Month: March 2015

Sportstalk podcast @ Original Joe’s downtown San Jose Mon March 23, 2015

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San-Jose-Joes

Cast: Jerry Feitelberg (host), Jeremy Harness, Mary Lisa Walsh, Ivan Makarov, Matt Harrington, and Lee Leonard (producer) podcast from the original classic restaurant that started them all Original Joe’s at 301 South First Street in downtown San Jose. Don’t miss some of Joe’s staples, fresh pastas, salads, soups, steaks, chops fries, sandwiches, and many other favorites.

Our thanks to our hosts at Joe’s Matt Rocca owner of Joe’s who celebrates it’s 59th year at the downtown location. Listen to the podcast as our server Danny gives you his favorite recommendations off the Joe’s menu. Also our panel tonight discusses the future of the San Jose Sharks and what repairs to look for in the off season and who might stay and who might go. Also will head coach Todd McClellan be leaving if the team doesn’t make post season?

Second Half Surge Leads Cardinal to Sweet Sixteen

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By: Joe Lami

STANFORD, Calif.— The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 86-76 Monday evening to earn a trip to their eighth straight sweet sixteen.  In their final home game of the year, the Cardinal were able to turn a halftime deficit into a victory for the ninth time this season. 

The Cardinal struggled in the first half, finishing just 39% from the field and only 25% from three-point range.  Despite their poor shooting percentage, they were able to keep the score close at the half thanks to great free-throw shooting nailing 12 of their 14 shots from the line. The deficit would have been worse, but Stanford guard, Lili Thompson, was able to knock down one of her three three-pointers at the buzzer. 

Gioya Carter had an insane first half for the Sooners, scoring 16.  However, Carter was only able to add four points in the second to finish with 20 on the game.  Carter commented, “I had the jumpers that were going in the first, they just weren’t falling in the second”. She went on a span on not scoring of 19 minutes, including the final eight of the first half.

The turning point was when, Stanford guard, Lili Thompson ended the first half with one of her three three-pointers at the buzzer.  It brought the Oklahoma lead down to four from seven and brought life into the team.

The second half was a different story, as the Cardinal offense exploded.  Stanford finished the half shooting 65%, and had a stretch where it seemed like they weren’t going to miss.  Amber Orrange led the way for the Cardinal with 24 points, 13 of which came in the second half.  Orrange also became the 21st player in school history to score 1,400 points in her career.  She now sits tied for 20th place with 1,414.

Bonnie Samuelson and Lili Thompson each followed Orrange, scoring 19 each.  Samuelson scored all of her 19 in the second half, after going 0 for 4 from the field in the first.  Sophomore, Briana Roberson topped off the Cardinal double digit scorers with 13 points.  Monday marks the 13th time this season where at least four scorers hit double digits.  They are 13-0 when reaching that feat.

For seniors, Samuelson and Orrange, it will be the last time they ever play at Maples Pavilion.  With their amazing play, it continues a streak of seniors having outstanding games the last time they play at home. Stanford coach, Tara VanDerveer commented on this, “Before the game I told them it was Maples magic.  That every senior has a strong game in their last game.  Why not have a great game yourself”.

The Cardinal have the number one seed in the region up next, as they will take on Notre Dame in the regional semifinal on Friday.  They hope to upset the second ranked team in the country and continue their quest for their third national championship and the first since 1991.

Kings add David Wear to roster

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward David Wear to a 10-day contract. Wear was playing for the Kings D-League affiliate in Reno. 

Wear, a 6-10 forward, averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 30 minutes per game for the Bighorns.

He is a 47.8-percent field goal shooter who hits the 3-pointer 39.4-percent of the time. Wear has hit seven 3-pointers in a game twice this season. 

Wear played his college ball at UCLA. 

