Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Published Monday through Friday
Published Monday through Friday
Change
After reading an extra story regarding Kansas-Mizzou basketball we can understand why the change might have occurred. The last time the schools played one another in the regular season was 2012, freshman from that year at both schools have either graduated or left school. The last time the teams faced one another the freshmen class of both schools was in elementary school in the 5th grade.
Athletic Directors from both
universities have also left the scene, Mizzou’s had two basketball coaches
depart since that period. Cuonzo Martin
was coaching at Tennessee in 2012, the one remaining decision maker from that
time period is Kansas coach Bill Self.
Alumni, administrators and fans (like me) can fuss and fret all they
want the Kansas-Mizzou rivalry once doomed to never occur will begin
again. This is not one game but a
six-game series, don’t be shocked if some point in the future additional dates
are scheduled past the 2025-26 season.
Bits n Pieces
Last February the 13th to be exact and in July we discussed Kai Sotto. Sotto is the 16-year-old youngster from the Pacific Ocean island nation of the Philippines. It was mentioned at the time he needed to gain weight and that’s exactly what he did. Training in the U.S. he’s added another inch in height, he now stands 7 feet 2 inches and moved the needle on the scale from 210 to 223 pounds. It was pointed out earlier his dad a former player himself claims his son could grow another 2-3 inches. Sotto indicates he hopes to play in the NBA someday, hopefully he gets the opportunity.
Last February the 13th to be exact and in July we discussed Kai Sotto. Sotto is the 16-year-old youngster from the Pacific Ocean island nation of the Philippines. It was mentioned at the time he needed to gain weight and that’s exactly what he did. Training in the U.S. he’s added another inch in height, he now stands 7 feet 2 inches and moved the needle on the scale from 210 to 223 pounds. It was pointed out earlier his dad a former player himself claims his son could grow another 2-3 inches. Sotto indicates he hopes to play in the NBA someday, hopefully he gets the opportunity.
Not quite correct, you may have seen
the same print ad I did. It advertised a
tee shirt for sale honoring the Sixers franchise. Inscribed on the shirt “Thanks for the
Memories 73 years of Sixer basketball.”
Pictured above the statement on the tee shirt were Dr. J., Charles
Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and a few others.
73 years ago, would be 1946, technically the franchise existed but not
the Sixers.
In 1946 the Syracuse Nationals began
play in the National Basketball League which later merged with the Basketball
Association of America. The two leagues
would form today’s NBA when they merged in 1949. As for the Nats home base
would remain Syracuse New York until 1963 when the franchise moved to
Philadelphia. The only player from the
earlier era Hal Greer moved with the team from Syracuse to Philadelphia.
Dividends
Are we forced to admit LaVar Ball was somewhat correct a few years ago? Sure, middle son LiAngelo is out there somewhere as for the other two they are paid professionals. Now that he’s escaped from Los Angeles his game should improve and so should the paycheck. As for LaMelo he ain’t done nothing yet but is being paid.
Are we forced to admit LaVar Ball was somewhat correct a few years ago? Sure, middle son LiAngelo is out there somewhere as for the other two they are paid professionals. Now that he’s escaped from Los Angeles his game should improve and so should the paycheck. As for LaMelo he ain’t done nothing yet but is being paid.
So, we could say LaVar was correct on
2 of the 3 of his predictions, oh the other part. All 3 sons playing for the Lakers is not
likely to occur. As for R.J. Hampton he
too might benefit from heading to Australia to play. The 2020 mock draft compiled by bleacherreport.com
places both in the lottery, LaMelo as the 3rd pick and Hampton at
10. It’s early the NBL began play about
a week prior to the NBA however the NBL season is shorter.
Somebody please inform
me
I must admit I didn’t follow Rick Barnes much while he coached Texas, it seemed every season he was on the hot seat with threats to be fired. When he finally was fired in 2015 Tennessee immediately hired him, “I thought let’s see what he does there.” Pretty doggone good mind you, Tennessee basketball has been on an upward trend, last year finishing 31-6.
I must admit I didn’t follow Rick Barnes much while he coached Texas, it seemed every season he was on the hot seat with threats to be fired. When he finally was fired in 2015 Tennessee immediately hired him, “I thought let’s see what he does there.” Pretty doggone good mind you, Tennessee basketball has been on an upward trend, last year finishing 31-6.
They were losers in the Sweet Sixteen
of the NCAA Tournament. I decided to
check Barnes record at Texas and discovered in 16 years he experienced one, repeat
one losing season. Was he fired at Texas
because his teams couldn’t beat Kansas?
That’s not really saying much several conference schools had trouble as
well. It appears Barnes is continuing to
recruit at a greater than average pace.
This almost guarantees Tennessee another successful season and leaves me
and other scratching our heads why he was fired at Texas.
