Back in November
I had no idea I’d be watching UConn play Kentucky for the NCAA Championship tonight. As for Connecticut the school had come from back in the pack, as for Kentucky they were the pre-season number one team. During the regular season Kentucky failed to live up to expectations as most believed.  As they say “all that’s required is to win six games in a row.” Wichita State won their first 35 games so six in a row no bid deal---right? That’s the beauty of this tournament, we make all sorts of predictions and the athletes blow them up.

All the coaches deserve congratulations but I believe Kevin Ollie deserves the largest shout-out. I think Ollie out-coached Billy Donovan which certainly surprised this basketball fan. Its funny listening to sport media comments, a local sports radio host informed us John Calipari “wasn’t a very good X and O coach.” All I can say is Calipari may not be that good but he knows how to win. What you think of my comment Mr. Radio Guy? It’s my belief Calipari is more than just a recruiter.

I’m disappointed
Bad behavior cannot be tolerated at any level even for my favorite team. Mizzou made the news recently and it was for the wrong reasons. It had nothing to do with action on the basketball court; it will be resolved in the criminal court. Zac Price 6-10 250 pound center was arrested twice in one day by the Columbia (MO) Police. Price is yet to suit up for a game having transferred from Louisville and sitting out the season. Price had an altercation with a roommate on two separate occasions thus two arrests. It’s always been my belief athletes are held to a higher behavioral standard than a schools student body.

Athletes are visible to the public more so than the general student body any criminal activity reflects poorly on the university, the athletic department and the coaching staff. This might appear unfair and it is to a degree, a non athlete may have rated a small byline in the Columbia Tribune. Most likely the incident wouldn’t rate a headline in the Kansas City Star or St. Louis Post-Dispatch. An altercation of this type would not be reported on the 10:00 p.m. news. Coach Haith acted immediately and decisively suspending Price indefinitely. It’s my belief if Price is criminally charged Mizzou should revoke his scholarship and expel him.

Training Ground
Tulsa University has become training ground for a number of basketball coaches. Several present day and former coaches “cut their teeth” at this Oklahoma school and moved on to other more lucrative positions. A common theme exists among the as well, several have won NCAA Championships. This is a short list of successful coaches who once called Tulsa home. Nolan Richardson was a successful coach at Arkansas but received his first head coaching responsibility at Tulsa. Richardson won an NCAA Championship while coaching Arkansas. Tubby Smith is now coaching at Texas Tech; Smith had a couple of stops before landing at Kentucky.

Smith won an NCAA Championship while coaching at Kentucky. Bill Self made at stop at Tulsa and later moved to Illinois. He would later be hired at Kansas where he also won an NCAA Championship. Doug Wojcik coached at Tulsa for seven years before he was hired at College of Charleston. Wojcik was replaced by Danny Manning who is leaving after a brief two years, Manning is headed to coach at ACC Wake Forest. Its unfortunate Tulsa is unable to maintain long-term relationships with most of the basketball coaches the school hires. Even when the hire is complete they might be looking over their shoulder fearing another school might swoop in and hire “their” coach.

Bits n Pieces
A term has come into broadcast usage in recent years, it’s the Euro step. My belief was incorrect I believed Manu Ginobili was responsible. * “Developed in European basketball, the move is generally accepted to have been brought to the NBA by Lithuanian Sarunas Marciulionis, and was popularized in North America by Manu Ginobili, an Argentine who arrived in the NBA from the Italian league. It has since been adopted by many American-born players, among them James Harden, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo, as well as Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic. Noted college coach John Calipari is also known for teaching the move; among his former players who frequently use the move in the NBA are Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose, and John Wall.“ *Wikipedia

In January I was viewing a high school game on ESPN and one of the players’ dives on the floor for a loose ball. The problem he’s sliding while grasping the ball which I’ve often believed to be traveling. I’m not picking on this youngster because I’ve noticed it sometimes occurs in college games and the NBA. Officials continue to whistle travels but sometimes sliding is ignored, it’s just me I suppose.

The NBA needs to conduct an investigation; I believe there is no other professional sport where a team might become better by becoming worst. That’s what “tanking.” is all about. The NBA team is losing games on purpose, losing to increase their draft position. That has become the case for the Philadelphia 76ers, the last time this team won a game was in January, we are days short of April. I don’t believe the coach nor the players are pleased losing games, this is strictly a front-office decision.

The Celtics Danny Ainge said, “There are no game-changers but several nice players.” I’ve got news for Ainge; it’s been quite awhile since a collegiate player arrived in the NBA and managed to turn his team around. Off the top of my head I believe Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and Shaquille O’Neal might be the only two that come to mind. I wonder what Ainge’s definition of game changer, a 10 or 20 game improvement over the prior season?

I like CBS “farming” out games to cable networks, Tru TV, TBSand TNT. This type of telecast gave us the opportunity to choose the game or games of our choice. Remember back in the “old days,” you lived in California you may have been forced to miss your favorite team because the game wasn’t available in your area.