Basketball from a fans perspective

The Flood
We all believed Ben Simmons was one n done at LSU; there were others on the periphery such as Kris Dunn of Providence and Cheick Diallo at Kansas.  These two declared they were leaving for the NBA as for the others the trickle has become a flood as an increasing number of players announce their intentions.

I’m making no attempt to provide a complete list for fear of over looking a prospect.  It appears the majority have not hired an agent, hiring an agent the player is saying good-by to college.  Its likely most desire an assessment, by working out for an NBA team they are able to determine their draft status.  As for the numbers Coach Cal indicates his entire Kentucky roster is headed for NBA tryouts.

This is different
Sophomore Tyler Ulis was selected to the Associated Press All-American First Team.  In this day of one n done athletes the Kentucky point guard was the only underclassmen on the first team, the other honorees are seniors.  Is this proof of a down year in college basketball or did most of the talent lie with a senior class? You can draw your own conclusions as for the others they are; Denzel Valentine-Michigan State, Buddy Hield-Oklahoma, Brice Johnson-North Carolina and Malcolm Brogdon-Virginia.

What’s in a name
I know it’s just me but I’ve always expected a team mascot to be a scary something.  It would be a beast so terrifying the opposing team is in fear and is defeated mentally prior to walking onto the court.  Okay that’s an exaggeration but I hope you get the point.  The Jackrabbits of South Dakota State don’t sound very intimidating, how about the University of Missouri Kansas City Kangaroos. Okay we’ve read stories of boxing kangaroos so I’ll leave that one alone.  The dictionary definition states a terrapin is “a freshwater turtle especially one of the smaller kinds of the old world.”

In other words we should have no fear of the Maryland Terrapins because they are little animals. Anteaters not intimidating for you notify the UC-Irvine Anteaters.  The Delaware Blue Hens I guess chickens could be a threat unless they are at KFC or Popeye’s.  Creighton’s had a number of successful teams despite being the Bluejays, an eagle or hawk scary a blue jay?  We could make the same statement regarding Oregon Ducks.  Those are just a few that stand out perhaps you can add others.  Of course there are plenty of scary bears, lions, cougars, wolves and the like.

Is location that important
ESPN’s Mike Wilbon was discussing NBA free agency recently.  He stated; “Cleveland is not going to be a destination for free-agents they will go where the climate is mild.”  His list contained the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Suns and Warriors as possible destinations for free-agents.  I wonder if Wilbon’s view is correct for a number of reasons.

Greg Monroe left the Pistons for the Bucks despite the Lakers had bid for his services.  That tosses Wilbon’s observation completely out of the window, he exchanged the cold winters of Detroit for the cold winters of Wisconsin when he could have had Southern California.  At the same time the Knicks have not attracted any quality free agents either so the cold winters of New York might be a key reason.  Then again it could be neither the Knicks or Lakers are very good right now one warm weather and one cold weather team.