Happy Thanksgiving this year from Raleigh, NC…Hope everyone who traveled is safe arriving and safe on the drive/ride home: later this week…
UGA Men’s Basketball
Next Opponent ETSU
Bucs edged by Appalachian State at home, 74-70
* The Bucs suffered their second straight loss and dropped to 3-3 on the year, while Appalachian State won its second straight game, improving to 5-2 on the young season.
* Turnovers plagued the Bucs as they coughed it up 19 times, resulting in 23 Appalachian State points. ETSU was also outdone in the paint for the second straight game as the Mountaineers were plus-12, 34-22, and their bench was also plus-12, 28-16.
* ETSU shot 45 percent (24-53) from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc (9-23), while Appalachian State also ended with a 45 percent clip (26-56) and was 29 percent from long distance (6-21).
* The Mountaineers, who made five more trips to the free throw line, went 16-of-23, compared to ETSU finishing 13-for-18.
* The Bucs have won the battle of the boards in all six games this season, finishing plus-six on the glass, 37-31, while turning 12 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points.
* ETSU had the lead for 19 minutes of the contest, while Appalachian State owned it for 17 minutes and 24 seconds. The game saw four lead changes and four ties.
* Wednesday marked the 128th all-time meeting in the series with ETSU still holding a healthy advantage, 80-48.
* Jalen Haynes (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) recorded his first collegiate double-double as he totaled 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
* Josh Taylor (Atlanta) added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds.
* Guards Allen Strothers (Newport News, Va.) and DeAnthony Tipler (Ashland, Miss.) also scored in double figures. Strothers finished with 11 points and dished out seven of ETSU’s 14 assists, marking season highs in both statistical categories. Tipler came off the bench to provide 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.
* Appalachian State had five players score in double figures with Donovan Gregory – the older brother to ETSU freshman forward Jeremy Gregory (Charlotte, N.C.) – finishing with 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
East Tennessee State Roster
East Tennessee State Stats
Recruiting
Scorebook Live: Polk County's Top 10 Boys Basketball Players
“Dylan James, 6-8, Sr., SF/F, Winter Haven: He has a 7-foot-3 wing span and signed with Georgia earlier this month. He averaged 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks this past season. He finished the season with 470 points, 264 rebounds and 104 blocks. He shot 49 percent from the field, 63 percent from the free-throw line and 27 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
“He is one of the top players in the state,” Winter Haven coach Tyrone Woodside said. “He is the most-versatile defender in the state. He can guard all three positions. He is an excellent shot blocker.”
UGA Women’s Basketball
Gadogs.com: Georgia Faces Wisconsin in Thanksgiving Tilt
Georgia Basketball Game Notes
* Georgia (5-0) vs. Wisconsin (3-2)
* Thursday, Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. AST/1 p.m. ET
* University of the Virgin Islands | St. Thomas
* Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Kaleb Frady) 960 AM The Ref, WXKT 103.7 FM and the Georgia Bulldog App |
* TV: ESPN3 (Brad Wells and Kevin Lehman)
* Video Stream: ESPN+
* Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
* History: tied 1-1
* Last Meeting: - 1/4/98 - L 64-74 (OT)
SEC Basketball
Arkansas
San Diego Union Tribune: Aztecs-Arkansas game in Maui ends in fracas between fans and coaches
It happened in the moments following the final buzzer of a 78-74 Arkansas overtime victory at the 2,400-seat Lahaina Civic Center, an intimate venue where fans sit just feet from the court that is more high school gym than college arena. As the teams walked through the handshake line at midcourt, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman engaged in an expletive-laced confrontation with SDSU fans sitting behind the Aztecs bench.
“There was just an Aztec fan that came down and said some things,” Musselman said in the post-game news conference. “There were words exchanged.”
As Musselman was pulled away by his staff, he flashed an “L” with his fingers on his forehead – the sign for loser – and, according to multiple witnesses, screamed, “Go (expletive) yourself.” He also appeared to have an exchange with SDSU guard Matt Bradley, who knocked over a chair in anger.
Soon, fans – including at least one parent of an SDSU player – spilled out of the stands onto the court and moved toward the Arkansas coaches as security ushered them to their locker room.
At the entrance to SDSU’s locker room, a fan wearing an Arkansas shirt was repelled by security and escorted away.
Asked about what happened, SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I was already through (the handshake line). I just tell our kids, I tell them every year, I tell them every month: ‘You represent yourself first, your family second, and this university and athletic program third. Don’t do anything that would embarrass any of us.’ That’s a message I deliver every year to our guys, and I think they do a good job of holding that up. They represent themselves with a lot of class.”
Auburn
Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball survives game-winning shot attempt from Northwestern in Cancun Challenge
Kentucky
Lexington Herald Leader: The coach that Kentucky just beat thinks he knows the key to the Cats’ future success
The Athletic: Breaking down Kentucky’s early-season offensive problems (Subscription)
LSU
LSU Appears To Tie Title Game At Buzzer; Basket Disallowed Giving K-State 61-59 Win
Mississippi State
Columbus Dispatch: Mississippi State men’s basketball: Bulldogs’ defense stymies Utah to win Fort Myers Tipoff
Missouri
KOMU: Stout defensive performance thrusts Missouri Basketball to 6-0 start
Tennessee
The Tennessean: Tennessee basketball blasts Butler 71-45 in Battle 4 Atlantis opener
College Basketball
Rothstein: THE BREAKFAST BUFFET.
