Filling her role as ESPN’s designated sportswriter, here’s a must-read on proposed major changes in hoops recruiting from Dana O’Neil.  The consciences of some coaches may be reassured by the impending NCAA rules, aimed square at the underbelly of payola recruitment as conducted through summer league coaches, assorted hangers-on, and various ne’er do-wells. Others may be breathing more heavily.  From O’Neil’s article:

[t]aking more than their offered inch, some of the third parties have turned college basketball into a world of shakedown-for-profit, a land where peripheral people use players as pawns in a high-stakes game for profit.

It is quid pro quo at its best — or maybe more accurately, at its worst — and has led to a crisis of conscience for some coaches who are tired of being forced to play dirty to survive.

“It’s never been voiced to me, but there’s an unwritten rule: You want my kid, you pay the price,” said Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel. “You just know it because people have that reputation, and the problem is, if you don’t do it, someone else will.”

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Basketball juices are beginning to salivate in earnest.  Buzz Bissinger revisits the NBA Age Limit:

The N.B.A. should abolish its age limit.  Raising the limit flew in the face of statistics showing that drafted high school players were relatively successful on and off the court.

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The Lima Connection

When Travis Walton laces up his sneaks for the biggest game of his life this afternoon, he should look South on I-75, to Findlay, Ohio, for some inspiration.  Last week in Springfield, MA, led by legendary head coach Ron Niekamp and DII Player of the Year, Josh Bostic, the University of Findlay (37-0) won the Division II National Championship.  Once upon a time, Niekamp, the owner of a jawdropping 586-174 record, coached at Walton’s high school, Lima Senior (OH).  For his part, Bostic graduated from Westland High in Columbus, the same school that gave Michigan State former Spartan guard Doug Davis.  Tangential coincidence or omen.

Stepping Up, Boxing Out

Throughout this run, the Spartans have flourished in large part because Izzo’s bench has proven deep and productive.  It’s a testament to great coaching and it’s a hallmark of Izzo’s remarkable tenure in East Lansin. Unexpected explosions have come from Walton, Durrell Summers, Goran Suton, and Draymond Green (whose accelerated learning curve has coincided with Raymar Morgan’s fade).  Who’s next, Korie Luscious or Austin Thornton?

Against UConn, the freshmen duo of Green and Delvon Roe, with their ability to rebound and defend the interior, should be factors for the Spartans. Walton gets the assignment of his life as well, guarding AJ Price. Hit the glass and quiet the UConn point guard and the pieces may fall in place for Michigan State, much as they did against Pitino and his Cardinals last weekend.

Sweet Music

For Michigan State fans and Big Ten faithful, in yet another season where they’ve absorbed unwarranted barbs from ignorant naysayers, taking out a parade of Floyd, Self, Pitino, Calhoun and Roy Williams would be sweet music.

DeChellis Charm

In the wake of its disappointment on Selection Sunday, Nittany Lion faithful justifiably pointed the finger at the decision of Ed DeChellis to configure a very weak non-conference schedule. DeChellis found some level of redemption in his team’s heroic run to the NIT Championship this week where he beat George Mason, Rhode Island, Florida, Notre Dame, and Baylor, quality wins all.

As Hoopraker favorite Jamelle Cornley said to Taylor Battle moments after the Baylor win, “[y]ou and Drew (Andrew Jones) got to keep it going!”  Building on these wins, Penn State returns a roster full of confidence and one certainly carrying the expectation of an NCAA berth in 2010.

Cheers to Spartans Weblog

Our friends over at Spartans Weblog are doing great work in preparation for the Final Four. Ta-Ta.

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Another town and one more show.  Congratulations to the Nittany Lions team and Coach Ed DeChellis.  The game Tuesday against Notre Dame was a masterpiece in defensive strategy and execution.  In the win last night, DeChellis throttled down the offense to adjust to the Baylor zone.  It was Big Ten basketball at its best- good crisp passes, patience, clock management, and strategic use of the paint by getting the ball to Cornley when the clock was expiring. Read the rest of this entry »

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His label is tweener, a term used to separate five-star meat from two- and three-star gristle. Bowling Green, Cleveland State, Wright State, Butler and Penn State. These are the schools that ponied up a scholarship to Jamelle Cornley. Ohio State, ten minutes from Cornley’s home on the North Side of Columbus, passed on its Mr. Basketball signing instead a forgettable 6′9″ post player from Salt Lake City, Utah named Brayden Bell. Remarkably, no other Big Ten School, not even Northwestern, gave Cornley as much as second look. Sometimes, however, there is an Ed DeChellis, a coach who is discerning enough to see past facile labels into the soul of ballplayer.

One of the several pleasures of purist basketball fandom is watching players and teams who defy the easy categorizations of the meat market approach to the game and succeed, indeed flourish, where so many saw failure. - DJ Elsass.

Players like Carl Landry, Roger Powell, Greg Brunner, Mark Vershaw, and Geary Claxton quickly come to mind. There are many more.  Over the past four seasons, we’ve been graced with the effort, passion and talent of Jamelle Cornley. Tonight he looks to end his career with a Championship against Baylor. Read the rest of this entry »

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Wow.  What a great game.  Wow.  My head’s still reeling from Michigan State’s 64-52 dismantling of Louisville. The pride of Lima, Ohio, Travis Walton’s blue collar effort on Terrence Williams was textbook.  The confidence of Durrell Summers to nail big shot after shot in the second half.  Goran Suton continuing his inspired NCAA run with passes, rebounds and huge shots.  The emergence of Draymond Green.  And the game played by Kalin Lucas, who effectively dictated the game to the Cardinals, the beast of east.  As a team, the Spartans broke the will of Louisville.

The gold standard of Big Ten coaches, Tom Izzo had his team prepared and his charges responded with one of the most complete games against a great opponent I can recall.  They played with purpose, confidence, composure and aggression, and that’s not easy to do, especially against a team with the talent of Louisville. The Spartans are clicking.  Congratulations to the pride of the Big Ten, the Michigan State Spartans, who head back home to play for it all.

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The Penn State’s made a deep run in the NIT, advancing to NYC and the Final Four where Mike Brey’s group of underachievers await.  While Ed DeChellis was duly recognized for the success of his Nittany Lions during the regular season when he was named Big 10 Coach of the Year, the work he’s doing in the NIT postseason merits attention.  With 25 wins, a Penn State record, they’ve had a remarkable two week run. Read the rest of this entry »

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The six power conferences (Big East, ACC, Big Ten, Big Twelve, SEC, and Pac10) control the NCAA Tournament with an iron fist.  Those who follow one of the majors rejoice in getting as many teams from their respective conferences into the Tournament as possible.  But there’s no doubt, the Mid-Majors and other Non-BCS conferences conferences are greatly underrepresented, generally getting only one of their teams into the Tournament.  That said, the Tournament wouldn’t be the Tournament without games where  Mid-Majors rise up and bite one of the power schools in the first round.

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The disappointment emanating from Dayton is palpable.  Before a partisan crowd, Ohio State played without purpose and without assertiveness.  They built a quiet 11 point lead but couldn’t hang onto it. They were pummeled on the boards as a rail thin player from Staten Island named Ryan Rossiter outplayed BJ Mullens. With a three point lead and seconds left in the first OT, for some reason, they let Siena take a three pointer to tie it rather than fouling.  A first round NCAA exit for a fifth place Big Ten team leaves a bitter taste for many, including Ohio State beat writer Bob Baptist. Save another strong game from Evan Turner, the Buckeyes offered a listless team performance. Read the rest of this entry »

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