Filed under: Mid-Majors, WAC, NCAA Basketball Gossip
Once upon a time, Herb Pope was considered one of the best recruits in the 2007 class. Teams like Louisville, UConn, Pitt, and Memphis were recruiting him. Then, they started backing away. Pope had a disastrous summer AAU season in 2006. His effort was questioned. He fought with his AAU coach.There were increasing signs that he wasn't worth the risk.Eventually he signed with Reggie Theus and New Mexico State. Pope was shot several times in March 2007 while at a party. New Mexico State stood by him, and even after Theus left for the NBA Pope decided to stick with the Aggies. Granted, it took a lot longer with some academic questions from the NCAA. NMSU stood by Pope even after a DUI arrest.
Pope had a bad family history as he bounced to family members and changed schools several times. He appeared to find some stability in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania (outside of Pittsburgh). Yet, just before the start of his junior and senior years he nearly transferred to a prep school in Florida -- only to change his mind back at the last minute.
So, really, should it have come as a shock that Pope would explore transferring from NMSU just as the new school year is about to get underway? Well, he looked into Seton Hall and possibly Duquesne. The problem was that Pope wanted to have the NCAA give him a hardship waiver to play this season -- before he actually transferred. They system doesn't work that way -- and it was hard to figure what family issues would excuse playing in New Jersey when his family is in Western Pennsylvania and Maryland.
So, after all of that, Pope decided to remain with the Aggies. If history is any indication, NMSU Coach Marvin Menzies can expect this to repeat itself at least one more season -- if Pope lasts that long.
Will Arkansas Have Anyone Who Can Score?
Posted Aug 11th 2008 11:58PM by Chas Rich
Filed under: Arkansas, SEC, NCAA Basketball Gossip
Some interesting timing in announcements for the Razorbacks. After announcing a raise and one year extension for basketball coach John Pelphrey, Arkansas also announced the raising of ticket prices and the creation of 34 super-premium seats that cost $12,000 per year and are only available to those fans who donate at least $10,000 per year to the athletic department.All well and good, but will there be anything worth watching at Bud Walton Arena? The team was already trying to rebuild and had lost four of its five leading scorers from the past year to graduation. Now the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder is also gone for the upcoming season.
Late Friday afternoon the UA sports information department issued a two-sentence press release stating: "Junior guard Patrick Beverley will not compete for the Razorbacks in the 2008-2009 basketball season. The University of Arkansas, including its administration and coaches, will have no further comment due to student privacy laws."By all reports, Beverley is academically ineligible. Not simply, one or two classes he has to make-up and could be ready by December academically ineligible. Apparently this is, worse. To the point, where it isn't even clear that Beverley will bother staying in Fayetteville. Instead he may be looking to go pro overseas.
The top returning scorers -- Stefan Walsh and Michael Washington -- didn't combine to average 10 points per game last season. The Razorbacks have only ten scholarship players including five true freshmen, a redshirt freshman and a junior college transfer. Not much of a doubt that Pelphrey will be earning his salary this coming season.
Pacific's Season Over Before Summer Is
Posted Aug 10th 2008 9:09PM by Chas Rich
Filed under: Mid-Majors, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Police Blotter
No team admits to it. Arguably it is the sort of thing that puts a collective chip on the team's shoulder to carry them to March. Go ahead, choose your cliche. Or perhaps it is just best to prepare for 2009. The Pacific Tigers might as well.A team expected to battle for the Big West title in the upcoming year, finds itself in a mess. A sexual assault investigation dating back to May apparently -- though not officially confirmed or denied -- led to the suspension of three players from the Pacific Tigers' squad for the 2008-09 season.
Pacific spokesman Richard Rojo said he could not disclose whether those players - senior point guards Steffan Johnson and Michael Kirby and senior center Michael Nunnally - were involved in an alleged sexual assault investigated by the school.One of the players, Steffan Johnson, is apparently not going to be with the team. Instead, he will be transferring to Idaho -- maybe.
The school's investigation and judicial review process of the reported assault ended last week, but the school did not release the names of the students involved, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. No criminal complaint was filed, police said.
Sources said that the alleged assault involved three men's basketball players and a women's basketball player.
Tar Heels 2005 Championship Ring Is Being Auctioned on eBay
Posted Jul 18th 2008 1:24AM by Sportz Assassin
Filed under: UNC Basketball, ACC, NCAA Basketball Gossip
You can look like a North Carolina Tar Heel by buying a 2005 NCAA Championship ring from eBay. Yes, it is real. Yes, it was a player's ring. No, no one will think you actually won it.This is a UNC players NCAA National Championship Ring year 2005. Its in immaculate condition. Its made of 10 Karat yellow Gold and has a Genuine Diamond on both sides of the year 2005. It weights approx 32.28 grams.
The bidding is up to $3,500.
The fact that this ring has been up for auction has made many wonder "who needs the money?" The player's name has been blocked out of the pictures ... but it is still on the ring. Maybe it was one of the bench guys trying to cash in. Maybe one of the "stars" has a financial problem?
Well, the buzz is that it is David Noel's ring. Noel was a junior that season and has struggled with his young NBA career. The fact that this is some other person selling the ring suggests that Noel sold or pawned the ring at some point.
