A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

He belongs

I must admit it, I am often fooled by what’s in front of me. That is the case because Houston’s Kingston Flemings is no longer a freshman, sure that’s what his enrollment might detail for us but he’s prepared to play at the next level. The 6-foot 4 point guard plays the game at a high skill level that’s why I believe this. He is going to be an NBA talent or a bust, I happen to believe the talent more than a lack of ability to play in the NBA. Of course I am not the only one he might have fooled, most 2026 mock draft sites project him as the number five pick.

With the standings not finalized he could wind up being picked by the Nets, Wizards, Kings or Jazz. His selection by one or more of the named teams might not be his final destination. A draft night trade just might send him to another starting point after all its occurred for many other players. I can never be for sure, you remember I began this exercise by claiming I might be fooled by what I see him in action for the University of Houston. On the other hand maybe he belongs in the NBA. June will be here before we know it and we discover the where, if Flemings decides to move up he will be in some teams training camp in late summer.

Are they for real

The question might be asked, “Are the Spurs for real?” Of course this is made due to the sprint the team’s made toward the top of the Western Conference standings. Make no mistake about it this is Mitch Johnson’s team, Pop laid the foundation but this is strictly the 39-year old head coaches’ Spurs team. We could look at Friday evenings victory as an example, the team had played the previous night and won against the Pistons. They returned home to face the rejuvenated well rested Clippers and that appeared to be the case. The Spurs seemed to be “stuck” in the mud unable to keep up with the steady pace the Clippers exhibited early.

They ran through and around the Spurs leading them to a 20 point plus lead at stages of the game. Halftime saw the Clippers hold a 66-46 advantage, it appeared the Spurs were “dead in the water” unable to regain the momentum that led them to victory the previous night. The assault begin in the second half of the game with the Spurs down 25 points. The rejuvenation was primarily led by Julian Champagnie who ended the night scoring 20 points, in addition to playing outstanding defense. Late in the 4th quarter the Spurs resurgence was in full effect as coach Johnson made adjustments. It wasn’t just Champagnie although he was a key to the victory, Wemby was there as well. Forget the points, it was his defense and dunk on a fast break that ultimately led them to victory 116-112. Are the Spurs for real, you be the judge on that one.

You’ve got to work at it

There are a bunch of if’s for this account, IF they come about I believe the Lakers will be a much better team. Notice I didn’t say championship, that will only occur if the pieces manage to fit. Okay, with that here goes…there has been no indication Flory Bidunga will leave Kansas for the 2026 NBA draft. IF he decides on the NBA I will be extremely disappointed IF the Lakers have an opportunity to draft him but pass. Bidunga is in the middle of his sophomore year at Kansas but has proven to be “adept at rim protection, rebounding and efficient finishing” according to scouting reports. Bidunga stands 6-foot 10 and 235 pounds, he’s got a 7 foot 3 wingspan which gives us an idea why he is efficient at shot blocking. Although Kansas list him as a forward I believe he could play center especially in a Luka lob offense.

IF Bidunga continues to progress defensively and offensively the sky is the limit for this youngster from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Should Bidunga decide to leave its possible a team drafting ahead of the Lakers could choose him. Despite that possibility I maintain there is an NBA career ahead of him if he intends to work at it. Based on his rise from a freshman to this season that would appear to be the case….working at his craft. His freshman numbers 16 minutes a game resulted in 5.4 rebounds and 5.9 points, contrast that with those of his sophomore season. 31 minutes, 9 rebounds and nearly 14 points a game. How good was he, Jay Bilas placed Bidunga on his All American First Team. The youngster just might return to Kansas for his junior year however I would question why. The why based on his defensive prowess that has been evidenced in his second year.

If you’ve read this already

I’m unsure if I mentioned this previously, in the day of social media and podcasts you come across questionable content. This podcast popped up on one of my social media feeds, a person I’d never seen or heard of in the past began a diatribe on Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Often when I write on a players ability I hope it is approached with caution. The basis for my reasoning is at the top, it reads: “A basketball fans outlook.” That says it all, I have opinions and certainly express them however they are not your only source.

This podcaster “attacked” the game of Boozer in the brief bit of information he provided I don’t remember a single positive statement he made. Probably the issue I found most offensive was this. “Just like his father (Carlos) Cameron’s game has little lift” I guess the podcaster was attempting to point out the Duke youngsters’ game contained little elevation. Everyone that plays the game even at the collegiate level might have what some see as deficiencies. Let’s check out what the mock drafts think of Boozer, keep in mind these mocks are not barometer on future NBA success…they are potential only. All three of these sites project Boozer as the number three selection, nbadraft.net, nbadraftroom.com, tankathon.com/mock. No requirement to check my credentials, I’m just a guy who loves reporting on basketball.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

A  cowboy

Generally when Texas is mentioned there are three to four thoughts of most people. At the top of the list is probably cattle, then maybe cowboys and finally the Lone Star State and the only republic prior to statehood. It’s the largest state in land area in the lower 48, exceeded by the State of Alaska. Generally the urban expanse is now paramount for those living inside and outside Texas. Despite the fact cowboys have somewhat disappeared from our view the San Antonio Spurs have a cowboy on their roster. Guard Keldon Johnson has become a cowboy by choice.

He was born in Chesterfield Virginia played his college basketball at Kentucky. In 2019 the Spurs made Johnson the 29th pick in the first round. As we have witnessed the rise of the Spurs it should be of note Johnson has been a valuable backer to the team as a reserve player, oh…the cowboy portion I almost forgot. Johnson owns the Longhorn Ranch in the Texas Hill Country, there is no indication of the land size of his ranch however it must be somewhat substantial considering his livestock. He owns horses, cows, goats and chickens although that number is not detailed. We have a transplanted Texan who is fulfilling two roles, valued roster member of the Spurs plus his role as a cowboy and rancher.

A decision

Should they decide on the NBA in June the top draft prospects exhibited their skill on the same evening in the Big 12 Tournament. Neither Darryn Peterson of Kansas nor BYU’s AJ Dybansta were particularly sharp from the floor shooting, it was 29.4% for Peterson and 38.9% for Dybansta. I guess we could say Peterson was the winner since his Kansas team was able to beat TCU, as for BYU they were losers against Houston. As most are aware the majority of mock draft sites place Peterson at the top although stock of Dybansta has been increasing the last few weeks. Whoever goes number one, likely depends on the need of the drafting team.

I think back to the reported statement of former Indiana coach Bobby Knight. In 1984 Michael Jordan was thought to be a talent but probably nothing close to what he would become later with the Bulls. The Rockets were expected to draft Hakeem Olajuwon number one, up next was the Blazers. The conversation was reported to have gone in this manner between Knight and the Blazers. This from the Blazers, “We need a center!” Knight was reported to have said; “Draft Jordan and play him at center.” Of course that didn’t occur, with guard Clyde Drexler in his sophomore year the Blazers instead chose center Sam Bowie. Despite his talent prospects a series of injuries kept Bowie from rising to the level many expected. As for that guy Michael Jordan, wonder what happened to him?

