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

Sunday & Monday-Wednesday-Friday & Saturday

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

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

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.”

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

Hopefully, this is the last time

The last time I write about Darryn Peterson Kansas combo guard and likely top prospect in the June NBA draft. Everyone has decided and reported what’s going on with this young man. Although I certainly share the concerns of others I will always side with the athlete until proven wrong. I continue to believe without offering you a shred of evidence the money is the chief issue for most. Longtime readers will remember I once wrote money paid to sports individuals is a concern, at the same time from where I sit there is no control. With that out of the way I uncovered the fact Peterson’s NIL deal is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 million.

I will allow you to mull over that information while proceeding onward. As I indicated Peterson addressed the issue in this manner, this from SI.com. “Everybody’s got an opinion on it,” Peterson told ESPN between the Arizona and Oklahoma State games. “But basketball is my life. If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have.” “If you would have asked me last year, what were my goals for this year, I would never mention missing games,” Peterson said. “So all this stuff kind of just happened, but I’ve got to deal with it.” Okay that is the response he gave ESPN’s Myron Medcalf to the question of him being absent from games. You are certainly entitled to your opinion however I believe Peterson until he’s proven wrong. Hopefully, my next opportunity to write about Peterson will involve his exploits on the court and not off of it.

Front office changes

This is for the Rod Pelinka haters, you thought the change in Laker ownership would see the end of Pelinka. True, change has occurred but at least for now the president of basketball operations and general manager finds Pelinka remaining in place. Laker Nation I understand, you want brilliant “Jerry West” moves from the front office. After all West was able to acquire Bob McAdoo, Mychal Thompson and Shaquille O’Neal and others to help secure NBA championships. The truth is he managed to “steal” Kobe Bryant from under the nose of Charlotte.

The basketball landscape has changed a great deal and most of it working against the Lakers, don’t get me wrong teams remain committed to change. With the change they are willing to give up player(s) but in exchange they want the best deal for their club. This is likely the response from Pelinka, “This trade might work for you but it places my Lakers at a huge disadvantage.” In other words give up something for nothing, not only for the Lakers but any NBA team making moves of that type will soon find itself going out of business. Listen Pelinka haters, I’m not arguing he’s the best guy for the job but there might be instances where his hands are literally tied.

Missouri basketball

The conundrum that is Missouri basketball continued Tuesday evening, this time they faced number 22 Tennessee. Despite the fact it was a home game for the Tigers I was my usual uncomfortable self-prior to game time, which Tiger team shows up, would it be the one that beat then number 22 Florida or lose to Ole Miss? In any event the Tigers got off to a slow start and my thought, “Here we go again.” Coach Gates called a TO and play resumed once again, half-time would see the Vols hold a 29-26 lead however the second half would prove quite fruitful.

When the clock read 0.00 it was a 76-69 win for the Tigers which was a surprise to me and I’m sure others in Mizzou Nation. The Tigers must continue to play good basketball but the win somewhat guarantees an NCAA invitation. The game was the 9th SEC win and number 19 overall. In a surprise point guard T.O. Barrett lead the way in scoring with a career high 28 points, Mark Mitchell also chipped in with 23 points. The Tigers outshot the Vols from the field 47% to 43% and the usual poor shooting by the Tigers was not in evidence as they were 77% from the free-throw line. Next up is Mississippi State on Saturday at their house.

Team USA

I decided to revisit the issue of Team USA primarily due to recent statements I read. Kevin Durant went on the record indicating he wants to play again for Team USA, in addition Steph Curry is open to a return as well although he’s not confirmed. With these two NBA stars semi-confirmed let’s check potential team members. Now keep in mind none of the following names has said yes or no, this is strictly speculation on my part. The names listed below would be able to provide Team USA with all the firepower plus defense required to defend their previous Gold Medal.

Anthony Edwards

AJ Dybansta.

