It’s basketball Saturday

Morning briefing - sports

Saturday, February 27, 2021

If it is Saturday, it is basketball day for me.

The confluence of my retirement and the number of college games streaming on cable has allowed me to follow three different teams this year - Syracuse, West Virginia and Gonzaga.

After watching Joseph Girard III for his entire high school career from up in the bleachers at Glens Falls High, I have watched just about every Syracuse game this year.

When Syracuse plays Georgia Tech at noon today, it will be the first of a triple header for me.

Syracuse’s chances for an NCAA Tournament bid seem to be slipping away after losing to Duke Monday night. The team probably needs to win all three of its remaining regular season games to have a shot. What’s been worse is seeing Girard’s playing time slipping away.

Freshman Kadary Richmond, a 6-5 guard from Brooklyn, played so well in the first half against Duke that Girard did not start in the second half. Richmond finished with 15 points. Girard did not score.

This week syracuse.com quoted coach Jim Boeheim on Girard:

“Joe has struggled,’' Boeheim said. “He’s had some really good games. He hasn’t had just OK games. He’s been bad or he’s been good. Two or three out of the last four games have been bad.”

Girard has scored just five points on 2-for-10 shooting in his last two games. Personally, I’d just like to see Girard shoot more. He too often seems hesitant to pull the trigger.

I’ve also watched just about every West Virginia game this year. I’ve always enjoyed the run-and-gun style of Bob Huggins’ teams. My son attended West Virginia the past two years so I got to see WVU up close several times, including a big upset of Kansas.

WVU, playing in the brutally tough Big 12, could have a shot at the Final Four this year. They are playing really well right now.

I’ve also been following Gonzaga, the college with the strange name but great basketball team. When I was in sports, I would often get home in time to see Gonzaga playing the final game of the night on ESPN.

Gonzaga has been unbeaten and No.1 all year and I’ve watched six or seven of their games, including a come-from-behind win over Santa Clara Thursday. All three schools will have their games televised today.

I’m in heaven.

Another Girard

I’ve been going to Glens Falls home games since Jimmer Fredette played. I’ve missed those games this year.

Just reading about the games in the paper this past week has added some normalcy to my daily routine. It’s great to see Noah Girard, Joe’s cousin, off to such a great start with a couple of 30-point games.

I just wish I could be there to see the action.

It’s not that warm

You know you are sick of winter when a sunny, 35-degree days has you thinking about planting flowers. But as I was driving home on Aviation Road Friday, just west of the roundabout, I saw a jogger chugging along without a shirt.

It was 32 degrees.

Am I that old?

I was doing some research on the website of The Daily Star in Oneonta, N.Y. I was looking to see if they had archives that included some of my writing from the 1980s. I searched for my name and found it listed under a “Today in history” category that chronicled how The Daily Star summer softball team had completed an undefeated season and won the championship.

In the championship game, the team was led by Ken Tingley with three hits. I don’t remember ever being on an unbeaten softball team or getting three hits in the championship game, but what stood out for me was that I was old enough to be in a Today in history column.