Kevin Ollie takes over today as coach of Connecticut, succeeding his current boss and former coach at UConn, Jim Calhoun. Both were part of a combination farewell/introductory press conference today in Storrs that took listeners through his rocky beginning at Boston’s Northeastern, his drive down to his own introductory presser at UConn with the Boston Globe‘s Jackie MacMullan, and his three national titles. Those 26 years are hard to sum up, with his history with the NCAA’s infractions committee abutting his three title plaques, in one easy way. There are so many moments from that span that you’ll see a lot of top-10 lists. Read More »

Now that Lindecision 2012 is all over, and Jeremy Lin is going to be formerly introduced as a Houston Rocket sometime soon, we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. No, we’re not talking about how, for once, the Knicks resisted the urge to indulge as they have so many times before (even though, for once, there were PLENTY of reasons to do it). We’re talking about how we got here. Lin never wanted to leave New York, and opened up about it to SI.com yesterday. Read More »

Other than taking some time off this summer, what are you supposed to do during a lockout? How about go under the needle. Just recently, we’ve shown you new ink from Dominique Jones and Amir Johnson and DeMarcus Cousins. Now, thanks to Twitter, we have the latest from Ryan Gomes. Check it out in all its glory after the jump. Read More »

Four teams walked into Baruch College’s ARC Arena last night, but by the evening’s end, only two were left standing. After a pair of back-and-forth semifinal contests, the Nike Pro City championship matchup is now set: tomorrow evening, Sundiata Gaines and The Franchise will look to defend its title against Dyckman/NYAC. Read More »

NBA players may be locked out, and college basketball may not tip-off for another three months, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t hoops to watch.

After a regular season that featured overtime contests, a surprise appearance from Kevin Durant, and a 60-point performance from John Lucas III, Nike Pro City is just heating up as the playoffs begin tonight at Manhattan’s Baruch College. Read More »

There are obviously aftershocks from the big deals involving Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams earlier this week. With a few hours left before the trade deadline passes, there are more deals to discuss, involving guys like Baron Davis, Mo Williams and Kirk Hinrich. Here are quick takes on the implications that fantasy owners should pay attention to. Read More »

Carmelo Anthony had that George Gervin flow going once again last night. Not that ‘Melo was dropping mid-range finger rolls or squeezing his skinny body in between some poor team’s Swiss Cheese defense — it was more that Carmelo’s 23-point effort in the third quarter against Indiana was awfully reminiscent of the 33-point quarter he had a couple years ago that tied Iceman’s record for most in a quarter in NBA history … You could say ‘Melo (36 pts, 14-27 FG) channeled Iceman in that there wasn’t as much of that usual bully-style in his buckets. Read More »

For Clippers fans, there’s one phrase that is a staple in their vocabulary: “There’s always next season.” Thankfully, that time is now. Yesterday at Clippers Media Day, I got a chance to chat with four of the young guns that will be supporting rookie Blake Griffin this season, and you could tell that the expectations are high. Check it out.

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The 2009-10 season for Clipper Nation was one to bury deep in the depths of forgotten memories, where most seasons for the Clips consider home. The team went a disappointing 29-53 during last year’s campaign, and once again was an NBA wasteland as the team was in the lower half of the NBA’s attendance. Although we all expect mediocrity and a trip to the Lottery in June, this year will be different. This year, the Clippers will make some noise in the West and bid for a playoff berth. Read More »

If this NBA offseason taught you anything, it was that — once again — most of the media doesn’t know sh*t. Or to turn Bernie Mac‘s phrase, they don’t know sh*t until sh*t happens … Take the Carmelo Anthony situation. With every day that ‘Melo doesn’t sign his extension offer from the Nuggets, more scenarios are spun of where he’ll end up next, and more reports come out that are presented as near fact when it’s really just guessing. Today’s best guesses are that Carmelo forms a “Super-Friends 2″ clique in New York with Amar’e and Tony Parker/Chris Paul, or that Melo goes to Orlando as part of a trade that could also include Chauncey, Vince and Rashard Lewis. Read More »