Boston Trickle Down?

We had a clown from Boston come at us on Twitter for some reason when we reacted to the Brad Stevens hire by the Cs.  We're both pretty big fans of Stevens; really tough not to be.  He's a class act that did the seemingly-impossible by taking Butler to two national title games STRAIGHT. The guy can coach, and his demeanor seems to be ideal for the job.

Barry Collier and Brad Stevens helped engineer Butler's rapid ascent through the college basketball world. Collier has made all the right decisions on whom should run his program...and the former Bulldog coach helped Butler leapfrog from the Horizon to the A10 to the new Big East.  But now, hiring an assistant off of Butler's bench seems like a mile-long shot as Matthew Graves has left his alma mater to be head coach at South Alabama (hired in March).  Yesterday, he reassured everyone that he's staying put in his new post and wouldn't be a candidate at Butler.

Who knows...maybe the changes at Butler will eventually lead to our pal Ryne (out of focus in the background) coaching at Butler?

That leaves Butler with a pair of coaches in Michael Lewis and Terry Johnson who simply aren't ready for the bright lights of a legit basketball conference. This is where this story gets close to Purdue- Stevens' old head assistant coach, Micah Shrewsberry would seem to be a logical target for the post.  But, Coach Shrews is still pretty green...and my hope is he isn't even in Collier's rolodex at this point.

I think it's fairly obvious that Shrewsberry will be a head coach again someplace in the next few seasons. He can recruit, is a great ambassador for wherever he works and has coached under some pretty successful coaches in Stevens and Painter. Before Purdue and Butler though, he had been an assistant coach for U. Indy, Wabash and Depauw, and had a brief head coaching stint at IU South Bend.

Friends of mine at Butler tell me that it seems that UM's LaVall Jordan looks to be the guy...and the reports of him interviewing at Butler are legit.  If Collier pulls the trigger and hires Jordan, this might have an effect on Purdue yet again as Jordan has been the recruiting spearhead for Beilein the last few seasons...and a few recruits that Painter wants to see in black and gold are leaning toward UM at this point.

The effects of Stevens wisely taking the Boston job could be positive for Purdue...but who really knows. What I do know is that college basketball lost a great coach to a league that I can barely watch; that's the shame of it for me. While I'm surrounded by Butler grads, I still am not much of a fan of Butler...but I couldn't help but root for Stevens.  Now it'll be easier to resume not caring too much about Butler's basketball program once again (if they hire Jordan).

That said, I still marvel at Butler's ability to simply plug and play coach after coach after coach. In the time that Purdue has had two coaches, Butler has had five. Collier's success as a head coach really made Butler's program noteworthy because he took Butler to their first three NCAA tournaments (starting in '97)..but his successors took the next step.  Matta, Lickliter and Stevens had a composite winning percentage of 68%.  There's no question that The Butler Way, which Collier credits to Tony Hinkle, has some credence. While some of the ideas of the philosophy that has built Butler's program are Hinkle's, there's no question that the architect is really Collier.  He's in a pretty unenviable spot right now though.

A friend of mine is a booster at Butler and he thinks if Jordan is hired, Butler should give thought to hiring Gene Keady as a consultant or assistant that would help mentor the young coaching staff there.  I'd love to see that happen and think Keady would bring some wisdom to an extremely young bench...but once again, I'd be forced to kinda root for Butler to succeed; something I'd rather not do.

J just posted his fear of Stevens ending up back in college basketball clad in the hideous blood red and off-white...and I can't think of worse scenario for Purdue fans.  So as of right now, I'm rooting for Stevens to beat the odds by making a successful jump from college to the league and making me actually care about the NBA for the first time in over a decade.  Here's to the Good Witch of Zionsville kicking ass Boston.

Keep Your Hands Off of the College Game, Dick.

I caught the third half of NBA basketball that I've watched all season tonight...it was entertaining, but it wasn't basketball.

The Pacers gave the Heat all they could handle before Bron Bron made an astoundingly-athletic play to lay the ball in before the clock hit triple zero.  The things James can do with a basketball in his hands, whether dribbling or traveling are astounding.  He'd be the best tight end in the NFL right now if he would have chosen to do so; the guy is a freak.  I'm not diminishing his athleticism, or anyone else's for that matter, in the NBA- they're amazing athletes...that's probably part of the reason I hate the NBA so much...These guys don't need any more help.

Things like giving the ball to the offense on the other side of half court after a timeout has been called following a basket show the silliness of the game.  If a team allows their opposition to score and a second or two is remaining, they should have to work to get the ball up the court...not be awarded with the ball in the position to score easily. You already know that I can't stand the NBA if you come here very often...so the thought of college basketball moving closer and closer to that game simply pains me.

As I watched tonight, I was reminded how much more I like college basketball.  Don't get me wrong, there's plenty wrong with the game...but I blame most of that on the NBA and people like Dick Vitale who are incessantly insisting that the NCAA continues to take steps toward the NBA game.

