Basketball from a fans perspective

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Grandfather to father to son

DaJuan Wagner Jr. is the Rivals number three prospect in the Class of 2023. He’s a 6-foot 2-point guard from Camden New Jersey but there is more to the story here, he’s got basketball blood running through his veins. His father DuJuan Wagner Sr. played his basketball at Memphis and was the 6^th pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Cavs but wait there is more. Grandfather Milt Wagner played his college basketball at Louisville and was the 35^th pick in the 1986 NBA draft by the Mavs. At this point among the most interesting list of school’s offering scholarships are those of his grandfather (Memphis) and Louisville (father). We must research this further however this might be the first instance we had three generations be featured in this manner. Is junior headed to the NBA too, we must wait until he graduates high school to make that determination.

A name you should know

Dick Barnett is 85-years old now, he must walk aided by a cane. Although he certainly had a good NBA career it was college where he first came to our public awareness. The 1950’s were a different time in the U.S., most black athletes attended HBCU schools and that was the case for Barnett. Although from Gary Indiana he would head south to Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) an NAIA institution and they would make history. Beginning in 1957 the school won three consecutive championships, the first school to accomplish this feat it wasn’t legendary John Wooden at UCLA. Barnett was selected MVP of the tournament in 1958 and 1959.

The late John McClendon was head coach at Tennessee A&I and Barnett would later play for him with the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League…not to be confused with the ABA. The ABL lasted one and a half seasons before folding in the winter of 1962. Barnett would be drafted by the Syracuse Nationals (who later moved to Philly becoming the Sixers) and played for them but two seasons. The Nats sold his rights to the Lakers where the sharpshooter’s NBA career would blossom. In October 1965 Barnett was traded to the Knicks remaining with them until his retirement in 1974. Barnett played with and against some of the NBA greats of that era, in 2019 he and his Tennessee teammates were enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City.

He speaks

Illness kept Dick Vitale on the sidelines for the past college basketball season, despite this fact he weighs in on the NBA Draft. Dickey V. claims the one college player ready on day one for NBA action is Paolo Banchero formerly of Duke. Banchero certainly has the size at 6 foot 10 and 250 pounds, do the Magic take him or Jabari Smith Jr.? Whatever the case the clock is ticking for the Oklahoma City Thunder, what do we suppose is their choice? Do we believe the pick might be the latest unicorn…Chet Holmgren? Over the years the youthful (44 years old) Sam Presti has managed to draft a number of outstanding players.

The problem for the Thunder Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook James Harden and others have managed to slip away through free agency or trades but that’s another story. On the surface Holmgren might represent the biggest mystery of all the draft choices this month. He’s got a tremendous upside with his shooting from distance and passing skills. The downside will opposing NBA players “chew him up and spit him out” as a gangly 194-pound power forward. It’s still early, there is no requirement for Presti and company to make a decision, but this is quite a dilemma in our estimation.

What do you think, on the surface this would appear to be a slam dunk choice for the Thunder? The team is in a rebuilding mode. They have the opportunity to draft a player to define the franchise over the next few years. On the other hand, this might be a gigantic misstep. We’ve been told despite being in the lineup day one the offensive emphasis was not on Holmgren. Could he be another one of those athletes who star shines brighter in the NBA over college? We’ve mentioned this previously, Kevin Durant’s strength was suspect at the time he arrived in the NBA perhaps Holmgren will fool us in that area too.

It's on once again 

The SEC-Big 12 Challenge will be held again in the 2022-23 college season. The games are scheduled for Saturday January 28 and the matchups are as follows:

Alabama vs Oklahoma

Auburn vs West Virginia

Florida vs Kansas State

Kansas vs Kentucky

Arkansas vs Baylor

Texas Tech vs LSU

Ole Miss vs Oklahoma State

TCU vs Mississippi State

Iowa State vs Mizzou

Texas vs Tennessee

The SEC has prevailed over the Big XII in 5 of the last 6 years.