Number 4 versus number 2

I made sure I was able to view the Duke-Ohio State game. The number 4 team and number 2 in the nation. Unfortunately (unless you are an Ohio State fan) the game was not played as expected. Ohio State totally man-handled Duke from start to finish, prior to the game I thought I might see an evenly matched game. Final score Ohio State 85 Duke 63

Missouri

An interesting bit of basketball news for the State of Missouri. For the first time in my memory St. Louis University and Mizzou are both listed in the AP's Top 25 Poll. The Billikens are #23 and the Mizzou Tigers are 13. Mizzou been in the polls at several different junctures over the years as for SLU they have been absent for several years. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the last time they were ranked in the AP poll was '93-'94. Both schools had identical 6-0 records before SLU lost last night to Loyola Marymount.  Note KU is #15, I can't remember the last time a Mizzou squad was ranked ahead of Kansas. My son says SLU Coach Rick Majerus has attempted to schedule Mizzou in past years but has been rebuffed by former coaches. Maybe Coach Haith might see the challenge differently and schedule SLU in the future. 

What to expect

I certainly have lowered expectations of this upcoming NBA season. The expectations are low because frankly I didn't think there would be a season. Plan A was to view as many NBA games as possible with the Lockout I went to Plan B, the college and high school. People who know me seem surprised when I informed them I was prepared to sit this one out, Plan B was in place. I still intend to maintain Plan B with minor adjustments, the adjustments include a possible subscription to NBA League Pass. If I just chose to view NBA games on ESPN or TNT I could save a ton of money, on the other hand I wouldn't be able to see all the Laker games which I could if I had League Pass. I'm debating this issue as I write, do I really want to pay additional dollars for NBA League Pass? It might sound like I'm unhappy but that's not the case I'm pleased a tentative settlement has been concluded. Is it possible the NBA landscape could change drastically as the league attempts to model itself after the NFL? Read between the lines, management won this one not the players. Will my Lakers led by Kobe and coached by Mike Brown have a championship run in them? Now that Carmelo is in place will the the Knicks acquire the one "missing" player many claim they need? Is Kevin Durant the real leader of the Thunder or is it Russell Westbrook? Are the Mavs a one-hit wonder or do they defend their NBA Championship? What about the "old" Spurs and Tim Duncan, will a shorten season allow them one last run? The Rose (Derrick) did not blossom in the playoffs, will he be able to lead the Bulls resurgence this upcoming season? I almost forgot, what should we expect of the Heatles after a full season of play? Will LeBron James imitate Michael Jordan in the fourth quarter of crucial playoff games instead of a David Copperfield illusion? Stay tuned, these and other questions will surely be answered in June 2012.

I just now realized
How good is Kentucky or rather how good will they be at season's end? Did you realize John Calipari started three freshman and two sophomores against KU? How does he always manage to attract so many high quality players? Scouts have indicated 6-10 Anthony Davis will possibly be the number one pick should he make himself eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft. Of note, nbadraft.net lists all five starters as potential lottery picks, Calipari recruits NBA players. A critic noted "not much teaching going on at Kentucky" which might be true. If you are a one-and-done player does it matter how much teaching (coaching) is going on?

An unfamiliar name
A 2011 inductee to the Collegiate Hall of Fame as a contributor was Eddie Einhorn. His name certainly is unknown to many but ESPN, Fox Sports and all existing sports networks owe him a debt of gratitude. Einhorn proved that college basketball could be broadcast on a national basis, up to 1968 national broadcasts did not exist. Once upon a time before satellite and cable there were few college games on television. There existed regional and local telecasts but nothing on a national scale Locally we had one (1) Big 8 game televised on Saturday afternoon that was it. March Madness or at least the thought of it was just a dream which would come much later in time. Oh sure the NCAA Championship was played every year but I am unable to remember a national televised game prior to 1968. Einhorn's TVS Network had been broadcasting regional games for several years when he decided to try something no one had done with college basketball a national telecast. In 1968 powerhouse UCLA was challenged in the national headlines by Elvin Hayes and his Houston Cougars team. The match between the two schools was played in the Houston Astrodome before more than 50,000 fans. This game was the first held in a domed stadium and was to set the stage for the future. Einhorn fashioned a network of independent and network stations across the nation the first nationally televised college game. Many consider that UCLA-Houston date the "Game of the Century" and the starting point for college basketball on television.

"I'd rather be a football coach. That way you can lose only 11 games a season. I lost 11 games in December alone!"

Abe Lemons former Oklahoma City coach