Saturday, December 23, 2006

Cougars win tonight against Fordham 65-56


I'll put up more on this later, because I have company in town. But the Cougs won tonight 65-56. The spread on the game was Fordham +5. But as I told Goldfinger on my way to the game, never bet against the Cougs! Plus the Cougars have never lost at Kresse when Jet is in attendance! (The North-Chuck Coliseum is another story.) Goldfinger didn't bet against the Cougs and the College won a big non-conference victory against a Atlantic 10 Conference opponent. (Photo courtesy of J.Trabert/CofC Sports Fan)

Go Cougs! Fordham-thanks for playing.

The Cougars face Fordham tonight!




Coach Dereck Whittenberg brings his Fordham Rams (5-4) to Kresse Arena tonight to face the Cougs. The Rams are one of those tough New York team to face but they are great at home but with a 1-4 record on the road, the Rams are streaky at best. They've lost to some big opponents (Tennessee, Texas A& M and Maryland) on the road this year.


The Cougs have a great chance to win tonight. If we can contain Marcus Stout, Bryant Dunston and Sebastian Greene, we have an excellent chance to put another win under our belts before Christmas.

I am on my way out the door to catch the game. GO COUGS!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Victory is mine! Defeating a complex basketball hoop and the Cougs win over Western Carolina 82-75!


Talk about frustration

Craig and I put together a goal for a big fan and chef of the CofC Sports Fan, Brett-don't tell his daughters; it is a surprise. I digress; if you purchased a filled-base, hydraulic lifting/adjustable Reebok goal for your kids this Christmas and it is not preassembled, you need to get to work now! That thing was frustrating. Granted the first pill always costs a million bucks to make, so I imagine that we would be able to assemble another goal pretty fast.

From the Den
The Cougars improved their record to 6-6, (2-1 SoCon) defeating Western Carolina this evening, 82-75! The big men, Josh Jackson and Jermaine Johnson combined for 30 points (Josh with 13 and Jermaine with 17). David Lawrence went 3 for 7 from behind the arc, scoring 17 points. Dontaye Draper hit 2 for 5 from behind the arc, putting 16 points on the board.
Strategy
At this weeks Bobby Cremins Show, Coach mentioned Western Carolina's Princeton offense as something we needed to address. Princeton offense is the back-door cuts and accurate 3-point shots taken by patient players with out much support in the paint. Despite the Cougs having 13 turnovers, all I have to say is, when you live by the 3, you die by the 3. It didn't work for Princeton against USC and it didn't work for W.C. tonight.
Great job by the Cougs tonight! Catamounts thanks for playing!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q are proud sponsors of the Bobby Cremins Show! That's why we will give the Bar-B-Q guys located at 288 King Street, (843-577-0406) the first CofC Sports Fan commercial plug. If you are downtown doing some last minute shopping stop in for some Texas/Alabama styled 'Q', Angus-beef brisket, great cheese biscuits and sweeter than a hug from your grandmother, tea and Mable's homemade pies. Normally, I am not big on tomato based BBQ, but these guys do it right.

Btw, if you are looking for them in the phone book, the Real Yellow Pages has their name misspelled. (Photos courtesy of J.Trabert/CofC SportsFan)

We win the Pearlstine Ball!


This is a photo that I took of Craig winning the trivia question at last night's Bobby Cremins' Show! (I gave him the answer, so I got to keep the ball-thanks Buddy!) The question was, "Who is Dontaye Draper trailing for 17th on the All-Time CofC Scoring List?" I jumped up and answered Jermel President because I thought Dontaye still trailed Jermel. But after getting it wrong and then hearing the entire question, that the former Cougar scored 1, 204 points during their career, I knew that it was Mike Beckett. How did I know that Tony would ask a question about the All-Time list this week? Just a gut feeling and a hunch because Dontaye is back on his game since we last met.
Pulling Craig away from the UNC blowout of Florida Atlantic was another story. It went something like this: "Pay attention Craig, Mike Beckett! No, Tony is not going to ask you for your Cougar lineage, just get up there and answer the question." Craig responded, "But...But..." But we College of Charleston Men spend 4-years (sometimes more) cutting out teeth by smooth talking the hottest women this side of the mighty Mississipp, so charming the pants of a dyed-in the wool Tarheel was not a problem. Craig got up, answered correctly and the rest is history-compliments of Pearlstine Distributors Inc, Jim 'N Nick's BBQ, George's Sports Bar and Coach Bobby Cremins!

Monday, December 18, 2006

CofC hits blackjack in Myrtle Beach, beating the Chanticleers by 21!


The College of Charleston (5-6) notched another win tonight defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 70 to 49. In the 41st meeting between the two schools, the Cougars shot a season high 50% from the field and controlled the boards 45-22. The College has won the last 8 meetings and 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools. Coach Cremins is now 5-0 (lifetime) against Coastal Carolina. (Photo compliments of How Stuff Works)

From the Den
David Lawrence scored 17-points, and Marcus Hammond put 11-points on the board to help bring the Cougars their 2nd straight win. Jermaine Johnson muscled 9-points and brought down 13-boards as the Cougs established dominance. Philip McCandies and Dontaye Draper both scored 7-points in the win. The Cougs led by 13-points at the half (36-23) and after a 10-1 run in the 2nd half, led by 20. The College would led by as much as 25 in the 2nd, as they scored 34 points to the Chanticleers 26 in the final half. Coastal Carolina shot 32.7% from the field and 3 of 16 from behind the arc.
Nice Show Cougs! Chanticleers, thanks for playing!

