Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

One champion decided

We are yet to crown a champion in the Division I or II Championship, despite this fact one champion has already been decided. On Tuesday evening Loyola University of New Orleans won the NAIA Championship in Kansas City 71-56 over Talladega College. NAIA basketball has become an afterthought in recent years, despite this fact NAIA teams continue to play competitive basketball. The tournament held in Kansas City is older than the NCAA and NIT Tournament, it's in year 84.

The best of the best in the NBA emerged from NAIA schools, Willis Reed Grambling, Sam Jones North Carolina Central and Bob Love Southern University are just a few names. All that’s changed now as a number of those institutions now compete as Division I or II schools. Loyola of New Orleans won its second tournament in the school's history. The first win occurred in 1945 when it was known as the NAIB or National Association of Basketball. With the win over Talladega College the Wolf Pack finished the season with a 37-1 record. Congratulations are due Loyola University of New Orleans the 2022 NAIA Champions.

The Top GOAT College coach

Dick Vitale said it, it must be true…probably. Veteran ESPN guy went on record indicating he believes Coach K. is the college games all-time best coach, let’s check some of the numbers on Coach K. 5 NCAA Championships, three times Coach of the Year and selection to the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. That’s but a brief look at the numerous honors and awards the Duke coach has received in this his last season at the helm. No argument against Vitale’s choice, Coach K. has certainly achieved greatness in his time but what about another name? The late John Wooden UCLA basketball coach, he’s long since retired and with his death few in this generation even recognize the name.

Wooden became head coach at UCLA in 1948 and retired in 1975. In between those years we witnessed a basketball program that produced some of the most successful teams in the history of the college game. Four UCLA teams experienced undefeated seasons, you say it was a different era and we can agree to a point. The fact these teams never suffered a loss remains noteworthy. This coach had 10 NCAA Championship teams led by the likes of Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton and others. Wooden’s twice been honored by the Naismith Hall of Fame as a player and later as a coach. He’s also been a selection to the College Basketball Hall as well, this is no intent to negate the stellar record of Coach K. How about dual GOAT college coaches?

Has he unpacked his luggage?

The question requires an explanation, the party in question is Laker forward Wenyen Gabriel. Has he finally found a home with the Lakers? The 6 foot 9 Gabriel left Kentucky for the NBA in 2018 but he went undrafted. The story didn’t end there as he was determined to earn a roster spot, this is the list. He’s worn jerseys for the Kings, Blazers, Pelicans, Nets, Clippers and now the Lakers since March 1 when he signed a two-way contract. Not included in these numerous moves are three stops with G-League teams. Frank Vogel has spoken in optimistic tones about Gabriel’s defense and hustle which has been a welcome addition to the Lakers.

Reading this account, one might conclude incorrectly a star has been born, let’s just say at age 24 two things could occur. Gabriel could grow into a valuable starter or key reserve. The larger question we cannot answer, how did he manage to wear the jersey of so many teams who were unable to see his value. That question cannot be answered we can only guess he might not have been given adequate time to display his skills. As for home Gabriel was born in Khartoum Sudan but played in high school first in Manchester New Hampshire and Wilbraham a suburb of Springfield Massachusetts. Gabriel’s bio mentions no play in South Sudan, so we guess he began play here. The future appears bright for Gabriel and hopefully he continues to develop his game in the coming years.

Connected to Gabriel is teammate and rookie Austin Reaves, it’s difficult in his instance to refer to him as a rookie with 70 odd games under his belt. Like Gabriel Reaves too might also represent a portion of the Lakers future. We’ve told the story numerous times Reaves informed all “don’t draft me, I want to pick my team.” That’s exactly what Reaves did and chose the Lakers, playing valued minutes in a reserve role the youngster’s been inserted into the starting lineup due to his defensive prowess and his shooting. At the age of 23 he along with Gabriel and perhaps others unnamed represent the future of the Lakers when the elder statesmen are retired, traded or released. Introducing to a number of you is Austin Reaves, shooting guard University of Oklahoma.

Sports talk radio 

I’m sure I didn’t mention this, I rarely listen to local sports talk radio, but I never declared why. It is boring, boring, did I say boring…I guess I did more than once. Allow a further explanation, I live in Kansas City with no professional basketball and minor league hockey. The professional teams, the NFL Chiefs, baseball Royals dominate sports talk radio. On occasion Sporting Kansas City would receive some airtime but you see the issue, I hope. There is little if any NBA talk, the discussion of college basketball is dominated by Jayhawk talk. Okay, the NBA I understand…we have no team in the city the college basketball I fail to understand. Kansas State is located 125 road miles from Kansas City (MO), Columbia home of Mizzou is about the same distance both less than two hours by interstate.

I’m a realist, neither the basketball program at K-State or Mizzou has tasted success to the level of Kansas I get that. The local guys on sports talk radio were falling all over themselves praising the Kansas basketball win on Thursday. Allow me to point out a fact, the mid-morning crew on Sports Talk 810 were praising Kansas for its victory over Texas Southern. Texas Southern was a 16 seed while Kansas was a number 1, Kansas should have won the game in convincing fashion. I know what some of you are saying, “He’s just a disgruntled Mizzou guy who happens to hate Kansas.” Only a portion of that statement is true, I have no ill will toward Kansas players. Success or not I have issues with Bill Self which will not be detailed here. Let’s just close this by going back to the beginning, Kansas City sports talk radio allows me to not miss it only checking it once or twice a week.