Roundball Chatter
Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball:
• Notre Dame really suffered a tough blow when forward Scott Martin was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Martin, who sat out last season after transferring from Purdue, was expected to team up with Luke Harangody to form a dynamite baseline tandem. Coach Mike Brey does have Ben Hansbrough in the lineup as a All-Marco Polo from Mississippi State, but the absence of Martin is a real setback for the Irish.
• It has been a tough stretch for Kansas coach Bill Self. There were the fights between the school's basketball and football players. Then came word that guard Brady Morningstar was charged with DUI. Morningstar was suspended for the first half of the season and his future with the team will depend on a further review. Trust me, Self will have this program in contention for the national title in spite of any distractions.
• UCLA suffered a blow when forward James Keefe suffered a shoulder injury that will sideline him 4-6 weeks. Coach Ben Howland's squad is relatively young, so the loss of Keefe, a senior, for a prolonged period is a setback. If the injury takes a long period of time to heal, he could miss the November 16th opener against Cal State-Fullerton.
• Sorry to see that Maryland forward Jerome Burney has decided to call it a career. The hard-working forward has been plagued by foot injuries throughout his time with the Terps. The good news is, he is expected to graduate in May.
• I was happy to see two good guys recently received contract extensions. Bowling Green, which was a pleasant surprise last season, gave Louis Orr a new deal. Penn State rewarded Ed DeChellis with an extension as well.
• In Lexington, a lot has been said about newcomers John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Keep an eye on point guard Eric Bledsoe. The 6-1 diaper dandy from Alabama has a lot of potential and could have an immediate impact too.
• For those who were wondering how former Pittsburgh star DeJuan Blair would fare in the NBA, he sent a message in his first pre-season game. In just 22 minutes, he scored 16 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and really impressed fans and coaches alike. I am still amazed that he slipped into the second round of the draft.