Crappy, inconsistent, overly-demonstrative officiating is something NBA players and teams have to deal with; it's a way of life, and its a monster that they've allowed, if not encouraged, to grow out of control. The fact that I know the name of three or four NBA officials, in itself says a lot; I'm not sure if I know the names of the starting five on the team from my hometown.  The asshats in gray shirts with black sleeves love being part of the story...and their little brothers, Hightower, Burr, Valentine and others love getting lathered up with a good home crowd.  Rather or not any of them realize it, NO ONE came to see them do their job and I truly wish we didn't know who they are (professionally, anyway).

If you've watched a game with Vitale swallowing the mic, you've heard the names of the officials as he reminds us how Valentine (or someone else who is awful at his job) is one of the best in the game.  No, he's really not, but it's not surprising that Vitale likes his style. While Vitale calls college games, he lusts for college basketball to become whatever sport the NBA has become.

Everything about the NBA takes too long. The season is about 20 games too long, the playoffs take too long and should have never been extended...and the game itself is excruciatingly-long. Game stoppages are more common than action.  One of the stoppages that Vitale wants to be brought down into the college game is the jump ball after each tie-up.  The possession arrow has been a part of college basketball for over 30 years. It's not perfect, but it keeps the game moving, and maybe more so, it's not an NBA rule, so I'm a fan of it.  Also, the possession arrow favors good fundamentals.  For instance, if a big man holds the ball up high, he's generally not going to get tied up by a smaller player.  In this scenario, the NBA rule will reward the taller guy with an easy jump over a smaller player for bringing the ball down.  Also, if a guy gives up his dribble too early, there should be a consequence; the tie-up is one of those consequences.

Now, the NCAA has a real problem in the simple fact that offensive players aren't allowed to stand their ground.  Often, the defender will accost and beat-up an offensive player in an effort to get the tie-up forcing that player to try to break free. Officials need to blow the whistle on the initial contact. If a defender can't make the play cleanly, it's a foul; pretty simple.  Afterall, basketball was once a game that didn't require pads beneath the unis.  But the NBA has already filtered down too much to the college game.  We need less of that, not more like Vitale insists upon.

So we already have a game that that allows too much banging 25 feet away from the basket, let alone in the paint...but that's not enough for Dukie V.  He also wants the NCAA to have six fouls like the league:

"I am sick and tired of seeing star players getting whistled for two quick fouls and then winding up on the sideline. Nothing against the officials that are out there doing their job, but there were too many times this past season where stars were sitting because coaches were afraid they would get a third foul in the first half."

Did you catch that? His premise says a lot about what he thinks about college basketball.  He thinks it's about the star players...not about the team.  He wants it to be about the individual; isolation plays, one-on-ones...that's what college fans want, right? Not really. I'd argue that even the majority of fans of teams like Kentucky and other NBA mills are still there to watch their squad, not just individuals. Sure foul trouble hurts, but this argument is a bit like a political argument in which we should make everything legal because the jails are too crowded. This type of thinking has large consequences and really doesn't address the root of the problem.  PLUS, and more obvious, the college game is 40 minutes long...the NBA game is 48 minutes long.  I wasn't a math major.  But I can tell you with a decent amount of confidence that both games give every player one foul for every 8 minutes played.  Seems pretty fair, no?

Vitale continues his asinine argument by saying this sixth foul is needed because the game is more physical than it used to be.  Finally, we agree on something...BUT, giving the players another foul isn't the answer- calling the game consistently and less like an NBA game would cure this problem.

Another thing that Dukie V wants to see changed is he wants the shot clock to be changed from 35 to 30 seconds.  Once again, this takes college basketball another step toward the NBA game; a place that people like me don't want to see it go. His argument is that offensive efficiency needs to be improved.  The theory is of course flawed because a rushed shot isn't a better shot...But really, this is another rule that would greatly favor the teams that have superstars.  Setting up a play and moving the ball isn't what Vitale wants.  He wants more running, less discipline, less team basketball and more one-on-one matchups.

All of that is great in the NBA. There are 30 teams in the NBA, drafts, salary caps, and contracts have a way of creating parity*. But in the NCAA, you have small athletic departments competing with much larger ones. Butler's budgets are no where near that of Kentucky, UConn...or even Purdue.  But they still have to play these teams...and guys like Brad Stevens use their brains to try to offset the clear talent disparity; and it works.  Many of Vitale's proposed changes move the college game toward the murky waters of a one-on-one game.  Most players had plenty of that style in AAU ball; the really good ones will get to play it again in the league. Talent will always be king, but the reason Cinderella exists at all is generally because of tremendous coaching.

Oh yeah, one more thing Vitale wants- he wants every college basketball player to be paid.  Perrrrrrrfect. At the very least, he's consistent- Consistently moronic and ironic.  Vitale perpetually defends guys like Calipari and Calhoun who break NCAA rules like they breath...Coach Vitale, memo: Many of the teams that are loaded with the superstars and diaper dandies that you love so much already pay their players, baby!  I guess in his world, his pals could stop living a lie; so that'd be nice for them.

Vitale yells about how college basketball is the greatest game in the world, YET, he's trying his damnedest to make college basketball into the game that used to be basketball in the NBA.

The NCAA would be wise to do as so many of us have continually done whenever Vitale is speaking, and hit the mute button.


*When Stern isn't making exceptions to certain trades and blocking others

It Used To Matter Around Here...

