Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday through Friday

Shhhhhhhh!
I’m sure it’s impossible to ask LaVar Ball for silence but this is not aimed at him rather its Magic Johnson one of my heroes.  Magic please tone it down regarding Lonzo Ball, you are placing untold pressure on him to succeed.  Example, “He reminds me of me” or “I expect to see your jersey hanging up there” (Staples) might do greater harm to the young man than the national media.  

This is a change
It’s been quite a number of years since Mizzou attempted to recruit a player from the State of Kansas.  My memory says we must travel back to 1976 when Larry Drew left Wyandotte HS (KCK) for Columbia (MO).  It’s clear in recent years the shadow of Kansas and to a lesser degree Wichita State basketball looms larger over high school players in the State of Kansas. There is no guarantee Coach Martin will be successful with these Class of 2019 prospects however it is interesting nonetheless.  They are:

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 6-9 C/F Mission (KS)
Zach Harvey 6-4 wing Topeka (KS)

Both players are 4-star prospects and the significance is easy to understand.  Despite Mizzou’s sub-par won-loss record over the last few years Mizzou is comfortable attempting to recruit players from Kansas.

Who is he?
A SoCal guy coming home that might be part of the description for Brook Lopez.  He and his twin brother grew up in North Hollywood (CA) played their college ball at Stanford. Lopez was drafted by the Nets as the 10th pick in the first round of the 2008 draft.  Who is he; well Lopez is a skilled offensive center with a career 18.6 ppg average.  As for the balance of his game Lopez is an average on the boards despite his 7 foot 268 pound frame.  

Lopez might be described as an average defender on the pick and roll.  At age 29 he should be able to hold down the center position until second year center Ivica Zubac or rookie Thomas Bryant is ready to begin play full time.  Lopez would be an improvement over Timofey Mozgov who was the starter for most of the season.  As for Lopez it would appear playing along side Lonzo Ball should certainly enhance his game.  

Complete domination
I just read a story about the upcoming Big 12 season, the writer predicts the Kansas Jayhawks will win or tie for their 14th straight tournament championship.  UCLA in the days of Alcindor, Walton and Wilkes dominated the conference in a similar manner but that was a different time. UCLA dominated not only its conference but the nation as well winning championship after championship.  

This is a different age from that of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s college basketball programs across the nation have grown immensely since that period.  Bill Self have a coaching advantage-perhaps, does Self recruit the best talent in the nation-perhaps.  I’m going to indict Big 12 coaches past and present few have stepped up to compete with Self and Kansas.  Bob Huggins, Shaka Smart and others prove to us you and your teams are better than we might believe.