David Wear will be available to play in the Philadelphia 76ers game on Tuesday night. 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Bob Melvin still to make big decisions

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MESA AZ–As I spoke with Oakland A’s manger Bob Melvin during batting practice at the new Hohokam Stadium he told me he still has not decided who are going to be his starters after #1 Sonny Gray and #2 Scott Kazmir. Those two(free of injuries the rest of this spring training)you can write in ink, but the second part of that rotation? A’s pitchers A.J.Griffin and Jarrod Parker are not going to be in the rotation come April, they’re still rehabbing. Were still a couple of weeks away until the A’s end their Arizona part of spring training and head to the bay for three games against the World Champion San Francisco Giants, looking to tie the A’s this year with a fourth World Series title.

I have seen Sonny Gray in two outings here in the desert; and he looks as good as ever and would not be surprised if he has a very good year, even among those competing for the Cy Young in the American League. Scott Kazmir is the veteran of this staff right now, may I say the “super veteran” almost like the Bartolo Colon of the A’s staff, he has won in the past and there is no reason to believe he will not win this year.

After that, however, things get much more complicated. A’s pitchers Kendall Graveman, Jesse Hahn, get used to these names, because they could easily make this team right now. However, the two times I have seen Drew Pomeranz pitch here, I do not see how Bob Melvin doesn’t give him a spot in that rotation, #3, 4, 5? I do not know, but I expect Pomeranz to make this starting rotation.

Jesse Hahn cost the A’s catcher Derek Norris and Kendall Graveman was even a more expensive trade, he cost them one of the best players in the league, Josh Donaldson. And then…do not forget Jesse Chavez, who is always in the mkix, starting, in the bullpen, he is always ready, his determination and poise always has him fighting for a rotation spot, or even the bullpen. Jesse Chavez is the ultimate “team pitcher”.

So you ask how’s about Barry Zito? The ex-Cy Young Award winning with the A’s has not done much to hurt his chances; but for this veteran it could even be another team in his future, a possible Billy Beane trade? Do not bet against it! These are the Oakland A’s, they traded Cespedes in July and Donaldson after the season, that was the heart of their lineup, and they went Adios.

There is no more important decision for a major league manager than when to take a pitcher out of a game; but this year for manager Bob Melvin the most difficult decision might be which of these new faces make his rotation. He works well with pitching coach Curt Young, who is as good as any pitching coach today in baseball. Curt Young is a quiet man, but works very well with manager Bob Melvin, and there is little doubt in my mind, that Curt Young’s input is the key to Melvin’s ears.

But at the end, Bob Melvin is the guy that has to make the call. I asked Melvin how much of a challenge this year to have so many new faces in camp, and he told me: “We like that, there is no problem, we are getting used to each other”.

Unless they are some major surprises, like first baseman Ike Davis returning to his “slugger”form when he was with the New York Mets, and the A’s get great run production from him, as well as from Brett Lawrie, the new third-baseman hopefully he can play 124 or more games and stay healthy, the Oakland Athletics this year in one of the strongest divisions in baseball. The A’s will go as far as their pitching takes them. I do not expect this team to score a lot of runs.

The starting rotation will probably be named later this spring training, because these young arms are competing and looking very good, which makes Melvin’s decision tougher but sweet. All we know is that Sonny Gray will open the season April 6 at the Oc.com Coliseum against the Texas Rangers, minus the Rangers #1 pitcher Yu Darvish, Tommy John surgery out the whole season.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings actually look regal in romp over the visiting Wizards

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Dunk

By Morris Phillips

Now that George Karl has done his initial tweaks and pokes, Boogie has returned to health, the rest of the Kings have been put on notice, and Vlade’s settled into his office and found a place to smoke, the Sacramento Kings appear ready to win.

Accordingly, the winning commenced on Sunday afternoon as the Kings turned in an impressive performance, blowing out the playoff-bound but road-weary Wizards, 109-86.