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Sherry Dunbar to leave the Co


Two-time SoCon Coach of the Year, Coach Sherry Dunbar is leaving the College and returning to the Hoosier State to lead Indiana University's volleyball program. Coach Dunbar grew up in Indiana and was a record setting volleyball player for Ball State (Muncie, Indiana), which is part of the equation of why taking the Hoosiers’ job fits. With the network and support of her family back in Indiana, combined with her ability as a coach, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that Coach Dunbar will make the Hoosiers a force to reckon with on the volleyball court. (Photo compliments of CofC Sports)

Coach Dunbar's tenure at the College produced the kind of stats and student/athletes to get her noticed by the big leagues; Dunbar’s record in 4 seasons at CofC is 113-22 (.837), with 4 SoCon (regular season) Titles, 3 SoCon Tournament titles, and 3 trips to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Dunbar's teams excelled off the court as well, winning the American Volleyball Coaches Assoc. Team Academic Award for three-straight seasons. Sadly, we will miss Coach Dunbar as she leaves the beach for green(er) pastures, but this is a once and a lifetime opportunity for her to make a difference and move to the next level.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Ken Burger's article from today's Post & Courier, "Signs of life on George Street"


On a day when the College of Charleston was breaking ground on its basketball arena of the future, the Cougars were more concerned about the present.
And rightly so.
Feeling the weight of a four-game losing streak, Bobby Cremins' first-year team was in dire need of a victory over a conference opponent, or any opponent for that matter.
While there was plenty of hoopla surrounding Cremins' hiring at the College back in July, results on the court had been ... well ... less than inspiring.
Most fans were quite willing to give the Cougars a break because they were playing bigger teams like Kentucky and South Carolina. But what they didn't foresee was trouble with non-conference clubs such as Virginia Commonwealth and Charleston Southern, and league foes such as Appalachian State.
With a 3-6 record, the team picked in the preseason to win the Southern Conference could ill afford to lose its second conference game before the Christmas break.
But that reality loomed large as the College of Charleston faced Chattanooga on Thursday night.
Something magical
When Cremins' club got off to a 10-0 start against the Mocs, a familiar feeling fell over the crowd of 3,133 in Kresse Arena.
This felt much more like the old days when the Cougars owned their home court and nobody was allowed to push them around here on George Street.
Those days, however, sometime seemed like a distant memory over the last few years when not only did the Cougars lose much more often than they did under legendary coach John Kresse, but they were sometimes blown out under former coach Tom Herrion.
Such insecurity made fundraising for the school's new arena much more difficult.
But the hiring of Cremins rejuvenated the fan base, opened some pocketbooks and allowed officials to finally turn the first shovel of dirt on the Cougars' new 5,000-seat arena slated to open in 2008.
But you could almost hear those wallets slamming shut when C of C blew that early 10-point lead, fell behind by 10 points and looked to be on its way to yet another uninspiring loss.
Then, something magical happened.
That magic came in the form of senior point guard Dontaye Draper, who scored Charleston's final six points to give the Cougars the lead and blocked the Mocs' last shot to preserve the 62-60 win.
Wow.
Nice surprise
"We were down and out," Cremins said in the aftermath of the victory. "I don't think anybody in the building thought we could win this game.
"They are a quality team, they know how to win. But our kids showed some guts. They really did."
Which is exactly what the home crowd has been waiting patiently to see. Some guts.
Too many times during these early games the Cougars have lacked that killer instinct necessary to win close games like this.
A new motion offense certainly helped the cause. But whatever it is that makes a guy like Draper come alive like this, it needs to be patented.
"We wanted to put the ball in Dontaye Draper's hands," Cre-mins said. "And he did some great things."
Great may be an overused adjective in sports lingo, but it just might apply here.
Not only did he single-handedly bring the College back and gain the lead, he blocked the final shot to win the game.
To which Cremins, a veteran of many a miracle in his time, could only smile and say, "I think everybody is really surprised we won that game."
Surprised maybe, but in a good way for a change.

David Caraviello's article in the Post & Courier




Draper saves the dayStar scores Cougars' final 6 points, blocks Mocs' shot at buzzerCollege of Charleston 62, Chattanooga 60

Bobby Cremins had a timeout. Dontaye Draper didn't need one. With a Chattanooga defender in front of him and the clock running out, all the College of Charleston's star guard saw was the hoop. (Photo by Wade Spees w/ the Post & Courier)
In one dramatic motion, the 5-11 senior spun around Chattanooga guard Kevin Bridgewaters, scooped in a layup with 4.1 seconds remaining, and just maybe salvaged the Cougars' basketball season. Draper scored the Cougars' final six points of the game, blocked Chattanooga's attempt at a final shot, and rallied Charleston from 13 down to beat the Mocs 62-60 on Thursday before 3,133 at John Kresse Arena.
"They just about had us buried," Cremins said. "We didn't quit. And finally at the end, Dontaye Draper made some big-time plays. We put the ball in his hands, and he delivered."
Marcus Hammond and Jermaine Johnson added 13 each for the College (4-6, 1-1 Southern Conference), which snapped a four-game losing streak and avoided its first 0-2 league start since 2003. Cremins implemented a new motion offense during the recent nine-day exam break, and after four practices the Cougars shot 47.2 percent, their second-best clip of the year.
"Four straight, that's tough," said Draper, who scored a game-high 18. "When we came out of the break, we said it was a new beginning. In the first half of the season, we were still getting to know each other, we didn't have really any half-court offenses in. Now, the week of practice really helped us."
Casey Long scored 11 for Chattanooga (4-5, 0-1), which hit 12 3-point goals, rallied from a 10-0 deficit, and led by 13 with 12:34 remaining. But the Mocs
shot just 4-of-11 from the free throw line, and missed four of five attempts down the stretch.
Charleston took advantage. Two inside baskets by Johnson and another by David Lawrence whittled the deficit down to three with four minutes left, and Draper took over from there. With 2:17 remaining, he spun in for a layup that cut the deficit to one. After Khalil Hartwell made a free throw, Draper bombed a 19-footer over the outstretched hand of 6-7 Mocs forward Nicchaeus Doaks to tie the game with 49 seconds to go.

