Bruce Pearl = Jesus?? And a little more on other topics...including a shout out to Dan Poneman

ESPN and a few other sources just did interviews with Bruce Pearl while he was in New York for the NIT...I have seen the ESPN one a couple times this past week...

..basically it boils down to Pearl pleading about how good he is because he came clean...and now he's suffering all kinds of persecution for being honest...
He's really a good guy, made just one tiny mistake and UConn has done even worse and nobody's going after them!!
gimme a break...

But get this.... Bruce Pearl's wife put this statement on her Facebook likening Bruce to Jesus..Hard to imagine she's anywhere close to serious - and she claims to be a Christian!
Remember -- Jesus was crucified even though he has NO SINS, but Bruce has plenty and is earning $2 million per year for a cushy job --- and his sins brought all this upon himself!

Here's what Brandy Pearl said and a link to the page...
"Now I know of two Jewish men who have been crucified. Lord be with my hubby’s spirit. We will get through this."
http://www.mrsec.com/2010/11/pearl-says-character-on-trial-wife-compares-him-to-jesus/
http://kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=64890

BTW -- one other thing...how come Tennessee and Pearl were given all the way until the end of February to appear before the NCAA on all these violations??
Isn't that odd how schools like Tennessee, USC, UConn are all given endless time even up to 5 years as in the Reggie Bush case?
Somehow it seems that when the NCAA came to BU's campus to check on something back in 2005, they slammed BU almost immediately!!! No delays then.....



Speaking of Pearl -- Tennessee is taking on Villanova in the NIT Final on ESPN right now..Tennessee up 5 at the half.

But-- I've been watching Alabama-Auburn and was hoping Alabama would pull the upset of Auburn & Cam Newton..but it looks now like Auburn will make the comeback again.




I spent much of the day over at the Washington, IL Tournament of Champions...
Several good games, and Donivine Stewart is playing right now..
The best game was Academy of the New Church vs. Brehm Prep...

The game was back and forth, high scoring, a little controversy about a score-book error, and a couple of really great players who should be able to step in and play at the college level next year.

Brehm has Bruce Barron who is going to play for Dana Altman at Oregon. He's very athletic but I can see where he will get himself into trouble somewhere along the line..
He trash talks constantly - even to fans and the opposing coaches, not a very classy thing to do.
He also barks endlessly at officials for their calls. But he is very talented and can shoot the three.

The Bryn Athyn, PA Academy of the New Church team has Rakeem Christmas. They list him at 6-10, but that's generous...maybe 6-9 or 6-8 but he's a ton...
He already has a college physique, and plays everywhere inside 15 feet from the hoop.
He had many nice interior moves, and is headed to Syracuse next year.



I also had a chance to talk with Dan Poneman for a while...what a motivated guy -- doing a lot for high school basketball.
Follow Dan on twitter...
http://twitter.com/#!/hsbball

and on his web site...click "Basketball" at the top tool bar..
http://illinoishsbasketball.com/



Just hot off the wire.. UCLA loses to VCU!!!
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201011260613


and get this one--- just maybe Oliver Purnell might not be around all that long at DePaul as they are currently losing to Cal State-Northridge!! And not just losing, but getting pummelled...
45 to 21 at the half...


And check this score...
Cal is losing to Notre Dame and the score is 27-10...
but the remarkable thing is that it's 3 minutes into the 2nd half!!!
Cal has just four baskets in the first 23 minutes of the game...


And -- UTEP beating Georgia Tech in the 2nd half...