The NBA’s most restless franchise can’t seem to stand still with all the roster moves and upheaval, but they appear close to calming down as the season draws to a close. On Sunday, the Kings used their 17th different starting lineup, but the changes worked: Sacramento won their second straight and did it defensively, holding Washington to 86 points after holding Charlotte to 91 on Friday.

“I wasn’t expecting an easy win, but we got one.” Karl said.  “I think it’s the best game we probably played since I’ve been here.”

The Kings started fast, shooting 67 percent in the first quarter to lead 34-29. All five Kings’ s starters would go on to make more than half their field goal attempts, but Gay, working against Paul Pierce, would strike first, totaling 13 of his team-best 26 points before halftime. Karl continued his experiment of playing Gay at the power forward spot, in hopes of getting the veteran in more favorable matchups against slower defenders, or bigger defenders hesitant to chase Gay around the perimeter.   In this case, Pierce committed three fouls prior to halftime guarding Gay and was limited to 17 minutes of court time.  Gay has obviously liked the subtle change, averaging 25 points per game over his last 10 appearances.

Derrick Williams has also seen a slight bump in his floor time under Karl and on Sunday that led to a pair of emphatic dunks, one off a perfectly timed—if not placed—alley oop pass from Gay.  Williams may not be a natural fit to play off guard, but the move does send a signal to frequent starter Ben McLemore that his floor time will have to be earned.

The Kansas product did seem to operate with an urgency as well, scoring all 17 points after halftime.

While the Kings appeared engaged, the Wizards did not, with Kevin Seraphin committing a flagrant foul on Omri Casspi as he drove to the hoop, and then getting called for the dreaded defensive 3-second violation right before the half.   Washington would allow the Kings to shoot 50 percent from the field for the game including eight made threes.

‘We need to come out with more defensive focus or we don’t have a chance.  That’s pretty much it,” Coach Randy Wittman said of the Wizards’ disinterested effort.

The Wizards were looking to guarantee a non-losing season with their 41st win as well as closing the gap on the Bulls in the East for an opportunity to secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  But along with the defensive issues, the Wizards missed 14 of 17 shot attempts from distance and trailed by 20 points after three quarters.

The Kings improved to 24-45 on the season and did so with Cousins back in his familiar starting role after an absence due to injury.  The versatile center played just 23 minutes due to foul trouble but still put good numbers (20 points, seven rebounds and five assists).    His long bounce pass to a streaking McLemore led to a layup in transition and the Kings first double-digit lead early in the third quarter.

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 19 points along with four assists.

The Kings face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in Sacramento to conclude a three-game home stand, prior to playing seven of their next 10 on the road.

Quakes’ #MarchHome complete

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By Pearl Allison Lo

SAN JOSE– 41 years since they were inaugurated, seven years since the stadium proposal, since playing in Spartan Stadium, leaving San Jose and playing at Buck Shaw Stadium, the San Jose Earthquakes now have their own home sweet home, Avaya Stadium.

In a more friendly environment than their first regular season game, the atmosphere was a sold-out 18,000 people strong.

Technically though, the Quakes were not strangers to playing in new stadiums, or Avaya itself. San Jose got to play in the first game ever at the new San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium and of course the first game in their own Avaya Stadium February 28, when they won in the preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The games have worked out well, with the Quakes winning all, 1-0, 3-2 and 2-1 respectively.

Still, the inaugural event of course deserved the attention it got.

The pregame ceremony started with a video. Then,The Great Soccer Ball Relay announcing the stadium opening, reached its final destination after commencing January 8. People kicking the ceremonial bright orange game ball included a member of the original 1974 team and Brandi Chastain. Krazy George then burst out of the giant drum behind the ball and started leading the crowd in chants, and then of course there were fireworks.

The 1906 Ultras’ first tifo at Avaya came via the movie 300. The supporters unveiled a huge banner depicting six red and gold barechested Spartan soldiers surrounding the Quakes logo, above the words: “This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. This is where they die.”

In the spirit of greenness, bicycle parking is allowed in the VIP lot. With a forecast of possible showers on game day, the rain held off for a perfect pitch.

