http://rherman.encblogs.com Everything sports...and then some Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:10:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Scores will be updated here all throughout the tournament. Winner advances to the 2009 NJCAA D-II volleyball tournament in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., Nov. 19-21. Friday-Saturday at Lenoir C.C., Kinston, N.C. Single elimination Friday Game 1: (4) Guilford Tech 3, (5) Lenoir C.C. 0 [25-19, 25-17, 25-18] Game 2: (3) Surry C.C. 3, (6) Rockingham C.C. 0 [25-10, 25-14, 25-7] Saturday Game ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=67 There was just too much equal talent across the baseball diamond this season to have one Player of the Year -- so The Free Press chose three:  Josh Lovick, SS, junior, Kinston (.590 avg., 26 runs, 26 RBIs, 2 HRs, 15 SB) Lee Taylor, P/OF, senior, South Lenoir (.463 avg., 31 runs, ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=66 Ok, so the sport itself has been going on since mid-February, but I'm talking about the pristine fields, web gems, and $7 hotdogs that is Major League Baseball. The Braves -- who I predict to be major players in the NL East -- got things rolling by beating the defending WS ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=65 Wow. I was 8 when UNLV thrashed Duke 103-73 in the 1990 national title game. I don't remember much about that night. I was probably in bed by the time the game even ended. But Thursday's thrashing is one I'll remember for the rest of my life. What happened? Where'd the Duke ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=64 The NCAA tournament has been merely chalk to this point. For the first time in its history, all top 3 seeds reached the Sweet 16 (even Duke!). Which further proves my argument -- which I've made since the George Mason days -- that college basketball is all about matchups (See: ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=63 Note: An error occurred in my column in the print edition. Only 15 of the 16 Big East teams have reached the Final Four. South Florida is the one team that hasn't. The error has been corrected in the online edition. Here's a look at the numbers between the Atlantic Coast ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=62 With 16 games in the books, here are some of yours truly's thoughts on Thursday's action: Memphis' Roburt Sallie had his coming-out party against Cal-State Northridge. His 35 points were around 30 more than his season average, and he hit 10 3s. Without his hot hand early, the Tigers would probably ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=61 The favorite in this region is obviously Pittsburgh, and a major upset pick is 11-seed Virginia Commonwealth over No. 6 UCLA. I don't think either will happen. Region strength: Of the four regions, the East ranks third as far as strength and depth. After the top three seeds -- (1) Pitt, (2) ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=60 FoxSports.com's Jeff Goodman has Gonzaga reaching the Final Four out of this region. The 'Zags? Are you kidding me? Without a 100-percent Ty Lawson, ye olde Heels could face trouble in the second round against a long and athletic LSU (assuming the Tigers get past Butler). Those same Heels -- ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=59 A tough bracket, to say the least. You have the overall No. 1 seed Louisville, No. 2 Michigan State and the defending national champion in Kansas all in. Region strength: Hardest. Louisville and No. 4 Wake Forest in the Sweet 16 could go either way, and a Kansas-Michigan State Sweet 16 matchup ... http://rherman.encblogs.com/?p=58