Category Archives: NCAA Basketball

You’ll be missed, Charlie Coles

June 7, 2013 – 3:05 pm

I only have a minute because I’m on the road this weekend for a wedding, but I’m very saddened to learn of the death of former Miami University basketball coach Charlie Coles.

Charlie had a minute for everybody.

Charlie Coles stories provided laughs for days and years.

He wasn’t well, which led to his retirement just over a year ago. It positively stinks that he didn’t get more time to enjoy his retirement, but I’m absolutely certain that he never got cheated while he was here.

This is a guy who died on the court once — really — before medics brought him back. That was 25 years ago.

He kept coaching, kept cracking jokes, kept telling the truth. Kept entertaining everybody he encountered.

I knew when I wrote this in the winter of 2012 that it was an obituary of sorts at least terms of his coaching career, and that it didn’t do Charlie justice. I just read it myself a few minutes ago and I laughed. I’d have started to cry, but I pictured Charlie laughing.

And making faces like he did after that famous Kentucky game.

And getting all red-faced like he did with officials.

Read (and heed) the beer-buying offer at the end of the story. That was Charlie. He meant it.

I’ll toast one him this weekend. Charlie Coles was truly one of a kind.

By Zac | Also posted in MAC | Tagged |


NBA Notes: Cavs hire another assistant, report says

June 3, 2013 – 4:49 pm

A few notes from around the NBA:

• Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is adding a one-time Cavs big man to his staff. According to a report by Yahoo! Sports, the Cavs are in the process of hiring Vitaly Potapenko as an assistant coach. Potapenko was drafted by the Cavs and played for them from 1996-99.

• Potapenko hails from the Ukraine and also spent time as a center with the Celtics, SuperSonics and Kings. He has been an assistant coach with the Celtics and in the D-League.

• The Cavs have now added Phil Handy from the Lakers, Igor Kokoskov from the Suns and now Potapenko to Brown’s staff. Brown is expected to retain Jamahl Mosley from Byron Scott’s staff, as Brown and Mosley share an agent and Mosely has been credited with a role in the development of Cavs forward Tristan Thompson.

• Kent State forward Chris Evans is among the NBA Draft prospects working out for the Kings, who own the Nos. 7 and 36 picks. Others working out for the Kings include: French center Rudy Gobert, Montana guard Will Cherry and Syracuse guard Brandon Triche.

• Ohio guard D.J. Cooper has worked out for the Trail Blazers.

• Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has worked out for the Bucks and Timberwolves.

• Akron center Zeke Marshall worked out for the Bulls and Pacers.

• The Jazz worked out Indiana power forward/center Cody Zeller on Monday. They own the Nos. 14, 21 and 46 picks in the draft.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs |


NBA scouting director calls draft ‘deepest in years’

May 20, 2013 – 10:38 pm

On the day before the NBA Draft Lottery, the NBA’s senior director of scouting operations says it’s officially time to get excited.

“We’ve got one of the deepest drafts in years,” Ryan Blake said in an interview with Andy Baskin and Jeff Phelps on 92.3 The Fan on Monday.

Now, before we go any further, know that Blake is saying pretty much the opposite of what we’ve heard. Most people have said this draft stinks — featuring no clear-cut choice at No. 1 and almost zero star power anywhere.

That may be true, Blake admitted. But that doesn’t mean this draft will be a total waste.

“What you have are a lot of different talented players and a lot of different positions,” he said. “A lot of teams will try to hit a home run, and find that franchise player.”

According to Blake, those players are out there — but it won’t happen overnight.

“You usually don’t know for sure about a guy until after three years,” Blake said. “Even Kobe (Byrant) and (Kevin) Garnett took some time. In this draft, there are so many good players who could develop into that first- or second-option guy.”

One way for rookies to get playing time is via defense, Blake said. In fact, without defense, it’ll be hard to stay on the floor as a first-year player.

And when it comes to defense, this draft has it.

“There are a lot of really good defenders, deep into the second round,” Blake said. “In fact, we’re gonna have a lot (undrafted rookie) free agents that, as soon as the draft is over, teams will be fighting over to get them on their summer team.”

Blake mentioned Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo and Georgetown small forward Otto Porter as the best of the best.

Porter is one name that’s been linked to the Cavaliers should they hold their current spot and draft No. 3.

“I really like Otto,” Blake said. “He played well within the system. At 6-foot-8, he can shoot the ball from the perimeter, and if you’re at Georgetown, you have to show that you can pass. When you have that size from the perimeter, that’s hard to guard.”

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs |


Xavier’s basketball future looking bright

May 17, 2013 – 6:08 pm

Indiana transfer Remy Abell has announced he’ll transfer to Xavier, continuing a strong run of commitments for coach Chris Mack and the Musketeers as they prepare to move to the Big East.