The enigma

I have a co-worker who’s informed me more than once, “You are too tough on (Laker) Deandre Ayton!” Some might remember back to last May I was disappointed in the play of Jaxson Hayes in the post during the playoffs. This occurred after AD was traded to the Mavs and Hayes won the position by default. I believe we discovered why Hayes is a reserve player, he’s good for relief but lacks what is required in depth for the position. Many remember how excited I was, the Lakers acquired Ayton and it was my belief they had addressed a chief concern of mine.

I didn’t expect the second coming of Kareem or Shaq and stated as such, what I did expect was a post player to do those things required within his abilities. Unfortunately, in my view we’ve only seen bits and pieces of what I’d hoped. The culmination for me was the comment by Ayton to the media; “They (Lakers) trying to make me Clint Capela.” For some who might be unfamiliar with Capela he spent his most productive early years with the Rockets as their starting center. He produced scoring although he was never the focal point, grabbed rebounds and did the other stuff to aid the cause for the Rockets. Capela was traded to the Hawks for a time but has since returned to the Rockets. From a fan’s viewpoint I see nothing wrong with the production Capela was able to produce for a time. So there it is, whether its frustration on his part or something else once again Ayton provides proof of his attitude, one that existed with the Suns and later the Blazers.

With LeBron on his way out the door plus Luka and Reaves in front of him Ayton was never going to be primary to the team’s offense. Grab a rebound, defend the paint and be prepared for a lob…that’s all the Lakers asked of him. After excited with his acquisition at first I’m now ready to move on to a “hungry” rookie in the post. Former NBA player and ESPN basketball analyst Kendrick Perkins uses the term diva in describing Ayton so its not just me, the attitude he often exhibits is visible to all. The Jekyll and Hyde game he exhibits was event on Thursday night against the Bulls as the good side was evident. 

It depends on your perspective

There are occasions you are asked a question and the wheels begin to turn you think to yourself, “I wonder why he/she asked that?” Don’t get me wrong you are always entitled to your opinion but consider it’s a two-way street. If you ask my opinion I am going to be as honest as I can, you might not agree however this must be taken into consideration. You asked, “my opinion,” there is no requirement for it to line up with an outlook expressed by you.

With that explanation out of the way the question might be what prompted this account? This is it, I was once asked, "Why do you write about basketball when it is not currently in season?" The explanation is straightforward: although I no longer listen to sports talk radio regularly, out of curiosity I tuned into both sports talk radio stations briefly this afternoon. The hosts were discussing the NFL—even though technically the Super Bowl ended the football season on February 8th. My intention is not to criticize NFL enthusiasts; rather, my point is that there is essentially no true off-season for any professional or college sports.

A basketball fans outlook

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Wilt, me, and then Kobe  

The headline above was “borrowed” from ESPN.com and refers to an explosion in scoring on Tuesday evening, that’s what occurred in Miami. His name is Edrice Femi Adebayo but NBA fans recognize him as Bam, the nickname is a throwback to his childhood. He was watching The Flintstones cartoon and flipped over a table like Ambam Rubble had done. From that act his mother gave him the nickname Bam, as for his birth name that’s a different story. He was born in Newark, New Jersey from the union of his Nigerian father and African-American mother. As for the events of March 10, Bam Adebayo shocked the NBA world with a sizzling 83 point scoring performance against the Wizards.

The final score read Heat 150 Wizards 129, it was the Heat power forward/center who moved past Kobe Bryant’s scoring total late in the waning moments of the game. As you are aware headed into the game it was Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game against the Knicks in 1962, Kobe Bryant 81 in 2006 versus the Raptors. What is most interesting to me, Adebayo has been an outstanding player for the Heat over several seasons. Despite this fact he’s not been a “scorer” in a manner similar to the other two. I hope that my last sentence won't be seen as criticism of Adebayo; rather, it clearly demonstrates his status as an experienced and talented NBA player.

Field of Dreams

The headline is a baseball movie reference however the premise of what I am about to present fits. I’ve read complaints regarding international players “taking over basketball.” Well that is not quite the case, however, what’s occurred over time? We have witnessed an ever increasing number of international players arrive on these shores to play in high school, college or perhaps the NBA. I’ve mentioned in the past the long held dream of David Stern was to export the game of basketball to as many nations as possible.

As I have stated over and over kids in China, France, Nigeria and Serbia have taken up the game and they learn over time to love it. This is a profile of two prospects, whether they become good enough to rise to the NBA level is not a subject for discussion at the present time. The first name of note, Roman Doman wears number 77 the same as Luka Doncic. Doman is a 6-foot 9 225 pound guard/forward enrolled at Murray State the same school of Ja Morant, he is a freshman at Murray State. Although his scoring is a modest 13 points along with 5 rebounds a game he is a sizzling 41% from the three line. Doman hails from Dreuil Les Amiens, France. As for the NBA he’s getting some talk for 2026 but don’t be surprised if he returns for his sophomore year at Murray State. The other prospect is in high school, he’s a 6-foot 8 wing, his name is Boyuan Zhang.

Zhang is enrolled at Veritas Academy located in Garden Grove California a city in the Los Angeles Metro. He left his home country of China to enroll at an American high school. Zhang is ranked no. 76 in the 2026 Class of 247Sports and a 4-star prospect. Illinois, Cal and Minnesota are a few of the schools with offers for him. This report concludes with a look at two international prospects one in college and the other in high school.

It’s more than me

I don’t wish to place all sports talk radio into one bag but in Kansas City I find 90% of it uninteresting. As mentioned about a year ago I quit listening due to a number of reasons. On Tuesday leaving work I  tuned into one of the stations, the host was in the middle of a discussion on Bill Self. After that was concluded he and the co-host went into a discussion on the NCAA tournament. He said to his co-host and listening audience, “I could see Kansas being a Final Four team.”

Allow his statement to sink in a moment, there was no research conducted. In addition Kansas would not be forced to play all 12-13 teams in front of them at present. They beat Tennessee in the preseason along with Iowa State and Houston in conference play. They gonna beat Duke, Michigan, Florida or UConn in the tournament, I don’t think so. I didn’t bother with his view on how this season for Kansas will play out, I happen to believe he is wrong as two left shoes. Despite that fact I will allow this to marinate until tournament time, hopefully I will remember to revisit this once the tournament reaches the Final Four.

