Schonhose

Well, that is the big question today. Not only haven’t I posted much on my blog, I even forgot posting photos on my photoblog (yet again). So what is the reason for this?

I have been working on a new webbased application which hasn’t got a name yet. But what it does is registering basketball statistics. There are quite a few programs on the market and none of those programs are either free or do what I want. What else was there to do other than trying to build my own? So over the last few weeks I did some programming in PHP, a lot of programming in MooTools and managed to get a working concept.

Below you can see a quick snapshot of the program running on the Samsung NC-10 netbook.

A couple of interesting facts:

• Was built using HTML, PHP and MooTools 1.2
• Uses a SQLite database to store information for each player
• Performs AJAX calls to store information in the database
• Can register made and missed shots per player
• Is able to distinguish shots from behind or inside the arc (based on direction of play)
• Keeps track of almost every statistics important in basketball
• Features a live-scoreboard for tracking the score and the time played
• Doesn’t have an admin interface yet

Leave a note in the comments if you have some ideas about either the program or what it should be called.

Today I got up early to watch the Finals of the NCAA tournament, which featured the number one seeded North Carolina against the second seeded Michigan State in Detriot. The first half was pretty exciting with UNC taking the early lead off a threepointer by Danny Green. I have to say North Carolina played a tremendous first half, with everybody scoring and being active on defense. One person that really stands out is Ed Davis, the freshman. He was really active on the boards, scored a couple of easy putbacks while showing his defensive capabilities as well on the other end by blocking a couple of shots.

Before the game it was announced that Ty Lawson has won the Bob Cousy collegiate point guard of the year award, which is only fitting seeing the way this young man has played this year.

UNC managed to break the scoring record for the first 20 minutes of a Finals game, making 55 points. In return they hold Michigan State to only 34 points. Michigan State has a difficult time scoring inside, which can be credited to UNC’s stifling defense. At the halftime Earvin “Magic” Johnson talked about the talented UNC team, with the best point guard in the US (Ty Lawson), last years best player (Tyler Hansbrough) and the best shooting combo in Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. The first half UNC played like true champions and if Michigan State wants to come back into the game they need to slow the game down and make less turnovers (13 in the first half).

A couple minutes in at the second half Ty Lawson made his eight steal, breaking the Final Four record. Carolina came into a scoring slump, shooting only 2 for 13. They need to get something going because Michigan State is coming back. Danny Green came up with the basket to end the slump. North Carolina was unable to maintain the high standard they set in the first half and allowed Michigan State to come back within 15 points at the 4 minute mark. North Carolina didn’t shoot the ball well, 8 – 24, but managed to hit the free throws. With two and a half minutes to go Michigan State replaced their starters and let the bench play it out. UNC was leading 84 – 68 at that point, looking good to win the NCAA championship, their second in the last five years. Danny Green, the senior, fouled out, after his 145 games in Tarheel blue.

The last couple of minutes featured a lot of free throws, but UNC kept the lead and won the championship. Congratulations to the Heels on finishing a wonderful season and thanks to the class of seniors that made it all happen.

University of North Carolina, the 2009 NCAA Champions!

See the photogallery or read the story over at Tarheel Blue.

After last years loss against Kansas the University of North Carolina made sure it didn’t happen again. In a classic match-up, dubbed “men vs boys” on the internet, UNC defeated Villanova 83 – 69 to secure a place in the NCAA Finals game.

Ty Lawson (yes, still with the toe problem) scored 22 points, Wayne Ellington added another 20. Tyler Hansbrough had 18 points and 11 rebounds (another double double). Tomorrow (monday) the Heels try to win their second title in five years (the last one being in 2005: Sean May and Raymond Felton among others) against Michigan State.

It will be a fitting end for the seniors if they secure the NCAA 2009 title. Read more about the accomplishments of the seniors here.

One more game, one more win, one more championship. Just one more to say goodbye to the best team in the 2008-2009 season. And to the wonderful group of seniors who made it happen. It will be a fitting end of a tremendous season. Go Heels!!