A small conference (or team from such a conference) which can never expect to receive any more than
its one automatic bid to the NCAA tournament (no matter how strong the teams may be in any given season).
(See also Anti-Spoiler; compare with BCS and Mid-Major.)
(A reference to "anti- race-mixing" laws on the books in some states into '60s that declared it illegal
for blacks and whites to wed.)
Here, the reference is to the end of the November-December inter-conference play and the beginning
of the intraconference regular season. HLS IV,9 (00 Jan3)
A league-leading team from an otherwise 1BC conference whose regular season play should guarantee it an at-large bid. If such a team
winds up losing in its conference tournament (to a spoiler), the NCAA Selection Committee winds up using an at-large bid on it
(instead of the automatic bid it "should have" earned). The automatic bid for that should-have-been 1BC conference goes to a team
that otherwise wouldn't have gotten in at-large, and one less at-large bid is available to go to a non-1BC school.
E.g., Memphis (Conference-USA), Gonzaga (WCC), Butler (Horizon) often find themselves in this position.
HLS XII,17 (08 Feb25)
(See also 1BC, Gap, The Scramble; compare with Spoiler.)
A powerful scoring guard who can rebound on par with a forward (i.e., "he can bull his way into the lane").
E.g., Harold Miner (USC '89-92?), Khalid El-Amin (Connecticut '97-00), Frederick Jones (Oregon '02). Occasionally referred to
as "Tiny Bull". HLS II,6 (97 Dec8);
HLS VI,18 (02 Mar4)
(See also Tiny Bull; compare with 'Tweener.)
Not my term. It refers to the major football conferences which collectively manage the football bowl selection process.
For basketball purposes, I use "BCS" to refer to the six "high major" conferences: ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10
and SEC.
(Compare with Mid-Major and 1BC.)
By the '98-99 season, Duke and Kentucky had emerged as clearly the top two programs for the decade of the '90s.
A preseason meeting between the two teams was deemed "The Battle Of The Decade" as possibly deciding the issue
on the outcome of that one game. (Duke won.) HLS III,7 (98 Dec21)
Not my term. In the '60s, a preseason "bragging rights" tournament among the four state of North Carolina members of the ACC (Duke,
North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest).
Not my term. Five Philadelphia schools (La Salle, Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's, Temple and Villanova) form an unofficial league,
playing each other head-to-head each year. In the past, all schools shared The Palestra (on Penn's campus) as their home court,
often playing "Big 5 Doubleheaders" with two schools having a home game the same night. Nowadays, only Penn uses the Palestra fulltime,
but split-crowd head-to-head Big 5 games do still take place at the Palestra. (A sixth Philadelphia school, Drexel, is not officially part
of the Big 5, but is now sometimes included as part of a "Big 5 Classic Tripleheader" with all six schools playing head-to-head
on the same day.)
Not my term. Former conference for many of the members of the current Big 12 Conference.
The Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) was originally founded in 1907-08. In 1928-29, the MVIAA split into
the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and the MVIAA "Big 6" (Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma).
(See also Big 7, Big 8.)
Not my term. Former conference for many of the members of the current Big 12 Conference. In 1947-48, Colorado joined
the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) "Big 6", making it the MVIAA "Big 7".
(See also Big 6, Big 8.)
Not my term. Former conference for many of the members of the current Big 12 Conference. In 1958-59, Oklahoma State (fka Oklahoma A&M)
joined the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) "Big 7", making it the MVIAA "Big 8". In 1964-65,
the conference formally changed its name to the Big 8 Conference. [For the 1996-97 season, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech left
the defunct Southwest Conference to join the teams from the Big 8 Conference (Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State,
Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State). The new conference was named the Big 12. (Officially, the Big 12
does not consider itself an expansion of the Big 8.)]
(See also Big 6, Big 7.)
(A reference to a song, Body Rock, by musician Moby.) Here it refers to players whose superior hard-body conditioning
is itself a factor in their success. Specifically used referring to Jason Williams (Duke '02)
and Trevor Huffman (Kent State '02) HLS VI,3 (01 Nov19)
A preseason game (especially out-of-conference) between rival schools from neighboring states. Many are home-and-home
series that alternate between the host schools, but the best are at neutral sites with the ticket sales split 50-50 among
the two schools. E.g., the "BRAGGIN' RIGHTS" game (Illinois-Missouri held in St. Louis), the "U-GAME" (UConn-UMass). HLS XI,6 (06 Dec11)
(Compare with State Title.)