Everything must change

The headline is the title of a song originally recorded by jazz guitarist/singer George Benson. The young become the old is a key line at the beginning of the tune. With that allow me to begin, I have held this belief for a time but only hinted at it, it’s time for LeBron James to retire. Many reading this will be shocked by my writing, rest assured for him it’s not a talent issue it’s the other stuff. Games I’ve seen he appears to be a great deal slower on defense which all of us realize is a key to NBA success. In addition, in a subtle manner I believe he might be inhibiting the growth of several of the teams younger members.

As this is written the Lakers have played two playoff caliber teams in a row. Although the games were at home they managed to beat the Knicks and Wolves and….without LeBron in the lineup. In games missed by LeBron due to injury or load management they have 10 wins versus 2 losses. Here we go again Larry Laker, prove to us the team would be better with LeBron in Cleveland or simply retired. That’s easy, there is no method without performing all that analytics stuff to prove the team is better without LeBron on the floor. In the two prior games I believe the Lakers have been winners because they played much better defense with LeBron absent.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

Dawn of a new day

Mark Turgeon former Maryland coach was introduced on Monday as Kansas City’s new head coach. For those unfamiliar with the name the school is actually the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Several years ago it was decided UMKC was an unknown name to those across the nation, just identifying the school as “Kansas City” it was believed name association would make the school more nationally known. As for Turgeon the question asked of several, is the school ready to compete on a nationwide basis for the best talent?

Since moving from NAIA to Division I Kansas City has not met with a great deal of success on the court. Hiring a coach of Turgeon’s stature indicates the administration is serious about its future basketball effort. To my knowledge there’s been no attempt to change conferences. It would seem to me the MO Valley or Atlantic 10 conference might be a better fit over the Summit League. Is it possible to duplicate the efforts of St John’s, Louisville or St. Louis University. Those schools and others are located inside the boundaries of large urban cities and certainly have turned out successful basketball programs over time.

They are 9-2

For those of us in Laker Nation it’s been difficult at times this season, despite the fact the team has occupied the top spot in the Pacific Division the fit didn’t feel right. Beginning about the middle of December we’ve witnessed the Lakers “miss more than they hit.” The quick explanation IMO they have little if any difficulty scoring the ball their issue is the opposite, they have given us the opinion defense is only a word not what they do. On Sunday, the Lakers clearly demonstrated they can play defense. Team shooting was the same for both the Knicks and the Lakers (48%) however the Knicks were stifled from three.

The last time these teams faced one another three point shooting proved to be the downfall for the Lakers. Sunday was different, the Knicks missed a number of shots while the stifling Laker defense prevented others from finding the cup. For the second game in a row LeBron James was a spectator kept on the sidelines by ankle and elbow issues. That win forces me to further reveal my beliefs. The headline says; “They are 9-2” and the explanation is this. Without LeBron in the lineup the team has won 9 games while losing only 2. What might have occurred if more time was missed by LeBron, that question cannot be answered however it certainly is food for thought. Again playing defense based on Sunday’s outcome there is no telling how far this Laker team could advance in the playoffs.  

He’s got the opposite issue

Much has been written about KU’s Darryn Peterson and the number of games he’s missed. BYU’s AJ Dybansta has been the opposite, as this is written he’s played all 30 of the Cougars games. Can I say he’s having an outstanding freshman year…yes that would indeed be the case. Our focus is on the offensive side but more on the other portion of his game will follow. He’s scoring nearly 25 points and pulling down 7 rebounds along with 4 assists a game. The 6-foot 9 210 pound Dybansta is shooting 52% from the floor and 35% of it from the three line.

As for the NBA a significant number of mock draft sites have Dybansta very high on their list, several have him listed ahead of Peterson. This from nbadraft.net: “While he’s great at drawing fouls, he tends to flop a lot, ending up on the ground looking for a foul call, rather than the simple and strong finish-both on jump shots and drives. He’s capable of utilizing his size and adept at hitting tough shots, he would benefit going up strong to finish.” If those are the only weaknesses at present they are minor compared to what Dybansta brings to the table. Whoever might draft Dybansta would appear to have added an NBA ready small forward.

Meanwhile….

Jalen Rose began play in the NBA in 1994 for the Denver Nuggets, based on the present day NBA you probably had no idea of the following fact. There was not a single player in the association named Jalen no matter how the name was spelled. At the beginning of the 2025-2026 NBA season there were 19 Jalen(s) throughout the league spelled in the following manner: Jaylin, Jalen, Jaylon and finally Jaylen. Not only was the NBA impacted by this name but so was the NFL, there are countless numbers of Jalen’s in the NFL as well. This former NBA player turned broadcast analyst is the culprit behind the name, of course his mother is ultimately the responsible party. The question might remain, how many variations of spelling for the name?

Did you realize that this has never happened before over the course of the NBA's televised history? All of us are aware cable networks (TNT, TBS & USA) have been included in TV packages for well over 25 years, in addition they were significant in the growth of the NBA on television. Despite this history the broadcast side was far different. Over time the network broadcast partners changed, this is not in order but it would be CBS then NBC or ABC each serving time as the network for NBA telecasts. The new contract which went into effect for the 2025-26 season was different in this manner. Broadcasters NBC and ABC would both air games, sometimes occurring on the same day or evening. Missing from the family is TNT replaced by streaming services Peacock (NBC) and Prime.

The Texas Triangle, that is the definition for a road trip that takes a team to play the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. The Houston Rockets began as the expansion San Diego Rockets in 1967, they played in California four years before moving to Houston in 1971. The Mavericks were an NBA expansion team who began play in the 1980-81 season. Finally “The San Antonio Spurs were born in 1973 when a group of local investors purchased the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and moved them to San Antonio.” The Chaparrals/Spurs began play in 1967, they are the oldest of the Texas teams. 

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

I wish I could become excited again

The final score read Arkansas 88 Missouri 84, it’s the game and the Missouri program under discussion. I haven’t pointed this out recently but this Missouri team seems to whip good teams but lose to awful ones. Folks in Oklahoma can cease reading now because they are going to be upset with me but I’m gonna say it anyway. There was no excuse for the loss against the Sooners on March 3 yet Missouri did. Headed into the game the Sooners had a 15-14 record and Missouri was 20-9 yet they were losers 80-64. As for the Arkansas loss on Saturday the number 20 Razorbacks were on the cusp of losing till the Tigers imploded in OT.

Critics have voiced their disapproval of coach Gates game strategy and he must share a portion of the blame for the poor play the last two games. It seems the “hurry up” approach cost the Tigers a victory on Saturday. Behind by 2 points with seconds remaining point guard T.O. Barrett took the ball down the court and attempted to dribble between two defenders. I’m unsure which but one was able to force the ball from Barrett’s hands. In an attempt to retrieve the ball he fouled the player, the result two free throws for the winners. I refuse to root against Missouri but that was one of the poorest decisions by this point guard yet. It wasn’t just Barrett alone there were others who shared the blame with him. Missed free throws, failure to box out properly, I could go on however I will stop for now.   

