A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Who wins tonight

Because I believe in living dangerously (not really) I’m going out to the edge of the cliff. I am peering over into the abyss to discover the winner. Will it be the Huskies of UConn and their mercurial coach Dan Hurley or the lesser known Dusty May who leads the University of Michigan Wolverines? Who will be declared the winner around 10:15 P.M. Central Time or so? As for the games on Saturday, UConn held a lead for most of its game against Illinois but had to hold on to win a 71-62 win. As for Michigan, their game against Arizona was almost opposite, the Wolverines raced out to such a huge lead I actually turned off the game with 6 minutes or so remaining. 

Based on the enormous lead I believed there was no way for a good Arizona team to win this game. It’s never good to lose games, it's even worse when you reach this level. At the end of this evening one of the teams unfortunately will be deemed a loser and that’s a shame. I make that statement because all four will put forth a maximum effort to win. As basketball fans all we can hope for is a well-played game and one without controversy or injury. With so much at stake a final score would be impossible to provide, a winner is a different matter. I have no intention to bore you with analytics, I’m just going to say I believe the Michigan Wolverines will be crowned 2026 NCAA champions. Of course I could be wrong and there could be celebrations occurring in Storrs Connecticut as the Huskies win another one.

The roof has sprung a leak

No worry, the headline is not a reference to our home, this is written Sunday morning prior to the evening game with the Mavs. I have no idea if the Lakers win this game and those remaining on the balance of the schedule. A playoff spot is already secure however with first Luka Doncic gone and now Austin Reaves the Lakers are in BIG TROUBLE. Reserve players will take on the role vacated by the pair, the issue of course is talent, they are reserves because they fill a role .

That says to me “You are not as good a player as the guy in front of you. Laker Nation must be asking the question, “We arrive at the end of the season with our main guys injured, not only that they are out for an extended period.” I’ve not read a timeline for the return of Luka, as for Reaves its 4-6 weeks.” At this point, the Lakers have 41-year old LeBron James to lead the way. I told a friend this morning with a healthy Luka and Reaves the Thunder and possibly the Spurs would cause them problems. From my friend; “I think this was their year even with the stiff competition they might face. I can’t speak for others in Laker Nation but this is my plan, root for them until they lose a series.

They hate us cause they ain’t us

Duke has become the team and school the media and some fans love to hate. This issue has festered for a number of years with those who follow the college game. As for the vitriol I believe it began first with Coach K. but you can boo the coach only so long, a player is easier. The ideal target is a player, he’s on the floor and highly visible especially if he’s good. This Duke hate I contend began with Christian Laettner and it’s all his fault. Laettner was the star player on back to back championship Duke teams in 1991 and 1992. During his tenure in 24 tournament games Laettner and Duke won 21 of them, Laettner was perceived as being arrogant and he was, he became the easy target for fans to point toward.

One cynic pointed out the number of high profile prospects that have played at Cameron Indoor and they claim out it’s not aided the winning, on the other hand it has, allow this explanation. This most recent Duke team won 35 games while losing only 3, they would have played in the Final Four if not for a 35-foot desperation 3-point shot by UConn. Go ahead and hate Duke if you must, it might be valid for you but not for me. Jon Scheyer is a good coach despite the second guessing by several in the media and fans, he’s a winner. He’s got a better winning percentage in four years than…..can I say it, Coach K. So with that said I’m out.  

There is another

Wemby has somewhat been excluded in any discussions regarding this seasons MVP conversation, there is another NBA player also missing from the conversation. I’m not saying he should be the league MVP however I am confused as to why we hear little if any mention of his name. You certainly are familiar with his name, it’s the Laker point guard Luka Doncic. Check out the numbers he’s presented thus far: 

No 1. points per game average

No 1. 3s made per game

No 1. 30+ point games

No 1. 40+point games

No 1. rebounds per game guards

No 2. 30+ point triple doubles

No 3. assists per game

But just like Wemby he’s suffered the same fate, Doncic has been ignored and excluded from any MVP discussions this season by most of the media. He will not win the award however I believe Luka’s having an outstanding season and should be given consideration….but I’m a party of one, in addition I’m part of Laker Nation. NOTE: This was written prior to the injury that ended his season with days remaining.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Yes, there are some

My co-worker reading my April 4 account of basketball factories asked me the question. “Isn’t public high school ball still good,” my response was immediate? Of course it is, however, it seems in this day athletes desire to play at a Montverde or Oak Hill Academy. There are metro Kansas City athletes that have begun their journey at a public high school and graduate from one of the prep academies mentioned in last Saturdays’ edition.

Jason Crowe Jr. says there was an opportunity to leave Inglewood High School but he chose to remain there strictly having his family surrounding him. Perhaps having talent and family have aided his basketball development, as he heads off to Missouri in the fall his high school record is outstanding. The 6-foot 4 170 pound Crowe Jr. has scored 4,718 points the most in California high school basketball history. Pause a moment, do you realize the number of athletes the state has produced and Crowe Jr. has outscored them all, his 43.6 point per game average ranks second in the nation. Inglewood High School in the Los Angeles metro has a history of producing outstanding basketball talent, a number who would go on to play in the NBA.  

Among the names who attended the school and later played in the NBA include Paul Pierce, Reggie Theus and Jason Hart, these are just a few of the names who hooped for Inglewood High School. Columbia Missouri is a great distance from Los Angeles, its hoped Crowe Jr. is able to display the talent for the basketball team most believe he possesses as a 5-star prospect and the number one high school player in California.

I must talk to my mom 

Those were the words of AJ Dybansta when questioned on the 2026 NBA draft, it will not become official until the evening of June 26, that is the date of the annual NBA draft. The commissioner will step to the mic as say, “With the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft the (insert a team name) select (insert a name) from (insert a school).” Did you notice what I did, no team, individuals name or school is mentioned? We just don’t really know who that might be. Despite what I just wrote its highly likely the NBA team making the selection will choose BYU’s AJ Dybansta. Recently he indicated he must discuss the draft with his mother prior to making a decision, could she say NO….that’s certainly possible however I don’t think so.

This is not a talent issue in my opinion, Darryn Peterson who played at Kansas might turned out to be the better choice in the long run however his season of illness and missed games leaves a number of NBA front office people with tons of questions. The number of slam dunk athletes are few, there are questions regarding the performance of all, do you take a chance based on the history? Four mock draft sites I utilize on a regular basis continue to list Dybansta at the top and Peterson second. It was reported that one mock site I never use placed Peterson at five. Following the NBA for a period of time we realize its location and the opportunity to play immediately are contributing factors to initial and later continued success in the NBA. Several from the 2025 draft led by Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have made the transition.

Literally everyone missed

How do you go from a relative unknown to a first round NBA draft pick? This has become the journey of this Shawnee Mission Northwest now considered a late bloomer. That’s the story for Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, I’d mention earlier this Kansas talent was overlooked by his home state Kansas Jayhawks plus the Kansas State Wildcats and next door at Missouri. Columbia home of the university is 136 miles one way from his home, the other two schools are even closer. But wait there is more to the story, UMKC-Kansas City is about 8 miles distance from his school.

