Searching for Billy Edelin - All Posts

Scion Infographic

2012-09-14T11:28:47Z

Here is an infographic from Scion. Enjoy!

The End Of Searching For Billy Edelin

2012-09-12T23:45:06Z

Sometimes I don't feel like this was ever made clear.... I did not attend Syracuse University.

I also didn't start a blog as a cheap way to meet a former Orange guard. That was the result of forging what's become a genuine friendship with Billy's father, William Sr..

The idea was and remains unjustifiable, but well before www.SearchingForBillyEdelin.com actually went live on November 16^th, 2008, the name had been ringing in my head for years.

I really, really, like college basketball.
Blogs can get some attention when their name follows the formula of [VERB] + [SPORTS FIGURE].
Billy Edelin is one of the most enigmatic yet intriguing dudes to flash through my life.
I am sort of an OK writer.
I tend to overrate my skills...

Searching for Billy Edelin!

But after nearly four years, the blog that gave me a seat at the sports media kids table is going away.

I won't be going away - you wish - but this place is no longer. I had to be honest and realize that SFBE had run it's course; requiring effort that was preventing me from maximizing my reach as a blogger.

Yes, now would be the time to cue up "This is the Time" by Billy Joel.

During its slow and steady growth, my work here put me in front of people and got me into places I could never have imagined way back when I actually purchased the domain name and hosting fees, and pushed the big green button to allow my college basketball thoughts and commentary to be visible for anyone.

SFBE has been a catalyst in my growth as a person, too. What once was something I mentioned to few turned into something that I've discussed and shared with everyone from grandmothers to hiring managers.

I've grown fond of the many connections and friendly acquaintances I've developed along the way; bumping shoulders and putting faces to Twitter handles of people who share a common passion or do this to actually put a roof over their heads.

The blogosphere is neat, I tell you, and I'm happy to be part of it.

With that being said, what's most satisfying about the end of SFBE is that it doesn't mark the end to my meal at the aforementioned table, as I'll still be rhythmically typing away this upcoming college basketball season.

If anything, it's a chance to shut the door on what's been a successful entrepreneurial endeavor that is leading to bigger, better and more importantly, more scalable opportunities in my life.

Going forward you can find me doing more with SB Nation for the foreseeable future. I'll be bantering over at Big East Coast Bias, standing up for the little guy over at Mid Major Madness, looking pretty over at SB Nation's YouTube channel, and contributing to SBNation.com's college basketball coverage with the venerable Mike Rutherford.

Follow me on Twitter, stay in touch with emails and comments that both praise my work and attempt to chip away at my self esteem - I appreciate them equally - and feel free to browse the blog's archived content at your leisure.

Additionally, I encourage you to consider making a donation to Billy Edelin's youth basketball program, the Hoops Haven Gym Ratz. If you've read my story "Finding Billy Edelin", you know he's doing fantastic stuff in upstate New York, creating more and more opportunities for his youth teams to participate in national AAU and club team tournaments in the fall and summer. Traveling costs money, so just a few dollars from a lot of people can make a real difference to some promising young kids.


SBNation.com	SB Nation Studios	@nickfasuloSBN	Big East Coast Bias	Mid Major Madness

Dez Wells expulsion raises questions about Chris Mack

2012-08-22T02:46:00Z

Living in a lull of college basketball activity, Xavier University changed all that Tuesday afternoon with the formal announcement that sophomore combo guard Dez Wells has been expelled from school.

As a result, a program that has appeared in the last seven NCAA Tournaments may have officially entered into a rebuilding mode for the 2012-2013 season now that their top returning player is no longer returning.

Wells, who was officially expelled for violating the school's code of conduct, reportedly for a sexual incident, was the only proven playmaker returning to a talented but inexperienced roster.

He was supposed to be the de facto leader both on and off the court and continue to develop in to an NBA caliber player.

Instead, the Musketeers have now lost their top four scorers, the top five minute players from last season, and perhaps all confidence from fans that this Chris Mack-led program is one that only knows how to do it right.

Not only will Mack have to coach a team that will probably fail to meet even the lowest of expectations, he'll have to deal with constant questioning about the current state of the Musketeer basketball program.

