Roundball Chatter
Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball:
• Kansas sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor will be out up to four weeks with a dislocated thumb sustained in an altercation involving several football and basketball players. So much for school unity. Reports indicated players from the two teams were arguing as they entered and exited the building and punches were thrown. Taylor was the only one reportedly injured, and he should be back for the start of the regular season. It is still a scare for Coach Bill Self.
• Maryland rewarded long-time coach Gary Williams with a contract extension. He led the Terps to the national championship in and there is lots of optimism heading into this season. The return of Greivis Vasquez plus an infusion of new talent has Williams looking forward to the 2009-10 campaign.
• Southern Illinois University sophomore guard Ryan Hare was suspended indefinitely following his arrest for battery and trespassing. I have said it many times, athletes have to be held accountable for their actions. They often have to pay a hefty price for poor decision-making. Hare averaged 7.5 ppg. last season and we will have to see how long he is sidelined.
• Congratulations to Curtis Shaw, who was named Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials for the Big 12 Conference. He will begin his new job starting with the 2010-11 season. Shaw replaces Dale Kelley, who has served in the role since the Conference began play in 1996-97.
• Tennessee Tech head coach Mike Sutton certainly has three tough road games this season. His squad visits Minnesota, Memphis and Kansas. That should prepare his team for anything! Sutton, the former Kentucky assistant, has battled health problems in recent years, so this schedule is simply a small roadblock.
• I love the concept of the Bracket Busters. The eighth annual event will feature 11 nationally televised games -- on either ESPN2 or ESPNU -- selected from a pool of 98 teams. I can't believe this is going on its eighth year already! The two-day event pits potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other Feb. 19-20. The 11 BracketBusters match-ups will be announced Feb. 1, while game time and network assignments will be announced Feb. 8. This really gives the little guy an opportunity to improve its status prior to the big dance.
