Off The Boards

Off The Boards

By Jack Scheuer

January 29, 2020

Instead of an All-American team, here is an All Grad Transfer squad, featuring players who have gone to school an extra year  hoping to be selected in the NBA draft, or to be employed overseas. Right at the top would be 6-10 Kerry Blackshear, putting up nice numbers at Florida after leaving Virginia Tech; At unbeaten San Diego State, 6-10 Yanni Wetzell (Vanderbilt) averages 12 points per game (ppg), and leads the team in rebounds; Gonzaga has Ryan Woolridge, (NorthTexas) a 6-3 guard, who puts up 10 ppg and  tops the Zags in assists; At Arkansas, 6-3 Jimmy Whitt Jr. (SMU) is among the team’s leaders in scoring and rebounding; and finally, Texas Tech’s 6-6, Chris Clarke, tops his team in assists and rebounds. He also played at Va. Tech. There they are, the first annual All Grad Transfer team.

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Two of my favorite coaches are having problems: Matt McCall at UMass  had a huge overhaul after last season,  (10-21) but the Minutemen are 8 – 12 this season, and there are some grumblings going on at Amherst. (Saint Joe’s is a visitor there tonight.) At UCLA, (10 – 10) Happy Mick Cronin is rebuilding , something he is not used to after winning seasons at Cincinnati. In his defense, no double-figure scorers returned from last year, making him even more grumpy.

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Trivia Time: Who holds the Division I record for most consecutive games scoring in double figures? Big hint: He is currently  in the NBA. Answer at the end of the column.

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This and That: Interesting sight in the Temple-Cincy game  when the Bearcat Cumberlands, Jarron and his cousin Jaevin,  battled  the Owls brother combo  of Nate and Josh Pierre-Louis…. The Hawk may never die, but attendance is sure passing away on Hawk Hill. Only 1,725 attended the VCU game. Capacity is 4,200…. Penn’s AJ Brodeur is making a strong case to win the Geasey Award (Big 5 Outstanding Player). The hard working forward-center has scored in double figures in 39 straight game against Division I teams…. Big Fivers on the move: Ex -Nova star Josh Hart is having a nice season with New Orleans, averaging 10.8 ppg, and former Wildcat big-man JayVaughn Pinkston is using his muscle while playing in Finland. Meanwhile, St. Joe’s stalwart Ronald Roberts is hooping in France, and  fellow Hawk Carl Jones is in Mexico. Mexico ?….Temple’s talented long range shooter Mike Vreeswyk (3’s Wyk) will be inducted into the school’s Basketball Ring of Honor on February 8….. Soph Point guard Camren Wynter continues to lead Drexel in points, assists and steals…. La Salle has 8 players averaging 4 or more points, but only Isiah Deas is in double figures at 11.3…. Streaking Villanova has an interesting matchup with Creighton  coming up on Saturday at the Wells….In closing, there is one thing you can say about Jay Wright: He is never over-dressed.

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Answer to Trivia Time: Creighton’s Doug McDermott scored in double figures in 136 straight games.