UMKC also known as Kansas City offered Wagler a scholarship but he turned them down, there were a few other offers from smaller D-I schools he also turned down. He was recruited by the coach’s son and decided on Illinois and the balance of the story has been documented. Standing 6-foot 6 and 180 pounds this shooting guard has seen his stock rise significantly in the eyes of NBA scouts. Check out the number each mock draft indicates Wagler would/should be drafted. Is it possible we are all being misled by his outstanding play as a freshman, can Wagler come in and immediately begin play at the NBA level? Based on the mock draft projections below that would appear to be the case.

nbadraft.net 8

nbadraftroom.com 8

tankathon.com 6

bleacherreport.com 6

The surprise team 

I’ve got to give the Celtics a hand clap for several reasons. The first might be the fact Jayson Tatum has returned to the lineup and so far appears to have completely recovered. This was done in the space of less than one year, most of the media believed he’d miss the entire 2025-26 season. Number two might be the fact the team didn’t appear to miss Tatum, a number of others stepped up and filled the role while waiting on his return.

This past Sunday the Celtics registered win number 50, as this is written only the Thunder, Spurs and Pistons have won 50 games or more. Lastly I’m going to salute head coach Joe Mazzulla, he’s been able to make the moves he’s desired and the team has responded. Celtic play is especially comforting reading and listening to all the complaints about NBA teams tanking. At this point I’m going out on that precarious limb, in the East Conference it might be a battle between the Pistons and Celtics for supremacy. This is a change, in December or even January I would not have made such a statement.

A basketball fans outlook

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Still waiting

The top prospect in the Class of 2026 Tyran Stokes has not announced his destination. It was believed Kansas and Kentucky were in the lead with Kansas supposedly slightly ahead. Now we hear from a couple of new teams that made their presence known, they are Gonzaga and Oregon. Stokes is a 6-foot 7 230 pound forward, until there is an official announcement we have no idea which school he decides to attend.

In other college basketball news shot blocker extraordinaire 6-foot 10 Flory Bidunga is entering the NBA draft and transfer portal at the same time, we must wait to see how this turns out. There is no news regarding the other name at Kansas Darryn Peterson….is he going or is he staying? This is pure speculation however I could be wrong but I have no idea why he’d remain at Kansas versus an NBA payout. BYU’s AJ Dybansta indicates he’s made no decision whether he remains in school or heads for the NBA. I repeat for him my statement regarding Peterson. The transfer portal opens on Tuesday April 7, it will close on April 21, that’s a 15-day window for teams to make the necessary changes for their program.

It’s vast 

The Grand Canyon is one of the great wonders of the world, this immense canyon in the western United States is a sight to behold. Memory says I’ve flown over it at the very least three times, I have never seen it at ground level. Everyone indicates it’s a gigantic distance wall to wall and that is the lead into the report of the Thursday night game. The Thunder smoked my Lakers 139-96, there is no method to sugarcoat what is an embarrassing loss. In addition to that Luka Doncic didn’t finish the game suffering a left hamstring injury which caused him to leave the game.

An MRI will be done to determine the extent, with the playoffs upcoming the timing couldn’t have been worst for the Lakers. Everyone on the Lakers healthy I believe (and still do) they can compete successfully with any team in the NBA however there are exceptions. The Spurs and Thunder scare me, can they be beaten….of course they can, however, to win a series a team must play it’s A game to win. As this is written there’s no update on Luka or any other Laker for that matter. As for the playoffs we’ll see what we see when we arrive. I am disappointed based on the outcome however I intend to remain a loyal faithful member of Laker Nation.

He returns

On Thursday came the official word, Bill Self would be returning for year 24 to lead the Kansas men’s basketball team next season. Many of the Jayhawk faithful have been literally holding their breath in anticipation of receiving news that the coach had decided to retire. Self once said he wouldn’t coach past 60 yet here he is at 63 years of age returning to lead the basketball program. With his health issues plus age I believe a timeline of 3-5 years coaching this team probably exists going forward.

If that appears to be a negative that’s not the intent it’s a fact. Already in the Naismith Hall of Fame there is no doubt anytime there is a discussion of Kansas basketball coaches Self is at the top of the list. His name ranks above that of every former coach including Dr. James A. Naismith the inventor of the game of basketball and Forrest “Phog” Allen” who coached Kansas basketball for 39 seasons. Perhaps even more mind boggling is this fact. Consider since 1898 when Naismith first began coaching Kansas basketball there have been only 8 coaches including Self at the head of this program, that’s amazing. 

Basketball “Factories”

Upon reading the headline, some may initially perceive this as a negative account: however, that is not the intention here. The term “factories” is used to highlight how certain prep schools have produced a remarkable number of players who have gone on to play in the NBA and other professional leagues. Reading the headline one might assume this is a negative account, that is not the case. I decided to use the term factories due to the fact that a number of these prep schools have sent large numbers of players to the NBA and other professional leagues.

A co-worker understanding what I intended to write said; “What about public high schools?” There was no intent to ignore public schools it seems a significant amount of these basketball factories have continued to grow. I received conflicting information so my statement will indicate a tie, Montverde and Oak Hill both have sent over 30 players into the NBA over the years. What about others and where are they located, first this list should not be considered complete. Additionally, the official websites for these institutions emphasize their commitment to education alongside their athletic achievements. A brief look of several prep schools and their location, if your school was overlooked it was strictly due to space and length of time in completion of this account.

Montverde Academy-Montverde, Florida

Oak Hill Academy-Mouth of Wilson, Virginia

Bishop Gorman High School-Las Vegas, Nevada

IMG Academy-Bradenton, Florida

Link Academy-Branson, Missouri

Sunrise Christian Academy-Wichita, Kansas

Putnam Science Academy-Putnam, Connecticut

Brewster Academy-Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Iowa United Basketball-Des Moines, Iowa

TPH Academy-Overland Park, Kansas

Dynamic Prep-Carrollton, Texas

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Folks love to hate him

Most of you reading this are acquainted with him already, as for others his name is Dan Hurley. He is the men’s head basketball coach at UConn. At 53 years of age Hurley might be one of most easily identified and successful college basketball coach in today’s game. His claim to fame, he’s won two national championships (2023 & 2024). Over the course of his career Hurley’s teams have been victorious in 349 games, 198 of them while he’s been head coach at UConn. That’s the good Hurley, how about the other Hurley? He can be abrasive at times, he is confrontational at times particularly toward game officials.

What I found interesting a local sports talk radio host even compared him to the late Bobby Knight. Despite that comparison on his part I believe that is his opinion certainly not mine based on what I witnessed or read of Knight in action especially at Indiana. After the win over Duke in all the excitement the television camera caught Hurley chest or head bumping one of the officials. Hurley could have been given a technical foul which certainly would have changed the outcome of the game. The explanation is simple, Hurley indicated he was acquainted with this particular official. If you are a Hurley hater you should have ceased reading long before now. I am a Duke fan, the hope on my part was the Blue Devils would win, despite the outcome I remain a Dan Hurley devotee.   

Meanwhile….