The Pacers played the Knicks for the first time in the playoffs in 13 years today and came away with a win after traveling to the most-famous arena in the world.  The guys who were supposed to play well for the Pacers and Knicks did so- George and West led the Pacers as Anthony and Smith countered for the once-hated Knicks.

Following the game, local Indianapolis TV stations tried to capture the mood in Indy bars about how the fans felt in the wake of the Pacers not allowing NY to defend home court...the apathy was palpable.  I empathize with the meh feeling.

15 years ago, I like the NBA...and I loved playoff basketball.  I really loved when the Pacers played the Knicks.  Not only could you feel the energy in Market Square Arena, but you could feel it in the city.  Miller, Davis and Smits...Starks, Oakley and Ewing. Sure I sound like an old guy, but it's not the same anymore (and get off my lawn!).

J confessed the other night during a Half-Handsome Hour that he actually is more of a Rangers fan that a Purdue fan; surprising, kinda...but he's been a Rangers fan much longer than a Purdue fan.  He didn't start rooting for Purdue until he decided to go there back in the early-mid 90s.  But the same thing might have been said at one time for the Knicks (I'm putting words in his mouth right now, mind you).  I can assure you that it wouldn't be said today; J doesn't care too much for the Knicks, or the NBA for that matter anymore.

As for me, I was brainwashed to be a Purdue fan and can never remember not rooting for Purdue.  BUT, before I ever went to a Purdue game, I went to Pacers games.  My Grandfather owned the Pacers in the 70s and 80s...my family sat courtside. I can remember kneeling on the court and coloring on my seat during games when I was bored.  Willard Eason, my Grandpa, sold his interest in the Pacers after building Market Square Arena and moving the Pacers from the ABA to the NBA...and when he died, actually well before that, he had no connection to the team. But that didn't stop me from watching and caring about the Pacers during middle school, high school and college.

But like my pal J Money with his Knicks, I don't care too much for the Pacers anymore...or the NBA for that matter.

There are only so many hours in the day and sports year...and time is more precious the older my kids get.  If I'm going to waste spend time watching sports these days, it's generally not going to be NBA basketball, except for some playoff basketball maybe...I just don't care about it.  But, for some reason, my seven year old son does like the Pacers...so we watched the game this afternoon.

I can honestly say, I don't know many of the players on the Pacers roster...and I'm OK with it. I feel about the Pacers kinda like I feel about Purdue's womens' basketball team- since they represent something close to me, so I want to see them do well...but it doesn't bother me at all when they lose.

They lost me at the brawl...but if I was being honest, I was already on my way out when that happened.  When I lived in the Northeast in the late-90s and the NBA was pimping guys like Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady as the generation to replace Jordan and company, I wasn't on board.  I didn't like the personalities or the style of play anymore and my gaze was shifting full-time to Purdue and everything around it.

It really doesn't matter why it happened, but it happened.  Anymore, I probably wouldn't pay more than $15 for a Pacers game; in fact, I think I payed around that last year when I took my son to see JJ and E'Twaun sit on the bench for the Celtics.  It was boring, the regular season is passionless and the NBA didn't really rekindle an old flame that day.

But it used to matter; J and I used to talk trash about the Pacers v. Knicks...we used to care and actually move our schedules around to watch those games on TV...not-so-much anymore.

In the wake of watching the IndyCar race from Brazil on TV, on a rainy Sunday afternoon; TBD was napping, Mrs. BDowd was working, and LBD and I watched the Pacers take a 1-0 lead over the Knicks...and no one really cared (around here, anyway).

In case you didn't watch, this definitely didn't happen today.

NBA: Fix the Problem

Admittedly, when college basketball is on I watch college basketball, no matter if it be Indiana vs Purdue, or Duke vs Saint Mary's of the Woods, but why? Maybe it's my love for college basketball, but it also has to do with the sick feeling in my stomach when I watch guys walking up a basketball court in the regular season.

If I want to watch a bunch of guys walking I'll turn on golf, but I'm not here to criticize the in-game interviews, the constant playing of loud music instead of actual fan-fare or even the egos that are the driving force of the league. I'm here to offer a solution to solve the problem.

In my opinion, the NFL is the only league that has it right in terms of the regular season. With only 16 games, every game matters someway or another. It's exciting to watch and the effort is usually there, and the NBA would be no different.

Cutting the regular season to just 30 games would make the league a lot more exciting, and cause passion to once again defeat ego. The product would be better, guys would be more energized and people would actually watch almost every one of their teams games. Playing hard would be a must, or else someone else is going to beat you with effort. To me that's what makes college basketball so great. A team of nobodies, can beat the best team in the nation, because of effort.

In a season that is over 70 games it's difficult to give 100 percent every night especially defensively, but with a shorter schedule and season, guys would be forced to play harder or suffer defeat by effort rather than talent. Sure talent would have an advantage, but as seen every season in college hoops, talent isn't everything, you've got to have drive, and that's what the NBA is missing.

So shorten the season so it's effort is once again a must in a league that has recently turned into the biggest joke in professional sports, other than Lebron's fourth quarter heroics.

Man, I Wish The NBA PROMOTED Guys Who Didn't Suck

I'm going to counterpoint myself because like Harvey Dent, I am of multiple minds.

