Humble Pie: Rice's Braun Joins Long List of Coaches Incurring Embarrassing Loss

Power conference members Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech never have reached a regional final in the NCAA Tournament while Rice has achieved the feat on two occasions (1940 and 1942). The Owls won 19 games last season but will be fortunate to reach double figures in victories this year after losing leading scorer and rebounder Arsalan Kazemi, one of the nation's best foreigners (Iran) who transferred to Oregon.

A sure sign of the decline came when St. Thomas (Tex.), a small Catholic liberal arts school about two miles north of Rice's campus in Houston, coasted to a 72-59 victory over the Owls in their season opener. St. Thomas, an NAIA member on the heels of its first winning season (18-13), only introduced intercollegiate athletics in 2006.

The setback was a generous dose of humility for Rice coach Ben Braun, who guided Eastern Michigan and California to multiple NCAA playoff appearances. But many of the biggest names in college coaching history had to recover from embarrassing defeats that weren't cited on their otherwise mostly regal resumes. For instance, there are numerous mentors who captured NCAA championships despite losing to a small school at some point in their careers - Phog Allen (lost to Emporia State), Jim Calhoun (American International, Assumption, Brandeis, Bridgeport, Florida Southern, Merrimack, St. Anselm, Stonehill and Tufts), John Calipari (Florida Tech and Lowell), Denny Crum (Chaminade), Jim Harrick (Abilene Christian), Don Haskins (Louisiana College), Hank Iba (Abilene Christian and Westminster), George Ireland (Regis), Doggie Julian (Amherst, Colby, St. Anselm, St. Michael's, Springfield, Tampa and Williams), Mike Krzyzewski (King's, Scranton and SUNY-Buffalo), Rollie Massimino (New Orleans and Philadelphia Textile), Al McGuire (Evansville and Washington, MO), Rick Pitino (Adelphi), Nolan Richardson (American-Puerto Rico), Norm Sloan (Presbyterian), John Thompson Jr. (Assumption, Gannon, Randolph-Macon and Roanoke) and Jim Valvano (Armstrong State, Bloomsburg, Gannon, Tampa and Wilkes).

Kansas' Bill Self lost 18 consecutive contests bridging the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons with Oral Roberts but at least he didn't lose a decision to a non-Division I institution. Rick Barnes bowed to Chaminade this year for the second time in his coaching career. Braun joined Barnes on the following alphabetical list of high-profile coaches who lost games to non-Division I colleges at some point in their major-college careers:

