The Lima Connection

When Travis Walton laces up his sneaks for the biggest game of his life this afternoon against UConn, he should consider looking south, to Findlay, Ohio, for some inspiration.  Led by legendary head coach Ron Niekamp and DII Player of the Year, Josh Bostic, the University of Findlay (37-0) secured its first Division II National Championship last week in Springfield, MA.  Niekamp, who sports a jawdropping coaching record of 586-174, happened to coach at Walton’s alma mater Lima Senior (OH) for six seasons before heading North on Interstate 75 to Findlay.  For his part, Bostic graduated from Westland High in Columbus, the same school that gave Michigan State former Spartan guard Doug Davis.  Tangential coincidence, perhaps. We’ll see in a few hours.

Stepping Up, Boxing Out

Throughout the Tournament, Tom Izzo has plucked players from his bench and gotten results.  It’s a testament to great coaching and it’s hallmark of Izzo’s remarkable run in East Lansing.  One gets the sense that, if called upon, even Austin Thornton would answer the bell.  Thus far, the Spartans have received unexpected explosions from Walton, Durrell Summers, Goran Suton, and Draymond Green (who’s learning curve has accelerated in the past three weeks with Raymar Morgan’s fade).  Who’s next, maybe Morgan or Korie Luscious?

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 tonight. 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 Louisville 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.

Enough About Lawson’s Toe

I speak for everyone at Hoopraker when I say I’m really tired of hearing how Ty Lawson is playing through pain.  I’m also tired of hearing how great a coach Roy Williams is. Please. His team is loaded top to bottom with McDonald All-Americans and contains at least six caliber NBA players. The PR engine for Duke and Carolina is nauseating. Hope Nova spanks ‘em.

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. (more…)

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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. (more…)

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