If proverbially unscrewing the squeaky-clean plaque from the wall Xavier had earned over the years was the easy story angle following last winter's Crosstown Brawl, it may now be mandatory to take down until further notice.

From the Brawl, to Mark Lyons and all the rumors that surfaced following his transfer to Arizona, to now the expulsion of Wells, this string of incidents that have occurred on Mack's watch in just the last nine months will surely spark message board threads and local radio chatter that cast Mack in a negative light.

Expect to hear and read things that question Mack's ability to manage and lead young men with eccentric personalities, and a prevailing feeling that this is not an abberation but a growing trend that could be a sign that Xavier basketball is headed in the wrong direction.

Perception is not always reality, and it's still unfair to draw conclusions even at this point, but there's surely going to be a growing faction of Mack skeptics until the program returns to a sense of normalcy.

Scott Drew: Perceived cheater, confirming suspicions

2012-08-10T15:11:25Z

We're at that point of the year where the little guy (blogger) is at the mercy of relying on content the big boys are able to publish while in trenches of the summer recruiting period.

In an on going series "Critical Coaches" by the men at CBSSports.com, the latest installment turns to the ambiguous issue of cheating.

Through discussions with dozens of Division I men's basketball coaches, the .com quartet compiled a number of great quotes and basic data to come up with who is the biggest perceived cheater in college basketball.

John Calipari is of course at the top, but we're not going to touch on that tired story any longer.

What was most intriguing was the coach coming in second in this unofficial survey...Baylor's Scott Drew.

"I don't even have to blink when I say the answer," said one coach. "[Drew's] despised by a lot of people because he comes off holier than God. Meanwhile, everyone knows he's had to cheat big-time to get the program to where it's at. If it wasn't for the God stuff he wouldn't rub people the wrong way as much."

Is that indisputable proof that Drew is a cheater?

Absolutely not.

Heck the person who provided the anonymous quote could be a fellow Big 12 coach, one that's lost his footing in the conference hierarchy or even been beaten out by sound recruiting as of late by Drew and his coaching staff.

But boy does that nugget of info stick out, especially to those who have felt blindsided by the Baylor basketball program since the moment LaceDarius Dunn signed with the school back in 2007.

I've always been skeptical to the quick ascension of Baylor in terms of on-paper talent. You've probably been too if you have a clue.

To have been able to form a grocery line of McDonalds All-Americans and gutty JuCo transfers out of nowhere since 2007, and bring them to a school that's built on Christian values despite being located in a city best known for a 51-day siege that resulted in more than 80 deaths back in 1993 has to make you wonder.

Just how dooooo you do that?

Drew's front-facing personality also raises a red flag. He comes off as overly affable to the media. He seems gentle; someone who is too nice chew out Perry Jones III for being soft on the court or engage in shady recruiting tactics off the court. He comes from a family that has provided fantastic - and genuine - college basketball moments for everyone to revel in, and is young enough that he can be positioned as a change agent for a school on the rise.

But it might just be a farce based on the competitive landscape in the world of college basketball recruiting. Baylor has recently been investigated by the NCAA, and now face minor self-imposed punishments for making upwards of 1200 illegal phone calls to recruits, but even those penalties were hailed by college basketball writers as surmountable.

The article did add that no coach was able to identify or willing to divulge specific instances where Drew was cheating, but 34 percent of those surveyed think he's up to something based on the talent he's been able to bring in despite no individual track record as a head coach or long-standing basketball tradition at the school he's coaching for.

That's got to stand for something, and at the very least it means Drew has a long ways to go to earn the respect of his coaching brethren, and pull himself off the the hook for being a perceived cheater.

Syracuse basketball may be invading outdoor courts on campus

2012-08-07T13:13:14Z

So Jim Boeheim is currently in London enjoying the ride as a Team USA assistant coach. Likely, he's had a lot of time to think and ponder.

While at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Boeheim has penned journal entries for the Post-Standard.

He's taken in the sights of London with his family with firm indifference or appreciation for his surroundings.

At some point, he's probably looked down the bench at Mike D'Antoni once or twice, juxtaposing his relationship with Carmelo Anthony with that of the former New York Knicks coach, while chuckling to himself.

While he's been across the pond, Boehiem has also apparently come up with a solution for the Orange to prepare for their November 9 game against San Diego State to be held on the USS Midway Museum.