- The curtain comes up for UConn
- Oumar Ballo is exploding
- Brandon Miller's first high profile game for Alabama
- Other things to nosh on
Field of 68: Arizona's already running hot
Wildcats ride their potent offense past Creighton in Maui. Plus, other notable results from Wednesday including two buzzer-beaters, a Hoyas collapse and a PK85 preview.
Arizona
Duquesne
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Duquesne men's basketball pulls away in second half in win against Alabama State
Evansville
Courier & Press: Evansville Purple Aces run out of steam at Central Florida in fourth consecutive loss
Georgetown
Indiana
Indianapolis Star: 3 reasons IU beat Little Rock: Race Thompson steps up in Trayce Jackson-Davis' absence
Marquette
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette bounces back with easy victory over Georgia Tech in Fort Myers Tip-Off
Michigan
Michigan Live: Michigan basketball beats Jackson State, but looks shaky much of night
Michigan State
Providence
Providence Journal: Providence basketball coach Ed Cooley knows Friars still have work to do. Here's what he said
Toledo
Toledo Blade: Toledo men's basketball gets some mojo back with Richmond and George Mason looming
Virginia
CBS Sports: Why Virginia basketball is better than last year's NIT team even though its roster is similar
Wisconsin
NBA
Atlanta
AJC: Hawks race out front with 72-point first half, hold off Kings
History
Hoops Birthdays 11-24
Henry Bibby PG UCLA NYK, NO, PHI, SD 1972-1981 11-24-1949 73 YOA
HOF Dave Bing PG Syracuse DET, WAS, BOS 1966-1978 11-24-1943 79 YOA
Dave Bing was all business when he stepped onto the basketball court, one of those rare talents that played the game for all of the right reasons paying no mind to the spotlight or excesses of his celebrity. His ability as a playmaker, his scoring aptitude, and his soft outside shooting touch made him a backcourt whiz and a great leader, the kind of player every coach wants in the locker room. Bing launched his exceptional career at Syracuse University, where he became the school's first consensus All-America in 39 years during a season when he was also the nation's fifth leading scorer at 28.4 points per game. After an illustrious collegiate career at Syracuse, Bing was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1967. His game, more fundamental than flashy, saw him average better than 20 points per game in the NBA where he enjoyed 12 productive seasons. Bing was named MVP of the 1976 All Star Game and All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1971. A wonderful gentleman in the game and outside it, Bing was presented the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1977.
Jimmy Collins SG New Mexico State CHI 1970-1972 born 11-24-1946 died 12-13-2020
Ledell Eackles SG New Orleans WAS, MIA 1988-1998 11-24-56 66 YOA
Shavlik Randolph PF Duke PHI, MIA, POR, BOS, PHO 11-24-1983 39 YOA
HOF Oscar Robertson PG Cincinnati CIN, MIL 1960-1974 11-24-1938 84 YOA
Oscar Robertson was one of the greatest players in history. The "Big O" could do it all. He was an unstoppable offensive player who could score from every spot on the court and in any manner he saw fit. Robertson's offensive prowess changed the point guard stereotype from simply a passer and floor general to a scorer and offensive weapon. His collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati was historic. Robertson established 19 school and 14 NCAA records and led the Bearcats to a 79-9 record and two straight NCAA Final Fours. Enjoying a prolific 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson amassed 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. The Big O's best statistical season came in 1961-62 when he averaged a triple-double for the entire season, averaging 30.8 ppg, 11.4 apg and 12.5 rpg, a feat that has never been duplicated.
From Way Downtown: Oscar Robertson: Why He’s the Best Ever, 1968
“We did just that, we talked to such former stars as Bill Sharman, Richie Guerin, Jack McMahon, Gene Shue, K.C. Jones, Al Bianchi, Dolph Schayes, and Tom Gola. And they told us, almost without a dissenting word, that Oscar Robertson is the best ever.
Remember, too, these are men who played with Oscar, who played against him, coached him, marveled at him. They are looking beyond the statistics, even though Oscar’s stats are super (a lifetime scoring average of 30.4, second only to Wilt Chamberlain; a 10.7 assist-per-game mark that tops the list; and a 9.4 rebounds-per-game record that is unmatched by any other guard in the history of the league over a comparable period).
But it’s more than that. Former Boston Celtic sharp-shooter Bill Sharman, eight times an All-Star, calls Oscar “the most-complete player the game has ever known.” Says Bill: “As great a force as Bill Russell is defensively and Wilt Chamberlain is offensively, they just can’t be considered complete players. Their very height, which helps to make them these fantastic forces, goes against them when picking the best ever. Their size makes it impossible for them to develop their dribbling and ballhandling skills to the extent that a more-competent player like Oscar can.