Arrogance

I believe a number of my co-workers judge me arrogant when it comes to basketball related discussions. They are probably thinking, “You don’t listen to anybody do you?” Well technically that’s not true, I have selective listening skills. Keep in mind I had zero talent playing the game at a high skill level, mine was strictly of the playground variety. There were always those in front of me who were more skilled and willing to work more diligently than me. No matter the number of voices I hear or read, a filter is utilized by yours truly to decide who I listen to versus those I choose to ignore. We have an abundance of opinions expressed in print plus radio and television.

What is attempted on my part is to separate the information deemed vital versus the entertainment factor that exists for some. A portion of the insight into me comes from education, beginning in elementary school through college several influenced me in this area. They said in essence “Question everything,” this simply meant don’t accept a single view of someone or something. I would say that applies to this blog as well, the subject matter might cause you to wonder “did that really occur as he describes it.” I hold to this belief, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Despite this fact there is no requirement for me to agree with their opinion or for you to agree with mine. One of my co-workers indicated that many who write or report on sports are entertainers, I thought for a moment I can agree with that. Bottom line, consider the source or does the report appear to be valid?

Inside out game      

The NBA is no longer a Big Man’s game from an offensive standpoint, despite that fact it seems teams are always seeking quality play at the center position. Who were the best of the best during the time center play was deemed premium, you wanted a post player who could rebound and clog the middle providing defense. If that center could score that would become a premium, who are the best of the past? The name at the top of my list might be a surprise to some but read on for the WHY.

Bill Russell…because he played “belly-button” defense on the opposition. Check the record for yourself, the Celtics were a good team, after his arrival they became a GREAT team. Russell accumulated more championship rings (11) than fingers. Immediately behind Russell I’m going to place Wilt Chamberlain, the “Big Dipper” was well known for his offense but fails to be given credit for his defense and passing. To my knowledge he’s the lone player to ever block Kareem Abdul Jabbars’ Sky Hook. Understand this, one year he decided to concentrate on passing the rock, he led the NBA in assists that season. I mentioned him earlier, Kareem Abdul Jabbar would break Chamberlain’s scoring record and no one came close for decades until LeBron James exceeded it. Opposing centers would push, tug on him in a number of ways to prevent the Sky Hook most of the time they were unsuccessful. At number four would be Nate Thurmond, probably not as well-known as the other names on my list. He actually was Chamberlain’s backup when he first arrived in the NBA, later when Chamberlain was traded Thurmond assume the lead role. He’s placed here because of one factor, Russell retired the year before Abdul Jabbar’s arrival and he said, “Thurmond played him tougher than any other center in the NBA.”

The last center on my list perfected his center play playing soccer as a youngster. His name, Hakeem Olajuwon and he might not have been the first but certainly the most successful player from the African continent. His moves around the basket caused opponents to nickname his moves “The Dream Shake.” A number of very good centers demand they be included as honorable mentions, they are Artis Gilmore, David Robinson, Jack Sikma, Shaquille O’Neal, Walt Bellamy and Moses Malone. There you have it, my Top 5 all-time post players and guess what…each has been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame

A basketball fans outlook

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Blood is thicker than water

The title of this account simply implies the views or position of a relative is generally more important than any other person. That is the case for former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl now a college basketball analyst. Last Saturday Pearl went on the record, this was his observation, and I paraphrase. He claimed Auburn, with 14 losses, deserved an NCAA invite over undefeated Miami of Ohio. We realize the SEC, of which Auburn is a member has more prestige and is certainly a stronger conference than the MAC. The question might be asked of Pearl how do you exclude a team with no losses versus one with 14.

The basis for Pearl’s reasoning is simple, it’s a bloodline issue. Shortly before the 2025-26 college season began (September 2025) Pearl announced he was stepping down after 11 seasons at the helm. His son Steven would be taking over the Auburn program, I have no issues with the son taking over the program or anything else, however I do take issue with the position taken by the father. I am the only amateur who’s been critical of Bruce Pearl for his take, several media members have soundly criticized the take of Pearl. While I understand the father's defense of his son, this was neither the issue nor the appropriate moment.

Bottom feeders

Our concentration is always on the teams at the top, those who earn playoff berths. This column is different because this is a check of the teams on the bottom who qualify for the lottery. Since this is written prior to the end of the season there is no guarantee all qualify for the lottery. Who do we suppose needs that top pick the most? If you said the Kings remember earlier it was pointed out management for this team has been pathetic for a significant period of time. Of the teams listed it’s my belief that with a key draft pick the Pacers, Mavericks, Bucks and surprise the Wizards might be the contenders to finish near .500. Below are the other teams on the bottom:

Western Conference

Memphis Grizzlies

Dallas Mavericks

*Utah Jazz

New Orleans Pelicans

Sacramento Kings

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks

Chicago Bulls

Washington Wizards

Brooklyn Nets

*Indiana Pacers

*Fined by the NBA for tanking

This is a surprise    

If I ask you the question, “Who is the best Division I basketball team in the State of Missouri?” If you said It’s the University of Missouri you are wrong, if you named Southeast Missouri State you’d still be incorrect. The best team in Missouri is the St. Louis University Billikens, as this is written they have a 13-2 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The schools’ overall record is 25 wins versus only 3 losses and a number 23 ranking in the nation. I believe one of the reasons not much is talked or written about the Billikens it’s the conference.

The A-10 is not considered a power conference and for a variety of reasons ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports avoid discussing it. Sure they report the scores but that’s about it, its clear someone knows about the Billikens. As some are aware Kansas State has replaced head coach Jerome Tang, the school is conducting a national search for a head coach. Among the names mentioned has been that of Josh Schertz who began his coaching career at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He then spent three seasons at Indiana State prior to being hired at St Louis University in 2024. This is me, if I am in the position of Schertz I wouldn’t choose to take the job at Kansas State unless there were huge sums of money involved.

A basketball fans outlook

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Beat the Pistons at their game

The Pistons are the second best team in the NBA defensively, they rank behind the first place Thunder. In third place are the Spurs surrendering 110 points a game and that’s where our chronicle begins. Have the Spurs arrived as a power team in the NBA, depends on who you might ask. It’s likely the Pistons would make no public admission but privately they might admit “This Spurs team is good.” I’ve held a number of conversations recently about defense so that’s where we begin. The Spurs won the Thursday night game 121-106 but check this portion out, they held the Pistons to 40% shooting from the floor while they shot 50%. The Spurs were led to victory by Wemby, he pulled down 16 rebounds and blocked 5 Piston shots.

