I warned you in advance 
Consider what I wrote on Friday regarding the Bucknell-Mizzou game; “hope you don’t think the game tomorrow against Bucknell is easy, guess again. ESPN’s Myron Metcalf lists Bucknell as his number 4 team in his Top 15 Mid-Majors (I hate the Mid-Major term).” Mizzou won a tough 66-64 match, for a time I thought the 73 non-conference home game winning streak might be in jeopardy. Conference play for Mizzou begins on Tuesday when Alabama comes to town.

He returns, again and again!
The above title sounds as though it might be the storyline from some horror film. On second thought it’s not a film but might be just as horrific for Jim Buss. Jimmy if you remember is the son entrusted with running the Laker franchise. I’m unsure where he is in the pecking order of children but Dr. Jerry dubbed him to be the leader. I’m unsure where or how his problem with Phil Jackson first started but it’s certainly not news the younger Buss has issues with PJ. Ill feelings don’t run throughout the Buss family, sister Jeannie Buss has been dating PJ since 1995. Late last year at the time Mike Brown was fired the entire world thought PJ was headed back to the helm of the Lakers. Everyone thought PJ would be the replacement with the exception of Jimmy. You know the remainder of the story Mike D’Antoni was hire instead. Try as he might Jimmy is not going to keep PJ out of the family, Christmas PJ proposed to Jeannie and gave her a ring. Photos of the ring are on the net for those who might chose to check it out. No wedding date has been set yet however the Lakers executive vice-president and PJ will become man and wife. Like me do you wonder if Jimmy will attend the wedding? I think this is a first-class comedy.

Twins
I turned on the Nets-Celtics game late, the reserves were playing. I noticed Jason Collins on the floor for the Celtics and wondered, “How many twins have played in the NBA?"  There have been a number of brothers, cousins etc. to play in the NBA but few sets of twins. Jason’s brother Jaron is no longer in the NBA both twins are 7 footers. Robin and Brook Lopez are also 7 footers, Robin plays for the Suns and Brook for the Nets. Unlike most of our twins the Grants Harvey and Horace began play at the same school but didn’t finish together. Both had careers in the NBA although we can state Horace had the more successful career. Horace played on several Bulls championship teams and won a ring with the Lakers. We also have the Rockets Marcus Morris and his twin Suns player Markieff. Joey and Stephen Graham are no longer in the NBA although the twins played with several teams. The first twins to play in the NBA might have been the Van Arsdale’s 6-5 guards, Tom and Dick played in the ‘60-‘70’. The Harrison twins recently committed to Kentucky, we have no idea if they will make the NBA but it’s possible they could be the next twins.

Playin’ catch up
For the most part NBA half-time programming provides me little if any information, as for others it must be important. My usual habit is to check the time channel surf and return at a point I think the second half might begin. The importance of half-time, we can come to this conclusion based on continued tweaking of the ESPN/ABC broadcasts. It’s apparent the ESPN/ABC crew continues to rank behind TNT in audience numbers. TNT added Shaquille O’Neal last season to their mix of personalities. Ernie Johnson serves as moderator of this crew, on board as analysts are Kenny “The Jet” Smith the often irreverent Charles Barkley and Shaq. This mix of personalities especially Barkley has contributed to the success of the TNT NBA broadcasts. Just in case you might have missed this Barkley won a Sports Emmy this past May. Back to the story, ESPN continues to change its cast of characters; Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose have joined Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon.

The pupil versus the teacher
Last year I wrote of 72-year old Larry Brown begging for a return to coaching. Brown was hired as the head coach at Southern Methodist University. I failed to detail his pupil Danny Manning was hired at Tulsa University. Manning served as an assistant coach on Bill Self’s staff at Kansas for several years. The history, Larry Brown coaching the 1988 Kansas Jayhawks won the NCAA Championship. Brown’s star player was Danny Manning; the team had few outstanding athletes with the exception of Manning. In fact the team was nicknamed “Danny and the Miracles” due to their improbable run through the field of teams in 1988. The pupil and teacher faced each other for the first time with both teams’ members of Conference USA. I didn’t know much about either team, I was more familiar with both coaches. Manning’s Tulsa team raced out to a commanding 17-point half-time lead 34-17. The second half of the game was a completely different story. The missed SMU shots of the first half found there way into the hoop the second half of the game. Tulsa held on by their fingernails winning 48-47. This is going to be a very interesting rivalry.