The first goal of the new stadium came just five minutes in by way of San Jose’s Fatai Alashe, which was his first goal as he put in a triple header after Ty Harden then Clarence Goodson each headed the ball.

“I think when those goals went in the roof was almost getting shouted off the hinges,” said Head Coach Dominic Kinnear.

A day before the opening, Shea Salinas in his first ever Q&A with FanTalk, replied to a fan, “The stadium is amazing! I think it is one of the best fan viewing experiences in the country.”

On the atmosphere, Kinnear said,  “When you walk out here, just the energy and enthusiasm from some friends and family before the game, you know it’s spreading throughout the whole city and soccer community, it’s wonderful. The atmosphere was just fantastic…My thanks always go to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Wolff and Dave Kaval for putting together a great project and fulfilling everything and making the players love this place and giving MLS another wonderful stadium. Glad we won the game.”

Melissa McKenzie of the Santa Clara Weekly commented, “The atmosphere was incredible. The stadium is absolutely gorgeous and I love the fact that in addition to standard stadium food they’ve brought in food trucks. It’s a really exciting place to see soccer.”

On the patient and long wait for the stadium, “Many people have waited 40 years for this. We’ve been homeless and nomadic for 40 years. Now we have a home. Just as one 40-year era has ended, another one is just beginning,” said Gary Singh, a columnist at Metro Silicon Valley and author of The San Jose Earthquakes: A Seismic Soccer Legacy, which recently launched.

There were familiar faces on the other side, including former goalie Jon Busch and Head Coach Frank Yallop, now on the Chicago Fire.  “It was kind of nice to be the first (visiting) team here,” said Yallop, who also expressed feeling “emotional,” the stadium was a “special place,” “magnificent job,” was “excited” when he saw the plans and mentioned the boxes down low.”

On partaking in his dad’s soccer dream come true, Chris Wondolowski laughed and said, “It’s my dream as well. …been a dream to always play for the Earthquakes and yet alone, be able to open a stadium. It’s something special.”

The Quakes capped season ticket holders at 12,000 on Monday and launched the stadium’s official app Avaya Stadium on Wednesday.

Fans still have the Devotion Wall for season ticket holders and the LED Field Boards to look forward to, as mentioned on President Dave Kaval’s kickoff writeup on sjearthquakes.com. The latter will be available at San Jose’s second home match Sunday, April 5 at 2pm.

This is what Wikipedia had before the game. What will it have after?

 

Return of Dominic Kinnear (2015–present)[edit]

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Randle’s Career Night Against Rhode Island Pushes Cardinal Into NIT Quaterfinals

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By Matthew T.F. Harrington

STANFORD, Calif. — Chasson Randle and the Stanford Cardinal live to see another day, topping the University of Rhode Island Rams 74-65 Sunday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament.

Randle, a senior playing in a do-or-die contest to keep his days in cardinal alive, scored a career-high 35 points to lead his team to victory. With his career-best night, Randle moved to 2,310 career scorers, nine shy of Adam Keefe’s 2,319 for second-best in school history. Randle is 26 shy of matching the school record set by Todd Lichti from 1985-189.

“I just want to keep winning to be real,” said Randle. “It’d be a great achievement, to be the all-time leading scorer but I just want to go out on the right note with this team. We didn’t achieve what we wanted to, to make the NCAA tournament but we’re granted an opportunity here in the NIT.”

It was a opportunity all the more significant because Randle’s father was in attendance at Maples Pavilion.

“My dad was here tonight,” said Randle. “So for him to be here and see that is special to me. Over the course of my career he’s probably been to 3-4 home games a year.”

The guard started the game red-hot, netting the first seven points of the game while hitting three-straight field goals. The Pac-12 All First-Teamer ultimately hit 9 of 16 shots total over 39 minutes, picking up three steals and four rebounds along the way.

