I’m Glenn Papazian bringing you the latest edition of My Sports Desk, news from the world of sports, what happened, what’s coming up, an honor roll, and a very emotional commentary.
Sixers
The Philadelphia 76’ers are off to a 3 – 1 start. The team is establishing a winning culture, and they have the players to win. In terms of scoring, it is a pick your poison for the opposition. All five starters are averaging in double figures, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown at the top of the list. Don’t take your eyes off the others as Lebron James and Joel Embiid will score. Embiid leads the team in rebounding, and without James in the lineup he posted a triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks. The impact of James cannot be understated. He leads the team in assists. Maxey alluded that you better be ready for a pass from Lebron. You may not think you’re open, but he will see you are and get you the ball. James also helps with the defense. Maybe not on the ball defense, but seeing the floor and the other team’s set up, he will take away the ball handler’s options. In assists James is tops, and he is second in rebounding. In short Lebron James makes his teammates better, and the numbers show it.
In the loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Sixers were without Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.
This week the team plays at Indiana and Charlotte. And will play the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls at home.
The Sixers can be fun to watch playing basketball the right way.
Flyers
After a horrendous start the Flyers responded with a three-game winning streak. Why? They cut down on giving up goals. Over the win streak they gave up a total of 4 goals. Don’t celebrate yet. The goal scoring is at 3 recently. The streak was snapped by giving up 5 goals to Anaheim. The Flyers host the last place Columbus Blue Jackets, then play the Washington Capitals in DC the next night. Defense is needed against the Caps and Alex Overchkin. But they give up goals too. Their goal differential is nearly even.
Let’s talk some college football.
Penn
Another Friday Night Lights game at Franklin Field when the University of Pennsylvania hosted the defending Ivy League champion Yale Bulldogs. It was another game decided by a missed field goal at the end. This time the opponent missed the field goal. Penn took the lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Sean Williams who said he saw “green grass, touchdown” when he got the ball. His run came with just over 8 minutes to play. Yale was driving for scores, but the Penn defense turned them away. Later in the game Devin Malloy intercepted the ball deep in Quakers territory. It was one of four interceptions on the night by the Red and Blue. The game was not over yet. The Bulldogs got the ball and drove into field goal range. The attempt was from 44 yards, but Yale took their time setting up. Too much time and they were flagged for a delay of game penalty. Now, the tying try was from 49 yards. And it was short. Penn wins 24 – 21.
Coach Rick Santos cited the team’s ability to overcome adversity is helping them.
Next Week is a Saturday game at Brown.
Villanova
The Villanova Lehigh game came down to the last play too. The Wildcats had the better of it in the first half taking a 21 – 0 lead. Lehigh made a comeback. Nova had the lead after getting a field goal and the 24 – 18 final margin. On the kickoff Lehigh muffed the reception and started at their own 5-yard line with 3:33 to play. The Mountain Hawks drove down the field, inching their way to a potential winning touchdown and extra point. The ball rested at the Villanova 2-yard line with 12 seconds left. First and goal. The Wildcats defense rose to the occasion. After two incompletions, Villanova brought the pressure. Garrett Rogan sacked quarterback Derek Morgan to end the game. This time the end of the game fell in the Wildcats favor.
The Wildcats play on the road next. Not too far away, to Easton to meet the Lafayette Leopards. Villanova is in a four-way tie for third place in the Patriot League.
West Chester
Not a good weekend for the West Chester University Rams who were handled 41 – 14 at Kutztown. The Rams fell behind 27 – 0. They never got close.
Next game is at Bloomsburg.
National College Football
In the national picture a lot of favorites got upset.
Highly ranked Texas Tech lost 37 – 24 at Cincinnati. The Red Raiders were not in the game in the second half, although they did get a late touchdown.
Tennessee lost 27 – 24 in double overtime to South Carolina on a last second field goal.
Iowa fell at Minnesota 13 – 10.
And coming in at #2 BYU joins the ranks of the former unbeatens. The Cougars lost in double overtime at the University of Central Florida, a week after upsetting Notre Dame.
Those that avoided the big loss are Indiana who won in overtime at Michigan 13 – 6 in overtime. Both teams went with backup quarterbacks. The Hoosiers found a way and survived.
Texas got a better performance from quarterback Arch Manning and won 34 – 27 against Ole Miss. The Longhorns staved off a late rally by the Rebels.
Number One Miami well avoided the upset beating Pitt 52 – 23. Miami remains undefeated at 7 and 0. Utah and UCLA also post a 7 and 0 record, they are ranked 6th and 7th.
Why not talk about some college basketball? The season starts soon.
Atlantic 10
In the Atlantic 10 Conference the Saint Joseph’s Hawks women’s basketball team are preseason favorites for the upcoming season. Gabby Casey is on the Preseason All-Conference first team. Aleah Snead is on the second team, and Rhian Stokes is on the third team.
Villanova
The Villanova Wildcats men’s and women’s teams open the season on November 1st in Rome, Italy playing in the Eternal City Tipoff. Notre Dame is the common opponent. Pope Leo XIV is not expected to be in attendance but will have a private reception with the Villanova and Notre Dame teams and traveling parties. A thrill everyone there will never forget.
Time for the Honor Roll
Flyers goalie Dan Vladar who gave up just one goal in each of the wins against Ottawa and Buffalo.
Tyrese Maxey is the Sixers leading scorer this season averaging over 28 points per game, fourth in the league at this point. He was the team high scorer in 3 of 4 games.
But our Player of the Week goes to Sixers Center Joel Embiid. He is averaging just under 10 rebounds per game going into the week to lead the Sixers. Embiid is scoring an average of 21-plus points per game and nearly 6 assists
The previous week was highlighted by a triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the game he scored 28 points, took down 12 rebounds, and handed out 10 assists. Embiid took control in the absence of Lebron James.
Commentary
What has been a major part of my life, the Big Five as I knew it, is no longer the same. The Villanova men’s team will no longer participate in the round robin or in the Classic after this season. There have been negotiations to continue Big Five play in some format. But Villanova and the other five schools could not come to an agreement in how it could be done. Villanova wanted a situation where they would not play or have just one away game. Villanova Coach Kevin Willard expressed that he wanted to have another home game rather than an away game at a smaller gym. That extra home game could be used to generate more revenue for his team. It is understandable. It’s not all on Villanova.
There is also scheduling rules from the NCAA and Conferences that need to be addressed. And how to fund non-revenue generating sports. Something all schools are concerned about.
But Kevin Willard could have handled the situation much better in his public comments. He referred to ‘his team’ not Villanova’s team, not being in a partnership. There was no need to denigrate another league or teams that he did referencing the Atlantic 10 and La Salle. How can he, in good conscience, tell his players to respect their opponent when he himself did not? It is not a good look for Villanova.
Yes, Villanova was and is the attraction for The Big Five and the city. For a generation of students the Big East is their rooting focus.
Granted, the Big Five luster has worn off. Those of us who remember will treasure the Big Five games and doubleheaders at the Palestra. It has been something special and unique for our city.
Over the past few years, the college presidents and athletic directors did not care about rivalries and traditions. Attention is now directed to increase revenue to pay the players, and to give the donors, not the fans, the ‘experience.’ Meaning seat licenses for good seats, the private clubs, the exclusive dining areas. How to make more money.
What has been forgotten? When the Game was the experience. When fans were very much a part of the game.
The game was the experience. That is what we have lost.
And that’s the story.
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