Basketball from a fans perspective
 
Anybody got a tape measure
Rookie point guard (?) Ben Simmons is yet to appear on an NBA court.  You remember the Sixer rookie suffered a Jones fracture which kept him sidelined for the 2016-17 NBA season. Simmons is listed as 6-10 however former Sixer World B. Free claims “He looks closer to seven feet.”  I don’t doubt the story Free relates I grew almost 2 inches after I turned 21 although I’m not six feet tall. As for next season with two healthy bodies in Joel Embiid and Simmons perhaps the Sixers will turn that corner many expect.  If Simmons is seven feel tall and if Brett Brown plays him at the point the Sixers might have the tallest starting lineup in the NBA next season.

Joel Embiid-center 7’0” or Jahlil Okafor 6’11”
Robert Covington-small forward 6‘9”
Dario Saric-power forward 6‘10”
Ben Simmons-point guard 7’0” (?)
Gerald Henderson-shooting guard 6‘5”

I’m no believer
Who you gonna believe me or Oscar Robertson?  Okay that was a dumb question, the Big O says he’s got no issue with Russell Westbrook breaking his triple-double record.  Robertson’s got no difficulty however Larry Laker remains on the other side---please convince me Westbrook.  I’m not the only one I read several emails calling Westbrook a “stat stuffer.”  A defender of Westbrook pointed out the Thunder have a higher winning percentage in the games Westbrook has triple-doubles than otherwise.  I’m always about the team and I pointed out the Thunder are not as good a team as last season.

How mature were you
At age 17 or 18 how adult was your decision making?  Probably varied and sometimes influenced by your peer group.  I know virtually nothing about Top 40 prospect Jeremiah Tilmon except he’s 6-10 and from East St. Louis.  As with many across the land the coaching change at Illinois has caused Tilmon to change his mind.  Several respondents to the news report didn’t refute his talent. Several questioned his maturity which I certainly can’t address here.

The issues raised were nothing close to the reported criminal activity occurring with two Kansas athletes.  As I stated above I know little about Tilmon, in addition I can see it in your eyes you are thinking “He wouldn’t be taking this stance if Tilmon wasn’t possibly looking toward Mizzou.”  First off unlike Porter Jr. there is no hint of Tilmon heading to Mizzou.  Tell me, or ask yourself did you always make the correct adult decisions at 17 or 18, didn’t think so.

The vote
The American Athletic Conference currently consists of 10 teams competing in basketball.  By the time you read this the conference will have voted on adding Wichita State to its numbers.  I wonder if one of the three (3) affiliate members (Navy, San Diego State or Cal State-Sacramento) will be added to the conference to compete in basketball, just my observation.  Wichita State is added for the 2017-18 season and will compete in all sports except football.This can only be a plus for the AAC and a minus for the Missouri Valley however consider this tidbit.  Sitting smack dab in the middle of the nation and with ample travel time to each school is the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Indiana State and Evansville University are the furthest travel distance from Kansas City.  Flight time to Terre Haute is 54 minutes and to Evansville an hour and 20 minutes and one hour time difference.  Contrast this with Western Athletic Conference foes Seattle University and Cal State-Bakersfield.  In addition to a time change both are 3 hours flight time from Kansas City and two time zones away.  If we check the travel it would appear the cost figures would be a savings.  All this is unlikely without UMKC applying to become a member of the Missouri Valley and they vote in the affirmative.