in New Jersey. Marquette goes for their first 2-0 Big East start Sunday at home against Cincinnati.

Game Notes:

•    Villanova opened conference play on the road for the fourth consecutive season and dropped its third straight Big East opener to fall to 4-4 in such games under head coach Jay Wright.
•    Marquette is now 3-1 in Big East Conference openers.
•    The Wildcats' all-time record against Marquette is now 6-6, though the Golden Eagles have won three of the four meetings since they joined the Big East for the 2005-06 season.
•    Marquette sophomore Jimmy Butler recorded a career-high seven rebounds in his first Big East contest in 15 minutes of action.
•    Villanova has trailed at the half in both of its losses this season, though the team is 2-2 overall when going into the break facing a deficit.
•    The last time Villanova went this far into the season before allowing at least 70 points for the first time came all the way back in 1948-49 when the Wildcats also allowed 70 points for the first time in their 14th game of the year, a 75-43 loss to Loyola (Ill.).

PSU Overcomes Flu and Poor Shooting To Beat Northwestern 61-57

Richard DeLancey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:55:00 -0500

Poor shooting and a nasty flu bug were not enough to slow down the Penn State Nittany Lions men’s basketball team as they rallied to beat Northwestern 61-57 in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Flu season came early to Happy Valley as Penn State senior Danny Morrissey missed the entire game, David Jackson only played six minutes, and Jamelle Cornley sprinted to the locker room during the first half because of the virus. In fact, Jackson was announced as a starter by the PA, during opening introductions. PSU coach Kurt Kanaskie commented after the game it was the first time he could remember a starter being announced and then looking around to see him not there. Jackson had to fled to the locker room.

Penn State struggled from the floor. They finished the game shooting a season-low 31 percent from the field.

Talor Battle played the hero role for the Nittany Lions. Battle scored a season high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He scored 19 of the 26 points during the second half.

"He didn't want to lose," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "He hit big shot, after big shot, after big shot."

“We had a lot of fun,” Battle told the Centre Daily Times after the game. “We were laughing and smiling and that’s when you play your best basketball when you’re loose and you’re really enjoying it. But you have to make shots to have fun. If you miss, it isn’t much fun.”

Stanley Pringle scored 14 points for the Lions. He hit two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to seal the win. Sophomore Jeff Brooks added nine points and hit two free throws with 28.7 seconds left to give Penn State a 58-54 lead.

Freshman John Shurna led Northwestern with 16 points. Junior Kevin Coble finished with 11 points for the Wildcats. Senior Craig Moore added 11 points for Northwestern, giving him 999 for his career.

Game Notes:

•    5,525 attended the New Year’s Eve game.
•    Penn State opened conference play for the third straight year with a victory over Northwestern.
•    Penn State recorded a 46-24 rebounding edge.
•    Northwestern had a 30-10 advantage in points in the paint and had 16 fast-break points to none for the Nittany Lions.
•    The Nittany Lions’ second Big Ten game should be tougher than their first. They visit defending champion Wisconsin on Saturday. The Badgers defeated No. 23 Michigan 73-61 on Wednesday.
•    The Wildcats return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday when they host Michigan State at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Ohio State-West Virginia: Lessons from the Buckeyes' Blowout Loss

Richard DeLancey — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:39:57 -0500

"We weren't very good; it's just that simple."

In one sentence, Ohio State’s Thad Matta summed up his team’s uninspired performance Saturday in a loss to unranked West Virginia University.

The previously unbeaten Buckeyes laid a big egg on national television and in front of the home crowd at Value City Arena losing by a final score of 76–48.

Now the question arises: Were the Buckeyes overrated, or was West Virginia underrated? I think it was a little of both.

Ohio State has quality wins against Butler, Notre Dame, and Miami spread around cupcakes such as Samford, Jacksonville, and Iona.

Looking back, we may have seen the seeds of a giant “egg laying” were sewn in the Bowling Green game where they eked out just a four-point victory at home.

Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers have been hot and cold all season, blowing out cupcakes like Miami of Ohio and Samford and losing quality games to Kentucky and Davidson.

Additionally, they have wins over Mississippi and a Cleveland State squad that beat Syracuse.

If Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame propelled them into the top 25, West Virginia’s loss to Kentucky propelled them out. So in the end, what can we truly learn from yesterday’s game?

Ohio State is not as good as many of us thought. If they play like they did yesterday against Michigan State, Minnesota, or Purdue they will get hammered.
BJ Mullins has not lived up to the hype surrounding his freshman season. Yesterday’s four-point performance is indicative of his struggles.
West Virginia can make some noise in the Big East this year. They are behind UConn, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh in terms of talent but on par with Notre Dame, Marquette, Louisville, and Villanova.
West Virginia is a much better team with Alex Ruoff in the lineup. The loss to Davidson may have had as much to due with his DNP for injury than anything special Davidson did.

