June 2009 - Posts
Kansas fans can exhale. Xavier Henry is still coming to Lawrence.
One of the nation’s prize recruits – a 6-6 sweet-shooting guard is high on anyone’s list – gave the Jayhawk faithful a tense 12 hours or so on Tuesday when word surfaced that Henry was re-considering his commitment to Bill Self’s squad and possibly headed to Kentucky (if only to complete what was already a ridiculously good recruiting class).
But later that night, Henry texted a radio station he was sticking with KU.
“I’m going to Kansas and that’s final,” the text read.
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Mike Krzyzewski to the Lakers isn’t happening. Told you it was an easy choice.
Coach K left no room for future speculation – unlike other sports figures who refuse to ever, ever go away – about current employer. He’s staying at Duke. It wasn’t Drew Rosenhaus short, but it was simple, direct and clear.
"I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching," he said Tuesday. "I'm not going to the Lakers. They have one of the great coaches in the game [in Phil Jackson]. I can't do it as well as he can.”
So he made a statement without any wiggle room. And for that, many thanks should go to Coach K.
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One of 2010’s prize recruits sounds too good to be true.
Harrison Barnes is a 6-foot-7 wing, blessed with a massive wingspan, a solid perimeter shot and excellent ball-handling skills. He’s also a dedicated baller, committed to the gym.
The nation’s No. 2 overall recruit (according to Rivals.com) even logged an impressive few days at the Pangos All-American camp recently.
Yes, that’s fairly routine for a star prospect. The spectacular stuff comes next.
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Coach K possibly coaching the Lakers? It’s déjà vu all over again.
Back in 2004, shortly after the Shaq vs. Kobe fallout and a disappointing NBA finals, the Lakers courted Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who turned down a five-year, $40 million offer to coach L.A (despite a sales pitch from Kobe Bryant). The team turned to Rudy T instead, had a couple of sub-par seasons, coaxed Phil Jackson back to town and eventually won that elusive 15th NBA title.
It was Jackson’s 10th ring. He told the L.A. Daily News that his coaching future would be based his health (he’s 63) and if “enough’s enough.” Derek Fisher thinks Jackson will return, but says he’s sure about him.
Which goes back to Coach K. Would he seriously consider the Lakers this time?
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Despite an abundance of talent, Lance Stephenson’s college career is still on hold. And it could be that way for a while.
Maryland – fresh off the news that do-it-all point guard Grevis Vazquez will return to school – has stopped recruiting the high school star. Yes, Gary Williams’ program could use a boost. Doesn’t matter. Sounds like they’ll take their chances without one of 2009’s elite talents. (Much to some fans’ chagrin.)
Terps officials are worried about a possible fiasco with Stephenson’s eligibility. He also faces a court date later this month regarding a misdemeanor sexual assault charge.
Sure, he’s talented, but there’s enough baggage that teams are scared of taking him. And really, who wants to get burned?
Turns out there’s still one school that is recruiting Stephenson.
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Nearly every piece is now in place for next year’s Top 25. Nearly every recruit is in place. Only a few schools are without a coach.
And the deadline for the NBA draft’s early entrants has now … passed. (Well, at least those players who didn’t sign an agent. Guys like Jonny Flynn were done with school long ago.) That means the ridiculously early Top 25s that circulated after North Carolina won the NCAA tournament can be updated with meaningful changes.
Like Syracuse dropping out, Mississippi State moving up and Washington holding steady. The No. 1 team on my old list didn’t change, but there was plenty of other movement. And, like 2008-09, there are groups to consider: the contenders, the hopefuls, the Top 25 rotation and everyone else. The teams are separated by slim margins – especially since it’s June. (June, people! Everything can and will change in the next six months.)
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The SEC’s basketball woes are over – even if you’re not a Kentucky fan.
Little by little, the league everyone loved to kick around last season (including me), caught some nice breaks this spring. Kentucky’s recruiting class grabbed most of the attention, but the players withdrawing from the NBA draft are just as crucial and should help the SEC at least double its number of schools in the NCAA tournament from 2009.
Never too early for a little hyperbole.
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USC offered up its own response Thursday to Tim Floyd’s resignation and the O.J. Mayo allegations with a pair of video statements from athletic director Mike Garrett and Todd Dickey, the senior vice president for administration.
To watch the six-minute video, click here. To read the transcript, click here.
Or, you can save a few minutes and read the short summary below.
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The predictable consensus on Tim Floyd’s resignation? He fell on the basketball sword to save USC’s football program.
That’s what happens when a one-paragraph letter lands on the athletic director’s desk and is accepted without a second thought. All that was missing was a return letter. “Thanks Tim, and enjoy the time off, Pete.”
The school – reeling from allegations of payments to O.J. Mayo from Floyd and the ongoing investigation of more alleged payments to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush – certainly hopes the resignation carries some weight with the NCAA.
And, after all the turmoil clears, just who is going to want this job?
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Villanova’s prospects for a Final Four return just got a little brighter.
Actually, a lot brighter.
After all, with Scottie Reynolds returning for his senior season, the Wildcats not only have a four-year starter and their floor leader back, but everyone knows Reynolds is the go-to guy for a game-winning shot.
Now, you'd have to slot 'Nova in as a true title contender for next season.
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Even if Arizona doesn’t land prize prep recruit Lance Stephenson, new coach Sean Miller got perhaps the best news of the springs: point guard Nic Wise is headed back to Tucson.
Wise isn’t the biggest name to return to school – that’d be either Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson or Miss State’s Jarvis Varnardo – but I’m not sure any player will be more crucial to his team’s fate in 2009-10.
“Now that I’ve made the decision, I’m really looking forward to my senior year,” he said. I bet. Instead of dragging the depths of the Pac-10, Arizona could be a darkhorse for next season.
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In an economy like this, every little bit helps. Little being the key word.
The NCAA announced Wednesday that it’ll suspend membership dues for next year, and also plans to distribute about $5 million to schools.
But … there are about 1,000 member schools. And dues are only $900 to $1,800, depending on which division you play in. So that’s about $6.3 million to divvy up, which works out to $6,300 per school.
What are they going to do, buy a Yugo?
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Tim Floyd has had better springs. The cracks are starting to show. The boosters at Monday’s USC Coaches Tour 2009 got the unfiltered version.
"Kansas has two players who would have been NBA lottery picks, Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins, and they are returning to school. Good for them. Our guys get an offer from Islamabad and they’re gone.”
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