Long missed an NBA-length 3-point attempt on the other end, and Charleston's Philip McCandies snagged the rebound. As Draper brought the ball up the court, Cremins asked if he needed a timeout. His guard's response: No way.

"I said 'Oh, no. I've got it, Coach,' " Draper said. "Last time at Charleston Southern, (the shot went) in and out. I told him no that time, I told him no this time. I've got the confidence. I'm going to give it all I've got. If I miss the shot, I miss the shot."
In the CSU game, Draper took a 3-pointer that rimmed out and led to overtime, where the Cougars lost. His teammates moved out of the way, isolating Draper and the 5-9 Bridgewaters, who had picked up Draper in transition. It happened fast - a spin move along the baseline, a scooped layup, and pandemonium in John Kresse Arena.
"One of my old moves from back in the day," Draper said.
Bridgewaters never had a chance. "I don't even see him," Draper said. "No disrespect, but I don't even see him. It was just me and the hoop."
Added Bridgewaters: "He made a good move. I don't know what the heck he did. It was kind of out of control."
For much of the second half, Chattanooga coach John Shulman had used bigger players like Hartwell and Doaks to try and thwart Draper's penetration. In the final seconds, off Long's missed 3-pointer, Bridgewaters was his only option.
"If it's football, we can stop the game. But that's in transition D," he said. "You can't decide on a missed shot who's guarding Draper. You pick up in transition D. Bridge is a good one-on-one defender. Draper made a great play."
Chattanooga had a last chance. Ricky Hood inbounded to a cutting Bridgewaters, who tried to hoist a 3-pointer from 20 feet. But Draper - who else - blocked it, and time ran out as players battled for the loose ball.
"I wasn't going to let him shoot the 3," Draper said. "That happened to me, I think my sophomore year, we were playing Davidson here. I made a tough shot, they came down and threw up a scoop shot that went in. I said, 'No.' "
And just like that, what had been a confusing, muddled start to a highly anticipated Charleston basketball season at last found some clarity. With their new offense, the Cougars moved the ball in spots as crisply as they have all year. They shot 55.6 percent in the second half. They snapped the program's longest losing streak in 27 years. They climbed back to .500 in conference play, and their star player played like a star.

"We really needed something like this," Cremins said. "We needed a lift like this."

--Josh Jackson returned from suspension Thursday night, playing 22 minutes and scoring six points. Cremins had said that Jackson, suspended indefinitely since Nov. 20, would return to the team if he was academically eligible following exams ... Assistant coach Andrew Wilson wasn't on the bench Thursday, but on the road recruiting ... Charleston next plays Monday at 8:30 p.m. against Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

3-Point Field Goals - Chatt 12-27 (Doaks 0-2, Mays 3-6, Hood 2-4, Long 3-7, Watts 0-1, Bridgewaters 2-5, Troupe 2-2); C of C 4-21 (Lawrence 0-6, Draper 2-9, Hammond 2-4, White 0-2). Steals - Chatt 4 (Mays, Long 2); C of C 9 (Draper 3). Blocks - Chatt 0; C of C 7 (Lawrence, Jackson 2). Turnovers - Chatt 16 (Long, Bridgewater 3); C of C 15 (McCandies 3). Technicals - None. A - 3,133.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Good Guys Wear White! Charleston ends their losing streak, beating UT-Chattanooga, 62 to 60


The College defeats Chattanooga at Kresse!
Despite trailing from the 12:37 mark in the 1st half until the final 60 seconds and being down by 7-points at the half, the Cougars dug deep, played tough and brought home a victory on the backs of the prodigal son (Josh Jackson) and a hard-court general wearing #11 (Dontaye Draper). Is it any shock that Dontaye would have his own melody from the rowdies in the student section? No, just insert his first name into the o-lay, o-lay, o-lay-soccer chant, and you have a splendid Dont-Ay-o-lay-o-lay, Don-tay, Don-tay! (Photos compliments of CofC SportsFan)

From the Den
Dontaye led the Cougs with 18-points and brought the crowd at Kresse to their feet by hitting a 18-footer with 51-seconds left to tie the game at 60, and then brought home a win, driving to the basket and sliding in a lay-up with 4.1-seconds left on the clock. (Don-tay, o-lay, o-lay, Don-tay! Don-Tay!) Josh Jackson returned from his suspension and put 6-points on the board in his 22-minutes of playing time. David Lawrence had 4-points, 4 assists and 9-boards, combined with Jermaine Johnson and Marcus Hammond 13-a-piece, and a 12-1 run with 5-minutes left on the board to bring the Cougs home a badly needed victory.