A lot of people simply pointed out that there are likable players and perhaps even entire teams in the NBA. Obviously, this is a matter of opinion and with the way we pretty much hate the NBA around here, you can imagine how skeptical we might be.

However, if I'm being fair, it's true. Last year's Mavs team, to me, is a good example. A bunch of guys who seem to genuinely like each other (rather than just for the cameras). I even wrote about how much they made me sort of actually like NBA basketball if only for a few nights. Guys who are thrilled and humbled to have won a championship, rather than immediately think of a way to scream out a tagline of one of their sponsors (and yet do it incorrectly).

This year, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder fit the bill. Some might argue the Pacers also are likable. So why don't teams like this get promoted? Oh, right. Because they're not the Celtics or Lakers or the Heat. And just to remind you of what kind of guy LeBron James is, in case you find yourself rooting for him, from a Wojo column last June:

There’s nothing real about James’ world, and never has been. He’s a prisoner of a life that his sycophants and enablers and our sporting culture has created for him. He’s rich and talented and something of a tortured soul. He’s the flawed superstar for these flawed times. He’s a creation of a basketball breeding ground full of such twisted priorities and warped principles. Almost every person who’s ever had to work closely with him, who has spent significant time, who’s watched him belittle and bully people, told me they were rooting hard against him. That’s sad, and that’s something he doesn’t understand and probably never will.

So yes, there are actually likable guys and teams out in the NBA. There are charitable guys and considerate guys and guys who play because they love playing and care about their fans. But the faces that the league chooses to promote heavily are not the kinds of guys I can possibly think about rooting anything but against.

Man, I Wish The NBA Didn't Suck

Likable?

Every now and then we write about the NBA around these parts, which is weird because we generally think the NBA product sucks. So maybe that's why we do it, because as you know, we love to complain about things that really grind our gears.

The thought I keep coming back to is this: The NBA is just terrible.

I grew up in NJ in the '80s and '90s so I remember the Knicks being terrible in the '80s but at least sort of likable, then ascending to be a 60-win team in the Pat Riley era, albeit one that could never get past Jordan. I remember being in high school when the Knicks found a way to lose to the Bulls in 1993 even with home court advantage when Charles Smith was "blocked" four times, without a foul ever being committed! Yay, Jordan Rules! (Yes, I'm rambling now, but it's not like you have anything better to do.)

I was also a real fan of the Knicks (yes, I can admit this) when in 1994 -- yes, with Michael on hiatus -- the Knicks made the Finals and actually had a 3-2 lead, but then went to Houston thanks to the NBA's idiotic 2-3-2 format and lost Games 6 and 7, helped by John Starks shooting like Boilerdowd at the Co-Rec in the same era.

I was still a fan in 1997, when the Miami Heat's PJ Brown started a near riot as the Knicks were taking a 3-1 series lead, resulting in suspensions galore (this was the beginning of the rule where leaving the bench resulted in a suspension and guys weren't used to it yet, thus peacemakers were suspended). So many Knicks were suspended that they had to stagger the suspensions or else the Knicks wouldn't have enough players. They wound up losing in 7.

I was a happy fan who felt like I was getting a bonus in 1999, when the Knicks as the 8-seed knocked out the 1-seed Heat and went all the way to the Finals, losing to San Antonio. So yeah, I was an NBA fan, I suppose, but I never lived and died with the Knicks the way I do with Purdue, for example.

What am I getting at? Well, I just think the league is completely unlikable anymore and there's also almost zero excitement in the playoffs, at least in these early rounds. Did anyone really think the Knicks had a shot against the Heat? I loved listening to NY sports radio and hearing people talk themselves into the idea that the Knicks had a chance. Come on. I mean, obviously, they should have a chance, given the likes of Stoudamire and Anthony, but this team is dysfunctional and not interested in actually acting like, you know, a team.

Sure, the Sixers are looking to pull a major upset over the Bulls, but once Rose went down, I think the Bulls folded the tent. I'm not even going to bag on them about that, either, because that was just crushing.

In the end, you know the teams that are going to be in the hunt. And sadly, those teams are made up of unlikable d-bags. LeBron James? Dwayne Wade? Kobe Bryant? Egotistical, arrogant, disingenuous d-bags.

Kobe Bryant screws anything that will move while he's married and then lies about it -- this is a guy you want to root for? Carmelo Anthony is a career underachiever (8 first round exits in 9 playoffs) who pouted his way out of Denver and then undermined his coach in New York, ultimately getting D'Antoni to resign. LeBron? Well, the list of reasons to hate him is endless.

The league is unlikable and predictable. Look at these series! There literally isn't a competitive one among them. Brutal. Compare this to my NHL, where nearly every series has been competitive and compelling and where literally every team in the playoffs can have legitimate hope to advance deep. Oh, and where the players give genuine interviews and seem earnest in their team-first attitudes.

I wish the NBA was more compelling. I wish the guys were easier to root for. I wish the series were exciting in the first couple of rounds and worth watching. But they aren't. The NBA is a terrible product right now, in my opinion. And that really grinds my gears.

