College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

OK, Joe, I need your input on this one, seeing as how you're the closest thing I've found to a rational Kentucky Wildcat fan. Today the entrants into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame were announced. Amongst the 10 named are Patrick Ewing, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Clyde Lovellette, Phil Ford, and Joe. B. Hall.

Joe B. Hall? How does he fit in this list? OK, so he is one of only three guys to win national championships as both players and coach (with Dean Smith and Bobby Knight), getting the former in 1949 under Adolph Rupp at UK (before transferring out of the school, then later transferring back to finish his career), then as a coach in 1978. But his coaching career of 13 years there resulted in a so-so (by UK standards anyway) 297-100 record, and numerous allegations of recruiting violations and illegal payments made to players.

Is it just me, or does this leave a sour taste in other's mouths also? I value you honest opinions here, brother.

[jcruse64]

Joe B will get the pass every time, because he coached AND played at UK, and, most importantly, he won a Dance for them as coach. In the Bluegrass, that covers a LOT of sinning, and a Dance covers for that with a lot of people who have say. Me personally, I could go either way, but it would not kill me if he were never voted in. It IS special, VERY special, to win a championship as a player AND as a coach though, so on that "little" fact he probably should go in, given the rarity.

Joe B was pretty well loved in the Bluegrass. I was 13 when they won the Dance with him in '78. I always thought he was a good recruiter, but not so great a coach (kinda like what we have now). I am 47, so I'm not old enough to have watched Rupp run a team. The coaches I have watched in my lifetime are not exactly what I'd call elite, to be honest. I have great sympathy for his problems, but Sutton was horrible for us, and landed our great program on probation. I have respect for Tubby, but he was not destined for that kind of pressure, and I don't like his style of ball. Billy G...? 'Nuff said, though I sympathize with the need to party w/ pretty young things. Coach Cal? Very good recruiter, but in very few cases has he shown me elite coaching skills for the college game. I do think he helps his kids try to prepare for the pro game. And he tried hard to get Cousins to grow up a little before he hit the Big Time. But he has been flat out outclassed at times in coaching, and no other time as significant as against Huggins in last years' loss in the Dance. I know you can't stand Pitino, and I'm not a fan anymore, but I enjoyed his UK years, and thought he did a good job, for the most part. Especially the early times, when we were on probation, but were able to improve each season. Also a good job in recruiting Mashburn. Also in getting Ashley Judd to show up at all the games so I could lust after her .

Oh, and Joe B was pretty well known to Bluegrass faithfuls as not being too righteous in getting and keeping players in UK uniforms, but at least he did it on very good players .

Close game here for the Sun Belt invite- NT up on Western by 4, late in H2. Actually not a Western fan, as they are still in-state rivals . But am rooting for them, I guess.

[SD Beerman]

That was a huge win for SDSU. They are the 1 seed in the conference tournament in Vegas. That means UNLV and New Mexico have to play each other to get to State. All in all, they have done extremely well considering this is their rebuilding year.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Joe B will get the pass every time, because he coached AND played at UK, and, most importantly, he won a Dance for them as coach. In the Bluegrass, that covers a LOT of sinning, and a Dance covers for that with a lot of people who have say. Me personally, I could go either way, but it would not kill me if he were never voted in. It IS special, VERY special, to win a championship as a player AND as a coach though, so on that "little" fact he probably should go in, given the rarity.

Joe B was pretty well loved in the Bluegrass. I was 13 when they won the Dance with him in '78. I always thought he was a good recruiter, but not so great a coach (kinda like what we have now). I am 47, so I'm not old enough to have watched Rupp run a team. The coaches I have watched in my lifetime are not exactly what I'd call elite, to be honest. I have great sympathy for his problems, but Sutton was horrible for us, and landed our great program on probation. I have respect for Tubby, but he was not destined for that kind of pressure, and I don't like his style of ball. Billy G...? 'Nuff said, though I sympathize with the need to party w/ pretty young things. Coach Cal? Very good recruiter, but in very few cases has he shown me elite coaching skills for the college game. I do think he helps his kids try to prepare for the pro game. And he tried hard to get Cousins to grow up a little before he hit the Big Time. But he has been flat out outclassed at times in coaching, and no other time as significant as against Huggins in last years' loss in the Dance. I know you can't stand Pitino, and I'm not a fan anymore, but I enjoyed his UK years, and thought he did a good job, for the most part. Especially the early times, when we were on probation, but were able to improve each season. Also a good job in recruiting Mashburn. Also in getting Ashley Judd to show up at all the games so I could lust after her.