I haven't kept up with Stephen A. Smith recently; you may recall that I previously mentioned his proclamation. “He (Victor Wembanyama) can’t be the face of the NBA, why, because he’s not an American.” When I discussed this with a co-worker his response was simple, “Does it really matter?” If there is a face of the NBA who decides what nation that individual might call home. Of course the statement you read is one of the many dumb statements made by SAS over the course of his media career. A better question might be this, who appointed him the arbitrator of all possible unresolved issues and matters of the world.

The 49th annual McDonald’s All Star Game took place on Tuesday, March 31 from Glendale Arizona. While its overall importance may be debatable, watching the collection of talent still makes for an entertaining experience, even if it is just an all-star game. The West defeated the East by a score of 102-86. Camron Crowe Jr. (Missouri) and Caleb Holt (Arizona), both representing the West, were named co-MVPs. Toni Bryant, playing for the East and set to attend Missouri, contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds. Crowe Jr. and Bryant represent the top recruiting class in the nation and the distinguished themselves during the game. 

“I don’t regret selling, I just regret that I sold to the Adelson and Dumont families.” Those are the words of Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban, according to reports despite the sale Cuban still retains ownership in 27% of the team but no longer calls the shots. It appears the sale of his portion of the Mavs increased the size of Cuban’s financial worth significantly. I like Cuban however based on the sale he should be a happy camper, on the other hand that would not appear to be the case. There may have been other considerations involved in the sale unknown to the public.   

For the second year

The Tuesday evening Laker 127-113 victory over the Cavs became win number 50 for the season. At this point I have no idea how the season eventually plays out….will it be an NBA championship or just a deep playoff run? At this point, the question cannot be answered, however, for the second year in a row the Lakers have eclipsed the 50 win mark. The win total fails to lead the league in victory that belongs to the Thunder yet the majority of those in Laker Nation are excited. I’m unable to point out the exact date, I think it was right around the All-Star break they began to accelerate play. It was pointed out Wednesday morning that the Lakers finished March with 15 wins versus only 2 losses, that says meteoric heat to me.

With all the platitudes they remain an imperfect team, one area needing an upgrade is post defense. This is speculation, however, one of the chief reasons for the improved play I believe is due to the elder LeBron James. I imagine he’s “allowed” Luka Doncic to be the clear leader, he’s taken a back seat. For someone about to punch his Naismith Hall of Fame ticket this might not be easy on the ego. I happen to believe Sr. sees the possibility of another NBA championship although its certainly not a guarantee. Markus Smart, new guy Luke Kennard along with Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton have been key to improved play by this version of Laker basketball. As I indicated earlier there is no projection on my part on a finish the hope is it’s a good one.

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Is it possible

How did the Spurs become so good so quickly? Four years ago the team won 22 games, that was followed a year later by another 22 win season. Although the win record remained a losing one they drafted and inserted Victor Wembanyama into the lineup. The following season they improved in the win column with 34, we have no idea of the next statement. The Spurs won-loss record might have been much better if Wemby hadn’t missed half of the season. Once the off season began in addition to the physical the Tall One worked on the mental aspects of basketball play at this level. Before you become confused the Spurs have been highly successful besides Wemby in assembling talent.

They will win 60 games a figure far beyond what much of the media expected. It’s difficult to not praise the effort of Wemby due to his play all around, we tend to focus mainly on the offensive side of the game. Wemby plays both sides which says to me he is driven to succeed and accomplish it at a superior level. On Monday evening the Spurs beat the Bulls 129-114 as Wemby led the way to the victory. Check out this box score 41 points, 16 rebounds and he added 3 blocked shots to his league leading total. He shot 50% from the three line and 100% from the free throw line. Can the Spurs make a deep playoff run, that question remains unknown at this point. The portion we do know, they will go as far as a healthy Wemby leads them.

The criticism is overblown

UConn came roaring back after being behind most of the game against Duke in their tournament match on Sunday. The Blue Devils held a lead but freshman Cayden Boozer made a critical turnover. The error allowed the Huskies Brylon Mullins to be the hero or the nobody as he took a desperation 35-foot three  shot which found the bottom of the basket with 0.4 on the clock. The final score UConn 73-Duke 72. Before I proceed allow me to say I was rooting for Duke and I was certainly disappointed. Despite the outcome the game is over, the best team won except for some fans and media members. I’ve read and heard several offer critical remarks regarding the Boozer turnover.

I remember another freshman mistake in tournament history, this one by Chris Webber while at Michigan. Webber went on to a successful NBA career. As for the past, in a 1993 tournament game 11 seconds remained in the game and Michigan trailed North Carolina 73-71. Webber turned to a game official signaling for a timeout, the only problem Michigan had none. The result was free throws to North Carolina plus the basketball, final score North Carolina 77 Michigan 71. I am asking you the same question I did on one of my social media posts, place yourself in the position of Boozer….better yet how about Webber. We have a 33-year difference in the outcome of both games, despite the time lapse we encountered a freshman error that indirectly led to victory for the opposition.

Meanwhile….

There’s been another Wemby sighting, this critique focuses not on Victor Wembanyama, but his younger brother. Oscar Wembanyama, who in March 19 celebrated his nineteenth birthday. While he yet to reach the height of his older sibling, he stands 6 feet 8 inches. Although Oscar's weight is currently unknown, recent photos suggest that he has a slender build—an observation previously made about Victor as well. Oscar has expressed his aspiration to play in the NBA just like older brother Victor. At present, Oscar is competing for ASVEL, the same team that Victor was once part of. Be on the lookout for Oscars’ name to appear on an NBA mock draft for 2027.

NBA mock drafts are similar to those we see utilized by the media who cover the NFL, they only provide us a glimpse of the draft position of an athlete. The four mock draft sites I regularly utilize all reflect the same name as the number two pick June 25-26, 2026. Although final team positioning hasn't been established yet all four have Darryn Peterson who played at Kansas projected as the second pick. Despite Petersons’ health issues and other stuff it doesn't appear he is going to drop much in the eyes of NBA scouts. My best guess, he is unlikely to appear at the NBA Draft Combine occurring a month or so prior to the draft.

Why….Kansas City is not in the NBA

The NBA conducted a vote at its board of governors meeting on expansion, the two sites to receive a yes vote are no different from those mentioned in past discussions. The discussion centered on two locations Las Vegas and Seattle. According to a recent news account former Laker player and owner Magic Johnson is interested in moving into ownership of an NBA team again. He’s been mentioned as one of the possible owners of a Las Vegas franchise should there be a go decision. As for Seattle the last bit of information I read indicated there were at least four groups lining up to purchase the franchise which would become the new Seattle Supersonics.

As for the headline and why my city is no longer in the running for an NBA team. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania the projected cost for each franchise would be in the neighborhood of $7 million-$10 million. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appears to be an NBA fan, the television camera has spotted him on more than one occasion seated at an NBA game. In addition to being the Chiefs quarterback he also has ownership in two other franchises, the baseball Royals and Current soccer teams. The other question with astronomical ticket prices could NBA basketball compete with other sports in the metro? That’s a question that could not be answered without an impact study being conducted, in the time being NBA fans here must live vicariously through those living in cities with teams.

A basketball fans outlook

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Meanwhile….