The Cougs shot 47.2% versus the 41.5% from the field the Mocs were able to put on the board. The College was able to contain the Mocs' scoring duo of Mays and Bridgewater as well as stifle what paltry offense Tyler "Airball" Troupe could muster. Eyes off Tyler! Don't stare down the crowd when you finally make a basket after lofting 4 precious attempts.

Excellent job Cougs! Mocs, thanks for playing!

College of Charleston still has the best record in the SoCon!


I wanted a photo that spoke of the beauty and majesty of the College of Charleston. I couldn't find one I liked so I ran out on my lunch break and took this one with my old digi camera. (Photo courtesy of J. Trabert) Davidson is hot on our heels, but we are still number 1 in the SoCon (aka: the best in the business!)

Rank/School..........................................Record..............2006-2007


  1. College of Charleston......96-40.........4-6

  2. Davidson................................93-43...........7-3

  3. Georgia Southern.................78-55...........5-3

  4. Chattanooga.........................77-57............4-5

  5. Appalachian State...............74-59...........6-3

  6. UNC Greensboro................61-74............3-6

  7. Furman................................59-73...........5-4

  8. Wofford................................56-77...........4-6

  9. Western Carolina................43-89..........4-3

  10. Citadel..................................37-97...........2-8

Cougs face Chattanooga

The College (3-6, 0-1) takes on UT-Chattanooga (5-4, 0-0) tonight at 7 pm. The series between the two teams is tied at 9; the Cougs lost to Chattanooga in their last meeting during the SoCon Tournament last March by 2-points. (Yes, I was the guy in the stands yelling at the refs that they robbed Dontaye of his last second 3-point basket to win the game. Come on refs!) Sure, I was shocked the game was so close because the Cougs defeated the Mocs by 14-points at Kresse Arena last January during the regular season, and I doubt tonight’s game will be any different. The teams are matched up quite brilliantly for size and speed. Also, both teams are coming off of an eight-game break for finals and a loss from an SEC opponent.

Home Court Coaching
With home court advantage, the Cougs will break their ‘slide’ tonight as we are 6-1 @ Kresse against UT-C and Coach Cremins is 8-2 (lifetime) against the Moccasins. Although, UT-C Coach John Shulman is 2-1 against the Cougs his Mocs have yet to beat the Cougars @ Kresse. But let’s not stuff the ‘W’ in our pocket before the buzzer; Coach Shulman put a couple of tough opponents on the Mocs schedule (namely Florida (L: 44-93) and Kentucky (L: 63-79) so his team is just as battle-tested as we Maroons are.

Recon
Although, we are struggling on offense, the Cougars are very strong on defense (Bobby Cremins trademark) and if they can keep the pressure (especially) on the Mocs’ perimeter, then the College will win tonight. Despite not having Josh Jackson throwing his weight around in the paint, the Cougs should be able to control the boards tonight-as the College has the edge in size and experience.

Never turn your back on a Moccasin!
Chattanooga is explosive with their offense. They will try to work their “big” men down under the basket more this evening in order to free up their highly talented perimeter man, especially Keddric Mays. Mays made his 100th trey this year in his 34th career game against ETSU last month. He’s averaging 25-points a game and he is dangerous. UK Coach Tubby Smith made the mistake of matching the Mocs with smaller guys and Mays went on a shooting spree from behind the arc hitting 7-treys as the Mocs closed a 33-point deficit with 15-minutes on the clock to a 9-point deficit with 4-minutes left in the ball game. Lesson learned: Cougs, even if you think the Mocs are down for the count, keep chopping until the buzzer sounds, and then put the ‘W’ in your pocket.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Hit those books hard Josh!



As exam week gets started, all of us here at CofC Sports Fan would like to say good luck to all of the students down on George Street, especially Josh Jackson. Coach Cremins did the right thing by benching Josh because of his grades and attitude. But Jermaine Johnson was benched for attitude reasons as well, and he came back. So there is no reason that Josh can't do the same, if he buckles down this week and hits the books. We're pulling for you big guy, not just because we miss those 12-points and 5-boards a game, but because we truly want to see you become a champion on and off the court.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Cougars face the Gamecocks tonight @ 7 pm, Bobby Cremins squares off with his old friend and basketball rival, Dave Odom


The College of Charleston (3-5, 0-1 SoCon) travels 110 miles up the road to Columbia tonight to face the 2006 NIT Champions, South Carolina Gamecocks (4-2, 0-0 SEC) at the Colonial Center. Both teams are coming off of a loss: the Gamecocks are coming off of a (53-74) loss to Clemson. The Cougars lost to Appalachian State last Saturday, 57-68. (Photo of Bobby Cremins at USC from SCETV.org)

Game Time:
Tip-off is at 7 pm and will be broadcasted on television by Fox Sports Net South, (Channel 28 in Charleston and Channel 31 in Cola). The radio broadcast will be on ESPN Radio: WTMZ-910 AM and WTMA 1250 AM, our friends, Nate Ross and Everett German will be the courtside analysts and the voice of the Cougars, Tony Ciuffo will handle the play-by-play action-this will be the same broadcast available on-line via SoCon.Tv.

