There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker

I’ve decided to attend----hey where am I going?
Carlton Bragg has made his choice, the 6-9 220 pound forward is headed to Kentucky or possibly Kansas. Bragg is 5-star prospect from Cleveland Ohio and ranked the number 14 prospect in the Class of 2015 by Rivals. Among the schools contending for Bragg’s services were Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Arizona and UCLA. He may have been nervous at his press conference or it may have been a Freudian slip when he announced which school he’d chosen. He placed a KU cap on his head and announced he was headed to Kentucky. Realizing his mistake Bragg indicated Kansas was his school of choice. Here his original statement Coach Cal?

They fooled me again
I realize it’s still early but I once wrote Kansas would face stiff competition this season. Well so far I’m dead wrong, after touting the supposed strength of the Big 12 Kansas is at the top. TCU undefeated at one time has three losses all in conference play; Texas is 1-2 along with Baylor. Kansas State which has struggled upset Top 25 Oklahoma.  As for the others Iowa State and West Virginia (at least now) appear to be the main threat to Kansas securing another Big 12 Championship.

The continued running of the table by Kansas over the years is testimony of Bill Self’s coaching and infusion of 5-star talent during this time.  Only UCLA in the Alcindor/Walton/Wilkes day may have dominated a conference in a similar manner. I will wait and see how the conference race plays out, perhaps one of the teams I’ve overlooked may rise to the forefront although I have serious doubts. 

New names
Last week I wrote of former players who were put forth an effort to become team owners. Recently NBA TV analyst Grant Hill announced he’s part of an ownership group attempting to purchase the Hawks. In addition Hill indicated Junior Bridgeman who was profiled last year is also part of the group. After retiring from the NBA Bridgeman became an entrepreneur in a variety of businesses. What’s an unknown at this point is if former Hawks player Dominique Wilkins is part of this group.

Expectations
Expectations for big men are greater than guards and small forward, which is the case for Keanau Post. Post a 6-11 270 pound center had a break-out game last Thursday against LSU. To state he plays for Mizzou might be somewhat of an exaggeration as he played sparingly last season under departed Coach Frank Haith. Post arrived in Columbia from Southwestern Illinois a junior college. The change in coaches brought no change in his playing status that is until LSU.

His 2.5 ppg average went up to 12 points, 2.7 rebounds increased to 7. This was not just an offensive effort by Post he also blocked 3 LSU shots. What I discovered most interesting his numbers against LSU are nearly identical to his Southwestern numbers. My expectations for him were not that high last season coming from junior college. Coach Kim Anderson has continued to praise the effort of Post although he was playing limited minutes. Post is certainly not headed to the NBA but might see more action in Mizzou’s front court.

Sad news
Over the weekend it was announced Roy Tarpley had died, he was only 50 years of age. His name might be unfamiliar to many of you he’s been out of the NBA and the spotlight for several years. The high point of his brief career might be 1986 when the 6-11 230 pound forward/center was chosen Sixth Man of the Year. From that point on his playing career had a number of starts and stops. Tarpley’s talent ceiling was unlimited however alcohol addition led to the downfall of his NBA career.

In 1994 Tarpley would receive a lifetime ban based on alcohol and a court-mandated aftercare program. To my knowledge one of only two men to receive this penalty. Tarpley continued to play the game in Europe, China and minor league teams in the US with success but never returned to the NBA. He played for the Michigan Mayhem (CBA) in 2005-06 in his last year. We can only look at his early career and say if only he‘d been stronger. It’s not just the Roy Tarpley’s of the world we could make the same statement about the stockbroker or educator or anyone who succumbs to addition whatever the drug.

Its easy right?
We’ve been hearing the same chatter since the beginning of the college basketball season. “Will (can) Kentucky go through the season undefeated?” You think it’s gonna be easy, all that’s necessary they need to win their next 16 SEC conference games. Then the SEC tourney and finally the NCAA tourney, its easy right? If you had an opportunity to view the Kentucky-Ole Miss game you saw the Wildcats were forced into overtime at home before winning their match 89-86. As this is written Texas A&M is giving the Wildcats fits but finally prevailed in overtime 70-64. See how easy it is for Kentucky to go through the balance of the season undefeated.