I would guess there might be nothing hotter in the universe than a meteor, then again maybe the Spurs might exceed that of a meteor. Check this out, entering February the Spurs had 32 wins and 16 losses. After March 28, the record reads 56 wins versus 18 losses, in February and up till the end of March they had 34 wins and only 2 losses. I’m unsure if there is anything in existence sizzling at the rate of the Spurs during February and March 28. Have we seen this youthful team “grow up” right in front of our eyes?   

The arrival of April there comes two dates that many Americans hate to see, April 15 which is Tax Day for most in the nation. This from AI Overview: “For the 2026 college basketball season, the NCAA transfer portal opens on April 7, 2026 (the day after the national championship) and remains open for a 15-day window, closing on April 21, 2026.” Friends the only reason I’m treating the transfer portal as a negative college teams never know what they are going to receive in return. The transfer portal is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get until the basketball season begins.

Someone had to lose

While the NCAA Tournament captures everyone's attention, those in the Kansas City metro area were perhaps especially invested. Iowa played Illinois—a matchup between neighboring states—but for two people, it was about more than just basketball. As for the players I’m unsure if Keaton Wagler and Bennett Stirtz had played against one another in the past, perhaps they might have played on the same AAU team at a point. Wagler is from Shawnee Kansas while Stirtz hails from Liberty Missouri, for those unfamiliar with the lay of the land both cities are part of the Kansas City metro. These two are certainly not the first area players in the tournament however this might have been the first instance of metro players opposing one another.

The final score read Illinois 71 Iowa 59 however both teams and individual players battled to determine a winner, halftime saw Iowa hold a slight lead 32-28. The second half of the game would prove far different as Illinois playing an inside game outscored Iowa 43-27. In a losing effort Liberty’s Stirtz led for his Hawkeyes with 24 points, Wagler led the Fighting Illini with 25 points. The nation witnessed outstanding play by both teams, the only problem….someone had to lose. Keep in mind basketball remains a team sport and certainly both teams benefited from teamwork. It just so happens that the play of Illinois including Wagler especially in the second half of the game proved to be more beneficial to the win than the Iowa effort.    

Yes, I’m bothered

The NFL plays 18 regular season games, in baseball its 162. I don’t follow the NHL or MSL so I’m unsure of the number, of course in the NBA its 82 games. We continued to hear the word “tanking” i.e., NBA teams losing games on purpose. Trust me I have grown tired of hearing discussions regarding this matter. In the old days perhaps illness, injury or the end of long road trip might have prevented a team from giving the maximum effort.

Despite was I just laid out I believe without offering any proof a number of NBA teams didn’t lose games on purpose. This is the stupidity of this issue, teams are reported to better position themselves for the draft. Okay if that is the case how come the same teams are bottom feeders every single solitary season. It would seem if they drafted anywhere from pick number one through ten every season they would improve in the standings which is often missing. In any event the commissioner indicated there is yet another proposal to hinder teams from tanking. I will end this rant here….if the league must place rules in place to prevent losing they have a real problem.   

ROTY

It’s occurred twice in NBA history, instead of a single individual four athletes were named NBA Rookie of the Year. The 1970-71 season saw Dave Cowens of the Celtics and Blazer Geoff Petrie being named co-rookies of the year. The end of the 1994-95 NBA season the vote named Grant Hill Pistons and Jason Kidd of the Mavs saw the two sharing honors. I am guessing all these years later those voting believed the separation between the contestants was too close to name one over the other. Based on that fact they decided to name four athletes the best rookies for each of those seasons.

I believe we are at that point once again, prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 season many in the media were contending Cooper Flagg of the Mavs was a generational player. The ROY trophy was about to have Flagg’s name inscribed, but at some point during the season the Hornets Kon Knueppel said hold on there a minute. Probably the most interesting aspect of this account is the fact that the two were college teammates at Duke. The makeup of both teams is different, in my view the Hornets accompaniment to Knueppel is better than those surrounding Flagg. If we check the stats alone the two Dukee’s are really inches apart from one another. As I indicated while most believed “star” was written behind Flagg’s name its clear Knueppel dropped out of the sky on us, we shall see how this eventually plays out.  

A basketball fans outlook

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Politicking

Victor Wembanyama voice his concern (and I paraphrase) he didn’t understand why he wasn’t included in the MVP discussion. So what occurred following his statement, Wemby’s name was later mentioned along with SGA and The Joker. A number of fans were critical of the Spurs star because they claim he was politicking to have his name included in the conversation for MVP. This is my opinion on the matter, if Wemby didn’t have numbers to back him up it would be ludicrous. Basketball remains a team sport however if we just looked at team won-loss records it should be SGA and Wemby. Before you scream loudly I’m not stating The Joker doesn’t belong in the discussion, I’m looking strictly at a teams’ won-loss record. It’s the Thunder first and then the Spurs, the Nuggets are sitting in 4th place in the Western Conference.

He’s got a great deal of pressure

This is an introduction to some the name Tyran Stokes, he’s a 5-star prospect and the number one high school basketball player in the Class of 2026. Stokes is a 6-foot 7 small forward, currently he’s being recruited by Kansas, Kentucky and Oregon. As for the headline there is pressure no matter which school he chooses, unfortunately there is more for one over the others. Which school is the culprit in my view, it’s the University of Kansas and the explanation follows. Kansas basketball has won over 40 games the past two seasons but has failed in two areas.

Winning the Big 12 championship which the Jayhawks almost always manage, the second, advancing deep into the NCAA tournament. There are basketball programs across the nation that would love to have a record similar to Kansas however a number of fans in Jayhawk Nation have expressed their frustration with developments the past two seasons. There is a third expectation that didn’t come about, for a variety of reasons Kansas fans believed Darryn Peterson was a disappointment although he remains an NBA lottery pick. Should Stokes choose Kansas the expectations will be over the moon, Kansas fans (and the Kansas City sports media) will not be very patient if Stokes fails to deliver at the level expected.

Who is the real deal

I’m going to detail a bit of the history behind this account, it certainly is quite different from the usual story you might find in this blog. I am unsure of a date or time I first became acquainted with George Gervin. The Spurs guard first signed with the ABA Spurs and matured in the NBA with that same team. He’s been honored by his selection as a member of the 50th and 75th Anniversary NBA teams. In addition to that accomplishment Gervin is enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. Gervin was a master at the finger roll, a shot that came off his hand smooth as silk. I’ve never read how the nickname Iceman came into being but he was the first I remember applied to him.

Anytime you said Iceman to practically anyone they knew who were likely referencing, there was no question. For the first time to my knowledge George “Iceman” Gervin who is now age 73 has competition for the nickname that’s always been associated with him. name. 27-year old Caleb Williams quarterback of the Chicago Bears has taken on the nickname after the past NFL season he experienced. Some might remember the feud between Shaq and Dwight Howard on who was the “real Superman”? We have a similar situation here only this time its legal, the term Iceman has been trademarked by Williams. The original Iceman (Gervin) filed a lawsuit three days after Williams, creating a legal dispute over who rightfully owns the term. You are the judge, this case is presented to you for a ruling…..what’s the outcome in your court? 