The Series:
Currently, South Carolina leads the Cougars 25-1 (all time), 0-2 (since both joined the NCAA)-USC won in OT against the Cougs in a 65-53 victory (Dec. 22, 1993) and USC beat the Cougs in Charlotte, 55-44 (Dec. 4, 1998). The last time the College of Charleston beat the Gamecocks was Jan. 17, 1930, when the College won 40-32-a major blowout! This series has been played over a span of 89 years now, and with two friends, yet old ACC-rivals (Cremins @ Ga. Tech & Odom @ Wake) at the helms of both great schools, the series will just get better.

Recon:
I hate to use the phrase the Cougars are due, but I think we had enough time off this week for everyone to get focused and the Cougs are due. Obviously, we need Dontaye to get back into his rhythm and put the kind of points on the board that he had in the first three games. He’s matched up pretty evenly with his 6-foot mirror on the Gamecocks squad, Tre’ Kelley. (Kelley is the only Cock to put up double-digits in every game this year). Hopefully, Draper will have the opportunity to hit his shots as Tony White, Jr. is really coming into his role as point guard and taking off a lot of the pressure. (Tony, do me a favor, don’t stare down your passing targets so hard, I see where the ball is headed, and I think everyone else does too). Finally, we are going to need our big men, David Lawrence and Jermaine Johnson to beat the boards and stop USC’s center Brandon Wallace from getting his 8.5 rebounds per game. Finally, our guys need to hold USC freshman, (small) power-forward, Dominique Archie to similar stats as what he put up in his first 3 starts this year (7-points total).

USC is tough, no doubt about it. Their losses came from UC Irvine by 15-points and Clemson by 21-points. However, USC knocked off the other USC (Southern California) by a 6-point margin in OT this year, but the Gamecocks only beat the Citadel by 15-points (who hasn’t?), narrowly beat SC State by 3-points and beat Lipscomb by 7. Meaning, I think the Cougars will finally get hot and shoot better than the lingering median 30 percentile range that has plagued them for the past two-weeks. Also, enough with the Coach Cremins persona non gratis saga (I am talking to you Post & Courier) the older kids on these teams were in the 4th grade in 1993. Meaning, this will have just about the same effect on the Cougars’ players, as CofC fans chanting “Shannon Faulkner” during a Citadel game has on the Bulldogs’ players today. I think the Cougars have a strong chance to bring home a win from Columbia. The Gamecocks seem to already have their heads turned towards their trip to Waco, TX to face Baylor, so we might just be able to catch them snoozing tonight! Go Cougs!

Btw, for the record, I think the State newspaper’s Seth Emerson did a better job at downplaying the Cremins returning to Columbia issue than the Charleston Post & Courier. Special thanks to the Charleston staff of Charles Bennett and David Caraviello: (843) 937-5588 for putting that one together.

And Roche pulls for the Cougs!





Who does John Roche want to win in tonight's matchup between CofC and USC? The Cougs of course! Although there is much speculation why arguably the greatest college basketball player to wear a South Carolina jersey (#11), John Roche (pronounced Roach) has returned to the Palmetto State (on official basketball visits) only twice since graduating in 1971, he did come to the Holy City this past weekend with his wife Jackie to watch the Cougs play App. State and to visit with their friends, Bobby and Carolyn Cremins. Don’t take it (that Roche is pulling for the Cougars in tonight’s game) personally Gamecocks, because as Mr. Roche told the State Newspaper, "That personal connection supersedes any institutional connection."
Roche's stats: John Roche was one of legendary Gamecock coach Frank McGuire's "Starting Five", a 6'3", 170 lbs, shooting guard who left his mark as a 3-time All American, twice voted ACC Player of the Year ('69 & '70) and he helped lead the Gamecocks to their first #1 ranking in college basketball, only ACC Title and their first NCAA Tournament. Roche was drafted in the 1st round (14th overall) into the NBA in '71 by the Phoenix Suns, was traded to the ABA's New Jersey Nets in '72 (where he met Coach Kresse) played for the Kentucky Colonels from '73 to '74 (see photo: courtesy of Remember the ABA). Mr. Roche then played one year for both the Utah Stars and the Los Angeles Lakers in '76. Roche finished his career playing for the Denver Nuggets where he also earned his law degree (Univ. of Denver College of Law). After retiring from pro-ball in '81, he and his wife made their home in Denver, Roche now works as a complex commercial and securities lawyer for Snell & Wilmer, LLC.
John Roche was elected into the Univ. of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1979.

Directions to the Colonial Center for tonight's game!


Driving Directions to the Colonial Center
Heading in on I-20 East or West:

Take SC-277 South towards Downtown Columbia & USC. SC-277 merges into Bull St. . Turn Right on Gervais St. Turn Left on Assembly St. Turn Right on Greene St.Colonial Center is located at 801 Lincoln St. at Greene St.


Heading in on I-77 South: Take SC-277 South towards Downtown Columbia. SC-277 merges into Bull St. . Turn Right on Gervais St. Turn Left on Assembly St. Turn Right on Greene St.Colonial Center is located at 801 Lincoln St. at Greene St.