(A reference to the expression of cartoon character Homer Simpson on the animated TV series The Simpsons.)
Here the reference is to teams that are strong on offense (i.e., "Big D") but weak on offense (i.e., "Little O"). HLS IX,6 (04 Dec13).
(See also Lodero.)
Not my term. "Did Not Play". An acronym that can appear in box scores of games indicating that a player on the roster
did not play in the game. Can be extended as "DNP-inj" ("injured"), "DNP-susp" ("suspended")
or "DNP-CD" ("Coach's Decision"). Akin to "DNF" ("Did Not Finish"). HLS XI,13 (07 Jan29)
The second half of conference play / "the last 10 games" of the regular season -- especially road games.
Favored teams often suffer "shocking upsets" on the road against lesser teams desperate to make a splash
to salvage their seasons. HLS XII,16 (08 Feb18)
Not my term. A term from cognitive psychology referring to a mental state in which the mind is reacting automatically
without conscious awareness of every minor decision. The same as being "in the zone", which many athletes use to describe
when they play their best. HLS II,14 (98 Feb2)
A small-conference team (small in size, but big on speed) that pulls off a preseason upset of a Final Four-contender
(especially by having the small guards run past the taller blue-chip favorites). HLS VI,4 (01 Nov26)
(See also Waterbug.)
A local pick-up basketball rule for resolving possession after the ball has been tied up. Once the ball is tied up
by both an offensive and defensive player, the first one to yell "frog" gets possession. The reference is
to an experimental rule implemented by the NCAA during the 1998-99 season for held ball situations (or when the defender
remained within 6 feet of the offensive player for 5 seconds) that the defense was awarded the ball as a turnover. HLS III,3 (98 Nov23)
Not my term. Any place in the conference standings where there is more than a one-game difference between teams.
While gaps in the BCS standings are good news for the mid-majors hoping for at-large bids,
gaps in the Mid-Major standings create the potential for anti-spoilage. HLS XII,18 (08 Mar3)
(See also Anti-Spoiler, BCS, Mid-Major.)
A "one-and-done" freshman superstar who only spends a year playing college basketball because he has to under the NBA's
19-year-old age limit rule (implemented beginning in the '06/07 season). Such players are so "special" they presumably
could have jumped straight from high school in the pros if the rules still allowed it. E.g., Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse '03),
Kevin Durant (Texas '07), Greg Oden (Ohio State '07); Michael Beasley (Kansas State '08), Eric Gordon (Indiana '08),
Kevin Love (UCLA '08), O.J. Mayo (USC '08), Derrick Rose (Memphis '08). HLS XII,1 (07 Nov5)
The major shifting of high profile coaches prior to the '03-04 season. Roy Williams took over at North Carolina (leaving
Kansas); Bill Self took over at Kansas (leaving Illinois); Bruce Weber took over at Illinois (leaving Southern Illinois);
also Ben Howland left Pittsburgh to take over at UCLA. (The acronym is personal reference
to Grover Cleveland Simmons.) HLS VIII,1 (03 Nov10);
HLS X,1 (05 Nov7);
HLS X,22 (06 Apr4).
The major shifting of conference membership of teams prior to the '05-06 season. 22 teams and 12 conferences changed
their membership from the previous season -- the Big East expanded to 16 members; Conference USA exchanged 14 teams
in and out. (The acronym is personal reference to Grover Cleveland Simmons.) HLS X,1 (05 Nov7)
A team not from one of the traditional powers (e.g., Gonzaga, Miami(Florida), Miami(Ohio)) -- without national
name recognition, opponents of these teams may underestimate the strength of such teams in any given season without
a long history of success; such "one-year wonder" teams are often underseeded at the NCAA tournament. HLS III,17 (99 Feb22)
(Compare with Name Brand.)
(A reference to the quintessential "6th Man", who didn't start but was an integral piece of the Boston Celtics
in the 1970s.) Here, the reference is to the home crowd as the "6th Man" who helps a team to victory. HLS VI,17 (02 Feb25)
"Mudder" (from the Spanish word for "mud": lodo) A team (or player) that thrives in foul-prone defensive games
rather than finesse offensive games. E.g., Rahim Lockhart (Mississippi '01), Ron Slay (Tennessee '99-03). HLS V,7 (00 Dec18)
(See also D'Oh.)
