A little experiment here: There have been a number of comments on some recent posts that have had nothing to do with the subject matter, but readers didn’t know where else to ask questions or express views.
So I thought I would set up a post here where you all can ask any questions or start a thread on various subject matters that are of interest to you.
I’m not trying to sway the discussion, but I have been exclusively covering mostly boys and some girls basketball all winter so those are the sports I can speak about with greater expertise.
But if you want to talk about something else, feel free. This is your blog post to be heard.
If it goes well we will do this more often.
Here is a question for girls basketball fans: in looking at the brackets for a number of local leagues, there is an outside chance a private school may win the league championship in the FCIAC, SWC, SCC and NVL:
FCIAC could be looking at a St Joes/Trinity final;
SWC is guaranteed a private school in the final as Kolbe and Lauralton meet in the semis;
NVL is also has a private school guaranteed as Holy Cross and St. Paul’s meet in the semi’s;
and the SCC has Mercy in one of the semi’s brackets.
If this was the boys bracket, people would be screaming to “break up” the private schools if the brackets shook out like this…..
So, here is the question: how are the private schools so dominant in these 4 leagues? Parity? Talent? Coaching? Recruiting? (there, I said the “R” word) I don’t follow the girls, so I’m curious as to what those that follow the girls have to say……
Comment by fciacfootballfan — February 21st, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
It’s recruiting—-Nation wide in Basketball, Hockey and Football the Catholic schools dominate. Do you people actually think these students are all CATHOLIC. Wake up!!
Comment by gman — February 22nd, 2010 @ 8:12 am
Trinity Catholics’ Girls program seems to be doing magnificent over the past several years under the direction of Coach Tom Kriz.
Westhill has competed better of late especially the last two weeks. What do you guys think the reason is ?
Dave – With March Madness approaching the College Game, any hope of having a blog in a couple of weeks regarding Selection Sunday ??
Thanks.
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 22nd, 2010 @ 10:50 am
Last I checked, Catholic schools are not exclusively for Catholic students. I know Trinity has a more diversified population than you would think. That is hardly limited to sports.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:00 am
Full: I am a college basketball junkie and the tournament is my favorite sporting event. If you out there are interested I see no reason why we can’t broaden the scope for three weeks for my commentary on the tournament. I actually did it for the NCAA’s website for the 1998 tournament.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:02 am
Nice Dave …if you start a new Blog : “Who’s In ? Who’s Out ? ” Where we comment on who should be in that is on “bubble” and who shouldn’t be that would be a good starting point. ….
I would be happy to contribute there.
By the way, I know they have a lot of work to do but IF Uconn runs the table and gets to 20 wins they ABSOLUTELY will be in…BUT they have a long way to go to get there…..
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:14 am
If I do college basketball commentary it will be off this blog.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:19 am
OK ….Uconn will be in or out Dave ? Prediction: ?
How far does Syracuse go this year ?
and who wins the title this year ?
I know the brackets aren’t posted yet but Iam sure you wouldn’t mind giving me your opinions now….
Uconn – IN Syracuse – Elite 8 Champion – Kentucky (chalk)
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 22nd, 2010 @ 11:21 am
Dave,
In your honest opinion do you think the Uconn womens basketball team can beat this years Stamford HIgh school boys team or would the boys destroy them off the boards?
Comment by gman — February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:21 am
GMan: I have to be honest: I’m not a big fan of women’s college basketball. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen more than a few minutes of a UConn game and if so it has been many, many years. Sorry I can’t help. Curious though: why would it matter if they could beat Stamford?
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Sorry for being late with this Full: got lost in all the posts. I think UConn has a good chance if it can avoid any bad losses and avoid an early upset in the Big East Tournament. I always thought the team was overrated at the beginning of the year and basically has played to its talent level.
I think Syracuse has the personnel to go all the way depending on its draw.
I am amused by all these experts that keep seeding the tournament each week. Why bother until the season is over? It is a waste of time other than I guess people need something to do and it stirs conversation.
Thus, I don’t want to make any predictions until I see draws because I really believe that is as big a factor as talent level.
Obviously Kentucky and Kansas are obvious choices, though I would love to see John Calipari fail again. I don’t like picking Big 10 schools, but I like Purdue and I still would watch Michigan State, a team I loved at the start of the year.
I promise to do some NCAA blogging as we get closer to the tournament and I’m happy to answer questions until then.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:39 am
Interesting points Dave especially Calipari ..As for the GMan’s point..the Uconn women would beat Stamford High’s boys team….
I think you are trying to point that Women couldn’t hang with men and the Uconn Men would absolutely crush the uconn women…
But the Husky Women would beat any of the FCIAC teams this year….