Abell, a 6’4 guard out of Louisville, Ky., played two seasons at Indiana and will have two more at Xavier after sitting out the 2013-14 season.

Also on Friday the school announced the addition of 6’8 Bulgarian forward Aleksandar Vezenkov, who’s played for his country’s junior national team and as an amateur in a Greek pro league. The 17-year old Venenkov is eligible to play next season.

With essentially a whole lineup of five players either concentrating on academics or playing elsewhere last season, a relatively young Xavier team took its lumps and missed the postseason but still finished 17-14. If Jalen Reynolds and Miles Davis get eligible and are ready to contribute for this season, the Musketeers will be in position to take a leap.

Joining Vezenkov in this summer’s incoming freshman class are 6’5 forward Kamall Richards and point guard Brandon Randolph,a  four-star prospect by Scout.com rated as the nation’s 15th best point guard prospect. Big man transfer Matt Strainbook (Cleveland/Western Michigan) will also be eligible this season.

Xavier already has two commits in the class of 2014, from four-star power forward Melvin Swift of Houston and three-star guard Edmond Sumner of Detroit. With Semaj Christon as the likely centerpiece for the next three years, the future for Xavier could be very bright.

By Zac | Also posted in Big East Conference, Xavier | Tagged , , , , , |


Top recruit Wiggins picks Kansas

May 14, 2013 – 12:20 pm

Andrew Wiggins announced on Tuesday that he’ll play college basketball next season at Kansas.

It will be next season only. The 6’8 Wiggins was Scout.com’s No.1  player in the class of 2013 after reclassifying from the class of 2014. He’s the likely No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

His selection of Kansas is considered at least a mild upset. The low-key Wiggins made the announcement at a school assembly but didn’t hold a press conference, and he hadn’t made much contact recently with any of his suitors.

Kentucky and Florida State were considered the favorites. Wiggins’ parents were Florida State athletes, and his high school teammates, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, is headed to Florida State.

Wiggins played his final two years of high school ball in Huntington, W.V. for  Huntington Prep. He’s a native of the Toronto area.

If you have a minute, go back and see what I wrote about Wiggins’ one game in Northeast Ohio last winter — and especially the lone reader comment at the bottom.

 

By Zac | Also posted in NBA Draft | Tagged , |


NBA Draft combine invitees

May 13, 2013 – 5:27 pm

AKRON, Ohio – The first major step in the NBA Draft process takes place Thursday and Friday in Chicago, where prospects will perform a variety of drills in front of general managers and scouts.

This is officially known as the draft combine, which tests players’ agility, leaping ability and strength. Some combine invitees, such as Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel and Maryland’s Alex Len, will not participate because of injuries.

Here is a complete list of those expected to attend (name, college or club team):

Steven Adams, Pittsburgh; Vander Blue, Marquette; Lorenzo Brown, NC State; Reggie Bullock, North Carolina; Trey Burke, Michigan.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia; Isaiah Canaan, Murray State; Jackie Carmichael, Illinois State; Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse; Will Clyburn, Iowa State.

Robert Covington, Tennessee State; Allen Crabbe, California; Seth Curry, Duke; Brandon Davies, BYU; Dewayne Dedmon, USC.

Gorgui Dieng, Louisville; James Ennis, Long Beach State; Carrick Felix, Arizona State; Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State; Rudy Gobert, Cholet (France).

Archie Goodwin, Kentucky; Erick Green, Virginia Tech; Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan; Solomon Hill, Arizona; Richard Howell, NC State.

Colton Iverson, Colorado State; Pierre Jackson, Baylor; Grant Jerrett, Arizona; Myck Kabongo, Texas; Kenny Kadji, Miami.

Ryan Kelly, Duke; Shane Larkin, Miami; Ricky Ledo, Providence; Alex Len, Maryland; C.J. Leslie, NC State.

Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota; Ray McCallum, Detroit; CJ McCollum, Lehigh; Ben McLemore, Kansas; Tony Mitchell, North Texas.

Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA; Erik Murphy, Florida; Mike Muscala, Bucknell; Nerlens Noel, Kentucky; Victor Oladipo, Indiana.

Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga; Brandon Paul, Illinois; Norvel Pelle, Los Angeles College Preparatory Academy; Mason Plumlee, Duke; Otto Porter, Georgetown.

Phil Pressey, Missouri; Glen Rice Jr., Georgia Tech/ Rio Grande Valley (D-League); Andre Roberson, Colorado; Dennis Schroeder, New Yorker Phantoms (Germany); Peyton Siva, Louisville.

Tony Snell, New Mexico; James Southerland, Syracuse; Adonis Thomas, Memphis; Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State; Jeff Withey, Kansas.

