There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
Congratulations
In a hotly contested championship game the Duke Blue Devils were able to eclipse the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63. Leading the way for the winners was Tyus Jones 23 points and reserve guard Grayson Allen 16 points. This provides an interesting commentary based on comments I heard on Saturday. It was mentioned “Wisconsin’s seniors had beaten Kentucky’s freshman.”
I’m curious about their remarks now since freshman Jones and Allen led the way to this victory. Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were hampered by foul trouble however they combined for 21 important points. Did I fail to mention the latter two are also freshmen? Wisconsin and their fans are disappointed and it’s a shame one of these teams had to lose. One more bit of information this is Coach K‘s 5th NCAA Championship.
The world’s tallest__________
You can fill in the blank; it could be NBA player on the other hand it could be a corporate career. The world is aware of Elhadji Serigne Tacko Diop Fall, nicknamed Tacko. This 7-6 300 pound giant plays for Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Tavares Florida. Tavares is some 50 minutes northwest of Orlando. The youngster committed last November to the University of Central Florida and is headed there in August. Fall was born in the West African nation of Senegal but moved to the U.S. at the age of 16. He might not be headed to the NBA however with a 4.0 grade point average he might become the world’s tallest engineer or bio-chemist.
Off to the NBA
I provided my perspective on several Kansas players I believed would benefit from remaining in college and enhancing their game. One of those named who thumbed his nose at me was Kelly Oubre Jr. as he declared for the 2015 NBA Draft. I must admit I didn’t see every game he played however those I did I witness he was very hot or very cold all season. There were games the 6-7 Oubre Jr. resembled any present NBA player you might named. There were other games where he appeared nonchalant on the court, offensively and defensively. The most recent example might be a defensive lapse during the Kansas-Wichita State game. Oubre Jr. and Wichita State’s Zach Brown were scrambling to reach a loose ball.
I certainly cannot fault Oubre for Brown beating him to the ball however once Oubre Jr. realized he’d been beaten to the ball he appeared to give up on the play. He allowed Brown to race down the court for an uncontested slam. I once heard someone say; “The NBA drafts on potential” and perhaps that’s the case here. We have all witnessed athletes leaving school early and then are not prepared for the rigors of NBA life despite their perceptions. In 2011 I wrote “it would be a mistake for Kyrie Irving to leave Duke after only an 11 game injury-filled freshman year.” Wonder how Irving turned out? Just kiddin’ Irving would go on to become 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year which proves how much insight I have.
New hire
Alabama hired former NBA Coach Avery Johnson. The news might not be as surprising as you might believe. We heard his name mentioned last week surrounding the Texas job who would hire Shaka Smart late of VCU. Former Baylor Coach Dave Bliss was hired at NAIA Southwestern Christian University located in metro Oklahoma City. Bliss was under a 10 year show cause penalty by the NCAA. In order to obtain an NCAA job he must receive an ok from that organization.
The first time ever
Has the University of Missouri-Kansas City basketball program at long last turned the page toward success? The move from the NAIA level to Division I have been rather bumpy over the years. The team struggled through a succession of conference changes coaches and athletic directors. In addition games were moved from Municipal Auditorium to the campus and back to Municipal. The move to a new conference (Western Athletic) also came with hiring Coach Kareem Richardson last season. In the coaches second year UMKC finished with a 14-19 record and 8-6 second place finish. The school even managed to beat Mizzou for the first time in their history.
On March 31 came news the school had its first All American selection in basketball.
Actually it was an honorable mention however it remains the first time UMKC has received any type of national recognition since 1994. UMKC guard Martez Harrison led the WAC in scoring with a 17.5 ppg average and also led the league in steals (60) and assists (129). Harrison was key to the team’s success in the second half of the 2014-15 season. In 1994 Tony Dumas became the first and to date the only UMKC player to be drafted in the NBA. The Mavs made Dumas the number 19 pick in the first round of the draft.