Kon Knueppel

Cooper Flag

Cade Cunningham

Jalen Duren

Devin Booker

Chet Holmgren

Tyrese Maxey

Jaylen Brown

Donovan Mitchell

De’Aaron Fox

VJ Edgecombe

Kevin Durant

Steph Curry

Karl-Anthony Towns

Mark Williams

Jayson Tatum 

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

Nicknames

It seems to me that nicknames for players has gone out of style for the most part. There are a few instances in today’s NBA, we have Anthony Edwards or Ant Man along with Wemby or The Alien for Victor Wembanyama. You are aware Bronny is a nickname, instead of LeBron James Jr. he simply became Bronny. Laker guard Austin Reaves is reported to have disliked all the nicknames given him, they include AR-15 (his jersey number) and Hillbilly Kobe (he’s originally from Arkansas) and several other names he was reported to have disliked.

For now Reaves has no nickname and neither does LeBron James Sr., he violated the unwritten rule i.e., you cannot give yourself a nickname someone must bestow it on you. I could be wrong however its my understanding LeBron named himself The King. As for some of the others they are listed below, note if the player is unfamiliar to you do a research check. It should be brought to your attention that a few of those listed below were given the nickname while in high school or college and it followed them into the NBA. In addition don’t consider this list of names complete, this is just a quick check of some the more well-known names.

Dr. J.-Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School, Roosevelt New York

The Don-Luka Doncic, Mavericks

Chocolate Thunder-Darryl Dawkins, Sixers

Vinsanity-Vince Carter, Raptors

White Chocolate-Jason Williams, Kings

The Answer-Allen Iverson, Sixers

The Truth-Paul Pierce, Celtics

Iceman-George Gervin, Spurs

The Big Fundamental-Tim Duncan, Spurs

The Big Ticket-Kevin Garnett, Wolves

The Glove-Gary Payton, Sonics

Diesel-Shaquille O’Neal, Magic

Pistol Pete-Pete Maravich, LSU

Earl the Pearl-Earl Monroe, Winston-Salem College

The Admiral-David Robinson, Spurs

The Dream-Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets

White Mamba-Brian Scalabrine, Celtics

Black Mamba-Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Magic-Earvin Johnson, East Lansing High School, Lansing Michigan 

The Big Dipper-Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors

Hondo-John Havlicek, Celtics

AK-47-Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz

Zeke-Isiah Thomas, Pistons

The Logo- Jerry West, Lakers

Microwave-Vinnie Johnson, Pistons

They should be embarrassed

As I write this allow me to state forcefully.….the Lakers should be embarrassed with their effort Sunday against the Celtics. To lose a game against the historic rival Celtics (111-89) is inexcusable. Worst yet the loss occurred on the date a ceremony and statue of Pat Riley was unveiled. A further explanation for some unfamiliar with NBA history, Riley was the architect of the Showtime Lakers of the 80’s while he served as head coach. The Riley statue will join the others outside Crypto.com arena. Back to the game a moment, the plus/minus rating system ESPN utilizes not a single Laker starter or reserve finished in the plus category.

The Celtics managed to expose the Lakers weakness again, defending the three line and being out rebounded. Unless the Lakers fall into a hole they should earn a playoff berth, beyond that I find it difficult to believe the team as it is structured is capable of winning a series based on the play Sunday. As you are aware once the playoffs begin the good teams raise their level of play a notch. Needless to say this member of Laker Nation is extremely disappointed on Monday morning as this account is being rehashed. This loss as with others is not the fault of LeBron James alone, despite my statement I believe it is time he should entertain retirement. NOTE: It wasn’t me alone ‘Big Game’ James Worthy called this present edition of the Lakers for their lack of effort.

What do you think

A dot.com sports site divided groups of college basketball teams between what they termed Tier 1, 2, 3 and 4. I wanted to briefly discuss the schools they listed as Tier 1 programs, they positioned Kentucky, UCLA, Duke and Kansas in this category. While the list is rightfully theirs, I have some reservations regarding at least one of the institutions included. The last season Kentucky won an NCAA championship was 2012, for UCLA it was 1995. As for Duke the year was 2015 and Kansas last won in 2022.

Do you see where I am headed, each of the schools’ listed won at least one championship in the 2000’s except UCLA. If you have any association with UCLA you are seething by now for a number of reasons. You are probably saying; “Winning NCAA championships is not a true barometer.” You claim, “If championships were an indication UCLA leads the way with 11 wins.” The counterarguments which might be presented are certainly valid, and I do not expect everyone to agree with my point of view. What do you think, am I being too critical by excluding UCLA from this group of basketball programs?