Game Notes

Ohio State hosts Iowa on New Year's Eve...West Virginia plays at Seton Hall next Saturday...Ohio State still leads the series with West Virginia, 9-6...Evan Turner had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Ohio State...The Buckeyes shot just 31 percent from the field, compared to 47.7 percent by West Virginia.

11-2 And the Sky is Falling at Penn State's Happy Valley

Richard DeLancey — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:38 -0500

It ain’t easy being blue and white these days. Just ask Ed Dechellis and the Penn State Nittany Lions. PSU fans are roaring up a critical storm despite the fact that their team is off to an 11-2 start. With the Big Ten conference schedule right around the corner, many members of the Nittany Lion Nation are calling for a new direction for the long-suffering men’s basketball program.

A casual observer would say that PSU is having a great year. 11 wins by Christmas would be seen by many as the sign of good times. However most Nittany Lion fans aren’t buying it. They claim the close calls against Army, Mount St. Mary’s, and Sacred Heart are a symptom of a much larger disease. They say that not only are the 11 wins not impressive they are down right insulting.

A recent thread at pennstatehoops.com had 269 entries detailing the woe that is Penn State Basketball. Reading through three pages of that thread is a sure cure for happiness and contentment. Who would have thought that Happy Valley was so unhappy?

I’m the first to admit that Dechellis hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in his six years at the helm of Penn State. One NIT appearance, no winning seasons, and a 161-184 record is nothing to write home about. But an 11-2 start to this season would seem to be a step in the right direction.

Let’s assume that the team goes 6-12 in Big Ten play. That would give the Nittany Lions a final record of 17-14 and most certainly another NIT invitation. A 9-9 Big Ten record gives the program their first 20 win regular season in a long time. I think six to nine wins are a realistic goal for this team.

The Nittany Lions are young. They have only three seniors and sport 10 underclassmen. This team should be able to grow and develop over the next three years into a pretty strong club.

Come January the team will get the services of Andrew Ott. The red-shirt sophomore has sat out the last year after transferring from Villanova. Ott was a 1,000-point scorer at Germantown Academy outside of Philadelphia, a school that produced such recent college standouts as Matt Walsh at Florida and Lee Melchionni at Duke. He was recruited by Penn State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Illinois among others out of high school.

So I say Happy Valley quit moping around and acting like Chicken Little. The sky isn’t falling, the walls aren’t tumbling down, and the world isn’t coming to an end. So grab your fake JoePa glasses, floods and black sneakers and head over to the Bryce Jordan Center. Your team may never become a Ohio State, Texas, or Florida (schools that have good basketball and football programs) but you are a long way from NJIT.

St. Mary's Randy Bennett Is Moving Up By Going Down Under

Richard DeLancey — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:43:46 -0500

Australia may be Randy Bennett’s ticket to the big time. The coach of the St. Mary’s Gaels should get some serious play after the 2008/2009 season. With North Carolina State’s Sidney Lowe, Oregon’s Ernie Kent, Kansas State’s Frank Martin, and Illinois’s Bruce Weber all on the proverbial hot seat, Bennett’s recruiting abilities ‘down under’ should make him a candidate for a job in a major conference.

Bennett’s latest greatest find Patty Mills is poised to lead his team back to the NCAA Tournament promise land. He is averaging 20 points per game and is shooting over 30 percent from three-point range. One of the youngest players in Australian National Team history, Mills is the son of a Torres Strait Islander father and Aboriginal mother from the Ynunga people of South Australia. At just 20 years-old, he is probably the most famous Aborigine basketball player of all time.

Randy Bennett was no stranger to Australia having recruited four other players St. Mary’s since his arrival in 2001, including Daniel Kickert, the Gaels' all-time leading scorer. Sports Illustrated reported in January that other schools including Utah were interested in Mills, but only Bennett made the trip to Australia to meet his parents Benny and Yvonne.

It is Bennett’s desire to succeed and go the extra step that make him one of the up and coming coaches in the college game. He is 127-90 with a pair of at-large NCAA Tourney appearances during his St. Mary’s tenure.

Bennett is a recruiting hound. Before coming to St. Mary’s he served as recruiting coordinator for St. Louis University and Pepperdine. At Pepperdine Bennett delivered a 1997 Top-20 nationally ranked class, which included talented players such as Kelvin Gibbs, Jelani Gardner and Tommie Prince.

A coach that will travel to the outback of Australia, to find players, should be the top of many AD’s wish lists. Bennett, however, is being cautious of his next step. The last couple of years he has spurned advances by Hawaii, Cal, and Oregon State simply because he had more talent in his locker room in Moraga than these schools had combined.

Look for Bennett’s ‘Australian Pipeline’ to challenge Gonzaga for supremacy of the West Coast Conference this season. Then look for Bennett to take a high profile job next summer.

Does anyone know how long the flight is to Sydney from Champaign, Illinois?

Is Time Running Out On Iowa State's Greg McDermott?

Richard DeLancey — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:46:56 -0500

If the rumors are true that Iowa State Men’s Basketball coach Greg McDermott is on the hot seat, then the temperature of his posterior got cranked up a notch tonight with an uninspired performance against in-state rival Iowa.

