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Basketball from a fans perspective

Who are they?

The best of the best in first year college basketball coaches. There have been others besides Jerome Tang at K-State and Mizzou’s Dennis Gates who re-made their teams in 2022-23, who are they? One of the things I wanted to do, exclude an old guy in a new place. An example of this is Sean Miller at Xavier, he was previously at Arizona and Butler’s Thad Matta who once coached Ohio State. Chris Gerlufsen is the first name, he led San Francisco to a 20-14 record in his first season at the helm.

Gerlufsen’s served in the role of assistant coach at a number of stops prior to taking over the San Francisco program. For a single season he was head coach of Washington College a Division III program back in the 1998-96 season. There were other first year coaches not named Miller or Matta, however their first year on the job was not as noteworthy as Tang, Gates and Gerlufsen. The three first year coaches mentioned led their teams to more successful records than quite a few veteran coaches. Because of the method utilized those named were the only true qualifiers as new hires.

Hey, radio-TV guy

You might have noticed I’ve begun using a term, “radio guy” or TV guy.” You probably am unsure why this is being done, allow a brief explanation. Those who work in the sports media field such as Gary Parish of CBS Sports or Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News I will always mention their names. As for the screamers, those who I’d like to term actors they have become radio or TV guy. It’s my method of separating those I believe with credibility versus the others.

I will even use it with those who serve as broadcasters or analysts, especially those sitting behind a desk in a studio. Is my method fair, probably not, however it’s my decision alone. As for Parish and DeCourcy I don’t always agree with everything they say but there is a vast difference. I respect their view of the college game, no reason for me to adjust the volume on my television or radio with wild statements I’ve often heard from a segment of radio and TV guys. Anytime a subject is mentioned I’m going to leave it to your imagination who the subject might be.

NBA ready

That’s the question for the crop of 2023 athletes regarding the upcoming draft. One of those is Mizzou’s Kobe Brown, here’s a rarity an athlete in his senior year. If you ask me as late as last season about his pro prospects this is what you would have heard. Brown will earn a payday but not likely in the NBA it will be in Europe or Australia. Fast forward to the present and my review of his play has done a complete flip-flop. Was it working on his craft for his improvement in play, was it playing for a better Mizzou team or maybe a combination or something I missed completely?

Don’t be shocked to hear his name announced in the second round, the 6-foot 8 250 pound “combo” forward’s play has increased exponentially in his senior year. On the other hand he could pull an “Austin Reaves”, sign as a free agent and his work ethic providing team proof, he’s ready for the NBA. On the other hand Brown could wind up in the G-League, I’ve been wrong before so why should one additional time be effective? One of the reasons I am so enamored of Brown was he had an opportunity to abandon the program as some teammates did after last season. He remained in place and became the glue I believe held this Mizzou program together on the court. I hope to see him in the jersey of some NBA team next season.

Transfer Portal

In news not shocking or surprising…Mizzou’s Ronnie DeGray III is leaving the program. The 6 foot 6 inch forward was facing a numbers issue, it’s a little difficult to determine his impact. An injury sidelined him for a portion of his single season in Black and Gold. After playing starter minutes early in the season once he recovered other team members had taken his minutes. Based on the incoming crop of freshman, portal transfers and holdovers DeGray III might have found him out of the rotation again. I cannot be sure but perhaps Mohamed Diarra faced a similar issue, he’d announced earlier he was transferring. Nothing negative from me I hope both are able to land at a school that can effectively utilize their talent. Are there others who might leave…that’s possible however I cannot speculate regarding the candidate? Welcome to the world of Transfer Portal, it represents the present and future of college basketball.

Luka & Kyrie   

The Mavs might miss the playoffs despite having Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the lineup. They might have mortgaged their future to acquire Irving, why do I say that? The Mavs have no problem scoring the ball, especially with those two in the lineup. The problem as I see it, Kyrie and Luka are not great defenders. The remainder of the roster can defend but not necessarily at a high level. The Mavs who were good at defending the opposition are now during the same thing for the Nets rather than the Mavs.

Can the Mavs turn this thing around and make the playoffs, sure it’s certainly possible? Will it occur might be the larger question to answer. To end this short account there is a question whether Irving remains with the Mavs since he becomes a free agent July 1. You know the story, after a time Irving decided he wanted out of Brooklyn. There were stories about Kyrie re-uniting with LeBron but that wasn’t going to occur, the owner refused to trade him to the Lakers. Despite this fact Nets owner Joe Tsai remains a winner. Acting on Irving’s request Tsai got what he wanted; the Mavs received a rental player for a period of time. Tsai is the only one at this point smiling and you certainly know why.