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Basketball from a fans perspective

The record remains intact

Pete Maravich’s scoring record remains, Detroit Mercy and Antoine Davis did not receive an invite to the CBI Tournament. There are no issues with Antoine Davis personally it’s the manner the record would have been broken plus the length of time. As explained earlier Maravich scored 3,667 points while at LSU in three seasons, Davis scored 3,663 points in 5 seasons. At the time of the regular season it was believed Detroit Mercy might receive an invite to the tournament. 

The eldest Maravich son expressed his displeasure with the possibility of the record being broken. “I think it’s an extremely cheap and shameful attempt to break an all-time record,” said Jaeson Maravich. Back to Davis, there were two years beyond the number Maravich played plus the advantage of a 3-point line. Maravich is correct, Detroit Mercy with a regular season losing record would have entered the tournament intending to break the record. I have no issue with Davis it was just the manner the record would have been broken. Now that Detroit Mercy passed on the tournament the Maravich number remains into infinity.

Move over Mizzou, Kansas State

In the pre-season Mizzou was picked near the bottom of the SEC, we could make the same statement regarding K-State in the Big XII. Neither school was expected to be very good let alone earn an NCAA Tournament berth, both had new head coaches in place. There is one other school that was not predicted to accomplish much this season. Shaka Smart was in his second year at Marquette University and his team was made a pre-season 9 pick in the Big East Conference.

What did they accomplish, I’m glad you ask the question, Marquette is seeded 2^nd in the East Regional? Was the spotlight too intense in Austin for Smart. I’ve mentioned this on more than one occasion, I believed Texas basketball would be great with him as head coach. Smart’s success at VCU was the basis for my belief. It turns out the basketball was just a little above average; the coach might be in a more secure setting with a return to a mid-major school.

Laker Nation can only hope

Other than the Sunday night loss to the Knicks the Lakers have played good basketball. This renewed play is post All-Star break as we know, I was cornered on Sunday with the question. “How are the Lakers going to play when the old man returns?” My friend was referring to the injured LeBron James and he mentioned how LeBron dominates the basketball when he’s on the court, I had to admit I can only hope. The Lakers have been playing better defense, in addition they are speedy up and down the court. LeBron is LeBron and the hope by Laker Nation he sees how effective the team’s played in recent weeks. It could be him adapting rather than the other way around. Despite the Sunday loss Laker Nation approves of play in recent weeks.  

I missed this one

You remember the Chris Beard story, good basketball coach but with problems. Back in December the police were called to his home due to a domestic disturbance. His fiancé’ claimed he assaulted her which he denied, Beard was arrested. Much later his fiancé’ tried to walk it back claiming nothing occurred. The University of Texas suspended Beard in December and in January the school fired him. For unexplained reasons the case was dropped in the middle of February, Beard was free although he had no job.

I wrote at the time my belief Beard would take time off and maybe surface next season as head coach at a mid-major institution. That was then this is now; CBS Sports is reporting Ole Miss has hired Beard as head coach. As stated at the beginning of this piece Beard is a good basketball coach, we don’t know if he might suffer anger issues. I never believed he should be prevented from coaching in fact there is only one instance I thought a coach should receive a permanent ban. In any event expect Ole Miss basketball to be vastly improved next season.

He is the best

I watched Alabama’s Brandon Miller in action Saturday against Mizzou and against A&M on Sunday. I’m not sure who made the statement however it was said, “He’s (Miller) definitely the third pick in the 2023 draft.” It’s Victor Wenbanyama or Scoot Henderson one-two or two-one depending on which mock draft you might use. Miller has all the tools needed to play at the next level, now the controversy surrounding him. As most are aware he supplied the handgun used in the commission of a murder by a former teammate’s acquaintance. Rest assured this is going to be among the first questions asked by those in NBA front offices.

The decision by Miller to provide a gun is tragic, I believe there was no forethought it would be used to commit a murder. No criminal charges are pending against Miller as this is written, despite that fact he must share a degree of responsibility for the young mother who lost her life. I said this previously the mother who died has a small child who is now forced to grow up without his mother. Miller will sign a huge NBA contract in June or July, as the number three pick he should designate a sum of money to the family for the care of this child. It’s difficult to place a dollar amount on someone’s life let’s just say it should be a substantial amount. It’s not going to relieve Miller of guilt associated with the tragic loss of life but it’s just the right thing to do. In addition it should be made known to the public.