However, the ring is actually the NCAA-issued championship set which is bland. The University hooks them up with better rings with quite a bit more bling.
No word on if he sold that yet.
Hat tip to a buddy I work with (who is a Duke fan) on this story.
Don't Believe The Hype: Sex Does Not Weaken Legs
Posted Jul 17th 2008 2:01PM by Tom Fornelli
Filed under: NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Rumors
I haven't played organized athletics in quite a while. Don't get me wrong, I'll still get together with friends to play basketball, football, or baseball once in a while, but the last team I belonged to was in high school. I remember playing football back then, and every Friday before a game we would basically have a walk-through of Saturday's game-plan.At the end of every Friday practice, before the team would "break it down" our coach would give us a little speech about that week's game. When he came to the end of this weekly speech, he would always tell us the same thing.
"Boys, no sex tonight."
Now what in the hell kind of thing is that to tell a 16-year old kid who is going to a party that night? Why the hell am I going to the party if I'm not allowed to have sex? Still, it's an axiom that has existed in sports for quite a while. In the movie Rocky, Rocky's trainer Mickey tells him not to have sex with ADRIAN(!!!) before his fight because "women weaken legs."
Since Mickey said it, the entire world believed it. I mean, you try looking into those eyes of his and not melting. It's impossible not to believe him. Well, unless you're a cold-hearted scientist or a doctor who refuses to believe things without actual proof.
I'd like to introduce you to the newest American hero, University of Kansas team physician Sean Cupp. Cupp believes he can prove what I spent many a Friday afternoon trying to convince my football coach was a bunch of bull.
Brandon Jennings to Europe Will Be Ultimate Test Case For Future Prospects
Posted Jun 28th 2008 11:25AM by Sportz Assassin
Filed under: NBA Prospects, Phoenix, Arizona, Pac-10, NCAA Basketball Gossip
This news that Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings might elect to play in Europe for a year is interesting on so many levels and will be quite the test case for future high school players.
In Jennings' case, he may not be able to qualify to get into 'Zona. Back in the day, that was either a sign that the kid would go into the NBA or head to a JUCO for two years, get his grades up, then head to a Division I program.
The problem now is that the NBA won't let high schoolers enter the draft and the NCAA is cracking down (a bit) on JUCO schools and grade point averages. This could be the best deal for a guy that can't get into an elite college program to show off his wares.
But is it really? Jennings is the anti-point guard in Europe. They like guys who facilitate a team, work the ball, play good defense and not be a scorer. While Jennings is an awesome passer, he is flashier than they tend to like and he's that scoring-type of lead guard.
Also, European teams aren't as down with playing youth that much. The Charlotte Bobcats just drafted Alexis Ajinca with the 20th pick in the draft a few nights ago ... and he doesn't get much playing time with his French team. NBA teams could be scared off by his lack of development and he plummets down the 2009 Draft.
What Did Bob Huggins Know About O.J. Mayo?
Posted May 29th 2008 10:53PM by Charles Rich
Filed under: Big 12 Basketball, Pac-10 Basketball, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NBA Prospects, USC Basketball, Kansas State Basketball
A Kansas State assistant coach has made some interesting comments about O.J. Mayo wanting to be a Wildcat, but then head coach Bob Huggins wouldn't take him.Brad Underwood told the Konza Rotary Club this morning that Mayo was on the phone with Huggins, "begging to come here" around the time of national letter-of-intent signing day a year ago. Huggins told him no, Underwood said, because he thought Mayo would get in trouble because of money funneled to him and a friend prior to enrolling in college.Who knows if this is true or not. The odds are Huggins won't admit one way or the other. Mayo will likely deny, just as he's denied everything else. Kind of hard to believe Huggins or any coach would turn down O.J. Mayo last year.
...
Mayo, originally from Huntington, W.Va., was among the top recruits in the nation at the time. Huggins, also originally from West Virginia, had been recruiting him for years and appeared to have a good shot at bringing him to K-State. Publicly, Mayo said he chose USC over K-State.
But Underwood today indicated that Mayo was saying up to the last minute that he wanted to come to K-State to be with Huggins because of their long ties. Huggins, though, said, "We're not going to take you. You'll never pass," in reference to NCAA amateur clearinghouse rules.
NCAA Looking at Goaltending Rule
Posted May 13th 2008 12:26PM by Sportz Assassin
Filed under: NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Rumors
Don't get bent out of shape: the NCAA is looking at changing the goaltending rule, but it isn't anything drastic.
The NCAA is looking at making any touching of the ball after it has been banked off the glass a goaltending violation. Currently, if the ball hits the backboard but is still going up (like on a layup), it can be touched and not ruled goaltending.
Doesn't seem like a major deal, but it will make those borderline calls much easier to make.
Also, the NCAA is looking at requiring making the home team wear white/light uniforms and the road team wearing dark uniforms ... or a switch if both teams agree. Currently, it was recommended but not required ... so you could have one team wearing orange and another wearing blue out on the court.
As of now, there are many proposals being discussed (including widening the free throw lane) but don't seem to have much support.