Not my term. Any "mid-size" conference (or team from such a conference) which can vary between receiving
one (automatic) bid and multiple bids (i.e., at least one at-large bid) depending on the strength of the teams
any given season.
(Compare with BCS and 1BC.)
The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament -- many of the "brightest stars" of the college basketball "firmament"
may be on teams that don't survive past the first two rounds of the tournament, so in order to see them, you have to watch
the early rounds of the tournament. (The reference is to James Naismith, the inventor of the sport of basketball.) HLS XI,20 (07 Mar19)
A team from one of the traditional basketball powers (e.g., Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina) -- just the name on the chest
of these players causes their opponents to give extra effort in order to claim a recognizable scalp. Even in off years,
such teams can be overseeded and be ripe for an upset in the NCAA tournament. HLS III,17 (99 Feb22)
(Compare with Generic.)
The realm of 1BC conferences where primetime star players can perform far away from the spotlight of major television exposure.
Especially, the week of conference tournaments when you may have your last chance to see such stars who may not even make it
into the NCAA tournament.
HLS XIII,17 (09 Mar2)
(See also 1BC; compare with Naismith Meteor Shower.)
Florida's '07 national championship team -- all five starters excelled at their traditional specialized roles by position,
complementing each other as well as you could ask. HLS XI,22 (07 Apr3)
(See also Replacement Killers;
compare with Universal Replacements.)
Not my term. Beginning with the '01-02 season, the NCAA Seeding Committee began placing teams in the NCAA tournament
attempting to minimize the travel distance for each set of four teams (called a "pod") slated to meet in the first two rounds.
Once all teams have been seeded in the overall bracket, each pod is assigned a hosting site, in the order of the top 16s seeds,
according to the most convenient site for the top seed in the pod. Each of the eight first-round sites hosts two distinct pods
(which are often not part of the same overall regional bracket). HLS VI,19 (02 Mar12);
HLS VIII,20 (04 Mar22)
A point guard and center duo (or a team led by such). E.g., Bobby Hurley and Christain Laettner (Duke '89-92) HLS II,16 (98 Feb16)
(Compare with Tag Team.)
Any team which, despite having graduated a nucleus of successful stars, finds similar success the following year
with a brand new crop of talent. (The reference is to the title of a movie, The Replacements.) HLS X,5 (05 Dec5);
HLS X,6 (06 Dec12)
Florida's '06 national championship team -- they're surprising run to the NCAA title was led by a nucleus of sophomores
who replaced a much ballyhooed trio of departing stars (and surpassed their achievements).
(The reference is to the title of a movie, The Replacement Killer.) HLS X,22 (06 Apr4)
(See also Perfect Fit.)
Roy Williams' North Carolina '05 national championship "restored the Tar Heel program to its rightful place"
atop the college basketball world. HLS IX,22 (05 Apr5)
Coaching legends Bob Knight and Rick Pitino both returned to the college coaching ranks at the start of the '01-02 season.
After being fired from Indiana, Knight came back to coach at Texas Tech. After leaving Kentucky for the NBA,
Pitino came back to coach at Louisville. (The reference is to the title of the book and movie,
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Return Of The King.) HLS VI,1.5 (01 Nov5-12)
The final week of regular season competition for the major conferences. It also coincides with conference tournaments of mid-majors
with anti-spoiler implications. Teams on either side of the dividing line for at-large bids have this last chance
to make or break their stretch run for the postseason. One slip-up (and an early exit in their conference tournament) and they're out
of the running. HLS XIII,17 (09 Mar2)
(See also Anti-Spoiler.)
An on-campus preseason tournament in which the invited participants are of such lesser quality than the host school
that the games are mere "showcases" for t\he host school to roll to easy victories. Usually, these are no more than
4-team tournaments -- either two-day bracket or three-day round-robin format. Don't give much credit to a team winning
its own showcase tournament in front of its own home crowd (as opposed to an 8-team three-day bracket tournament
at a neutral site). HLS V,3 (00 Nov20)
(See also Unwelcome Guest.)
Not my term. Traditionally, an otherwise noncompetitive team that upsets the natural order of things by winning a game it isn't supposed to
(thus, spoiling the regular season title hopes of a favored team, or knocking a favored team out of consideration
for a postseason bid). HLS XII,17 (08 Feb25)
(Compare with Anti-Spoiler.)
A preseason game (especially out-of-conference) between rival schools within the same state. The collective results
of the series of games among the major powers in a state yields the "State Champ" for that year.