You are right about Uconn Men Dave….overrated at first now they are underrated and need to play themselves in to the tournament
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 23rd, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
Just a little input, the Uconn women would not beat either Central or St Joseph’s once if they played them 10 times. I played for the women’s practice team in 04 and we were up 25 on them in the 1st half of a scrimmage before all of our best players were removed from game so not to embarrass the women. Definetely not proud or boasting, just stating facts. This was their version of “Midnight Madness” in Gampel. The girls got the benefit of every call and we completely destroyed them. I know this year’s team is much better than in 04 but trust me they would have no chance against Central or St Joseph’s. They might have a chance against Stamford, I’d put Stamford as a 6 point favorite.
Comment by JB — February 24th, 2010 @ 10:38 am
Dear JB,
Must agree with your assessment of the UCONN girls basketball team vs. Central or ST. Josephs. They are too fast and too strong under the boards for Uconn. Fundamentally the girls are much the best but the strength and quickness of the boys would beat them.
Comment by pete — February 24th, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Ok Pete and JB I’ll concede the games would be close with St Joes and Central….
How about Taurasi, Rizzotti, Shea Ralph, Lobo, Maya Moore
with Bascom, Walters, Tina Charles off the bench….
An all star team of Lady Huskies would crush any boys team in the FCIAC ….Interesting thoughts on this……
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 25th, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Dear Full,
I’m not sure if the WNBA teams can beat some of the strong FCIAC teams this year.
Comment by gman — February 25th, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
Gman and Company,
You guys are outta your minds if you don’t think these jocks from the WNBA couldn’t play with a strong High School team !!
That I am sure of..
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 25th, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Full,
The games with St Joe’s and Central would not be close. The games with anyone else in the FCIAC would probably be close. Obviously an all-time Uconn All Star or a WNBA team would fare better than the team in 04 or this year’s team. The point is that I just wanted to clarify your false statement “the Husky Women would beat any of the FCIAC teams this year…” That statement is so completely wrong that I felt like sharing my experience playing against the women as a reference in case anyone else was interested in this subject.
Regards,
JB
Comment by JB — February 25th, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
The elite college or pro women vrs. elite high school men’s teams is an interesting debate…I don’t know, but I believe a lot may depend on which size ball they use…I think the women’s basketball is slightly smaller than the men’s…If they used the smaller ball it might throw off the guys a little especially from the outside shots…If they use the bigger ball, then the women would probably have a hard time winning…
Comment by ghsgrandpa — February 26th, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Dear Grandpa,
A smaller ball favors the boys even more-A team like ST. Joes would kill Uconn off the boards. I do think the UCONN girls would beat Darien this year and Wilton easily.
Comment by gman — March 1st, 2010 @ 8:03 am
Switching subjects, it does look like GHS can do one thing right year after year, and that’s win swimming titles…Winning 39 out of the last 40 FCIAC titles is pretty dominant..They have a good record winning in the states, too..Some of these guys are pretty big kids, and all are awesome athletes the way they have to train…Put some weight on them, and I’ll bet you’d get some really good football players, if only their parents would let them play a contact sport if they wanted too..LOL
Comment by ghsgrandpa — March 5th, 2010 @ 9:55 am
Grandpa , I am impressed that you used LOL in your blog !
As for Greenwich the two most dominant sports are swimming and football…amazing huh ?
Darien it’s volleyball ….
Stamford it’s basketball (minus Westhill of course)
Norwalk ??
New Canaan Football
Comment by Full Disclosure — March 5th, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
Dave,
Would love to see a story on the fciac girls hockey goalies. Darien, Greenwich and NewCanaan all have 4 year starter goalies who will be graduating this year. These 3 goalies are the real heroes and leaders of their team, and it would be great for the sport to hear their reflections on the changes and growth they have seen in girls hockey in the past 4 years. Moreover, each one of them had a phenomenal season and should be honored.
Comment by Danielle Tropsa — March 5th, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
Dear Full’
The most dominat sport at New Canaan High School is boys and girls Varsity Tennis. Between them they have forty four state titles in twenty five years.
Comment by jeb — March 8th, 2010 @ 11:20 am
Is tennis a sport, or a leisure activity?
Comment by Arthur — March 8th, 2010 @ 12:04 pm
Jeb,
My bad on that ….good point…..
Comment by Full Disclosure — March 9th, 2010 @ 9:14 am
Did All League honors come out yet for boys basketball?
Comment by Dan — March 11th, 2010 @ 10:19 am
Hi Dan: the league has not officially announced the first team yet, but I learned last night it is: Mark Ellis of Stamford, Remy Pinson of Trinity Catholic, Greg Langston of St. Joseph, Jerome Parkins of Central, Willie Gray of Harding and Evan Kelley of Norwalk. I’ll post it now.
Comment by Dave Ruden — March 11th, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Thanks
Comment by Dan — March 11th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm