BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
NBA draft
This week nbadraftnet.com and nbadraftroom.com
reflect the same top three picks. We are
in early March and it is quite likely the next 90 days should witness
change. The only speculation at this
point in all probability Williamson will remain at the top.
1. Zion Williamson-Duke
2. Ja Morant-Murray State
3. R.J. Barrett-Duke
2. Ja Morant-Murray State
3. R.J. Barrett-Duke
The streak is concluded
March 5, 2019 the streak ended, the
Oklahoma Sooners beat the Kansas Jayhawks 81-68. The streak is winning the Big 12
championship conference race for 14 consecutive seasons. UCLA basketball held the previous streak at
13 which occurred during the John Wooden era.
The streak was bound to end one season it was just a matter of time, the
best hope at this point if for a Kansas 3rd place finish. Jayhawk Nation is unhappy Wednesday morning, it’s
likely the loss hurt more than ending the streak.
Spearville
Spearville Kansas is located 150 miles west of Wichita, its nearer Dodge City (17 miles) than any other well-known location. Spearville according to the 2017 census has a population of 807 residents. Where is Spearville on the basketball map, the Kings Willie Cauley-Stein was born there and spent the greater portion of his growth years in the town. While playing AAU basketball he became friends with a metro Kansas City teammate, he moved in with the family and spent the next three years at Olathe Northwest High School.
Spearville Kansas is located 150 miles west of Wichita, its nearer Dodge City (17 miles) than any other well-known location. Spearville according to the 2017 census has a population of 807 residents. Where is Spearville on the basketball map, the Kings Willie Cauley-Stein was born there and spent the greater portion of his growth years in the town. While playing AAU basketball he became friends with a metro Kansas City teammate, he moved in with the family and spent the next three years at Olathe Northwest High School.
News of the skill of this 7-foot center came
to the attention of Kentucky and John Calipari.
Calipari swooped in and managed to acquire this Kansas talent right
under the nose of Bill Self at Kansas. After
play at Kentucky Cauley-Stein would become the 6th pick in the first
round of the 2015 draft by the Kings.
His numbers are not eye-popping (12.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game) however
he’s become vital to the continued upward move of the Kings franchise. This is quite interesting, imagine an NBA
career after beginning play in Spearville Kansas.
“Maybe they weren’t that
good”
Coming off last season’s outstanding play and with LeBron on the west coast the Celtics had to be considered “The Beast of the East.” The Celtics have been prevented from assuming the mantle of the best in the east. We figured the Raptors would be contenders, they had the best won-loss record last season. Unexpected to a degree was the outstanding play of the Bucks and to a degree the Sixers.
Coming off last season’s outstanding play and with LeBron on the west coast the Celtics had to be considered “The Beast of the East.” The Celtics have been prevented from assuming the mantle of the best in the east. We figured the Raptors would be contenders, they had the best won-loss record last season. Unexpected to a degree was the outstanding play of the Bucks and to a degree the Sixers.
We could include the play of the Pacers
despite the loss of Victor Oladipo. The
return of Gordon Hayward from injury plus Kyrie Irving and the growth of Jayson
Tatum yes, we expected better play.
Their chief advisory LeBron James has not brought improved play to the
Lakers. We can make the same statement
about Hayward although he is returning from a devastating injury. The Celtics are a playoff team, but I don’t
believe they are a serious contention for a championship at least this
season.
Both sides of a conversation
Bill Self is among the best coaches in the college ranks today. I make the statement despite some personal reservations on my part. He is due congratulations on winning the Big 12 championship 14 years in a row. The day after the streak ended, I’m listening to sports talk radio, (keep in mind this is Kansas City). The guess stated his belief, “Winning championships (NCAA) are more the mark than winning a conference.” With that statement the host appeared offended. He said, “People are not giving Bill Self enough credit for winning 14 Big 12 championships in a row.”
Bill Self is among the best coaches in the college ranks today. I make the statement despite some personal reservations on my part. He is due congratulations on winning the Big 12 championship 14 years in a row. The day after the streak ended, I’m listening to sports talk radio, (keep in mind this is Kansas City). The guess stated his belief, “Winning championships (NCAA) are more the mark than winning a conference.” With that statement the host appeared offended. He said, “People are not giving Bill Self enough credit for winning 14 Big 12 championships in a row.”
The guest made the mistake of mentioning
UCLA championships. The host then has
his board guy look up the route UCLA took in winning. No argument from me the NCAA championship has
been expanded since the Wooden days, it was likely an easier route to play for
a championship. Because the guest didn’t
agree with the host, he then attempted a side by side comparison. Is Bill Self better than Rollie Massimino
(Villanova) and he went down the line one by one naming coaches with a single
NCAA championship under their belt. Bill
Self is a Hall of Fame coach, he’s tasted more success at Kansas than the guy
he replaced. Sorry radio guy I agree
with your host, how many NCAA championship banners are hanging in Allen
Fieldhouse a direct result of Bill Self?