“On the other hand, I’d like to consider Cousy among the best ever; but again, the difference between “Cooz” and Oscar is size. Oscar has the perfect build at 6-foot-5, 205, and can go up front and get that rebound. Cousy, who could do everything else, was only 6-foot-1, 180, and because of his size, couldn’t go to the board.
“I break it down to five categories when judging a player,” explained Sharman. “Shooting, passing, rebounding, dribbling, and defense. Oscar has no weakness in any of them. In fact, he excels in each individual category. How can you beat that?”
Richie Guerin, the recently retired player-coach of the St. Louis Hawks who has bumped heads with Robertson often enough to know, insists that Oscar can score at will. “He can get off a shot—and I mean a good shot—anytime he wants to,” said Guerin in awe.
Jack McMahon, one of the finest guards in the league from 1952 to 1960, who had coached Robertson for the last four years in Cincinnati, agrees with Guerin, but puts it this way: “What makes Oscar the best ever is that he can get to the spot he wants on the floor, at the moment he wants to get there, for the shot he wants to take, and can do it better than anybody who ever played the game. And when he takes that shot, he’ll make it.
“Another thing. It just doesn’t occur to Oscar that someone can take the ball from him. In fact, they can’t. Oscar is deadly from about 18 feet on in. But when he gets to 18 feet, he wants the foul line, then 10 feet, and he keeps right on moving in until he forces a double-teaming situation and gets off the pass or the shot he can’t miss.”
An All-Star for five consecutive seasons with the Detroit Pistons and a 10-year NBA veteran who retired after the ’63-64 season, Baltimore Bullet coach Gene Shue thinks of two men as the best ever. “To me, the top two are (Elgin) Baylor and Robertson. Oscar has the edge in passing, dribbling, and shooting. Elg off the board. If I must pick one, I pick Oscar. But who’s to say that Elgin wouldn’t be as good if he played backcourt?”
K.C. Jones, who carved a career out of guarding the most-dangerous backcourters in basketball, retired at the end of last season to take over the coaching reins at Brandeis University. Says K.C., “One-on-one, Oscar is the best I’ve ever seen. And that’s the idea of the game: to isolate your man and beat him. Then you’ve got a free shot or you’ve forced a double-team, opening up a teammate for an easy basket. And Oscar is the deadliest shooter and the top passer in this situation. That’s why he’s the best.”
Al Bianchi, who made a living for 10 years in the NBA as the “other” guard (the steady guy who doesn’t score too much, but covers the opposition’s big threat), claims there is just no way to stop Oscar. “Don’t get him mad,” cautions Bianchi, head coach of the NBA’s new expansion club in Seattle. “Last year at Chicago, Jerry Sloan blocked one of Oz’s shots, and he began to steam. Suddenly, Oscar wasn’t dribbling anymore. He was pounding the ball into the floor like a piledriver and moving deliberately toward the basket, time after time, pouring through point after point. I never used to get him mad when I played him.
“Now, I’ve got a standing order on my club. When Oscar’s mad and starts for the basket, I want the three nearest guys to forget their own men and help out. Don’t let him get a streak going. Make him give up the ball. It has to be better for you in the long run.”
Dolph Schayes, 12 times an All-Pro selection with the Syracuse Nationals and a 16-year veteran of pro ball, played against Minneapolis Laker aces George Mikan and Jim Pollard in the early ‘50s, and against St. Louis great Bob Pettit into the ‘60s. “Mikan was named ‘The Greatest Player of the First Half Century in Basketball,’ and deservedly so,” said Schayes, currently the NBA’s supervisor of officials. “But George was strictly a pivot man. Pollard was a really great all-round player who could do everything, but Oscar is a better shooter and passer than Jim was.
As for Pettit, he was a fabulous shooter and rebounder. At 6-foot-9, he moved, passed, and ballhandled more than adequately for a big man, but you just can’t do those things as well as a man 6-foot-5, like Oscar, even if you do them superbly for a forward.” That criticism would probably also apply to the 6-foot-8 Schayes himself, who is also considered to be one of the finest and most-complete talents in the game’s history.
“If Oscar just concentrated on scoring,” Dolph continued, “he’d lead the league every year. If he just concentrated on playmaking, he’d own all the assist records. And if he were put in the corner and told to play the boards, he’d probably be the fourth best rebounder in the league next to the giants—Chamberlain, Russell, and Thurmond. And if he just concentrated on defense, his quickness, reflexes, and long arms would put him on a par with the tops. That’s why Oscar’s the best—he can do everything better than anyone who ever played the game.”
From another vantage point, sportscaster Jack Twyman, a perennial All-Star and a teammate of Robertson’s for six years, sees Robertson in other way. “That Oscar has mastered every facet of the game is universally acknowledged,” says Twyman. “But Oscar does more. Oscar moves the ball, and he makes everybody else move with him. If you move without the ball and get free for your shot, even for an instant, Oscar will get the ball to you. It’s almost impossible to defend against a team that moves, and he makes any team move. Besides his own obvious assets, his style of play maximizes the abilities of his teammates.”