“My teammates told me stay aggressive from the beginning,” said Randle. “I just tried to follow their advice. They told me they were going to lean on me. I just tried to will them to a win.”

Randle, one of the nation’s best free-throw shooters, also went 15-for-19 from the charity stripe.

“I’m kind of upset I missed those four free throws,” said Randle with a smile.

Fellow seniors Anthony Brown and Stefan Nastic scored 16 and 7 points respectively while Nastic pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. As a team, Stanford hit 34 percent of shots, sinking 18 of 53 attempts. The Cardinal went 2-13 from beyond the three-point line.

“Last game we shot pretty well from three, in this game we didn’t,” said Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins. “For the year we’re shooting over 38 percent from the three-point line which means we’re top-50 from beyond the arc so I never really worry about our ability to shoot the ball.”

Sophomore guard E.C. Matthews, a burgeoning star in the Atlantic 10, topped the Rams (23-10) with 23 points. Fellow southpaw sophomore Hassan Martin pitched in 16.

“I love his team,” said Dawkins of Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley’s squad. “I think he has a very good team. They’re young but they’re very talented. Both of those kids will be high-level players, not just in college. I think they have the chance to play at the next level.”

In total, both teams committed 56 fouls combined Sunday. The final total was aided mightily by Rhode Island’s 35.

“It was going to be a physical game,” said Dawkins. “I watched a lot of tape (of Rhode Island). They’re a very physical team. They’ve been successful with that brand of basketball. I know our guys would really focus and concentrate.”

Randle was the recipient of one of the contest’s nastier fouls when Rhode Island guard Jarvis Garrett delivered an elbow to his head with 4:33 left to play. “I’m not sure,” said Randle when asked if he thought the elbow was accidental.

Second-seeded Stanford (21-13) never trailed in the contest after building the 7-0 lead, but the Rams did keep the contest close. They scored 7 of the next 8 points to pull within one of their host. Stanford then went on a 23-14 run to build a game-high 13-point lead at 31-18. Over the final two minutes of the half, Rhode Island scored nine points while shutting out Stanford to head into the half down by only four at 31-27.

Stanford, aided by 35 trips to the charity stripe in the second half, once again built up the 13 point lead with just over a minute left in regulation. In total the Cardinal outscored the Rams 43-38 in the second half for the final 74-65 margin. The previous three contests between these two teams, all won by Stanford, were decided by five points combined.

By virtue of the victory and a first-round upset of top-seeded Colorado State, the Cardinal receives the privilege of a third-straight playoff contest at Maples Pavilion.

“It’s gratifying because we don’t have to travel,” said Randle. “We’re not on the road, we can sleep in our own beds. We’re fortunate enough to stay here.”

Stanford will welcome fifth-seeded Vanderbilt Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to a semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

Vanderbilt upset the no. 4 team St. Mary’s in Moraga to open the tournament then toppled the eight seed South Dakota State 92-77.

“I don’t know much about Vanderbilt at this moment,” said Dawkins. “I’ll spend lots of time when I leave here studying them, but I can’t say anything. I haven’t watched them play once this year. I’ll look at them starting tonight and study up on them. I know (Vanderbilt coach Kevin) Stallings does a great job. He’ll have some talented players ready to compete when they come in here.”

For Dawkins, the same will hopefully be said of his team Tuesday as they seek a second NIT title in five years after winning in 2012.

“The thing I saw in that team that I still see in this team,” said Dawkins. “They’re not ready for the season to be over.”

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Giants split squads drop two games on Sunday

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SCOTTSDALE AZ–The San Francisco Giants played the Los Angeles Angles for the second day in a row, after losing on Saturday by a 3-2 score at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Today Madison Bumgarner started for the Giants and C.W Wilson for the Angels.

Albert Pujols baptized MadBum early with a solo shot, his second home run of the spring. However, Bumgarner settled down and pitched six very good innings, retiring the last 16 Halos he faced, and the home run by Pujols, was the only hit he allowed.