Twin Towers

This account is prompted by a question, I was asked if I was familiar with Artis Gilmore? In today’s college and NBA game we’ve moved from a “Twin Tower” approach. Perhaps the first evidence of this was the San Francisco Warriors, they had 7-1 Wilt Chamberlain on the roster. Later they would draft 6-11 Nate Thurmond and Chamberlain at center and Thurmond at power forward were the first power duo on record in 1963. Several years later 7-2 Artis Gilmore would be paired with 7-0 Pembrooke Burrows to form twin towers for Jacksonville (FL) University in 1970.

Sidenote, Gilmore went on to a hall of fame career in the ABA/NBA, Burrows as well but in a slightly different arena. He went to work for the Florida Highway patrol and standing 7-feet tall he remains the tallest Florida law officer in their history. Ralph Sampson 7-4 was drafted by the Houston Rockets, he played power forward next to Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0) already installed at center. Next up the combo of Shaquille O’Neal (7-1) and Stanley Roberts (7-0) both were LSU’s dynamic pairing. We close with the Admiral i.e., David Robinson (7-1) at center, Tim Duncan (6-11) joined him at the power forward position for the Spurs. There may be other combos however those named are the standouts for me, just thought the trivia might be valuable to you.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

65

The number 65 applies to the amount of games played for an NBA competitor to be measured for post-season recognition. The rule went into effect for the 2023-24 season and there was a basis for it being implemented. It was hoped it would curb load management a term added to our vocabulary in recent years. Players who were not injured or sick, they were simply “resting.” Now I happen to be a fan of the Pistons Cade Cunningham, his season to date says all-pro but there is an issue. Recently Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung which sidelines him for the last few weeks of the regular season. By all indications he should be primed and ready for playoff basketball but that’s not the main issue.

 After the NBAPA agreed to the 65 rule now they want to toss it out the window. Of course this is being done primarily for Cunningham and maybe Victor Wembanyama. Wemby at least for now is in better shape, he missed a number of games during the winter and cannot miss one additional game based on the Spurs schedule. In this instance Cunningham and to a lesser degree Wemby are impacted by a decision made by the players association and NBA management. Now the NBAPA is claiming the 65 game played rule should be abolished or reformed. My view it should be reformed not abolished, ol skool players had no minimum game rule in place. The season began they played the games less injuries or illness, there is more travel today and more teams but that should be no basis for abolishing the 65 game rule.

March Sadness

The Missouri and Kansas basketball programs share a common heartbreaking loss. For Missouri it was 1995 and in the NCAA Tournament they held a one point lead over UCLA with 4.8 seconds remaining but the ball belonging to UCLA. Guard Tyus Edney dribbled the length of the floor and managed to hoist a shot over the 6-foot 9 Derek Grimm which found the bottom of the basket. Missouri was a loser 75-74 and eliminated from tourney contention.

Now, fast forward to 2026 and we find a somewhat similar situation, Kansas after being behind most of the game came roaring back and managed a late tie with seconds remaining in the game. Surely history cannot repeat itself can it? With a tie game most probably figured St. John’s would take a shot but miss and the game goes into overtime, that was not the outcome. The ball was inbound to St. John’s guard Dylan Darling at half-court. With 3.9 seconds remaining Dylan dribbled the ball toward the basket and laid the ball on the backboard. The ball managed to find the bottom of the net, the result was a final score of St. John’s 67 Kansas 65. Kansas was also eliminated from tourney contention.

Analytics be Damned

Former NBA player turned media member Charles Barkley and I butt heads on a number of subjects. We have an area of agreement….an area probably the majority of you probably approve, its analytics. This is the problem, does the use of it paint a true picture? This past Saturday we witnessed Luke Kennard in a reserve role score the winning basket for the Lakers over the Magic. His numbers for the season with the Lakers, in this game he scored 13 points. Overall he’s scoring 8-9 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 20-23 minutes a game. Kennard is shooting over 50% from the floor and 50% from the 3-point line providing significant floor spacing.

I’m going to title the portion you just read as the good Luke Kennard. Now for the bad Luke Kennard, I read an account that claims the Lakers give up about 5 more points a game while he’s on the floor. We are able to see Kennard’s offensive game but his defense is somewhat more difficult to make a judgement. Here the name Dalton Knecht is inserted, if you remember the story he was expected to fill the role that now belongs to Kennard. Could he be a better defender, that is an unanswerable question for now. As for me I’m going to take the offense Kennard provides because that’s what the Lakers wanted when they acquired him, analytics be damned.

Mizzou basketball

The positives are highly visible, Dennis Gates arrived in Columbia and immediately turned the basketball around. The team had tasted success in the past but under the coach Gates’ replaced the program had gone in the toilet and remained in place. As mentioned the recruiting improved and even the winning, there was one off year but in his four years the Missouri Tigers were in the NCAA Tournament three of them.

As mentioned most recently the Class of 2026 will be the best ever for Missouri, Jason Crowe Jr. arrives in the fall. The top high school player in the nation plus two other high profile recruits makes this the best ever recruited class for Missouri basketball. You have just read the GOOD which does speak in a positive tone regarding the program. Now the concern by this member of Mizzou Nation writing for a number of others when do we move up? By the term I’m simply stating when does Missouri win the SEC regular or post season? At what point does Missouri advance deep into the NCAA Tournament? I can only look at this most recent team and point toward the flaws I witnessed as a fan. Although this team was taller than most of its opponents they experienced great difficulty rebounding the ball. Offensive rebounding was troubling, I consider those hustle rebounds. Another area of concern free-throw shooting, this area of the game should never be subpar. For me there should be no one shooting below 75% from the line. This most recent team commenced several games with below par starts and never seemed to recover.

Finally the X’s and O’s of the game, this falls on the shoulders of Dennis Gates and staff. IT SEEMED, noticed I placed that in caps it appeared there was little in-game adjustments. I believed there were games the Missouri staff were simply outcoached…there I said it. I cannot predict the future, however, should next season’s team flame out in a similar manner the coach might be looking for employment elsewhere.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

Defense, Defense……

The headline represents the view of a number of faithful fans, the chant is often heard during crucial times of a game. Speaking of defense on a scale of 1-10 what’s your view of guard play in the NBA? What is your defensive assessment of Luka Doncic, where do you place him among the Top 30 Defensive NBA  guards? According to the list StatMuse.com provided Cason Wallace of the Thunder is the top defensive guard in the association with a 106.4 rating, right behind Wallace is SGA with 108.2 also with the Thunder. Doncic is rated number 10 in the NBA and his rating is 113.9, there are several well-known guards we thought were defensive guru’s that are behind Doncic.

Before I go any further allow me to say I trust the information provided by StatMuse.com, simply stated I have no basis to dispute the numbers they provide. The general public believes Doncic is a poor defender which is certainly untrue. Why did it appear Doncic had an issue with defense, a portion of this opinion might have occurred during his rookie season and has extended since then although it's perception more than actual fact that he was not a good defender. His early cavalier effort toward defense was a factor in formulating a view of his defensive effort. Once upon a time the Lakers had another average defender but Magic Johnson always maintained he played good team defense. In closing allow this observation, Luka Doncic may not be a great defender but his sure manages to get the job done and is better than most believe.  

