Basketball from a fans perspective

Does he have an NBA future?
The Anteaters of the University of California Irvine have a distinctive basketball player. His name Mamadou Ndiaye (mama doo--Inji) and he stands 7 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. He is the tallest NCAA player in the nation at present, the young man hails from the West African nation of Senegal. His numbers are really not impressive however he only began playing basketball less than 5 years ago.

Ndiaye is entering his junior year and is certainly no threat to leave for the NBA. Although his game has grown he’s not as skilled as others the question might be would an NBA team is willing to take a chance on him? It’s possible he could fill a niche as a backup or spot starter for an NBA team. On the other hand he might find employment in Europe or in the D-League.

Retired numbers
The Pistons will retire two numbers from their last NBA Championship team. 2004 was the year guard Chauncey Billups (1) and center Ben Wallace (3) were keys to the last Pistons championship, a ceremony will be held later in the season retiring the numbers. Current players Reggie Jackson and Stanley Johnson must choose new numbers as Jackson currently wears number 1 and Johnson number 3.

Its football
Anytime Auburn is mentioned in conversation even the casual sports fan first thinks football. That should not be uncommon since the university boosts one of the best football programs of all-time. As for basketball that might be a slightly different matter.  It’s not the fact the school has not competed it just seems students, alum and fans reflect the adage once expressed by the University of Texas.

There are two sports at Auburn fall football and spring football. I checked the coaching history, I didn’t realize prior to the Bruce Peal hire the last five Auburn basketball coaches have all been fired. Bruce Pearl might be “swimming with the sharks” in his second year at the helm. Does the Pearl hiring signal a change in the schools basketball fortunes? I think many hope that is the case.

Bits n Pieces
It’s always been my belief a person has allegiance to one sport faithfully or the other. I never believed collegiate basketball was competing with its football program. This isn’t 1953 the date Bear Bryant left Kentucky for Texas A&M, it was reported he didn’t like playing second fiddle to Adolph Rupp and Kentucky basketball. We know the rest of the story Bryant became a living legend later with Alabama football.

You might remember I wrote NBA League Pass has changed its subscription policy. The buyer can now subscribe to NBA Team Pass or NBA Single Game. Team Pass allows the buyer to see all games of his favorite team except those on TNT, ESPN or NBA TV. Blackout rules apply which might impact your decision. Single Game is self explanatory, no last minute purchases you must give three (3) days advance notice.

Wanna know Kobe Bryant’s age? Of course you know if it’s not in your memory a quick Google or ESPN search will provide the information. ESPN pointed to the fact Heat forward Justise Winslow was excited about his match up against Kobe. The network wrote “Winslow was seven months old when Kobe made his NBA debut in 1996“.

The Stags?
I believed (in error) only two NBA teams had Chicago across their road jerseys. I’d written about the expansion Packers who began play in the 1961-62 season. The following season they became the Zephyrs and left for Baltimore after the 1963 season. They became the Bullets, then the Capital Bullets and later the Washington Bullets. Former owner Abe Pollin concern about gun violence and bullets decided to change the name. A contest was held to change the name and in 1997 the Bullets became the Wizards.

Back to our original account regarding Chicago, the Stags were founded in 1946 as a Basketball Association of American team. In 1949 BAA teams would merge with the NBL thus becoming the National Basketball Association. The Stags held the draft rights to Bob Cousy although he never played for them. The franchise would fold in 1950 and Cousy along with others was placed in a pool to be drafted by other NBA teams. Cousy was selected by the Celtics and the rest of that story in NBA and Celtic history. It should be noted the Bulls have worn throw-back jerseys of the Stags on three occasions.