  • Forrest "Phog" Allen - Lost to Emporia State (Kan.) in 1947-48 while coaching Kansas.
  • Forrest "Forddy" Anderson - Lost to Emporia State (Kan.) in 1947-48 while coaching Drake. Lost to Northern Michigan in 1960-61 while coaching Michigan State.
  • John Bach - Lost to Adelphi (N.Y.) in 1958-59 while coaching Fordham.
  • Kevin Bannon - Lost to Grand Canyon (Ariz.) at Hawaii in 1991-92 while coaching Rider.
  • Rick Barnes - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1991-92 while coaching Providence and in 2012-13 while coaching Texas.
  • J.D. Barnett - Lost to Louisiana Christian in 1995-96 while coaching Northwestern State (La.).
  • Jim Baron - Lost to Walsh (Ohio) in 1992-93 while coaching St. Bonaventure. Lost to Lubbock Christian (Tex.) at Las Vegas in 2003-04 while coaching Rhode Island.
  • Gene Bartow - Lost at American-Puerto Rico in 1994-95 while coaching UAB.
  • Dick Bennett - Lost to Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1985-86 and 1986-87 while coaching Wisconsin-Green Bay.
  • Eddie Biedenbach - Lost to Montreat (N.C.) in 2001-02 and Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) in 2005-06 while coaching UNC Asheville.
  • Tom Blackburn - Lost to Anderson (Ind.) in 1947-48, Ohio Wesleyan in 1948-49, Muskingum (Ohio) in 1949-50 and Wittenberg (Ohio) in 1962-63 while coaching Dayton.
  • Bill Blair - Lost to Morris Harvey (W. Va.) and twice to Roanoke (Va.) in 1972-73 and to West Virginia Tech and Shepherd (W.Va.) in 1973-74 while coaching VMI.
  • George Blaney - Lost to Springfield (Mass.) in 1969-70 and 1971-72 while coaching Dartmouth. Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74 and 1985-86 and at Florida Southern in 1979-80 while coaching Holy Cross.
  • Dave Bliss - Lost to Rollins (Fla.) and Texas Wesleyan in 1980-81 and at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1984-85 while coaching SMU. Lost to Eastern New Mexico in 1991-92 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Bob Boyd - Lost to Tennessee-Martin in 1981-82 and Delta State (Miss.) in 1985-86 while coaching Mississippi State.
  • Jim Brandenburg - Lost to South Dakota in 1979-80 while coaching Wyoming.
  • Byron "Buster" Brannon - Lost to Sam Houston State (Tex.) twice in 1938-39 and once in 1940-41 while coaching Rice. Lost to East Texas State, at Hamline (Minn.) and twice to Austin (Tex.) College in 1948-49, Midwestern State (Tex.) in 1953-54 and Kentucky Wesleyan in 1955-56 while coaching Texas Christian.
  • Tom Brennan - Lost to St. Michael's (Vt.) in 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89 while coaching Vermont.
  • John Bunn - Lost to Eastern New Mexico (six times from 1957-58 through 1962-63), Fort Hays (Kan.) State (five times from 1957-58 through 1962-63), New Mexico Highlands in 1960-61, twice to Panhandle State (Okla.) in 1957- 58, St. Cloud State (Minn.) in 1962-63, Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1956-57, Wayne State (Neb.) in 1962-63 and Western New Mexico in 1961-62 while coaching Northern Colorado.
  • Jim Calhoun - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1972-73; to Tufts (Mass.), American International (Mass.), Bridgeport (Conn.) and at Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74; Assumption (Mass.) and Brandeis (Mass.) in 1974-75; Merrimack (Mass.) in 1975-76; Bridgeport (Conn.), Merrimack (Mass.), St. Anselm (Vt.) and Stonehill (Mass.) in 1976-77; American International (Mass.) and Assumption (Mass.) in 1978-79 and Florida Southern in 1980-81 while coaching Northeastern.
  • John Calipari - Lost at Florida Tech in 1988-89 and to Lowell (Mass.) in 1989-90 while coaching Massachusetts.
  • Lou Campanelli - Lost to West Virginia Tech in 1980-81 while coaching James Madison. Lost to Alaska-Anchorage in 1990-91 on neutral court while coaching California.
  • Howard Cann - Lost to Panzer in 1938-39 and Brandeis (Mass.) in 1956-57 while coaching NYU.
  • P.J. Carlesimo - Lost at Bentley (Mass.), to Southern Connecticut on a neutral court, to C.W. Post (N.Y.), at Springfield (Mass.) and at Bridgeport (Conn.) in 1976-77; to New Haven (Conn.) and at C.W. Post (N.Y.) in 1977- 78, and at Staten Island (N.Y.) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (N.Y.) in 1981-82 while coaching Wagner.
  • Henry "Doc" Carlson - Lost to Bethany (W. Va.) in 1948-49, Geneva (Pa.) in 1941-42, 1950-51 and 1952-53 and Carnegie Tech (Pa.) three times in four seasons from 1938-39 through 1941-42 plus five times in six seasons from 1949-50 through 1954-55 while coaching Pittsburgh.
  • Pete Carril - Lost to East Stroudsburg (Pa.) in 1966-67 while coaching Lehigh.
  • Don Casey - Lost to Philadelphia Textile in 1975-76 while coaching Temple.
  • Joe Cipriano - Lost at Hawaii-Hilo in 1976-77 while coaching Nebraska.
  • Gary Colson - Lost to John Brown (Ark.) in 1972-73 and Moorhead (Minn.) State in 1973-74 while coaching Pepperdine. Lost to Alaska-Anchorage in 1983-84 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Bobby Cremins - Lost to Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) in 1975-76 and twice in 1977-78 while coaching Appalachian State.
  • Denny Crum - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1983-84 and 1984-85 while coaching Louisville.
  • Charles "Chick" Davies--Lost to Waynesburg (Pa.) in 1937-38 and 1938-39 and to Wooster (Ohio) in 1937-38 while coaching Duquesne.
  • Tom Davis - Lost to Moravian (Pa.) in 1973-74 and at Albright (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Lafayette. Lost to Chico State (Calif.) in 1982-83 while coaching Stanford. Lost to UC Riverside in 1988-89 while coaching Iowa.
  • Johnny Dee - Lost to Jacksonville (Ala.) State in 1952-53 while coaching Alabama.
  • Don DeVoe - Lost to Johns Hopkins (Md.) in 2002-03 while coaching Navy.
  • Ed Diddle - Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan in 1955-56, David Lipscomb (Tenn.) in 1962-63 and LeMoyne (N.Y.) in 1963 -64 while coaching Western Kentucky.
  • Bob Donewald - Lost to Cal State Bakersfield in 1980-81 while coaching Illinois State.
  • Homer Drew - Lost to Bethel (Ind.) in 1997-98 while coaching Valparaiso.
  • Charles "Lefty" Driesell - Lost to Catawba (N.C.) twice in 1960-61 and to Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and Erskine (S.C.) in 1961-62 while coaching Davidson.
  • Hugh Durham - Lost at Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in 2001-02 while coaching Jacksonville.
  • Bobby Dye - Lost at Chapman (Calif.) in 1975-76 while coaching Cal State Fullerton. Lost to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in 1985-86 while coaching Boise State.
  • Norm Ellenberger - Lost at Hawaii-Hilo in 1976-77 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Fred Enke - Lost to Regis (Colo.) in 1959-60 while coaching Arizona.
  • Larry Eustachy - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1991-92 and to Elizabeth City State (N.C.) in 1992-93 while coaching Idaho.
  • Paul Evans - Lost at Rollins (Fla.) in 1981-82 while coaching Navy.
  • Bill C. Foster - Lost at University of the South (Tenn.) and Roanoke (Va.) in 1970-71 and to Valdosta (Ga.) State in 1971-72 while coaching UNC Charlotte. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1987-88 while coaching Miami (Fla.).
  • Bill E. Foster - Lost at Albright (Pa.) in 1964-65 while coaching Rutgers. Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1981- 82 while coaching South Carolina. Lost to Rollins (Fla.) in 1986-87 and 1987-88 while coaching Northwestern.
  • Harold "Bud" Foster - Lost to South Dakota in 1956-57 while coaching Wisconsin.
  • Bill Frieder - Lost to Alaska-Anchorage on a neutral court in 1988-89 while coaching Michigan.
  • Jack Friel - Lost at Centenary (La.) in 1955-56, to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1955-56 and Whitworth (Wash.) five times from 1951-52 through 1956-57 while coaching Washington State.
  • John "Taps" Gallagher - Lost to Gannon (Pa.) and Rochester (N.Y.) in 1964-65 while coaching Niagara.
  • Dave Gavitt - Lost at Springfield (Mass.) in 1967-68 while coaching Dartmouth.
  • Boyd Grant - Lost to Wisconsin-Parkside in 1978-79 while coaching Fresno State.
  • Murray Greason - Lost to Rio Grande (Ohio) in 1953-54 while coaching Wake Forest.
  • Ron Greene - Lost to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1966-67 while coaching Loyola of New Orleans. Lost to Tennessee Wesleyan and Mississippi College in 1978-79, Arkansas College in 1981-82, West Virginia Tech in 1982-83 and Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) in 1984-85 while coaching Murray State. Lost to Rollins (Fla.) in 1986-87 while coaching Indiana State.
  • Tim Grgurich - Lost to Morris Harvey (W.Va.) in 1977-78 while coaching Pittsburgh.
  • Leonard Hamilton - Lost at BYU-Hawaii in 1987-88 while coaching Oklahoma State.
  • Jim Harrick - Lost at Abilene (Tex.) Christian in 1984-85 while coaching Pepperdine.
  • Dick Harter - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1978-79 while coaching Penn State.
  • Jack Hartman - Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan four times in three years from 1967-68 through 1969-70 while coaching Southern Illinois.
  • Don Haskins - Lost to Louisiana College in 1977-78 while coaching Texas-El Paso.
  • George "Jud" Heathcote - Lost at Puget Sound (Wash.) in 1972-73, 1973-74 and 1975-76 and at Southern Colorado in 1972-73 while coaching Montana.
  • Bill Henderson - Lost to Howard Payne (Tex.) in 1955-56 while coaching Baylor.
  • Lou Henson - Lost to Howard Payne (Tex.) twice, Midwestern State (Tex.), Eastern New Mexico and Abilene Christian (Tex.) in 1962-63; Abilene Christian and Midwestern State in 1964-65, and Pittsburg State (Kan.) in 1965-66 while coaching Hardin-Simmons. Lost at Eastern New Mexico in 1966-67, to Angelo State (Tex.) in 1971-72, at Alaska-Fairbanks in 1998-99 and at BYU-Hawaii in 2001-02 while coaching New Mexico State.
  • Eddie Hickey - Lost to South Dakota in 1938-39 and 1939-40 while coaching Creighton.
  • Bernard "Peck" Hickman - Lost to Georgetown (Ky.) in 1958-59 while coaching Louisville.
  • Paul "Tony" Hinkle - Lost to Wabash (Ind.) in 1959-60, twice in 1960-61 and in 1966-67 while coaching Butler.
  • Terry Holland - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1982-83 while coaching Virginia.
  • Ben Howland - Lost to Concordia (Calif.) in 1994-95 while coaching Northern Arizona.
  • Henry "Hank" Iba - Lost to Westminster (Mo.) in 1934-35 and 1936-37 and Abilene (Tex.) Christian in 1965-66 while coaching Oklahoma A&M/Oklahoma State.
  • Moe Iba - Lost to Union (Tenn.) in 1968-69 and 1969-70 while coaching Memphis State.
  • George Ireland - Lost to Regis (Colo.) in 1954-55, North Dakota State in 1966-67, Illinois Wesleyan in 1970-71 and Missouri Western in 1972-73 while coaching Loyola of Chicago.
  • Maurice "Maury" John - Lost to South Dakota State in 1958-59 and Washington (Mo.) in 1963-64 while coaching Drake.
  • Alvin "Doggie" Julian - Lost to St. Michael's (Vt.), at St. Anselm (N.H.) and at Tampa (Fla.) in 1950-51; to Amherst (Mass.) in 1952-53; at St. Michael's (Vt.), to Williams (Mass.) and at Springfield (Mass.) in 1960-61; to Colby (Maine) in 1961-62, and to Williams (Mass.) in 1964-65 while coaching Dartmouth.
  • Jim Killingsworth - Lost to Westmont (Calif.) in 1980-81 while coaching Texas Christian.
  • Bob King - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1963-64 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Dana Kirk - Lost to Wisconsin-Parkside in 1979-80 while coaching Memphis State.
  • Jack Kraft - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1974-75 while coaching Rhode Island.
  • Mike Krzyzewski - Lost to SUNY-Buffalo, Scranton (Pa.) and King's College (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Army.
  • Steve Lappas - Lost to Springfield (Mass.) in 1988-89 while coaching Manhattan.
  • Jim Larranaga - Lost to Findlay (Ohio) in 1991-92 while coaching Bowling Green.
  • Frank Layden - Lost to Thomas More (Ky.) in 1970-71 while coaching Niagara.
  • Jack Leaman - Lost to American International (Mass.) in 1966-67 and 1969-70, Springfield (Mass.) in 1970-71 and Bentley (Mass.) in 1978-79 while coaching Massachusetts.
  • A.E. "Abe" Lemons--Lost to Centenary (La.) in 1958-59, McMurry (Tex.) in 1960-61 and Wayland Baptist (Tex.) in 1984-85 while coaching Oklahoma City. Lost to Texas A&I in 1973-74 while coaching Pan American.
  • Jim Les - Lost to Lubbock (Tex.) Christian at Las Vegas in 2003-04 while coaching Bradley.
  • Guy Lewis - Lost to St. Mary's (Tex.) in 1969-70 and 1974-75, Texas A&I in 1979-80 and Alaska Anchorage and Biscayne (Fla.) in 1980-81 while coaching Houston.
  • Harry Litwack - Lost to West Chester (Pa.) in 1969-70 while coaching Temple.
  • Taylor "Tates" Locke - Lost to North Park (Ill.) in 1978-79 while coaching Jacksonville.
  • Ken Loeffler - Lost to Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching Texas A&M.
  • Jim Lynam - Lost to Saint Leo (Fla.) and at Assumption (Mass.) in 1968-69 and to Southern Connecticut in 1969- 70 while coaching Fairfield. Lost at King's (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching American University. Lost at Rollins (Fla.) in 1979-80 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • Nick Macarchuk - Lost to Buffalo State in 1982-83 while coaching Canisius.
  • John MacLeod - Lost to Samford (Ala.) in 1971-72 while coaching Oklahoma. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1998-99 while coaching Notre Dame.
  • John "Red" Manning - Lost to Carnegie-Mellon (Pa.) in 1959-60 while coaching Duquesne.
  • Rollie Massimino - Lost at New Orleans in 1973-74 and to Philadelphia Textile in 1975-76 and 1976-77 while coaching Villanova.
  • James "Babe" McCarthy - Lost to University of the South (Tenn.) in 1955-56 and Mississippi College in 1964-65 while coaching Mississippi State.
  • Neil McCarthy - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1978-79 while coaching Weber State. Lost to Western New Mexico in 1986-87 while coaching New Mexico State.
  • Al McGuire - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1964-65 and Evansville in 1965-66 while coaching Marquette.
  • Frank McGuire - Lost at Florida Southern in 1979-80 while coaching South Carolina.
  • Jack McKinney - Lost to Catholic (D.C.) in 1966-67 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • Eddie Melvin - Lost to Cortland (N.Y.) State in 1947-48 and Gannon (Pa.) in 1948-49 while coaching St. Bonaventure. Lost to Morris Harvey (W.Va.) in 1956-57 and Wittenberg (Ohio) in 1958-59 and 1959-60 while coaching Toledo.
  • Shelby Metcalf - Lost at Eastern Montana in 1980-81 and to St. Mary's (Tex.) in 1984-85 while coaching Texas A&M.
  • Ray Meyer - Lost to Beloit (Wis.) in 1950-51, at North Dakota in 1965-66 and to St. Joseph's (Ind.) in 1969-70.
  • Eldon Miller - Lost to Winona (Minn.) State and Wisconsin-Platteville in 1986-87 and at American-Puerto Rico and to Morningside (Iowa) in 1990-91 while coaching Northern Iowa.
  • Ralph Miller - Lost at Beloit (Wis.) in 1951-52 while coaching Wichita.
  • Charles Moir - Lost to Dillard (La.) in 1973-74 and 1974-75 and Xavier (La.) in 1973-74 while coaching Tulane.
  • Mike Montgomery - Lost to Puget Sound (Wash.) in 1978-79 and 1980-81 while coaching Montana. Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1992-93 while coaching Stanford.
  • Stan Morrison - Lost to San Francisco State in 1974-75 and at North Dakota in 1978-79 while coaching Pacific.
  • Joe Mullaney - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1963-64 and 1984-85 while coaching Providence. Lost to Stonehill (Mass.) in 1979-80 while coaching Brown.
  • Jeff Mullins - Lost at Florida Southern in 1987-88 while coaching UNC Charlotte.
  • Gerald Myers - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1990-91 while coaching Texas Tech.
  • Lynn Nance - Lost to Nebraska-Omaha in 1979-80 while coaching Iowa State.
  • Danny Nee - Lost to Charleston (W.Va.) in 1980-81 while coaching Ohio University.
  • Jim O'Brien - Lost at Florida Tech in 1988-89 while coaching Boston College.
  • Dave Odom - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1993-94 while coaching Wake Forest.
  • Johnny Orr - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1964-65 while coaching Massachusetts. Lost at Eastern Montana in 1981 -82 while coaching Iowa State.
  • Bobby Paschal - Lost to Tampa in 1986-87 and 1987-88 while coaching South Florida.
  • Tom Penders - Lost at CCNY in 1974-75 and at San Francisco State in 1977-78 while coaching Columbia. Lost at Hawaii-Pacific in 1985-86 while coaching Fordham.
  • Jerry Pimm - Lost to Midwestern State (Tex.) in 1979-80 while coaching Utah. Lost to San Francisco State in 1983-84 while coaching UC Santa Barbara.
  • Rick Pitino - Lost to Adelphi (N.Y.) in 1978-79 while coaching Boston University.
  • Harry Rabenhorst - Lost to Louisiana College in 1955-56 and at Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching LSU.
  • Bill Raftery - Lost to Siena (N.Y.) in 1972-73, at Rollins (Fla.) in 1973-74 and to King's College (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Seton Hall.
  • Jack Ramsay - Lost to Albright (Pa.) in 1957-58 and 1961-62 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • George Raveling - Lost to St. Martin's (Wash.) in 1980-81 and Eastern Montana in 1981-82 while coaching Washington State.
  • Roger Reid - Lost to Colorado-Colorado Springs in 2007-08 while coaching Southern Utah.
  • Nolan Richardson - Lost at American-Puerto Rico in 1997-98 while coaching Arkansas.
  • Alfred "A.J." Robertson - Lost to South Dakota in 1947-48 while coaching Bradley.
  • Les Robinson - Lost to Francis Marion (S.C.) in 1983-84 while coaching The Citadel.
  • Lee Rose - Lost at Eastern Montana in 1977-78 while coaching UNC Charlotte.
  • Lou Rossini - Lost to Bentley (Mass.) in 1978-79 and Scranton (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching St. Francis (N.Y.).
  • John "Honey" Russell - Lost at Saint Thomas (Minn.) in 1937-38, to David & Elkins (W. Va.) in 1949-50 and to Albright (Pa.) in 1949-50 and 1957-58 while coaching Seton Hall.
  • Alex Severance - Lost to Albright (Pa.) in 1941-42, Swarthmore (Pa.) in 1943-44 and 1944-45 and Scranton (Pa.) in 1957-58 while coaching Villanova.
  • Norman Sloan - Lost at Presbyterian (S.C.) in 1956-57 while coaching The Citadel.
  • Jim Snyder - Lost to Marietta (Ohio) four times in five years from 1949-50 through 1953-54 and in 1959-60, Mount Union (Ohio) in 1949-50, Muskingum (Ohio) in 1950-51, Beloit (Wis.) and Lake Forest (Ill.) in 1951-52, Ohio Wesleyan in 1952-53 and Otterbein (Ohio) in 1966-67 while coaching Ohio University.
  • Norm Stewart - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1985-86 while coaching Missouri.
  • John Thompson Jr. - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74; Gannon (Pa.) in 1975-76; Randolph-Macon (Va.) in 1974-75; Roanoke (Va.) in 1972-73, and at South Florida in 1972-73 while coaching Georgetown.
  • Ken Trickey - Lost to Union (Tenn.) in 1965-66, Transylvania (Ky.) in 1966-67 and 1968-69 and Oglethorpe (Ga.) in 1967-68 while coaching Middle Tennessee State. Lost to Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota in 1975-76 while coaching Iowa State. Lost to Cameron (Okla.) in 1980-81 while coaching Oral Roberts.
  • Billy Tubbs - Lost to Ohio Northern in 1980-81 while coaching Oklahoma. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1995-96 while coaching Texas Christian. Lost to Delta State (Miss.) in 2005-06 while coaching Lamar.
  • M.K. Turk - Lost at Florida Southern in 1979-80 and to Fairmont State (W. Va.) in 1984-85 while coaching Southern Mississippi.
  • Jim Valvano - Lost to Armstrong State (Ga.) and Gannon (Pa.) in 1972-73, Wilkes (Pa.) in 1973-74 and Bloomsburg (Pa.) in 1974-75 while coaching Bucknell. Lost at Tampa in 1986-87 while coaching North Carolina State.
  • Joe Vanatta - Lost at Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching Memphis State.
  • Willem "Butch" van Breda Kolff - Lost at Albright (Pa.) in 1951-52 while coaching Lafayette. Lost at Florida Southern in 1988-89 while coaching Hofstra.
  • Perry Watson - Lost to Wayne State (Mich.) in 1993-94 while coaching Detroit.
  • Stan Watts - Lost to Hamline (Minn.) in 1951-52 while coaching Brigham Young.
  • Clifford Wells - Lost to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1953-54 and Louisiana College in 1962-63 while coaching Tulane.
  • Bob Weltlich - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1986-87 while coaching Texas.
  • Paul Westhead - Lost at Biscayne (Fla.) in 1971-72 and Florida Southern in 1978-79 while coaching La Salle.
  • Davey Whitney - Lost to Delta State (Miss.) six times in five years from 1985-86 through 1989-90; Dillard (La.) in 1986-87; Miles (Ala.) in 1988-89 and 1990-91; Mississippi College in 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94; Slippery Rock (Pa.) in 1993-94, and Tougaloo (Miss.) in 1996-97 while coaching Alcorn State.
  • Ralph Willard - Lost to Williams (Mass.) in 2003-04 while coaching Holy Cross.
  • Carroll Williams - Lost to San Francisco State in 1970-71 and at Alaska-Anchorage in 1991-92 while coaching Santa Clara.
  • Charlie Woollum - Lost to Rochester (N.Y.) in 1975-76 and 1976-77, Upsala (N.J.) in 1977-78 and Messiah (Pa.) in 1981-82 while coaching Bucknell.
  • Jay Wright - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 2003-04 while coaching Villanova.
  • Ned Wulk - Lost to Lawrence Tech (Mich.) and twice to Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) in 1952-53 while coaching Xavier. Lost to Cal Poly Pomona in 1969-70 while coaching Arizona State.

Centers of Attention: Wide Range of Debut Games for Premier Pivotmen

Regal recruit Nerlens Noel hit his first shot in Kentucky's initial possession of the season vs. Maryland in their season opener at Brooklyn. But Noel (4 points/9 rebounds) clearly is limited offensively and was dominated by Maryland's Alex Len as the Wildcats squandered a 15-point, second-half lead before prevailing. Will Noel's first-season impact be more like Anthony Davis, the national player of the year last season when he sparked UK to an NCAA title, or Andre Drummond, who averaged a modest 10 ppg and 7.6 rpg for Connecticut as the disappointing Huskies finished out of the 2011-12 final Top 25 polls?

Actually, textbook centers are becoming a rare breed. Time will tell if Davis or Noel eventually deserve to be included among the premier pivotmen in college basketball history. By almost any measure, centers in the last 40 years don't seem to be anywhere close to duplicating what luminaries Lew Alcindor, Artis Gilmore, Bob Lanier, Jerry Lucas, Bill Russell and Bill Walton achieved in their initial varsity campaigns.

Similar to Navy's David Robinson in 1983-84, Drummond was scoreless in his season debut last year against Columbia. In a forgettable debut, Wake Forest's Tim Duncan was also scoreless in a season-opening loss to NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage in 1993-94 before rebounding with a 12-point, 12-rebound performance in his next outing against Hawaii.

Alcindor (77: 56 points/21 rebounds) and Chamberlain (83: 52 points/31 rebounds) each totaled more points and rebounds in their college game debut than Drummond, Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Noel, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Robinson and Ralph Sampson managed collectively. Following is a look at how many of the premier centers in history fared in their varsity debut against a major college and a summary of their first season of NCAA Division I competition:

Celebrated Center School Freshman Season First Game PPG RPG W-L Mark
Anthony Davis Kentucky 2011-12 23 points/10 rebounds 14.2 10.4 38-2
Greg Oden Ohio State 2006-07 14 points/10 rebounds 15.7 9.6 35-4
Tim Duncan Wake Forest 1993-94 12 points/12 rebounds 9.8 9.6 21-12
Shaquille O'Neal Louisiana State 1989-90 10 points/5 rebounds 13.9 12.0 23-9
Alonzo Mourning Georgetown 1988-89 10 points/10 rebounds 13.1 7.3 29-5
David Robinson Navy 1983-84 scoreless/1 rebound 7.6 4.0 24-8
Hakeem Olajuwon Houston 1981-82 2 points/0 rebounds 8.3 6.5 25-8
Patrick Ewing Georgetown 1981-82 7 points/4 rebounds 12.7 8.5 30-7
Ralph Sampson Virginia 1979-80 4 points/6 rebounds 14.9 11.2 24-10
*Bill Walton UCLA 1971-72 19 points/14 rebounds 21.1 15.5 29-1
**Artis Gilmore Jacksonville 1969-70 35 points/18 rebounds 26.5 22.2 17-7
*Bob Lanier St. Bonaventure 1967-68 23 points/17 rebounds 26.2 15.6 23-2
*Lew Alcindor UCLA 1966-67 56 points/21 rebounds 29.0 15.5 30-0
*Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1959-60 16 points/28 rebounds 26.3 16.3 25-3
*Wilt Chamberlain Kansas 1956-57 52 points/31 rebounds 29.6 18.9 24-3
*Bill Russell San Francisco 1953-54 16 points/17 rebounds 19.9 19.2 14-7

*Sophomore classification.
**Junior classification after attending junior college.

On This Date: Calendar For Memorable Games in College Basketball History

NOVEMBER
30 - Dartmouth set an NCAA single-game record by having nine different players contribute at least one three-point basket vs. Boston College in 1993. . . . John Chaney made his Temple debut in 1982 with a 68-67 triumph at George Washington en route to becoming the Owls' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bobby Cremins made his Georgia Tech debut in 1981 with an 82-66 triumph against Presbyterian (S.C.) en route to becoming the Yellow Jackets' all-time winningest coach.
29 - The three-point goal was an experimental rule in the Southern Conference in 1980 when Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first three-pointer in history at Reid Gymnasium vs. Middle Tennessee State. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Duke debut in 1980 with a 67-49 triumph over Stetson en route to becoming the Blue Devils' all-time winningest coach. . . . Jim Calhoun made his Connecticut debut in 1986 with a 58-54 triumph over Massachusetts en route to becoming the Huskies' all-time winningest coach. . . . Billy Tubbs made his Lamar head coaching debut in 1976 with an 80-73 triumph over Houston Baptist en route to more than 600 victories with three schools. . . . Gene Keady made his Purdue debut in 1980 with a 72-59 triumph over Colorado State en route to becoming the Boilermakers' all-time winningest coach.
28 - Lou Henson made his Illinois debut in 1975 with a 60-58 triumph at Nebraska en route to becoming the Illini's all-time winningest coach. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Army head coaching debut in 1975 with a 56-29 victory over Lehigh before becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA playoff history with Duke. . . . Mike Montgomery made his Stanford debut in 1986 with a 67-65 defeat against Georgia Tech at Richmond before becoming the Cardinal's all-time winningest coach.
27 - Brandon Wood (39 points at Georgia Southern in 2009) set Valparaiso's single-game scoring record against a Division I opponent. . . . John Thompson Jr. made his Georgetown debut in 1972 with a 61-60 triumph over St. Francis (Pa.) en route to a school-record 596 victories with the Hoyas. . . . Alvan Adams (28 rebounds vs. Indiana State in 1972) set Oklahoma's single-game rebounding record.
26 - Jim Boeheim made his Syracuse debut in 1976 with a 75-48 triumph over Harvard en route to setting the NCAA career record for most victories by a coach at a single school. . . . Rudy Macklin (32 rebounds vs. Tulane in 1976) set Louisiana State's single-game rebounding record.
25 - Bethune-Cookman's Reggie Cunningham (46 points at Stetson in 1995) and Nevada's Kevin Franklin (48 at Loyola Marymount in 1989) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Louisiana Tech's school-record 39-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Stephen F. Austin (67-58) in 1985. . . . Lute Olson made his Arizona debut in 1983 with a 72-65 triumph over Northern Arizona en route to becoming the Wildcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bob Huggins made his Cincinnati debut in 1989 with a 66-64 triumph over Minnesota en route to becoming the Bearcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Gale Catlett made his West Virginia debut in 1978 with an 86-66 triumph over Rider en route to becoming the Mountaineers' all-time winningest coach.
24 - Gene Bartow made his UAB debut in 1978 with a 64-55 defeat against Nebraska before becoming the Blazers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Nolan Richardson made his Arkansas debut in 1985 with an 86-72 triumph over Southern Illinois en route to becoming the Razorbacks' all-time winningest coach.
22 - Kevin Martin (46 points vs. Coastal Carolina in 2002) set Western Carolina's Division I single-game scoring record.
21 - Nick Davis (23 rebounds vs. Jackson State in 1997) set Arkansas' single-game rebounding record.
20 - Okechi Egbe (44 points vs. Bethel in 2000) set Tennessee-Martin's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Tom Izzo made his Michigan State debut in 1995 with a 69-66 triumph at Chaminade en route to becoming the Spartans' all-time winningest coach.
19 - D.J. Munir (36 points at Sacred Heart in 2001) set Stony Brook's Division I single-game scoring record.
17 - Bo Ryan made his Wisconsin debut in 2001 with a 74-69 defeat at UNLV before going on to become the Badgers' all-time winningest coach.
15 - Reggie Williams (45 points vs. Virginia Intermont in 2006) set Virginia Military's single-game scoring record.
13 - Rotnei Clarke (51 points vs. Alcorn State in 2009) set Arkansas' single-game scoring record before transferring to Butler. . . . Siena's school-record 38-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Vermont (80-76 in 2010).
11 - Kyle Hines (38 points at Marshall in overtime in 2006) set UNC Greensboro's Division I single-game scoring record.
9 - David Holston (43 points vs. St. Bonaventure at Austin, Tex., in 2006) set Chicago State's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Junior Hairston (21 rebounds vs. Loyola Maryland in 2007) set Towson's Division I single-game rebounding record.

NFL Basketball Report: Week 10 Update on Active Players Who Were College Hoopsters

The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as this NFL Basketball Report. The ex-hoopster headliner recently was veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, the ageless wonder for undefeated Atlanta as he aspires to secure his first playoff victory.

Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is the first tight end with 100 touchdowns. He has led the Falcons in pass receptions much of the campaign comparable to fellow ex-college hoopsters Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans). Jackson paces the NFL in yards per catch (22.9).