NBA, NFL and baseball Boiler Updates (Monday Gumbo)

I tuned in for much of the fourth quarter of the Celtics hoping to see a glimpse of Smooge or JJ...and I got to see it! But what I saw was merely Moore on the bench following Rajon Rondo's spastic nonsensical pair of techs following a questionable call in the closing minute of the contest.

Much like Ron World War a week ago, not only was Rondo a bad actor in this stanza, but he lied after saying he didn't mean to run into the official.

Not only did he mean to, he put his chest out just before bumping the official for effect.  And whenever a professional athlete says they inadvertently ran into someone, our antennae should perk up.  These guys are the best athletes in the world...and are pretty coordinated as well. I'm a pretty average person, when it comes to coordination, and I hardly ever just run into someone when not pushed or throw elbows into someones neck accidentally.  Rondo isn't on the same level of maliciousness, obviously...but he's acted pretty dumb in the situation's wake by lying.

No need for Moore to wear a uni under his warm-up
thanks to Doc

Molto Bravo! Smooge to Italy (and gumbo)

Like a lot of players without guaranteed contracts, E'Twaun Moore is heading over to Italy to sharpen his skills. Moore will have the ability to head back to the NBA if the lock-out ends and the Celtics need him, but he won't be the only American over there as NBA free agents and stars alike are both taking a look across the Atlantic.

Leagues in Turkey, Italy and Greece have all put big dough on the table as an enticement for American-based talent...and some are starting to listen. Granted, Moore's contract will not be one of the larger of the guys that end up playing in Europe, but his experience and guaranteed money are pretty tough to turn down.

People in the front office of the NBA don't seem too worried about players glancing at leagues in Europe...we'll see if the league's general arrogance will continue as the fall gets closer and loss of gametime becomes more and more of a possibility.

Awesome Prognostication, Baby!!

J has been trying to do the impossible via Twitter: Corner Dick Vitale into being somewhat accountable about what he spouts off. Vitale's twitter feed (which I'm intentionally not linking) is a stream of consciousness jumble of words that makes sense about as often as Danny Hope utters a negative word.

So when Vitale's pre-season rankings came out, I didn't cared too much, but J took umbrage at the lack of respect Matty's boys have gotten. I have yet to see a well-known national outlet put Purdue any higher than the mid-20s for next season...and Vitale is no different (I think he has Purdue someplace in the 30s).

Honestly, I love the role of underdog for Matty, Hummel, LewJack, Smith and the rest...it suits them quite well as they will surely feed on the fact that no one is giving them a chance to make noise in '11/'12.

Here's to the national media viewing Purdue as little more than an also-ran through the new year and providing bulletin boards full of motivational material for this squad. I'm positive I'm not the only person in this state who can't wait until 11/11/11.

NCAA Prepares to Slap Buckeyes Wrist

There's a lesson being sent pretty loudly by the NCAA in the Bucknut case: You can break multiple rules, hide the infractions, deny hiding the infractions and get minimal punishment...if you're in Columbus.

Many thought aOSU might get the USC treatment due to the fact that their coach thumbed his nose at the NCAA...then the President of the flipping university made a joke about the whole thing...But no major harm done in this case, according to the NCAA. The NCAA's hardline against college sports' cash cows lasted ONE case.

The NCAA gave the Buckeyes a vote of confidence because they didn't have the lack of institutional control that was exhibited in Southern California a few years ago...True- the athletic department and the rest of the administration is pulling the strings.

Let's all remember that aOSU slapped itself with self-imposed sanctions that amount to nothing really...and the NCAA is A-OK with that. The self-imposed punishment is an asinine idea that only exists in college sports.

Pretend for a moment that I stole your car, took it for a joyride and wrecked it while driving drunk. No one else was hurt in the incident...and I felt really bad for my behavior (after leaving the scene before the cops could arrive). A week later, I haul myself into the court, write you a check for the damages to the vehicle, express my regret and tell the judge that I've already began my self-imposed 3 week house arrest...everything would be square, right?

Well in the make believe world of the NCAA, it happens time and time again.

Let's all remember the last time aOSU's football program knew nothing about those violations- They pushed two fall guys out on their ears: Clarett and A.D. Geiger. Tressel was found to be squeaky clean (by some), Clarett was labeled a pariah (after the Buckeye faithful had milked him for a national title)...Geiger forced to resign. After taking some booster benefits like Clarett, Troy Smith was suspended for two games. This more-than-ample punishment sent a message to the QB and allowed him later to blossom into the exemplary student athlete that he became, win the Heisman and follow the tutelage of his ethical teacher, Coach Vest.

So now that the real problems at aOSU, Pryor and Tressel, have been weeded out, the Buckeyes can get back to ethically winning conference and national titles. Don't be surprised after this upcoming 8-win season when a truly ethical and good guy like Urban Meyer is announced as Ohio State's next coach.

Draft's effects on Purdue

Like all pro sports, the pre-draft talk is agonizingly-long and the event itself seldom lives up to the hype. But, the decisions made by some soon-to-be millionaires eventually trickle down to God's country...Outside of two guys who will have their names called by Commissioner Stern, here are a few others that affected Purdue:

-Minnesota looked like it might not resemble its team from'10 at all about one month and one-half ago. Tubby was rumored to be a candidate for a few jobs, Iverson was set to transfer, Mbakwe looked to be a potential NBA prospect and Sampson was all but out the door toward the NBA.