C.J Wilson didn’t do that well for the Angels. The lefty went 4 1/3 innings, allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, and walked 4. The two runs were home runs by young Giants, Matt Duffy in the first inning and Justin Maxwell three innings later. For the Giants Gregor Blanco had 2 hits and Justin Maxwell also reached base with 2 hits. Wilson was very inconsistent last season and considering he is the #2 starter for the Angels behind Jered Weaver(who is having a terrific spring) is an extremely important piece for the Halos, who last year led baseball with 98 wins, to win the Western Division, and are one of the favorites, with the Mariners to win this division in 2015.

For the Angels the reigning American League MVP Mike Trout, considered the best player in the game had a hit in three at bats and ended the day batting .500 for the spring, and looks like he is ready for Opening Night at Seattle.

Today also in Surprise, Arizona. The Kansas City Royals beat the Giants 4-2.

Good news for the Giants: The Los Angeles Dodgers are the team to beat this year in the Western Division , however the Dodgers did not receive very good news. Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was told he will start the season on the disabled list, with an injured left shoulder. Ryu tried to play catch Sunday, after receiving cortisone shot this past Friday, but he could not stretch his arm. Last year he was sidelined twice for that same stiffness on his left shoulder. Injuries are part of the game, the Giants will not have Hunter Pence ready for Opening Day here in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, and now their biggest rivals will not have Ryu to start the season.

Anecdote from the past: How important should you take Spring Training individual performances? Most people realize that this is only Spring Training, games final scores do not count, and that is why many games end in a tie, something that would never happen during the regular season. My best anecdote of “not to make much “about what we see here in Arizona, happened in 1990.

I was in camp as I was broadcasting the Athletics. Pitcher Bob Welch had a terrible, I mean terrible Spring Training. He was so bad, that we were asking manager Tony LaRussa if he was ok, rumors surfaced that Welch was hurt, and was not telling anybody. He was a mainstay in that rotation, so everybody expected Welch to go through camp and free of injury and he looked like what he was, a very good established pitcher, together with A’s ace Dave Stewart.

At the end of the regular season, that same year Welch ended with a record of 27-6 2.95, pitched 238 innings and won the American League Cy Young Award. Welch passed last year at the age of 57, he lived in Seal Beach, in the Huntington Beach/Newport Beach area of Los Angeles. Welch is the last pitcher in the majors to win at least 25 games in a single season, and the last one to win 27 games. Prior to that sensational season by Welch, the great Steve Carlton won 27 games in 1972.

Health is the #1 concern for all teams in Spring Training, but never put much credence on a performance, good or bad, because unless the player is hurt, it is great to have a good spring, but that in the standings means, absolutamente nada.

With the games today, we are at half point of the Spring Training game schedule. The A’s and Giants will close their Spring Training with the Bay Series, Thursday and Friday April 2 and 3 at AT&T Park and Saturday April 4 at the O.Co Coliseum.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the LA Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Quakes Open Avaya Stadium With Win

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By: Joe Lami

The San Jose Earthquakes opened up Avaya Stadium with a victory, defeating the Chicago Fire 2-1.  It was a long awaited day for the Earthquakes, as they finally got to play the first match in their massive new home, as 18,000 Quakes’ supporters showed up to rock the house. 

San Jose used the excitement to their advantage, scoring two early goals in the first half.  Rookie midfielder, Fatai Alashe, started just five minutes in heading home a corner kick for his first career goal.  Matias Perez Gomez took the corner from the left side to set up Avaya Stadium’s opening goal.  Alahe commented on his goal that will live in Quakes’ history, “I didn’t think about it at the time, but it’s cool to realize afterwards.  It will be a goal that lives in history for as long as we’re in San Jose.

The momentum would continue for San Jose, as they were feeling it early.  Middlefielder, JJ Koval had an outstanding chance just one minute later, as he fired a right-footed shot from just outside the box that just missed the top left corner.

