Friday’s Den: Random stuff with the weekend here…….

— So far this offseason, 30 college football teams have changed head coaches, the most in the last 12 years.

Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott quit this week to become the tight ends’ coach at South Carolina, on the surface an odd move; he led the Panthers to five bowl games in seven seasons, winning four of them.

This situation seems to be unique; Elliott’s family still lives in Columbia, SC from his previous job with the Gamecocks (2010-16), and apparently he promised his daughter that he would be there for her senior year of high school, which is this coming year.

— In the NBA, Memphis Grizzlies-Houston Rockets have made 16 trades with each other over the last 29 years, making them the most frequent trade partners in the league.

— Wednesday night in San Francisco, Detroit Pistons F Isaiah Stewart was arrested after a scuffle with Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks that happened before the game. The two men were separated by police; the investigation is ongoing as to what actually happened.

— So far this season, BYU’s basketball team has taken 774 3-point shots (36%), 762 2-point shots (58.4%). Very unusual for a team to take more 3’s than 2’s for a whole season, but BYU has the #13 eFG% in the country, plus they’re 18-6, 6-5 in the Big X, so it is working for them.

— The last four years, DePaul’s basketball team is a combined 33-84, 11-53 in Big East games; last time the Blue Demons had a winning season in conference play? 

Try 2007, when Jerry Wainwright was the coach; DePaul hasn’t made the NCAA’s since 2004. Isn’t Chicago supposed to be a high school basketball hotbed? Why are they always so bad?

— Thursday night in Brooklyn, Fairleigh Dickinson’s basketball team got stuck in an elevator before their game at LIU; FDU wound up winning 84-82 in overtime, but not before they were stuck in the elevator for 10 minutes, with the lights out. 

Baseball Note of the Day: Baltimore Orioles already have injury issues:
P Kyle Bradish (elbow strain) is on the IL
3B Gunnar Henderson (oblique)
P John Means (elbow) is behind in his recovery from a previous injury
Rookie C Samuel Basallo (stress fracture in elbow) is also going to the IL

Movie of the Day: Runaway Jury (2003)- A juror on the inside and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.

Excellent cast: John Cusack is a corrupt juror, Gene Hackman works for the plaintiff’s lawyers as a consultant, Dustin Hoffman is the winning lawyer, Bruce McGill is the lawyer.

John Grisham wrote the book this movie is based on; Brian Koppelman/David Levien wrote the screenplay- they’ve also written Rounders, Billions.

— North Texas 76, Memphis 66
Mean Green made 16 of 28 shots on the arc.
Jason Edwards was 1-7 inside the arc, 7-9 outside the arc.
Memphis is 3-5 in last eight games, after a 15-2 start.

— Purdue 84, Minnesota 76
Zach Edey had 24 points, 15 rebounds.
Golden Gophers led 43-35 at halftime.
Minnesota covered its last seven games, is 11-2 ATS in Big 14 games.

— UCLA 64, Colorado 60
UCLA was +9 in turnovers (14-5).
Bruins have won 8 of last 9 games, after a 6-10 start.

— Drexel 79, Hofstra 77
Hofstra led by 13 in first half, scored 1.20 points/possession, but still lost.
Drexel starts four seniors; they’re 9-4 in the CAA.

— Middle Tennessee 76, New Mexico State 69
Aggies led 44-27 early in second half.
Blue Raiders were 19-23 on foul line, New Mexico State 6-11.

— Tarleton State 80, Texas-Arlington 78
Tarleton shot 61.3% inside the arc.
Texans have won six in row, are 11-3 in the WAC.

— It is February 16, and already, three guys on my fantasy baseball team are on the injured list. Season doesn’t start for six weeks!!! No bueno.

Author: Armadillo Sports

I've been involved in sports my whole life, now just write about them. I like to travel, mostly to Las Vegas- they have gambling there.