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Blue Blood programs

Is Mizzou basketball prepared to enter the realm of the Blue Blood programs, I hope so but we must first define the term for those who might be unfamiliar with it. Over time, a select number of basketball programs have won multiple NCAA championships and frequently attracted most of the highly rated high school talent. These select number of schools were anointed Blue Blood programs by the media. Recently one member used the term to designate Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, UConn, Kansas and Indiana basketball. Is the list valid in your view of championship basketball programs.  

For fans of Indiana basketball, please note that the team has not secured an NCAA championship title of late. Talent has continued to be recruited over time however it was 1987 the last year Indiana fans could refer to their team as NCAA champions. Some might question UConn being included however they have won 6 championships since 1999. Did you notice a school missing from our list, how about the UCLA Bruins with 11 championships the most in NCAA history but only 1 since 1995? Back to Mizzou to complete this account, I believe they are undertaking “baby steps” on the road that leads to the program becoming a Blue Blood program. It’s my belief the coach is in place in Dennis Gates, he and staff are able recruiters and have dealt with the challenges of NIL. A fan questioned how Mizzou was able to receive a commitment from Jason Crowe Jr., Class of 2026. I’ve mentioned this previously Crowe Jr. is a 5-star prospect and number 4 rated by ESPN 100.

Jason Crowe Sr. met Dennis Gates years ago at a time when the elder Crowe was trying to earn a roster position on an NBA team. The father’s acquaintance with Gates goes back years prior to the son’s birth so a bit of connection existed. Expect Mizzou to receive future commits on the level of Crowe Jr., there is only the one key issue remaining…winning. Gates and staff must “learn” to compete effectively with Auburn, Alabama plus Kentucky and other SEC members. Mizzou must establish a consistent winning record and hopefully at some future date an NCAA championship. While I am outlining an ambitious path forward for Mizzou basketball, it is essential the present and incoming talent must embrace a championship mindset in order to achieve success at the highest level. 

You didn’t ask

I am going to explain this although you didn’t ask, “My list of favorite NBA teams.” From your continued reading most are aware my blood is not red, when I receive a cut or scrape my blood is Purple and Gold. Of course those are the colors of my Lakers, I have been a fan and they have been my favorite NBA team since…forever. My number two team has changed over time, once it was the Magic but no longer. Number 2 is the Spurs and this is not a Tim Duncan/Tony Parker/Manu Ginobili thing it’s much more, it’s a Wemby thang. I’ve long admired former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich but not any particular Spurs player until the 7-foot 5 Victor Wembanyama arrived.

Wemby is an exciting athlete and I have found myself rooting for the Spurs except when they play my Lakers. Number 3 and 4 alternate at times, allow me to say the Dallas Mavs and Houston Rockets both Texas teams. After re-reading this it would appear I love the Texas brand of NBA basketball. Number 5 might be the Warriors of Golden State, in a manner similar to many of you I became a fan once “Lights out” Steph Curry began scoring in substantial numbers and they became a championship team. Are there others, yes there are: I could place the Clippers at 6 based on their gregarious owner Steve Ballmer. The exercise concludes at this time however I wanted to provide you a brief glimpse of my NBA.

I wondered…have you

The perception has been “football pays for everything,” that might be true but there are several major college basketball programs existing with no football played. We kick off (sorry that’s funny) several major schools play no football, most at one time played the sport but gave it up years ago. This should not be considered complete because there are a number of schools omitted for space purposes. One of the most successful basketball programs in the nation Gonzaga gave up football in 1942 after the start of World War II, once the war was over football never returned. How about the Seton Hall Pirates, there’s been no football played at the school since 1913. As for DePaul and Providence similar to Gonzaga apparently they curtailed the sport during the war and never re-started it, it was 1939 and 1941 for them.

A tragedy might be the beginning why Wichita State cut out its football program. Two charter flights took off for a game against Utah State October 2, 1970, one crashed killing 37 persons including the head football coach and a number of football players. In 1986 the administration of Wichita State decided to discontinue its football program. Marquette has produced a number of outstanding basketball players some who managed NBA careers, over time we can state there’s been no football player since the sport was discontinued in 1956. I’ve never visited the school but I’ve been informed Pepperdine located near the Pacific Ocean has one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. As for its football program the school gave that up in 1961. Queens New York is home of the historic St. John’s basketball team, as for football the school ceased operations in 1909 with concerns about safety. The administration of each school operates differently but anytime someone informs you “football pays for all other sports.” Please inform them it depends on which school they might be discussing, Ohio State most certainly but Gonzaga is a different story.

There are point guard then there’s Magic   

A handful of top notch point guards have played in the NBA over its existence. A number you and I only witnessed through video while we saw others in their prime. The list is not very extensive, there’s Bob Cousy Celtic great along with Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier who led the Knicks to two championships. It would be an injustice to leave off ‘The Big O,’ Oscar Robertson, he was Mr. Triple Double long before Russell Westbrook. We can add Jazz point John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time assist leader. There are others, Isiah Thomas of the Pistons, Steve Nash and still an active player, Chris Paul. I love me some Steph Curry but he’s more of a shooter (a lights out one at that) over a true point guard I make that same statement regarding Russell Westbrook.

Naturally, there are point guards you might believe should be included on this list and perhaps they are however the names mentioned are the standouts I see. I might pose a further question, what occurs when the game is on the line, who is your leader during the NBA Finals, there is only one name and it belongs to the Lakers Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. Who do you want leading you at this crucial time…I submit his name. As proof this is offered, the top four records for most assists in an NBA Finals is held by the Magic man. Walt Frazier of the Knicks with 73 assists over 7 games, followed by Bob Cousy of the Celtics with 70 assists also in 7 games. The following will provide details on the number of games in each series, as well as the years, total assists, and per-game statistics for Earvin Johnson.

7 games 1984 95-13.57 assists

7 games 1988 91-13 assists

6-games 1985 84-14 assists

6-games 1987-78-13 assists