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Basketball from a fans perspective

You might have to hold your nose

As I wrote earlier there are a number of upset fans in Big Blue Nation. They are dismayed about the play of their beloved Kentucky Wildcats, they might be more displeased with Coach Cal. This version of Wildcat basketball might stink but it would appear help is on the way, not this season but next season. If I were part of Big Blue, I would be exciting about the incoming crop of freshmen. This is the projection for next season additions for the Wildcats and how 247Sports rates them.  

Justin Edwards 6-foot 7 small forward 5-star

DJ Wagner 6-foot 3 combo 5-star

Aaron Bradshaw 7-foot center 5-star

Robert Dillingham 6-foot 2 point 5-star

Reed Sheppard 6-foot 3 combo 4-star 

Despite the appearance of a rescue there is much to take into consideration. No matter how talented this group is they are after all freshmen. They must adapt their game to the collegiate level, some players accomplish this in just a few games. A number of instances will find that prospect “lost” on the court until his sophomore year. In any event Big Blue Nation is not pleased but I have words for them. Those of us in Mizzou Nation had to wait a considerable period of time before we’d see competitive basketball again. For Big Blue it’s not been that long, hang in there. As for the coach his words, “If you want to get on me, that’s fine. I’m the coach.” This is difficult to believe by some, Kentucky beating Tennessee on their home court is considered an upset. 

He cannot be saved

Georgetown was only down 37-33 at the half, on the schedule was the Villanova Wildcats usually every teams Kryptonite. This time Nova came into the game with a 7-10 record, 2-5 in the Big East. In the end Georgetown was in its usual place a loser, this time it was 77-73. Oh how the once mighty have fallen might be my statement. At the time Patrick Ewing was patrolling the paint he and his Hoya teammates struck fear in most teams they faced but that’s history now. The loss to Nova was number 9 in a row for the season, it becomes the number 25 Big East loss in a two-year streak.    

They have a 5-13 record and are 0-7 in the conference and sinking fast. I’m unsure what could save the coaches job at this point unless they win the NCAA which is highly unlikely. Is it the coach or something else that’s caused this perennial basketball power to go over a cliff? I’ve always liked Ewing from his days at Georgetown and into the NBA with the Knicks. He won the big prize while in college, but it always eluded him with the Knicks. Perhaps Ewing is one of these guys with basketball knowledge but lacks ability as a head coach. There is no shame intended with that statement, allow this bit, Magic Johnson was one of my favorite players, but I believe he was a horrible head coach. Superstar players as coaches, Larry Bird is the only successful one to date in my view.

A brief explanation

From time to time you note there is an Emoni Bates story. For a few that might have missed my season opening statement or they might be unfamiliar with the Eastern Michigan guard. Allow a brief history, Bates had potential star written on his forehead early. The 6-foot 10 guard/forward would lead his Lincoln High in Ypsilanti Michigan to the Michigan State Championship as a freshman. His sophomore year would see a first, Bates was selected Gatorade National Player of the Year becoming the first accorded the honor. From that point on the public began to see changes, Bates dad pulled him from Lincoln and created a charter school.

After an up and down junior year he would reclassify, and his school of choice would be the University of Memphis. Bates freshman year began on a high note, but poor play and injury contributed to an up and down first year. Because of his age Bates was not eligible for the NBA draft so another decision was required. Over the summer Bates returned home and enrolled at Eastern Michigan University. At EMU it would appear he’s resurrected his basketball career however questions remain, for the most part his shooting has been decent (20.9 ppg) in his sophomore year. The problem for me (and maybe others) EMU is not particularly good, the school’s only won 4 games out of a total of 16. I wrote this in another account, it’s easy for us to see the offensive game of Bates on television.

We can check the box score for those totals the other parts are more difficult to analyze from our standpoint, example. His assist total is not particularly noteworthy, could it be he’s passing the ball and teammates are unable to score? How about his defense, one more area of concern we cannot fully address. In closing why the microscope on his game this season, we didn’t have the ability to see him in action due to injury and limited playing time. Does the NBA remain in the future for Bates, we shall see in the spring with an announcement by him and in the June NBA draft. One other note, for those who might believe Bates is too thin consider this fact. George ‘Iceman’ Gervin in the Hall of Fame was 6 foot 7 and 180 pounds during his playing days.

They ain’t never comin’ back

I’ve finally concluded the NBA will never return to my hometown; I’ve firmly convinced myself of that fact just looking at the history. In recent times, with the exception of Charlotte, Minnesota and soon Seattle the association has never returned to any of its former homes. I am not discussing the chaotic period of the 1950’s when NBA franchises went out of business annually, this discussion centers on the more recent period. Check this out without a great deal of research on my part, it’s not just Kansas City facing this dilemma. On the other side of the state we uncover the NBA leaving St. Louis in 1968, the city has never been mentioned since.

Despite its large population San Diego’s lost two franchises the Rockets (yes) and the Clippers. The expansion Rockets were born in Southern California in 1967, they would move to Houston in 1971 where they remain to date. Former owner Donald Sterling moved the Clippers from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984. The Cincinnati Royals departed for Kansas City in 1972, when’s the last time anyone has mentioned the NBA in connection with the City of Cincinnati. The Grizzlies departed Vancouver for Memphis in 2001, Vancouver is mentioned on occasion but more a Google search. Kansas City does have hope in this regard, should Royals icon George Brett and the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes decide to pool their funds and say “We want a franchise” I believe the NBA would accommodate them.