February 2012 | Page 26 of 28 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / December 21.

  • NEW YORK — Amar’e Stoudemire
    and Carmelo Anthony aren’t about to call out their teammates, but both know full well that their bench was outscored 25-6 in Thursday’s 105-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden.

    “We’re doing a good job of playing together, playing team basketball,” Stoudemire said after scoring a season-high 34 points, but missing a potential game-tying 3 pointer with 11 seconds remaining.

    “We just need a little more production off the bench. If we can get those guys to come in, that second unit to play a little bit harder for us, then we’ll be OK.”

    NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony will start for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game Feb. 26 in Orlando, but Amar’e Stoudemire needs the coaches to vote him in.

    Anthony, averaging 23.7 points, received 1,041,290 votes, second-highest among Eastern Conference forwards behind LeBron James.

    “I’m really excited about it,” Anthony said after scoring 26 points in the Knicks’ 105-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls Thursday at MSG. “It’s an honor, a blessing. My first one here in New York. And thanks to the fans for voting me in.

    “I appreciate that. It will be a good time, especially after the short season and the lockout, to give the fans a chance to come together for All-Star weekend and have a good time.”

    It is Anthony’s third consecutive start and fifth overall selection. He was chosen the previous four times with the Denver Nuggets before he was dealt to New York last February.

    Tyler Roberson, one of the top small forwards in the Class of 2013 out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, will be contributing periodically to ZAGSBLOG during his junior season. Here’s his second entry:

    Hey Everyone:

    This is Tyler Roberson again updating you on my high school team’s season and my recruitment. Currently, our team is 9-6 and ranked No. 19 in N.J. We have played such a tough schedule (we played 6 games vs teams ranked in the state Top 10) and have dealt with lots of injuries so far this year. I’m really proud of how hard we have been playing. We most recently upset No. 9 St Pat’s by three points in the Coalition to House the Homeless Classic.

    Torian Graham is one of the top available shooting guards left on the board for the spring signing period.

    According to his guardian, Craig Wilson, four schools are working hardest on the 6-foot-4 wing: N.C. State, Xavier, Pittsburgh and Oregon.

    “Everything is still wide open right now, everybody’s still calling,” Wilson told SNY.tv Thursday by phone.

    Memphis and Louisville are also involved with the former N.C. State commit who is adjusting after  leaving Arlington (Fla.) Country Day and enrolling at Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Academy.

    UConn assistants Kevin Ollie and Glen Miller will watch uncommitted 2012 shooting guard Sam Cassell Jr. today at the National Prep Invitational in Rhode Island, according to Notre Dame Prep head coach Ryan Hurd.

    The 6-foot-2 Cassell Jr. went for 40 points last Friday against Winchendon and is now hearing from UConn, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, USF, UCF, Washington, Maryland and Seton Hall, Hurd and Cassell Jr. said.

    “I think I can bring energy to a team along with some scoring,” Cassell Jr. told SNY.tv.

    Louisville coach Rick Pitino says Louisville will remain in the Big East and won’t head to the Big 12.

    “I doubt it,” he said on Thursday’s Big East conference call. “I think that there was a chance last year but from what I understand some of the members of the [Big 12] conference don’t want to split the revenue and they want to stick at 11, so at least personally I’m hoping we stay put.

    “But you never know in this landscape today, I don’t decide those things.”

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