He contributed across the board

The Detroit Pistons faced the San Antonio Spurs in Little Caesars Arena on Monday evening, the final score read Spurs 114, Pistons 103. Wemby didn’t lead his team in scoring although he registered another outstanding game. As for the Spurs the leading scorer honor belonged to Devin Vassel with his 28 points. So what happened other than the final, this game would be a challenge for the Spurs. There was a question whether they were on the same level as the Pistons who are one of the Eastern Conference contenders and maybe championship bound.

Wemby proved he is human, he didn’t have his usual shooting prowess this time but did manage to score 21 points in the game. In addition to his scoring total he snatched 17 rebounds off the boards and blocked 6 Piston shots. There is an uncounted number of Piston shots either missed entirely or affected by Wemby’s presence around the basket. Jalen Duren tried his best to lead his team to victory, facing Wemby he scored 25 points and pulled down 14 rebounds all this on 77% shooting from the floor. Cade Cunningham scored but 16 points far off his nearly 26 point a game average. Rest assured the Spurs wanted to send a message to the Pistons.

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

Allen Fieldhouse

Once upon a time the mere mention of Allen Fieldhouse would cause trembling. Whether it was the building or the fact Kansas turned out dynamite teams every season or something else. If you had an opportunity to attend a game in the arena you would almost always leave with a smile on your face. The mighty Jayhawks had pummeled another visitor team into the floor of the venerable arena, some arenas have a mystique about them, that is the case here. The building is named after Forrest Clare “Phog” Allen, he lettered in basketball under the inventor of the game Dr. James A. Naismith.

As for Allen he began coaching the Jayhawks in 1919, he led them until his forced retirement in 1956. He was the architect for the success basketball experienced during his tenure. According to Wikipedia 20 times since the arena opened the Jayhawks finished the season undefeated at home. That provides you an idea was Kansas basketball has been so formidable especially playing at The Phog. More recently with the collegiate change in the landscape the home team has not been nearly invincible as they once were. Allen Fieldhouse opened its doors in 1955 and similar to other arenas (Cameron Indoor, The Palestra) will probably never be replaced. Over the years there have been 5 major renovations of Allen Fieldhouse.

The Great White Hope

The title belongs to a 1970 movie based on a 1967 play written by Howard Sackler, it was loosely based on the life of Jack Johnson heavyweight boxing champion of the 1900’s. The movie starred the late James Earl Jones in the role, “the title refers to the hopes some fans had for a white boxer to end Johnson’s reign as heavyweight champion and is a symbol of racism and suppression.” Beginning in the 1960’s the NBA saw an ever increasing number of black athletes added to team rosters, today the association is 70% to 78% black.

The 1979-80 season witnessed Larry Bird being added to the lineup of the Celtics and in some circles it was quietly whispered Bird was “The Great White Hope.” There was plenty of evidence Bird could hoop and he proved it over and over again until his retirement from the NBA. During and immediately after Bird several other white players thought to move into the Bird role, injuries or lacking the skill to adapt to NBA play they were left on the side of the road until now. Then we received word, “The best high school player in the nation hails from Maine.” He first came to our attention while he played at Nokomis Regional High School but would transfer to Montverde Academy in Florida for his senior year. “2023-24 Accomplishments: Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and McDonald’s All-American.” The best in the nation, how could that be, according to the U.S. Census 2.5% of the population of Maine is black. Well it turns out Cooper Flagg is white, he’s not black and was the best baller in the nation in high school, later he would play his freshman year at Duke where he continued to grow his game and distinguish himself on the basketball court.

As he’s moved into the midway point of his first year in the NBA and playing for the Mavs do we dare say “budding NBA superstar?” Flagg is not there yet however as his game continues to grow and his team improves we are likely to see the continued improvement of his game. Can we see a comparison between him and “Larry you know who,” am I placing too much pressure on Flagg…I don’t think so. My observation of him from interviews and his play at Duke and now in the NBA indicates he is able to handle the media and NBA opponents alike. White youth have “transformed” themselves into MJ, Kobe and now Wemby on the basketball court, soon they will become “Cooper Flagg.” The key question, doesn’t matter the skin color black, brown or white…the key question, can he hoop?

