Forums
With frigid weather to remind us that a winter filled with college hoops is here, let’s run this week’s Trap. Here….We….Go.
1. Goodbye To Legend. There are a myriad of great things that can be said about Pete Newell. None of them do the great man justice. The best pure teacher of the game ever passed away this week. Generations of post players to come will suffer from not being exposed to his teachings.
2. Profile In Courage. Many BCS conference powers won’t deign to play in state schools at home, let alone consider a road game. Bruce Pearl doesn’t fall into that shortsighted line of thought. Tennessee travels to Murfreesboro Friday to face MTSU. Games like this one, while posing some risk of an embarrassing loss for Big Brother, are great for the college game. More flagship state schools should take a page out of UT’s book.
3. Desert Disaster. Arizona is short on talent. The Wildcats are being coached by a guy who was Arizona State’s radio analyst last year. They intentionally fouled not once, but twice, in the waning seconds of a tie game against UAB. Everyone who has been repulsed by the pious attitude exhibited by this program under Lute Olson is smiling at their miseries.
4. Trojan Talk. I had the opportunity to speak with USC head coach Tim Floyd late last week. He is excited about finally having his team healthy and moving forward with a nucleus of players who have been in the progran for three years now. Coach Floyd also mentioned the very public support Pete Carroll and the football team give his squad, including walking en masse into the Galen Center to sit together and root on their hoop counterparts.
5. Ole Miss M*A*S*H. First Trevor Gaskins, now Eneil Polynice. Andy Kennedy’s squad has lost two of its top perimeter players before they play their third regular season game. The Rebels may have some problems meeting preseason expectations if Zach Graham and Terrico White can’t fill in capably.
6. Opportunity Knocks. Missouri has been one step up, two steps back in Mike Anderson’s tenure in Columbia. This week, the Tiger travel to Puerto Rico for a set of games that could signal that thr train is back on track. Thursday’s matchup with Xavier, along with possible games against Virginia Tech, Memphis, or USC, could give Mizzou the confidence necessary to capitalize on a weakened Big Twelve and capture an NCAA Tournament bid.
Until next week, stay classy, Volnation.
