A few links while waiting for the start of full-length practices next week:
Good-guy Luke Walton told the Orange County Register that a stalker has been after him for a year. Reporter Kevin Ding shared a few other comments from Walton on his blog.
The Memphis Commercial-Appeal gave Grizzlies fans a peek at Kevin O’Neill. (Also, if you missed it and have ESPN Insider access, Jay Bilas blogged in support of KO recently.)
The Sporting News does not have Arizona in its Top 40 preseason rankings.
Meanwhile, Salim Stoudamire is now one of the veteran yogis over at Spurs camp and former ASU standout Ike Diogu is filling in for Channing Frye in Portland. Michael Dickerson has been trying to make a comeback with the Cavaliers but he’s currently away from the team for personal reasons.
“The Sporting News does not have Arizona in its Top 40 preseason rankings.”
USC at #11? What a joke their rankings are. I am guessing we finish no lower than 4th in the PAC this year.
— CHRIS 10/07/2008 02:12 PM #
Actually Chris, USC should have a very good team this year. They have returning starters back and good reserves from last season as well as a good recruiting class. They will be handily in the top three in conference. Eleven nationally may be a stretch, but pre-season picks are a crap shoot, so I wouldn’t wager on anyone except North Carolina being in first or second when tourney time starts.
Fourth in conference is a pretty good pick, but Washington could very well derail that. They are going to be tough this year with a lot of talent on that team. They have three impact Freshmen coming in.
Going to be an interesting year.
— adman 10/08/2008 09:57 AM #
I hope that all the BB genius’ here read what a real expert on college ball ahs to sy about Kevin O’Neill and (his)team last year. It takes someone from the Natl Press to point out the injustice that continues to rain down a guy who got into more than he bargained for and protedted the great streak of NCAA appearances for Lute who was busy getting rid of his wife and finding himself a new lady friend.
— Larry 10/08/2008 10:28 PM #
genius – singular
genius’ – possessive
geniuses – plural
larry – dolt
— biz 10/09/2008 06:57 PM #
Larry- Are you serious? That article on KO showed just what a buffoon he is and what a failure he has been at every head coaching job he ever had. Nobody has had as many chances as KO has had and he blew every one of them. Not one player from last year’s team liked KO’s system or him personally. He has ZERO communication and interpersonal skills. Both his offensive and defensive schemes last year stunk. He didn’t know how to manage time outs or substitutions. Either you missed all of last year or you don’t know anything about basketball.
— Taco Bill 10/10/2008 07:17 AM #
I guess I need to call the ticket office….I signed up for their waiting list as soon as it was offered. Got a call mid-September from the ticket office. Said they were going to mail some info to me….never received anything. Did anyone succeed in securing tix this way?
— CHRIS 10/10/2008 08:13 AM #
Actually taco bill, I know a little about BB having played, coached and now an ardent, season ticket holding UA fan. It seems that several other knowledgeable BB people(Steve Kerr for one) was in favor of hiring O’Neill in May, 2007 after the surprise firing of the long time Asst. (Roz).
I have been a long time fan of Lutes and appreciate all that he has done for UA. I simply think that slamming a guy repeatedly for something that Lute put in motion is mean-spirited, as well as incorrect.
— Larry 10/10/2008 10:11 AM #
Ran into former ASU coach Bill Frieder last night.
I was in the Palms high roller area watching some guy play blackjack whe Frieder came in. He was wearing a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops. With his tosseled hair, he almost looked like a homeless person!
I was waiting to see if he would play since he’s supposedly a card counter. I suspect that the Plams would let him play all he wants:)
Taco Bill-I do agree that KO was a disaster both on and off the court last year. Also, don’t think we’ve heard the last of him. You can be sure that he’s going to try to get the UA to live up to it’s “verbal contract” that he will succeed Lute when he finally retires. Most likely they will have give him some settlement momey to go away.
— vegasallen 10/12/2008 11:49 PM #