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Basketball from a fans perspective

4-0

After the Saturday loss to A&M this member of Mizzou Nation is down but not out. “David Downers” are emerging from all over the place based on two losses in a row. Those who were singing the praises of Mizzou basketball are now pointing fingers and asking questions. Believe you me I am not a member of that chorus. What do I expect for the future, I’m glad you asked me? The Tigers have 4 games remaining before the SEC Tournament beginning with Mississippi State tomorrow night. This is my expectation despite the fact 2 of the 4 games are on the road. The Tigers will end the season on a 4-game winning streak (I hope).

I realize I’m going out on a limb; you are welcome to call me brave or foolish whichever term you believe best fits. Checking the latest Top 25 list it contains two teams, Iowa State and Tennessee David Downer seems to have forgotten Mizzou was able to beat. Despite what the immediate future holds I’ve got to be just as excited about Mizzou basketball beginning next season. This season we’ve seen just a tidbit of how Dennis Gates intends to execute his basketball program over the course of the following seasons. The fact is this present team was built on the fly. As for the defense it will be there however the offense will contain an inside presence and the ability to rebound the basketball improve substantially.

There is no battle

If you’ve read this blog any length of time, you’d tend to believe I have an adversarial relationship with sports media especially those covering basketball. That is far from the truth, I have a problem with those in the media who believe their opinion is the only one that matters. Several in the media especially those who cover basketball be it television or sports talk radio have become actors especially on television. The “acting” occurs with television over radio because it’s visual, we can see how animated and boisterous they often become in their approach to the story.

On the other hand there are those in sports media I continue to read or anticipate their television or radio appearances. These individuals most often drop what I like to call truth bombs, bits of knowledge I didn’t realize or were familiar with. These I would title the voice of reason; do I disagree with their take on subjects at times…of course I do but that’s the beauty for me. I once heard this statement and believe it rings true, “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” Generally when hearing from those who clash with them, I don’t hear a cantankerous tone in their response. I realize this subject is one visited often however I’m never sure of the readership, is this someone who’s been reading Off the Dribble for a few weeks or one of several years.

Load management

You don’t like it neither do I, players resting. They are not recovering from injury or any such malady they simply have little if any desire to play the game. I was shocked, 21-year old Anthony Edwards has a word or two about the matter. His view is not going to change anything but it does detail the dilemma for many of today’s NBA players. “Just play man. If you 70-80%, you gotta play. I don’t like all the sitting and missing games…These people (fans) might not have enough money to come to one game and you sitting out.” The NBA season is a long grind, September training camp and middle of October season start.

If we add the playoffs teams playing for the NBA championship in June would play over 100 games. Although they haven’t been eliminated the league is trying to reduce the number of back-to-back games. If we throw in the travel, you can understand where this is headed. Despite all the negatives facing players I continue to believe load management has gotten out of hand. Is there a fix for this growing problem, hopefully someone has an answer? I certainly make no claim in how to address it. The NFL has it far easier due to the number of games, can you imagine this? You are a Bengals fan expecting to see Patrick Mahomes dual with Joe Burrow. Prior to game time an announcement is made Mahomes is not playing, and you later discover its due to load management.

He’s got a job

I could be wrong; I’ve had to retract statements in the past this might be one. John Calipari will remain in Kentucky until John Calipari decides and there are a number of reasons. Probably at the top of the list he’s got a “lifetime contract.” Several years ago it was decided to reward the coach in this manner, I’m unaware of anyone fired with a life contract maybe you can correct me. The 2022-23 season has been disastrous unlike many in past years, after all its always been about winning with this program. We must return to the Billy Gillespie years (2007-2009) to find a Kentucky team with as deficient a record as this season.

One thing we can be assured of I have serious doubts if the coach has lost his desire to do the one thing he loves. This reassurance is certainly not comforting to Big Blue Nation, many are accustomed to seeing their favorite team at or near the top in most polls and certainly in the SEC. This season’s witnessed Alabama rising to the top, Auburn and Tennessee are right behind them. I hope you don’t expect this downward trend to continue for Kentucky. The other teams mentioned will remain playing top notch basketball but so will Calipari’s team. USA Today and others claim Kentucky has one of the top recruiting classes in the nation headed for Lexington in August. In addition we have no idea what the transfer portal might bring about in addition to an outstanding freshman class. These are keys to an anticipated turnaround for Kentucky basketball next season.