There is no measurement to determine the number of shots Wemby might have altered with his looming presence in and around the paint. He managed to score 38 points while shooting 50% from the floor and 40% from three. The Spurs win the series 2 games to none but it really proves little until the playoffs begin unless you count the mental aspect. As for the question how good are the Spurs, they are 2-0 against the Pistons and 4-1 versus the Thunder. This I continue to hear, “He (Wemby) needs to gain more weight or This one; “He needs to stop shooting from the tree line.” Wemby is 236 pounds far above what he weighed when he arrived in the NBA. I imagine he will continue to add weight as he matures, he’s never going to be a 300 pound beast. As for the shooting, he’s at 34%-35% from three, in the NBA 37% to 39% is considered good so its my belief Wemby is only going to get better.

Is this the last season

Since the move by Missouri into the SEC (2012) the majority of the schools’ basketball teams have underperformed in my opinion. Whether it was poor coaching or personnel that were contributing factors they have been a middle of the road team. They have never exceeded expectations but a few Missouri teams have certainly underperformed. As this is written the 2025-26 season is yet to be completed, despite that fact they will exceed 20 wins again. Tiger teams will have won 20+ games under Dennis Gates in three of the four seasons since he’s been hired. Are the present edition of the Tigers the last “middle of the road team,” will the 2026-27 team rise to the upper echelons of the SEC?

I’ve covered the incoming crop of talent headed to Columbia in the fall, sites with no connection to Missouri rate the recruiting class number one in the nation. Combo guard Jason Crowe Jr. has set a California high school scoring record, he is averaging 40 plus points a game, of course there is more to winning basketball over just shooting the basketball. As all are aware their other intangibles which contribute to an exceptional team, in addition the SEC has become even tougher since 2012. I am confident this coach can produce consistent winners for the Missouri faithful for now and into the future. The future is certainly an unknown however until I’m proven wrong Dennis Gates is the man for Missouri basketball.

Meanwhile….

The Lakers are attempting to address the draft issues the franchise has faced in years past. It was mentioned previously that the manner teams re-tool varies, although each team participates in the draft there those who appear to prefer free agency. For the last few years that’s been the case for the Lakers, acquiring talent in that manner. What has worked in the past has not necessarily been successful therefore change is in order. Several reading this might be familiar with Tony Bennett, he served as head coach at Virginia from 2009-2024, his Virginia teams won 364 games and in total for his time at Washington State 439 wins. The Lakers hired Bennett in the title of NBA Draft Advisor to the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is about a 45 minute drive from my home. No I have not seen him in person, despite the nearness, television has been my source. I might add reading publications as well to help me analyze his talent level. Most of the time folks want to focus on the offensive side of a prospect, I prefer to focus on those things a prospect doesn’t particularly do well. This from a scouting report in nbadraft.net “Primary concerns revolve around injury history, inconsistent off-ball defensive focus, and a tendency to settle for contested mid-range shots.”

If you talk to 10 NBA fans and ask the question “What upsets you the most about officiating?” I believe 6 or 7 out of that number would say traveling. They might say in unison, “Why don’t they call a travel?” At one time the rules were strict even with human error and along comes The Euro Step, it seems players are often allowed an extra step on drives. Interesting at least to me, Manu Ginobili is generally credited with being the first player to utilize the Euro Step. Even more notable Ginobili is from Argentina but played for several Euro teams before entering the NBA.

It’s different now

It is unclear whether this scenario occurred last season or the current one. Previously, the Lakers and Clippers often played home games on the same day at Crypto.com Arena, typically with matchups scheduled for both the afternoon and evening. This arrangement resulted in a consistently active venue. However, with the Clippers now occupying their own facility, The Intuit Dome, the situation has changed. Then a change or maybe it wasn’t the first time this occurred on March 1, 2026.

On that date mentioned the Lakers hosted the Kings at Crypto.com Arena while, simultaneously, the Clippers played the Pelicans. As this was being completed I thought perhaps this development might have played out in New York too, after all the city has two NBA teams as well. Might the Nets have played games at Barclays Center at the same time the Knicks were playing in Madison Square Garden? I guess this could have occurred previously at the time the Clippers had other home arenas in SoCal, as for the Nets their home arena was in the Greater metro in New Jersey.

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Who does this stuff

There is a plethora of information on the world wide web I have no method of documenting. I attempt as best I can to ensure its accurate, in this case that cannot be verified, with the disclaimer here goes. Over the history of the franchise in Minneapolis and Los Angeles the Lakers have been fortunate to have secured a wealth of outstanding post players. We could begin at the time the team was headquartered in Minneapolis, there was George Mikan. In Los Angeles, the number include Wilt Chamberlain, Elmore Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard plus Kareem Abdul Jabbar. We must include Anthony Davis and Pau Gasol in the count although both primarily played power forward but occasionally in the post.

A note, Smith who was mentioned earlier holds the NBA’s single game block shot record with 17. In the history of this franchise there have been three post players with games they missed not a single shot. At the conclusion of the game the box score indicate they missed not one shot taken from the floor. Who are they, will there is Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the third. Surprise, its Deandre Ayton now in his first year with the Lakers. As for the games there were 9 for Chamberlain, 7 for Abdul Jabbar and Deandre Ayton with 5 games. The Lakers offense fails to run through Ayton, despite that fact I find it interesting.

How to play a Big Man today

If you thought this would provide a guide to Big Man play, you're out of luck. Like many others, I’m also wondering: “Is a Big still necessary in today’s brand of basketball?” With offenses now favoring perimeter shooting, scoring from ten feet or less isn’t as important as it used to be—even though it should be. Basketball players have not ceased growing to remarkable heights (see Wemby). This question arises because we have a new arrival in August coming on the scene and he is a big dude as well.

His name is Arafan Diane, a 7-foot-1, 280–300 pound center from Iowa United Prep in Des Moines, is heading to college this fall. He has committed to the University of Houston and will play for Kelvin Sampson after making his decision last November. According to 247 Sports, Diane is a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the Class of 2026. Diane took a unique path to the U.S., leaving Guinea seven years ago to follow his basketball dreams. Currently, scouting reports describe him as an outstanding defensive anchor and rebounder. Keep an eye out for Arafan Diane this fall.

Why is it so difficult

The focus of headlines often highlights an athlete’s ability or effort on defense, whether it’s at the high school, college, or NBA level. I think part of this comes from the entertainment value—when you hear your favorite team’s score, the first thing you want to know is, “How many points did a particular player score?” Outstanding plays like long 3-pointers or slam dunks excite fans both in the arena and at home. While playing defense may not require more effort than offense, it definitely demands a much stronger desire.

In the NBA, some top players are only average or even in some instance poor defenders. Magic Johnson once said, “I wasn’t a good defender but I believe I played good team defense.” That might be the hope of most coaches, show you are tuned into the game by your effort on defense. The truth is, some athletes are drawn to defense because they’re motivated, but not everyone shares that same drive. In my opinion, AAU basketball contributes to this issue—coaches tend to let players simply play without emphasizing defense, and games at that level are usually all about offense. As for the headline, it’s not difficult but does require effort.

