Basketball from a fans perspective   

Big 12/SEC Challenge

I’m unsure if this challenge provides the slam-dunk many in the Big 12 wanted.  The SEC was the clear winner on Saturday 6 to 4,  although we cannot claim overwhelmingly. 

Big 12 Kansas over SEC Texas A&M

SEC Alabama won over Big 12 Oklahoma

Big 12 Texas Tech over SEC South Carolina

SEC Florida over Big 12 Baylor

Big 12 Texas over SEC Ole Miss

SEC Tennessee over Big 12 Iowa State 

Big 12 Kansas State over Georgia

SEC Arkansas over Big 12 Oklahoma State

SEC Vanderbilt over Big 12 TCU

SEC Kentucky over Big 12 West Virginia     

Northwestern State

No, the headline is not a typo, you are probably thinking I meant Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, that is not the case.  Northwestern State University is in Natchitoches Louisiana and is a Division 1 school in the Southland Conference.  Northwestern State had a talented basketball player who entered the school the same year as the Pelicans Anthony Davis.  Before you begin counting on your fingers and toes allow me to state guard Jalen West played into his seventh (7) year at the school, how did this series of events occur you ask? 

His freshman season he was red-shirted, he played three years and then the injury.  An ACL injury caused him to miss the balance of the 2015-16 season, a second injury and he was forced to the sidelines for the 2016-17 season.  Injury waivers allowed him to play the three plus extra years.  Although he could have played the balance of this season the school reported he left for personal reasons and did not enroll for the spring semester.  From all reports the 5-foot 11-inch point guard was quite talented before injuries robbed him of a potential NBA career.     

He can return

Once upon a time to sustain an Achilles injury meant the end of a career.  Medicine has advanced to a point surgery can repair the injury and the player is able to resume their career.  Friday night it was Pelicans center DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins who sustained the injury, he is lost for the balance of the season.  The big man was having an outstanding season, this is one fan hoping he returns next season as feisty as ever.  

Borough

Many of us outside the city say New York City and we are referring to Manhattan.  There are other areas of the city designated as boroughs. They are Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, the Manhattan and finally Brooklyn.  Brooklyn is held in a different light, consider this, both NBA teams in Southern Cal are Los Angeles.  Back east it’s the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. 

The baseball Giants once called New York home however they had New York in front of their name.  Every team in every sport has New York in front of their name except the Nets.  The Nets are not very good however they have one clear advantage over the Manhattan Knicks, they have Brooklyn in front of their name.  With the departure of the baseball Dodgers in 1957 Brooklyn is major league again.