Basketball from a fans
perspective
The NCAA is going to allow
Braxton Beverly to play, remember he was enrolled in summer school at Ohio
State but later transferred to North Carolina State intending to continue
playing basketball. The NCAA in its
infinite wisdom decided since he was attending summer school at Ohio State he
was ineligible to play at North Carolina State despite transferring in time. The NCAA denied him twice before he hired an
attorney and the institution decided in his favor. I’ve stated this on more than one occasion
there is a requirement for an NCAA type of organization. There is also a need for that establishment
to come into the 21st Century and cease mandating rules as if it was
1950.
Off to a good start
I checked NBADraft.net 2018 mock draft and it looks good for the NBA the top
six prospects four had outstanding opening games. The move from high school level basketball to
Division I appeared to be no big deal for most.
The two “missing in action” athletes were Michael Porter Jr. and Luka
Doncic, MJP of Mizzou was sidelined by an earlier hip injury he suffered
and played only two minutes of the game.
Doncic from Slovenia plays for Real
Madrid in the Euro League so he’s already a pro just not in the NBA. DeAndre
Ayton Arizona, Marvin Bagley Duke, Mohamed Bamba Texas and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State all had outstanding first games.
Our eyes are focused on these “high profile” freshman out there while
somewhere in the 2018 draft is liable to be the next Kyle Kuzma. The late first round pick has displaced Julius
Randle and the injured Larry Nance Jr. as the starter.
Notre Dame basketball
Researching basketball history
always reveals interesting information.
As an example, checking the names of Notre Dame’s basketball coaches
over the years I was quite surprised. Mistake
number one, I believed long-time former coach Digger Phelps was the chief
reason the school was placed on the basketball map, not true. Phelps arriving in 1971-72 continued the
winning tradition of Johnny Dee who coached the Fighting Irish from 1965-65
until Phelps was hired.
Mistake number two the school
has always had a winning tradition in basketball dating back to
1897-98. In fact, other than what might
have been interim coaches only John MacLeod had a losing record while coaching them
from 1991-1999. Matt Doherty succeeded
MacLeod who resigned but was only in South Bend one year. Mike Brey was hired in 2000 and has continued
the winning tradition of the Fighting Irish.
So, you just thought the Fighting Irish was just about football, the
school has a rich football history however the basketball is just as
strong.
Wow---go figure
Lonzo
Ball’s triple-double proved historic in several aspects. According to Elias Sports Bureau and ESPN only four Laker rookies have recorded a triple-double in the
team’s history. The players are Elgin
Baylor, Jerry West, Magic Johnson and now Lonzo Ball. That distinction places Ball alongside Laker
royalty of the past. This account is
accompanied by a disclaimer which says this is no declaration of future NBA
success it simply notes a historical event.
