Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Does it matter?

A question was posed recently, “Will there be an asterisk regarding the 2019-20 NBA season?”  A labor dispute witnessed the 1998-99 season shortened by 3-months; the regular season was limited to 50 games.  The NBA Championship witnessed the Spurs beating the Knicks 4 games to 1 but does anyone remember? Not the series but the fact so few regular season games were played to decide an NBA Championship.

Whichever team wins it this season certainly will be of note, down the road a bit that might be a slightly different story.  Show of hands how many were acquainted with the 1998-99 Spurs? Prior to reading this account had you forgotten or maybe you did not realize the 1999 NBA Champion failed to play 82 games.  Regardless of the ultimate outcome this has been a season of learning for Adam Silver and the NBA.   

On a streak

Can we say Michigan State recruiting is on a roll.  July 1 came the announcement number one prospect Emoni Bates Class of 2023 committed?  Next comes word Max Christie the number 17 prospect in the Class of 2021 announced his decision.  The Chicago area talent is a 6-foot 5-inch shooting guard, he is headed to East Lansing as well.  On paper at least it would appear Coach Tom Izzo is preparing for the future of his program.  

G-League

The Elite Team is yet to fill out its roster, there are no additions to the four high school prospects named in early spring.  It might be time to bring you up to speed on what we know to this point about the Elite Team.  “The team will only play non-competitive games in the G League; only playing ten to twelve games which have no bearing in league standing against other G League teams. It will also participate in training and exhibition games against other G League teams and international basketball clubs.  The team is not affiliated with any existing NBA G League or NBA franchise."*   

*Wikipedia

All time winning college coaches

We have discussed winning coaches whether in the NBA or college, in this instance our focus is on the college game.  A few of the names were even surprises to this writer, this list contains the Top 10 active coaches, there are retired coaches with greater win totals.  Unless noted the considerable number of coaches on the list are at the Division I level. 

Coach K. Duke 1,157 wins

Herb McGee Thomas Jefferson University-Div. II 1,123 wins

Dave Holmquist Biola University-Div. II 992 wins

Jim Boeheim Syracuse University 964 wins

Jim Calhoun St Joseph-Div. III 915 wins *

Roy Williams North Carolina 885 wins

Bob Huggins West Virginia 881 wins

Cliff Ellis Coastal Carolina 858 wins

Rocky Lamar MidAmerica Nazarene-NAIA 754 wins

Randy Lambert Maryville-Div. III 710 wins

*The majority of Calhoun’s win total was compiled while head coach at UConn

The NCAA at its absolute “best”

This writer has mentioned on more than one occasion the problems with the NCAA.  From an earlier account, actor Ashton Kutcher has appeared in at least two television series.  Kutcher has but one job…actor, on the other hand, the NCAA believes he might have another job.  Prior to his Hollywood days Kutcher attended the University of Iowa however, he never graduated. 

Hollywood was calling and he left the school and headed west.  Now this is the point it becomes interesting; we might be sure anyone attending a school has a certain amount of affection.  In September 2010 Kutcher and two former Iowa players met with high school recruits.  The trio was named as representatives in the Iowa report.  “NCAA rules prohibit recruits from having contact with people considered to be representatives of athletic interests.”  I do not make this stuff up; I only report it.