Basketball from a fans perspective

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Bits n Pieces

Why should I or anyone pay attention to anything ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith states, he’s simply an entertainer who happens to report among other sports the NBA. Does he have an opinion, of course he does? The further question his assessment regarding any player is a pass/fail on their future progress, we seriously doubt that. What’s the latest pronouncement from Mr. Smith, he’s gone on record indicating “I’d rather have Jalen Green (Rockets rookie) over Cade Cunningham (Pistons rookie).” Neither has yet to play one minute on an NBA court, both appear super talented, but we cannot predict the future for either Mr. Smith. So, with little evidence but his opinion he’s convinced us Green is the better player, oh, I forgot he’s an entertainer a guy who reports sports, particularly the NBA. He’s got no expertise as a scout or coach just a view.

The NBA will observe its 75^th Anniversary next season, the league came into being June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America. The Knicks and Celtics are two of the teams who date back to that first season. In 1949 the Basketball Association of America would merge with the National Basketball League, and it would become the National Basketball Association a league comprised of 30 teams today. The NBA has suffered difficulties over the course of its history but has been on the upswing the last several years.

A report indicates the Big XII inviting Cincinnati, Memphis and the University of Central Florida to join the conference. Relatives and friends indicate each of the school’s has a competitive football program; as for the basketball that is a different matter. Cincinnati and Memphis are rich in basketball tradition, Cincinnati appeared in the tournament 32 times winning the 1961 and 1962 NCAA championship. Memphis has the 26^th highest winning percentage in NCAA history. The school was runner up to the champion in 1973 and 2008. As for UCF the school moved from Division II to Division I in the 1993-94 season. If the name of the school is familiar to a number of you it’s the same one that produced Tacko Fall and former Duke player Johnny Dawkins serves as head basketball coach. As for football UCF plays at the Division, I Football Subdivision (FBS) level.

Fire Cuonzo 

Mizzou made history this week, the school hired Desiree Reed-Francois as the Athletic Director. She becomes the first female AD in the SEC (more below). The announcement of her hiring came this letter “Fire Cuonzo” which is interesting since there was no background as to why the coach should be fired. It is always easy for “fans” to fire the coach when a team fails to play at the level, they believe it should. Whenever you read a letter or statement to that effect there is never a replacement in mind.

I can agree team play at times has been disappointing however we can take note here. Mizzou’s earned an NCAA invitation two of the four years Cuonzo Martin’s been head coach, injuries have impacted production on the court so if that appears an excuse so be it. Martin took over a team at the bottom of the SEC, Mizzou was 27-68 the previous three years. The disappointment from this writer is SEC play, Mizzou has not produced the winning record I would have hoped. Despite the negative the coach gets one more year in my book. As for the AD hire, technically Vanderbilt hired the first female AD, but this is the question. Vanderbilt is the only private school in the SEC while all others are state schools, does that effect the announcement, it does however I remain confused?

Division I basketball

If we held a discussion with a group of Division NAIA coaches they might disagree as to why NAIA basketball is no longer a power. If we check play from the 1950’s and 1960’s NAIA schools turned out a tremendous amount of talent which moved into the NBA. Willis Reed (Grambling), Earl Monroe (Winston-Salem State) or Sam Jones (North Carolina Central) and others were drafted and distinguished themselves in the NBA. This is what occurred as example for, Tennessee State and Kentucky State NAIA powers in the ‘fifty’s and ‘sixty’s now are Division I and Division II programs.

Louisville a longtime basketball power won the 1948 NAIA Tournament but there are others including Marshall, Indiana State, Grambling and San Diego State all playing at the NAIA level at a time. What occurred to make the change, there were a series of events. The first occurrence is easy to understand, it’s money. The revenue a program earns from playing a Division I schedule versus NAIA makes the decision to move up easy. The opportunity to gain a national footprint, practically every basketball program is televised on ESPN, Fox Sports or Bally. Chances are particularly good there are more Division I Mid Major schools on television over the NAIA brand.