Is he gone

As this is written we are unsure if Bill Self intends to return in the fall. His postgame press conference certainly didn’t say yes or no however what was said is interesting. He alluded to his health and family and the fact he intends to sit down and hold a discussion with them. One of the components of this story we have no clue and anything said by me is pure speculation. Health is always key for anyone, Self is certainly not old at 63 years of age but there are other factors. The stress in coaching a high profile program like Kansas can create “wear n tear” on the body we are unable to visualize.

His family must also be part of the decision as well. Whatever occurs this fall whether Self is in place or not he’s established a legacy few present day active coaches can match. The record, two NCAA championships, numerous Big 12 championships and right there at the top his induction in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Not many have the privilege of being an active hall of fame representative. What occurs should he retire, ESPN, CBS and other networks will be sprinting toward him with contract in hand? They would envision his expertise vital as a studio analyst, if Self returns it would be that much better for Kansas. As this was being complete Self communicated with the Kansas City Star the retirement stories were “bad info.”

Explore

That was the headline announcing the news in USA Today; “NBA approves vote to explore expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.” Does a statement worded in that manner entail the league might not add teams number 31 and 32 at a future date? I believe it’s a word salad, the NBA after discussing expansion for at least the last 5-7 years will add these teams. Of course there remains a great deal of labor required before the first basketball is rolled out onto the court. From my view the easiest portion of this news is an arena, the home of the “old” Sonics has been rebuilt from the ground up.

Climate Pledge Arena is the home of the NHL Kraken, WNBA Storm and Seattle Redhawks men’s basketball. As for Las Vegas a slightly different account emerges, a new arena might be constructed. If not there is the T-Mobile Arena which is home to the NHL Golden Knights plus Michelob Ultra Arena where the WNBA Aces play. There is also Thomas & Mack which has served NBA Summer League games and Orleans Arena. I am oversimplifying the arena issue guessing that should ownership not be inclined to build an arena a playdate arrangement could be completed between one of the existing arenas named. As additional details come to light I will attempt to apprise you of the progress.

New Faces in New Places

The end of the college basketball season has led to several changes among coaches. With news updates happening rapidly, some names might be missing from this list, but it's as accurate as possible based on publishing dates and announcements from the school. A few weeks ago, Kansas State fired Jerome Tang and just recently Casey Alexander who was head coach at Belmont was hired in place of Tang. While this article was being compiled, North Carolina announced its decision to replace Hubert Davis, though a new coach has not yet been named. The Carolina program is one to likely be a national search as would Kentucky if Mark Pope is replaced. In addition a huge name, that of Bill Self might be included. If that should come about a nationwide search would be conducted for his replacement as well. Below is the current list of other coaching moves with the new coach named:

Arizona State-Randy Bennett

Cincinnati-Jerrod Calhoun

St. Mary’s-Mickey McConnell

Charlotte-Wes Milller

Syracuse-Gerry McNamara

Providence-Bryan Hodson

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

MVP

As the NBA regular season winds down Victor Wembanyama is stating; “Hey, I’m here too!” I happen to believe his talk of being included in the MVP conversation is not done from a position of arrogance, he is  simply saying he is aware of his numbers and the team. Much of the media talk has surrounded SGA with The Joker also being mentioned for MVP. I’m sure some in NBA circles have cited Wemby’s name in the discussion but tend to believe he’s clearly in third place. My statement to you is why, if we look at the Spurs their improved won-loss record provides evidence of the Wemby impact.

The Spurs have won 50+ games this season and only trail the Thunder in the won-loss column in the NBA. The Alien will lead the NBA in blocked shots, the nearest player to him is 7-feet 5 inches distance (that’s a joke). Check this out, he is shooting nearly 51% from the floor and 36% from the 3-point line, no athlete that tall should be capable of shooting from distance with that accuracy. Big Men don’t shoot free throws but Wemby does, 82% is outstanding. There are 11 rebounds a game plus nearly 25 points a game average. It’s likely SGA or The Joker win it but Wemby belongs in the conversation too. If not this year certainly next, I could foresee him winning Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the same year.

Little joy

Basketball fans in border states Missouri and Kansas are disappointed. They have the Monday Morning Blues asking why the expectations of victory in the tournament came crashing down so soon. Much of what occurred for Missouri was detailed earlier although it will be covered again as well later. As for Kansas I believe the team was flawed in that it was never as good as the Jayhawk faithful believed. There is a conviction by “them” Bill Self will perform a miracle which will lead Kansas basketball to victory.

This team was going nowhere, they lost a heartbreaker but would have been defeated in the next round, they were not prepared for a deep tournament run. Was it the loss or something else…Self was non-committal on whether he decides to return next season. Having at least two health issues in the recent past are likely the basis for mentioning this fact. Self’s ability to turn victory into defeat continues in the mind of scores of fans, this is an example from a local media member. At this point I am going to insert the name of Tyran Stokes, this 6-foot 7 wing is a 5-star prospect by Rivals, 247 Sports and ESPN. Stokes is being heavily recruited by Kansas and several other schools, this local media person said on Sunday evening after the loss; “If Stokes chooses Kansas _____________.” At this point I’m gonna say slow your roll media guy, after all Kansas had Darryn Peterson the presumed top pick in the NBA but still failed to advance in the tournament.    

Stokes might be headed to Kansas, is advancement guaranteed by him choosing to play in Lawrence? Some of you reading this will consider “This is written by a Missouri guy what should we expect?” The first portion of that statement is true, I am part of the Missouri faithful however I am a realist as well. I continue to point to the fact Self remains a good coach, the basketball landscape has changed and that’s why Kansas has failed to advance in the tournament for the 4th year in a row.

Meanwhile….

The conclusion of the college basketball season has seen several coaches depart their positions, including one retirement as of this writing. Greg McDermott served as Creighton’s basketball coach for 16 seasons; despite a challenging recent season, the Blue Jays have consistently delivered strong performances under his leadership. With the exception of the 2014-15 season, McDermott’s teams qualified for postseason play each year. He amassed 365 wins against 188 losses at Creighton, and across his overall coaching career, holds a record of 645-383, yielding a .627 winning percentage. The Omaha, Nebraska university maintained a competitive standard throughout McDermott’s tenure as head coach. Named as his replacement is Allen Huss, the Associate Coach at Creighton, he will succeed McDermott in this role.

Karim Lopez, unsurprisingly, announced his intention to enter the 2026 NBA draft on Monday. Over the last two seasons, he has played for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia's NBL. As for the history, Horacio Llamas became the first Mexican player in the NBA when he joined the Suns in 1996, while Eduardo Najera was a second round draft pick by the Rockets in 2000, marking the first time a Mexican athlete was selected in the draft. Karim Lopez is set to become only the second athlete from Mexico to be drafted into the NBA. Lopez was born and raised in Hermosillo, Mexico and will celebrate his 19th birthday in April.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

Meanwhile….

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has decided the league wants the Lakers to win the NBA championship. At least that’s what he voiced after his team lost a close match Saturday to the Lakers. On an outbounds play with 4 something seconds remaining on the clock and the Magic leading 104-102 this is what occurred. Magic players double teamed LeBron James as he sprinted toward the basket (I know because I ran the video three times). The player assigned to Luke Kennard left him alone on the left side of the court. Kennard calmly took the shot sinking a 3-point basket allowing the Lakers to escape with a 105-104 victory. 

St. John’s Red Storm has advanced to the Sweet 16, a result that could be characterized as fortunate given the game statistics. Although Kansas led in most statistical categories—shooting 44% compared to St. John’s 36%, outrebounding them 44-36, and generally outperforming in several aspects—the outcome was ultimately decided by a driving layup from Dylan Darling, the only two points of the game he managed to score on 1 for 5 shooting, his basket secured a 67-65 win for St. John’s. While Kansas excelled in many areas, they were unable to translate their performance into victory.  

Many readers may recall the name of Theo Ratliff, the 6-foot-10 athlete who enjoyed a 16-year career in the NBA across multiple teams. Now retired, Ratliff’s legacy continues through his twin sons, Adonis and Darius—both standing at 7 feet tall and playing power forward. The brothers in the Class of 2026 will attend the University of Southern California this fall to further polish their talents. They are students at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, within the greater New York City metropolitan area.

There is no reason, but maybe there is 

The Big 12 tournament is not the exclusive property of Kansas City Missouri. A history lesson is required here to provide how it landed in the city. The conference members (Big 8) held a pre-season tournament which eventually evolved into a post-season one long before other conferences across the nation. In any event the conference had somewhat of a regional basis with Colorado being the furthest distance from Kansas City. Missouri is no longer a member, Nebraska no longer a member and now Oklahoma and Texas have moved to the SEC. At the time the Texas schools joined the conference it was decided the tournament would be moved, in 2003 and 2004 it was held in Dallas.

In 2006 it returned to Dallas again but 2007 and 2009 saw it moved to Oklahoma City. In 2010 it was returned to Kansas City where its remained to date. The primary reason for the return to Kansas City is simple, the tournament failed to attract the number of fans it had previously, as for Oklahoma City I’m unsure what occurred with that. The argument now the current location only benefits Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. As for travel Las Vegas would be beneficial to the Arizona teams along with BYU that’s about all. No decision has been reached as this is written due to the length of the present agreement. The tournament is committed to Kansas City through the 2031 season, that should allow plenty of opportunity for the city to make its case.

Don’t you find this interesting

High Point beat Wisconsin in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Several might be asking the same question, “Where the heck is High Point?” Fortunately we have Google search and it indicates High Point is located in High Point North Carolina. The schools’ enrollment is a little more than 6,000 students and according to the Princeton Review is “as a top institution for innovation and student experience.” I believe we can now add winning basketball as well. As for Virginia Commonwealth it’s a much different story, VCU is well known especially after defeating North Carolina on Thursday. There were plenty of examples of lower seeds beating those seeded higher but I wanted to focus on this fact alone.

In the 1986 movie Hoosiers the basketball team was unaccustomed to playing in a large arena once they qualified for the state championship they were overwhelmed initially. This is a reminder to all, the basketball bounces the same height in the 21,000 seat Dean Dome as it does in the 4,500 seat Qubein Arena in High Point. There is no doubt that the athletic budget for The Ohio State swamps that of Queens University, the advantage to one is the ability to recruit and spend more lavishly on student facilities. It fails to make the basketball overall any better in my view. Over the next few weeks upsets are likely to continue but it has more to do with desire and effort than anything else, of course similar to anything else I could be wrong.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

Miami (FL) 80 Mizzou 66

There is no effort on my part to hide the score from you just in case you didn’t see the final, that’s the purpose in it being the headline. That certainly should grab your attention, Saturday morning as this is being composed I am still trying to wrap my head around the outcome of this game. How do you arrive on the court so unprepared is beyond me, the finger pointing must begin with the coach and his coaching staff. As a card carrying member of Mizzou Nation no excuse will be offered for the travesty the nation saw Friday evening.

Here is the example to use, teams playing on Friday must play again on Sunday that fails to allow enough time to scout the opposition in detail. That was not the case here, Mizzou was aware for 5 days who they would face, did the team not see or read a scouting report? Mizzou shot 36% from the floor as a team and 36% from three, that’s not going to win a team very many games. Understand this Mizzou had the taller team yet they were out rebounded 46-30, Miami had 16 offensive rebounds to the 7 registered by Mizzou. As for the shooting, Miami was 43% from the floor with 46% of it from three. The balance of numbers were pretty much even between the teams. Teams (including Miami (FL) ) must now prepare to play again today. That’s a little over 48 hours leaving little time to view video or read a scouting report with all the detail that might be required.

From all indications Mizzou had 5 full days to prepare and travel a little over 100 miles, they came out of the gate flat as a pancake. If this appears written in anger it is, I am trying to be fair to the head coach and team but this loss was embarrassing. It’s been mentioned over and over regarding the quality 2026 recruiting class, it will serve no purpose whatsoever if the coach and his staff are unable to teach them to play the game at the skill level required. Check back with me by Tuesday or Wednesday, I believe by then I will have settled down. Some might believe I’m not giving Miami the credit due them, they are a good team having won 25 games but they were aided by the inept play of Mizzou.

Can you believe it 

The Lakers came to play, of course they did but this extensive road trip has witnessed them compete against playoff caliber teams. A quirk in the schedule saw them play the Rockets twice in Houston both games resulting in victory, from there it was on to Miami to play the Heat. The truth of the matter after winning 7 games in a row I figured they would be road weary and succumb to the well-rested Heat. That’s not exactly what occurred, the evening concluded with the Lakers winners again, this time it was a 134-126 victory. Luka the Don went off with a sizzling 60 point performance.

In 38 minutes of action LeBron had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, by the final score you might understand the Laker defense was not quite as proficient as previously. I’m going to offer the excuse of tired legs and weary travel. Although this game might have been a shooting exhibition the Lakers continued to play tough defense once again. Over the last 10 games the Lakers have won 9 of them, I don’t believe anyone could ask more of this team. Are they superior to the teams they defeated on this road trip…are they better than the Spurs or Thunder? Only time will address that question however this is certain, Laker Nation is excited once again based on the on-court action.

For me this is easy

I failed to see the outstanding game registered by Darryn Peterson of Kansas, the Mizzou game was on at the same time. I understand he scored 28 points against Cal Baptist leading the Jayhawks to victory. Despite that fact I’m still going with AJ Dybansta as my top pick should he leave for the NBA. It’s not a talent issue, it’s the health of Peterson. If these cramping issues and other assorted stuff has caused him to miss a number of games what about the NBA? He must contend with 82 of them, now I realize hardly anyone plays that number of games but I hope you get the point I am attempting to make. The season has concluded for Dybansta, despite his best effort (35 points) the BYU Cougars lose to Texas 79-71.

What’s next for the youngster might be the question, he finished the season with 894 points the third most by a freshman in NCAA history. There were some heavyweights in front of him including Kevin Durant and the leader Allen Iverson. Dybansta indicates he intends to take some time before making a decision on his future. I’ve heard more than one analyst acknowledge this fact, the 6-foot 9 210 pound Dybansta will not have to contend with some of the junk defenses he’s played against in college. Despite the fact BYU went out in the first round Dybansta remains my choice as the best college basketball player for this season and my top pick in the June draft if he should declare. This from Dybansta; “I’mma go ask (my mom). Whatever she says goes.”