Former Knick and Philadelphia Warrior star Tom Gola, now in the Pennsylvania legislature, stumps for Robertson along similar lines. “He’s won every Stokes charity game in the mountains and every All-Star game but the last one. Whoever plays with Oscar is a winner. Oscar controls the game. Check the records. You’ll see.”
The All-Star records do back up Gola’s claim. In the 1961 game, Robertson led the West to a 153-131 victory over a heavily favored East squad that featured both Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Oscar scored 23 points, picked up 14 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds en route to the Most Valuable Player award. The following year, the circumstances were the same, and Robertson again led a 150-130 rout, this time with 26 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds.
Then in 1963, the Philadelphia Warriors moved West to San Francisco, and the Royals were shifted into the Eastern Division to rebalance the league geographically. And dramatically, with Oscar now on the East squad and with Chamberlain in the West, the East ripped off three straight All-Star victories, emphasizing Gola’s point that the balance of power swings with Robertson.
Consistency is yet another of Oscar’s countless basketball virtues. He rarely hits for 45 points one night and 15 the next. Oscar is always around the 30-point mark, and his playmaking and rebounding figures are always close to his career norm. Even during the playoffs, which tend to set the adrenaline flowing and force some players to play over their heads (and which also tend to choke off the individual brilliance of others under the intense pressure), Robertson rolls merrily along playing his game, scoring his 30 and forcing the opposition to face up to the inexorable pressure his machine-like precision and consistency applies.
Says a long-time basketball expert, “If Oscar walked into your neighborhood playground for a pick-up game, he’d probably get his 30 and not much more. He’s the most consistent star ever.”
What makes Robertson the best ever? The consensus seems to indicate that it is his perfect build, which gives him the strength and power of a big man and enables him to retain the agility and dexterity of a little man. Then, it is Oscar’s mastery of each of those skills that make up the perfect basketball player more completely than anyone ever has before. And finally, it is his determination and tough-mindedness, combined with that basic unselfishness of his play, that enables him to make the maximum use of those skills.
But perhaps the best summation is Tom Gola’s: “No matter who he’s playing with or who he’s playing against, Oscar controls the game. Oscar makes the difference. Oscar is the best ever!”
HOF Rudy Tomjanovich PF Michigan SD, HOU 1970-1981 11-24-1948 74 YOA
Rudy Tomjanovich was drafted second overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA Draft. In 2003, when Rudy T. left the Rockets – now based in Houston – the Hamtramck, Michigan native had spent more than half his life with the organization. A fearless player, Tomjanovich brought that same mentality to the profession of coaching. In only his second full season at the helm, Tomjanovich led the Houston Rockets to the 1994 NBA championship. Space City was on top of the world, and Tomjanovich, though once reluctant to take the head job, found his groove patrolling the sidelines. The Rockets led with Hakeem Olajuwon on both ends of the floor, so Tomjanovich found a way to involve lesser-known players Otis Thorpe, Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, and Vernon Maxwell. The formula worked. A year later, with Clyde Drexler now in the lineup, the Rockets featured Olajuwon and the same supporting cast to win the franchise’s second title. Tomjanovich followed up his encore performance with another outstanding run in the 2000 Olympics leading the United States to the gold medal.
UGA Men’s Basketball
Next Opponent ETSU
Bucs edged by Appalachian State at home, 74-70
* The Bucs suffered their second straight loss and dropped to 3-3 on the year, while Appalachian State won its second straight game, improving to 5-2 on the young season.
* Turnovers plagued the Bucs as they coughed it up 19 times, resulting in 23 Appalachian State points. ETSU was also outdone in the paint for the second straight game as the Mountaineers were plus-12, 34-22, and their bench was also plus-12, 28-16.
* ETSU shot 45 percent (24-53) from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc (9-23), while Appalachian State also ended with a 45 percent clip (26-56) and was 29 percent from long distance (6-21).
* The Mountaineers, who made five more trips to the free throw line, went 16-of-23, compared to ETSU finishing 13-for-18.
* The Bucs have won the battle of the boards in all six games this season, finishing plus-six on the glass, 37-31, while turning 12 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points.
* ETSU had the lead for 19 minutes of the contest, while Appalachian State owned it for 17 minutes and 24 seconds. The game saw four lead changes and four ties.
* Wednesday marked the 128th all-time meeting in the series with ETSU still holding a healthy advantage, 80-48.
* Jalen Haynes (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) recorded his first collegiate double-double as he totaled 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
* Josh Taylor (Atlanta) added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds.
* Guards Allen Strothers (Newport News, Va.) and DeAnthony Tipler (Ashland, Miss.) also scored in double figures. Strothers finished with 11 points and dished out seven of ETSU’s 14 assists, marking season highs in both statistical categories. Tipler came off the bench to provide 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.