E.g., Butler-Indiana-Notre Dame, Clemson-South Carolina-Winthrop, Creighton-Nebraska, Florida-Florida State-Miami,
Georgia-Georgia Tech, Gonzaga-Washington-Washington State, Kentucky-Louisville, Marquette-Wisconsin,
Memphis-Tennessee-Vanderbilt, Nevada-UNLV, New Mexico-New Mexico State, Utah-Utah State. HLS X,5 (05 Dec5);
HLS XI,6 (06 Dec11)
(Compare with Border War.)
- indicates a non-Division I team. Schools moving up from Division II must go through a four-year probation process before qualifying
for full eligibility at Division I. Conferences may allow new schools to play a complete regular season league schedule during probation
even though they are not eligible for the conference title, conference tournament, or a postseason bid.
The double achievement of winning your league's regular season Title as well as the conference Tourmanet crown. TiTo's
come in three forms: s (shared - if you shared the regular season title), o (outright - if you won
the regular season title outright), and u (undefeated - if you won the regular season title undefeated).
??? Has anyone ever won four u-TiTos in their college career???
HLS XIII,18 (09 Mar9)
A forward/guard (usually 6'5" to 6'9") who is capable of hitting three-pointers. This is usually a finesse player
who has the height to be a forward but is too slender to be a power player and may also have enough ball-handling skills
to be a guard. (untitled) I,1 (96 Nov18)
(Compare with Baby Bull.)
A scoring guard and forward duo (or a team led by such). E.g., Shammond Williams and Antawn Jamison (North Carolina '97-98) HLS II,16 (98 Feb16)
(Compare with Power Axis.)
A powerful scoring guard who can rebound on par with a forward (i.e., "he can bull his way into the lane").
E.g., Harold Miner (USC '89-92?), Khalid El-Amin (Connecticut '97-00), Frederick Jones (Oregon '02).
More frequently referred to as "Baby Bull".
(See also Baby Bull; compare with 'Tweener.)
Not my term. The trio of guards who led Arkansas '79 to the Final Four: Sidney Moncrief, Marvin Delph and Ron Brewer.
All three were 6'4", providing mismatches against smaller guards and/or slower forwards.
Not my term. Kentucky '92. After nobly plugging through a losing season the previous year while undermanned and hampered
by scholarship restrictions under NCAA sanctions, the same class lost in "The Greatest College Game Ever Played" -- the 1992 NCAA Regional Final
loss, 102-101(OT) to Duke (on the length-of-the-floor-pass2:51 AM 7/7/2008/turnaround-jumper Grant Hill-to-Christian Laettner game-winning play).
Duke's '01 national championship team -- the versatility of its "'tweeners" allowed it to handle all types
of opponents and switch defensive assignments without yielding disadvantageous mismatches. HLS V,22 (01 Apr4)
(Compare with Perfect Fit.)
A visiting team that wins a preseason tournament hosted by one of the participants (or such a win over the host schoo).
Give full credit to a team winning such a tournament on the road (equal to an 8-team three-day bracket tournament
at a neutral site). (The reference is to a song, Unwelcome Guest, written by Woody Guthrie
and set to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco.) HLS V,3 (00 Nov20)
(See also Showcase Tournament.)
An at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The official champion (usually the winner of the conference tournament)
of each conference is awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Any subsequent bids to additional teams (in order
to fill the entire tournament bracked) are deemed to be "at-large" bids.
(The reference is to a short-lived TV series, Wanda At Large, starring comedienne Wanda Sykes.) HLS VIII,17 (04 Mar1)
A small-but-quick guard (or team led by such) whose quickness edge compensates for lack of height, allowing it to compete
(and often upset) much taller, higher profile blue-chip opponents. HLS VI,4 (01 Nov26)
(See also Four-Runner.)
In the year after a superstar player departs (leaving behind an intact supporting cast), the support players are often able
to have greater success as a cohesive "star-less" unit where everyone steps up than the year before
(when the support players waited for the star to lead the way). E.g., Georgia '83 made the Final Four in the year after
Dominique Wilkins left; Virginia '84 made the Final Four in the year after Ralph Sampson left; Georgia Tech '04 made the Final Four
in the year after Chris Bosh left. (untitled) II,4,(ACC) (97 Nov24);
HLS II,13 (98 Jan26);
HLS VII,1 (02 Nov11)
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HOOP, LINE AND SINKER Ron McBay's Men's College Basketball Website www.ronmcbay.us/HLS