The loss dropped Iowa State to 6-3 on the season. With Big 12 games just around the corner, one has to wonder if they are enough wins left on the schedule to save McDermott?

Lured away from Northern Iowa three years ago, McDermott was seen as a coach that could restore the luster to ISU basketball. However, wins have not come easily, especially in the Big 12 where the Cyclones are just 10-22 during McDermott’s tenure.

A solid 6-1 start to this season has now been tarnished with back-to-back losses. If Cyclone fans were angry about Tuesday’s home loss to Drake, they are going to be furious over tonight’s debacle in Iowa City. A 25-4 Iowa run to start the second half turned a tight game into a romp, and left ISU fans red-faced.

Under normal circumstances, McDermott’s success at Northern Iowa should have bought him more time to grow the Iowa State program. But injuries, eligibility issues, and defections, including the transfer this season of Wesley Johnson to Syracuse, have cost McDermott all of his political capital. The only way to gain any influence back is by winning some games.

Fortunately for McDermott, ISU’s next six games are against Jacksonville State, South Dakota State, Houston, Mercer, SIU-Edwardsville, and Houston Baptist. With the exception of Houston, all the games are at home in the friendly confines of the Hilton Coliseum. Six wins in six winnable games will right the ship. A loss or two, and McDermott will have “For Sale” signs placed in his front yard.

William Jennings Bryan opined, "Destiny is a matter of choice, not a matter of chance. It is a thing to be achieved, not a thing to be waited for." If ISU is McDermott’s landing spot—his destiny—then he needs to begin achieving because Cyclone fans are done waiting.

Sorry George, Villanova Is Overrated

Richard DeLancey — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:06:25 -0500

My Father-In-Law George was the biggest Villanova Basketball fan I have ever seen. So much so, that he was buried in his Villanova sweatshirt and hat. That being said he will probably haunt my chubby posterior for writing this, but I think 2008/2009 edition of the Wildcats may be overrated.

Granted they are 9-1, but they have had more cream puffs this year than the entire cast of the Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fit Club combined. Monmouth, Towson, Fordham and Houston Baptist are nothing to write home about. Albany, Niagara, and Rhode Island are okay but they’re not on the same level as a second division member of the ACC, Big Ten or SEC.

So you look at their two toughest games to date, Texas and St. Josephs, and you find they have a 1-1 record with two inconsistent performances.

They shot 38-percent against the Longhorns. Texas had to work for it, but make no mistake they were in charge. They never let the Cats get any closer than seven points in the second half. A.J. Abrams poured in a sleepy 26 points.

Tonight a scrappy St. Joe’s team gave away the game as much as Villanova won it. Hawk’s coach Phil Martelli probably lost seven to ten years off his life, watching his team make mistake after mistake in the closing minutes. If Darren Govens makes a free-throw, Villanova is 8-2 and on a two game losing streak.

Villanova is not as good as Georgetown or Marquette. I’m not so sure they could beat Michigan or Kansas. I’m not even sure they are the best Big 5 team.

LaSalle and Navy should help Jay Wright stabilize the ship before the Temple game. Following Temple, conference play kicks into gear and then the real fun begins.

George, I love your daughter, but I’m not so crazy about your team. Send them some heavenly inspiration they could use the help.

Michigan Wolverines Basketball Coach John Beilein is a Class Act

Richard DeLancey — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:37:51 -0500

On a day that trumpeted Michigan’s return to national men’s college basketball prominence, John Beilein showed an amazing amount of class.

The second-year coach gave credit to his predecessor’s recruiting abilities, when he praised Tommy Amaker in post game interviews. Beilein may have restored some glory to the Big Blue, but he is smart enough to know he didn’t do it alone.

I thought Amaker got a raw deal when he was dismissed two years ago. He had a record of 108-84 over six seasons. Amaker’s 2003/2004 team won the NIT Championship, and the 2005/2006 team finished second.

Granted Michigan never made the NCAA’s under Amaker, but they did regain their ethical reputation that had been tarnished by one scandal after another.

Beilein’s success this year is in part due to the play of Amaker’s recruits. It was nice to see a college coach acknowledge the work of the guy he replaced.

So many times we see new coaches come in and take 100 percent credit for everything. They forget that pieces were already on the board when they sat down to play. Beilein is a class act, and Michigan is lucky to have him.

Michigan should return to the national rankings this week. With two wins over Top Five teams on their resume, it would be criminal to leave them out of the top 25.

Whether or not the Big Blue can compete night in and night out in the Big 10, is yet to be seen. But for Wolverine everywhere fans it should be one heck of a ride.

College Hockey Cat Scratch: Finding a Way To Win

Richard DeLancey — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:20:01 -0500

One of the last names you would ever expect to see in a column about College Hockey is Michael Jordan. But as I sat in my seat tonight at Gutterson Arena, home of the University of Vermont Catamounts, I couldn’t help but think about "His Airness."