I can’t prove didly

There are a bunch of things I believe in, despite my belief I can’t prove didly. As an example I believe the Apollo space program was successful, astronauts did land on the moon. Regardless of what you just read, I cannot provide you proof. I consider the fact we are not alone in the universe, there are other humanoids but I can’t validate my belief for you. My once held view Bronny James was not an NBA talent I now believe he is. Will his play rise to the level of his Hall of Fame father…never happen. Well then, what are you attempting to explain to us? My conviction Bronny will eventually be an effective NBA player, notice the word effective.

That says given the minutes to develop his game his skill and role will progress to a point where he is a steady when effective player. Allow me to cite an example, Mike Conley Jr. was a high school teammate of Greg Oden. Although he was a first round draft choice few thought much of his ability as an NBA player. Conley Jr. has managed a 19-year career in the NBA playing for the Grizzlies, Jazz and Wolves. Now don’t get this twisted, Conley Jr. was placed in a position where he received adequate playing time to cultivate his game. I believe (without offering proof) Bronny James will be able to do the same with the Lakers or some other NBA team.     

LeBron v Cooper

Written earlier for later publication  

Over his first 49 career games, Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has posted statistics that closely mirror those LeBron James produced in his rookie year with the Cavs. To clarify for some reading this, I'm not claiming Flagg is at the same level of LeBron, but their numbers are quite comparable. So please keep that in mind when reading the comparative numbers, they are examples only. We cannot project desire or injury for that matter, with those issues under consideration let’s proceed.

For example: LeBron averaged 20.7 points per game, while Cooper averages 20.4; LeBron had 5.7 rebounds compared to Cooper’s 6.6. Interestingly, LeBron’s rookie-year field goal percentage was 40.9%, whereas Cooper’s is at 48.2%. Their three-point shooting percentages are also close—28.7% for LeBron and 30.2% for Cooper. Both players’ teams struggled during their rookie campaigns: the Cavaliers had an 18–31 record in LeBron’s first season, and the Mavericks have gone 17–32 with Cooper in the lineup. Previously, I wrote that the Dallas Mavericks now revolve around Cooper Flagg; following the Anthony Davis trade, Flagg has clearly emerged as the team’s leader and I don’t believe by default.

A basketball fans outlook

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I missed

It was March 2, 1962, exactly 64 years ago, Monday was the anniversary of “The Game.” When that evening was over Wilt Chamberlain has set a record that will never be eclipsed. At that time, the Warriors called Philadelphia home but this game had been “farmed out” to Hersey some 100+ miles from Philly. That game witnessed Chamberlain scoring 100 points against the Knicks setting the individual single game scoring record. Over time a number of NBA players experienced high scoring games, Kobe Bryant probably was nearest to breaking the record with his 81 point game January 22, 2006.

Despite the fact of the Chamberlain record there are a legion of folks inside and outside of the game who don’t believe the feat ever occurred. The argument I’ve heard expressed by the cynics, no film or video exists of the game which is true. Back then there were fewer televised games, years later a radio broadcast of the 4th quarter was located and is now in the Library of Congress. As for the disbelievers they claim the 1969 moon landing was fake too although there is video proof of it. I no longer argue with anyone, its your choice to believe or not, as for me…I’m a believer.

This is the 1%

Generally 99% of the time I side with NBA players on most issues, this is the 1% of the time I don’t. Draymond Green of the Warriors is certainly entitled to his opinion I just happen to disagree this time. He was complaining about the 65-game played rule to be eligible for NBA MVP. The question of course…why did the NBA place this rule in effect? As I read with load management existing throughout the league it was believed the players needed to be incentivized to participate in as many games as possible.

As outstanding a talent as Kawhi Leonard is I believe he is the main reason the NBA implemented the rule in the first place. There is more travel now with a 30-team league over that which faced The Big O, Wilt and some of the other immortals of the past. Despite this fact those of an earlier generation only sat down for games when they were injured, they didn’t sit simply to rest. I would be very upset if I attended a Knicks game and discovered Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t playing. This occurrence after I spend nearly $200.00 for tickets, parking and concessions. We get it Draymond, there should have been no reason to implement such a rule.

The best

We argue all the time “What’s the best college team in the nation?” Generally speaking these contests are never settled, you make your point(s) the opponent his at that point the debate ends. This is slightly different take, how about a twist, which conference has the best intramural basketball? For a solution to the question it was necessary to check the latest RPI rankings and ratings. At the top or 1 is the conference we thought, the Big 12 is currently the strongest rated conference in the nation. 

Right behind them at number 2. is the SEC followed at 3. by the Big 10. It would appear at least this season play in the ACC and Big East have suffered with them finishing 4. and 5. Even more interesting the ACC contains Duke and North Carolina two perennial basketball powerhouse programs. As for the Big East, the conference of Georgetown and St. John’s no longer contains the prestige teams it once contained. Behind the Big East, the Mountain West (6), Atlantic 10 (7), WCC (8), MVC (9) and the American Conference at 10 comprise the top strongest conferences in the nation.

Allow me to introduce

Prior to the season the thought by Celtic fans might have been, “Who do we plug in at center?” Sunday evening they received a partial answer. His name is Neemias Queta and he played his college basketball at Utah State, Queta led the way to victory for the Celtics 114-98. This career game for Queta consisted of 27 points, 17 rebounds 3 blocks 2 assist and 1 steal but how did he make his way to the Celtics? It was a circuitous route beginning in Barreiro Portugal where he was born 26-years ago. In this country he began play with Utah State but left for the draft.

The 7-foot 1 250 pound Queta was made a second round pick in 2021 by the Kings, he would play with the teams’ G-League affiliate however for unknown reasons, the team waived Queta in August 2023 after he signed a standard contract with the parent club. The following month, September 2023, he signed a two-way contract with the Celtics. Queta was “buried” on the depth chart behind other centers on the roster which included Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. After the departure of the three named Queta became the starter prior to the 2025-26 season. Despite the breakout game his regular season numbers are not extraordinary however the Celtic brain trust appears to believe in a bright future for him. It should also be of note Queta is the first basketball player from Portugal to be drafted into the NBA.

A basketball fans outlook

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I’d bet money (if I had any)

This is written February 28, 2026…as for the headline the bet on my part is easy. Unless you have a connection to the school somehow or live in the area you are perhaps similar to 99% of the nation. Did you realize at this late date in the college basketball season there is a team that’s played spotless basketball? I’d bet money you had no idea because neither did I and it’s my responsibility to report this stuff. The University of Miami (OH) RedHawks have 29 wins and 0 losses, they lead the Mid America Conference (MAC) with a 16-0 record.

