Basketball from a fans perspective

Is there an issue?
Over the weekend a story broke concerning LSU’s Ben Simmons, he was declared ineligible for the John Wooden award due to academics.  I believe a student attends an institution of higher education with the intent to graduate.  In this sports-driven society that view is not reality, a significant number of athletes attend college with the intent of an NFL or NBA career.  If I read or hear stories similar to Simmons they don’t upset me.  That’s not to say I don’t expect decent behavior I do no drinking, drugs or misbehaving, that outlook applies to non-athletes as well.  

I heard one respondent state; “They need to change the rules.”  My question is why; the rules clearly state an athlete must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to be eligible for the award.  Why should we even be concerned about this exclusion, the grade issue and the Wooden award are just blips on Simmons bio.  If Simmons should go on to a successful NBA career this time next year no one (including me) will remember the Wooden award issue.

Is he worth it?
This is an admission up front I haven’t seen a great number of Hassan Whiteside’s games. If we just check the numbers they are outstanding for a Big Man in this day of “small-ball.” SI.com’s Rob Mahoney (whom I respect) questions the validity of paying Whiteside $20 million dollars this summer when he becomes a free agent.  Mahoney claims Whiteside has a number of defensive decencies and questions if teams will overlook them.  With Wade and Bosh (out now) Whiteside has become the third option offensively but they don’t require him to score (13.2 ppg).

As for the balance of his numbers, .614 field goal percentage, 11.7 rebounds and the league leader in blocked shots 3.90 per game.  Whiteside has set the Heat single game block shot record with 12 blocked shots.  He is an average free-throw (.607) shooter who could stand improvement at the line.  The defensive short-comings Mahoney points out are most likely legitimate.  As a general manager I would sign him realizing his game might not be as complete as I’d like, a good “Big Man” coach could tutor him in the areas of his shortcomings.

Please people
Bill Self wins the Big 12 every season; Self is a very successful coach.  Generally speaking Coach of the Year is awarded when your team exceeds expectations.  The Kansas Jayhawks were “stuck” in the middle of the season but were still winners.  The Texas Tech Red Raiders were 14-18 (6-12), 13-19 (3-15) and this year 19-11 (9-9) with one conference game remaining.  Tubby Smith inherited a team which had lost 20 games the year prior to his arrival; I believe he deserved to win the award.  I take this stand despite the commentary from much of the Kansas City sports media and fans.  Kansas City Star reporter Blair Kerkhoff didn’t agree with the masses stating the vote was correct from his position.

Next door
Former Mizzou coach Norm Stewart once asked about his team.  “We don’t get McDonald’s All-Americans but we eat at McDonald’s.”  Mizzou is never going to attract players to its program in a manner similar to next door neighbor Kansas.  The Jayhawks have a national and international footprint freshmen sometimes recruit themselves.  Mizzou has three players on the way this fall and they are awarded three stars by Rivals, can they become winners?  At this point I have no idea however two of the three have height which Mizzou downright needs.  A little interior defense wouldn’t hurt either.

There is 6-10 Mitchell Smith a skinny 195 pounds (can you say weight room).  Smith is from Van Buren Arkansas so he “escaped” from Mike Richardson and his Arkansas Razorbacks.  Also arriving is Reed Nikko 6-9 and also light at 210 pounds, he’s from Maple Grove a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul.  From the Buckeye State Cleveland to be precise is Willie Jackson a 6-6 215 pound small forward.  I once held an argument with a Mizzou fan who was upset with the recruiting.  Jack’s view Mizzou should be recruiting more inside the state.  My counter point; “It’s six one way and ½ dozen another” the bottom line for me was and is winning.