But a few weeks went by and things started to settle. Mbakwe and Sampson both decided to stay, Tubby the same, but Iverson is heading to Colorado State. Everybody in the league also hopes Smith will be back healthy in the late fall after a bout with prostate cancer...and everything looks very good for the coach at this point.

-Michigan was a team I had near the top of the conference for next season with all their moving parts returning...But, with Morris now heading to the NBA, my perspective changes a bit. He helped Hardaway and others look very good down the stretch and was tremendous on the offensive side, especially in the first half of the season in '11.

-Illinois lost almost their entire starting five from '11 after Jereme Richmond decided to go to the NBA. My favorite part of his story is that he decided to finally pursue his lifelong dream of playing of pay...after one long season in Champagne...and clearly accomplishing all he could for the Illini while averaging 7.6/gm. Nice work, yo.

-More shocking than Richmond's decision to leave was who didn't, in my opinion. After saying he would return for another season following the Bucknuts' departure from the tourney, Sullinger has not wavered and will be back to terrorize opposing frontcourts in '12. The more I read & hear about Sullinger, the more I lean toward liking the kid...but on the court, he still comes off as a tool.

On top of #0 deciding to stay, Buford will be back...which is nuts, to me. I've been impressed with Buford since he arrived on campus and have always thought his game, length and skillset were perfect for the NBA.

Outside of the conference, a few of Purdue's early season foes were affected by who'd stay and who would go.

-When the Boilers go to Puerto Rico, two of their potential foes (Maryland and Colorado) will have a much different look, but Maryland will be without Gary Williams for the first time in 22 years, following his retirement.

-In Indianapolis, Purdue will face a Butler team that loses (arguably) the best Bulldog ever as Matt Howard graduates and attempts to defy the odds again at the next level and Shelvin Mack leaves early...After last year, I'd have told both to leave along with Heyward...after this past season, same thing. Who knows...maybe Butler will end their season in New Orleans? Regardless of how their season ends, it'll probably start off slow for them...but we've seen that before.

-On the flip side, Xavier guard, Tu Holloway and WVU forward, Kevin Jones will return for their Senior seasons...Both will be tough match-ups for Matty's squad. (Special note: Purdue will get to see Jeff Robinson who ended up at Xavier after not being able to attend Purdue due to grades...Robinson played pretty well down the stretch for X last season.)

Some Solutions to the NBA's Problems

This time of year really makes me appreciate college basketball. Granted, the NBA players that are still playing are actually trying this time of year, which is nice, but I'm just not fond of the NBA game.

I got into a discussion with a friend a few weeks back about the quality of basketball that's played in the league. He thought the pro game was superior, I disagreed. I understand that the athletes in the NBA are amazing and don't doubt that for a second. But the lack of enforcement of traveling, the heavy focus on isolation and individual play, the fact that's is as much of a contact game as football at times all make it seem like a mere cousin of Naismith's original intent...not the same game. Plus, I like the fact that each game means something in college.

As J Money knows, I think baseball, basketball and hockey would all benefit greatly from contraction- not only the number of games, but the number of teams...but I might be the wrong guy to give advice as I don't think any of these three sports produce a product that worth consistently watching. That said, I'll still give it.

These problems aren't what I'm here to address. I want to look at the current rule that no player right out of high school can go straight to the pros (unless he wants to play in Lexington, of course).

In case you don't know it already, I'm an idealist, when it comes to Purdue athletes. I like to focus on the most-positive side of things- it makes it easier to really get behind the kids and the team. Granted, I'm not naive enough to believe there aren't problems behind closed doors for Matty and Co. But, this program has done a very good job at a couple of things- First, the players seem to be good kids are are likable...that's pretty simple, and I think it comes down to the type of player Painter likes to pursue. But secondly, the team is filled with true student athletes.

Look no further than the best top-to-bottom recruiting class Purdue has seen in the past 20 years. Hummel, Moore and Johnson all were great on the court and all have excelled in the classroom. When I talk to the players, I always let them know how much I respect that- I could barely keep a 3.0 GPA and I was just a student. I know these guys have a lot of tools at their disposal that I didn't, but it seems they're still working hard...that's heartening...and it's not the case everywhere.

Despite Painter's ability to win 25+ games with great consistency and stay in the top-25 for most of his time at Purdue, he still hasn't attracted a one...or two-and-done type of player. Some would argue that might be the reason Purdue hasn't been in the Final Four since I was five, but I don't know if that's the only reason. Painter's recruits buy in to what he's selling...and it's not glamorous...that's probably why the players in the program work out so well.

Programs like Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, Texas, Florida and others, find themselves with players who are just passing through nearly year-in and year-out. These kids get tremendous exposure, fast-paced systems to play in, and the precedent shows that if their game is geared for the NBA, they'll be in good position in a matter of months, not years, to be millionaires.

But the NBA's rules leave us with some players that think going to class for another day, let-alone another year, is just too much to bear. So the players scrape by for a semester as students in title only, and that's really all that's needed to get them through their sole collegiate season before heading to the draft. To me, that's a joke and makes the idea that academics in college basketball a farce. But, I don't fault the kids as much as I do the system and schools that allow it, and I'd prefer that the kids wouldn't have to go through the charade of pretending to be students for a few months. So what should be done?

