This is proof I have no life

Saturday afternoon I watched Mizzou beat Texas Tech, late afternoon I witnessed Colorado State upset 13th ranked San Diego State. I was able to switch channels and catch the last 4:00 minutes of the Missouri State-Northern Iowa game. I then finished the day by watching my Lakers face the Bucks Saturday evening. That's four games in one sitting, I do need to explain I did exercise myself by rising from the couch on occasion.

He's good

Now that I have been "fired" from my scouting position allow me to fill you in. I've been watching Wolves games on League Pass, my memory says the only time I watch the Wolves were games against the Lakers. I didn't watch them last year with Mr. Double Double Kevin Love on the scene. I'm watching them now to access the progress of Ricky Rubio. His field goal percentage is not particularly high but time in the league it will improve. The other areas are good for a rookie. Rubio is dishing out close to 9 assists a game. He hits the boards as well, the 5 rebounds a game prove that. In addition he's proved quite adept with 3 steals a game. Rubio is averaging close to 11 points a game with a field goal percentage of .386. Last Wednesday against the Mavs Rubio's numbers were 12 assists, 4 steals, 7 rebounds and 17 points. scored. If you mention Rubio had 7 turnovers in that game, you are correct however veteran Kobe Bryant had the same number of turnover's in his game.

NBA Draft 2012
I thought it most interesting the two mock draft sites I routinely follow contained the name of two Mizzou players. I'm always pleasantly surprised when the site(s) profile Mizzou players as possible draft choices. A number of good players have come through the program over the years but few have been successful in the NBA. Draftexpress.com has Ricardo Ratliff as it's 42nd pick in the second round. NBA Draftnet.net has Ratliff at 46 in the second round, Marcus Denmon is the 50th pick in the second round of draftexpress.com. I don't know if one or both get drafted however it's interesting to speculate. Prior to the start of the 2009 season no Mizzou players were listed on either of these sites. Small forward DeMarre Carroll was probably an unknown name nationally, hard work during his senior year landed Carroll on one of the sites. Sure enough Carroll would be drafted by the Grizzlies, he is now in his second year with the Nuggets. Maybe lighting will strike again and one or both make an NBA roster.

Patience is required

Upfront I admit I am sometimes impatient, there are times when patience is required. Patient is required in building or restoring a team to the height it once held. That is the case with the University of Indiana basketball program. I've heard it takes a new coach at least four years of recruiting for a team to regain a measure of success. Often in this microwave society new coaches are not allowed even two years. It's great that the administration was willing to allow Tom Crean to recruit and implement his system. Coach Tom Crean is now in his fourth year and Indiana basketball is just now returning to a point of prominence. The Bobby Knight days are over, there is far too much competition for an Indiana to run over member Big 10 schools. Crean inherited a program that was pretty much in shambles after Kelviin Sampson was asked to leave. That first year Indiana was 6-25 and for the next two years his teams would finish below .500. It appears his coaching effort has been partially resolved, Indiana this year is currently 16-5. Reviewing the mess Crean inherited I guess I (along with other Mizzou fans) owe Mike Anderson a thank you. Not thanking him for leaving but the cupboard was not bare when Frank Haith came on board. I've come to the realization a major portion of Mizzou's success this season lies with the coach no longer on the scene---Mike Anderson.

Could it be

I certainly don't consider myself superstitious you know the black cat thing, number 13. A pitcher has a no-hitter working but no one says anything for fear of a batter getting a hit and breaking up the no-hitter. I dunno in the case of the athlete maybe being spotlighted might cause the person greater anxiety than normal. That could be the case but in any event I'm laying story before you. Steve Johnson (former Kansas City King) when at Oregon State set a field goal record which has stood for 31 years. Johnson's field goal setting record was 74.6%, no one over the course of a season has been close until now. "For years, Johnson believed his 74.6 percent shooting from his senior season was almost unmatchable in today's college basketball. Then he went home, scoured the internet, scoured the internet and learned that 6-8 Missouri senior Ricardo Ratliffe is shooting a blistering 77.2% this season." Ratliffe has six more weeks so there is no guarantee the record will be broken but it's fun watching the possibility of history in the making. (Yahoo Sports)