Regal receiver Terrell Owens (1995 NCAA playoffs with Chattanooga) didn't have a chance to test the patience of replacement officials early this season because he is no longer on an NFL roster. But the league still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:

Player Pos. NFL Team College(s) Summary of 2012 NFL Regular Season
Connor Barwin OLB Houston Texans Cincinnati 20 tackles (17 solo/3 assists) in fourth season but only two sacks (after 11 1/2 last year)
Demetress Bell LOT Philadelphia Eagles Northwestern State newcomer after signing 5-year deal in off-season following 30 starts with Buffalo Bills the previous three seasons
Jordan Cameron TE Cleveland Browns Brigham Young/Southern California 12 pass receptions for 140 yards (long of 23) in second campaign
Demar Dotson RT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Southern Mississippi 6-9 lineman is a starter in fourth season
London Fletcher ILB Washington Redskins Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH team-high 73 tackles (43 solo/30 assists) plus one fumble recovery, one sack and one interception in 15th season
Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers Kent State 24 pass receptions for 281 yards (long of 33) and three touchdowns in 10th year
Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons California team-high 50 pass receptions for 495 yards (long of 25) and four touchdowns in 16th campaign
Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints Miami, FL third-year pro has 38 pass receptions for 387 yards (long of 24) and five touchdowns
Todd Heap TE Arizona Cardinals Arizona State long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28) in 12th season amid questions about why he hasn't returned from a knee injury
Vincent Jackson WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers Northern Colorado team highs of 31 receptions, 710 yards (long of 95) and six touchdowns in eighth campaign
Evan Moore TE Seattle Seahawks Stanford first season in NW for third-stringer after three years with the Cleveland Browns, including four touchdowns in 2011
Julius Peppers RDE Chicago Bears North Carolina six-time Pro Bowler has 14 tackles (10 solo/four assists) and team-high 5 sacks in 11th season (ranks fourth among active players with 105.5 sacks)
Julius Thomas TE Denver Broncos Portland State second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to last season
Kendall Wright WR Tennessee Titans Baylor rookie has team-high 42 pass receptions (for 381 yards and three touchdowns/long of 35 yards)

Not One-Dimensional: Cooper & Wolters Could Lead League in Scoring & Assists

If they pace their respective conferences in scoring and assists, Ohio University's D.J. Cooper (Mid-American) and South Dakota State's Nate Wolters (Summit League) are among the striking number of mid-major players who could become All-Americans this season by guiding their schools back to the NCAA playoffs. Wolters became SDSU's all-time leading scorer in mid-season and Cooper became the first player in NCAA history to amass 2,000 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds and 300 steals.

Finishing atop a league in scoring and assists has happened more often than one might think at first glance. Louisiana State's Pete Maravich, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer when he averaged more than 43 points per contest each of three years, also paced the SEC in assists with 6.3 per game as a senior in 1969-70. Houston's Rob Williams was a sophomore in 1980-81 when he topped the SWC in both scoring (25 ppg) and assists (4.9 apg).

Loyola Marymount's Keith Smith (West Coast in 1984-85 and 1985-86) and Marquette's Travis Diener (Conference USA in 2003-04 and 2004-05) twice achieved the feat. Premium NBA playmakers John Stockton (Gonzaga) and Steve Nash (Santa Clara) were among four different WCC players in this category in a 12-year span from 1984 through 1995.

Baylor's Pierre Jackson (Big 12) could become the first player to pace a power six league in scoring and assists in the same campaign since Arizona's Jason Terry in 1998-99. Following is a chronological list of guards who led a major conference in scoring average and assists in the same season since assists became an official NCAA statistic in 1983-84:

Season Scoring/Assists Leader School PPG APG Conference (Finish)
1983-84 John Stockton Gonzaga 20.9 7.1 West Coast (T4th)
1984-85 Keith Smith Loyola Marymount 25.1 5.6 West Coast (T6th)
1985-86 Keith Smith Loyola Marymount 21.0 7.0 West Coast (2nd)
1987-88 Vernell "Bimbo" Coles Virginia Tech 24.2 5.9 Metro (T3rd)
1987-88 Ken "Mouse" McFadden Cleveland State 20.5 5.9 Mid-Continent (2nd)
1988-89 Anthony Manuel Bradley 21.1 8.0 Missouri Valley (4th)
1989-90 Gary Payton Oregon State 25.7 8.1 Pacific-10 (T1st)
1990-91 Terrell Lowery Loyola Marymount 28.5 9.1 West Coast (2nd)
1992-93 Curt Smith Drake 21.1 4.6 Missouri Valley (5th)
1994-95 Steve Nash Santa Clara 20.9 6.4 West Coast (1st)
1994-95 Damon Stoudamire Arizona 22.8 7.3 Pacific-10 (2nd)
1995-96 Ira Bowman Pennsylvania 16.4 5.3 Ivy League (T1st)
1996-97 Antonio Daniels Bowling Green 23.5 6.7 Mid-American (T1st)
1996-97 Andre Woolridge Iowa 20.2 6.0 Big Ten (T2nd)
1997-98 Charles Jones Long Island 29.0 7.4 Northeast (1st)
1998-99 George "Gee" Gervin Jr. Houston 20.6 3.9 C-USA (6th/N)
1998-99 Shawnta Rogers George Washington 20.7 8.0 Atlantic 10 (1st/W)
1998-99 Jason Terry Arizona 21.9 5.5 Pacific-10 (2nd)
1999-2000 Detric Golden Troy State 17.6 5.9 Trans America (T1st)
1999-2000 Rashad Phillips Detroit 23.0 5.3 Midwestern Collegiate (3rd)
2002-03 Marques Green St. Bonaventure 21.3 8.0 Atlantic 10 (6th/E)
2003-04 Travis Diener Marquette 18.8 6.0 C-USA (8th)
2003-04 Marquis Poole Idaho State 19.0 6.0 Big Sky (T2nd)
2004-05 Travis Diener Marquette 19.7 7.0 C-USA (9th)
2005-06 Jose Juan Barea Northeastern 21.0 8.4 Colonial Athletic (5th)
2008-09 Stephen Curry Davidson 28.6 5.6 Southern (1st/S)
2008-09 Brandon Ewing Wyoming 18.5 5.0 Mountain West (6th)
2008-09 Eric Maynor Virginia Commonwealth 22.4 6.2 Colonial Athletic (2nd)

Boys Gone Wild: Rotnei Clarke Among Players Pressing the Hot Button

One of the more entertaining players this season is Butler guard Rotnei Clarke, a transfer from Arkansas who should keep the Bulldogs in the nation's hoop consciousness. Clarke, a prolific long-range bomber, went hog wild three seasons ago when he erupted for a school-record 51 points with the Razorbacks against Alcorn State.

Clarke, who could become Butler's first All-American, considered transferring to Saint Louis, where his sister was a student, but Hogs coach Mike Anderson reportedly wouldn't grant a move to SLU. Clarke is on the following list of players with differences of more than 35 points between their scoring average during a season when they established an existing Division I school single-game scoring record:

Player School Single-Game Scoring Record Season Average Difference
Paul Arizin Villanova 85 points vs. Philadelphia NAMC 22 ppg in 1948-49 63
Frank Selvy Furman 100 vs. Newberry, SC 41.7 in 1953-54 58.3
Freeman Williams Portland State 81 vs. Rocky Mountain, MT 35.9 in 1977-78 45.1
Bob Zawoluk St. John's 65 vs. St. Peter's 20.3 in 1949-50 44.7
Bill Mlkvy Temple 73 vs. Wilkes, PA 29.2 in 1950-51 43.8
Scott Haffner Evansville 65 vs. Dayton 24.5 in 1988-89 40.5
Askia Jones Kansas State 62 vs. Fresno State 22.1 in 1993-94 39.9
Mike James Lamar 52 vs. Louisiana College 12.5 in 2010-11 39.5
Robert "Bubbles" Hawkins Illinois State 58 vs. Northern Illinois 18.6 in 1973-74 39.4
Bob Kurland Oklahoma State 58 vs. St. Louis 19.5 in 1945-46 38.5
Eddie House Arizona State 61 vs. California 23 in 1999-2000 38
Oliver Morton Chattanooga 50 vs. Pikeville, KY 12.1 in 2000-01 37.9
Carlos "Bud" Ogden Santa Clara 55 vs. Pepperdine 18.5 in 1966-67 36.5
Rotnei Clarke Arkansas 51 vs. Alcorn State 15.1 in 2009-10 35.9
Tommie Johnson Central Michigan 53 vs. Wright State 17.3 in 1987-88 35.7
Matt Teahan Denver 61 vs. Nebraska Wesleyan 25.3 in 1978-79 35.7
Calvin Murphy Niagara 68 vs. Syracuse 32.4 in 1968-69 35.6
Danny Ferry Duke 58 vs. Miami (Fla.) 22.6 in 1987-88 35.4

Closing Argument: Obama Scouting Report Actually Describes Presidency

A presidential campaign, resembling life, is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster the _ _ _ _ goes. It doesn't come fast enough when, amid chronically condemning Christians, petty punditry emerges such as: "The future does not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Whether you're an adult or a dolt, it's closing argument time before getting off the pot and voting (either for revenge or love of country).

Amid self-radicalization gibberish, a problem persists that the overwhelming majority of slanted reporters, including the toy department (sports), write through a liberal prism insulting our common sense and intelligence. Thus the toughest question Social Engineer/President Barack H. Obama faced in a given year from the malpractice minions probably was an ESPN bracket racket inquiry concerning whether his alma mater (Harvard) was going to advance to the second round in NCAA basketball playoff competition. Don't you wish he would have put as much effort into meeting a budget deadline as he did in providing a bracket, accepting mulligan lessons from Tiger or hosting parties at Club Obama?

By any measure, the puff-piece enemies of illumination failed to fully vett Obama and his leftist fantasies before he became POTUS other than perhaps focusing on an alleged hoop prowess. The second time around, surrogates from Obama's campaign office and in the myopic media sounded like out-of-control fans in the stands hollering at referees, saying numerous repulsive things about opponent Mitt Romney and his intact family.

But as NBA Commissioner David Stern said in jest about Obama's basketball background: "He thinks he's better than he really is." Although probably not intentional, Stern's dispassionate assessment also summarizes Obama's presidency. At the risk of being the next U.S. citizen subject to a drone strike, following is a detailed scouting report on the hoop-loving lefty before votes were cast for his second term:

INSATIABLE URGE TO ALWAYS GO TO HIS LEFT
From Frank Marshall Davis, a member of the old Moscow-controlled Communist Party USA who was a mysterious friend and adviser while Obama was growing up in Hawaii; to his early “daze” rooming with shady Sohale Siddiqi in a drug-infested portion of NYC after visiting Siddiqi’s native country during college with other Pakistanis; to a close association with Dr. Khalid al-Mansour, a key adviser to a Saudi billionaire who mentored the founding members of the Black Panthers (alleged in a 1995 book that the U.S. was plotting genocide against black Americans); to attending a black liberation church for almost two decades under a disgraced pastor - Jeremiah Wright - who “inspired him”; to launching his first campaign for public office with a fund-raising party at the home of friends (unrepentant Weather Underground leaders William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn) whose violent guerilla group bombed the Pentagon; to employing as a state senator senior staffers who belonged to Louis Farrakhan’s controversial Nation of Islam; to having benefactors such as FBI fugitive Salman Ibrahim (Sunrise Equities fraud) and far left-wing Rabbi Arnold Wolf who even invited the “Chicago 7” to address his synagogue; to longstanding shady dealings with slumlord/convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko and purchasing a home with his help for $1.65 million; to connections with first cousin Odinga who wanted to bring Kenya under Sharia law; to gushing over Chicago pal Rashid Khalidi, a mouthpiece for master terrorist Yasser Arafat, the sheikh- and emperor-bowing disciple of Saul Alinsky (author of Rules for Radicals) seems to be most comfortable taking far-left turns with Marxists and revolutionaries boasting difficult-to-spell names plus United Nations-affiliated nut jobs seemingly straight out of the Star Wars tavern scene.