* Appalachian State had five players score in double figures with Donovan Gregory – the older brother to ETSU freshman forward Jeremy Gregory (Charlotte, N.C.) – finishing with 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
https://apnews.com/article/sports-mens-college-basketball-tennessee-johnson-city-e02197a96b5d43e68bc
East Tennessee State Roster
Men's Basketball | Roster | Official Site of East Tennessee State Athletics
Official Site of East Tennessee State Athletics
www.etsubucs.com
East Tennessee State Stats
Recruiting
Scorebook Live: Polk County's Top 10 Boys Basketball Players
“Dylan James, 6-8, Sr., SF/F, Winter Haven: He has a 7-foot-3 wing span and signed with Georgia earlier this month. He averaged 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks this past season. He finished the season with 470 points, 264 rebounds and 104 blocks. He shot 49 percent from the field, 63 percent from the free-throw line and 27 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
“He is one of the top players in the state,” Winter Haven coach Tyrone Woodside said. “He is the most-versatile defender in the state. He can guard all three positions. He is an excellent shot blocker.”
UGA Women’s Basketball
Gadogs.com: Georgia Faces Wisconsin in Thanksgiving Tilt
Georgia Basketball Game Notes
* Georgia (5-0) vs. Wisconsin (3-2)
* Thursday, Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. AST/1 p.m. ET
* University of the Virgin Islands | St. Thomas
* Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Kaleb Frady) 960 AM The Ref, WXKT 103.7 FM and the Georgia Bulldog App |
* TV: ESPN3 (Brad Wells and Kevin Lehman)
* Video Stream: ESPN+
* Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
* History: tied 1-1
* Last Meeting: - 1/4/98 - L 64-74 (OT)
University of Georgia Athletics
georgiadogs.com
SEC Basketball
Arkansas
San Diego Union Tribune: Aztecs-Arkansas game in Maui ends in fracas between fans and coaches
It happened in the moments following the final buzzer of a 78-74 Arkansas overtime victory at the 2,400-seat Lahaina Civic Center, an intimate venue where fans sit just feet from the court that is more high school gym than college arena. As the teams walked through the handshake line at midcourt, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman engaged in an expletive-laced confrontation with SDSU fans sitting behind the Aztecs bench.
“There was just an Aztec fan that came down and said some things,” Musselman said in the post-game news conference. “There were words exchanged.”
As Musselman was pulled away by his staff, he flashed an “L” with his fingers on his forehead – the sign for loser – and, according to multiple witnesses, screamed, “Go (expletive) yourself.” He also appeared to have an exchange with SDSU guard Matt Bradley, who knocked over a chair in anger.
Soon, fans – including at least one parent of an SDSU player – spilled out of the stands onto the court and moved toward the Arkansas coaches as security ushered them to their locker room.
At the entrance to SDSU’s locker room, a fan wearing an Arkansas shirt was repelled by security and escorted away.
Asked about what happened, SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I was already through (the handshake line). I just tell our kids, I tell them every year, I tell them every month: ‘You represent yourself first, your family second, and this university and athletic program third. Don’t do anything that would embarrass any of us.’ That’s a message I deliver every year to our guys, and I think they do a good job of holding that up. They represent themselves with a lot of class.”
Aztecs-Arkansas game in Maui ends in fracas between fans and coaches
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Things got heated in the tropics Wednesday night, with the third-place game at the Maui Invitational between No. 17 San Diego State and No. 9 Arkansas ending in an…
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Auburn
Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball survives game-winning shot attempt from Northwestern in Cancun Challenge
Auburn basketball survives game-winning shot attempt from Northwestern in Cancun Challenge
After having its best shooting performance of the season against Bradley on Tuesday, Auburn basketball had to grind out a win over Northwestern.
www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
Kentucky
Lexington Herald Leader: The coach that Kentucky just beat thinks he knows the key to the Cats’ future success
The Athletic: Breaking down Kentucky’s early-season offensive problems (Subscription)
The ugly truth behind Kentucky's stagnant offense
The WIldcats have struggled to execute basic plays in losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga. The film shows why.
theathletic.com
LSU
LSU Appears To Tie Title Game At Buzzer; Basket Disallowed Giving K-State 61-59 Win
Mississippi State
Columbus Dispatch: Mississippi State men’s basketball: Bulldogs’ defense stymies Utah to win Fort Myers Tipoff
Mississippi State men's basketball: Bulldogs' defense stymies Utah to win Fort Myers Tipoff - The Dispatch
Despite shooting a paltry 25 percent from the floor, the Bulldogs held off Utah for a 52-49 victory in the event's Beach Division championship game.
cdispatch.com
Missouri
KOMU: Stout defensive performance thrusts Missouri Basketball to 6-0 start
Stout defensive performance thrusts Missouri Basketball to 6-0 start
It was a gritty defensive performance that propelled the Tigers to a 6-0 start on the season.
www.komu.com
Tennessee
The Tennessean: Tennessee basketball blasts Butler 71-45 in Battle 4 Atlantis opener
Tennessee basketball blasts Butler 71-45 in Battle 4 Atlantis opener
Tennessee basketball started slowly but crushed Butler in the second half to advance to the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals.
www.knoxnews.com
College Basketball
Rothstein: THE BREAKFAST BUFFET.
- The curtain comes up for UConn
- Oumar Ballo is exploding
- Brandon Miller's first high profile game for Alabama
- Other things to nosh on
Account Suspended
collegehoopstoday.com
Field of 68: Arizona's already running hot
Wildcats ride their potent offense past Creighton in Maui. Plus, other notable results from Wednesday including two buzzer-beaters, a Hoyas collapse and a PK85 preview.
Arizona's already running hot
Wildcats ride their potent offense past Creighton in Maui. Plus, other notable results from Wednesday including two buzzer-beaters, a Hoyas collapse and a PK85 preview.
fieldof68.beehiiv.com
Arizona
Duquesne
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Duquesne men's basketball pulls away in second half in win against Alabama State
Duquesne men's basketball pulls away in second half in win against Alabama State
Dae Dae Grant scored a game-high 23 points as the Duquesne (5-1) men's basketball team used a 14-0 second-half run to pull away for a 75-57 win against...
www.post-gazette.com
Evansville
Courier & Press: Evansville Purple Aces run out of steam at Central Florida in fourth consecutive loss
Evansville Purple Aces run out of steam at Central Florida in fourth consecutive loss
The Purple Aces were competitive for most of the game but lost to the Knights 76-56 in their fourth consecutive defeat.
www.courierpress.com
Georgetown
Indiana
Indianapolis Star: 3 reasons IU beat Little Rock: Race Thompson steps up in Trayce Jackson-Davis' absence
3 reasons IU beat Little Rock: Race Thompson steps up in Trayce Jackson-Davis' absence
The No. 11-ranked Hoosiers eventually pulled away from Little Rock thanks to 20 points from Race Thompson.
www.indystar.com
Marquette
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette bounces back with easy victory over Georgia Tech in Fort Myers Tip-Off
Marquette bounces back with easy victory over Georgia Tech in Fort Myers Tip-Off
Kam Jones (19 points), Tyler Kolek (14 points) and Oso Ighodaro (10 rebounds, five blocks) led a well-balanced effort for the Golden Eagles.
www.jsonline.com
Michigan
Michigan Live: Michigan basketball beats Jackson State, but looks shaky much of night
Michigan basketball beats Jackson State, but looks shaky much of night
Michigan beat Jackson State on Wednesday night.
www.mlive.com
Michigan State
Providence
Providence Journal: Providence basketball coach Ed Cooley knows Friars still have work to do. Here's what he said
Providence basketball coach Ed Cooley knows Friars still have work to do. Here's what he said
PC remains in search of something approaching a cohesive unit, and Wednesday night’s meeting with Merrimack didn’t do much to advance the cause.
www.providencejournal.com
Toledo
Toledo Blade: Toledo men's basketball gets some mojo back with Richmond and George Mason looming
Toledo men's basketball gets some mojo back with Richmond and George Mason looming
ESTERO, Fla. — Less than three weeks after securing a signature victory, Toledo faces a gut-check week. The Rockets head back to Ohio on Friday after ...
www.toledoblade.com
Virginia
CBS Sports: Why Virginia basketball is better than last year's NIT team even though its roster is similar
Wisconsin
NBA
Atlanta
AJC: Hawks race out front with 72-point first half, hold off Kings
Hawks race out front with 72-point first half, hold off Kings
The Kings rolled into State Farm Arena feeling the buzz of a seven-game win streak. But the Hawks looked to rebound from their loss to the Cavaliers and ended the Sacramento streak. The Hawks walked away with a 115-106 win Wednesday night.
www.ajc.com
History
Hoops Birthdays 11-24
Henry Bibby PG UCLA NYK, NO, PHI, SD 1972-1981 11-24-1949 73 YOA
HOF Dave Bing PG Syracuse DET, WAS, BOS 1966-1978 11-24-1943 79 YOA
Dave Bing was all business when he stepped onto the basketball court, one of those rare talents that played the game for all of the right reasons paying no mind to the spotlight or excesses of his celebrity. His ability as a playmaker, his scoring aptitude, and his soft outside shooting touch made him a backcourt whiz and a great leader, the kind of player every coach wants in the locker room. Bing launched his exceptional career at Syracuse University, where he became the school's first consensus All-America in 39 years during a season when he was also the nation's fifth leading scorer at 28.4 points per game. After an illustrious collegiate career at Syracuse, Bing was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1967. His game, more fundamental than flashy, saw him average better than 20 points per game in the NBA where he enjoyed 12 productive seasons. Bing was named MVP of the 1976 All Star Game and All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1971. A wonderful gentleman in the game and outside it, Bing was presented the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1977.
Jimmy Collins SG New Mexico State CHI 1970-1972 born 11-24-1946 died 12-13-2020
Ledell Eackles SG New Orleans WAS, MIA 1988-1998 11-24-56 66 YOA
Shavlik Randolph PF Duke PHI, MIA, POR, BOS, PHO 11-24-1983 39 YOA
HOF Oscar Robertson PG Cincinnati CIN, MIL 1960-1974 11-24-1938 84 YOA
Oscar Robertson was one of the greatest players in history. The "Big O" could do it all. He was an unstoppable offensive player who could score from every spot on the court and in any manner he saw fit. Robertson's offensive prowess changed the point guard stereotype from simply a passer and floor general to a scorer and offensive weapon. His collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati was historic. Robertson established 19 school and 14 NCAA records and led the Bearcats to a 79-9 record and two straight NCAA Final Fours. Enjoying a prolific 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson amassed 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. The Big O's best statistical season came in 1961-62 when he averaged a triple-double for the entire season, averaging 30.8 ppg, 11.4 apg and 12.5 rpg, a feat that has never been duplicated.