Heading in on I-26 East or West:

Take I-26 to 126 towards Downtown ColumbiaTake 126 to Elmwood Ave. Turn Right on Assembly St. Turn Right on Greene St. Colonial Center is located at 801 Lincoln St. at Greene St.Alternate Route


Heading in on I-26 West:

Take SC-1 East towards West Columbia & USCContinue SC-1 heading toward Downtown Columbia & USC Turn Left on Assembly St.Turn Right on Greene St.Colonial Center is located at 801 Lincoln St. at Greene St.Heading in from Sumter on Hwy 378/76 West Take Hwy 378/76 WestContinue on 378 WestStay Straight to go onto Devine StreetTurn Right on Blossom StreetTurn right on Lincoln StreetColonial Center is located at 801 Lincoln St. at Greene St.
(Photo compliments of USC Sports)

Monday, December 4, 2006

Cougar Basketball Holiday Mini Plan


I ran into Josh Bryson ( head of the CofC ticket office) Friday on the way to the office and he said there are still great seats available with the Cougar Basketball Holiday Mini-Plan ($50 adults, $25 child). Tickets are available on-line @ the CofC Ticket Exchange or you can call Josh @ (843) 953-5479. Josh has always taken good care of me in the past, so give him a call. (Photo of Coach Cremins at Rupp/Jim Trabert)
Schedule for the 11 games in the package:
December 14 - Men's Basketball vs. Chattanooga - 7:00 pm
December 29 - Women's Basketball vs. Lander - 7:00 pm
December 29 - Women's Basketball vs. Georgia Tech - 7:00 pm
December 23 - Men's Basketball vs. Fordham - 6:00 pm
December 29 - Women's Basketball vs. Appalachian State - 2:00 pm
December 29 - Men's Basketball College of Charleston Classic
5:00 pm - IUPUI vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
7:30 pm - College of Charleston vs. Radford
December 29 - Men's Basketball College of Charleston Classic
5:00 pm - Consolation
7:30 pm - Championship
January 1 - Women's Basketball vs. Davidson - 2:00 pm
January 3 - Women's Basketball vs. John Hopkins - 7:00 pm

College of Charleston Alumni Pre-Game Celebration and Basketball Game


From the College of Charleston Alumni Assoc.



Join the CofC Columbia Alumni Chapter and fellow alumni from all over the
state (and beyond!) for a Pre-Game Celebration as our Men’s basketball team
takes on USC in Columbia on December 5. Nationally recognized head
coach, Bobby Cremins will also be on hand as we get ready to cheer on our
Cougars!
Tuesday, December
5

Alumni Pre-Game Celebration5:00 to 6:30 pm, Columbia Metropolitan
Convention Center1101 Lincoln Street , Columbia, S.C.
Men’s Basketball vs. USC 7:00 pm, Colonial
Center, 801 Lincoln Street , Columbia, SC
You may
choose among several options for the evening:

Bus from Charleston leaves from Patriots Point at 3:00 pm-Price is $65 per
person-Includes a seat on a first-class bus, Game ticketMovies on the
bus“On the Road with Cougar Pride
t-shirt.
Alumni Pre-Game
Celebration

Price is $15 per personLexington Room – lower level of the Convention
CenterMeet Coach Bobby Cremins, 5:15 – 5:30 pmHeavy hors’d oeuvresBeer, Wine
& Sodas

College of Charleston Men ’s Basketball vs
USC

Price is $12 per person (included in bus package if taking bus to event)
Tickets may be picked up at the Celebration. After 6:30 pm, tickets may be
picked up at will-call.

Parking for the CelebrationFREE if you attend the
Celebration. Parking is conveniently located between the Convention Center
and the Colonial Center
.

Hotel RoomsWe have blocked a limited number of
rooms at the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn. Please contact the hotel
directly to reserve your room and note that it’s the “College of Charleston
Alumni” block
.
Details are as follows:
Holiday Inn City Centre at USC: 630 Assembly Street , Columbia, SC.68 mile
from Convention CenterPhone: 803.799.7800$82 plus tax
Hampton Inn Historic District: 822 Gervais Street, Columbia,
SC.16 mile from Convention CenterPhone: 803.231.2000Ask for Holly or
Melissa$139 to $149 plus taxPlease click here to register for this event.
Questions? Contact Anita van de Erve at 843.953.1926 or vandeervea@cofc.edu .

Sunday, December 3, 2006

The Majesty of Rupp Arena




If the Cougs felt slightly intimidated playing Kentucky at Rupp Arena, it is understandable; because I too felt intimidated. I have to admit the place is magical: 7 National Titles hanging proudly from the rafters, 22, 477 well versed in the game of basketball, Kentucky-blue clad fans on hand to watch the Cats play a mid-major team from Charleston, SC, and not a bad seat in the house. Seriously, I got a nose-bleed on the way up to our seats, but fortunately, Kentucky built Rupp Arena up, and not out, so you are looking practically straight down at the floor and what you can't see you can watch on one of the numerous televisions around the arena.
My step-dad, Dan (UK, class of 1970), hadn't been to Rupp Arena since Dani was born (some 23 years ago) so it was a very special time for us, as he returned and I made my first trip to Rupp. Granted I was let-down that Dani kept her CofC shirt under wraps and even my dear sweet Mother wore blue, but it was a great experience, and I'd like to thank Coach Cremins for scheduling the game.
(Photos of Rupp Arena and JET outside of Rupp, compliments of CofC Sports Fan)


Production at Rupp Arena (Kentucky Cheerleaders)






The Kentucky Wildcat Cheerleaders are legendary for a reason, they're good! The Wildcats Cheerleading Squad has won a record 15 National (UCA) Cheerleading Titles. Whether it is squad back-tucks when their Wildcats make a basket from the "charity-line" or just keeping the tempo up for the players and the fans, the UK Cheerleaders do a fantastic job and are a crucial part to the production of UK basketball at Rupp Arena. *In case you are wondering, yes, they turned it!