FAILS TO EXHIBIT ADEQUATE COURT LEADERSHIP
Anyone with a triple-digit IQ sizing up the parasites influencing him could discern the shameless shenanigans around the corner. Czar-loving O-bow-a catered to two-bit dictators and Hollyweird, won’t protect the border (probably since “we’re not a Christian nation”) but did take time from numerous golf outings to praise the Phoenix “Amnesty” Suns for protesting Arizona’s new immigration law, paid ACORN almost $1 million to conduct some corrupt “community organizing,” doesn’t boast sufficient courage to say the word “terrorist” but is sufficiently clever to create contrived phrases such as "workplace violence" and “man-caused disaster,” conducted a beer summit after getting “all wee wee’d up” prejudging a white police officer, aligned with the scare-tactic buffoonery of Al Bore regarding the global warming hoax, claims he’s in charge from the start of the Gulf Coast oil spill while making more long trips West campaigning for Barbara “I Work So Hard” Boxer and Dingy Harry, savaged oil companies but didn’t return the $1 million BP donated to him (also accepted similar amount from self-anointed know-it-all Bill Maher despite his genuine "War on Women"), attempted to fix elections hiding behind Sick Willie so his favorites can continue to suck on the government boob via what few jobs he did create (75 times less than food stamp growth), ran from the abortion issue because it’s “above his pay grade” and is more likely to promote the grand opening of a mosque near Ground Zero rather than attending Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day. Our fearless leader, much more concerned with illegal immigrants, gay rights and lowering flag to half-staff for singler/drug-addict Whitney Houston, failed to acknowledge the murder of an authentic hero - Chris "American Sniper" Kyle - or Christian pastor imprisoned in Iran. The "leader" of the free world knows all about the sexual preference of an NBA center averaging 1 ppg but doesn't know anything about reports of intimidating potential State Department witnesses.

GENERALLY LISTLESS PERFORMER DOESN’T DELIVER IN CLUTCH
Enlightened elitist Progressives, amused by the absence of “shovel-ready” jobs, aren’t nearly as bright as they like to portray themselves. Fawning liberals chronically convey to us that the Audacity of Hype is a super smart guy. Barry is a “genius” in the vernacular of his principal MSNBC sycophants Chrissy "Thrill Up My Leg" Matthews, Mika the Mannequin, Rachel Madcow and Al “Not So” Sharpton. And yet, for the width and breadth of such utter brilliance, Obama seems to be way above his pay grade about many things, especially when his teleprompter isn’t functioning properly. Surely, a once-in-a-lifetime Messiah would know the fact the U.S. doesn’t have 57 states; Afghans’ language isn’t Arabic; there is no language called Austrian; daughter's asthma might be triggered more his smoking than climate change; difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day; a singular bomb wasn’t dropped on Pearl Harbor; the word corpsman isn’t pronounced like a dead body; “under God” is nothing to hide from when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; distinction between Great Britain and England; would admit he was for tax cuts and reducing the national budget before he was against them; collective salvation is absurd from a Christian perspective; it’s incorrect to say Twitters and internets; his home state (Hawaii) isn’t part of Asia; priorities are screwed up if encouraging NASA to become a Muslim outreach program, and you shouldn’t make the unforgivable gaffe mistakenly identifying a fallen member of the Army as another soldier in a completely different Army unit who is alive. Unless there is some stench to hide, Ramadan-celebrating B.O. also should permit his squirreled-away college papers/academic records to see the light of day so the public could judge for themselves the dimensions of his breathtaking splendor.

KNOWS THE BASICS BUT MOST COMFORTABLE AS ROLE PLAYER
Let me be clear about the clunker lame-stream media exhibiting most of the traits of Baghdad Bob (Gibbs)! In 2008, they failed to point out Obama was devoid of executive experience but had an excess of agitator experience alongside contemptible Chicago-gang comrades Screwie Louie Farrakhan, bombastic Blago, repulsive Rahm, demented David Axel(grease) and dumb-as-a-stump Rev. Wrong. That’s probably why the community organizer became a temporary interior decorator by promptly ridding the White House of the bust of dauntless Winston Churchill, an authentic hero whose guardianship of freedom is so alien to him. The apologist-in-chief proudly proclaims that “the U.S. is not a Christian nation.” Prior to giving Solyndra preferential treatment, the only business transaction he ever conducted was a sweetheart housing deal with felon Tony Rezko. How is all that hope and change working out for us as he describes Americans as “lazy” or "clinging to their guns and religion"? We didn’t build anything. If you voted for Hopey in ’08 to prove you’ve shed your white guilt, it seems you’d have to vote for someone other than “Debt Man Walking” in ’12 to prove you’re not a village idiot worthy of earning a trip on Farrakhan’s mother ship (where vacation junkie Michelle will be a “Let’s Move (It)” stewardess forcing organic food down our palates). Rather than buckling down and exhibiting authentic leadership skills in fiscal cliff negotiations or offering a bonafide budget, the golfer-in-chief went on vacation in Hawaii, including hitting the links with a longtime pal arrested last year on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute.

BELIEVES IN DISTRIBUTION BUT MORESO FOR OTHERS THAN HIMSELF
Simplistic Demorats lecture us endlessly but are “Do As I Say; Not As I Do” when it comes to being champions of the poor. In the decade before becoming Vice Plagiarist, (Oh So Ordinary) Joe Biden gave a grand total of $3,690 to charity (0.2% of income). Now, he helps the deficit by charging the Secret Service seven times that amount in rent (to protect him and his clean-and-articulate family) for a cottage on his property. Debate prep companion Lurch Kerry gave a big fat goose egg in 1995 but did spend a half million dollars that year on a 17th-Century Dutch seascape painting. In the previous two years to that enormous disparity, however, the self-proclaimed Vietnam hero gave a staggering sum of $2,214. In 1998, Al Bore, boasting a personal carbon footprint the size of Bigfoot, gave an anemic $353 to charity. Liberal Lyin’ Ted Kennedy gave 1% of his income to charity in the decade of the ‘70s. Barack and Michelle Peron gave an average of 3.5% of their income to charity in the eight years before his presidency. Their lofty rhetoric and Ivy League educations notwithstanding, none of these charlatans apparently applies tithing to their personal lives. Meanwhile, the self-indulgent half of America paying no federal taxes is more than happy to raise taxes on the inspired half who actually prosper by getting off their royal cushion and going to work.

BLOCKS OUT FOR “REBOUNDERS” TO PICK AND ROLL (IN DOUGH)
The clueless clowns comprising OWS (really need to Occupy Water in Shower) should have been protesting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Consider the following three former Fannie Mae executives who were instrumental in disgracing Wall Street and igniting the bevy of bailouts: (1) Franklin Raines – Chairman and CEO departed with a golden parachute valued at $240 million in benefits when he was forced to retire in the wake of auditing discovering severe irregularities; (2) Tim Howard – Chief Financial Officer’s golden parachute was estimated at $20 million despite resigning under pressure for cooking the books, manipulating earnings to trigger bonuses; (3) Jim Johnson – Former executive at Lehman Brothers and Fannie Mae, who was investigated for taking illegal loans from Countrywide, received an estimated $28 million golden parachute despite hiding his compensation from the public. Where did this stench-filled trio of trash take their expertise? Raines worked for Obama’s Campaign as Chief Economic Advisor, Howard was also a Chief Economic Advisor to Obama, and Johnson, a Senior Obama Finance Advisor, was selected to run the VP Search Committee. Naturally, this doesn’t include morally bankrupt ex-N.J. governor Jon Corzine, an Obama fundraiser and alleged economic expert immersed in the MF Global scandal.

CLEARLY KNOWS NUANCES OF GAME WITH EMPHASIS ON BACKDOOR CUTS
Cutting backroom deals is his forte with an emphasis on union waivers. Do you think a pardon is already in the works for fellow Chicagoan Jesse Jackson Jr. if one is necessary after he cost taxpayers more than $5 million to fill his spot with the timing of his suspect resignation from Congress? Moreover, Obama never stands up to race baiters such as the 95% Diversity President Al Sharptongue. Devoid of heart, august POTUS simply looks the other way while a plantation potentate practices soft racism of low expectations. Simply overlook Sharptongue’s history as described by the lovely and gracious Ann Coulter: In addition to libeling innocent men in the Tawana Brawley hoax, ginning up angry mobs outside the Central Park jogger’s rapists’ trial, inciting throngs after an auto accident in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood killed a black child and a rabbinical student was stabbed to death, Sharptongue famously ignited an anti-Semitic protest against a Jewish-owned clothing store in Harlem, saying, “We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business.” Someone who was listening to Sharptongue later decided to storm the store and start shooting, wounding several employees, and setting a fire killing seven people. Nevertheless, the lame-stream media generally and MSNBC specifically frequently parade out “Resist We Much!” as an “expert” when commenting on civil discourse.

PLAYS MATADOR DEFENSE WITH OBSESSION FOR BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE
If George W. can’t be affixed with fault for SuperStorm Sandy amid everything else, Obama will find someone in a "fast and furious" fashion to serve as fall guy after securing his photo op. A classic example of the blame game was when the feds were more concerned with detaining some obscure producer of an anti-Islamic film making light of the prophet Mohammed. At least they didn't pull out the workplace-violence card again. Meanwhile, the stonewalling Obama Administration - either grossly incompetent or immersed in "crude and disgusting" fraud - dealt with a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, by shamelessly standing in front of caskets at an airport hangar (plus the White House press corps, the U.N. and national politically-oriented shows such as Meet the Depressed) offering an orchestrated narrative claiming the nondescript video was responsible for a spontaneous murder of the American ambassador and three other Americans. Unbelievably, a Navy SEAL among the deceased violated stand-down orders to help save numerous individuals at the death-trap embassy and then fought the terrorists for seven hours while his pleas for backup at a nearby annex were ignored by government officials real-time watching events unfold. Weeks later, the apologist-in-chief and cowardly cronies were still striving to supply a cogent response to their deflect-and-deny sacrificial inaction. Where's a photo of the vaunted Obama Team deliberating during the Benghazi attack before rescue troops were told to "stand down"? Bracing for a cross-country campaign trip, did "That's Not What We Do" go to bed while brave Americans were savaged? If not, then be transparent enough to at least conduct a stand-up, man-up press conference detailing what you did do (other than dispatching a "Damsel in Distress" who allegedly didn't know as much about the topic as a general's mistress); not just cozy up to David Letterman and be charm-offensive "eye candy" for The View vixens. Surely, he and his dignified cohorts didn't indefensibly throw lives in the trash akin to late-term abortions. Barry, buttressed by Roman columns, was hailed as a savior but emphasizes selective salvation when it came to "punishing" children he wasn't hiding behind. Planned Murderhood notwithstanding, he proclaimed "if there's a step we can take to save even one child, we should take that step."

There are ample reasons why the majority of Americans fail to have confidence in a biased mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly. The major TV networks and two principal liberal rags (New York Slimes and Washington Compost) refused to give coverage to a Fox News report acknowledging the Obama Administration denied aid multiple times to Americans attacked and murdered by terrorists in Benghazi on September 11 of all days. If they withheld evidence (such as emails from the National Security Advisor's office telling a counter-terrorism unit to stand down), they're as corrupt in a cover-up as the administration's self-righteous Siskel & Ebert wannabees more concerned with muzzling Benghazi survivors than transparency with the public.

Why didn't the lapdog media do its job and press the issue providing accountable answers to the many questions accuring about what precisely occurred in the Celebrity-in-Chief's chamber? Why do the vast majority of them remain so disinterested in pursuing the litany of "jaw-dropping" misstatements and dissembling regarding what was known before and after the Benghazi attack? It wasn't because the misfit media was too busy prepping for coverage of the capital case carnage in the Dr. Gosnell abortion trial.

Al Jazeera is more objective in its coverage of U.S. politics than incestuous ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and CNN. In an effort to help the inept media shine the light of truth on the Benghazi bungling and scrubbed talking points, following are some basic "who/what/when/why/where" questions for which the public deserves answers:
* Who first concocted "the (misleading) spontaneous reaction" to a YouTube video explanation for the attack (framed before the final two deaths) and did the same individual help orchestrate a coordinated response at various venues in the days and weeks immediately following said attack?
* What portion of the entire 7 1/2 hours of the attack did POTUS himself spend in the Situation Room and was he directly involved with multiple "stand-down" orders while the attacks were in place?
* When precisely did POTUS and/or his national security staff first become aware that an attack was underway at the Benghazi compound?
* Why was the Obama Administration's response so lax despite an unmanned drone providing real-time live video feed of the scene?
* Where is evidence of the "Betray Us" administration's responses to repeated pleas to strengthen security for Americans in Libya, not only from the State Department security chief and man on the ground in charge of security, but from the ambassador?