Single proprietor

While many are familiar with the headlines regarding NBA ownership, it is important to note that most businesses, including NBA franchises, are typically no longer owned by single individuals. Sole proprietorship in the NBA has become quite rare; currently, Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is believed to be the only sole proprietor now among NBA franchise owners. Recent transactions in the league highlight escalating franchise values—most notably, the sale of the Boston Celtics for $6 billion and the stated sale of the Los Angeles Lakers more recently at a cost of $10 billion. The purchase price for sports franchises have risen significantly over the past several years.

Furthermore, expansion franchise fees are estimated to range from $7 billion to $10 billion. These figures suggest that ownership groups, rather than individuals, are increasingly necessary to assemble the required capital, and the number of partners often correlates with the total cost of acquisition. However, multiple ownership partners can complicate decision-making processes. Notably, any NBA expansion requires affirmative votes from 23 of the 30 current team owners. Presently, Seattle and Las Vegas are considered the leading candidates for potential expansion franchises. Should the decision be positive its reported it would be 2031 before the new teams begin play. NOTE: As this account was being completed came LeBron James’ news. The Laker great indicated his associates will not back him in the purchase of a Las Vegas franchise. James is a partner with Fenway Sports Group and the following information I uncovered in the Atlantic publication: 

“One of those sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly for Fenway, said the global sports investment firm was out on NBA ownership in Las Vegas because of the expected cost — the league is reportedly seeking expansion fees as high as $8 billion per team.” I’m not going to pretend I have inside information regarding the financials of James however he’s like most of us only with more money. As an example my net worth is considerably larger than my available cash on hand. In addition if my net worth is $8 billion as an example would I be willing to leverage $3 billion-$4 billion on an investment that may or may not prove fruitful? For his sake, it’s my hope that James is able to purchase the Las Vegas franchise in the future or perhaps another.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

Can you believe it 

The Lakers came to play, of course they did but this extensive road trip has witnessed them compete against playoff caliber teams. A quirk in the schedule saw them play the Rockets twice in Houston both games resulting in victory, from there it was on to Miami to play the Heat. The truth of the matter after winning 7 games in a row I figured they would be road weary and succumb to the well-rested Heat. That’s not exactly what occurred, the evening concluded with the Lakers winners again, this time it was a 134-126 victory. Luka the Don went off with a sizzling 60 point performance.

In 38 minutes of action LeBron had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, by the final score you might understand the Laker defense was not quite as proficient as previously. I’m going to offer the excuse of tired legs and weary travel. Although this game might have been a shooting exhibition the Lakers continued to play tough defense once again. Over the last 10 games the Lakers have won 9 of them, I don’t believe anyone could ask more of this team. Are they superior to the teams they defeated on this road trip…are they better than the Spurs or Thunder? Only time will address that question however this is certain, Laker Nation is excited once again based on the on-court action.

There is no reason, but maybe there is 

The Big 12 tournament is not the exclusive property of Kansas City Missouri. A history lesson is required here to provide how it landed in the city. The conference members (Big 8) held a pre-season tournament which eventually evolved into a post-season one long before other conferences across the nation. In any event the conference had somewhat of a regional basis with Colorado being the furthest distance from Kansas City. Missouri is no longer a member, Nebraska no longer a member and now Oklahoma and Texas have moved to the SEC. At the time the Texas schools joined the conference it was decided the tournament would be moved, in 2003 and 2004 it was held in Dallas.

In 2006 it returned to Dallas again but 2007 and 2009 saw it moved to Oklahoma City. In 2010 it was returned to Kansas City where its remained to date. The primary reason for the return to Kansas City is simple, the tournament failed to attract the number of fans it had previously, as for Oklahoma City I’m unsure what occurred with that. The argument now the current location only benefits Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. As for travel Las Vegas would be beneficial to the Arizona teams along with BYU that’s about all. No decision has been reached as this is written due to the length of the present agreement. The tournament is committed to Kansas City through the 2031 season, that should allow plenty of opportunity for the city to make its case.

Single proprietor

While many are familiar with the headlines regarding NBA ownership, it is important to note that most businesses, including NBA franchises, are typically no longer owned by single individuals. Sole proprietorship in the NBA has become quite rare; currently, Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is believed to be the only sole proprietor now among NBA franchise owners. Recent transactions in the league highlight escalating franchise values—most notably, the sale of the Boston Celtics for $6 billion and the stated sale of the Los Angeles Lakers more recently at a cost of $10 billion. The purchase price for sports franchises have risen significantly over the past several years.

Furthermore, expansion franchise fees are estimated to range from $7 billion to $10 billion. These figures suggest that ownership groups, rather than individuals, are increasingly necessary to assemble the required capital, and the number of partners often correlates with the total cost of acquisition. However, multiple ownership partners can complicate decision-making processes. Notably, any NBA expansion requires affirmative votes from 23 of the 30 current team owners. Presently, Seattle and Las Vegas are considered the leading candidates for potential expansion franchises. Should the decision be positive its reported it would be 2031 before the new teams begin play. NOTE: As this account was being completed came LeBron James’ news. The Laker great indicated his associates will not back him in the purchase of a Las Vegas franchise. James is a partner with Fenway Sports Group and the following information I uncovered in the Atlantic publication: 

“One of those sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly for Fenway, said the global sports investment firm was out on NBA ownership in Las Vegas because of the expected cost — the league is reportedly seeking expansion fees as high as $8 billion per team.” I’m not going to pretend I have inside information regarding the financials of James however he’s like most of us only with more money. As an example my net worth is considerably larger than my available cash on hand. In addition if my net worth is $8 billion as an example would I be willing to leverage $3 billion-$4 billion on an investment that may or may not prove fruitful? For his sake, it’s my hope that James is able to purchase the Las Vegas franchise in the future or perhaps another.

Don’t you find this interesting

High Point beat Wisconsin in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Several might be asking the same question, “Where the heck is High Point?” Fortunately we have Google search and it indicates High Point is located in High Point North Carolina. The schools’ enrollment is a little more than 6,000 students and according to the Princeton Review “as a top institution for innovation and student experience.” I believe we can now add winning basketball as well. As for Virginia Commonwealth it’s a much different story, VCU is well known especially after defeating North Carolina on Thursday. There were plenty of examples of lower seeds beating those seeded higher but I wanted to focus on this fact alone.

In the 1986 movie Hoosiers the basketball team was unaccustomed to playing in a large arena once they qualified for the state championship they were overwhelmed initially. This is a reminder to all, the basketball bounces the same height in the 21,000 seat Dean Dome as it does in the 4,500 seat Qubein Arena in High Point. There is no doubt that the athletic budget for The Ohio State swamps that of Queens University, the advantage to one is the ability to recruit and spend more lavishly on student facilities. It fails to make the basketball overall any better in my view. Over the next few weeks upsets are likely to continue but it has more to do with desire and effort than anything else, of course similar to anything else I could be wrong.