During Jordan’s NBA reign, no lead was safe for an opponent. You could be ahead by 17 with two minutes to go and you just knew Jordan was going to bring the Bulls back. Jordan epitomized the oldest sports axiom in the book, “Great teams find a way to win.”

UVM has been finding ways to win lately. Dating back to last year, they are 17-4 in one goal games, including a 7-1 record this year.

Playing their fourth game in eight days, the Catamounts found a way to beat Maine tonight, 3-2, in front of a sold out crowd. The win was their fifth in a row and placed them solidly in second place in the Hockey East standings.

Vermont is playing with a confidence and swagger that I’ve seen before in programs like Boston College and Denver. Programs that know they are better than you, and no matter what the scoreboard says, they are never out of it.

Down 2-1 in the third period, the Catamounts tapped their reserve power scored two goals and played great defense to eke out a win. It was the second time in five days that they were behind in the third period only to come out victorious.

What is more amazing, is that the comebacks came against UMass and Maine. It wasn’t like they were playing Rensselaer and Brown. They came back and beat two very good Hockey East teams.

When the new national rankings come out on Monday, UVM should be a strong candidate for the top 10. With recent wins over Boston University, Northeastern, UMass and Maine on their resume, voters would be hard pressed not to take notice.

However, their ranking is not as important as their swagger. If this team continues to believe that they belong in the upper echelon, then they will continue to win.

Michael Jordan once said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Head Coach Kevin Sneddon’s gang has been making it happen, and for Catamount fans everywhere, it is an awesome sight to behold.

It Was Worth The Wait: The Phillies Win The 2008 World Series

Richard DeLancey — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:33:02 -0400

As I watched the Phillies' Brad Lidge get the final out of the 2008 World Series, my mind thought back to a chilly March day in 1981. I was 11 and home sick from school. The Phillies had just begun Spring Training games. I went through every page of the TV Guide that day, hoping that an exhibition contest would be broadcast.

The Phillies had just won their first World Championship in 1980. As young fan, I was convinced that a second title would come in 1981. Little did I know that 28 seasons would come and go before I would experience the magic of October again.

Now, on my 38th birthday, I don’t quite know how to react. For some reason, it doesn’t seem real to me. Sure, I see the interviews, trophy presentations, and champagne, but I’m finding it hard to believe it is all true.

Could the team that I love with all my heart really be the champions? Wow, just typing that line gives me chills. If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up.

What is remarkable is that the final game took 49 hours to play. It was like the Tantric sex version of baseball. It proves that good things come to those who wait.

It has been a rewarding experience to watch Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard grow from talented rookies with promise to crafty veterans with rings. It warms my heart to think that Charlie Manuel was able to win one for his mom.

As I finish this article, I feel the tears well up in my eyes and the weight come off my chest. The Phillies have done it, and I couldn’t be prouder.

They say it is not the destination but the journey. I never understood that sentiment until tonight. This World Championship makes the last 28 years of Phillies Phantacism all the sweeter. Suddenly I’m 11 again, looking for Spring Training game in the TV Guide.

A New Atlanta Thrashers Promotion: "Empty Seat Night"

Richard DeLancey — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:23:43 -0400

I had to laugh a moment ago when I looked at the picture of the Phillips Arena on NHL.com. It was a nice shot of the inside, showing a capacity crowd cheering on their beloved Thrashers. I think they must have superimposed the crowd from the Belle Centre, because what I saw on Versus earlier tonight in no way resembled a full house.

I don’t know why, but earlier I found myself flipping around the high 100’s of my digital cable. In between the Garage Sale Channel and the Do It Yourself Dentistry Channel, I stumbled across Versus. If Fox Sports Net is the "poor man’s" ESPN, then the cable partner of the NHL is the "I live in a third world country and milk camels all day for $0.02" version of ESPN.

I could rattle on all day about Versus, but that is not the point of this article.

Tonight Versus had the Philadelphia Flyers/Atlanta Thrashers game. I am a Flyers fan, so as much as I wanted to find out how to fill my own cavities, I put the flipper down and watched the game. As my eyes followed the puck up and down the ice, I began to notice that there was no one at the game. I’m not exaggerating here. The lower bowl was as empty as a third grade classroom in July.

Now I can understand not filling up the nosebleed seats of the Phillips Arena on a school night in October, but the seats right behind the glass, bench and goals were empty.

What is going on in Atlanta?

It was almost as if the game were one of those South American soccer matches played in empty stadiums to prevent riots. Last time I checked, there have been no major fan uprisings caused by a cheap shot to Eric Boulton. A quick Google search yielded no results for “tear gas at Flyers/Thrashers matches.”

The official attendance was 13,207. That is about 13,000 more people than were actually in the building. Maybe the tickets sold for this game had the wrong date on them, and thousands of people will show up next Wednesday wearing orange sweaters only to find a Dixie Chicks concert.

The NHL needs to do something. According to attendance figures found on TSN.com, tonight’s debacle was the third largest crowd of the year. It’s evident that the people of Atlanta would rather eat hot dogs at the Varsity than attend a Thrashers game.