(Photo compliments of J. Trabert/CofC Sports Fan)




Production at Rupp Arena (Pom Squad)



The UK Dance Team (formerly known as the UK Pom Squad) are highly talented dancers who keep their poms and their smiles flashing the entire game. They help the band welcome in the team as well as the Wildcats take the court.

(Photo courtesy of J. Trabert/CofC Sports Fan)

The Production at Rupp Arena (Kentucky's Drum-Line)


Here is a picture of the half-time performance of the University of Kentucky's Drum-Line. The 100-member strong, UK-Pep-Band and drum-line of course, line-up before the game around the out-of-bounds line as the Wildcat players are announced and take the floor. Part of the production, shows team spirit and the band simply rocked the house the entire night!
(Photo courtesy of J. Trabert/CofC Sports Fan)

The Production at Rupp Arena (Shopping)

















I know most of you could care less, but for first time folks going into Rupp Arena, just so you know there is plenty of shopping in the corridors on your way up to your seats (see first two photos of my parents working the stands) and before you enter Rupp, you can hit the mall-plaza between Rupp and the Omni Hotel. There you will find a Wildcat merch' store called Kentucky Korner, restaurants, a bar, an Orvis store and a


courtyard which as you see made me friggin dizzy as I waded through the sea of Kentucky Blue! (Photos courtesy of JET/CofC SportsFan)

Saturday, December 2, 2006

The Cougs dropped their 3rd straight to App State


The College of Charleston dropped their 3rd straight game in front of 3,487 Maroon faithful, and their first loss in the SoCon yesterday against Cremins' old team, Appalachian State. The Cougs shot 36.2% (17-47) against the Mountaineers' 42.1% (24-57). The Cougars were off to a good start but the Mountaineers went on a 22-7 run in the first half and never looked back.


From the Den:

Leading the Cougars was David Lawrence with 16-points and 14 boards, followed by Tony White Jr's 13-points in his first start. Philip McCandies stayed solid with 10-points and 5 boards. Nothing hurt here for the Cougs. Technically we are in a rebuilding stage and it will take time before we see results. (Photo from the new Carolina First Arena taken with a Sony/Ericsson W300i, compliments of the Bushido Staff/Trabert)

1st 2nd Final

App. State 38 30 68

Coll. of Charleston 24 33 57


The Cougars (3-5, 0-1 SoCon) face South Carolina at the Colonial Center on Tuesday night @ 7:00 pm.

Carolina First Center Groundbreaking Ceremony set for December 14, 2006












Although they have already broke ground on beginning the new Carolina First Center, the ceremony will be on the 14th of December.







(Photos compliments of Jim Trabert)

College Football, Rivalry Weekend



As I told my brother-in-law (pictured left w/ yours truly) Navy will once again beat his Army (strong) team. Navy has won 3 straight against Army and they are on their way to possibly face Clemson in the Meineke Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.)

Other College Football Picks:

  1. I would like to see Florida (4) defeat Arkansas (8) and get the chance to play for the National Title against The Buckeyes. Granted Michigan is the 2nd best team in the BCS standings, but I'd like to see the Bucks get even for Florida stealing the 1996 Championship.
  2. Louisville (6) should take UConn because the Huskies have struggled all year and I doubt they can turn it on this late in the game. If the Cardinals win and Rutgers losses then Louisville is headed to a BCS Bowl.
  3. Wake Forest (16) is my pick to win the ACC over Georgia Tech (23).
  4. Oklahoma (8) should knock off Nebraska (19) to win the Big 12 Championship.
  5. Oregon State shouldn't have any trouble with the explosive offense of Hawaii (24).
  6. Rutgers (13) should get out of West Virgina (15) with their first win in 14 tries, sending them to their first ever BCS Bowl.
  7. California (21) will run over Stanford.
  8. Finally, I am pulling for UCLA to beat USC because I would like to see the Trojans play Michigan and as I mentioned, I want the Buckeyes to feast on the Gator-baiters!

Good luck to all of the teams playing tomorrow!

Good Luck to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights


Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights have the chance to break their 14-game losing streak and have their first ever BCS Bowl bid today, if they can get past the West Virginia Mountaineers. There is a lot on the line for the State University of New Jersey: Ray Rice's chance at a Heismann Trophy candidate, Rutgers going to a BCS Bowl (Orange Bowl), but a loss would put Louisville in the Orange Bowl instead.

Friday, December 1, 2006

The Sharks are swimming for Spurrier


Last week it was Miami (Fl) offering a job to Coach Spurrier and now this week the Tide are offering Spurrier a $39 million paycheck with no cuts over 10 years to rebuild the program that Bear built.

We're going to need a bigger boat!

As I said before Spurrier isn't going to leave. I would look for a renegotiation of his contract but not by much because money isn't Spurrier's motivation. When he took the job at Carolina he told the President and Athletic Director that he'd sign for less as long as they put the excess money towards the Women's Programs. I would highly doubt that he would leave for the money.


