Good Morning, Stumpers!

Happy Thursday, everybody! We had some fireworks last night! One shot has singularly sent us into MARCH MODE in college basketball, and Glue Guy Shaedon Sharpe had what may have been the Dunk of the Year! Today we’ll talk about that, College Degrees in Hockey, and what “Garbage Time” really is. Let’s GOOO!

Today’s Rundown

Everything you’ll get in today’s edition, and more:

• 🏀 Curious Case of Vanderbilt Basketball

• 🎼 A GLUE GUY-MUSIC HYBRID? Yup!

• 🏀 What Really is ‘Garbage Time’?

• 🏒 The NHL putting an emphasis on College Degrees!

On This Day

On This Day…

🏇 There Goes the Horse and Pony Show

There’s been plenty of hefty sanctions brought down by the NCAA throughout it’s history, but none may be as big as this one. On this day in 1987, the NCAA canceled SMU’s entire 1987 football schedule for “gross violations” of NCAA rules regarding athletic corruption.

SMU was found guilty of paying recruits to play football, so the league brought the hammer down. Many considered this “death penalty” to be rather harsh, but it was given anyways. It ruined SMU football for decades to come, and only now has the program started to scratch the surface of it’s former glory.

🧠 Test your sports knowledge…

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: (B) Armando Galarraga! With two outs in the ninth inning, Galarraga went to cover first for a ground ball, and Joyce incorrectly called the runner safe, ending his Perfect Game. Joyce would later admit he was wrong.

Before We Dive In…

👀 Here’s Yesterday’s MUST-See’s

• 🏀 MARCH IS ALMOST UPON US! BUZZER BEATER!!!

• 🚨 SHAEDON SHARPE! OMG! Dunk of the YEAR?!?!

• 🎳 One of the greatest quotes in the history of mankind…

• 🙏 We lost a big time Twitter account last night

The Hot Stove

College Basketball

🏀 Curious Case of Vanderbilt Basketball

What to know: The Vanderbilt Commodores finished last season dead last in the SEC. It was a ugly season, one that many Vandy fans, and players, surely wanted to forget. Luckily for them, Vandy basketball has found some life this year. Not only are they alive, but they are pulling off some big-time wins.

Led by transfer PG Jason Edwards, averaging just under 18 points a game, Vandy has notched off two wins over ranked opponents in a row. On Saturday afternoon, Vandy welcomed (24) Ole Miss, defeating them 77-72. Yesterday, they took out (12) Texas A&M on the road, 86-84. That makes it four total wins over ranked opponents on the season, the other two coming over Kentucky and Tennessee.

They’ve also seen some really ugly losses, including a 21-point beat down on the road at Kentucky, and a 30-point loss to Oklahoma, who currently sits at 4-10 on the season in conference. They’ve seen their ups and downs, but on any given night you don’t really know what team you’re getting.

They take on one more ranked team this season, a matchup this Saturday at home against (14) Missouri. This really feels like a “prove it” type of game. They’ve shown the ability to play at a high level against some of the best programs in the country, but have also failed to show on other days.

What really impresses me is how they responded in the middle of February. They’ve played 5 ranked teams in a row, and Mizzou will make 6. After losing their first three, they bounced back and won two straight. This feels like a team that’s battle-tested. They play in the best conference in the country. A team I just don’t want to see in March. If you drop them in any other league, they’re a ranked program.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, let this team into March.

NBA

🏀 What is Garbage Time?

What to know: In all sports, there is a term known as ‘garbage time’. So what is this garbage time? It is once the game is out of reach, or a blowout, the rest of the game that does not matter. If the Knicks are up 40 against the Wizards with 8 minutes to play. Those 8 minutes are garbage time…or so that’s what they say!

My nightly schedule has become somewhat similar; I finish a bunch of laptop work in the late PM, and usually pair that with some primetime TNT or ESPN action with whatever is on. Volume-wise we’re going to keep the widescreen at around a sub-12. Nothing against the Ryan Ruocco’s of the world (big fan of his actually), but unless it’s Mike ‘BANG’ Breen, the volume is low.

The commentary is great, but sometimes, this allows you to come up with your own thoughts on the game instead of being spoon-fed by the play-by-play guys. Last night the late slot on ESPN, we had the Houston Rockets taking on the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are hurting, so it was a tough showing for them. The Rockets our energized them and really took it coast-to-coast. The most interesting thing to me though happened in the last four minutes of the game. In what was the so-called Garbage Time of the game.