Quakes’ new head coach, Dominic Kinnear, commented about the fast start San Jose had, “The new stadium got the guys charged up.  That early goal helped even more so.  It definitely put a bounce into our step”.

San Jose would continue their first half dominance, as they would take the 2-0 lead in the 21st minute.  Ty Harden would be credited with the goal, his first MLS goal in his 100th game.  Once again, Gomez would set up the goal off a set piece.  He centered it from 35-yards out, Clarence Goodson would get the first shot, which would be saved by Fire goalkeeper, Sean Johnson.  Unfortunately for Johnson he coughed it right up, where Harden took advantage and slid the ball past the Chicago keeper for the goal.

Kinnear, also added on Garcia’s great job with the set piece, “He brings a great ball, putting it in the right spot. That’s what we need”.

Chicago was able to get on the board in the 29th minute, as Harrison Shipp tapped one by Quakes’ keeper, David Bingham.  The goal was step up beautifully with a pass from Joevin Jones, that left it right on the foot of Shipp for the easy one.

The Fire were trying to equalize the entire second half, but the Quakes defense held to earn the three points.  “I’m glad we won, it makes opening the new stadium feel even better,” added Kinnear. 

March Madness podcast with Michelle Richardson: Coach K and Duke crush San Diego State; Wichita St gets third round in two years

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by Michelle Richardson

Duke 68 S.Diego 49: Duke is just one of those schools you look at them and they’ll start off the season really great and you’ll be down for Duke but when it comes around time this is like the second season. When it gets around time to get into round 65 it becomes a second season. Duke head coach Mike Kryzezwski got his players to handle the Aztecs.

San Diego State played strong, they had 13 points from Winston Sheppard and 26 from Jahlil Okafor for Duke. JJ O’Brien with seven rebounds for San Diego and to Duke’s Justise Winslow’s 13 rebounds. I’m always a believer when it comes to basketball defense creates offense and if your getting a rebound and getting second chances and cleaning up the glass on offense and defensive rebounds that puts you in a better situation to be able to win.

Winslow he put on a show he had five assists he had one block on O’Brien that was just a tremendous snuff and like I said it’s Duke. Duke can’t have what happened to them last year when unknown Mercer who is in the Southern Conference. Last year they shocked the NCAA world by knocking out Duke in the first round.

Michigan State 60 Virginia 54: The Michigan State Spartans won by six on Sunday and their there to make a statement. The Big Ten is really making a statement with their number of teams. Michigan over UVA was huge and the Spartans got help from Travis Trice with 23 points and UVA’s Anthony Gill’s 11 points.

The top rebounder for Michigan Brendon Dawson nine and for UVA Darion Atkins 14 even though UVA had the top rebounder they just weren’t making the shots. The shots were not falling for UVA, blocks and steals in this one pretty much even but you have to remember that offense creates defense. Michigan St was just on point with points for averages and field goals.

Those three pointers got UVA and what can you say it’s Michigan State this is what they do. The Cavaliers went 30-4 this season their the first ACC Team to lose after going 9-0 in the tournament. This is the first time a ACC team has been knocked out after an 9-0 start. The ACC has got tougher and this was a great season for UVA but a tough loss.

Wichita State 78 Kansas 65: The pride of Missouri Valley Wichita State lived up to it’s name Shockers and they took names with a whopping win over the Kansas Jayhawks. The Shockers who are ranked number seven moved up on number two rank Kansas with a 13 point win on Sunday night. The win gets the Shockers into the Sweet 16.

Tekele Cotton lead all Shocker scorers with 19 points, Fred Van Fleet 17 points, and Evan Wessel hit four three points to tally up 12 points. The Shockers are now headed to the Midwest Regionals in Cleveland to face Notre Dame on Thursday. The win marks the second time that Wichita State will be in the third round.

Michelle Richardson is covering March Madness for http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen to the podcast below: