Roundball Chatter
Every Friday I will give my thoughts on the game I love, basketball.
• I am excited about the pairings for this year's Jimmy V Classic. The doubleheader at Madison Square Garden takes place on Dec. 9. One of the nation's premier players, Stephen Curry of Davidson, will be on display against Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers in the opener. The nightcap features a showdown between the Big East and Big 12 as Villanova meets Texas. Wow, Scottie Reynolds and A.J. Abrams battling it out at the Mecca of college basketball, baby!
• Arkansas hoop fans received some tough news recently when the announcement came down: Patrick Beverley will not be suiting up in Fayetteville this season. Reports indicated that academics were a factor in the decision. It is a blow for coach John Pelphrey since Beverley averaged over 12 points and six rebounds last season, and the guard was expected to be a major factor. If academics were an issue, the young man has to understand that he was a student-athlete and needed to work harder on his grades. Time will tell if Beverley has a future in the college game.
• Good news out at UNLV. The Nevada Board of Regents recently approved a one-year extension for coach Lon Kruger. My friends, the former NBA head coach has done a super job in the desert. In his first four years there he has an impressive 91-42 mark. Last year's squad rolled to a 27-8 record and its second consecutive Mountain West tournament title.
• As I mentioned last week, this is the time of year where several schools will travel overseas and play exhibition games. Add Missouri to that list as the Tigers will be visiting Canada at the end of the month. Mike Anderson has a lot of veterans returning and this should be an interesting season in Columbia, Missouri.
• The O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico tip-off has a pretty nice field together. John Calipari's Memphis Tigers, Virginia Tech, USC, Xavier and Missouri are all part of the event. There is a lot of talent competing down there.
• Kansas lost its Director of Basketball Operations as Ronnie Chalmers decided to leave the program. His son, Mario, was drafted by the Miami Heat. Head coach Bill Self will go out and find a replacement, though Ronnie Chalmers helped the Jayhawks win a national championship last season.
