Basketball from a fans perspective
UMBC???
We have a banking
institution in the Kansas City Metro with similar initials, the first thought
UMBC must be a business. I continued to
see the name on the score board and wondered what it implies. The initials represent the University of Maryland
Baltimore County. Going forth it might also stand for the
largest upset in NCAA history, UMBC seeded number 16 took out number 1 seed Virginia
Friday evening.
I didn’t see the
game so I’m unable to provide a “Words
eye view” however with a 74-54 drubbing I can only conclude two
things. UMBC came out of the locker room
with “their hair on fire” or Virginia thought: “These guys are a 16 seed we can
mail this in.” It’s likely a combination
of both scenarios may have been at work.
The 2018 NCAA Tournament might go on record as upset city for all the
drama its created through early Saturday morning. Is there more to come, just wait and
see?
The Ramblers
I
must find out exactly what a Rambler is, all I know is it’s the nickname for
the Loyola of Chicago basketball team. As
for the Ramblers nothing like getting hot at the right time, they won again
Saturday beating Tennessee for win number 30.
If you check the Missouri Valley Conference, you’ll discover they led
the Valley with 15 wins while losing only 3.
11 seed Loyola has now beaten 6 seed Miami and 3 seed Tennessee. The Ramblers have a rich basketball history
although they haven’t tasted a great deal of success since 1985. The 1963 Ramblers finished with a 29-2 record and the NCAA Championship.
Mizzou is out of it
My
Tigers fell short, but I’m still pleased in a sense, to go from a low of 8
victories last season to 20 wins plus an NCAA invitation is certainly
noteworthy. The “ship was steady”
despite several bumps in the road, the biggest not having Michael Porter Jr.
for the season. In addition, losing
three point guards, two transferring to other schools and one dismissed for
disciplinary reasons.
Now
Cuonzo and staff must begin to hit the recruiting trail and re-tool the
existing roster. Jordan Barnett, Kassius
Robertson and Brett Rau are the only seniors on this team although it’s
believed Michael Porter Jr. is also leaving.
Should one or more underclassmen choose to transfer is an unknown as
this time. At this point I’m unsure of
the number of scholarships available as this is written. The names below are headed for Columbia in
the fall.
Torrance Watson
6-foot 5-inch shooting guard St. Louis, Whitfield School
Javon Pickett 6-foot
4-inch shooting guard Belleville Illinois, Sunrise Christian Academy
K.J. Santos 6-foot 7-inch
forward Geneva Illinois, Tallahassee Community College
Xavier Pinson 6-foot
3-inch point guard, Chicago Simeon High School
The name Trent
Williams is strictly speculative now.
He’s mentioned because he is reported to be on Mizzou’s radar however
there is no indication he’s been given an offer. Williams is a 6-foot 3-inch point guard who
played at Gillette College in Gillette Wyoming.
He could provide Mizzou a veteran presence at the point which was so
solely lacking during portions of the season.
Trivia
Tallest player in the NBA-Gheorghe Muresan
7 feet 7 inches, played in the NBA from 1991-2006. The Bullets (Wizards) and Nets were his NBA
teams, see you thought it was Yao Ming.
Shortest player in the NBA-Muggsy
Bogues 5 feet 3 inches, was in the NBA from 1981-2001 played for several NBA
teams.
Oldest player-Technically
Vince Carter at age 41 is the oldest active player, however Bob Cousy who was
head coach of the Kansas City Kings suited up for 7 games becoming a player-coach
in 1970, Cousy was 42 years old.
Most NBA teams-Chucky
Brown, Jim Jackson, Tony Massenburg and Joe Smith all played for 12 NBA teams.
Rebounds in one game-Wilt
Chamberlain snatched down 55 rebounds on Nov 24, 1960 the record for a single
game.
Rebounds for the season-Wilt
Chamberlain had 2,149 rebounds an average of 27.2 for the 1960-61 season.
Most points in a season-The
1961-62 NBA season Wilt Chamberlain scored 4,029 points for a scoring average
of 50.4 points per game.
Single game record for assists-Scott
Skiles of the Magic recorded 30 assists in a regulation game Dec 30, 1990.
Highest season assist numbers-John
Stockton of the Jazz averaged 14.54 assists in 1990, 14.20 in 1991.
Tallest
starting lineup, Bucks who once started:
Point
guard Giannis Antetokounmpo 6 feet 11 inches
Shooting
guard Khris Middleton 6 feet 8 inches
Small
Forward Jabari Parker 6 feet 8 inches
Power
Forward John Henson 6 feet 11 inches
Center
Thon Maker 7 feet 1 inch
