Basketball from a fans perspective

Selection Sunday

The NCAA has officially announced the brackets and seedings for the upcoming tournament. As soon as the announcement was made, analysts began discussing which teams deserved their placement and which did not. Notably, there was debate about North Carolina receiving an invitation while West Virginia was overlooked. How far did this manage to travel…you think the governor of West Virginia involving himself in this matter is that serious? The selection committee provided an explanation of how the field was selected, though it remains complex and challenging to fully grasp. Understanding the intricacies of quantum physics might be simpler than comprehending this process.

Some teams have already been labeled potential "Cinderella" teams ahead of Thursday's games. As I mentioned on Sunday, I will not create a bracket but will instead enjoy watching as much of the tournament as possible. My favorite team, the Missouri Tigers, will have my support, regardless of how far they advance. Additionally, I find it increasingly tiresome to hear local sports football commentators discuss basketball. Please provide only the scores and other vital information without attempting to analyze the selection process. As LaVar Ball might say, “Stay in your lane,” Friday and Saturday all I heard was NFL and Chiefs talk. You should stick to what you do best, Chiefs and the NFL. Am I becoming too strong-willed on this subject, possibly.

Surprise

Sometimes, you come across news when you least expect it, this was the case for me recently. On Saturday, I arrived at the barber shop for my scheduled haircut appointment. As my barber was finishing up with another customer, I took a seat and waited for about five minutes. The customer appeared to be a large guy but his full stature became apparent only when he stood up from the chair. He looked to be around 6 feet 5 inches or 6-6, weighing between 230-240 pounds. After this customer left, my barber was informed by another barber this customer's son played basketball at a local high school.

Upon hearing the name Ethan Taylor, I recalled that his son had been featured on a recent local sports newscast. Taylor is currently in his junior year at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee Kansas, a city in the KC Metro. Taylor is 7 feet 1 inch and weighs 245 pounds, the three major sites I utilize Rivals, On3.com and 247 Sports identify Taylor as a top prospect in the Class of 2026. This young athlete has received five scholarship offers, including one from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). However, it is anticipated that he will take some time before deciding on his college choice. I rarely see any high school basketball anymore, it might be worth a trip to see him in action in his senior year in the fall.

I don’t get no respect    

The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield used the line "no respect," which might apply to Victor Wembanyama today, whose sophomore season was shortened due to thrombosis. Some NBA veterans have commented on Wembanyama's skill set in comparison to Bol Bol's. Tim Hardaway recently stated, “I think Bol Bol has the same ability as Victor Wembanyama,” and expressed that Bol has not had enough opportunities. Shaquille O’Neal has echoed similar sentiments about him.

Bol Bol was drafted by the Heat in the 2019 draft, but his draft rights were traded to the Nuggets. In 2022, he and others were traded to the Magic, where he was subsequently waived. In July 2023, the Suns signed Bol to a 1-year contract, and in 2024 he re-signed with them. Despite multiple team changes and evaluations by different coaches, Bol is still only 25 years old. His abilities have been described variably, with Shaquille O'Neal eventually referring to him as lazy. While opinions on Bol's potential differ, it is clear that some NBA veterans see more in Bol than what has been demonstrated on the basketball court.

Meanwhile….

Rick Pitino, at 72 years of age, holds a distinctive record. According to ESPN, he has successfully led six different schools to the NCAA Tournament. While some may view his numerous relocations as unconventional, this achievement remains exceptional. There’s been no other coach in NCAA history to accomplish this undertaking, below are the schools Pitino has guided:

Boston University (1978-1983)

Providence (1985-1987)

Kentucky (1989-1997)

Louisville (2001-2017)

Iona (2020-2023)

St. John’s (2023-present)

The Lakers may not have felt as urgent a need for a post player if they had allowed more time for the development of Ivica Zubac, he was selected as the 32nd pick in the second round of the 2016 draft. Standing 7 feet tall and 240 pounds, Zubac did not receive significant playing time with the Lakers and was subsequently traded to the Clippers in February 2019. Despite not being the focal point of the Clippers’ offense, Zubac has consistently performed well in his role. This season, he has notably experienced a career year, which has seen him average 16 points and 12 rebounds a game while shooting 62% from the floor. The Lakers received Mike Muscala in the trade, in July 2019, he signed a free agent contract with the Thunder.