The lead went from 25 to 12 in the span of three minutes. It was UNCANNY. It seemed like Houston turned the ball over 5 straight possessions. It wasn’t just bad passes, it was hounding defense from Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. No All-Stars, just GLUE GUYS. If you think Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka wasn’t HOT after that lead decreased in the blink of an eye, you’re dead wrong. They panned to him a few times during the run and you visibly see the frustration.

That brings me to this point. I’ll share it the only way I know how, by starting with a Seinfeld quote. From the famous birthday episode; “Happy Birthday, no such thing.”

Garbage time? No such thing! The bench unit for San Antonio gained a lot of respect from me and I’m sure the coaching staff and their teammates last night for their peskiness at the end. And even though they got the win, the reserves from Houston will absolutely be hearing about their sloppy play to end the game. Those are the guys who are fighting for their long-term contracts on both sides! They should be playing the hardest!

No such thing as garbage time. Not in basketball, not in life, not in nothing. Make every minute count!

NHL

🏒 College Degrees Made a Priority in NHL

What to know: The NHL Players Association reached an agreement yesterday with Boston College to create an easier path for NHL players to finish their college degrees.

The deals would allow a path for NHL players to use BC’s Woods College of Advancing Studies, an arm of the university that offers flexible routes to certificates and degrees for non-traditional students. The deal came rather easily as the current Executive Director of the NHLPA is Marty Walsh, who just so happens to be a graduate of the program himself.

If you’re thinking “is it THAT Marty Walsh?”, let me save you the trouble. Yes, it is that Marty Walsh. The former Mayor of Boston and former Secretary of Labor of the United States Marty Walsh. Yeah, he’s got a new gig now.

The students have the opportunity to study online, on-campus, or attempt a hybrid schedule. There isn’t necessarily a cap on the number of players that can and will be accepted into the program, but David Goodman, dean of the Woods College, expects there to be “at least a couple dozen” at first. Goodman did say that if there is higher than expected intrigue, the college will accommodate by adding more sections.

This is really awesome. Most pro hockey players are scooped up in their first, second, or maybe third year of college, not having a chance to finish their degree. This program adds an avenue for players to finish their degree at their own pace, with much less pressure. Taking one, maybe two classes a semester can really put a dent in finishing.

Most NHL players finish their careers before the age of 30, leaving a long life of finding a career after hockey. A degree can make a big difference. It opens doors.

Congrats to the NHLPA for standing up for their players and providing them a path to improve their lives. Other leagues should take notice.

Quick Hitters

• ✏️ NFLPA Report Cards are in

• 👍️ Saints GM Loomis says they’re sticking with QB Carr

• 🕐️ NFL looking into new OT rules, adds first-down tracking

What We’re Watching

🏀 TNT early, NBAtv late night!

• Televised: Nuggets @ Bucks (8:00 PM), Timberwolves vs Lakers (10:30 PM on NBAtv)

• More to watch: Warriors @ Magic (7:00 PM), Pelicans @ Suns (9:00 PM)

🏒 3-game NHL night to fulfill your hockey needs:

• Islanders @ Bruins (7:00 PM), Blue Jackets @ Red Wings (7:00 PM), Oilers @ Panthers (7:00 PM), Sabres @ Hurricanes (7:00 PM)

⚾️ SPRING BASEBALL! Yup. It’s here.

• Blue Jays @ Orioles (1:05 PM), Angles @ Cubs (3:05 PM), Royals @ Brewers (3:10 PM), Braves @ Nationals (6:05 PM), full schedule

🏀 College Basketball ranked action:

• Men’s: Rutgers @ (15) Michigan (9:00 PM on Peacock), (23) Saint Mary’s @ Loyola Marymount (11:00 PM on CBSSN)

• Women’s: (22) Creighton @ (5) UConn (7:00 PM on CBSSN), (8) UNC @ (16) Duke (7:00 PM on ESPN), (11) Tennessee @ (15) Kentucky (7:00 PM on SECN), (24) Florida State @ (3) Notre Dame (8:00 PM on ACCN), (7) LSU @ (20) Alabama (9:00 PM on SECN),

⚽️ International Futbol!

• Concacaf Champions Cup: Vancouver vs Saprissa (10:00 PM)

• English Premier League: West Ham vs Leicester (3:00 PM on USA)

• Serie A: Bologna vs AC Milan (2:45 PM)

The Moment You’ve Been Waiting For

Can’t thank you enough for sticking to the end of this thing we call The Daily Stump. If you know anybody who might want this bit of daily juice in their life, send them this link, it would go a long way. Appreciate the hell out of you all!

Trees may get chopped. Stumps hold strong 🌴