Continue reading »]]> A few days ago, UNLV forward DeShawn Mitchell was released from the UNLV basketball program, headed by Lon Kruger. This is the sixth player to leave the program over the past year and a half. To outsiders looking in, this would be cause for concern. Why would an up and comming program, returning to the national spot light, be losing all of these players? Is it the coach? The program itself? Let’s take a closer look:

DeShawn Mitchell (F) – Freshman last year, had one decent break out game on the road vs Texas Pan American where he scored 14 points. After that, he struggled to hold his spot in the rotation, with several DNP’s and few minutes when he did play (And this was on a squad STARVING for meaningful minutes from a forward. Come on now. They were playing 6’3 guys at Center vs a 7’3 freak from Utah. ANYBODY could have had minutes at the three front court spots had they shown even the desire to play defense). It comes down to playing defense, which Mitchell did not. He was a high flier and shook the place when he dunked, but that’s all he could do. Plus, with the additions of several promising forwards and guards (Chase Stanback, Derek Jasper, to name a few), I’m sure he could see the writing on the wall. The two mentioned players have been able to practice with the team for the past year. Couldn’t have been hard for Mitchell to figure out.

Beas Hamga (C) – The hype in this town about his prep rankings killed him before he even stepped foot onto the floor. The idea of having an athletic 7 footer to go toe to toe with whoever the Mormons recruit from Australia or some meteor was a nice thought. What actually turned out was a timid unprepared lanky kid who was 3 steps late on defensive rotations, had no concept of an offensive game, and was just not ready. He was not ready, yet he wanted the playing time. He’ll get it at whatever small Indiana school he ended up at, so good for him. UNLV does not change diapers.

Marcus Lawrence (G) – Joke. This is UNLV (I don’t say this like UNLV is some elite school. They’ve gone through the garbage before. Kruger is clean and won’t stand for crap). He should have known what was expected of him having been born and raised in Las Vegas. Coming to practice drunk? C’mon man. Didn’t get a lot of run, but showed a little promise. I think UNLV was glad to have him as a local guy just for people to get excited about, but if he were still around this coming season, he’d be on the bench. Belfield and Willis would have been all over this guy.

Lamar Roberson (F) – Did this guy even play? I only remember reading a news paper article about the guy being lazy. Whatever. Kruger isn’t going to fight with somebody who wants to leave when during his stay he didn’t even act like he wanted to be here in the first place.

Emmanuel Adeife (F) – Rumor has it this guy interrupted a post game meeting by leaving, even when Kruger told him to stay put. Kruger flips out and kicks him off the team on the spot. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Troy Cage (F) – I remember he seemed promising. Didn’t play much really. The ol’ internets say he moved onto a JC in Texas to play more. Good for him I guess. Can’t imagine him playing much this next year either.

So that’s the 6. Lots of forwards bounced, which was noticed this year. What I see is the changing of the guard. The caliber of player that left is below the caliber of player that is coming in. UNLV has attracted transfers from UCLA, Kentucky, Memphis, and evidently, soon to be Kansas with Quintrell Thomas, a big forward who played sparingly last year for the Jayhawks.

When a program makes a step, and better talent is attracted to the team, the old guard can see they’re soon to be put to the bench and makes their move to another spot in order to play. That and some of these other guys were just clowns that didn’t have a good enough idea that Lon Kruger is going to make you play defense and work hard. Those things are important.

So you outsiders with your negative aspirations as to the route the UNLV hoops program is headed – think again. Can’t wait for some midnight madness, and the changing of the guard is completed.

Continue reading »]]> This has been a great year of College Basketball. I can’t remember a time when there has been as much parity in the game. No clear cut two or three teams threatening to run away with everything. Last year we saw all four #1 seeds advance to the Final Four. It is certainly possible this year, however, I feel there are a pool of 8 potential serious contenders to cut down the nets in front of me in Detroit next month. (In no particular order you homers)

1. Connecticut:  Why they will –  All world big man Hasheem Thabeet will always give them a chance. A coach and program who’s been there before and knows how to get it done in March. Balanced scoring with four players averaging 13ppg. Why they won’t – One of those players is Jerome Dyson, who isn’t about to sniff a pair of sneakers for the rest of the year. Oh,  they can’t beat Pittsburgh either.

2. Pittsburgh:  Why they will - Best big man in the country hands down. DeJuan Blair is an animal who plays with fire, wants to be the best and has shown he can be against anybody in the nation. Why they won’t – Lost three road games this year, two that should have been won easily IMO, (@ Villanova, @ Providence). This shows me they are prone to overlook teams. Haven’t been there before.

3. Oklahoma: Why they will – Blake Griffin is a monster. Enough said. Why they won’t – The Sooners have stumbled as of late, with and without Blake.

4. Michigan State: Why they will – Battle tested coach who’s gotten it done before. Younger talented players have learned a lot with bad losses this season (I hope). Peaking at the right time. Why they won’t – The Spartans have been horribly inconsistent all year. No killer instinct. Young players tend to show their true colors in pressure situations.

