LamarCheeks

Davis leading Texas Southern to the NCAAs doesn't bother me as much as them having an abysmal record (14-19 entering the SWAC final) and getting in. ... I actually like Davis. He genuinely seems like a good, decent man. He was just in over his head at IU and finally realized it. ... Sampson is a different story -- he's a sleazeball who obliterated our program by cheating and lying about cheating. He had been busted for cheating at Oklahoma and was warned not to do it anymore. And, of course, as soon as he got to B-town, he started cheating again.

Archie: "Rob, we feel very fortunate to get you since you're from Lafayette and Purdue is right in your backyard." Rob: "Purwho?"

It really bothers me that Kelvin Sampson will be going to the NCAAs while we're practically begging for an NIT bid.

A few years back, there were rumors that Crean was headed to Alabama (before the Avery Johnson hire, I think). Can you imagine him trying to get snippy with Saban!

Hampton loses in MEAC final, and since the Pirates are leaving in a very contentious exit, league officials must be turning cartwheels. Anyway, that sends them to the NIT.

I saw the same thing about Hurley. And that Pitt might be interested, too. But he apparently turned them down before the Stallings hire ... I actually think UGa might not be a bad fit for Crean. Down there, it seems basketball is just something to pass the time between football and spring football. If he went to the NCAAs 50 percent of the time, I'm guessing they'd be somewhat pleased. The question: Can he do that? Basketball obviously is not top dog (pardon the pun) there, which might suit him better than at IU, where hoops is king.

Hmmm ... Could a certain bespectacled, overly-tan, gum-chomping, sideline-pacing, pants-pulling-uping (?) coach we're all familiar with be headed to the SEC and Athens, Ga.? https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/georgia-fires-mark-fox-after-nine-seasons-tom-crean-a-possible-replacement/

Not sure why they can't shoot from the center of the gym, rather than the corner.

Link to Riley vs. Lake Central game. Quality isn't great, but better than nothing. I've never seen Damezi play and wanted to check it out for a few minutes. http://www.broadcastsport.net/ZipPages/ZIPCode-BasketballRegionalMichiganCity.aspx

http://www.broadcastsport.net/ZipPages/ZIPCode-BasketballRegionalMichiganCity.aspx The quality isn't great, though.

OK, I have officially become a dork. I've got Bloomington South vs. New Albany (Romeo) on one tab and on another, I've got Lake Central vs. South Bend Riley (Damezi) -- and I haven't lived in Indiana in 25-plus years. But back in the day, I went to many Michigan City Regionals. I recognized that gym right away -- used to be Michigan City Rogers.

Damn. I wanted to watch some of the NA-BS game. The IHSAA's link says the game starts at 12:30, so I click at 12:30 and they're already midway through the second quarter.

I think people can come here and write whatever they're thinking, as long as it doesn't get too nasty or too personal, IMO. That's that's kind of the whole point of this site.

He honks me off because years ago, when he was at Iowa, he ratted out Illinois and got them in trouble. Not that I have a problem with Illinois getting in trouble -- because they cheated and deserved it -- but if you're gonna do something that, you'd better damn well be squeaky clean yourself. And clearly, he wasn't/isn't.

In that first game, I've got the Rams.

Middle Tennessee's in a bit of trouble in the C-USA -- if anybody's still charting such things. That's been a one-bid league recently and most likely will be again. There's plenty of time left, but if they lose, they would take another NIT slot away.

Plenty of people commented that the photo was in the mirror, and I didn't have any response. But someone, by commenting on my post, was telling me the photo was reversed. I was simply saying that yes, I realized that. And I'm very proud of you that if you feel compelled to comment, you comment. Good for you.

Virginia destroys Stripper U. ... Guy 4 for 6 from distance, finishes with 19 points. ... After the game, Tim Brando from ACC Nework: "That's a kid from Indiana -- Lawrence Central -- he's a kid who really understands the game." ... Man, that was a huge miss for us. Still puzzles me how after getting guys like Hulls, Zeller, Yogi, Hollowell, etc., Crean got so disconnected from the state.

Tom Crean to Pitt? ... Let me start by saying I have no sources and know nothing and I haven't read anything about this. This is based on absolutely nothing other than me just guessing. But he was an assistant there for a season and let's face it, as far as Power 5 schools go, this might be the best he can do (even though it's a pretty bottom of the barrel job). It's not like a Louisville or a Mississippi is gonna hire him. ... Pitt should've never joined the ACC. I think Dixon realized that and got out of dodge.

Indeed. For one, I was joking when I wrote that. For another, I wrote 2 hours ago that the photo was either taken of a mirror or that it was reversed.

Memphis is thinking about firing Tubby Smith and bringing in Penny Hardaway with Larry Brown as his top assistant? Probation in 3-2-1 ... http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22672236/memphis-tigers-looking-firing-tubby-smith-bringing-penny-hardaway

What an irony in this. At the very end of the report, the sportscaster mentions South Bend Clay in 1994 as the last city team to win a state title. Clay beat Valpo and Bryce Drew -- the fella everybody loves to hate here -- in the championship game. Valpo had something like an 8-10 point lead in the final minute but couldn't hang on. Clay kept hitting 3s, tied it, forced OT, then won in the extra period.

I was more or less joking when I wrote that. The photo on the right (wearing IU shorts) is either reversed or taken of a mirror. Either way, he definitely looks as if he's been working hard.

The most impressive aspect of this transformation: The birthmark moved from the right side of his abdomen to the left. How in the world did they accomplish that!