Basketball from a fan’s perspective

1992 and now 2021

Come NCAA tournament time we are able to witness a number of outstanding plays.  One we’ve seen over and over since 1992, the Grant Hill out of bound almost court length pass to Christian Laettner.  Laettner turned and shot in the winning basket thus defeating Kentucky.  Over and over for the last 29 years video of the play has been shown it seems every tournament year, it's my contention that winning shot now has a rival.

The shot hit by Jalen Suggs of Gonzaga leading to the 93-90 victory over UCLA.  By the time the basket hit the cylinder was there was no time remaining on the clock.  Check out the Laettner and Suggs shot below, it’s my contention the Suggs shot will be seen the next 29 years or so as well, mark my words.  We have no idea who wins the 2021 NCAA Championship, this we know.  Expect to hear commissioner Silver in July announce "With the ______ pick in the 2021 draft the _______ select Jalen Suggs of Gonzaga University."  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo3G2MfOYeA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_nM6aHS1n8

He’s not pleased

Laker center Marc Gasol is unhappy, on Friday he was the starter for the game versus the Kings and was only in the lineup due to the Andre Drummond injury.  His frustration was verbalized to the media and his points are valid, detailed why he is not pleased moving to a reserve role with the team.  Gasol claims he’s done all the things the coaching staff has requested of him, there is probably no disagreement with that. 

That statement is undoubtedly true however all season rim protection has been lacking by the Lakers, a portion certainly due to injury to Anthony Davis and playing valuable but undersized Montrezl Harrell at the 5.  Gasol was never a great leaper at any point, age plus wear and tear on his basketball body has deprived him of the remainder.  Gasol still has value to the team if he desires to remain with them, will he rather than the Lakers request a buy out?  Stay tuned for further developments regarding this story.   

It’s now become war

Falling dominos have created verbal war between Texas and Texas Tech, interesting in that both are Big 12 conference members.  Well, we could blame the whole mess on Shaka Smart, he departed for Marquette (evidently) on his own terms.  The University of Texas required a new coach, oh Chris Beard is a winning coach.  In addition, Beard is a graduate of Texas, the lure of playing for your alma mater takes precedence over anything else.  The two schools were rivals prior to this squabble now it is likely to intensify.  It should be noted the issue the AD of Texas Tech raised they had no opportunity to make a counteroffer to Beard.   

5 – 3 = 2

Mizzou lost 5 players through the transfer portal; they have now picked up 3 from that same portal.  On Saturday afternoon Jarron Coleman a 6-5 combo guard committed to Mizzou; he’s arriving by way of Ball State.  Coleman becomes the third player picked up this week.  According to information provided Coleman redshirted his freshman year so he is an “older” sophomore.  As with the other arrivals I have no idea of his player skills, I can state this with conviction the coaching staff must believe he fits the system, or they wouldn’t have recruited him. 

Mizzou can add two additional players and they are not likely to be newcomers in my view.  They have 5 freshmen incoming, and I cannot imagine adding 2 more to that number.  The remaining players will be either come from the junior college ranks or transfer portal.  Rock M. Nation might have stated it best, “These guys all have flaws but bring different elements of the game to Mizzou.”  There is no Michael Porter Jr. walking in the door…. yet.  As stated previously these player development moves will not placate you if you wish Cuonzo Martin gone but they prove something to me, he can recruit. 

Not embarrassing at all

The Kings run second to the Wolves as one of the most poorly run franchises in the NBA, they have fired more coaches than can be believed.  In addition, they have drafted players who can’t play or want out of Sacramento, not the city but the team.  One of those former Kings coaches is Eric Musselman now the head man at Arkansas.  We don’t know as this is written if his Razorbacks win the NCAA Championship, this we do know they will compete. 

After the Kings Musselman was an assistant at a couple of college stops prior to becoming head coach at Nevada.   He successfully ran the Wolfpack program until he was lured to the Arkansas job.  His first year Musselman’s team finished 20-12 (7-11 in the SEC), this second year his team won 25 games and finished the season 13-4 in the conference.  They are making a deep run in the tournament which should not be surprising, Musselman can recruit and coach.  Most of all he can instill in his team the type of basketball he wants displayed on the court.