There has to be some other city out there that could adopt the Thrashers and show them some love. There is talk of a second team in Toronto. Maybe the Thrashers could move there. Toronto Thrashers has a nice ring to it.

The next time Versus airs a Thrashers home game is March 16th. That should give the folks, in the front office, plenty of time to round up some bodies.

Visit Georgia Tech and tell the fraternities there will be scantily clad sorority girls on skates at intermission. Go to a Weight Watchers meeting and tell them there will be free all-you-can-eat buffet. Go to a Trek convention and tell them that the guy who played Worf will be signing phase pistols in the concourse. Do whatever it takes to fill the building for a national TV audience.

But then again, the national TV audience is on Versus, which nobody can find on their cable system anyway.

Cover The Game and Skip The Drama: Joe Paterno Deserves Better

Richard DeLancey — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:24:24 -0400

Was it me last night? Did anyone else find ABC’s tribute to Joe Paterno at the beginning of the Penn State/Ohio State game a little patronizing?

I know the 81-year-old football legend is a major story. But the sappy music, the sad shots of him the press box waving like an old man out a nursing home window, and the walk from the elevator to the press box with a cane was a bit much.

I am a big believer in covering the story, not exploiting it. The minutes before the most important Big 10 game of the year should be spent hyping the match up. Show some video of Ohio born PSU quarterback Daryll Clark. Give me some sound clips of Pennsylvania born OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

But don’t turn the game into a real life version of Brian’s Song.

Joe Paterno is Penn State Football. There is no debating that point. It is as obvious as the sun coming up in the east. Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 40 years you know all about Paterno.

So give the man some dignity. Give the man the credit he deserves. Do not try to create sympathy where none is needed. Joe has done a great job with this team this year.

ABC sports, promote the game and leave the drama for Desperate Housewives.

Phillies Survive a Maalox Moment, Beat Rays 5-4 In Game Three

Richard DeLancey — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:55:14 -0400

Last night I did my best Randy Quaid impersonation. Yes, for the three hours and 41 minutes it took to play Game Three of the 2008 World Series, I did my best to recreate the role Quaid played in the 1994 film Major League II. You know the guy who was the eternal pessimist until the Indians won the pennant, then claimed he knew they had it all the way.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I knew the Phillies had it all the way in their 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In fact, I became quite convinced that the Phillies were going to lose the game after first base umpire Tom Hallion blew a close call at first base in the 7th inning. Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer made a heroic play on a Carl Crawford bunt only to have an out of position Hallion miss the call. The Rays would go on to score two runs and my Philadelphia sports caused ulcer grew by about 30 percent.

Maybe I was channeling Ivan Dejesus’s error that cost the Phillies Game Three of the 1983 World Series. Perhaps it was just of symptom of posttraumatic stress caused by years of Mitch Williams, Donovan McNabb, Eric Lindros and Allen Iverson. Guys that brought us to the brink of the promise land only to fall short. Either way, I felt we were doomed.

When Tampa’s B.J. Upton beat out an infield single to open the eighth inning, stole second and third on consecutive pitches, and dashed home on a wild throw by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, I became convinced we were doomed.

Then something amazing happened. The Phillies found a way to win. When Eric Bruntlett crossed the plate with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, I experienced joy that I have not felt since Mo Cheeks slammed dunked in Game Four of the 1983 NBA Finals.

This was not my father’s Philadelphia Phillies. This was a team that picked themselves up by their bootstraps and found away to win when the chips were down. This was a team that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat instead of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I could just be sleep deprived, but this morning I have a sense of calmness that I have never experienced in my Philadelphia sports life.

I have this t-shirt that my wife bought me a few years ago, at the beach. It has a skeleton sitting in a recliner holding a beer in one hand and a Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers pennant in the other. The caption reads, “Waiting for a Philadelphia sports championship.” She likes me to wear that shirt on big game days. I think she gets a kick out of my suffering.

I’m hoping to be able to throw that shirt in the fireplace this week. But I have been at this long enough to know, not to go buy matches and lighter fluid just yet.

Cat Scratch: The Evil Empire Strikes Again as BC Eagles beat Vermont

Richard DeLancey — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:41:56 -0400

In 2005-06, the University of Vermont men’s hockey team fell five times to Boston College. 2006-2007 saw another loss. Three more defeats last season, including a weekend spanking in Boston and the Hockey East Championship Game.

I moved to Vermont four years ago. I fell in love with the University of Vermont shortly thereafter. And while I can’t claim to be a college hockey expert along the lines of Bob Norton, I’ve learned my way around the rink.

One thing I know for certain is that I don’t like Boston College. It’s nothing personal against the program that is presented by Dunkin Donuts; I just don’t like them.

Maybe it is because they have a ‘New York Yankee’ like status in the sport. Maybe it is because they have the best goaltender in the game, John Muse. Or maybe it is because they have a coach who has won over 800 games. All I know is that losses to BC sit with me a little harder and that wins over the Eagles are a little sweeter than most.

