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Post by Kapitan on Apr 6, 2021 16:08:10 GMT
ARGH! The Gophers' best returning basketball player, junior center Liam Robbins, is apparently no longer a returning player: he entered the transfer portal.
The best guess is that he has gotten an indication his uncle, Ed Conroy, is taking another job elsewhere. Conroy had been an assistant with the Gophers and is widely regarded as being the reason Robbins transferred to Minnesota in the first place.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 18, 2021 18:19:09 GMT
(OK, technically this is HS sports...or at least college prospect sports)
This evening and tomorrow I'm going to a showcase for nearly 150 Minnesota (with a few Iowan and N&S Dakotan) high school basketball players who are seen as potential D1 players. Probably nearly half class of '22, a third '23, and some promising '24s. They have skills work privately (in front of college coaches) and then games in front of coaches plus the public (coached by HS coaches).
I'm really excited. I was at this event two years ago and it was really a lot of fun to catch a good look at so many prospects up close, and against good competition. Just scanning the list, we're talking about probably at least 50 guys who will end up D1, and some really high-major prospects.
In attendance to scout/recruit will be Minnesota, of course, plus our newly D1 St. Thomas, but also the likes of Baylor, Villanova, Michigan St, Iowa, Iowa St, Cal, Clemson, Stanford, Marquette, Ohio St, Utah, BC, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and dozens of other D1 schools (plus D2-3 schools).
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 20, 2021 12:13:32 GMT
I was in heaven at the aforementioned event! My gosh, there was a lot of basketball going on...
For me, the highlights were related to prospects. (Note: You WILL hear about Tre Holloman, a class of '22 point guard who is currently rated around 50th nationally but I think should be twice as high, in McDonalds/Parade All-America contention. He's the best PG I've seen out of Minnesota since Khalid El Amin back in the 90s...even better than Tyus and Tre Jones or Tyrell Terry, all of whom are in the NBA.) But beyond him, there were several guys college fans will get to know: Prince Aligbe, Demarion Watson, Elvis Nnaji, Taison Chatman... and one who I think is going to be in contention for "most exciting player" awards and highlight clips: Joshua Ola-Joseph. You will see him someday, and you will love him. A 6-6 forward who can stick the 3 but really runs the floor and dunks everything. EVERYTHING. He can fly and he seems out to demolish rims and opponents' confidence.
The more universal highlight? Almost literally bumping into Jerry Stackhouse (obviously former UNC and NBA star, but currently Vanderbilt head coach recruiting the event) on the way to the men's room!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 1, 2021 14:21:40 GMT
I think you're going to see a lot of opinions like this regarding the NCAA and college football in the coming months:
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 1, 2021 14:38:29 GMT
I think you're going to see a lot of opinions like this regarding the NCAA and college football in the coming months:
I think you're right, but I think the sentiment is wrong. Rules are rules until they're changed or rescinded. The issue isn't necessarily "Reggie Bush got paid, that's not immoral," but "Reggie Bush knowingly cheated the rules to get paid, and that's immoral." When laws change, we don't retroactively pardon anyone convicted under violations of the previous iterations. (Sometimes there are some such actions, though.)
For a functional society, the way to pursue changes to what we perceive as unjust laws or, in the case of the NCAA, rules, is to argue about them. Raise challenges, amendments, lawsuits. Get them changed. (Which is precisely what many college athletes did.) Not just ignore them and cheat. (Which is precisely what some other athletes did.)
On the same topic, I think a LOT of D1 athletes are about to get a crash course in capitalism: that you are allowed to profit on your likeness doesn't mean you're about to profit on your likeness. At any given time, there are maybe a few dozen athletes who can make big money. Maybe a few hundred who can make some decent money. And a whole lot who are unlikely to make much, if any, money. What corporation is looking for a third-string offensive tackle at Northern Illinois to use in advertisements?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 1, 2021 14:43:24 GMT
I think you're going to see a lot of opinions like this regarding the NCAA and college football in the coming months:
I think you're right, but I think the sentiment is wrong. Rules are rules until they're changed or rescinded. The issue isn't necessarily "Reggie Bush got paid, that's not immoral," but "Reggie Bush knowingly cheated the rules to get paid, and that's immoral." When laws change, we don't retroactively pardon anyone convicted under violations of the previous iterations. (Sometimes there are some such actions, though.)
For a functional society, the way to pursue changes to what we perceive as unjust laws or, in the case of the NCAA, rules, is to argue about them. Raise challenges, amendments, lawsuits. Get them changed. (Which is precisely what many college athletes did.) Not just ignore them and cheat. (Which is precisely what some other athletes did.)
I should've been more specific. I didn't necessarily mean retroactively pardoning athletes, I just meant the new rule/law in general.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 1, 2021 14:44:22 GMT
Yes, agree entirely. And I think it is interesting from numerous angles, not just those two I mentioned.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 14, 2021 2:22:12 GMT
He's back! Larry Brown, that is.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 14, 2021 12:10:20 GMT
Brilliant, brilliant coach ... but honestly at every stop he ends up a pain. Hates almost all of his players, wants to trade them all (which in college isn't so easy). And NCAA violations tend to follow him, too, as if there already weren't plenty of eyes on Penny's Memphis program.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 14, 2021 12:33:38 GMT
Brilliant, brilliant coach ... but honestly at every stop he ends up a pain. Hates almost all of his players, wants to trade them all (which in college isn't so easy). And NCAA violations tend to follow him, too, as if there already weren't plenty of eyes on Penny's Memphis program. I find this move fascinating. Larry Brown is now 80 years old. He could just sit next to Penny and offer advice, not have to worry about the crap that goes with being the Head Coach, do some real instructional coaching of young kids which he loves - and ride off into the sunset accepting accolades at every stop along the way. But, he'll probably do something...wrong...and then move on. It's almost like a game itself, watching how things unfold and trying to predict what will be his undoing. But, you're right; a brilliant basketball coach, when he sticks to coaching.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 14, 2021 12:41:39 GMT
I do wonder how he relates to kids now (and vice versa). It's an era when players consider "old school OGs" to be Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 14, 2021 12:57:24 GMT
I do wonder how he relates to kids now (and vice versa). It's an era when players consider "old school OGs" to be Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant. It's interesting that you would mention that. When Larry Brown was elected to the Basketball Hall Of Fame a few years ago, he was interviewed and asked a simple question. I will never forget his answer. It perfectly described how I felt/feel about youth sports' coaching (of which I did a lot of years ago), and how I feel about the clients I work with, frustratingly work with, in my job.
The interviewer asked Larry what the difference was in coaching players forty years ago when he started coaching, and coaching the players today. Larry's answer, and I'm paraphrasing, was "I never thought the day would come when I had to coach effort." Perfect answer, and that sums up my feelings about a lot of things, and not just sports.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jul 23, 2021 15:54:09 GMT
It appears the the wheels of college sports realignment are beginning to turn again. Texas and Oklahoma are both close to joining the SEC, leaving a big whole in the Big 12. This opens up a whole host of scenarios, with these two being the most likely.
1. The Big 12 adds four teams to get back to 12. This is the most favorable option for my Bearcats as they would almost be a lock to join.
2. Some of the remaining eight schools join the Pac-12, leading the Big 10 and ACC to add teams to create four super conferences. Any leftovers would likely join the AAC.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 23, 2021 17:57:16 GMT
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 23, 2021 18:01:52 GMT
I think the NCAA is going to be undergoing several changes in the next few years. I would hate to be in charge or be responsible for its future in any way.
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