He's taking it to the streets.

That's right, Syracuse undergrads, your next horribly played pick-up game may be interrupted by the 2012-2013 Orange roster, as Boeheim has stated he intends to practice with his team outside this fall to get them accustomed to the unique conditions they will face in their season opener.

"I don't know if it will make a big difference, but it might," Boeheim told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

While you simply cannot replicate the playing conditions of playing on an aircraft carrier docked in San Diego Bay when you're in Central New York, you can get a sense for light wind, cooler temperatures, and other variables not found when playing basketball under a roof -- or dome.

So if you live in Syracuse or are a student at the school, and frequent, say Thornden Park, Lincoln Park, or maybe the off-campus Onondaga Park, at least be on low alert that Boeheim and his army may show up unannounced ready to provide a lesson in the 2-3 zone.

Bill Self suggests Oklahoma State could be Big 12 favorite

2012-07-29T19:07:16Z

The Kansas Jayhawks have won the last eight Big 12 regular season crowns.

In that span, there have been a handful of years where Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk were by no means prohibitive favorites coming into the season, yet entered post-season play with another trophy to add to their collection.

On Friday, head coach Bill Self suggested that this year's team in the best position to snap KU's streak could be Oklahoma State, Self's alma mater and school where he served as an assistant coach for seven seasons.

"I think Oklahoma State is going to be terrific," Self told ESPN's Andy Katz. "I think on paper they have the most talent with the kids they've signed and the kids [they have] returning."

And "on paper" may be the most appropriate way to describe how good the Cowboys roster is for the 2012-2013 season. As we've seen in the past from this program, talent doesn't always translate into wins, just as frequent roster turnover hasn't prevented Kansas from dominating the Big 12 for the better part of the last decade.

With sophomore Le'Bryan Nash, a former McDonalds All-American, returning, freshman Marcus Smart looking forward to living up to the hype, and junior Markel Brown poised to continue his growth as a player at both ends of the court, there's a case to be made that OSU will have the most explosive trio in college basketball next season.

That alone will create excitement and pressure from fans in Stillwater, especially after an off-season when saw a former player Darrell Williams was found guilty of rape. It's a fan base that would really appreciate something positive.

In four seasons with Travis Ford serving as head coach, Oklahoma State has finished no higher than tied for fourth place in the conference, even with players like James Anderson, Keiton Paige, Byron Eaton and Marshall Moses passing through the program. They're currently 31-35 in conference under Ford, with just one NCAA Tournament victory in two appearances.

So whether Self's kind words is wholly authentic or a simple attempt to alleviate some pressure on himself and players entering the season, the Cowboys are no doubt an intriguing team to focus on for next season.

Hopefully Ford is ready for the attention and inflated expectations, or at least ready to embrace early season praise from his peers.

Is an academic fraud case brewing for North Carolina basketball?

2012-07-27T05:21:55Z

On Thursday, The Big Lead published an investigative piece on the University of North Carolina's potential academic scandal as it pertains to their basketball team.

While the piece offered some new information, it's still unclear whether we should take this story to a new level of significance.

The biggest takeaway is that there may be credence to the idea that Deborah Crowder, a former administrative assistant for the school's African and Afro-American Studies department, may have given basketball players special treatment as an administrative assistant and that players were pushed into that field of study by one of Roy Williams' long-time academic advisers. But still though, there's no direct evidence that would support an actual case linking UNC and Roy Williams to academic fraud.

After looking at GoHeels.com - UNC's official athletics website - and the school's student directory, you get a mixed bag of information when it comes to what the 2011-2012 basketball team was studying during the season. At the very least, TBL's reporting is correct that African and Afro-American studies is currently no longer a "preferred" program.

At first glance, it looked as though there was a disconcerting trend: players were simply taking general electives with no set plan or major in mind. But after cross-referencing that information with what was available on school's student directory, you see that the information published on GoHeels.com suggests the site's managers simply neglected to update player's academic information. It's not wrong, just vague and out-of-date.

Only the recently departed John Henson was majoring in African and Afro-American studies, while the majority of the teams's sophomores and juniors (freshman are almost never required to declare a major and outgoing seniors had been wiped off the school's directory) are currently in the university's Arts & Sciences school majoring in (general) Communication Studies.

