Yelling at the TV Syndrome

Recently ran in the Campus Chronicle!  Enjoy:

“Why’d he do that?!” We have all been to a sporting event and seemed to have that reaction at least once a game. The only difference might be to make the expression gender appropriate.

Sporting events seem to be the one time when a person who shouldn’t have made the little league team becomes an expert in the sport. You never see a person with a high school diploma second guess a brain surgeon and seem intelligent doing so.

This could be the single reason why sporting events are quite possible the best thing we attend. Don’t take that out of context or blow that up, but think about it. What can change your mood so quickly?

I remember two years ago when Arizona Reid missed the game winning shot against Winthrop. When the ball rimmed out, the Millis Center became quiet and we stood in disbelief. My friend and I split a pint of strawberry ice cream from the Point.

Rewind earlier in that year and I was at a women’s soccer game against Francis Marion. It was the Saturday of fall break, campus was empty and the stands at the game were worse. The game was 0-0 and went into double overtime. With less than 10 seconds left in the second overtime, Francis Marion scored the golden goal. I proceeded to go back to my room to eat a box of Mac and Cheese by myself.

After both games I found my spirits down and my emotions out of check. Food seemed to satisfy me. During my indulging meals I questioned the games. I relived the games while my ice cream melted and my macaroni cooked.

What do I know about basketball? I know just as much as the other average Joe who played growing up. I was that kid who shouldn’t have made the little league team. What do I know about soccer? I know as much as I do about brain surgery.

It was still fun to question moves and feel like I had the key both coaches Bart Lundy and Michelle Rayner needed to win the close games. The truth is I have nothing that could help the two except being in the stands.

It is ok to question the moves on the field. That is the beauty of sports. It is the only event that we can come with our shirts off, chests painted and act like we haven’t been civilized.

In addition, we can act like we are the general manager of any team of our choosing. One day I’m the GM of an HPU team and the next day I’m in charge of the New York Mets.

If you are going to join me in being an overprotective fan, then I ask one thing. I ask you stay involved in the programs through reading game recaps and going to games. You can’t expect to be even a little bit knowledgeable without reading and going to the games!

Maybe one day you will fall in the coach’s chair and have us questioning your moves. Who knows? Until then, let’s just raise the bar together…

The ride is over

            High Point University lost to Winthrop University in the Advance Auto Parts Big South Semifinals 61-53.  Winthrop advanced to the finals in which they prevailed against UNC Asheville.

            “I was proud of our guys they didn’t lay down and we kept battling,” Panther head coach Bart Lundy said.

            Arizona Reid led High Point with 21 points and nine rebounds.  Gene Harris scored 21 points on seven three pointers.  Michael Jenkins had 14 points for Winthrop.

            The game started off well for the Panthers who scored the first five points of the game.  After the first three minutes of the game, Winthrop gained the lead and never relinquished it.

            The first half was all Winthrop when they on a 12-0 run over a three-minute span.  The Eagles advanced their lead to as many as 18 before the break.  Winthrop had a 33-18 advantaged heading to the locker room.

The Panthers shot only 31 percent from the floor in the first half.  Reid or Harris scored all of the points.  Senior guard Mike Jefferson only attempted one rushed three in the first half but had four assists.

            The second half Winthrop kept a 10 plus point advantaged for over the first 11 minutes.  The lead came as close to seven points in the final minute.

            Winthrop won their 11^th straight Big South tournament game setting a conference record.  They also won their fourth straight championship on March 8.

            Reid shot 8-27 from the floor and 0-7 from behind the arc.   Reid said, “I had some good looks, I just didn’t make them.  I had some open threes that rimed out.  I guess today just wasn’t my day.”

            “These two guys here with me [Reid and Jefferson], the sad part of it is they leave accomplishing some fantastic individual accomplishments.  We are going to miss them.  It is hard for me to express what they have meant to this program and how much I personally going to miss these guys.  They not only are good basketball players, but great people.” Lundy said regarding his two senior leaders.

            Reid’s final thoughts about looking back on his stellar two-time MVP career, “I had a lot of fun here at High Point.  I had a good career.  I still didn’t get the thing I came here to get.”

            Reid did many things at High Point.  He is the all time leader in steals, minutes played, game started and games played.  He is second in points and third in rebounds.  He is the Big South’s all time leader in rebounds and the only 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound man.  He is the 97^th player in NCAA history to achieve such a feat.

            Jefferson’s final thoughts, “The coach at High Point gave me a chance being I was the last JUNCO player they took.  I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play here and play with the best player I have ever played with in Arizona Reid.  It was a dream and it came and went.”