I like the premise of making the kids play at a higher level before they get huge contracts- it's helped the NBA avoid a bust or two, there's no doubt about that. But, the current rule doesn't help the college game too much...and a successful NCAA career doesn't equate to one at the next level.

So my idea is this: Every player that plays in the NBA must turn 20 by December 1 of his rookie season...but, they are allowed to be drafted by a team out of high school in the US or abroad, if they declare themselves eligible. The catch is this: Until they're old enough, they play in the NBADL. They can still get large, guaranteed signing bonuses, like in MLB, but their salaries would be capped while playing in the feeder league at under $200K/year (a significant pay bump for most college athletes outside of Columbus)...once they enter the NBA, their salary would graduate significantly once the team with their rights activates them.

I think this system would help the struggling NBADL gain traction with the fans, it would help college basketball by all-but-eliminating players who aren't cut out for school while making programs, not just teams, stronger. Plus, it avoids the discussion that any rule denies a kid a chance to make a living and in turn, help his family situation.

The other, much more simple and logical option of course, is to re-instate the ability to draft kids right out of high school...but from what I hear the NBA really likes the built-in buffer before kids step on an NBA court...so that idea probably won't be going away soon.

Regardless of the draft eligibility rule, Purdue probably won't be affected directly.

A Reason to Watch the Finals?

Here's the deal- I haven't watched a single minute of the NBA Finals live. I don't like the Lakers or the Celtics organizations, I'm not a fan of most of the superstars playing for either team...so I'm rooting against both. Plus, I don't like the league to begin with.

But, the press conference with Nate Robinson & Big Baby was pretty entertaining...and anytime a grown man can run a line of spittle out of his mouth, that's must-see TV.

As much of the Twitterverse said, Big Baby will now never lose his nickname.

All that said, I'm still not watching.

Nothing Sticks to the Smart Ones

It took the feds a long time to actually get something to stick to John Gotti. Like all big time gangsters, the guy knew the law and knew how to dodge the big rap. But, eventually, a life of breaking the law caught up with him and he ended up in prison.

Are we seeing the same thing at Kentucky as things seem to be closing in on Teflon John Calipari?

Truthfully, I doubt it...Calipari is smart-enough to clean his dirty laundry through channels of people who don't seem to even know whom they're working for. But, the story surrounding Eric Bledsoe has more layers than an onion and its stench is much stronger.

This one's got a bit of everything- academic impropriety, money exchanging hands, people hiding things so investigators can't get information and tons of denials and important parts giving the silent treatment...it's a bushel basket of rules, if not laws, being broken by quite a few people...and the whole mess leads back to the guy who does no wrong, Kentucky's current coach.

Perhaps this story will be what sends Cal to the NBA once again as he and Bron Bron finally make their love for eachother public.

Boiler Free Agents & Thoughts

A couple more Boilers will be getting their shot to make money playing football. Sure, it's an uphill battle they'll face, but I'm glad their getting a look.

-King to Indy
The Colts are pretty rich on defense right now, especially after their draft. But, they lost a few guys in the defensive backfield. That said, they also picked up two in the draft, so the front office thinks there's a need- that's good...but it'll take a pretty big effort for Brandon to find his way onto the roster.

-Elliott to Philly (Kolb, Vick & Kafka also in Phil.)
Depending on what happens with Vick, Elliott might have a shot to make this roster. The biggest shame about what we saw last year, in my opinion, was that his shoulder wasn't 100% for much of '09 following his surgery the prior season.

-Pender also to Philly
Lots of experienced, and good corners on the roster in Philadelphia...like King, this is a tough position to walk into.

-Zwilling to Tampa Bay
Zwilling's ability to play multiple positions might prove useful as the Bucs have a couple of experienced centers in front of him...but all indicators are he'll be a tackle at the next level, if he gets on a roster.

NBA Playoffs
Not much to write about here, for me at least. I've admitted it multiple times- I'm not a fan of the NBA...but I enjoy playoff basketball as it's actually worth something. Sure, the playoffs are too long- the first round series should still be 5 games (in my opinion) and I can't stand the lengthy gap between each game. It kinda kills enthusiasm from the casual fan like myself.

But, I like what's happened in the LA/OKC series. The Thunder's arena feels like a college venue, their team is really young and they play the game fast and with active feet. Plus, it's great seeing Kobe getting beaten...just doesn't happen enough, in my opinion.

That said, I'm still experiencing shakes and sweats as I withdraw into the cold, dry desert of my sports year. I'll enjoy May in Indy...at least half the month, this year...but it's not the same. Already looking forward to August.

Take Off the Gold-Shaded Glasses For a Moment

Let's all be logical, for just a minute...I know it's tough when emotions are involved, but this needs to be done.

JaJuan Johnson is a damned-good basketball player. In fact, he's feared by many fanbases and players alike, not only in the BT, but throughout the NCAA ranks. We've seen him go toe-to-toe with great big men and come out on top. We've seen him block shot after shot, while infuriating the opposition and changing the course of a game. Hell, even in his most-recent game for our Boilers, he recorded 23 points, 5 reb, 4 blocks and 2 steals...versus the eventual national champion.

