“Local name, national Perspective” $3.95 © Copyright 1998, The Houston Roundball Review, All Rights Reserved. Volume 5 Issue 1 November 1998 BASKETBALL FOR THOUGHT by Kris Gardner, e-mail: [email protected] Personally, I think bas- ketball polls are a waste of Polls are Merely Window Dressing time. If a ranked club loses a game on the road in its confer- he pre season with At the ence to a lower ranked club, college basket- the National the loss will not be an upset. ball polls have current Associa- It’s very difficult to win on the been released by play- tion of road in almost any sport espe- most, if not all, the major ers. Black cially in a quality conference publications. The consensus A Coaches against a quality opponent. is the Duke Blue Devils are nother Tourney For example, if Duke loses at the top team in the country factor held in In- Maryland, it won’t be an up- this season. Big deal. Why in the dianapolis set. It will be: Maryland beat does anyone care? College polls is which Duke. Period. sports polls are one of the how kicked off Polls are voted on by most subjective items in all can the season, members of the national me- of sports. I can honestly say anyone Valparaiso dia. Therefore, how can a I could not care less who has make © member of the national media been tabbed as the top team It doesn’t matter how I ranked them because the champion make an accurate vote on a in the land as of November will be determined on the court not in a room or by a team he or she hasn’t seen all 1st or even March 1st. computer. season or doesn’t cover. The In no particular order voter can’t make an accurate the top teams in Men’s Divi- an accurate assessment on a defeated South Carolina. judgment; yet, voters vote on sion I are Stanford, Duke, team without seeing the team Despite both teams being teams across the country they Kentucky, Connecticut, and perform in a competitive sit- unranked, Valpo’s victory may never see until Tourna- Maryland. It doesn’t matter uation? Watching a team was called an upset. How ment time allowing for far too how I ranked them because practice provides only a could that be? It was the first much subjectivity. the champion will be deter- glimpse of the team’s ability, game for both clubs and nei- Polls also play a limited mined on the court not in a not the complete picture. ther team was ranked.! role in how teams are selected room or by a computer. Games provide the best Valpo has a young team and and ranked for March Mad- Releasing a top 25 list is judge of performance. South Carolina was missing ness. A team may be ranked in merely for show to peak in- Clearly, a pre season poll a key player or two. Valpo’s the Top 25 all season and miss terest and conversation. cannot take games into ac- win was not an upset—it the Tournament entirely or be Nothing more. A pre season count because none have yet was a win. Nothing more, seeded very low because the ranking, obviously, holds to be played! nothing less. Selection Committee places more importance to a school more emphasis on the team’s which has never been ranked losses to non conference op- previously; however, beyond Inside This Issue Page(s) ponents than the team’s in those schools, rankings Basketball For Thought 1, 15 conference record. Con- mean nothing. NBA News 2, 11 versely, a team which has A pre season poll is An Open Letter... 3 been unranked all season does based on a team’s returning NCAA Women and WNBA News 4, 9 not mean the club won’t be as well as incoming talent. Super 6 College Players 5 selected to the Big Dance. As a result, speculation plays NCAA Conf. by Conf. Pre season Polls 6 - 9 Last year’s Western Michigan a key role in a pre season Big 12 and C - USA Signings 10 - 11 team is a perfect example. poll. No one can be certain Around the Rim: News on NCAA Hoops 12 - 15 Polls are merely window how the new talent will mesh Roundball “RIM” Shots 16 (Continued on page 15) The Houston Roundball Review P.O. Box 70516 Houston, TX 77270 - 0516 888-ROUNBAL houstonroundballrev.com Page 2 internet site—http://houstonroundballrev.com The Houston Roundball Review NBA NEWS As of November 16th The NBA State of the Team Address will return whenever the lockout ends. Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Win- November 13, Legendary Þ The following has been circulated via E-mail. Though the derman announced Heat New York Knicks head NBA players would quickly point out the fact they’re be- center Alonzo Mourning coach William “Red” ing locked out and are not on strike, the message is still recently underwent surgery Holzman died at Long Is- clear. land Jewish Hospital at age on his right knee to remove 78. The cause of death was a bone spur. Zo should re- not released but Holzman, turn around Dec. 25th. THE NBA PLAYER ADOPTION PROGRAM who was admitted to the NEEDS YOU! hospital on Nov. 12th, was October 30, Seattle signed suffering from leukemia. GM Wally Walker to a With a NBA players strike against the team owners looming, contract extension which now is the time for us to show the world just how much we Holzman led the Knicks to runs through the 2002 sea- care. It's just not right. Hundreds of basketball players in our their only two NBA titles in son. Terms weren’t dis- very own country are living at or just below the seven-figure 1970 and 1973. He com- closed. salary level! Atrocious! And, as if that weren't bad enough, piled a record of 696 - 604 they will be deprived of pay for several weeks--possibly a during his 18 year stint as October 28, NBA Deputy whole year--as a result of the strike. But now you can help! For an NBA head coach. Commissioner Russ about two thousand dollars a day--that's less than the cost of a Granik announced that the large screen projection TV--you can help a basketball player November 11, Utah F Karl league had canceled the re- remain economically viable during his time of need. Two thou- Malone stated on his radio maining games scheduled sand dollars a day may not seem like a lot of money to show, ``I am tired of the for November. The NBA you, but to a basketball player it could mean the difference posturing and jabbering also announced that the between a vacation spent golfing in Florida or a Mediterranean back and forth, and I will go regular season game be- cruise. For you, two thousand dollars is nothing more than out on a limb and say, when tween the San Antonio three months rent or mortgage payments. But to a basketball the lockout is over with, I Spurs and the LA Clippers player, two thousand dollars a day will almost replace his will make a demand to be scheduled to be played in salary. Your commitment of two thousand dollars a day will traded,'' Malone said on the Mexico City on December enable a player to buy that home entertainment center, trade in air. ``I will say it right now, 12th, has been canceled. the year-old Lexus for a new Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in I have played my last game Rio. in Salt Lake City, and it's October 27, The New Jer- time for Karl to move on.'' sey Nets agreed to keep "HOW WILL I KNOW I'M HELPING?" playing basketball at the ``I would rather go some- Meadowlands sports com- Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on where else, and there's not a plex through the 2007-08 the player you sponsor. Detailed information about his lot of places I can go to. I NBA season, putting on stocks, bonds, 401(k), real estate, and other investment would love to have an op- hold any immediate holdings will be mailed to your home. You'll also get portunity to play with the thoughts by some of bring- information on how he plans to invest the $5 million lump Lakers, either when this ing the team to Newark. sum he will receive upon retirement. Plus upon signing up lockout is over with or when for this program, you will receive a photo of the player I become a free agent.'' The agreement replaces a (unsigned). Put the photo on your refrigerator to remind long-term lease that com- you of other peoples' suffering. November 10, The Seattle mitted the Nets to the Con- Sonics signed Billy McKin- tinental Airlines Arena un- "HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING" ney to a three year contract til 2020-21, but had escape extension through the 2001 windows after the 1999- Your basketball player will be told that he has a SPECIAL - 2002 season as well as 2000 and 2003-04 seasons. FRIEND who just wants to help in a time of need. Although changed his job title from the player won't know your name, he will be able to make vice president of basketball October 22, The Bulls re - collect calls to your home via a special operator just in case operations to executive vice signed assistant coach Tex additional funds are needed for unexpected expenses.