Many thanks to those offering well-wishes. I am appreciative of everyone’s support. Some amount of randomness this morning:
Matt Brady talks about the James Madison schedule.
Jerry Beach celebrates a birthday.
A little self-promoting, but a get-to-know-you on VCU coach Shaka Smart.
And for those that missed it, Delaware’s Brian Johnson tore his ACL last week and will miss the season. That is awful for Monte Ross and the Hens.
All Johnson has done is start all 94 games since he walked onto campus, and last season’s 34 minutes per game was his lowest output.
Ross said it best when he commented that he can turn his back on the floor when Johnson brings it up because Ross knows Johnson will do it safely, and get them into their offense.
To me, Johnson was the best pure point guard in the conference. (Cam Long and Chase Allen are different players.)
That’s a huge loss, and wreaking havoc with my already muddy preseason rankings.
***
We don’t get into football very much around these parts. It isn’t that we don’t like football. College football.
And that’s why we must bring to you an eye-popper: Eight of CAA Football’s 12 squads were among the 2009 Preseason FCS Coaches Poll
That’s right, eight. Thirty-two percent. From one conference.
The list: Richmond (2), Villanova (5), James Madison (9), New Hampshire (10), William & Mary (14), UMass (18), Maine (19), Hofstra (24).
Put another way:considering the CAA likely places four teams in the 1-AA playoffs, the set up is that four ranked teams will not make the playoffs. I know, this is preseason and that is postseason. Just stick with the high level: that is insanely good football.