Now, as an undergrad at Xavier University, I myself was a communications major in the College of Arts & Sciences, and a number of my 101 classes and electives had Musketeer basketball players in them. I even got to do a group project with Stanley Burrell, but that's another story for cynics who get a kick hearing about college basketball players struggle through building a PowerPoint presentation.

From a macro view, communication courses are easy. Unless you are dead-set on pursuing, say, a journalism career, Communicaton Arts departments can serve as a safe-haven for students looking to just get the 120 credit hours most higher education schools require to earn a Bachelor's degree. Your curriculum can be constructed to get you a cap and gown without much heavy lifting.

The connection the media seems to be looking to make in the case of North Carolina is that African and Afro-American Studies is an easy major. Like Communication Arts courses, it's an academic haven for students who, well, may not exactly be looking to graduate from college, but instead get their basketball game to a level that allows them to leave early and declare for the NBA Draft.

The issue at hand here isn't that a lot of North Carolina basketball players majored in Afro and African-American studies. It's that players may or may not have been coddled into a cozy environment that allowed them to breeze through a bevy of simple, sometimes independent, study courses. Instead of learning about human rights issues in Nigeria, you're spending a semester on interpersonal conflict management.

Neither is too mind-bending.

Every school, whether it be Xavier, Kentucky, Stanford, or Austin Peay, will have student-athletes in cake-walk classes. It's a staple in the college culture. Whether or not these schools - all schools really - are committing academic fraud based on the level of assistance and preferential treatment they are giving to student-athletes requires far more investigative work than what meets the eye.

Sure, we're probably past the point where Roy Williams could "give a flip" about all these allegations, but we're also not even close to substantial claims and evidence that academic fraud is pervading the North Carolina basketball program.

Penn State scandal likely to rock basketball program, too

2012-07-23T19:01:44Z

Monday, the Penn State football program was heavily punished for their handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.

As a result, the football program may never return to the glory that it once had. Heck, it may never return to a level where it can at the very least compete on the gridiron in the Big Ten.

But whatever the fate of the football program, this is a story that will cause white-capped ripple effects across the school's entire athletic department.

Take CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish's anecdote during his time spent this past weekend at the Nike Peach Jam tournament. Bumping shoulders with a number of recognizable head coaches, Parrish couldn't help but jot down his thoughts when he sat next to Nittany Lions assistant basketball coach Eugene Burroughs and saw the Penn State logo embroidered on Burroughs' polo shirt.

I looked to my right and realized I was beside Burroughs. The first thing I saw was the Nittany Lions logo on his shirt and I immediately thought of Jerry Sandusky, child rape and the subsequent conspiracy to cover-up that led us to this historic day in college athletics.

...

NCAA and Big Ten didn't penalize Penn State basketball in any way this morning, and it should be noted that hoops had nothing to do with the criminal activity that took place on campus. But I couldn't help but think while standing there that night that if the first thing I think of when I see a Penn State basketball coach is this Penn State scandal, that's got to be what most basketball recruits think of, too.

While Parrish is a grown man, understand that even kids just old enough to turn on a television or call up an Internet browser are ready to cast the school in a negative light.

Starting now, everything you thought about Penn State, and what their logo represents, has likely shifted to sex abuse, and it will likely be a sentiment that proliferates until further notice. As our youth grows up, the thoughts of how previous generations perceived Penn State will be replaced with something far less pleasant.

"Football has carried this university for years," Nittany Lions men's basketball coach Pat Chambers told Jeff Goodman. "Maybe we can help football for once."

That's positive thinking, but Chambers went on to say that while on the recruiting trail this summer he's approaching the mess head-on.

"We talk about it with recruits and if it becomes a problem, then maybe that's not the right kid for our program," Chambers added.

I hate to be negative, but expect the latter from many players Chambers recruits if they have absolutely no existing connection - whether it be a family legacy or proximity to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania - to the school.

Don't call it a penalty, call it a horrible stigma. An unfair negative connotation that will indefinitely play in the minds of high school basketball recruits that Chambers and his staff pursue, recruits will likely be reluctant to accept a scholarship to play a sport at a school that was home to arguably the greatest scandal in the history of sports.

It's going to be a tough task for Chambers. Let's see how it gets handled.