Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

0 turnovers

Similar to that Clint Eastwood movie “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” this must be reported under the Good. The Lakers Russell Westbrook played 34 minutes in the Tuesday evening win over the Kings. In those 34 minutes the point guard had 0 turnovers, looking toward the future this type of game is not expected continuously. Playing the point always amounts to more turnovers than for any other position on the court. In a discussion Tuesday afternoon, a fellow member of Laker Nation (I’m not the only member in KCMO) said to me. “He (Westbrook) is only concerned about his stats.”

Based on the weekend 9 turnover game Westbrook registered you noticed I found it difficult to defend. By the way, this member of Laker Nation wanted Buddy Hield, the trade now might appear impossible or maybe impractical. Perhaps the Lakers might have struck gold anyway, Malik Monk has been ballin’ lately and might be the answer to a portion of the Lakers problem. One other note in closing, it’s always easy to digest point, rebound and assist totals. The difficulty is to uncover who is playing tough hard-nose defense. On television the blocked shot or intercepted pass is sometimes highlighted but nothing like the offensive part of the game.

I’m not rushing him out the door

This is no attempt on my part to rush Coach Cuonzo Martin out the door! I am in his corner despite the less than spectacular season so far. Martin might not have been hired at Mizzou if the basketball history had been altered slightly, allow an explanation. Long-time Coach Norm Stewart retired (technically he was asked to leave) after 38 years at the helm. Mizzou was looking for a replacement coach and in the interview process we don’t know the order. Interviewed for the head coaching position in 1999 were Quin Snyder then a Duke assistant under Coach K. and Tulsa’s head coach a guy by the name of Bill Self. Perhaps at the time Self didn’t impress in the interview that sometimes occurs in life.

On the other hand, Snyder was coming from a prestigious Duke program while Self was coaching at Tulsa a mid-major. We know the balance of the story; Snyder was hired over Self and the story unfolds. After tasting success his first 4 years at Mizzou his teams began a retreat in the win column. Snyder resigned in February 2006 rather than wait to be fired at the end of the season. It should be noted here a series of moves in later years has allowed Snyder to become a much better coach. As for Self he moved to Illinois and in 2003 when Roy Williams left for North Carolina Self was hired. Cuonzo Martin becomes the 3^rd head coach at Mizzou since Self was hired. Mizzou’s athletic department heads have changed over time so we cannot look at the present administration. All we can say is Mizzou missed the target by 5 miles in hiring Snyder over Self. Would Mizzou’s basketball fortunes have been different with a Self hire we don’t know although its likely.

The “Football” Conference

Anytime there is a discussion on college football the SEC is always in the midst of the conversation. That’s easy to understand why, the conference contains powerhouse teams such as Alabama, Auburn, LSU and others as part of the discussion. SEC basketball has displayed a continuing upward trend, 1. Recruiting talented players and 2. Hiring quality, winning coaches. We could examine the latest Top 25 AP and Coach’s poll.

The polls contain 5 SEC teams, that’s more than any conference in the nation. Now I have no intention to contend football is no longer important in the SEC that would be ludicrous. My contention, SEC basketball is now 2 steps behind football, once upon a time it might have been 5 or 6 steps behind football. The SEC is no longer just Kentucky Wildcats basketball, it’s become Kentucky and Auburn and LSU and Alabama and so forth and so on. On the other hand, Georgia and Mizzou have difficulties remaining competitive in this competitive conference. NOTE: I was corrected on a portion of this account, the Big XII also has 5 teams in the current Top 25.

Sleep is the real winner

Every college season I focus on the play of 3-4 athletes, this season one of them is Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky’s 7-foot 5 center. Sharp is leading NCAA Division I teams in shot blocking; the opportunity presented itself as Western Kentucky faced the University of Kentucky. After turning my television to ESPN, I was prepared to watch the game. After seeing a little of the game’s action, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up to near the end seeing Kentucky prevail 95-60. As for my main man Sharp he scored but 8 points, he’s not an offensive juggernaut it’s the other things.

Those 8 points were accompanied by 6 rebounds and 7 BLOCKED SHOTS. Sharp is in his junior year so there is probably no intention on his part to head for the NBA he’s far too raw in my opinion. This I could see after his senior year; Tacko Fall didn’t get drafted and he’s currently on the Cavs roster. There remains in the NBA of today a need for specialist and Sharp would appear to be just that. Hopefully before the season concludes I will have another opportunity to see Sharp in action, with a bit of luck this time I don’t fall asleep.