Rants
I may have lost it. Just a bit.
Now that ESPN announced Oscar Robertson as No. 2 on their 25 Greatest Players in College Basketball, there’s no doubt Lew Alcindor’s No 1.
Was there ever any doubt?
And while I’ll disagree with their final list a bit, it seems strange to think that no player from the last 20 years was higher than 12 on ESPN’s list. There were only five from the last 25. Is the modern game lacking those elite players?
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As over-the-top fans grab more and more college basketball headlines, the question is raised: How much is too much?
Generally, four-letter words tend to dominate student sections. But some games are more than nasty language. And how do schools combat that?
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This one’s the ideal post for arguing among hoops fans. Except when you get to the top – then there’s little room for debate.
Just like in football, ESPN is counting down the 25 greatest players in college basketball history. (Click here for videos.) And it’s a loaded list.
The fun part about these lists is everyone has their version.
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Call it a gift for Georgetown, call it a horrendous call for Villanova or just call it part of the game, all three would be correct.
A “nudge” from Villanova’s Corey Stokes sent Georgetown’s Jonathan Wallace – who was 70 feet from the basket – to the free-throw with less than a second to play and effectively gave the Hoyas a 55-53 win on Monday.
Make the call? Don’t make the call?
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Of all the stories surrounding Bob Knight's resignation, one laments Knight, 67, as a dying breed of the “teacher-coaches” in favor of “younger, good-looking, extroverted figureheads” who can just put people in the seats.
Yes, that sounds like a cranky column, but I do understand the sentiment. Essentially, it’s about the transition from era into another one where coaches may not have the longevity as someone like Knight. And it’s worth a small lament.
But I think there's plenty of optimism for our future coaching stars.
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Sunday’s sobering thought? Hockey rates higher than college hoops among U.S. sports fans. In a recent Harris poll, five percent of surveyed fans say hockey is their favorite, compared to four percent who prefer pro or college hoops. Ouch.
What’s behind that? March Madness.
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It’s not as if Duke-North Carolina needs any extra hype. The two teams enter Wednesday’s game as No. 2 and No. 3 in the rankings, 3 and 4 in the RPI and 4 and 7 in kenpom.com’s ratings. Duke (19-1) hasn’t lost since Dec. 20. The Heels (21-1) won their first 18 games.
UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough is the leading candidate for Player of the Year, while only Kansas and Memphis have a deeper bench than Duke (maybe UConn and Tennessee, too). That alone would make it a monster matchup. Throw in the history between the two schools, and it’s MEGA.
Yet, what happened to our beloved traditional rivalries? How long until they again garner national attention?
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It’s Super Bowl media day. A time when nonsensical stories take center stage as the media horde (about 4,000 microphones worth) descends upon 100 or so NFL players a few days before the big game. Few questions actually relate to the game (Tom Brady was asked what his favorite band was, while Michael Strahan sang and Richard Seymour showed off his pedicure.)
On that note, I offer two college basketball stories about incidents off the court, tangentially related to the sport.
First, UConn coach Jim Calhoun.
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Conference play always has its share of upsets.
The Big East has had its share lately, whether it’s Cincinnati (9-9 overall, 4-2 in league play) beating two Top 25 teams in a week or UConn improving to 3-3 in conference standings after upsetting Marquette.
But I’m amazed by the Big 12’s weekend.
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When an announcement of another men's basketball tournament in March hit Wednesday, I wanted to throw up. Nothing major, just a little upchuck.
Another tournament? Does college basketball need a 16-team tournament to augment a 65-team NCAA Tournament and a 32-team NIT? Like I said, upchuck, because the idea sounds as good as late night shot of Jäger.
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