Gilbert Arenas is an entertainer

Once upon a time Arenas played in the NBA, nicknamed Agent 0 he was good. As for his entertainment value that remains under question, allow me to explain. He attacked the legendary George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers and his playing skills. For those who might be unfamiliar Mikan was 6-foot 10 and 245 pounds a large player for that era. He played for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1947-1954 a period the NBA was in its infancy, Arenas began pontificating about “Mikan dominating the NBA shooting 40% from the floor for his career.” He even poked fun at the “Mikan Drill” which was used at the time to teach Big Men how to play the game at this level. Let’s take into consideration a few facts which Agent 0 ignored or failed to take into consideration.

8 teams existed during the period Mikan played versus the 30 teams of today. At that period, the game was played at a much slower paced than today, shooting wasn’t the art form it would later become. Teams were proficient in dribbling the ball because there was no shot clock. A team could stall as long as they desired, there was no hurry to score and give the other team an opportunity to do likewise. At the tail end of Mikan’s career the league implemented the 24-second shot clock which increased the requirement to score baskets, everyone became better shooters or they were soon out of the league. There was no 3-point line at the time which certainly could increase shooting and scoring. This is what I fail to understand from Agent 0 and others, what is the purpose of denigrating players of the past. Bottom line from this point going forward I will consider Agent 0 an entertainer over that of a former player.

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

Youth will be served

The headline refers to a proverb stating, “Younger generations deserve opportunities, recognition, and the chance to take over responsibilities from older generations.” This sentiment is particularly relevant in the context of government, education plus sports which includes the NBA. While the current focus remains on established stars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and others, it is evident that their era is nearing its conclusion. These players have provided fans with remarkable performances throughout their careers, but the emergence of new talent signifies an impending transition. Although there is no immediate requirement for veterans like LeBron, Steph, KD, or Kawhi Leonard to retire, the next generation is preparing to assume leadership roles within the league. Early indications suggest that these young athletes are well-equipped to meet the challenges ahead.

A firestorm continues to grow

Generally the chief complaint regarding college players is simple, “He can’t play at this level” or “He’s not that good.” Neither of those statements apply to combo guard Darryn Peterson at Kansas. Instead the common complaint heard is the number of games he’s missed due to illness or injury. Maybe several of you reading this account are also upset with Peterson due to his lack of play this season in a number of scheduled games. Kansas has played 26 games so far this season, Peterson has seen action in 15, in several games he played the first half and not the second.

Unofficially Peterson leads the Jayhawks in scoring and is shooting nearly 49% from the floor and is a blistering 43% from three. The basis for me using the term unofficially is based on the number of games he’s played as this is written. The portion of his game that cannot be detailed here is his defense, although stats indicate Peterson has 18 steals which ties him for third on the team. Can he play at the next level…most likely. NBA Mock Draft sites provide us a clue of the selection process that occurs in June. For the most part the first 10 or so picks in these mocks are close to the actual. I have been monitoring four mocks since the college basketball season started, Peterson remains at the top or first pick for all four mock draft sites.

The chief drawback which I believe causes the most concerns for fans is the $$$, Peterson is being paid huge sums of NIL money and there are a legion of fans who believe “We are not receiving our money’s worth.” Please inform me, at what point is money not a concern for most people. As I continue to state we don’t know the future, at the same time consider this possibility. June 2026, commissioner Adam Silver in front of the mic; “With the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft the ______________ select Darryn Peterson from the University of Kansas.”

He’s returning next season

LeBron James by all indications is non-committal at this writing about whether he returns next season. We are aware who is coming back, that would be the Warriors Stephen Curry. Suffering a leg injury he was a non-participant in activities at the weekend NBA All Star game. After witnessing Dame Lillard win the 3-point shooting contest Curry made the announcement he would be a 2027 participant. In addition Curry indicated he would attempt to persuade former teammate Klay Thompson to take part as well. At the break, the Warriors stand 29-26 and are in third place in the Pacific Division.

I don’t have the complete story of Jonathan Kuminga and his issues with the Warriors. They have now traded the distraction that Kuminga would become to the Hawks on February 2. The team acquired Kristaps Porzingis, at 7-foot 3 he provides some badly needed height for the Warriors. The only downside, Porzingis has been in and out of the lineup of previous teams he’s played for due to injury and illness. Back to Curry for a few additional notes, despite the Warriors not playing as well as some believed that’s not him. He’s actually scoring three points above his career number, his shooting from three has dipped slightly but certainly not to a point of concern. Regardless of being sidelined Curry appears ready to compete for the balance of this season into next.