A week after I called on the USCHO to show UVM some love in the polls, the Catamounts fell again to BC 3-2 on Friday. Muse saved 23, Andrew Orpik scored the game-winning goal and Jerry York picked up his 806th win. Just another day at the office for the Eagles, in front of 5,675 at Kelley Rink.

The good news is that the season is young and the Catamounts have two more shots at BC in the friendly confines of “The Gut.” The bad news is that UVM has to play Boston College two more times this season.

If this is the season UVM is to return to the NCAA tournament, then they need to figure out how to beat the “Evil Empire.” It’s time for the Catamounts to soar with the Eagles.

Phillies Hang on to Win Game Two of NLCS, 8-5

Richard DeLancey — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:56:12 -0400

Do you remember those 1970s “Just hang in there baby” posters with a cat dangling from a rope? That is the way I felt through the last four innings of game two of the NLCS.

Maybe it's because I’ve seen the Phillies snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory so many times throughout the years. But it wasn’t until Brad Lidge secured the 8-5 victory with a strike out of the Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra, that the feeling of impending doom eased.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t perfect. But it was a win. Now the Phillies head to Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. No matter what happens over the next four days, Citizens Bank Park will see more baseball this year.

Mike Schmidt referred to the 2008 Phillies as a team of destiny earlier in the week. As much as I don’t want to jinx the Fightin’s, I’m beginning to think he was right. Shane Victorino’s leaping catch of Casey Blake's drive to the center-field wall, Brett Myers three-hit three RBI performance, and Chad Billingsley’s two-and-one-third inning disaster all lead one to believe that something special is going on here.

With all the joy and happiness surrounding the win, it is easy to forget that for two Phillies this was a day of loss. Manager Charlie Manuel’s 87-year-old mother June and Shane Victorino’s 82-year-old paternal grandmother Irene both died Friday morning.

The Phillies fought hard for their beloved skipper. Brett Myers told USA Today, "I went up to him as I was getting ready for the game, gave him a hug, and told him, 'I'm going to win this for your mom today.'"

Brad Lidge echoed Myers' sentiments in the post-game press conference. “We all love Charlie. We all have a world of respect for him. I don't think he would have wanted us to be thinking about that while we were playing, but we wanted to win this one for him.”

Yes, this was a day to just hang in there. Like the cat on the rope, the Phillies are showing signs of having nine lives. For many of us, those nine lives might just be the cure for the Joe Carter-itis we’ve been suffering through for the last 15 years.

It Was Worth the Wait: Philadelphia Phillies Win Game One of NLCS

Richard DeLancey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:35:05 -0400

It was worth the wait. It has been 15 long years since the Philadelphia Phillies played in the National League Championship Series. In that time, Blackberries became more than just a fruit, cassettes disappeared, and beer developed born on dates.

Fifteen years is a long time. But tonight, no true Phillies fan is complaining. Showing why Mike Schmidt called them the team to beat, the Phillies stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in Game One of the NLCS.

Cole Hamel’s seven strong innings erased all memories of Joel Bennett and his 9.00 ERA in 1999. Chase Utley’s two-run, game-tying home run suddenly made J.D. Drew’s snub seem unimportant. Scott Rolen’s traitorous defection to St. Louis was neutralized when Pat Burrell went deep to put the team ahead.

There are still three more games to be won in this series. As Burrell told Ken Rosenthal on the Fox Post Game Show, “There is a lot of work to be done.” But for at least one night, Phillies fans can sleep in peace.

Like a shot of Cortisone in Lenny Dykstra’s knees, this one is going to feel good for little while.

Penn State-Wisconsin: Daryll Clark's Legs Key to Nittany Lion Game Plan

Richard DeLancey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:51:27 -0400

Life is good in Happy Valley these days. The Nittany Lions are 6-0, and the Blue and White Nation is talking about a trip to the BCS title game. A large portion of the optimism surrounding this year’s team is due to the play of quarterback Daryll Clark.

In 2008 the junior from Youngstown, Ohio has thrown for over 1,100 yards with nine touchdown passes and only one interception. Clark’s 162.46 rating leads all Big Ten quarterbacks.

This weekend, the Lions travel to Wisconsin for their first strong road test of the season—no offense to Purdue. In order for Penn State to pick up the win at Camp Randall Stadium, Clark is going to need to bring his "A" game.

Penn State’s offensive game plan has to start and end with Clark’s legs. The coaching staff needs to encourage Clark to run with the ball, a la Michael Robinson, when the defense gives him the opportunity.

As good as Clark’s passing has been in 2008, he has been as equally reluctant to turn it loose on the ground. Instead, he has tried to force the ball to his receivers late in their routes, often resulting in receptions out of bounds.

In recent games the Wisconsin defensive front has been uncharacteristically weak against the run. In conference play, Wisconsin ranks 10th in rushing defense (177.5 ypg) and eighth in third down defense (39.3 percent conversion rate).

