Frustration

Frustration. That’s the word that sums up watching the UVA basketball team play. The game against Maryland last night was just plain frustrating to watch. Seeing a team slip to dead last in the ACC at 1-5 is painful and frustrating. Forget the real Tourney, at 11-8, we are in serious danger of not even being eligible to make the NIT. Maybe it feels so much worse because we got spoiled last year. Conference co champions, undefeated at home in league play and the second round of March Madness. But sinking to the cellar of the ACC is not the sort of drop off I expected. It’s all so frustrating.

Frustration is Sean Singletary not taking control of the game in the first half. This guy is obviously the best guy on the team, by a large margin. Thus it makes sense that he would need to carry us offensively. Yet he doesn’t start trying to impose his will on the game until 10 minutes left in the 2nd, and by that point it’s too late. Last year we had JR Reynolds to pace the offense in the first half and then let Singletary do his thing in the closing 20 minutes. But the Cavs don’t have that this year. Singletary finished with 23 points on 9-17 shooting, which is a great game. But he only had 6 points on 3 of 5 shooting in the first half. Take more shots!!! With the way the team is currently made up, we cannot win without Singletary playing with a sense of urgency in both halves, not just the second. Late in the second period Sean was awesome, making big shots left and right, including that ridiculous finger roll with the left hand that tear dropped in. He needs to stop being so selfless and realize he needs to be like that in the first half as well. Him developing a Kobe Bryant attitude would give us the best chance to win, as much as I hate saying it.

Frustration is giving up offensive rebound putbacks when you are trying to make a comeback on the road. This was the most infuriating part of the game for yours truly. Three times in the last 3:28 the Terps were able to corral an offensive rebound and put it back for 2. This is absolutely demoralizing for the team and its fans. The point margin between UVA and Maryland before these three putbacks were 7, 7 and 5 points respectively. It is such a dagger to have stopped a team defensively but then give up these bullshit baskets because people didn’t hustle for a rebound. 3 putbacks in the last 3:28 Frustration out the asshole.

Frustration is having to listen to Mike Patrick call your game. This guy is so freakin annoying. Every layup, 3 pointer, bounce pass, substitution, and traveling call is the most spectacular, awe inspiring, jaw dropping piece of college basketball beauty that this dude has ever seen. Get a hold of your self buddy. I don’t know how Len Elmore works with Patrick. UVA doesn’t get many shots on ESPN, and when we do, its freakin Mike Patrick. Our next stop on the four letter is March 5^th when the Dookies come to town, and I will put a 50 spot down that MP will be doing the call. F.r.u.s.t.r.a.t.i.o.n.

And finally, frustration is having poor Ryan Petinella on your basketball team. Honestly, when I started the original Oceanliner feature of tracking his season long totals of fouls versus points I thought it would be close for half the season and then his points would get out of range of his fouls. Not so fast my friends. Last time we checked in on Petinella, or Pett as I like to call him, he was dead even at 36 apiece. Well as it turns out, Pett did not have a good next two games. In the two losses to Georgia Tech and Maryland, he accumulated a staggering 8 fouls to only 3 points. Chalk it up for a –5 spot for the season now. And of those 3 points, 2 came on a goal tending call when the shot was definitely not going to fall. What’s even more incredulous about this is that he played for 39 minutes total in these two losses and only had 2 rebounds to go along with his 3 points. Let’s think about that. In almost an entire game’s worth, Pett had 3 points and 2 stinkin rebounds Which makes you wonder what the hell he’s actually doing on the court. Oh yeah, he’s too busy fouling people to do anything else. Pretty nuts and definitely frustrating.

Moving on from UVA but sticking with college basketball, who the hell are some of these teams ranked in the top 25? (A transition sentence in The Oceanliner? Hmm, what a novel idea…) Butler? 12 in the country. Drake? 16^th. St Mary’s? Oh yeah, 21^st, how could I forget. I have honestly never heard of Drake University/College/Online. Where the hell did they come from and how are they ranked? What conference do they play in? Ten bucks to whoever can tell me where they are located. If you said Des Moines, Iowa then you are correct. Do they bore their opponents to death? I know this is the mid major era but cmon. Drake? Pfffft, more like fake. Zing!

Sticking with the hardwood, but moving up to the professional level, the Miami Heat are one sorry team. Just two years away from winning the NBA title, the Heat are currently 9-35, the second worst record in the entire Association. They recently ran off a stretch in which they lost 15 straight games. They define horrible. The Heat reached a new low in Wednesday night’s loss to the Magic, whith Shaq, D-Wade and Udonis Haslem all sitting out due to injury. No one likes to kick a team when they are down, but check out Miami’s starting lineup for that game.

- Luke Jackson

- Dorell Wright

- Mark Blount

- Ricky Davis

- Jason Williams

Wow. Talk about the sorriest bunch of losers this side of the Mississippi. Fans should be outraged that they paid NBA money to see those Busch league jokers out on the court. Hey, at least they got to see Dwight Howard block 4 of those idiots’ shots in the 18 point Magic win.

Lastly, I would encourage everyone to read this article on Ernie Adams, the Patriots Director of Football Research. Adams has known Belicheck since high school and has followed him almost everywhere. It is a fascinating look at one of the guys behind the scenes of the Patriots machine. The four letter did a great job with this one.

Well, that’s it for this week folks. Sunday is the big game, and the world premier of my annual Super Bowl party. All are welcome, so give me a shout if you plan on coming. Should be good times. To everyone else out there, I hope things are going well, and that we all meet up again sometime soon. Until next time then, as always, stay safe, keep it real and flip the dial.