From Way Downtown: Oscar Robertson: Why He’s the Best Ever, 1968
“We did just that, we talked to such former stars as Bill Sharman, Richie Guerin, Jack McMahon, Gene Shue, K.C. Jones, Al Bianchi, Dolph Schayes, and Tom Gola. And they told us, almost without a dissenting word, that Oscar Robertson is the best ever.
Remember, too, these are men who played with Oscar, who played against him, coached him, marveled at him. They are looking beyond the statistics, even though Oscar’s stats are super (a lifetime scoring average of 30.4, second only to Wilt Chamberlain; a 10.7 assist-per-game mark that tops the list; and a 9.4 rebounds-per-game record that is unmatched by any other guard in the history of the league over a comparable period).
But it’s more than that. Former Boston Celtic sharp-shooter Bill Sharman, eight times an All-Star, calls Oscar “the most-complete player the game has ever known.” Says Bill: “As great a force as Bill Russell is defensively and Wilt Chamberlain is offensively, they just can’t be considered complete players. Their very height, which helps to make them these fantastic forces, goes against them when picking the best ever. Their size makes it impossible for them to develop their dribbling and ballhandling skills to the extent that a more-competent player like Oscar can.
“On the other hand, I’d like to consider Cousy among the best ever; but again, the difference between “Cooz” and Oscar is size. Oscar has the perfect build at 6-foot-5, 205, and can go up front and get that rebound. Cousy, who could do everything else, was only 6-foot-1, 180, and because of his size, couldn’t go to the board.
“I break it down to five categories when judging a player,” explained Sharman. “Shooting, passing, rebounding, dribbling, and defense. Oscar has no weakness in any of them. In fact, he excels in each individual category. How can you beat that?”
Richie Guerin, the recently retired player-coach of the St. Louis Hawks who has bumped heads with Robertson often enough to know, insists that Oscar can score at will. “He can get off a shot—and I mean a good shot—anytime he wants to,” said Guerin in awe.
Jack McMahon, one of the finest guards in the league from 1952 to 1960, who had coached Robertson for the last four years in Cincinnati, agrees with Guerin, but puts it this way: “What makes Oscar the best ever is that he can get to the spot he wants on the floor, at the moment he wants to get there, for the shot he wants to take, and can do it better than anybody who ever played the game. And when he takes that shot, he’ll make it.
“Another thing. It just doesn’t occur to Oscar that someone can take the ball from him. In fact, they can’t. Oscar is deadly from about 18 feet on in. But when he gets to 18 feet, he wants the foul line, then 10 feet, and he keeps right on moving in until he forces a double-teaming situation and gets off the pass or the shot he can’t miss.”
An All-Star for five consecutive seasons with the Detroit Pistons and a 10-year NBA veteran who retired after the ’63-64 season, Baltimore Bullet coach Gene Shue thinks of two men as the best ever. “To me, the top two are (Elgin) Baylor and Robertson. Oscar has the edge in passing, dribbling, and shooting. Elg off the board. If I must pick one, I pick Oscar. But who’s to say that Elgin wouldn’t be as good if he played backcourt?”
K.C. Jones, who carved a career out of guarding the most-dangerous backcourters in basketball, retired at the end of last season to take over the coaching reins at Brandeis University. Says K.C., “One-on-one, Oscar is the best I’ve ever seen. And that’s the idea of the game: to isolate your man and beat him. Then you’ve got a free shot or you’ve forced a double-team, opening up a teammate for an easy basket. And Oscar is the deadliest shooter and the top passer in this situation. That’s why he’s the best.”
Al Bianchi, who made a living for 10 years in the NBA as the “other” guard (the steady guy who doesn’t score too much, but covers the opposition’s big threat), claims there is just no way to stop Oscar. “Don’t get him mad,” cautions Bianchi, head coach of the NBA’s new expansion club in Seattle. “Last year at Chicago, Jerry Sloan blocked one of Oz’s shots, and he began to steam. Suddenly, Oscar wasn’t dribbling anymore. He was pounding the ball into the floor like a piledriver and moving deliberately toward the basket, time after time, pouring through point after point. I never used to get him mad when I played him.
“Now, I’ve got a standing order on my club. When Oscar’s mad and starts for the basket, I want the three nearest guys to forget their own men and help out. Don’t let him get a streak going. Make him give up the ball. It has to be better for you in the long run.”
Dolph Schayes, 12 times an All-Pro selection with the Syracuse Nationals and a 16-year veteran of pro ball, played against Minneapolis Laker aces George Mikan and Jim Pollard in the early ‘50s, and against St. Louis great Bob Pettit into the ‘60s. “Mikan was named ‘The Greatest Player of the First Half Century in Basketball,’ and deservedly so,” said Schayes, currently the NBA’s supervisor of officials. “But George was strictly a pivot man. Pollard was a really great all-round player who could do everything, but Oscar is a better shooter and passer than Jim was.