I’m answering the question

Recently you read about Blue Blood basketball programs, I questioned whether the term still applies today. Well despite my reservations I am going to use the term anyway and apply it to the UConn Huskies for several reasons. Former coach Jim Calhoun (1986-2012) placed UConn basketball on the minds of us all, we had no idea where Storrs Connecticut was located. During his tenure we became acquainted with the coach, the school and Storrs. Calhoun’s teams won close to 1000 games (920) while losing only 397, during his career he won three NCAA championships (1999, 2004 and 2011). Prior to his retirement Calhoun was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2005, the very next year the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

This is but a thumbnail sketch of the coach who laid out the plan. Former UConn player Kevin Ollie took over the program and guided the school to the 2014 championship prior to his departure in 2018. Dan Hurley was hired in 2018 and the fiery coach led the Huskies to a rare accomplishment, back to back championships in 2023 and 2024. How I am able to qualify UConn as a Blue Blood program…its simple winning championships. Currently UConn is behind UCLA (11), Kentucky (8) and tied with North Carolina’s 6 championships, UConn is ahead of Blue Blood basketball programs Indiana and Kansas. That’s it, someone could argue with my supposition, that’s okay however they are not going to convince me UConn doesn’t belong in the same conversation with the others.

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday

Tanking….not in all cases

Discussions on tanking or losing games on purpose has been much in the NBA news recently, I’m not going to offer a fix only report a portion of what’s occurred for one team. Since 1985 when the modern draft was implemented the Sacramento Kings have had 30 lottery selections. They have missed the playoffs for 16 consecutive years the longest drought in NBA history. The Kings, whether intentional or not the owner/front office has been an example of ineptness over the years. Check out the draft history, in 2011 they drafted Jimmer Fredette the10th pick from BYU, he was the college news maker that season.

Right behind Fredette with pick 11 the Warriors chose Klay Thompson. We know pretty much how Thompson’s NBA career developed but what about Fredette? Fredette was unable to transfer his college success to the NBA level. Again seeking headlines, based on his NCAA run in 2012 they chose Thomas Robinson from Kansas, immediately behind him the Blazers selected Dame Lillard…what time was it, Dame Time? The Kings finally struck gold in drafting De’Aaron Fox in 2017, he provided exceptional play for them but a problem would develop later, Fox wanted a trade. The Kings obligating his request, February 2025 saw Fox traded to the Spurs where he’s aided their championship aspirations. In 2018 the Kings, with the second pick, chose Marvin Bagley III, that was followed by the Mavs selecting “Luka The Don” with the third pick. In 2020 the Kings struck gold again adding Tyrese Haliburton in that years draft.

Despite the promise Haliburton had demonstrated he was traded to the Pacers for Domantas Sabonis, of course you are aware of Haliburton’s development with the Pacers until he was injured. Those familiar with the NBA understand that the draft process can often be changeable, with teams hoping they are choosing the next Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg or a LeBron James. At the same time confusion often reigns supreme as scouting reports, player interviews and other criteria or sometimes inconclusive. The Sacramento Kings, as indicated by their draft history, have struggled both in selecting talent and retaining key contributors (Fox and others) to their roster. While there is little evidence to suggest the team is actively tanking each season, they frequently find themselves in the lottery regardless of intention.

Let’s check the numbers

I believe what is said, Victor Wembanyama is a generational talent. The question might be who is the face of the NBA is asked and there is debate, is it Cooper Flagg or Wemby? I am not going to entertain that question in this account, I intend to provide you a few Wemby numbers. The Spurs list their forward/center as standing 7 feet 4 inches in height, that’s incorrect…he actually stands 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm). As most are aware when he was drafted by the Spurs three years ago Wemby was reported to weigh at most 220 pounds although many believed it was a smaller number.