Oh, and Joe B was pretty well known to Bluegrass faithfuls as not being too righteous in getting and keeping players in UK uniforms, but at least he did it on very good players .

Close game here for the Sun Belt invite- NT up on Western by 4, late in H2. Actually not a Western fan, as they are still in-state rivals . But am rooting for them, I guess.

Thanks for the fair and balanced input, Joe. I fully understand, and can even appreciate, the loyalty of fans to a coach or player who has done something to help the home team, and my objection to Joe B. was based more on the basis of my feeling his accomplishments pale in comparison to others in the HoF. Had he coached at UK twice as long, and garnered 600 Ws and 2 rings, I'd stick a sock in it. Still, as I said, I get it. In my home state, and elsewhere, Jimmy V. is revered for what he did at NCSU, but he too was a great recruiter of flawed personalities who wasn't a great practice or bench coach, and who spent entirely too much time in pursuit of other interests to maintain proper discipline amongst his players. Several of his players got into legal difficulties while in Raleigh, most notably a kid from my home town of Hickory, Chris Washburn, who broke into another student's dorm room to steal his stereo system. When asked about it, Valvano's response was that he "was not their father" . . . this while splitting his time between being head coach, AD, part-time TV analyst for CBS Sports, and cookbook author. I am of the opinion that his tragic early death was the sole reason his reputation was not merely saved, but elevated to near-sainthood.

But enough of that, and suffice it to say again, I do get it.

As for Pitino, he's not high on either of my list, naughty or nice, but I'd say I do not detest the man. Hey, I have my problems with Larry Brown too, despite the fact that he's a Tar Heel! I try not to look at the world through Carolina-blue glasses, as any tint can cloud one's vision.

And as for Ashley Juggs . . . yeah, I'd hit that, if she took off that damned UK sweatshirt first.

Originally Posted by SD Beerman

That was a huge win for SDSU. They are the 1 seed in the conference tournament in Vegas. That means UNLV and New Mexico have to play each other to get to State. All in all, they have done extremely well considering this is their rebuilding year.

Congratulations, brother, and good luck in your league tournament. Yet may I suggest you worry more about who your Aztecs face in the first round before you concern yourself with the potential competition in the championship?

Back soon with update.

[SD Beerman]

Congratulations, brother, and good luck in your league tournament. Yet may I suggest you worry more about who your Aztecs face in the first round before you concern yourself with the potential competition in the championship?

Back soon with update.[/quote]

I'm pretty sure we can take Boise State, after that, who knows?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by SD Beerman

I'm pretty sure we can take Boise State, after that, who knows?

Well, you could be right, seeing as how they were up 11 with about 5 1/2 to play the last time I checked. On the other hand, we were both pretty sure your Aztecs could take Air Force in Colorado Springs, and we know how that turned out.

Before I give my update, there's a huge potential story I need to report. Suspended Auburn point guard Varez Ward is under investigation for possible point-shaving, notably in games this year against Arkansas and Alabama. Officials at Auburn got reports from his teammates that Ward tried to recruit him into the scheme, and forwarded this information to both the NCAA and the FBI. Both agencies will be involved in the investigation.

Now this, this is huge. This is not some over-zealous recruitment by an assistant coach, or a no-show job to some player from some booster, or even an outright illegal payment to a prospect. Not only can this result in a death-penalty type probation slapped upon Auburn athletics, regardless of their culpability or their willingness to co-operate, but it could land the young man in prison for a looooong time too. We need to REALLY keep an eye on this story.

Back soon, I hope.

[SD Beerman]

Originally Posted by The Poet

Well, you could be right, seeing as how they were up 11 with about 5 1/2 to play the last time I checked. On the other hand, we were both pretty sure your Aztecs could take Air Force in Colorado Springs, and we know how that turned out.



Back soon, I hope.

Nothing to it, in control all the way....

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by SD Beerman

Nothing to it, in control all the way....

Yeah, and that off-balance trey at the buzzer by Jamaal Franklin over a double-team for the 3-point victory was nothing but the cherry atop the icing on the cake. Easy-pesy.


Update soon.