Penn State is averaging a conference high 256.7 rush yards a game and converts third downs at a 52.7 percent clip. The Lions have achieved these offensive numbers without a large rushing presence from Clark.

The Badgers defense has the ability and experience to do better. Wisconsin starts three seniors and a junior along the line and overall has five seniors in the front seven.

Penn State wide receiver Deon Butler issued a strong warning on Wednesday's pre-game teleconference. "Just looking at that film, they hit hard,'' Butler said. "I don't think we've seen linebackers that flow to the ball like Jonathan Casillas and DeAndre Levy. Even their safeties are downhill guys. They're a real, real physical football team and probably, up to this point, the hardest hitting team that we will play this season.''

Penn State has been good at protecting Clark, allowing only five sacks. With increased mobility and strong offensive line play, Clark is in a position to have a huge game. He could very well run for 100 yards and throw for another 200.

If Clark can be a true threat in the air and on the ground, the Nittany Lions will roll into the Michigan game 7-0.

Phillies in 1983 and 2008: A Look Back into the Future

Richard DeLancey — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:34:46 -0400

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers playing for the National League Pennant is nothing new. The two teams have battled it out in 1977, 1978, 1983, and now 2008.

The 1983 NLCS ended an era of domination by the Phillies. From 1976 to 1983 they were one of the winningest organizations in all of baseball.

Many fans look back fondly on the "Wheeze Kids" season of dreams. How would the 2008 edition of the Fightins' stack up against the Hall of Fame laden squad of 1983?

First Base

This is a tough call.

The 1983 Phillies started all-time hits leader Pete Rose at first base in game one of the NLCS. Ryan Howard will get the nod for the 2008 team on Thursday night.

If you look at the body of work, it is hard to take Howard over Rose. But remember, 1983 was Rose's Phillies swan song. While Rose did bat .375 and score three runs in the four games, I believe Howard's power is more important. So, based on the 1983 and 2008 seasons only, not the total careers of each player, I would say the advantage goes to the 2008 Phillies and Ryan Howard.

Second Base

Hall of Famer Joe Morgan batted leadoff and played second base for the Wheeze Kids. He batted a paltry .067 in the NLCS. Like Rose, 1983 was his last real productive year. Morgan played in 123 games for the Phillies and batted a career low .230 with just 16 home runs.

Chase Utley on the other hand battled through some injury bugs in 2008 and still batted .292 with 33 home runs. Therefore, I would choose Chase Utley over the 1983 version of Joe Morgan.

Short Stop

This is an easy one. Ivan DeJesus vs. Jimmy Rollins. Rollins blows away DeJesus in just about every conceivable way. Enough said.

Third Base

Another easy one. The greatest third baseman of all time, Mike Schmidt, crushes poor Pedro Feliz. Not even Feliz's mother would take him over Schmidt.

Left Field

This is a good competition. "The Sarge" vs. "Pat the Bat."

Injuries limited Gary Matthews to just 132 games in 1983, a year in which Matthews hit a career low 10 home runs. Mathews' .258 batting average just slides by Burrell's .250. Burell, however, drove in 86 runs and 33 homers against Matthew's 50 and 10.

So, as much as I hate to say it, because the Sarge is one of my all-time favorites, I give Burrell the nod.

Center Field

Gary Maddox against Shane Victorino.

Maddox played in less than 100 games with the Phillies in 1983. When he was on the field he batted .275 with an on base percentage of .312. Victorino batted .293 with an on base percentage of .352. By 1983, Maddox was slowing down, in 2008 the "Flyin' Hawaiin" is just hitting his stride.

This is another close call, but I give the edge to Victorino.

Right Field

The battle of the "will anyone remember me" takes place here.

In case you have forgotten, (I did and had to look it up) Sixto Lezcano started in right field for the Phillies in the 1983 NLCS. Jayson Werth will probably get the call in game one for this year's edition. Lezcano was traded to the Phillies at the Aug. 31 postseason deadline from the San Diego Padres for players to be named later. In 18 games with the Phillies he batted .282 and drove in seven runs.

Jayson Werth is coming off a career year in which he batted .275 with 24 home runs. As much as I like the name Sixto, I gotta give the start to Werth.

Catching

Bo Diaz is going to eek out a victory here for the Wheeze Kids.

Bo hit 15 homers and batted .236 in 1983. Carlos Ruiz struggled to a .219 average with just four dingers. In a battle of people with Zs in their names, Diaz reigns supreme.

Starting Pitching

1983's John Denny, Steve Carlton, and Charles Hudson is a much stronger threesome than 2008's Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, and Jamie Moyer.

The 1983's top three combined for 42 wins, which is comparable to 2008's 40. The real difference comes in the ERA. Denny, Carlton, and Hudson gave up less than three runs a game (2.94), almost a run per game less than the 2008 squad (3.88). The advantage is with 1983.

Relief Pitching

This is probably the best debate of them all. Do you want Al Holland or Brad Lidge closing out the games?

Holland saved 25 games and won another eight for the 1983 Phillies. Lidge was a perfect 41 for 41 in save opportunities and picked up two wins for the 2008 team.