Entering training camp in 2025 the Spurs now indicate he is up to 235 pounds, despite the increased poundage many believe it would enhance his game further if he added a few more pounds. Wemby has an 8 foot (243.84 cm) wingspan which certainly is an aid for him in blocking or intimidating shots taken by the opposition. Now for the guesstimate numbers, those we believe exist but for the most part we cannot prove. Wemby has a jumping or leaping ability of 32-40 inches, with that in mind and considering his 7 foot 5 inch frame at the top of his jump shot what do we suppose is the height of the ball when released from his hands? Based on his 7-foot 5 inch height, at the maximum of Wemby’s jump the ball must come off his hands at a minimum of 8-9 feet, keep this in mind the basket is 10 feet (3.05 cm) above the floor. 

Yet there remains hope

In February 2025, Dallas Mavericks fans were stunned when their star player, Luka Doncic, was traded to the Lakers. The mood shifted later in June when the team landed the number one pick, Cooper Flagg, in the NBA draft, sparking celebrations across Dallas by Mavs fans. As the 2025-26 season began, it became clear that the Mavericks weren't performing well overall, but Flagg showed real promise as a young talent despite being a teen. Fans seemed content to wait and see how things unfolded, especially following the trade of Anthony Davis to the Wizards. With draft positions still undetermined, it appears likely that the Mavericks will be able to select a player ready to contribute immediately. Who are the potential picks? I checked five mock draft sources, and several suggest the Mavericks may target the same player. With that in mind, let's review the names and other relevant information:

Mikel Brown Jr. Louisville 6-foot 5 point/shooting guard

Nate Ament Tennessee 6-foot 9 small forward/power forward

Keaton Wagler Illinois 6-foot 6 shooting guard

Darius Acuff Jr. Arkansas 6-foot 3 point guard

They say other stupid things

Mizzou had an ugly win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday which was detailed much earlier. Although Mizzou held a huge lead (21 points plus) Vanderbilt came roaring back and made a game of it at the end. Despite the win many in Mizzou Nation were displeased even with the victory. One of the first letters I read said; “Mizzou should fire (Dennis) Gates, he is in his 4th year and besides he’s not a great coach.” After reading his comment I said to myself, great coach, there are a number of very good coaches but great might be taking it to the next level. Its not just Mizzou fans, across State Line Road my friends at Kansas are upset too but for a different reason.

Darryn Peterson has been in and out of the lineup this season, a number of fans appear to believe Peterson is operating on a load management schedule. I can’t look inside his head, if he indicates he’s injured or has cramps in the most recent game how are we to know. Part of the problem Peterson is receiving NIL money plus the fact there is no possibility he returns for his sophomore year. He’s headed to the NBA and Kansas fans are well aware of this fact but want more production than has been seen to date. With all the complaining have you checked the standings? Kansas is 20-6 (10-3 conference) has a winning record, Mizzou is 18-8 (8-5 conference) in both instances fans are not satisfied. Kansas will earn a tournament invite, if Mizzou finishes strong they will earn a tournament berth too. 

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Mizzou

This could be good on the other hand…wait until the end. Mizzou commit Jason Crowe Jr. is displaying an outstanding senior season for Inglewood High School. Crowe Jr. a 6-foot 3 combo guard and 5-star prospect has broken the California scoring record with 4,600 points and is still amassing numbers. He is scoring at a 43.8 ppg clip for the Inglewood Sentinels in the 2025-26 season thus far. That is the good, as for the concern there is more than one. At the top of the list will be his adjustment from high level high school competition to Division I basketball. There is adapting to Mizzou teammates on and off the court, he’s going to arrive on campus in August as the hottest prospect the school’s had since Michael Porter Jr. in 2017-18.

As for the Wednesday action, the Tigers squeaked by Vanderbilt 81-80, the Commodores were the number 19 team in the nation prior to the game. Which Mizzou team shows up would be the question and for a time Mizzou Nation was fooled. They played outstanding basketball for a major portion of the game holding a 21-point lead with 8 plus minutes remaining. From that point on a combination of events saw the lead erased, the Tigers were hanging by their fingernails at the end of the game. The truth of the matter a buzzer shot by the Commodores almost won the game. If we check the numbers it details the game was even and perhaps in the short run that might have been the case. In any event the team I thought had so much promise continues a roller-coaster season, they are now 18 up and 8 down for the season.

Social media

I’m writing this rebuttal after viewing two videos on social media regarding Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg. I saw an unknown correspondent began a diatribe by stating this, “Kon Knueppel is better than Cooper Flagg.” He then went on to toss out number after number to validate his view of the subject. The second unknown correspondent pointed to the fact Duke’s Cameron Boozer is no better than dad Carlos. “He’s got no elevation to his game” the report went on to state. 

