Basketball from a fan’s perspective

“Young people need models, not critics” John Wooden  

We are not sure

The NCAA will continue to plod along never moving faster than necessary.  Global warming is causing many of the earth’s glaciers to melt at a greater rate than NCAA action. For like forever we have written about the penalties facing Kansas basketball but no more it ends today…why you ask? A recent article I read the NCAA said, “Judgement will be rendered regarding the basketball program in the next 12 months.” Our question might be what has the NCAA been doing for the last 3-4 years except leveling charges. The length of time should be ample to remove the anvil hanging over the head of the basketball program.  I realize that’s a shocking statement coming from a Mizzou fan however that’s my belief.

How would you like it?

You have a job interview scheduled; upon your arrival you discover the HR manager has a list of negatives of your past work record.  That is the case here, I listened to a 45-minute podcast providing the listeners details on the things Laker center Andre Drummond can’t do well. You might remember once Drummond decided in favor of the Lakers, I stated there were no expectations of Kareem or Shaq by me.  I believed there were elements Drummond brought to the court sorely lacking with a Marc Gasol playing major minutes in the post. Drummond will not be the reason the Lakers win or lose the NBA championship; he is what he is be it good or bad. 

The validation

This story was written ahead of the leading story however a portion remains as is.  Standing 6-foot 7 Christian Bishop was an undersized center playing for the Creighton Bluejays.  After the season ended several high-profile programs were after Bishop once he entered the transfer portal. Among several schools attempting to secure his services were Blue Blood programs North Carolina and Kansas. Bishop has local history in the metro area.

He attended high school in Lees Summit Missouri in the KC Metro, he is headed to the University of Texas to finish his collegiate career. Bishop’s now taken a pass on Kansas basketball twice when he had an opportunity. He said “Thanks but no thanks” at the time he graduated high school and repeated it recently when he decided on Texas rather than Lawrence Kansas. For those who might be geography challenged the Kansas school is some 70 miles from home in Lees Summit. Could the second “no thanks” have something to do with possible future penalties facing the Kansas Jayhawks?  We have no actual proof just an observation. 

Why

Charles Oakley is one of the past NBA players I respect, he laid it on the line every time he went on the floor.  A tough, hard-nosed defender who took no prisoners on the court, this time I must respectfully disagree with him.  Pelicans forward Zion Williamson had the New York media singing his praises with the possibility of seeing him in a Knicks jersey one day.  Apparently, Oakley wasn’t pleased with media comments and decided to voice his opinion on the matter.  He said it was his belief the Knicks Julius Randle had a more complete game than Zion and failed to see why everyone was giving Williamson so much love. 

Here I am riding in on my white horse automobile to defend the honor of the young Pelican forward.  Zion Williamson is not a complete player; I believe we can all agree with the statement he’s experienced one season of competitive basketball at Duke.  That was followed by nearly a half season of NBA play, remember he did not see any action until January 2020 due to injury.  The 2020-21 season is the first full season for him in the NBA.  Oak, if you inform us Zion is not a complete player, I don’t believe anyone would argue that. If the comparison is between him and Julius Randle check out the number of games Randle’s played in the NBA versus those of Zion.   

Make it so

A basketball (or football) player transfers from Rutgers to Cal, he is forced to sit out a year, exactly why I’ve never been sure.  Transferring within a conference is no different however that player faces the same penalty.  The NCAA will do away with the rule next season and it makes sense on so many levels, we need look no further than Mizzou for an example of the confusion. 

Dru and Mark Smith (no relation to one another) both transferred to Mizzou from Evansville and Illinois, respectively.  One player was granted immediate eligibility while the other was forced to sit out a year.  There was probably no negligible effect on the one forced to shut down except why?  Mizzou appealed the judgement but was still turned down.  This rule is one more NCAA regulation in existence from the Middle Ages that requires it be removed.