Finals Week

BEVERLY HILLS (MI) -- We are at the very beginning of that annual mid-December break in the UD hoops schedule known as "Finals Week." Wait a minute, "From The Swamp" handed out Flyer report cards last week -- how does this whole grades thing work again?

While we all wait for Saturday and the BU game to roll around, let's do some required reading.

-- Catching up on our Atlantic 10 brethren, here are some items you might have missed.

Tremendous article by Gary Parrish on the making of Shaka Smart and why he stays at VCU:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...aping-of-shaka

Jon Severe has left the Fordham basketball program:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...rsonal-reasons

(Now who is gonna take all those ill-advised shots?)

Speaking of report cards, here is one from Rush the Court for The A-10 performance in the early season tournaments:

http://rushthecourt.net/2014/12/01/a...source=twitter

Campus Insider talks with "The Voice of the Flyers" about his early season impressions and Jordan Sibert:

http://campusinsiders.com/videos/ins...14_12_05_22_31

Five Atlantic 10 surprises to start the season:

http://rushthecourt.net/2014/12/09/d...source=twitter

Five criteria that will make Davidson effective in the Atlantic 10 in year one:

http://collegechalktalk.com/2014/12/...c-10-year-one/

VCU’s win over Northern Iowa does little to mask defensive deficiencies:

http://rushthecourt.net/2014/12/14/v...-deficiencies/

Never thought we'd see VCU and the phrase "defensive deficiencies" together in the same sentence, but there you go.

-- Statistics have taken over the sport of Major League Baseball and they are coming for college hoops next...but in a good way! Check out how a software program called SportsVU is helping Duke refine their approach on the court:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/...fine.html?rh=1

One quote from the article that Jordan Sibert should take to heart:

"The Blue Devils made 42 percent of their catch-and-shoot 3-pointers (51-121) in their first seven games, all wins. Given that only 42 long-distance tries were created off the dribble – with 28 percent accuracy – it appears the lesson sank in."

-- Continuing in the research vein, scoring and pace in college hoops continue their downward trend, according to KPI Sports:

http://www.kpisports.net/mbb-notes-s...ownward-trend/

-- Former hoops star and recovered alcoholic/drug addict Chris Herren spoke to the Flyers last year and he remains a man on a mission:

http://www.providencejournal.com/spo...r-thankful.ece

-- What's not to like about CBS Sports venerable announcer Verne Lundquist?

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foot...uist-interview

-- In case anybody wasn't sure, this anecdote from former Celtic teammate Brian Scalabrine confirms it: Kevin Garnett really is crazy!

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...uEO/story.html

-- If you have ever driven Interstate 70 from Pittsburgh to DC, here is a single word that will strike fear into your heart: Breezewood

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/199...-turnpike-neon

-- Could there be a better format to employ when chronicling the making of the cult classic film Boogie Nights than an oral history?

http://grantland.com/features/boogie-nights/

-- "The Sweet Tweet of the Week" comes to us from Head Coach Archie Miller:

Just took a look at the new Olsen Center, what an incredible facility. Cant wait for our guys to get in here!

https://twitter.com/Archie_Miller/media

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
You can email me at swampy@udpride.com