As for Pettit, he was a fabulous shooter and rebounder. At 6-foot-9, he moved, passed, and ballhandled more than adequately for a big man, but you just can’t do those things as well as a man 6-foot-5, like Oscar, even if you do them superbly for a forward.” That criticism would probably also apply to the 6-foot-8 Schayes himself, who is also considered to be one of the finest and most-complete talents in the game’s history.
“If Oscar just concentrated on scoring,” Dolph continued, “he’d lead the league every year. If he just concentrated on playmaking, he’d own all the assist records. And if he were put in the corner and told to play the boards, he’d probably be the fourth best rebounder in the league next to the giants—Chamberlain, Russell, and Thurmond. And if he just concentrated on defense, his quickness, reflexes, and long arms would put him on a par with the tops. That’s why Oscar’s the best—he can do everything better than anyone who ever played the game.”
From another vantage point, sportscaster Jack Twyman, a perennial All-Star and a teammate of Robertson’s for six years, sees Robertson in other way. “That Oscar has mastered every facet of the game is universally acknowledged,” says Twyman. “But Oscar does more. Oscar moves the ball, and he makes everybody else move with him. If you move without the ball and get free for your shot, even for an instant, Oscar will get the ball to you. It’s almost impossible to defend against a team that moves, and he makes any team move. Besides his own obvious assets, his style of play maximizes the abilities of his teammates.”
Former Knick and Philadelphia Warrior star Tom Gola, now in the Pennsylvania legislature, stumps for Robertson along similar lines. “He’s won every Stokes charity game in the mountains and every All-Star game but the last one. Whoever plays with Oscar is a winner. Oscar controls the game. Check the records. You’ll see.”
The All-Star records do back up Gola’s claim. In the 1961 game, Robertson led the West to a 153-131 victory over a heavily favored East squad that featured both Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Oscar scored 23 points, picked up 14 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds en route to the Most Valuable Player award. The following year, the circumstances were the same, and Robertson again led a 150-130 rout, this time with 26 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds.
Then in 1963, the Philadelphia Warriors moved West to San Francisco, and the Royals were shifted into the Eastern Division to rebalance the league geographically. And dramatically, with Oscar now on the East squad and with Chamberlain in the West, the East ripped off three straight All-Star victories, emphasizing Gola’s point that the balance of power swings with Robertson.
Consistency is yet another of Oscar’s countless basketball virtues. He rarely hits for 45 points one night and 15 the next. Oscar is always around the 30-point mark, and his playmaking and rebounding figures are always close to his career norm. Even during the playoffs, which tend to set the adrenaline flowing and force some players to play over their heads (and which also tend to choke off the individual brilliance of others under the intense pressure), Robertson rolls merrily along playing his game, scoring his 30 and forcing the opposition to face up to the inexorable pressure his machine-like precision and consistency applies.
Says a long-time basketball expert, “If Oscar walked into your neighborhood playground for a pick-up game, he’d probably get his 30 and not much more. He’s the most consistent star ever.”
What makes Robertson the best ever? The consensus seems to indicate that it is his perfect build, which gives him the strength and power of a big man and enables him to retain the agility and dexterity of a little man. Then, it is Oscar’s mastery of each of those skills that make up the perfect basketball player more completely than anyone ever has before. And finally, it is his determination and tough-mindedness, combined with that basic unselfishness of his play, that enables him to make the maximum use of those skills.
But perhaps the best summation is Tom Gola’s: “No matter who he’s playing with or who he’s playing against, Oscar controls the game. Oscar makes the difference. Oscar is the best ever!”
Oscar Robertson: Why He’s the Best Ever, 1968
Says a long-time basketball expert, “If Oscar walked into your neighborhood playground for a pick-up game, he’d probably get his 30 and not much more. He’s the most consistent star ever…
from-way-downtown.com
HOF Rudy Tomjanovich PF Michigan SD, HOU 1970-1981 11-24-1948 74 YOA
Rudy Tomjanovich was drafted second overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA Draft. In 2003, when Rudy T. left the Rockets – now based in Houston – the Hamtramck, Michigan native had spent more than half his life with the organization. A fearless player, Tomjanovich brought that same mentality to the profession of coaching. In only his second full season at the helm, Tomjanovich led the Houston Rockets to the 1994 NBA championship. Space City was on top of the world, and Tomjanovich, though once reluctant to take the head job, found his groove patrolling the sidelines. The Rockets led with Hakeem Olajuwon on both ends of the floor, so Tomjanovich found a way to involve lesser-known players Otis Thorpe, Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, and Vernon Maxwell. The formula worked. A year later, with Clyde Drexler now in the lineup, the Rockets featured Olajuwon and the same supporting cast to win the franchise’s second title. Tomjanovich followed up his encore performance with another outstanding run in the 2000 Olympics leading the United States to the gold medal.
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