In the previous election cycle, NBC's slobbering Brian "Save the Tin Foil" Williams, the self-proclaimed patriot, was fond of displaying adoring news magazine "halo" covers to Obama and then asking him if his mother would have liked the image. Since Williams is in dire need of a drool bucket, perhaps one of his counterparts who isn't certified Obama Orgasmic should brandish photos of the murdered Americans in front of POTUS and ask him if he sleeps well at night knowing he did everything humanly possible before and during the attack to protect and help these hero sons of steadfast mothers. The Messiah could also be asked what did give-me-a-break Shrillary Rotten mean when the former Secretary of State callously said during testimony: "What difference does it make?" Despite not being interviewed by the review board, the difference could be a little candor to the country's citizens vs. cover-up deception with much of the media serving as corrupt accomplices.

Dan Rather's blather at CBS frequently ended with some inane reference to "courage." Was that a trait exhibited by CBS when it concealed footage for an extended period from a 60 Minutes interview with Obama where he clearly refused to categorize the Benghazi attack as an act of terror? Of course, curious George Stephanopoulos is deemed a journalistic jewel by ABC after earning his spurs as a political hack for the petulant Clintons disparaging one female after another. Is this the best and most honest our country can produce in the newsrooms and Oval Office? In helping "educate" the public before election day, all we could expect from the courageous "never-seen-you-lose" media was something like: "Will Harvard return to the NCAA Tournament this season?"

The biggest loser over the last couple of election cycles is the mangy media serving as little more than the Praetorian Guard for liberal lunacy praising Planned Parenthood and its accompanying murders of innocent babies while smearing whistleblowers crestfallen over the murders of innocent colleagues. As shamelessly one-sided as conservaties have asserted for years, excessive media malpractice finally discarded the pretense of objectivity. The good news is that the influence-peddling gig for broadcast networks, major daily newspapers and newsweeklies is nearly expired because the less-than-honest brokers are gutless wonders shackled by a business model in free-fall. Good riddance to the fourth-rate estate and don't let death's door hit you in your contemptible can on the way out!

Low Balling: Numerous Conference Single-Season Scoring Leaders Bottom Out

Where have all the big-time scorers gone? Can anyone really shoot the ball anymore? A total of 21 current and defunct NCAA Division I conferences in the previous 13 seasons posted an all-time low for their top point producer, including seven last year. Let's hope players start spending more time practicing their shooting than their flash-dance dunking and in the tattoo parlor.

The lowest scoring average by a DI conference champion in the last 50 years was 15.2 ppg by Southern Utah's Sean Allen in the American West in 1994-95. Following are the lowest scoring averages to lead a major conference, including defunct leagues, in the last 65-plus years since the end of World War II:

Conference Scoring Leader Class School Average Season
America East T.J. Sorrentine Soph. Vermont 18.8 ppg 2001-02
American South Kevin Brooks Sr. Southwestern Louisiana 21.2 ppg 1990-91
American West Sean Allen Sr. Southern Utah 15.2 ppg 1994-95
Atlantic Coast John Richter Sr. North Carolina State 17.0 ppg 1958-59
Atlantic Sun Torrey Craig Soph. South Carolina Upstate 16.4 ppg 2011-12
Atlantic 10 Mark Jones Jr. St. Bonaventure 18.0 ppg 1981-82
Big East* Kevin Jones Sr. West Virginia 19.0 ppg 2011-12
Big Eight* Claude Retherford Sr. Nebraska 12.4 ppg 1948-49
Big Sky Jermaine Boyette Jr. Weber State 17.1 ppg 2001-02
Big South Dustin Van Weerdhuizen Jr. High Point 16.5 ppg 2001-02
Big Ten* Bob Cook Jr. Wisconsin 15.6 ppg 1946-47
Big 12 Marcus Fizer Soph. Iowa State 18.0 ppg 1998-99
Big West Ralph Holmes Sr. Cal State Fullerton 16.9 ppg 2004-05
Border Hank Decker Jr. West Texas 12.9 ppg 1945-46
Colonial Athletic George Evans Soph. George Mason 17.2 ppg 1998-99
Conference USA Will Barton Soph. Memphis 18.0 ppg 2011-12
East Coast Doug Mills Sr. Hofstra 16.6 ppg 1983-84
Great Midwest Elbert Rogers Sr. UAB 20.4 ppg 1991-92
Great West Isiah Williams Sr. Utah Valley 16.4 ppg 2011-12
Gulf Star Terry Butler Sr. Southeastern Louisiana 16.5 ppg 1986-87
Horizon League Kendrick Perry Soph. Youngstown State 16.8 ppg 2011-12
Ivy League* John Rockwell Sr. Harvard 15.8 ppg 1949-50
Metro Jerald Honeycutt Sr. Tulane 17.3 ppg 1994-95
Metro Atlantic Athletic Mikkel Larsen Jr. Iona 17.5 ppg 1994-95
Mid-American Joe Shaw Jr. Western Michigan 14.5 ppg 1950-51
Mid-Eastern Athletic Sean Booker Soph. North Carolina A&T 16.1 ppg 2004-05
Missouri Valley Ed Macauley Jr. St. Louis 13.6 ppg 1947-48
Mountain States Jack Hauser Fr. Denver 14.0 ppg 1946-47
Mountain West Brandon Ewing Jr. Wyoming 17.2 ppg 2007-08
Northeast James Feldeine Jr. Quinnipiac 17.0 ppg 2008-09
Ohio Valley Jack Coleman Sr. Louisville 14.7 ppg 1948-49
Pac-12* Andy Wolfe Soph. California 14.8 ppg 1945-46
Patriot League Austen Rowland Sr. Lehigh 15.5 ppg 2003-04
Rocky Mountain Boyd DeTonacour Jr. Montana State 10.5 ppg 1946-47
Southeastern Jim Nolan Fr. Georgia Tech 14.6 ppg 1945-46
Southern Jarvis Hayes Fr. Western Carolina 17.1 ppg 1999-2000
Southland Nate Bowie Sr. Central Arkansas 17.5 ppg 2007-08
Southwest Joe McDermott Sr. Rice 14.7 ppg 1950-51
Southwestern Athletic Trant Simpson Soph. Alabama A&M 15.5 ppg 2007-08
Summit League Kenyatta Clyde Sr. Southern Utah 16.6 ppg 1998-99
Sun Belt DeJuan Wright Sr. Florida International 16.7 ppg 2011-12
West Coast Noah Hartsock Sr. Brigham Young 16.8 ppg 2011-12
Western Athletic Josh Grant Sr. Utah 17.3 ppg 1992-93
Yankee Ken Goodwin Jr. Rhode Island 16.7 ppg 1947-48

*Big East, Big Eight, Big Ten, Ivy League and Pac-12 figures are for conference games only.

NFL Basketball Report: Week 9 Update on Active Players Who Were College Hoopsters

The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as the NFL Basketball Report. The hoop headliner recently was wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who had a 95-yard pass reception and run for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints.

Elsewhere, veteran tight end, Tony Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is having a splendid season with the unbeaten Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez led his team in pass receptions much of the campaign comparable to Jackson and fellow ex-college hoopster Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans).

Regal receiver Terrell Owens (1995 NCAA playoffs with Chattanooga) didn't have a chance to test the patience of replacement officials early this season because he is no longer on an NFL roster. But the league still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:

Player Pos. NFL Team College(s) Summary of 2012 NFL Season
Connor Barwin OLB Houston Texans Cincinnati 16 tackles (14 solo/2 assists) in fourth season but only one sack (after 11 1/2 last year)
Demetress Bell LOT Philadelphia Eagles Northwestern State newcomer after signing 5-year deal in off-season following 30 starts with Buffalo Bills the previous three seasons
Jordan Cameron TE Cleveland Browns Brigham Young/Southern California 12 pass receptions for 140 yards (long of 23) in second campaign
Demar Dotson RT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Southern Mississippi 6-9 lineman is a starter in fourth season
London Fletcher ILB Washington Redskins Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH team-high 65 tackles (38 solo/27 assists) plus one fumble recovery, one sack and one interception in 15th season
Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers Kent State 21 pass receptions for 238 yards (long of 33) and two touchdowns in 10th year
Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons California team-high 46 pass receptions for 459 yards (long of 25) and four touchdowns in 16th campaign
Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints Miami, FL third-year pro has 30 pass receptions for 315 yards (long of 24) and four touchdowns
Todd Heap TE Arizona Cardinals Arizona State long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28) in 12th season
Vincent Jackson WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers Northern Colorado team highs of 29 receptions, 626 yards (long of 95) and five touchdowns in eighth campaign
Evan Moore TE Seattle Seahawks Stanford first season in NW for third-stringer after three years with the Cleveland Browns, including four touchdowns in 2011
Julius Peppers RDE Chicago Bears North Carolina 14 tackles (10 solo/four assists) and team-high 5 sacks in 11th season
Julius Thomas TE Denver Broncos Portland State second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to last season
Kendall Wright WR Tennessee Titans Baylor rookie has team-high 40 pass receptions (for 351 yards and three touchdowns/long of 35 yards)

Dual Role: Bucknell's Muscala Could Join Distinguished List of Champions

Senior Mike Muscala (Bucknell in Patriot League), after pacing regular-season league titlists in scoring and rebounding the previous two years, could rub shoulders with some of the premier players in NCAA history if he achieves the feat a third time. Following is a chronological list of 18 players who led major conference regular-season champions in scoring and rebounding for three consecutive campaigns in the last 60 years:

Scoring/Rebounding Leader School Conference League Mark Three-Year Run of Titles
Art Quimby Connecticut Yankee 19-1 1953 through 1955
Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Missouri Valley 39-3 1958 through 1960
Jerry Lucas Ohio State Big Ten 40-2 1960 through 1962
Billy McGill Utah Mountain States 38-4 1960 through 1962
Bill Bradley Princeton Ivy League 36-6 1963 through 1965
Ollie Johnson San Francisco West Coast Athletic 35-3 1963 through 1965
Lew Alcindor UCLA AAWU/Pacific-8 41-1 1967 through 1969
Willie Sojourner Weber State Big Sky 39-5 1969 through 1971
Bill Walton UCLA Pacific-8 40-2 1972 through 1974
Reggie Lewis Northeastern North Atlantic 46-6 1985 through 1987
David Robinson Navy ECAC South/Colonial Athletic 37-5 1985 through 1987
Lionel Simmons La Salle Metro Atlantic Athletic 43-1 1988 through 1990
Kit Mueller Princeton Ivy League 36-6 1989 through 1991
Ronald "Popeye" Jones Murray State Ohio Valley 31-7 1990 through 1992
Keith Van Horn Utah Western Athletic 45-7 1995 through 1997
Nick Fazekas Nevada Western Athletic 43-7 2005 through 2007
Caleb Green Oral Roberts Mid-Continent 38-8 2005 through 2007
Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina Atlantic Coast 38-10 2007 through 2009

Series-ous College Hoopsters: From Hoop Dreams to Field of Dreams

Numerous universities have had versatile athletes who played college basketball before going on to major league baseball careers. While many single-minded basketball fans are assessing polls and rankings in preseason hoop magazines and websites, here is an incisive "Who Am I?" quiz for well-rounded basketball/baseball fans that will take a toll on their memories as they try to recall World Series participants, including former members of the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants, who played varsity basketball for a current NCAA Division I college.

