Basketball from a fans perspective
It’s likely to occur again
Dana O’Neal of ESPN.com wrote last month: “Thon Maker has taken an unconventional path to the NBA Draft. It just might work.” The O’Neal account was written prior to the June 23 and we know the outcome. The forecast by most mock drafts indicated Maker would be a late first round or early second round pick. The Bucks selected Maker with the number 10 pick. His approach created waves because he won a “stare down” with the NBA. You know the rules regarding high school entrance into the league and I am sure Maker’s guardian was fully aware.
We cannot be sure but I question if that might have been the plan all along for Maker to head for the NBA. The NBA could have said NO but the evidence in front of them indicated Maker was qualified to have his name placed among the eligible. The tidal wave might have already begun, Terrance Ferguson number 14 prospect in the Class of 2016 is headed to Australia to play professional basketball. In the case of Ferguson there may have been problems qualifying for college entry. The high school he attended in Dallas has come under scrutiny by the NCAA for its academics.
A little unusual
I was a little surprised by the news, not that Amar’e Stoudemire was retiring the other thing. After 14 years in the NBA the power forward call it quits. The surprise he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Knick. I checked out his resume and by all indications his best years were spent with the Suns. Scoring average 26.0 in the 2004-05 season, rebounding average for the 6-10 Stoudemire was 9.6 in 2006-07.
Stoudermire’s highest field goal percentage .590 was produced in 2007-08 where would you guess he played? I could go on however I hope you get the idea his best years were spent as a member of the Suns. Don’t misunderstand Stoudemire spent five relatively productive years with the Knicks but nothing close to his numbers with the Suns. I’m guessing there must be a financial reward for him to retire a Knick, he spent the 2015-16 season a member of the Heat. Just my thoughts what do you think?
The key
What do you suppose is the key to a winning basketball program? The belief there are at least three keys the coach, the program and tradition. Prospects have de-committed from a school after a coach has been fired or left for another school. The program; Kentucky under Calipari especially has become a ticket to the NBA.
Those desiring an NBA future might be lured to Lexington strictly due to a possible NBA future. Can a successful program become a lure to a prospect? North Carolina, Duke and Kansas are always in the headlines because they are winning programs. These schools and several others are always primed for a NCAA Championship run. An established tradition, “We are winners” is the mantra of a number of programs throughout the nation.
An old building
Cameron Indoor Stadium home of Duke is one of the oldest college basketball arenas in continuous use. Cameron opened in 1940 was renovated in 1988 and now seats 9,314 students, alum and fans. From the outside an observer unfamiliar with the campus might mistake the building for an administrative one. Other than a sign outside reading; “Cameron Indoor Stadium” a campus visitor might have no idea of the building’s purpose.
On television court side seating appears inches from the basketball court, is an advantage for Duke players we might suppose? It’s more than that; it’s Coach K. and his staff’s ability to recruit the best talent in the nation. In addition the term student-athlete actually has meaning at Durham North Carolina. You think Cameron is old it’s youthful by comparison to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Home to the Butler Bulldogs Hinkle opened in 1928 and is a US Historical Landmark.
