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Basketball from a fans perspective

“You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.”

Kareen Abdul Jabbar

Change the culture

Depending on your age you probably don’t realize, Mizzou basketball was quite successful in the past. No NCAA Championship trophy(s) lie about but under former coach Norm Stewart the Tigers often ran the table especially in the former Big 8. In 1999 the old coach was fired (or forced into retirement) depending on who you read. In the intervening 24 years the program’s been on a roller-coaster some good but certainly lacking continuous success over a number of seasons. No need of going into detail about the right guy being hired for the job, has that occurred now with Dennis Gates. The question might be asked, has Gates changed the culture at Mizzou, that matter and others will not be answered this season.

Truth is it might not be answered after the 2024-25 season, Gates must win over a sustained period of time. The coach is entering year two after a winning first season and an NCAA berth a feat not thought possible by most including me. As for this season most of Mizzou Nation contains high expectations but they are likely halfway to the moon regarding the Class of 2024. This class is the best ever in my opinion recruited by Mizzou should all the commits sign on the dotted line. Best ever including the 2017 Class, one that brought Michael Porter Jr./Jontay Porter to Mizzou. Sunday afternoon a verbal commitment arrived from 4-star prospect 7 foot 3 Trent Burns from Houston. Last week it was 4 (5 star by some sites) Annor Boatang a 6-foot 5 wing from Little Rock. A month ago saw two 4-star prospects commit to Mizzou, 7-foot 300-pound Peyton Marshal and 6 foot 6 Marcus Allen. Earlier in the summer T.O. Barnett also a 4-star prospect committed, he’s a 6-foot 4-inch point guard. Along with the excitement comes the disclaimer, it’s possible one or more of these prospects change their mind before next fall.

The second bit of information I’d like to pass on we might discover some cannot make the leap from high school to Division I play. Notice I didn’t say all because I believe there is a talented player behind the others waiting for the opportunity. In closing this next portion of discussion is more cosmetic than anything but I thought it noteworthy. 247Sports indicates Mizzou has the number one recruiting Class in the nation for 2024, recently Rivals.com placed Mizzou at number two. I’m sure with this latest commitment they have moved Mizzou into the top slot as well. In closing allow me to say I’m at the point where I believe this coach and staff can recruit any player in the nation they desire.

Boy, I sure hope he’s worth the effort

I wrote earlier Laker coach Darvin Ham indicated he called Christian Wood everyday while Wood was attempting to make his decision. I thought if Ham was correct that’s a little extreme and then I discovered there is even more to the story. Laker vice president of basketball operations and GM Rod Pelinka also added to the story. Pelinka indicates he contacted Wood’s agent on “almost a daily basis for two months.” My only comment is I sure hope the 6-foot 9 Wood is worth the effort put forth to acquire him. He is not thought of so highly in Dallas. Wood’s former coach Jason Kidd Wood of the Mavs said this about him.    

“He was not a big fan because he was a mediocre defender. Kidd always preaches that defense is a big part of their game, but Wood did not live up to his potential as a rim-protecting big.” On the other hand reports are he looks forward to forming a combo with Anthony Davis. So you have the enigma the Lakers face in the upcoming season with the acquisition of Wood. Will the Lakers see what appears to be the version of Wood his former coach witnessed play or the one who appears enthusiastic about becoming a Laker. If I could take on a wait and see viewpoint on Russell Westbrook or Patrick Beverley I don’t see why the same cannot exist regarding Wood.

Height is great but talent is more important

In just a few short weeks Victor Wembanyama will exhibit his skill on an NBA court, we marvel at these giants who play the game at altitude. Height is certainly important but skill and talent much more imperative. If we look at the NBA alone a number of very tall players have appeared in the game over time. The question always arises, how good were they? Based on my research, it’s quite clear height alone fails to make one a great or even a respectable basketball player. Take a look at the Top 5 tallest players in the NBA. We begin with Gheorge Muresan from Romania, he stood 7 feet 7 inches and 315 pounds, he was tied as the tallest player in NBA history.

Muresan played in the NBA from 1993-2000 for two NBA teams, with a lifetime scoring average of 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 307 games its clear he was just tall. Manute Bol from Sudan also stood 7 foot 7 but was a wafer thin 200 pounds. Bol played for four NBA teams from 1985-1994, he did have a modicum of success playing for Don Nelson as a three-point specialist. Overall his career numbers, 2.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 625 games are quite modest. Next up is Tacko Fall from Senegal he remains an active player although he’s no longer in the NBA, with a height of 7 foot 6 inches he weighed 311 pounds. In 37 NBA games he averaged 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds a game. Also at 7 foot 6 was Slavko Vranes from Montenegro who played but one game for the Blazers in 2004. Shawn Bradley was expected to lead the Sixers to glory, he stood 7 foot 6 and 275 pounds. From 1993-2005 he played for three NBA teams, 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds a game in 832 games.

It always appeared Bradley was not “mean” enough to play center in the NBA…he was just too nice a guy. Although his NBA career was cut short due to injury Yao Ming from China has to be the best of all. He also stood 7 foot 6 and 310 pounds, for the Rockets in 481 games he scored 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. In 2016 Yao was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, this despite the belief by some his NBA career had been too short. As you have discovered Yao Ming was the only exception the others were simply tall while Yao had game skills.

Bits n Pieces

Show of hands which of you purchased the Wilt Chamberlain jersey? The famous auction house Sotheby’s sold Chamberlain’s 1972 jersey for $4.9 million, he was Finals MVP in 1972. There is additional significance with that championship. Every season the Lakers were matched against the Celtics who always managed to beat them. The Lakers won the series 4 games to 1 over the Knicks where Chamberlain was the MVP.

The Border Showdown between Kansas and Mizzou is scheduled for Saturday December 9 at 4:15 p.m. This is a return to Allen Fieldhouse and Lawrence Kansas. I must check but it’s my belief unless the series is renewed this will be the last season the Border Showdown will be played. In December 2021 Kansas beat Mizzou and last season in Columbia they were winners again. You didn’t ask my opinion however I’m sharing it anyway. After Mizzou left the Big XII I’d hope the rivalry would continue but Kansas refused to play for years. At this point I could care less if Mizzou ever plays Kansas again.

Any time you hear “interim coach” applied to someone you might think the guy has been hired on a temporary basis. Most often that is the case, however, there are always exceptions to this declaration. In this instance the discussion centers around former West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. At the time Bob Huggins resigned (or was terminated) by West Virginia Josh Eilert was named interim coach. This was the case of the school hiring a coach with 18 years on the job under Huggins at WVU. The athletic director making the announcement indicated Eilert was the right hire. As for Eilert he will be under more pressure than 98% of his fellow college coaches. He will be replacing a Hall of Fame and West Virginia legend in Bob Huggins. With the lengthy time he’s served on Huggins’ staff he’s not a guy who must introduce himself around.