Keep your chin up if you need relief answering the following questions because they're almost as difficult as the Tigers keeping the Giants' Panda in the park in Game 1:

I was a 13-year major league second baseman who set several fielding records and played in the 1967 World Series with the Boston Red Sox after ranking among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters both of my college basketball seasons with Oklahoma State. Who am I? Jerry Adair

I was a 17-year first baseman who hit four homers and a double in a single game and played in back-to-back World Series with the Milwaukee Braves after being LSU's leading scorer (18.6 points per game) for the Tigers' 1945-46 team that compiled an 18-3 record and lost against Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference Tournament final. Who am I? Joe Adcock

I was a 10-year pitcher who led the A.L. in winning percentage in 1935 with an 18-7 record (.720) for the World Series-bound Detroit Tigers after I was named to the first five on an all-conference basketball team in my final season at Kansas State. I was a submariner who hurled a complete game victory in a 10-4 verdict over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the '34 Series before losing Game 7 to Dizzy Dean. Who am I? Eldon Auker

I was a shortstop who participated in five World Series, four with the champion, in a six-year span from 1910 through 1915 after earning a basketball letter for Holy Cross in 1908. Who am I? John "Jack" Barry

I was a rookie pitcher in 1978 with the New York Yankees who went the distance for the first time in my major league career in a Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. I was a 6-5 forward who averaged 14.3 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game for Dartmouth in 1974-75 when I was selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League. Who am I? Jim Beattie

I was a catcher who appeared in back-to-back World Series with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928) after being a basketball letterman for Niagara from 1916-17 through 1918-19. Who am I? Bernard "Benny" Bengough

I was an outfielder who, during my 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit a double in the 1925 World Series to help them become the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a seven-game series. I played with my brother on Oregon's basketball squad before we briefly played alongside each other with the Pirates. Who am I? Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee

I was a player-manager who earned American League MVP honors in leading the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 World Series after being the top scorer for an Illinois team that shared a Big Ten basketball title. Who am I? Lou Boudreau

I was a pitcher who appeared in the 1947 and 1949 World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers after notching 21-12 and 13-5 won-loss marks, respectively, following a basketball career at NYU, where I was the Violets' sixth-leading scorer in 1943-44 with an average of 3.8 points per game. Major league player and manager Bobby Valentine is my son-in-law. Who am I? Ralph Branca

I was a 12-year outfielder who played in three World Series with the New York Yankees and hit 38 home runs in one season with Kansas City after finishing my college basketball career ranking fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list. Who am I? Bob Cerv

I posted a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Giants in the 1912 World Series after being a two-year basketball letterman with Vermont. Who am I? Ray Collins

I am a three-time All-Star Game performer who pitched in the 1957 World Series for the Milwaukee Braves after being an All-Pacific Coast Conference first-team selection in 1949-50 when the 6-7 sophomore center led Washington State and the PCC North Division in scoring (13.3 points per game). Who am I? Gene Conley

I hit .323 in three World Series (1948 with Boston Braves; 1951 and 1954 with New York Giants). Member of LSU's 1942-43 basketball squad before entering military service (Marine Corps V-12 program) during World War II. Known as the "Swamp Fox," I was a five-sport letterman with Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now Louisiana-Lafayette) during 1943-44. Who am I? Alvin Dark

I led N.L. outfielders in putouts three years and hit near or over .300 for three St. Louis Cardinal pennant winners (1926, 1928 and 1930) after lettering three seasons in basketball for California. Who am I? Taylor Douthit

I was a 10-year utility infielder who saw action in two World Series games in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox after averaging seven points per contest as a 5-9 starting guard for Indiana in 1951-52. Who am I? Sammy Esposito

I was a catcher who appeared in two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1974 and 1978). Pacific teammate of All-American Keith Swagerty averaged 3.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 1965-66 and 1966-67 under coach Dick Edwards, scoring two points against eventual NCAA champion UCLA in the 1967 West Regional final. Who am I? Joe Ferguson

I led the A.L. in won-loss percentage in 1946 with a 25-6 mark before pitching a shutout in Game 3 of the World Series for the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals after being a basketball letterman for Mississippi State in 1940-41. Who am I? Boo Ferriss

I was a lefthanded hitting backup outfielder who participated in the 1929 World Series with the Philadelphia Athletics after being a basketball letterman for Army's 18-5 team in 1921. Who am I? Walter French

I wasa righthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1980 World Series with the Kansas City Royals after leading New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76. Who am I? Rich Gale

I was a first baseman-outfielder who hit 103 major league homers and pinch hit four times for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series after earning a letter with Temple's basketball team in 1948-49 when I averaged 2.7 points per game. Who am I? Dick Gernert

I was a lefthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1960 World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates after finishing my four-year college career as Mississippi's leader in career scoring and rebounds following a senior season when my scoring average was higher than first-team All-Americans Elgin Baylor (Seattle) and Wilt Chamberlain (Kansas). Who am I? Joe Gibbon

I am a Hall of Fame pitcher who set a record with 17 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers in my third World Series in five years after becoming the first player in Creighton history to average at least 20 points per game in a career. Who am I? Bob Gibson

I am an eight-time All-Star Game shortstop who started for World Series championship teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 and St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 after twice ranking among the top four scorers in the country with Duke. Who am I? Dick Groat

I was a perennial All-Star outfielder with multiple Gold Gloves and N.L. batting titles who sparked the San Diego Padres to two World Series (1984 and 1998) after being a two-time All-WAC second-team selection as a San Diego State guard who led the league in assists as a sophomore and junior. Who am I? Tony Gwynn

I was a three-time All-Star catcher who played in the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants (swatted a two-run homer off Hall of Famer Whitey Ford of the Yankees in Game Four) after playing as a backup forward for Illinois' basketball squad as a sophomore (1956-57) and junior (1957-58). Who am I? Tom Haller

I was a 12-year lefthanded reliever who appeared in back-to-back World Series with the New York Yankees after being a 6-7 Morehead State forward-center who ranked 15th in the country in scoring as a junior (24.2 ppg) and among the nation's top 10 rebounders as a senior (19.1 rpg). Who am I? Steve Hamilton

I was a 12-year lefthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1989 World Series with the San Francisco Giants after being a 6-2 guard who averaged 5.3 points per game as a freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as a sophomore in 1977-78 for East Tennessee State. Who am I? Atlee Hammaker

I was a first baseman-outfielder who participated in the 1942 World Series with the New York Yankees after playing for Manhattan basketball teams that won a school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931. Who am I? John "Buddy" Hassett

I was a lefthanded hitting utilityman who participated as a rookie with the New York Yankees in the 1923 World Series against the New York Giants after being a basketball letterman for Vanderbilt in 1918. Who am I? Harvey Hendrick

I was a 10-year pitcher who hurled four shutout innings as the fourth-game starter for the New York Yankees in the 1939 World Series after being a basketball All-American for Butler. I was named to the first A.L. All-Star team in 1933. Who am I? Oral Hildebrand

I was a 16-year first baseman/outfielder who homered in Game 4 of the 1963 World Series to help the Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the New York Yankees and twice led the A.L. in homers after leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding as a junior and senior. Who am I? Frank Howard

I was a 13-year infielder who slugged 43 of my 136 career homers for the Atlanta Braves in 1973 after appearing in four World Series with the Baltimore Orioles (1966, 1969, 1970 and 1971). I averaged 1.7 points per game as a sophomore in my only varsity basketball season (1961-62) with Texas A&M before signing a pro baseball contract. Who am I? Dave Johnson

I was a 13-year outfielder who hit .306 for the New York Yankees in 19 World Series games after being a three- year basketball letterman for Maryland. Who am I? Charlie Keller

I was a Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher who became N.L. MVP but lost the 1950 World Series opener to the New York Yankees as a starter, 1-0, after playing two seasons for Syracuse basketball teams. Who am I? Jim Konstanty

I began my rookie year with the Chicago Cubs by winning nine of my first 10 decisions before becoming a reliever for the 1969 Amazin' Mets World Series champion. I was a standout basketball player for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when the North Carolina-based school was a junior college. Who am I? Cal Koonce

I was an infielder-outfielder who hit .303 in my 15-year career. When I was with the Detroit Tigers, I led the A.L. in batting average once (.353 in 1959), hits four times (209 in 1953 when he was rookie of the year, 201 in 1954, 196 in 1956 and 198 in 1959) and doubles on three occasions (38 in 1955, 39 in 1958 and 42 in 1959) before appearing in the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants. I managed the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series. I played in five games for Wisconsin's basketball team in the 1951-52 season. Who am I? Harvey Kuenn

I was a three-time All-Star outfielder who posted a .331 average with 22 HRs and 107 RBI in my first full season with the New York Giants in 1935 before appearing in the World Series in 1936 and 1937. I had two hits in a six- run second inning of Game Four in the Giants' lone victory against the New York Yankees in 1937 after scoring 16 points in nine basketball games for Arizona in 1931. Who am I? Hank Leiber

I am an outfielder who led the A.L. in stolen bases, a record for an A.L. rookie, and appeared in the World Series with three different teams (Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants) after setting Arizona basketball records for steals in a season and career. Who am I? Kenny Lofton

I was a 12-year infielder who played in the 1957 and 1958 World Series with the New York Yankees after being a member of Southwest Missouri State squads that won 1952 and 1953 NAIA Tournament titles. Who am I? Jerry Lumpe

I was a lefthanded outfielder who appeared in 1943 World Series for the New York Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals after being a basketball letterman with William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38. Who am I? Arthur "Bud" Metheny

I was a Gold Glove left fielder in 1960 between participating in two World Series with the Dodgers (1959 and 1965) after averaging 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50. Who am I? Wally Moon

I was a righthander who appeared in 1934 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals' Gas House Gang against the Detroit Tigers. I was an all-around athlete at East Tennessee State. Who am I? Jim Mooney

I was an infielder who hit .303 with the Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox in 17 A.L. seasons from 1925 through 1941, participating in two World Series (1925 and 1933). I was a basketball letterman for Mississippi State in 1923-24. Who am I? Charles "Buddy" Myer

I was a five-time All-Star who holds the A.L. record for most homers by a third baseman (319), but was homerless in five World Series (four with the New York Yankees and one with the San Diego Padres). The highlight of my career was four dazzling stops in Game Three of the 1978 World Series to help the Yankees win their first of four consecutive games. I averaged 5.3 points per game while earning basketball letters in my hometown for San Diego State in 1963-64 and 1964-65, shooting 87.8 percent from the free-throw line (36 of 41) as a sophomore. Who am I? Graig Nettles

I was a 19-year pitcher who appeared in two World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies after averaging 18.9 points and 14.3 rebounds in three varsity basketball seasons with Notre Dame. Who am I? Ron Reed

I was a catcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 and 1968 World Series. I led Duquesne in scoring in my senior season with a 17.9 average in 1956-57 when I finished fourth in the nation in free-throw percentage (86.2). As a sophomore, I was a starter for an NIT championship team that compiled a 22-4 record and finished sixth in the final AP poll. Who am I? Dave Ricketts

I appeared in 1915 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies en route to becoming the N.L.'s winningest lefthanded pitcher until Warren Spahn broke my record. I earned basketball letters with Virginia in 1911-12 and 1913-14. Who am I? Eppa Rixey Jr.

