NBA All-Star Weekend is in full effect for the basketball world. The rookies, sophomore and celebrities are set to put on a show tonight. Blake Griffin has the world anticipating this year’s Slam Dunk contest like it’s Dr. Dre‘s Detox album. The main course in this basketball feast is the All-Star Game itself. We get to see the best 24 basketball players in the world competing under the lights of the Staples Center. This is sure to satisfy your basketball appetite.
Before the NBA All-Star Game’s hottest debate turned into a LaMarcus Aldridge celebration — I think the people of Portland are vying to get LMA awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom as we speak — the big argument was over Yao Ming being voted in as an All-Star starter despite playing only five games this season.
In high school basketball, a similar situation has surfaced with today’s unveiling of the Jordan Brand Classic rosters. The annual prep all-star game, played April 16 at the Charlotte Bobcats’ arena, is one of the most popular postseason showcases where college fans get their first look at next year’s freshmen. Read More »
Unlike the NBA and its salary cap limitations, crapshoot nature of the draft and guaranteed long-term albatross contracts, college basketball always provides a glimmer of hope right around the corner. Even for big dogs like Duke, whose unbeaten streak and No. 1 ranking was shaken last night in an upset loss at Florida State, the future almost always appears brighter than the present.
So when the Blue Devils lost on Wednesday in part because they shot 31 percent from the field and struggled to sustain a flow on offense, depressed Cameron Crazies could take solace in one fact: Austin Rivers is coming next year. Read More »
JOHN CALIPARI (by A. Macaluso) When it comes to family, no one is closer than the Italians. You used to be able to say the same about John Calipari and his predecessor, Rick Pitino. Both coaches have known each other ever since they worked together at Five Star Camp. Both head coaches were actually friends in the beginning, with Pitino helping Calipari land the head coaching position at Massachusetts in 1988. Read More »
Those of us in the Dime crew who are hitting our mid-to-late 20′s are noticing the trend every sports fan experiences with age: The offspring of athletes we grew up watching are now starting to make their own names in the game. Michael Jordan, Shawn Kemp and Glen Rice are just a few of the former NBA stars who now have sons that are college-age and giving us 1990s flashbacks every time they step on the court. Read More »
Hands down, Marquis Teague is the best point guard in the country. Probably doesn’t hurt that his brother, Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, knows a thing or two about playing ball. Anyways, while Marquis still has one more year left of high school before he heads to Kentucky, check out what the 6-2 floor general from Indianapolis, Ind., has been up to this summer while playing with the Spiece Indy Heat.
On the summer’s last major stage for high school basketball, the Kentucky Wildcats again couldn’t stay out of the headlines.
During halftime of the nationally-televised Elite 24 showcase at Venice Beach, Calif., Kyle Wiltjer announced his commitment to UK. The 6-9 forward from Portland, Ore., then went on to win co-MVP of the game, scoring 20 points.
If recruiting is more than half the battle in college basketball, John Calipari is setting himself up to win a war (or at least a national championship). Read More »
This past weekend, the final regular session of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League commenced in Los Angeles. With over 40 teams from across the country converging in L.A., the event was definitely loaded with top-tier talent and competition.
Among the competitors in attendance was a pair of Kentucky commits and consensus top-3 overall prospects: Read More »
It’s alright if you’re not familiar with Marquis Teague just yet. Unless you’re a diehard high school hoops fan, or from Indiana, chances are you’ve never even seen the kid play. But as the best point guard in the Class of 2011, and the younger brother of the Atlanta Hawks’ Jeff Teague, you should get to know him. Today, Teague has setup a 1:30 PM news conference to decide where he’s going to school in two years. And all signs point to it coming down to Kentucky and Louisville. Read More »
While his Kentucky Wildcats are running through every obstacle in their path, John Calipari‘s controversial past never seems too far behind.
A couple weeks ago, Coach Cal appeared on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” and even during a light, good-natured interview, had to answer questions about trouble his programs encountered at Memphis and UMass and whether it would be an issue at Kentucky. Then last week, Bob Knight made headlines when he used Calipari as an example of what he sees wrong with college basketball. Read More »
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