Basketball from a fans perspective
West Coast Basketball
For years we’ve heard complaints regarding west coast basketball. Usually any talk regarding west coast basketball began and ended with UCLA, we know different after Monday evening. I have long held the belief evening west coast games don’t begin until 9:00 or 10:00 pm in the Central and Eastern Time Zones. We don’t have a great deal of opportunity to see teams play unless they venture east and play in those aforementioned time zones. Of course the NCAA Tournament always affords us an opportunity to see west coast teams in action.
Interesting we make no assumptions regarding other portions of the country and the talent and depth of their teams. Gonzaga located in Spokane (WA) gave North Carolina all they could handle losing 71-65. The Bulldogs came up short but it certainly had nothing to do with heart they had plenty of that. 37-2 is outstanding and consider one of those two losses occurred as you are battling for the NCAA Championship. We realize Coach Mark Few and his team will have a difficult time getting over this loss, they have nothing to be ashamed of they laid it all on the line.
Coach Roy
The Carolina Tarheels and Coach Roy are to be congratulated, this was Roy Williams third NCAA Championship. The 2016-17 college season now comes to an end, its over far too soon for Larry Laker, there were so many outstanding games ands players. Mizzou suffered again on the court this fan still managed to enjoy the college season. 10-9-8-7-6, we begin the countdown to college players beginning practice and teams host Midnight Madness in preparation for the 2017-2018 season.
“How Ya like me now”
In 1987 hip hop artist Kool Moe Dee recorded a tune titled “How ya like me now“. He wouldn’t do it but I could see Dana Altman asking the question now. Oregon was eliminated in the semi-finals which makes a statement about west coast basketball. See Dana Altman Oregon coach was served as head coach at Kansas State for four years (’90--’94). It seemed Altman was always on the hot seat with students, fans and the alumni.
Far too many years have passed and I’m unsure if he couldn’t beat arch rival Kansas or something else always had him in hot water with the masses. When the opportunity came he left for Creighton in 1994 and remained at the school for the next 16 years. His teams became winners in the Missouri Valley Conference and when he departed for Oregon he left behind a 327-176 (.650) record. Altman’s lowest win total was his first year his team won 21 games. Last year his 31-7 team made it to the Elite Eight this year the 33-5 Ducks made the final four. The fortunes of Kansas State basketball have been up and down since Altman left I wonder how they feel about him now.
How about the other guys
A number of folks told me I wasn’t too nice to Bill Self and his tournament career record. They said; “Why don’t you discuss the other guys?” Okay I think I can do that, we might lead off with Jim Boeheim long-time Syracuse coach. Boeheim is the dean of college coaches about to retire however he‘s got but a single NCAA Championship (2003) on his resume. Right behind Boeheim is John Calipari; he’s also only one NCAA Championship (2012) in all the years he coached.
Perhaps the numbers of former players (45) drafted in the NBA gives Calipari a pass by the media and some fans. Tubby Smith teams have won over 500 games but he also has only the 1998 tournament win to his credit. We could also include Steve Fisher at San Diego State in our count with one (1989). As for the others Jay Wright (Villanova) and Kevin Ollie (UConn) have one championship but certainly have not served as head coach the length of time many of the others. For those who criticized my Self account I could just as easily substituted Boeheim’s or Calipari for that matter.