Holland had a 2.56 ERA while Lidge sits at 1.95 in 2008. Holland pitched 91 innings compared to Lidge's 69. It's a close call but in the end I'm giving the ball to Holland as my closer.

Who knows what would happen if you could place the 1983 and the 2008 Phillies on the field for a seven-game series. Would Carlton and Denny stifle Howard and Rollins? Would Schmidt drive Moyer's slow balls into Ashburn Alley? Would the Hall of Famers smack around the future Hall of Famers.

We will never know for sure, but it is fun to think about. You've seen my picks. Feel free to let me see yours.

Philadelphia Phillies Retrospective: A New Way of Thinking

Richard DeLancey — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:20:10 -0400

I was born in 1970. I was six when I started to understand what Major League Baseball was. Both grandfathers, my mother, and my father were all Phillies fans. So were two uncles, three aunts, and a great-grandmother who would sit in a broken recliner listening to the games on the radio.

The Phillies were a religion in my house. Games on TV were appointments that were not to be missed.

I knew Channel 17 was dial position 13 on our television in the living room. I remember contemplating why other teams allowed the Phillies to set up a pregame show in their ballpark (the fact that the pregame show was shot in a studio in Philadelphia never occurred to me).

I thought Bob Bradley was a hero, Harry Kalas a god, and Andy Musser was something to be suffered through until it was Richie Ashburn's turn at the mic.

Most of all, I believed the Phillies of Schmidt, Carlton, Bowa, and Boone were the greatest team ever to take the field. The Big Red Machine, Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers, and Papa Stargell's Pirates meant nothing to me.

The American League was the loser league, filled with teams sporting funny-looking uniforms.

The Phillies won the division when I was six, seven, and eight. I cried when they were eliminated in '79. I cried again in 1980 for a different reason. I remember clutching my radio during Game Five of the '81 division series, wishing with all my might that the Phils would erase the 3-0 deficit.

Another World Series in 1983 only served to confirm my hypothesis that the Phillies were the team to root for.

When I was 13 years old, I thought it would always be like this. I thought the Phillies would be perennial division winners and World Series threats. I thought that Steve Carlton would go on striking out hitters, Schmidt would go on hitting home runs, and Gary Maddox would keep on making amazing catches.

How was I to know that, with the exception of 1993, the next 25 years of my life would be filled with baseball misery?

How was I to know that Schmidt would be replaced by Rick Schu and Charlie Hayes? That Carlton would give way to Pat Combs and Bruce Ruffin? That the dugout ruled by men like Danny Ozark, Dallas Green, and Paul Owens would be turned over to the likes of John Felske, Lee Elia, and Nick Leyva.

Yes, I always thought it would be this way. So now, on the eve of the seventh NLCS of my lifetime, I take nothing for granted. I am going to cherish every pitch, every play, and every at-bat. My belief funnel is full again. All is right with the world. (Current bank crisis excluded.)

The ironic thing is that I have an eight-year-old who has watched the Phillies win back-to-back division titles. From the time he started following the club with me at age five, the Phillies have been a pretty good team. He said at dinner tonight, "Don't be sad if the Dodgers beat us. There is always next year."

Boy, oh boy...My son has a lot to learn.

University of Vermont Hockey on the Tube

Richard DeLancey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:55:38 -0400

The University of Vermont Hockey Team is returning to TV in 2008/2009.

The school released a schedule last week that included seven games on CN8, one game on NESN and one game on ESPNU.

The school is leaving open the possibility of additional broadcasts. Certainly if the team has the type of season many are hoping for, they would be a candidate for additional ESPNU, CSTV, and NESN games.

Unfortunately for Catamount fans, only two of the seven CN8 games are road games. For at least 3,335 people, the home broadcasts are unnecessary as a trip to the "Gut" is much better than popcorn and pillows on the couch.

I would like to see the mix of road games and home games reversed. Let's see more broadcasts from Boston, New Hampshire, and Maine on the menu—places that aren't easy to travel to or get tickets for.

The following is the official broadcast schedule:

2008-09 Vermont Men’s Hockey Television Schedule
(Dates, times, and networks subject to change)

Fri., Oct. 24 — at Boston College — 7:30pm — ESPNU
Sat., Nov. 1 — vs. Boston University — 7:00pm — CN8
Sat., Nov. 8 — at UMass-Lowell — 7:00pm — CN8
Tues., Nov. 25 — at Massachusetts — 7:30pm — CN8
Sat., Jan. 3 — Catamount Cup Consolation or Championship — 7:00pm — CN8*
Fri., Jan. 9 — vs. Boston College — 7:30pm — NESN
Sat., Jan. 10 — vs. Boston College — 7:00pm — CN8
Sat., Feb. 7 — vs. Providence — 7:00pm — CN8
Sat., March 14 — HEA Quarterfinals (TBD, if necessary) — CN8

*If Vermont plays in the consolation game of the Catamount Cup the game will be aired on a tape delay basis at 7pm.