            Jefferson left with HPU’s all time assist record, three pointers made, third in minutes played, third in games started and a member of the 1,000 point club.  He was in the nation’s top in assists per game this year and set a High Point single season record in assists.

            The season is over but the team has bright spots looking ahead for next year.  Jourdan Morris will be eligible after sitting out a year due to NCAA regulations over transferring.  He played last year for St. Bonaventure scoring 13 points against Syracuse.  <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-3F61691828 <![endif]–>Alquan Mendenhall<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> will be a redshirt freshman next year.  He scored 24 points a game as a junior.  He scored 40 points in an area tournament game.  Also coming in are two 70 rating guards on ESPN.com.

High Point trails at the half

            High Point trails 33-18 to Winthrop at half in the Advance Auto Parts Big South semifinals.

            The Panthers hit a bit of bad luck shooting making a dismal 31 percent of their shots.  Winthrop has made 56 percent of their attempts.

The biggest problem is behind the arc for the Panthers.  They have made three of 13 attempts, all of which hit by sophomore guard Gene Harris.

Along with Harris’ nine points, conference MVP Arizona Reid has nine points as well.  Pacing second seeded Winthrop is Michael Jenkins with nine.  Andy Buechert has chipped in nine.

            Other notable stats include Mike Jefferson with four assists.  Chris Gaynor has three helpers for the Eagles.

            Full game recap after the conclusion of the game.

High Point falls to Winthrop

            High Point University fell to Winthrop University Saturday 62-54 in the Winthrop Coliseum.

 

            High Point (13-10, 5-4) could not muster a second half worthy of victory for the second straight year.  Winthrop (15-9, 6-3) now controls second place.

 

            The teams went into the game tied for second in the Big South.  HPU used a victory of Liberty to tie Winthrop after WU lost to Coastal Carolina.  Mike Jefferson paced the Panthers with 19 points while Arizona Reid finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and a team best four assists.

            Jefferson scored 18 points in the first half as the Panthers went into the break up 34-31.  Jefferson made three from deep.  The Panthers never led by more than four points the whole first half.

 

            The second half was a different story.  For the second straight year HPU gave up a half time lead in the Winthrop Coliseum.  The Panthers scored 20 points in the second half compared to the Eagles 31.

 

            Head coach Bart Lundy told highpointpanthers.com, “”This was a disappointing loss today.  We have steadily improved over the last several games and I thought today we took a bit of a step back. We needed to be tougher and play through some of our individual struggles. I thought we had problems finding any kind of flow in the second half.”

 

            High Point welcomes Big South leading UNC Asheville Wednesday night.  Game time is set for 7 pm in the Millis Center.

Liberty visits High Point

Ash Wednesday brings in the Flames to the Millis Center.  Here is another Panther Game Day to help get you up to speed with today’s game.  

High Point takes down VMI

            High Point University (12-9, 4-3) ran past Reggie William-less Virginia Military Institute (10-10, 2-4) 90-71 Saturday night.

 

            HPU had four players in double figures led by Arizona Reid and Mike Jefferson at 22 points apiece.  Reid finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and four steals.  Jefferson finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals.  Cruz Daniels finished with 16 points and four blocks and Eugene Harris had 14 points.

 

            The game was a tale of two halves as High Point trailed by as many as eight through the first half.  VMI led the whole half with no ties.  Most of the half had the Keydets up four points.

 

            Coming out of the break HPU had to overcome a seven point deficit.  The first seven minutes of the second frame, the Panthers outscored the home team 21-6.  In five more minutes High Point stretched the lead to 18 at 72-54 with 6:26 left.

 

            The next four minutes, HPU’s scoring drought was VMI’s scoring monsoon.  A 17-6 run made the game 78-71.  The Keydets would not score within the final 2:50.

 

            For HPU the rebounds and three pointers were crucial to victory.  The Panthers out-rebounded VMI 46-25.  The Keydets, normally high scoring, three point machine, went 3-21 from deep.  VMI could not stop the inside game either.  HPU scored 58 points from the paint and 26 fast break points.  High Point also know it is better to give as they had 26 assists compared to VMI’s 10.

 

            With his six rebounds, Reid became the first player in Big South history to record 1,800 points and 900 rebounds.  At his current pace, Reid will finished with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.  Reid also became the career leader in High Point history for steals with his second steal of the game.  He has 142 career steals now.

 

            HPU begins the second half of Big South play Wednesday against Liberty University in the Millis Center.  Game time is scheduled start at 7 pm.  Last time the teams met, LU won by four.