Needed: Talented Walkons for Once Proud Basketball Program

I really like Tom Crean and I think he is just what Indiana needs a coach with a lot of integrity and gritty record of success. In his first major move with the university, he has maintained that integrity by standing by Dan Dakitch's decision to kick Armon Bassett and JaMarcus Ellis off of the Indiana team.

While this decision will make year one ugly to watch, it shows the university's resolve to put the Sampson era, and his thug players, behind them. These brats, with their "walkout" antics after Sampson was fired, don't deserve scholarships. It will be interesting to see what program wants to take a risk on them in the future --- I am guessing it won't be a strong basketball program and may not even be DI.

In other IU news, freshman Center Eli Holman lost his mind and decided to transfer rather than play for a coach that is head and shoulders better than his cheating predecessor. But not only that, he also decided to throw a "grade school" style temper tantrum that prompted a police escort from the building. Way to go out with a bang and really market yourself for another future program!!

As a Big Ten fan, I am very happy to see IU bring closure to the Sampson era and re-establish a basketball program we can respect again.

Wow, what an opening weekend of the Playoffs

Does anybody else feel like this years playoffs feel like the NCAA tournament. With the parity (in the West) and influx of young players, these playoffs are starting off very exciting.

Many of these series look like they could go to 6 or 7 games and there are sure to be a lot more excellent individual performances.

Here are some observations from the first games of the playoffs:

-- The Washington Wizards away uniforms are the ugliest uniforms I have ever seen.

-- Why would anybody ever want to get LeBron ticked off??? Overrated, really???

-- Philadelphia is for real, they are a good team and likely will take Detroit to 6 or 7 games. In then end, I still think Detroit wins the series though.

-- This just in, Gasol is good, real good. The Lakers and Celtics both won in impressive fashion.

NBA Playoffs - Its going to be FANtastic

While I am mainly a college basketball fan, I am really excited for this coming NBA playoffs. There has been a changing of the guard in the NBA over the past 3-4 years and I really like the young batch of players that are both entertaining and respectful of others and the league.

Lebron, DWill, CPaul and Howard are a few of my favorites to watch among this new young group of stars.

There are several first round matchups that look to be outstanding including, Utah/Houston, San Antonio/Phoenix, Dallas/New Orleans and Cleveland/Washington.

I am going out on a limb with my prediction of Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics in the finals and I expect the Jazz to win it in 7.

Good luck to all the teams, should be a lot of fun!!

My Sleeper Makes the Final Four!

Doh...in the wrong tournament. Before the season began, I picked two sleepers teams (not ranked in the pre-season Top 25) that I thought could make the Final Four this year, Ohio State and Clemson.

Congratulations to the Buckeyes, who won the NIT Championship last night. They had an up and down season, but their run in the NIT proves they had the talent. They gelled a bit late in the season to make it to the NCAAs, but winning the NIT is a nice consolation.

Depending what happens with Koufas (stay or NBA), they could return a good or great team next year. Obviously losing senior Butler will be a blow, but they are stacked with young talent and if Koufas stays they could start the year in the Top 10.