5. Louisville: Why they will – Terrence Williams. Guy does it all, and Rick Pitino should write this guy into his will. Deep team with shooters off the bench (Jerry Smith, Andre McGee) provide a lift when often maligned Edgar Sosa wants to dribble the ball off his foot 50 times a game. Why they won’t – Any team that gets blown out by Notre Dame by 30+ points has to have something wrong with its head. That, and Pitino won’t be wearing his white suit until the Kentucky Derby.

6. North Carolina: Why they will – They play an amazing brand of basketball based solely on being faster than everybody else, and less on true talent. Roy Williams has asked God and the following day he found a quarter in his shoe. Why they won’t – Ty Lawson’s toes are falling off. The walking pelvic gyration that is Tyler Hansbrough is a hot head.

7. Memphis: Why they will – Freakishly athletic. Abnormal. They could seriously be aliens. Tyreke Evans is a beast. How do you guard this guy? He’s closer to being a power forward than a center. Calapari is a good coach, you just wonder how long he’ll be able to stay in CUSA with these bottom feeders. He’s made a mockery of the conference. Why they won’t - Haven’t played with the big boys since the start of the season. That Gonzaga win in Spokane was nice, but hardly like running through a Big East or Big Ten schedule.

8. Kansas: Why they will – Sherron Collins. Guy is lightning in a bottle. Plays fast and hard for 40 mins. Clutch (as shown several times this year). Watching him play you can tell he enjoys his roll on this team. Why they won’t – Inexperienced and young. You have to put in your dues before you gain the success. Two of these players even played last year for Kansas. Oh, Bill Self hasn’t tithed enough this year. For Shame!

See you next year: Duke, Villanova, Wake forest, and anybody from the Pac-10. You’re all garbage. Especially Duke. No true big man front court player. Everybody takes charges too often. I don’t see it happening. I love Villanova, but they just don’t have the horses to run with the guys on the list.

Continue reading »]]> Today is March 1st. The calendar officially recognizes what is laid out before us, and the basketball gods produced a buffet of basketball for all to enjoy this weekend.

Michigan State @ Illinois -  MSU locked up a piece of the Big Ten season title with a gritty tense win vs a game Illinois team full of freaks with long arms and fast guards. Shout out to Lucas showing up, Morgan getting his mind right, and young Ibok’s playing a hand-full of meaningful minutes vs Wayman Tisdale’s illegitimate 7 foot + son. Great game to watch, and I did not have to break anything against my wall and / or TV. Really want them to finish strong with games @ Indiana and home vs the train makers and they’re host of scrubs with bad backs. Gotta beat these clowns down.

Marquette @ Louisville – Johnny Whitesuits out in full force for the early game. I have enjoyed watching this Marquette team all season long. It’s sad to see them continue on with James on the bench. Some of their swagger is gone. They still hung in the game and had several chances to win it. Louisville is a good basketball team, and they have a nice home crowd. Prolly the team to take a #1 seed should any of the anointed 4 drop a late season game they shouldn’t.

Missouri @ Kansas – Joke of a game. It took all Missouri had to eeek out a win in Columbia a few weeks back. Sharron Collins is insane. No way they were going to drop this game.

Georgetown @ Villanova (Saturday) – Since when has it come down to this? Villanova is good, sure, but why is Georgetown on the outside looking in? They have superior athletes, superior size and supposedly a great coach. The Princeton offense is nice, and its a cute novelty, but it has to go. You run that crap when your team is full of 6’3″ white guys, not 7 foot big men who should be beasting in the pant dunking and drawing fouls. Scrap this crap and go to the basket. It’s just too late for this year, as they’re probably not going to get to the tourney.

Mountain West race has gotten a ton tighter. My last game was BYU @ UNLV, with the Rebels pulling off another impressive win 75-74 (game # 21). They have since lost to Utah and have no shot to win the conference regular season title. It will probably come down to New Mexico and Utah. New Mexico has the easiest schedule left, but Utah is currently 1st. Look for three NCAA bids max from the MWC with Utah and BYU locks. San Diego St. hasn’t played anybody, New Mexico hasn’t either, which should give UNLV the nod based on their non conference victories at Louisville and home vs Arizona. Of course, they will have to win their last two games (at home vs Air Force and at SDSU). UNLV always has the conference tourney in their own back yard, which helps.

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks, you should find me at the WCC tournament, which is held here in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. My thanks to the organizers for hooking up the evening start times, which will allow me to get out of work and get there in time. I hope Patrick Mills can get back in time to get some run, as I’d like to see him live.

I should be able to find my way to a few sessions of the MWC tourney held at the Thomas and Mack as well, pending financial situations and whether my wife will wonder where I’ve been. This is Las Vegas you know, no reason to make the ladyfriend suspect.

From there, its off to Philly on Wednesday, March 19th to enjoy the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament. Selection committee, take notice – if BYU is sent to Philadelphia, I will make it my personal goal to make each and every BYU fan enjoy a weekend of living hell. Do not send this curse on them, or myself.