Roundball Chatter
Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball:
• I have written about athletes and responsibility on numerous occasions. Oklahoma's Juan Pattillo showed potential during his limited playing time during the past season. Pattillo was expected to have a bigger role for the Sooners next season. Unfortunately poor decision-making led to coach Jeff Capel dismissing the 6-6 forward. Violation of team rules was the reason given for his departure. Oklahoma had a solid recruiting class to go with a handful of returning players, but the loss of Pattillo is a blow.
• Speaking of Oklahoma, congratulations to the Los Angeles Clippers, winners of the Blake Griffin sweepstakes, also known as the NBA draft lottery. Isn't it amazing that since the lottery began, the team with the best chance of winning the top pick has done so just four times. I feel bad for the Sacramento Kings, which got the fourth pick in the draft despite having the worst record in the NBA this season.
• Guard Doug Wiggins had opportunities to succeed at Connecticut. Off-court issues led to his decision to transfer. Then he went to Massachusetts, but now he has had additional problems that led to his departure from the Amherst-based school. Coach Derek Kellogg felt it was best to part ways with Wiggins. You may remember the guard was suspended following a breaking-and-entering charge. It is a sad story of a young man with potential who has really struggled.
• Good news for Mississippi and coach Andy Kennedy. The Rebels landed former Indiana starting guard Nick Williams as a transfer. The 6-4 Williams played in all 31 of the Hoosiers' games last season, starting in 29 of them. He averaged just under nine ppg. The native of Mobile, Alabama will sit out the upcoming season but should have an impact in the future.
• Former Maryland center Braxton Dupree, who started eight games for Maryland as a promising freshman but played little as a sophomore, has transferred to Towson. You know Pat Kennedy had to be happy with that news. The 6-8 Dupree could be an impact player in the Colonial Athletic Association. He is a physical player who could excel after leaving the ACC.
• Florida reserve forward Allan Chaney has decided to transfer to Virginia Tech. He was bothered by a foot injury last season and averaged three points per game in limited action. Chaney will have to sit out next season before becoming eligible to play for Seth Greenberg's squad.
• BYU received good news when forward Jonathan Tavernari decided to drop out of the NBA draft and return to Provo. The Cougars' stock in the Mountain West is up following that decision.
