Diamond Dust Plus: Commercials, rehearsals and other kinds of beach business
“Thank you for calling Diamond Dust Plus, my name is Peggy…’ Okay, I’m busted, been locked in front of the television so long that I have memorized commercials. Well golly, with Beach teams scattered about the sporting landscape you do log an extra dose of video.
The good news is as December turns into January most teams are at home or at least nearby. After an impressive (albeit losing ) effort at North Carolina, the Beach takes on another ranked team this Saturday in sort of an Anaheim brunch ball contest against St. Mary’s in the Wooden Classic. Game time is 11:45am and you can stay and watch the other game and avoid the mall!
Down on Tobacco Road, the ‘Niners continued to miss regular Larry Anderson out with that busted hand, but T.J. Robinson, Casper Ware and Tristan Wilson scored career highs as the self described “feisty Long Beach State team” lost to the Tar Heels, 96-91 on Saturday night.
Robinson was eye popping against the perennial powers at UNC — 31 points, 22 in the second half, and a career-best 3-of-4 three pointers. Ware tied his career high in both points (22) and assists (10) with 10 points and seven assists coming in Long Beach State’s 57-point second half explosion. Wilson, subbing for Anderson, scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and his pal Greg Plater had 13 points and three assists.
Meanwhile, the ladies of Long Beach hoop-dom hit the books this week before they hit the hardwoods. The team will host their Beach Classic starting Sunday against Florida A & M at 2:00pm, take a break on Monday to scout the FAMU vs. NC State game, and then play NC State at 5:00pm Tuesday.
The numbers so far for the 49ers (1-10) are er, ah, dismal. Over the weekend, LB took on their fifth Pac-10 opponent foe at California, and lost 82-56. The slightly silver lining was shooting (a 41.7 field goal percentage) but the dark cloud was rebounding (out-rebounded, 46-31 allowing the Bears 21 offensive boards.)
Senior Courtney Jacob scored a team-high 18 points and collected six rebounds but the Beach bench and other starters are just not consistent. Clark and Coffee are true freshmen and sometimes play for both sides at the same time. The two post players have to generate more than two points each.
PINEAPPLE DUSTING—Yes Virginia, there is a Hawaii coming to the Big West… well, coming in July 2012. One of the chat room regulars picked President Alexander’s brain during his Saturday waiting for the video visit to Legends. The nuggets included the story that Hawaii is paying $500 a player for airfare for all sports traveling to the islands for a BWC contest. The Prez thinks the Big West will have a higher RPI than the WAC (which may go away soon). And would that send San Jose back to the BWC? Hummm.
Our closing quote is from Oklahoma football fan Jeff Fannon of Norman who said he’s followed the Sooners to the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls and had a great time at all three. This year his Sooners play for BCS money but against woeful Connecticut. Not withstanding his road trip loyalty, Jeff said, “All told, however, that’s not enough to summon me back this year…It could be the fact that we’re playing a four-loss team from a conference that is better at politics than they are at football.”