Miami is the lone remaining undefeated team in the nation, despite the fact most are unaware the AP ranks Miami the number 21 men’s basketball team in the nation. Although their past history has not been successful they have appeared in NCAA tourney play 17 times dating back to the first in 1953. The schools’ been responsible for sending former player and GM Wayne Embry to the NBA. In addition to Embry there was former Cavs, Bulls and Laker guard Ron Harper plus Wally Szczerbiak now a broadcaster for CBS Sports and MSG.

A Second Golden Age

Reading the headline some might be wondering “Did I miss the first one,” or “What is he talking about?” It was said by many in the media the NBA really came into its own with the emergence of Magic-Bird and later the MJ led Bulls. You’ve read this blog enough to know the NBA of today took its baby steps in 1947, despite that fact it was generally considered a “minor league sport," I can cite you an example to ponder. 

In 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball it was headline news, when Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd and Nate ‘Sweetwater’ Clinton entered the NBA in 1950 it created news but nowhere close to the headline that occurred three years earlier with Robinson. This professional basketball league tried to match those established earlier, the NFL and baseball but it never materialized until Magic-Bird arrived. Even though there were a string of Celtic championships in the 1950’s and the Minneapolis Lakers were also winning it failed to raise the level of professional basketball in the eyes of most in the nation, the college game was far more popular at the time. We have traveled from the ground floor (1947) to the second floor (1950’s & 60’s) to the 4th floor (1980’s). The popularity of the game leveled off a bit in the late 20th Century, it didn’t disappear it just failed to move upward at the previous tempo. I believe we are at the beginning in my view of the Second Golden Age, the ever evolving game will began to grow once again at a stepped up pace. 

No one is able to successfully predict the future however it looks promising from where I sit. We have talented players arriving in the NBA from the draft and internationally on an annual basis. Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and AJ Dybansta are the future of the NBA if they are able to avoid extended injuries during their careers. Most of you reading this should be excited, we are at the beginning of a new generation and the dawn of a Second Golden Age for the NBA.

Meanwhile….

Dave Winfield was enshrined at Cooperstown, the baseball Hall of Fame. Why am I writing about a baseball player, this is due to the fact he might be one of the most talented athletes in history based on what occurred. Winfield was drafted in 1973 by the baseball Padres, also in that year he was drafted by the NBA Atlanta Hawks. We take it further when its discovered Winfield was also drafted by the ABA Utah Stars in operation at the time. Finally the 1973 NFL draft witnessed him being taken by the Minnesota Vikings despite the fact he’d never played football. What an athlete, chosen by 4 teams in 3 different sports quite an accomplishment and certainly a display of his athletic potential. He went to the University of Minnesota on a baseball scholarship but the 6-foot 6 inch Winfield also played basketball.  

I claim no basketball insight or expertise, the truth of the matter some of you reading this are years beyond me. You likely have play the game at least at the high school level which I was never able to accomplish. Despite what you just read I continue to take issue with the “talking heads” whether its television or radio. In the instance of radio they have a 4-hour slot to fill, however that becomes the problem. I have no idea how much rehearsal goes into these programs, I happen to believe you cannot just go on the air and begin talking. For me, the question has always remained, when is it informative versus scripted. Does he or she believe in their statement(s) or is this simply an attempt to entertain an audience. My chief problem at times they report a story provide you their opinion, which is often the only correct one in their view. Keep that in mind next time you are viewing, listening or reading a column by one of them. I often provide you with my opinion however I attempt to be cautious expressing the view you might disagree with me and that’s okay.

From time to time I imagine myself to be the Midwest scout for the Lakers, I am assessing talent to infuse into the lineup. Everyone is looking at Darryn Peterson, there is another Kansas player who garners much of my attention. It’s forward Flory Bidunga who’s from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bidunga stands 6-foot 10 and 235 pounds, he’s averaging 14 points a game up from his freshman number of 5.9. The portion of his game I love, shot blocking and his lob capability, in addition he is averaging 9 rebounds a game. Check this next portion out, nbadraft.net fails to include his name in their mock. On the other hand nbadraftroom.com (45), tankathon.com (34) and bleacher report (37) list Bidunga as a second round and note the number behind the draft site is where they place Bidunga. Now the assessment, he is extremely raw and requires additional work. What I’ve seen to date has me believing if he decides to declare for the draft and is available in the second round the Lakers should entertain the prospect of drafting him.  

As this is written Victor Wembanyama can only miss 3 games the remainder of the season. As you are aware the NBA has instituted a 65-game rule to qualify for post-season honors. Wemby leads the NBA in blocked shots and has discussed in the past his desire to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The NBA placed the rule into effective in an attempt to curtail load management. From my perspective, I question the validity of this rule, as bonuses are typically awarded to most players who exceed the standards outlined in their contracts. If the possibility of earning additional income does not serve as sufficient motivation to perform well, I am interested in understanding what would.

A basketball fans outlook

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Revenge is a dish best served cold

Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan, this 1982 movie is where you might have heard the phrase used as the headline uttered by Captain Kirk’s nemesis Khan. Before proceeding with the basketball portion of this account lets detail the why. “The proverbial phrase ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’ expresses the notion that vengeance is more satisfying when exacted sometime after the harm that instigated it.” Arizona players had February 28 circled on the calendar, they took their revenge beating Kansas 84-61. On February 9, the Wildcats had traveled to Lawrence Kansas to play KU, at that time they were winners of 23 consecutive games.

At the close of the day the Wildcats had suffered a loss having succumbed to KU by a score of 82-78. The refrain “Beware of the Phog” at least for February 9 was real as the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season. The follow up game was nothing like the previous one, Arizona jumped off to a lead and never relinquished it. At the half it was Arizona 39 KU 28, the second half of the game the Wildcats stepped on the gas pedal outscoring them 45-33 resulting in the final outcome. Darryn Peterson didn’t shoot particularly well but led the way for KU with 24 points. Arizona maintains its first place standing in the Big 12 while KU is tied with Iowa State for third place.

Nicknames, Part Deux

The February 25 edition you read about nicknames given a number of NBA players. As with any undertaking of this type, it’s never fully comprehensive as I attempted to point out when it was published. This account brings you even more names; some may still be unfamiliar—so you know what to do, research the player. Here’s a detail you might find interesting I sure did, there were two NBA players known by the same nickname Bad News. With that, let's begin with our next list of nicknames:

World B-Lloyd Free, Sixers

Truck-Leonard Robinson, Bullets (Wizards)

X-Man-Xavier McDaniel, Sonics

Mountain Man-Bill Walton, Blazers

Cornbread-Vernon Maxwell, Celtics

PG-13-Paul George, Pacers

Boogie-DeMarcus Cousins, Kings

Jellybean-Joe Bryant, Sixers

Marvin “Bad News” Barnes, Spirits of St. Louis (ABA)

Jim “Bad News” Barnes, Knicks

Defense

No matter the sport football, hockey or basketball…generally speaking tough defense will win you most games. In the NBA as often mentioned we tend to look at the offensive side of the game. If we go back in time we discover the Bird Celtics, Showtime Lakers or Jordan Bulls we tend to focus on the scoring. It’s true those teams and others could get buckets however they played tough hard-nose defense as well. I certainly am not omitting the Bad Boy Pistons of that time either, if we fast forward to the present who are the teams of today? We look at the Warriors, see the Splash Brothers, and decide it’s all about offense, not true. We miss the point if we fail to see the defensive work put in by Draymond Green and other Warriors that aided in winning championships.

