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Basketball from a fans perspective

The plight of the basketball Big Man

Will Peyton Marshall all 7 foot and 300 pounds be able to grow his game at Mizzou? By growing his game I’m simply stating be able to do all those things that will allow him to be a draftable commodity in the NBA. Consider the fact it’s more important to play successfully at Mizzou however don’t think the NBA is not in the back of Marshall’s mind. The question is asked for a couple of reasons, the Big Man game has all but disappeared. Offenses in the college game has followed the trend in the NBA, the emphasis now is 3-point shooting. Personally I hate seeing huge men standing outside 3 chucking up shots. 

The point I’m attempting to make, Marshall might have a “Shaquille O’Neal” breakout while at Mizzou and still be a second thought come NBA draft time. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, we have no idea if Marshall can make the leap from high school to Division I basketball. Check this next portion, I might refer to it as the plight of the Big Man in today’s basketball. Thanks to sharpshooting Steph Curry and others the game has become one of inside-out rather than outside-in. The first name I will mention is Udoka Azubuike, some might remember he played his college ball at Kansas. Although his time at Kansas was somewhat limited due to injury he was thought highly enough to be made pick 27 in the first round of the 2020 draft by the Jazz. He’s now with the Suns but will likely be backup to DeAndre Ayton.

Purdue center Zach Edey decided to return to school rather than face an uncertain future in the 2023 draft. The 7-foot 4 300-pound Edey registered good numbers but after receiving lukewarm draft news must have decided it might work to his advantage to acquire additional skill. The last name to mention is rookie Colin Castleton, he’s operating on a two-way contract with the Lakers. Castleton undrafted must have impressed the Laker coaching staff for his summer league play. He stands 6 foot 11 and 230 pounds, despite this fact the Lakers are still “searching” for a veteran post player.

Is the ground still moving?

I’m unsure if I can remember a period in time, conference teams and conferences across the nation have shifted this much. The Big XII Conference now finds its teams in four time zones, what happened to that regional thing? Big 10 sports will soon be operating in all four time zones as well, as this is written direction of the Pac-12 is an unknown. This shift causes a number of problems chief among them rivalries. Will Oregon and Oregon State become a rivalry of the past, what about Washington and Washington State? All four of those former Pac-12 schools will play in different conferences next season.

One more issue a friend brought to my attention the travel. No, not the teams the parents. There are parents who journey to see Bill or Belinda play. Going forward these parents must be more selective in which opposition games they intend to travel. Similar to most moves this one is certainly generated by revenue despite what you might believe. What remains of the Pac-12, as this is written the future remains somewhat murky. In closing there remain schools desiring to move or change conferences, a school at the top of most lists is Florida State followed by Gonzaga.

I know it’s early

We are weeks ahead of the start of NBA training camp, I know it’s early. Why not take a look at the 2024 mock NBA draft to check out a few names. Aaron Bradshaw the 7-foot freshman center at Kentucky is the top choice for nbadraft.net., the other sites echo the same person. Matas Buzelis a 6-foot 11-inch 190-pound shooting guard/small forward is number one for nbadraftroom.com and tankathon.com., he will be in action for the first time with G-League Team Elite.

Another name listed in the Top 7 on all sites is Ron Holland a 6-foot 7 small forward, Holland will also begin play this fall for G-League Team Elite. Keep in mind this is early, I am reminded of Kobe Brown now with the Clippers. Near this time last year the Mizzou forward’s name was no place to be seen yet he was made pick 30 in 2023. Then again consider this fact, the Lakers had two undrafted players Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge sign two-way contracts. We also could look at Austin Reaves now a starter for the Lakers, he was undrafted too. 

Bits n Pieces 

All of us realize how much travel exists during the NBA season. Obviously, the Warriors intend to cut down on the travel, particularly in the preseason. They will play five games but never leave the State of California. This is the schedule as announced, the Warriors open against the Lakers at home on Saturday October 7, they face the Lakers again this time in Los Angeles on Friday October 13. On Sunday October 15 the Kings will serve as host against the Warriors, and the Kings will visit San Francisco on Wednesday October 18. The preseason will conclude with them serving as host to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs Friday October 20.

Who is Gilbert Arenas, of course we know him as a former NBA player? I’m unsure why but lately he’s been all over my news feed. Generally speaking he’s been off base in his takes as far as I’m concerned. At the same time I can state he’s got the right to speak his mind, I can also state I’ve got the right to disagree with the majority of his takes. One of the most ludicrous his belief (at least he said it) Shaquille O’Neal is a better player than Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Why am I bothering to discuss this, Arenas offers no proof besides his opinion and the fact he once played in the NBA. Sorry Gilbert those two facts are not strong enough for me to come to your side of the table.

Mizzou’s schedule will contain a meeting with Illinois, beyond that the balance of the non-conference portion of the schedule is not set except these three games. Recently it was announced Mizzou will face Seton Hall and Minnesota. These are two schools that if memory serves me correctly have rarely been on Mizzou’s schedule. This will be a home and home series with Minnesota, with the first game scheduled November 16 there, next season the teams meet in Columbia. Mizzou will return to Kansas City and T-Mobile Center for the first time in four years to face Seton Hall on December 17. Although the date is yet to be finalized Mizzou will face Illinois December 20-23.