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Basketball from a fans perspective

I had plans…but

The schedule for Eastern Michigan indicated a Sunday afternoon game. I had a plan to watch the game on ESPN+, the plan and implementation of that plan don’t always coalesce. My wife informed me about 9:00 a.m. “we” had a commitment around the noon hour, of course that meant no Eastern Michigan…no Emoni Bates. Before I proceed this is no slam at the program, but Eastern Michigan is not very good as evidence of their record. Last week EMU beat Atlanta International in Miami, on Sunday Atlanta International exacted revenge 101-73 in Ypsilanti. This account is based on reading the box score alone.

It appears EMU had a shooting problem in this game, from the floor 41.9% is okay however 15% from the 3pt line is downright pathetic, As for Emoni Bates it was him versus Florida International’s roster as he received little help from teammates. His box score total read 29 points, 6 rebounds and only 1 turnover, the only negative would be an 0-7 from the 3pt line. Bates can aid the cause for EMU but clearly needs help. For the season Bates is averaging 21.5 points 6.5 rebounds while shooting 44.7% from the floor and 36.4% from the 3pt line. The numbers while good don’t always provide us a Big Picture however it appears Bates might be on the road to a decent collegiate career. As for the NBA, that is an unknown at present.

NBA hands 

Recently I saw a photo of Shaq during his playing days, the basketball looked mighty small in his huge hands. Several players had or have the ability to palm a ball, i.e. hold it like a grapefruit. Dr. J. was famous for this with his arm often extended behind him. I decided to check the history, How they play and Hoopshype are the sources and discovered the following:

Boban Marjanovic 10.75 inches (hand length) 12-inch hand span

Shaquille O’Neal 10.25 inches (hand length) 12-inch hand span

Giannis Antetokounmpo 9.5 inches (hand length) 11.75 hand span

Greg Smith 9.5 inches (hand length) 12 inches hand span   

Connie Hawkins 10.5 inches (hand length) 11-inch hand span

There is our Top 5 all time, as for Dr. J. he came in 7^th with (hand length) 9.5 inches 11.5 hand span and surprise, Wilt Chamberlain was in 10^th place with 9.5 inches (hand length) 11.75 hand span.

You thought wrong

I’m sure many of you believed I was all about Victor Wembanyama, well that’s partially true. I’ve also got my eyes focused on Scoot Henderson the 18-year-old wunderkind. I was really disappointed Sunday evening when I discovered he wasn’t playing in Team Ignites game against the South Bay Lakers. Scoot remained in percussion protocol and couldn’t play, despite that fact let’s take a look at the numbers. The NBA was clearly in his sights, he said there was no desire on his part to attend college. Last season against veteran G-League pros Scoot averaged 14 points along with 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The only downside to his first year as a pro his field goal percentage while not bad could have been a slight bit better. That was then this is now; his sophomore season numbers have risen drastically. Scoot’s leading the G-League in scoring at 21.2 points per game while raising his shooting percentage, in addition he’s also the league leader in assists with 6 a game. He’s third in steals and fourth in rebounds despite standing 6 foot 2. This second year is his last in the G-League, by the time of the June draft Scoot will have turned 19 and is draft eligible. So now you see it’s not just Wemby on my focus, there is attention on another, his name Sterling “Scoot” Henderson. Expect to hear the commissioner announce his name immediately after Wemby is drafted.

Is it event or no longer a thing now  

Okay I exaggerate a bit the game is not cataclysmic however it is noteworthy for some. Don’t include me in the number in Mizzou Nation clambering for this game. For the first time since 2012 Bill Self and his Kansas Jayhawk team will play a game in Columbia Missouri. 2012 Mizzou left the Big XII Conference for the SEC, since that time an icy relationship has existed between the two programs. In 2017 the teams met in an exhibition game in T-Mobile Center to raise funds for hurricane relief. I am unsure who came up with this endeavor, but Bill Self finally relented and agreed to play Mizzou once again. The athletic departments of both schools would later agree to a 6-game series divided between the two campuses with the final game to be played in Kansas City at T-Mobile. The first game between the schools was scheduled for the fall of 2020 but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last season Kansas and Mizzou met in Lawrence with the Jayhawks defeating the Tigers 102-65. The rivalry between the schools was/is one of the oldest in the nation and first played March 11, 1907. It was once titled the Border War since Kansas and Missouri share a common border, but a few thought the term might denote violence rather than a basketball game. With historical connection to the American Civil War was in the minds, the game has since been re-named the Border Showdown. In any event the game will be played December 10^th at 4:15 p.m., in addition ESPN will provide television coverage of the match for the nation. The game has already been announced as a sell-out at Mizzou Arena, for those in the area good luck with attempting to locate a ticket or two for the game. It is a little strange, my desire is for Mizzou to win however if that fails to occur it’s just that a loss. I’m satisfied with Mizzou in the SEC, the Big XII…never mind.