Here’s the news for December 16, 2008 from the Double-A Zone, the official blog of the NCAA:

TOP POST

Is it a good idea to have off-campus sports venues? - Dec 16, 2008 | 13:25:08

posted by: Howard Smith

Many athletics departments are forced to decide between hosting sporting events at on-campus sites versus bigger off-campus venues.

Fairfield, a Division I school of 3,300 students in Connecticut, is one university that has made the decision to play the majority of its home men's basketball games at an off-campus arena. This home-away-from-home venue is the Arena at Harbor Yard, located in Bridgeport, approximately five miles from campus.

At least one local newspaper writer has been disappointed with the student turnout at the Arena. The men's team has enjoyed success on the court this season (an 8-3 record, 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), and he feels the student showing at its home games has been below what it should be.

Perhaps the writer has a valid point. But can you really fault the students for not wanting to trek several miles in frigid winter temperatures? >>Story

Not so Lovely in the NBA? - Dec 16, 2008 | 12:30:42

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love made the jump from college basketball to the NBA after one season at UCLA. Love is having a solid year individually (averaging 8.7 points and 8.2 rebounds), especially when you consider he's only 20 years old. But Love's T-Wolves squad has already lost 20 games, more losses than Love has been part of over the last five years combined. Aside from the NBA paycheck, perhaps he misses college life in LA at least a little bit.

Sir Charles speaks out about Auburn's new hire - Dec 16, 2008 | 10:39:00

Former NBA star Charles Barkley is upset that Auburn hired Iowa State's Gene Chizik (who is white) as its new football coach over Buffalo's Turner Gill (who is black)."I think race was the No. 1 factor," Barkley told ESPN. "You can say it's not about race, but you can't compare the two resumes and say [Chizik] deserved the job. Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume." Chizik was 5-19 in two seasons with the Cyclones; Gill lead Buffalo to its first MAC championship this fall. Barkley played three seasons of basketball with Auburn in the 1980s. Do you agree with Sir Charles?

Cleveland State shocks 'Cuse on 60-foot buzzer-beater - Dec 16, 2008 | 8:52:44

What a way for 11th-ranked Syracuse to lose its first game of the season. After Syracuse tied the game, 69-69, with 2.2 seconds remaining, Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson took the inbounds pass and heaved a 60-foot game-winner as time expired to stun Syracuse's Carrier Dome crowd. Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to the 2008 sports play of the year:

This is the second time Cleveland State has been at the center of exciting end-game drama this month. On December 4th, Butler hit a three-pointer as time expired to defeat Cleveland State, 50-48. Is anything better than college basketball?

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