Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday through Friday

He’s back in the fold at Mizzou

With the coaching change at Mizzou several roster members decided to leave the program. In addition, Aidan Shaw 6-foot 8 inch forward recruited by Cuonzo Martin announced he was de-committing. That’s understandable, a youngster makes his pledge to a coach who is no longer there. All that’s changed now, Shaw remained uncommitted for about 6 days. He is now pledged once again to Mizzou indicating Coach Dennis Gates has reached out to him and Shaw believes he can play for the coach. Although Shaw attends Blue Valley High School on the Kansas side his school is within the Kansas City Missouri metro. Shaw is a Rivals 4-star prospect and the highest rated prospect since Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon all in the Class of 2017. 

“You don’t have Nixon Lakers to kick around anymore”

In 1962 Richard Nixon lost the governor’s race in California. Nixon after losing the 1960 Presidential election to John Kennedy and feeling picked on by the media made this statement. “You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore” which later proved incorrect. Nixon would run and be elected President of the United States in 1968. The balance of this political story is for history buffs. You might ask the question “What the heck does this story have to do with basketball?”

This is the connection primarily for Laker Haters, the 2021-22 Laker team has officially been eliminated from playoff contention April 5 with the loss to the Suns. We don’t have this Lakers team to kick around anymore for one reason alone this team will not appear the same in the fall. Most of the roster will be eliminated, its likely Frank Vogel will be gone too. The injury plagued dysfunctional team assembled and we watched all season is no more, it’s not over yet but it might as well be. The season that began with such promise has stumbled its way to playoff elimination. This is really not the end however new direction is required in the front office.

Moved to the front of the line

Step aside Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey or someone else, it would appear we have a talented Class of 2022 entering the NBA in the fall. Those named might have storied NBA careers but its someone else we project as the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. If you’ve paid attention to college basketball this season Duke’s Paolo Banchero should be familiar to you, he’s 6 foot 10 and weighs 250 pounds. In the view of scouts Banchero’s moved to the front of the line, because of his all-around skill level. This is not intended to slight Holmgren, but it makes more sense to us, we have a 250-pound power forward (Banchero) versus a guy weighing $1.94. Actually the 7-foot Holmgren weighs 195 pounds which despite his apparent talent states loudly.

Holmgren is going to be pushed around despite his talent. This remains a one n done scenario, if a prospect has an inkling of talent, it should be off to join the NBA. No requirement for Banchero to return to Duke and risk a career ending injury. Banchero was born in Seattle however his parentage is Italian-American, his dad is from a second-generation Italian family who immigrated here, and mom is American. The parents met while they attended the University of Washington, Banchero’s mom played professional basketball in the U.S. and Europe. Stardom is never projected on an athlete unwilling to strive for it, it appears at least Banchero is the type of athlete who thrives on producing top notch basketball play. A number of issues could occur between now and June 23 but consider the name Banchero when filling out the NBA destinations for many of the Class of 2022.

He said it   

Kansas basketball is to be congratulated on winning the 2022 NCAA Tournament. There is a question for you...I wonder if you realize how difficult it is to win the men's tournament? The same teams have WON the men's championship every season with the exception of two in the last 20 years. Baylor won in 2021 and Virginia in 2019 that's it. Other than the two mentioned if we go back in that timeframe only 7 teams have won the tournament. Your winner has been Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, UConn, Louisville, Villanova or Florida has been crowned champion.

We could applaud those programs for being consistent winners, but it also points to the fact some particularly good teams over that time period have never won. We could include Gonzaga, Wisconsin and Michigan basketball along with other winning programs that failed to win a national championship. It should provide proof even a Gonzaga or Kentucky making the tournament with a spotless record can lose in the tournament. Every coach, student and school administration wants an opportunity to win it all, the door swings both directions. You can be ushered out quickly despite your record if you have a few down years.