I guess it’s our choice to take in this reported information, as for me I view it with skepticism for several reasons, allow a brief explanation. Nowhere in either case did the reporter mention nothing about reading or listening to coaches, scouts or media members weigh in on the subject they intended to impart to us. Like you I always desire to be informed on a subject, you can convince me by this method. A. You have plenty of facts and B. You have a degree of credibility. As for A. sometimes just having facts doesn’t always present a clear and accurate picture. B. might be aimed at me, I claim no credibility I identify as a fan however there is a difference.

In this instance I picked up my iPhone and watched two videos by unknown persons offering me (and others information) these two believe in. Here is the difference, you can debate my credibility if you desire however you’ve been reading Off the Dribble for a time. My friend says it is opinion based reporting nowadays, I have no issue if that is the case however just because it’s on the internet I have no capability to determine the authenticity with no familiarity to the person.

His name is….

John B. McClendon (April 5, 1915-October 8, 1999), this pioneer of basketball learned the game from the inventor, Dr. James A. Naismith. McClendon born in Hiawatha Kansas but his family would move to Kansas City Kansas where he was educated. Graduating from Sumner High School he would attend Kansas University at the period Dr. Naismith served as the schools’ basketball coach. By all accounts McClendon never played, black people although allowed to attend were prohibited from participating in sports activities. McClendon needed to complete a swimming course in order to secure his degree, although prohibited from swimming with white students McClendon entered the pool anyway. He would go on to coach at North Carolina College (North Carolina Central University) from 1941-1952.

McClendon would later coach at a succession of historically black colleges over the next several years including Tennessee A&I (Tennessee State), his teams won three consecutive NAIA championships 1957-1959. In 1961 groundbreaker McClendon did it once again, he was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Pipers in the American Basketball League (not to be confused with the ABA much later). Bill Russell was the first black coach in the NBA however his hiring occurred after McClendon. In 1966 McClendon broke yet another barrier, he was hired at Cleveland State becoming the first African-American to coach a predominately white team. He is honored by enshrinement in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. Dr. John B. McClendon, a basketball innovator and a name you should be familiar with during Black History Month.

Remember when

I cannot provide the date or times but I do remember when, I was singing the praises of the Lakers acquiring Deandre Ayton, after all a 7 foot 250 pound Big Man was exciting. There was negative residue surrounding Ayton from his time with the Suns and later with the Blazers. There was a belief that the change of scenery and playing for the Lakers would change Ayton’s focus. Early on that was indeed the case, I cannot provide you when all that changed. If we check the numbers he’s at an all-time low across the board, I warned early on he would not be the second coming of Kareem or Shaq. What I didn’t expect was the return of Robert Sacre or Chris Mihm?

If you are forced to check Laker history for the names just mentioned you might have a general understanding where I’m headed with this explanation. This might be media driven however there is talk in free agency or a trade the Lakers are exploring at replacing Ayton. This statement is made despite the fact he is signed for a second season. For this member of Laker Nation it actually pains me to write these words, not because I’ve turned out to be incorrect on the acquisition of Ayton. The chief issue the Lakers have not resolved a long standing issue related to post play. In this instance I hope to be proven wrong, hopefully Ayton returns revitalized and ready to play as he did in October and November. Even if the outcome differs from what I expected, I know I can’t avoid facing reality. 

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

It’s difficult

I could name about 25 things I am vitally interested in, these “things” are exciting to me and important. Due to this fact writing about them becomes easy, as someone once wrote “It’s a labor of love.” As for the annual NBA All Star game it’s become passe for me, it no longer holds the interest it once did. After years of tinkering with the product to make it better I’m unsure at this point if I enjoyed the game. The Saturday night events (slam dunk, 3-pt shootout & other proceedings) always draw my attention. The Sunday game could easily be skipped and it has been for the past several years. This self-confused NBA fan has avoided watching the game but apparently others have as well. If that were not the case why the continuous changes. With the new format in place I decided for the first time in a while to view the game, several players stood out due to the competitive nature they exhibited during the games.