Just this past season the Thunder were NBA champions, SGA and crew could score buckets however they played team defense. Playing defense is not glamourous in the same manner scoring baskets. One of my co-workers put it this way, “It certainly does your team no good if you score 30 points but give up 31 to the player you are supposed to be guarding.” Look at the team overall but check the players near the top in steals and blocked shots. That to me demonstrates a different type of commitment. As this is written the Sixers Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in steals, he’s followed by Cason Wallace Thunder and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers. How about blocked shots, Wemby Spurs forward is the leader followed by Alex Sarr of the Wizards and Thunder forward Chet Holmgren. As for team defense, it’s the Thunder leading the NBA followed by the Pistons and Spurs.

KenPom vs AP Top 25

Like many others, I often pay attention to the Top 25 ranked teams each week. However, KenPom.com offers a more accurate ranking system because it considers the underlying statistics behind each team's position. The AP poll, on the other hand, is essentially a popularity contest to decide which team ranks highest. I fail to include the Coaches Top 25 poll for this reason alone, do you really believe with all their duties during the season a coach has time to sit down and rank the Top 25 teams.

Maybe the responsibility is assigned to an assistant coach or the coaching staff however I continue to believe of all the polls it’s the most inaccurate of all. Of course with that last statement I can offer you no proof. With that bit of information at hand in mind below is the comparison of KenPom’s Top 10 teams and the AP Top 10. As you can see there is a vast bit of difference positioning between the two poles. Michigan State appears in KenPom but is omitted in the AP poll. Gonzaga is listed in the AP poll but is missing from KenPom.

KenPom                                   AP

Duke                                         Duke

Michigan                                   Arizona

Arizona                                     Michigan

Illinois                                       Iowa State

Florida                                      Houston

Houston                                    UConn

Iowa State                                Florida

Purdue                                      Purdue

UConn                                      Gonzaga

Michigan State                          Illinois

A fans perspectives

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The Golden Child

The headline is the title of a 1986 Eddie Murphy movie, he played Chandler Jarrell, a social worker who was informed at the beginning he was The Chosen One. The basketball connection, hold on there is one. Prior to the launching of the 2025-26 NBA season the arrival of Cooper Flagg would herald him as The Chosen One. He would be anointed the league’s top rookie, Flagg would lead the Mavs to an NBA championship. The championship thing is in the future not his first, all this might be incorrect. The trophy as the best might not have Flagg’s name inscribed on it.

Flagg’s former Duke teammate is making the award a race as Kon Knueppel’s stock has risen with the Hornets and in the eyes of most. Knueppel has set a new rookie record for 3-pointers with 207 for the season. If we just check his scoring alone we discover Knueppel is nearly 50% from the floor and a sizzling 44.2% from three. He is tied for second leading scorer on this Hornets squad and has been a vital contributor in furthering the win column. The one area of play I am unable to uncover is his defense, but believe this. Coming from a Duke program I believe he’s got to have played adequately in that department of his game. It might be premature to inscribe Flagg’s name on that Rookie of the Year trophy just yet.

Is it 6 or 4, you decide

I came across this article which totaled the number of NCAA championships won by Division I schools. At the top of the list was UCLA with 11, despite this fact it’s been a few years since they last won (1995). From there it was Kentucky with 8, North Carolina and UConn are tied with 6 while Duke and Indiana have 5. Immediately below them is Kansas with 4 however the win total is disputed in some circles, this is the explanation. Keep this in mind, the first NCAA tournament was played in 1939 with Oregon the winner. Back then through 1950 the tournament consisted of 8 teams with each selected from a geographical district.

Okay, you still haven’t explained why some in Kansas are claiming 6 championships rather than 4. In the 1921-22 season and again 1922-23 with a 16 win and 17 win season Kansas was declared the national champion. This action was executed by the Helms Athletic Foundation, this organization is no longer in existence, it was dissolved and most of its assets were absorbed into the AAU. From my reading it appears one individual made the decision which team would become the recognized national champion in basketball and other major sports. This practice (by Helms) continued up through the 1981-82 season despite the fact a tournament was played to officially crown a champion. What do you think, should Kansas basketball be moved up a couple of notches?

The third option

Phil Handy served as an assistant coach with the Lakers for a time. He tells this story about Austin Reaves which I believe is worth sharing, Handy was there for the rookie year of Reaves. You remember his agent had informed NBA teams to not draft his client, Reaves preferred to choose the team he wanted. He was playing with the Lakers Summer League team, Handy having seen him play at Oklahoma saw him “fit in” rather than score. Handy pulled him aside and informed Reaves “You need to shoot the ball.”

Handy indicates Reaves took the advice and began scoring, at the end of summer the Lakers signed him to a contract. Reaves arrived at a time when the team was loaded with veterans so he began play as a reserve and occasional starter. Now in the middle of his 5th year as a Laker. His stats have increased every season and now we find him at 25 points and 50% shooting from the floor in the 2025-26 season. Reaves has become an invaluable teammate for the Lakers and the question might be asked, is he a Laker for life. That question cannot be answered as a 27-year old, this member of Laker Nation would hope Reaves remains long term as the third option.

Everyone is not worthy

Someone reading the headline might misunderstand the intent of what you are about to read. The subject is hall of fame eligibility and the fact that some players are missing who some believe should be included, on the other hand there are many who will never be considered worthy. What’s the criteria for eligibility, depends on who is discussing the matter. I am a stickler for an extended record of accomplishment, allow a further explanation. A .com site chose to provide a list of players they believe have been overlooked for inclusion into the hall. It’s unfortunate, one of the players listed played in the 1950’s prior to the shot clock being utilized. In addition to that there is little video evidence of his play, that is strike two for that former player.

As for others on the list this might be the example, Player A had a 12-year NBA career, during that period he played in 3 All Star games however his overall numbers were only average, he never led the league in any category….is he hall of fame ready? The NBA remains a team game however Player B had a 15-year career but only played in one NBA championship series during his time in the association, is he hall of fame ready? Player C didn’t have longevity while playing and a sharp decline in production after his prime….is he hall of fame ready? Finally a look at Player D, was a reserve throughout his entire time in the NBA but an essential scoring and rebounding machine when called on by his coach….is he hall of fame ready? I’m unsure if you agree or not with my examples however as the headline indicates; “Everyone is not worthy.”