I'm baaaack (not really)

In response to the "leaked" "scouting report" on UNC, I worked up some of my thoughts for my friends.

My 1/6/12, 5-minute cliff notes version of what a "real" scouting report should look like (starters only):

Marshall: pressure up the court as far as possible, and jump him in the halfcourt. get close to him and be physical with your body, but don't foul. He's not going to try to dribble around you, so keep your hands up. In the halfcourt, don't sag. He can't shoot, but sagging gives him passing lanes. In his face at all times. Make him drive.

Barnes: Make him drive. Even when he drives is looking for the fadeaway. Tries to avoid contact so stay with him and put a hand in his face, and he'll take bad shots. He'll make some, but keep at it and if he ever misses a few in a row, he'll stop playing. Watch out for out of bounds plays and plays in the offensive set (you'll get screened a lot). Attack him on the offensive end, prone to fouling. If you score on him, he's coming at you the next possession and will force it.

Strickland: If this is your man, never crash the boards. Get back in transition. Fast but doesn't have great handle, so if you're in the open court make him switch hands/sides of the basket. Not an awful shooter but will not take 3s and all in all, him shooting an 18-footer isn't a bad option. Can leave to dig down on the big men.

Henson: Body him up. Can and should push out of the paint. Let him face you up, but then make him drive. His fadeaway is unblockable so let him have it and don't go for shotfakes. BOX OUT HARD. Pump fake and go into his chest. Is always looking for block so will let you by, and if you explode to the rim he won't get there.

Zeller: Get back on D. Get back on D. He won't box you out, but never crash the boards. Get back on D. It's not just about preventing layups, he gets good position on the block in transition but struggles to back you down if you get back. Play physical and box out hard. Weak hands so hold him up and let guards look to strip ball. Can't pass with pressure so we may double HARD and FAST a lot. Refuses to foul on D so attack him and he'll back away. Play into his chest.

best job in the world

man, this makes it hard to school

jacked

So

I kind of don't update this very much anymore. If anyone's still around, I invite you to check out http://linksfrompeopleweknowandrespect.blogspot.com. That site, maintained by a group of my friends, contains links from people we know and respect.

Give me four beers

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We hire dogs to burn down hospitals

iRack

http://www.glumbert.com/media/irack

Mitch, throw the rock!

Goodbye, Gus

Together let us remember a lifelong friend and companion, Gus. He was very special to all of us and will forever be missed. Luckily, at the risk of exposing my heart to the masses, we can still remember the good times. Please, if you have any memories of one of the greatest buddies to ever grace this world, do share....

Read Closely

but first a few caveats (and that is kind of used incorrectly):

GJ represent (even though this kid is a fucker for going to Fruita)

I once got kicked in the balls as Jon Raciecki (who is a legend) dunked on my eighth-grade ass. But Cooper Williams, who is also a legend, was better.

and #35 is what I have pictures of in my room and office cubicle

now, you may continue:

RUTHLESS INTERROGATION

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Daven Harmeling has been a pleasant surprise for Wazzu.

The Minutes pinned down Washington State forward Daven Harmeling (34), who has come from almost nowhere -- Grand Junction, Colo. -- to twice be named Pac-10 Player of the Week this season.

Harmeling might be the biggest surprise player on one of the nation's biggest surprise teams: He averaged 2.8 points per game as a freshman and then redshirted last season, and the excellent Blue Ribbon College Yearbook predicted Harmeling would scrape for minutes as a backup. Instead he's the Cougars' third-leading scorer and has been huge in their four biggest wins: Gonzaga, USC and the season sweep of Arizona. Harmeling averaged 17 points and 3.8 rebounds in those four games, and scored Wazzu's last six points in the final 21 seconds in the upset win in Tucson last week.

The Minutes subjected Harmeling to the weekly Ruthless Interrogation.

The Minutes: Best basketball player ever from Grand Junction is …?

Daven Harmeling: Ooh, um, I'd have to say John Rakiecki.

Minutes: Who?

Harmeling: You've probably never heard of him. Injuries curtailed him at Colorado State, but he was a senior at my high school [Fruita Monument] when I was in 8th grade. He's a great guy -- a legend in my mind, that's for sure.

Minutes: What's the one thing a visitor to Grand Junction has to see?

Harmeling: You've got to see Colorado National Monument (35) (a 20,000-acre area of canyons and mountains).

Minutes: How does a guy get from Grand Junction to Pullman, Washington?

Harmeling: That's a roundabout story. I thought I was going to play Division II ball -- not many people come to Grand Junction recruiting. The summer before my senior year I went to Colorado State's individual camp and they offered me a chance to walk on, then get a scholarship the next year. I was really considering it. Then, when I was leaving camp a guy with the Colorado Select AAU team offered me the chance to join the team. I started playing with them, and one of [Washington State's] coaches saw me in a Dallas tournament. I sent them a videotape and they ended up offering me a scholarship.

Minutes: How was the commute from Grand Junction to Denver for AAU practices?

Harmeling: It was about four hours to Denver.

Minutes: How would you describe Pullman?

Harmeling: People who don't live here say, "Why would you live in Pullman?" But people who do live here love it and don't ever want to leave. It's exactly what the doctor ordered for me. I'm not a big-city guy -- I like to hunt pheasant and go fishing.

Minutes: You also like to hit big shots at key times. Where does that come from?

Harmeling: Something big for me is my faith as a Christian. I like to read the story of David versus Goliath, because David had so much confidence and courage. Even if I miss the shot, I'm still comfortable in my identity as a Christian.

Minutes: How often do you read that passage?

Harmeling: I usually read it right before every game.

Minutes: Don't lose your Bible. You're going to need it well into March.

Harmeling: I better take two if we make the tournament.