The guy's good, no great. And, he's been good for three seasons for our alma mater. That's worth something to me. He deserves a bit of understanding, in my opinion, and more than that, deserves support.

On top of being a good guy on the court, he's been spotless off of it. From my friends on campus, to donors, no one has a bad thing to say about the guy. And, on the few occasions I've actually talked to him myself, he's been great. He's part of the Purdue family...and he's one of the foundation stones of the new era of Purdue basketball, let's not lose focus on that.

On the message boards, on this site, on Twitter and elsewhere, there's been flat-out vitriol directed at 25, the guy my 4 year old son and others call JJJ...and I don't get it. He's one of us, he's a Boilermaker. He's a late-bloomer- he wasn't on any recruiting radar as a Frosh or even Sophomore in high school. He's worked hard, become more skilled and has earned the right to take some time to make sure he's making the right decision.

I'll admit it, the imperfections of his game have infuriated me at times. Don't think I don't see those. I'd love for him to be meaner, more-aggressive, mentally and physically-stronger and more-consistent...but, in my opinion, his best basketball is in front of him. And just like the rest of his game is rounding into shape, he'll get bigger and stronger...and even mentally, he'll become better. Hopefully we'll get to see some of that next season.

When I got out of school back in 1997, I played hardball in my first post-hiring interview. I got the company who hired me to pay me just under $40k...I felt like it was a pretty good deal. And most of you who read this have been or will be in a similar situation. Sure, you might be one of the lucky ones who made $50,000/year right after you got your undergrad degree, but we're all in a similar boat. This is where we really can't relate with JJ.

His decision won't make him or lose him a few thousand dollars in his first year out of school. The stakes are higher. He knows that, his family knows that, and get this, Matty knows that. None of them want him to do something he'll later regret, either way. It is possible to go to early, but this year is muddier as the players and the owners try to figure out whether they're going to settle their labor agreement without a stoppage. No one knows what's on the other side of the next agreement, but many current players, agents and future players are anxious about what's coming. This plays into JJ's difficult decision.

Where does Johnson stand in a talented draft class? The year someone comes out can change their perspective and help them make their decision. And while we as Purdue fans might have become spoiled by JJ and notice the flaws in his game, tons of people in the know are pretty-enamored with his combination of athletic ability, length and ability to shoot it to 20 feet...kind of a deadly combo. His shooting ability creates match-up problems, especially at the 4, where he should probably be playing anyway.

Another HUGE factor is being close to his pal Rob this and last season. He's watched Hummel get hurt not once, but twice and probably because of that, understands how fragile and tenuous someone's physical value as a basketball player can be. Plus, from what I gather, he's pretty good friends with Evan Turner who also had a serious injury this season that probably made Turner wonder if he had made the correct decision in returning this year.

Turns out for Turner, coming back was a very, very wise and lucrative decision. I think Turner wanted to come back and win a BT title- he did that. Sure, they fizzled-badly in the NCAA tourney, but his standing as a player and prospect was only aided in this year's campaign.

But for every Turner, there's a Harangody, or worse Butler-type player...Like I said, this is a tough decision.

So before you badmouth the guy again, ask yourself a question- Does negativity endear us as fans to JJ? It surely doesn't help. Whether or not he reads this site, GBI or others, the word spreads fast, and his friends might. We're still people, so is he...his exploring of this option doesn't make him stupid in any way. If you can't understand the gravity of what he's pondering, your intelligence should be in question.

In my opinion, there's more than one way this can go and still have it end positively for all sides...but there are variables in the equation that NO ONE on this earth can foresee. For selfish reasons, I think it'd be great if he'd return...but we'll all have to wait a month or so to know if we get to enjoy one final season of watching number 25 with Purdue on his chest.

Either way, I'm rooting for his success...and anyone else on the roster who might or might not be going through the same thought process. Not all players do, but the guys on this roster deserve such respect.

Before you say anything...it's Purdue related

This time of year helps keep my home in good shape. Right now, in fact, I'm stripping wallpaper off of my kitchen walls- a job that was long over-due. That said, I still have time to listen to NBA games in the background while updating the house.

Here's what I learned last night: NBA officials love the Celtics.

As if you had any doubt.

The did the right thing and made a foul call when the unlikeable, over-rated Rajon Rondo landed a full-swing smack on Brad Miller across the face while "attempting" to defend Miller. Problem was he was no where near the ball and was making no play on the ball.

I looked up the NBA's flagrant foul rule, and it's written so vaguely that it's completely subjective...and the officials can look the other way in occurrences like this and be unjust in the process. This is yet another case where college basketball has it right; but you already know my thoughts on the NBA.

But regardless of the verbiage of the rule, the crappy, crooked NBA officials had a chance to make the right call, and even with minutes to make their decision (due to Miller receiving medical treatment) they did not do it.

The C's move up to 3-2 in what has been a very good series.

I really don't care who wins, but I know Rajon Rondo and Joakim Noah are both in the same category in my mind...and would like neither to get a chance at an NBA championship this season. Sadly, one has to advance a step closer to that goal.