Spurrier wants to leave his own legacy at Carolina. For him to pull up stakes and move to Bama to live in Bear Bryant's shadow would be a huge surprise to me.
(Photo compliments of the Jim Trabert/Bushido, taken with a Sony-Ericsson W-300i)

One more reminder for the MUSC Kids, 16th Annual Reindeer Run


I just saw Goldfinger working the tables for the Charitable Society down at the MUSC Horseshoe (Wellness Center). He’s volunteering today, helping people with their race packets, but can't make tomorrow's Half Moon Outfitters’ 16th Annual Reindeer Run. Goldfinger did wish everyone luck and he wanted one more post for the Reindeer Run as a reminder. The race begins at 9 am. Krispy Kreme will have donut stands at each mile-marker and the first person wearing antlers (not you Rudolph) will win $100. The shirt looks pretty cool this year, there’s chap-stick from one of the sponsors, Beezer Homes and a free koozie from Catherine Lafond, Esquire.

Parking and Race Route:
Participant parking is free from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Concord Street, East Bay Street and Prioleau Street garages. (Click here for Race Route and Parking Maps) If you didn’t get a free parking pass, you can download one by clicking here via PDF.
(Photo compliments of Jim Trabert/Clem(p)son Cross Country and Reindeer Gear the Bushido)

Kentucky vs the State of South Carolina

Updated December 1, 2006
The Kentucky Wildcats are 54-11 (all-time) against teams from the State of South Carolina. The two Palmetto State teams that have beat the Wildcats in basketball are Clemson (4-12) and USC (7-37).
The Series:
The College of Charleston is 0-2 against the Wildcats, having lost to Kentucky in the Great Alaska Shoot-out in 1996. Kentucky defeated the Cougs by 27-points (92-65). This loss was Coach Kresse's largest margin of defeat and the school's largest margin of defeat against a NCAA opponent. Kentucky was definitely the better team during that game and the Cats went on to win the National Championship that same year.
The Cougars at Rupp Arena:
The Cougars are 0-2 at Rupp Arena having lost (68-58) to the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1994. The Cougars lost 77-61 to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena this week. The NCAA Bracketology predicts the Cougs to win the SoCon, returning to Rupp in the first round of the Big Dance to take on the Buckeyes. There is a lot that happens between now and then, but I'd like see the Cougs return to Rupp and put on in the win column.
*I added the photo from Rupp Arena taken with my cell-phone before going back to update this post. I have more Kentucky and Rupp material to share that will probably be posted this weekend.

Cougars warming up at Rupp!







These are random shots of the College of Charleston Cougars during warm-ups at Rupp Arena. (Photo compliments of Jim Trabert)

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Charleston Southern are City Champs for a 2nd Straight Year





The College of Charleston dropped their second straight game to Charleston Southern tonight at the North Charleston Coliseum. Leading the Buccaneers was Donnell Covington with 25-points and Chris Moore with 9-points.

The Cougars shot 42% (5 of 8 from behind the arc and from the charity line) and the Buccaneers out-rebounded the Cougs 45-32.





From the Den:


David Lawrence and Tony White Jr. led the Cougs with 18-points and 5 boards a piece. Jermaine Johnson had 17-points and 5 boards. Dontaye Draper was held to 10-points, missing 2 from the charity stripe in OT and the potentionally game winning basket at the buzzer.






1st--2nd--OT--Final


CofC: 28-36-16-80


Chas. Southern: 31-33-20-84


We are Cougars, not Masons!


These are bricks (see photo). Bricks are commonly used as durable building material for building structures such as homes, buildings, gates, fences, and as you see in the photo, the fireplace at my home here in Charleston.

Bricks don't make for very apt devices on the basketball court, nor are they conducive for winning basketball games. For instance, if you play a team like the Kentucky Wildcats and only shoot 31%, your team probably won't win. If you play a cross town rival such as Charleston Southern and your team shoots a paltry 42%, (as seen in the outcome of tonight's game at the North Charleston Coliseum) you won't win. Lesson learned, I hope.
I know the Cougs are probably fatigued from their 3rd game in 5 days, especially considering the game they played in Rupp Arena on Tuesday, but we still need to work on our shooting skills if we plan on winning games. The fast-break or "run and gun" offense only works win you are making those baskets. If there is one thing that upset me with Coach Herrion's teams was their lack of discipline-taking rushed shots and not passing the ball enough. It seems when the Cougs go into panic mode they go back to that Herrion style of ball. Let's all get some R&R, and start the SoCon off right Saturday night against Coach Cremins' old team App. State 6:00 pm @ Kresse Arena.

Last day to register for this Saturday's Reindeer Run on-line


Today is the last day you can register on-line for Saturday's Half Moon Outfitter's Reindeer Run. You can still register at MUSC's Wellness Center's Horseshoe tomorrow and before the race on Saturday. This year you can also register your dog in the race. And the costume contest (see photo "600 lumps of coal" compliments of the Reindeer Run) is still in effect.
Registration fees now are $30.00. The 5k race begins at 9 am in front of SouthEnd Brewery. I'll see you there.

College of Charleston vs Charleston Southern

The Cougs face Chas. Southern tonight, 7:30 at the North Charleston Coliseum. If you want to sit in the lower sections by the team you should try to get seats anywhere in sections 133 through 129.

The Cougars are 26-7 (lifetime) at the North Chuck Coliseum. Our first win and largest win at the NCC was against Chas. Southern and the Cougars lead 46-22 all-time against Charleston Southern. The Cougars lost last year to Chas. Southern (82-77) for the first time since 1988 (a 23-game win streak) and Charleston Southern then defeated the Citadel to become (Holy) City Champs!

*Picture of the North Chuck Coliseum courtesy of Charleston Conventions