As you are aware Team Stars won 47-21 over Team Stripes. The game MVP Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard are three that come to mind who were playing at a high skill level. Prior to the start I was quite anxious to see Team World in action. Many in the media have claimed the world is catching up to American talent in the NBA. Well that might be true but it wasn’t evident Sunday, Team World lost first to Team Stars 37-35 in OT. Later Team World lost the match against Team Stripes 48-45. For anyone reading this claiming I am downplaying the results Team World provided that is not the case. As for the round-robin style of the games it was an improvement over years past. Several in the media who get paid are voicing praise for this new effort by the NBA, I don’t get paid and I wasn’t impressed.

New Sheriff(s) in town

The Big 12 Men’s Conference might be the best in the nation. Last season it was the SEC which was best in my opinion, many of the SEC members found themselves in the Top 25. This season it is different the Big 12 is the best, with Iowa State’s win over Houston check out the latest standings. We find Houston at the top with an 11-2 record, Arizona is 10-2, Iowa State is 10-3. They are followed by Kansas and Texas Tech both with 9-3 records. It’s okay, those in Jayhawk Nation who are rabid fans I believe you are prepared for the change.

The days of winning the Big 12 regular season conference 10 or so years consecutively are over. It’s not that Bill Self has forgotten how to coach or that the school fails to attract the best talent change is evident. NIL and the transfer portal have affected the Kansas program significantly. The other change is the conference adding competitive teams recently, as an example, Houston (2023) and Arizona (2024) should be of note. As for many of the other schools they have added coaches who hit the ground running, they want to win and the prospect of playing in Allen Fieldhouse no longer has the dread it once did. Am I disrespecting Kansas basketball and Bill Self, I say NO…Kansas will remain competitive however they must deal with the new sheriff(s) in town. 

Hall of Fame

There are numerous hall of fames across the nation, the focus here is only two. They are the Naismith Hall of Fame which is located in Springfield Massachusetts and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City Missouri. The older of the two is Naismith, which opened its doors February 17, 1968, however it failed to remain in its original location. In 1985 a new, larger arena opened where it stands at the present time, its located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue. Unlike the building in Kansas City Naismith honors those who played in the NBA, college and international athletes along with a number of teams and individuals. Those named have played a vital role in the growth of the game in this nation and world-wide. There are names we’d expect to find there such as Dr. James A. Naismith the inventor of basketball, on the other hand there are names which might surprise.

Amos Alonzo Stagg a name associated with the founding of the NFL however he’s been enshrined. In addition to him, Charles ‘Chuck’ Taylor, shoe salesman. He didn’t invent the Converse Chuck Taylor but was involved in the development of the shoe. For years that would be the shoe worn by Olympic basketball players along with numerous colleges and NBA teams. The College Basketball Hall of Fame is fairly new having first opened in October 2007. Unlike Naismith the college hall contains only coaches, individuals, players and teams contributing at the collegiate level. There are a few individuals that have been enshrined in both such as Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson. The hall of fame is located at 1401 Grand Blvd, Kansas City MO 64106. The operating hours are subject to change, based on that fact it’s not being provided. If you plan on visiting either location it might be good to check hours prior to scheduling your visit.

Looking ahead

If this account appears similar to others you’ve read in this blog chances it is, I have been a cheerleader for the future of the NBA. Sure there are problems and issues to be resolved, however, just looking at the association from a talent standpoint it is exciting. The talent on display currently and the that which might arrive in the near future are the basis for my enthusiasm. Who are they, well there is Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, up the road in Texas we have Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks. On the east coach there is Kon Knueppel Charlotte Hornets, out west we have Ace Bailey Utah Jazz guard and VJ Edgecomb Philadelphia 76ers.

We have Cedric Coward Memphis Grizzlies and Derik Queen New Orleans Pelicans. At this point I’m going to stop and make this statement, the names mentioned represent just a sample of the rookie talent that’s arrived in the 2025 NBA draft. We haven’t begun to discuss the pending 2026 draft yet, it also contains potential future NBA talent. One name, AJ Dybansta at BYU who appears to lead the way. The only reason I’m placing him in front of Darryn Peterson is because of the continuing leg injuries he’s suffered while at Kansas. I must list Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kingston Flemings at Houston in the conversation as well. Keep in mind it’s difficult for me and the people who get paid to analyze talent, despite that fact I believe there is a miniscule degree of insight on my part.