Nate Wolters, South Dakota State; B.J. Young, Arkansas; Cody Zeller, Indiana.

For more pre-draft coverage, see my story, Camps signal start of NBA draft process.

 

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs |


Cavs to host draft lottery party

May 13, 2013 – 12:17 pm

CLEVELAND – The Cavaliers will host a party for the NBA Draft lottery on Tuesday, May 21. The party will be held at Bar Louie, 1352 W. 6th St., in downtown Cleveland.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the lottery scheduled for 8:30.

FOX Sports Ohio broadcasters Austin Carr and Campy Russell will share insights and commentary from a stage during the festivities.

This is the Cavs’ third straight year in the lottery. They enter it with the third-best odds of winning the No. 1 overall pick, and can finish no worse than sixth. Last year, they entered it with the third-best odds of winning and finished fourth.

The Cavs also own the No. 19 pick in this year’s first round (from the Los Angeles Lakers), and two second-round picks — No. 31 (from the Orlando Magic) and No. 33.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Draft |


Ohio coaches do first-pitch honors

May 9, 2013 – 9:08 pm

CLEVELAND — It was his turn first, and Ohio University basketball coach Jim Christian fired a strike.

Next up was Ohio football coach Frank Solich, and his pitch floated into the first-base batter’s box.

Solich still got a nice ovation from the Progressive Field crowd before Thursday’s game between the Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics, but he admitted he’d hoped for better.

“I was practicing this week,” Solich said. “I called our director of football operations Jason Grooms and made him go out and throw a few with me.”

Solich grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Holy Name High School in Parma Heights. He said having the chance to throw out the first pitch in his hometown was “a thrill. It’s always nice to be back in Cleveland. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

Christian said he didn’t make any practice tosses this week.

“But when you get out there, you want to throw a strike,” Christian said. “All eyes are on you.”

The Ohio coaches served as co-guests of honor before the Indians won their 10th game in 11 tries on Thursday. Both wore new Indians hats with their traditional green garb. They were in town for the Ohio Athletics Bobcat Caravan event Thursday night at the Barley House in Cleveland.

By Zac | Also posted in Cleveland Indians, MAC, NCAA Football, Ohio Bobcats | Tagged , , , |


Charge’s Jensen wins coach of year, stays on NBA radar

April 22, 2013 – 1:48 pm

Alex Jensen is making the most of his first head coaching gig, and NBA teams everywhere (particularly the ones with vacancies) are taking notice.

In just his second season as coach of the Canton Charge, Jensen received the NBA D-League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award Monday.

As reported by FOX Sports Ohio earlier this month, Jensen has emerged as a hot coaching candidate at both the NBA and major college level.

That’s mostly because Jensen has gained a reputation as a relentless worker and strong defensive mind. The Charge finished this season with the D-League’s top defense, allowing 96 points per game and just 30 percent shooting from opponents on three-pointers.

The Charge are the D-League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs fired coach Byron Scott last week and Jensen could be a candidate for the job.

Jensen has compiled a 57-43 record in two seasons, leading the Charge to the playoffs both times.

Prior to Canton, he spent four seasons as an assistant under the late Rick Majerus at St. Louis. Jensen also played for Majerus at Utah, and was a key member of the Utes’ team that advanced to the 1998 national championship game.

This is the second straight season in which D-League Coach of the Year award has been given to someone with Ohio ties.

Brecksville High School product Eric Musselman, now an assistant at Arizona State, won the award in 2011-12 as coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA |


Charge’s Jensen emerges as NBA coaching candidate

April 8, 2013 – 2:27 pm

AKRON – The Canton Charge are about to make their second D-League playoff appearance in two years of existence, and their coach has become a hot commodity because of it.

Actually, Alex Jensen was respected in coaching circles before he took charge of the Charge. Prior to Canton, he spent four seasons as an assistant under the late Rick Majerus at St. Louis. Jensen also played for Majerus at Utah, and was a key member of the Utes’ team that advanced to the 1998 national championship game.

Today, NBA general managers and college athletic directors have Jensen on their radar, considering him someone with a proven track record in a short time as a head coach.

According to one source, Jensen could be an assistant in the NBA as soon as next season. That would fall in line with the D-League’s mission to develop players and coaches for the next level.

The Charge are the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate. They advanced to the D-League semifinals last season and finished first in the East Division with a 30-20 record this year.

They open their best-of-three first-round playoff series Wednesday at Tulsa. Game 2 is Friday at Canton, and Game 3 is Sunday at Canton, if necessary.

The other opening-round series are as follows:

Bakersfield vs. Austin; Rio Grande vs. Maine; and Santa Cruz vs. Fort Wayne.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA |