The Halfcourt Trap

The Halfcourt Trap.

As I try to contain my excitement about the epic Northern Illinois-Tennessee clash, here are this week’s topics that caught my eye.

1. Failing Arizona. A messy divorce. A mediocre season. An ugly staff purge. Your stud recruit skipping Tucson for Europe. That has been Arizona basketball for the last year. Now, a new problem. Lute Olson offered Reger Dowell a scholarship. Young Mr. Dowell accepted. Abdul Gaddy then decided to matriculate at U of A. Suddenly, Not So Cool Hand Lute told Dowell he should look elsewhere. Good to see desperation and adversity are exposing the lack of character insiders have always known Olson possessed.
2. Billy Clyde, Report To The Principal’s Office(Again). After a thinly disguised shot at Billy Gillispie regarding the recruitment of players prior to high school enrollment, the NABC is taking issue with a tactic used by the UK coach again. Gillispie was smart enough to come up with the idea of using his two hour team practice next week to conduct Big Blue Madness and get a jump on his competition on the recruiting trail. Of course, the NABC must now attempt to protect those in their membership who aren’t creative enough to come up with a such a plan by asking the NCAA to ban the public from the skill development sessions.
3. NABC Whining, Part II. Attempting to stifle creativity wasn’t the only ridiculous item on the NABC’s agenda this week. The organization came out with a statement imploring the ‘AA to take a hard line on hardship transfers. This is nothing more than coaches trying to protect themselves at the detriment of players. I’ll be alright with transfers having to sit out a season when coaches have to take a year off when they leave a school for another while still under contract. Let’s see how many of the NABC’s membership support that quid pro quo.
4. Goliath, Stopped. Tennessee’s nonconference lost one of its intriguing pieces with word recently that UNC-Asheville center Kenny George would miss the season with a serious foot injury. It’s sad to see a young man who has worked so hard to go from giant curiosity to legitimate college force forced to the sidelines. Here’s hoping he returns to health and gets his shot at the professional ranks.
5. Memphis Magic? Nolan Dennis and Will Coleman are already in the fold. That’s great news at most schools. However, those commitments may become sidenotes if the rumblings on the recruiting trail are accurate. As expected, it appears Xavier Henry will join the Tigers in ‘09-’10. However, even that isn’t the lead story. Word from various recruiting analysts, as well as a number of coaches, is that Baylor’s hiring of Dwon Clifton is not enough to convince John Wall that Waco is the place to be. To a man, those folks all expect him to cast his lot with Cal’s crew. That would be an epic class and put the Tigers in psotion to return to the Final Four.
6. Image Is Everything. Lance Stephenson is one of the monster talents in the class of ‘09. Nobody doubts that. The question is his attitude. Being cut from the Under 18 national team this summer served to bolster the impression that he’s selfish and uncoachable. Now comes word that several top tier programs have backed off and St. John’s appears to be his college destination. That means Sir Lance will have the opportunity to cleanse his image on one of the biggest stages in college hoops.

Until next week, stay classy, Volnation.