I am a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a 20-game winner for six consecutive seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies after leading Michigan State in field-goal percentage as a junior captain. In 1950, I lost my only World Series start, 2-1, when the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio homered off me in the 10th inning. Who am I? Robin Roberts

I am a Hall of Fame infielder who was a regular for six National League pennant winners after compiling league- high scoring averages in both of my seasons with UCLA. I collected two homers and seven doubles in World Series competition for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Who am I? Jackie Robinson

I was a four-time All-Star third baseman with the New York Yankees who appeared in six of the seven World Series from 1936 through 1942. I managed the Detroit Tigers after being a head basketball coach at Yale and with the Toronto Huskies of the Basketball Association of America. I played in a handful of basketball games for Dartmouth. Who am I? Robert "Red" Rolfe

I was a New York Yankees lefthander who registered a pair of 2-1 World Series victories (over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941 and St. Louis Cardinals in 1943) after playing for two of the premier teams in college basketball history when LIU went 24-2 in 1934-35 and 26-0 in 1935-36. I was named to the first five on the Metropolitan New York Basketball Writers Association All-Star Team after the undefeated season. Who am I? Marius Russo

I pitched in two World Series games for the New York Yankees in 1964 after being a 6-4 sophomore forward who averaged 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for Connecticut's NCAA Tournament team in 1959-60. Who am I? Rollie Sheldon

I was a three-time All-Star first baseman-outfielder who played in the 1956 and 1958 World Series with the New York Yankees and 1967 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. I was a member of Southwest Missouri State squads that won back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953. Who am I? Norm Siebern

I was an infielder-outfielder who batted .319 or better in 12 of 14 major league seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs from 1921 through 1934. In 1927, my first full season with the Cubs, I led the N.L. with 46 doubles. In the Cubs' 1929 pennant-winning season, I combined with Hall of Famers Kiki Cuyler and Hack Wilson to become the first outfield in N.L. history to have each starter finish with more than 100 RBI. I hit .378 in nine World Series games with the Cubs in 1929 and 1932 after being a guard who earned a basketball letter with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1920. Who am I? Riggs Stephenson

I was a 10-year switch-hitting utilityman who played in the 1970 World Series with the Cincinnati Reds. I was an all-conference selection both years when I finished third in scoring for Austin Peay teams in 1959-60 (11.5 points per game) and 1960-61 (10.4 ppg) that participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Who am I? Jimmy Stewart

I was a 13-year veteran who appeared in 485 major league games, all as a reliever, and won a 1979 World Series game with the Baltimore Orioles after being a starting forward opposite national player of the year David Thompson of North Carolina State for an NCAA basketball champion. Who am I? Tim Stoddard

I was a lefthander who led the N.L. in won-loss percentage in 1973 (12-3 mark with the New York Mets) before appearing in the World Series and notching a save in Game 2 against the Oakland A's. Basketball letterman for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66 (averaged 14.7 ppg as teammate of noted women's coach Leon Barmore). Who am I? George Stone

I was a lefthanded swinging catcher-utilityman who participated in 1940 World Series with the Detroit Tigers after being a basketball letterman for Portland in the late 1920s. Who am I? Billy Sullivan

I was an 11-year infielder who led the A.L. in stolen bases three times and hit .326 in the World Series for back-to-back N.L. pennant winners with the Cincinnati Reds after becoming the first Duke player to earn All- American honors in basketball. I was the initial player to bat in a televised major league game (Reds vs. Brooklyn on August 26, 1939) and the only player ever to hit four consecutive doubles in a game in both leagues. Who am I? Billy Werber

I was an outfielder who played in 12 All-Star Games and had over 3,000 career hits after playing the entire game for Minnesota in the Gophers' first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972. I participated in the World Series with the New York Yankees (1981) and Toronto Blue Jays (1992). Who am I? Dave Winfield

Bo Knows Player Development: UW Coach Ryan Turns Scars Into Stars

Has there ever been a coach in an elite "Power 6" league with a consistent track record for dramatic player development anywhere close to matching Wisconsin's Bo Ryan? In the next couple of years, Jared Berggren (1.1 ppg in 2009-10), Zach Bohannon (2.2 in 2009-10 with Air Force before transferring), Mike Bruesewitz (1.1 in 2009-10), Ben Brust (0.7 in 2010-11) and Frank Kaminsky (1.8 in 2011-12) could join the following chronological list of Badgers who became All-Big Ten Conference selections under Ryan after averaging fewer than three points per game as a freshman:

Kammron Taylor (1.2 ppg in 2003-04)
Michael Flowers (1.2 ppg in 2004-05)
Trevon Hughes (1.4 ppg in 2006-07)
Jon Leuer (2.9 ppg in 2007-08)
Jordan Taylor (1.6 ppg in 2008-09)

Is it any wonder that Wisconsin won 50 consecutive contests under Ryan when the Badgers were ahead or tied with five minutes remaining in regulation? They never finished lower than fourth place in the Big Ten standings in his first 12 years at their helm. There is no satisfactory explanation why neither Ryan nor Billy Donovan, who directed Florida to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, have ever been named national coach of the year.

I'll Be Back! Schools Come Full Circle Returning to Old Stomping Grounds

Dominoes seem to fall every time a school seeks greener pastures. The Ivy League is the only Division I conference to remain intact since the late 1980s.

Oddly, some schools such as Boise State (Big West), Charlotte (C-USA), Georgia State (Sun Belt), Idaho (Big Sky), Pacific (West Coast) and San Diego State (Big West) are going full circle and returning to leagues where they previously were members. They join the following institutions that re-enlisted with a conference after leaving for various durations:

School DI Conference (Membership Tenure) School Status During Interim
Boise State Big West (1997-2001 and will rejoin in 2014) WAC (2002-11) and Mountain West (2012 and 2013)
Campbell Big South (1986-94 and since 2012) TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1995-2011)
Charlotte Conference USA (1996-2005 and wll rejoin in 2014) Atlantic 10 (2006-13)
Creighton Missouri Valley (1929-48 and since 1978) Independent
Davidson Southern (1937-88 and since 1993) Big South (1991 and 1992)
Drake Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957) Independent
Duquesne Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) Midwestern Collegiate (1993)
Georgia State Sun Belt (1977-81 and will rejoin in 2014) TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1985-2005) and CAA (2006-13)
Harvard EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934) Independent
Idaho Big Sky (1964-96 and since 2014) Big West (1997-2005) and WAC (2006-13)
Lamar Southland (1969-87 and since 1999) American South (1988-91) and Sun Belt (1992-98)
Murray State Ohio Valley (since 1949 except for 1962) Independent
New Orleans Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2010) Independent and American South (1988-91)
Northern Illinois Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) Mid-Continent (1991-94) and Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97)
Oregon Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) Independent
Oregon State Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) Independent
Pacific WCAC/West Coast (1953-71 and will rejoin in 2014) PCAA/Big West (1972-2013)
Penn State Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91) Independent
Prairie View A&M SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991) Discontinued program one season
San Diego State Big West (1970-78 and will rejoin in 2014) WAC (1979-99) and Mountain West (2000-13)
Washington State Pacific Coast (1917-59 and since 1964) Independent

Dynamic Debuts: ORU Aspires to Become 2nd School to Win SLC in First Year

Oral Roberts, after winning the Summit League regular-season title last season in its conference swan song, is a favorite to achieve the same feat as a new member of the Southland Conference this year. An outsider might be unsure if it's a sufficiently charismatic request warranting inclusion at the on-campus 200-foot prayer tower. But it won't be a miracle if ORU reaches the NCAA playoffs in 2013.

ORU could become the fifth school in the last 30 years to capture a regular-season conference championship in their inaugural campaign as a member after joining an existing league following their departure from another DI alliance. Texas-San Antonio went unbeaten in the SLC in 1991-92 when it was one of four titlists as a league newcomer.

Arkansas is the only school in this category to capture a power conference title (1992 in SEC after winning SWC in 1991). Following is a chronological list of schools capturing a regular-season league crown in their initial year as a member after joining an existing conference following their departure from another loop:

Newcomer Titlist Conference First Season League Previous Year Finish
La Salle* Metro Atlantic Athletic 1983-84 East Coast-East T1st
Arkansas SEC-Western 1991-92 Southwest 1st
Delaware North Atlantic 1991-92 East Coast 2nd
Louisiana Tech Sun Belt 1991-92 American South 3rd
Texas-San Antonio Southland 1991-92 Trans America Athletic 1st
Rider Northeast 1992-93 East Coast T2nd
Towson State Big South 1992-93 East Coast T2nd
Virginia Commonwealth Colonial Athletic 1995-96 Metro 7th
Virginia Tech* Atlantic 10-West 1995-96 Metro T4th
College of Charleston Southern 1998-99 Trans America Athletic-East 1st
Maryland-Baltimore County Northeast 1998-99 Big South 3rd
American University Patriot League 2001-02 Colonial Athletic 9th
Louisiana-Monroe* Sun Belt-West 2006-07 Southland T8th

*Tied for first place.

Rare Error: Big Blue Nation Can't Always Brag About Blueblood Recruits

Kentucky has had a series of regal recruiting classes, including one arriving in 2013-14. But the Wildcats' prize prospects don't always live up to billing. Following are six McDonald's All-Americans who averaged less than seven points per game in their UK careers:

Year McDonald's All-American UK Career Scoring Average
1978 Chuck Verderber 5.7 ppg
1980 Bret Bearup 3.6 ppg
1983 James Blackmon 6.8 ppg
1984 Cedric Jenkins 2.5 ppg
1984 Richard Madison 5.5 ppg
1999 Marvin Stone* 5.3 ppg

*Transferred to Louisville.

Flip Chart: Presseys Could Become Ninth Set of Father-Son All-Americans

Last season, Duke freshman guard Austin Rivers became only the eighth son of an All-American to receive the same national recognition as his father (two-time Marquette All-American guard Glenn "Doc" Rivers). The best bet in 2012-13 to join this select group is Missouri playmaker Phil "Flip" Pressey, a son of 1982 Tulsa All-American Paul Pressey.

If Rivers had returned to the Blue Devils to try to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio rather than declaring early for the NBA draft, he and his dad could have earned the distinction as the first father-son duo to each be a multiple-season All-American. As for Pressey, fans of textbook playmakers are still flipping out that Pressey was only an All-Big 12 Conference third-team selection last year.

No father-son combination ever earned All-American status for the same university. Virginia Tech probably should have been the first school in this category but the Hokies didn't pursue the son (Stephen Curry) of their lone NCAA consensus All-American (Dell Curry) in a meaningful fashion, which is a principal reason why they never thrived during Seth Greenberg's coaching stint. Following is an alphabetical list of the first eight father-son tandems in this elite family tree:

Father School A-A Year(s) Son School A-A Years(s)
Henry Bibby UCLA 1972 Mike Bibby Arizona 1998
Dell Curry Virginia Tech 1986 Stephen Curry Davidson 2008 and 2009
Bob Ferry St. Louis 1959 Danny Ferry Duke 1988 and 1989
Stan Love Oregon 1971 Kevin Love UCLA 2008
John Lucas Jr. Maryland 1974 through 1976 John Lucas III Oklahoma State 2004
Scott May Indiana 1975 and 1976 Sean May North Carolina 2005
Doc Rivers Marquette 1982 and 1983 Austin Rivers Duke 2012
Jimmy Walker Providence 1965 through 1967 Jalen Rose Michigan 1994

NFL Basketball Report: Week 7 Update on Active Players Who Were College Hoopsters

The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as the NFL Basketball Report. The hoop headliner this week is tight end Antonio Gates, a second-team All-MAC basketball selection in 2002, combining with San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to become the first QB/TE combination in NFL history with 50 touchdowns.

Another veteran tight end, Tony Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is having a splendid season with the Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez led his team in pass receptions much of the campaign comparable to fellow ex-college hoopsters Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans).

Regal receiver Terrell Owens (1995 NCAA playoffs with Chattanooga) didn't have a chance to test the patience of replacement officials because he is no longer on an NFL roster. But the league still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:

Player Pos. NFL Team College(s) Summary of 2012 NFL Season
Connor Barwin OLB Houston Texans Cincinnati 11 tackles (9 solo/2 assists) in fourth season but no sacks (after 11 1/2 last year)
Demetress Bell LOT Philadelphia Eagles Northwestern State newcomer after signing 5-year deal in off-season following 30 starts with Buffalo Bills the previous three seasons
Jordan Cameron TE Cleveland Browns Brigham Young/Southern California 10 pass receptions for 124 yards (long of 23) in second campaign
Demar Dotson RT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Southern Mississippi 6-9 lineman started five of first six games in fourth season
London Fletcher ILB Washington Redskins Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH team-high 54 tackles (29 solo/25 assists) plus one fumble recovery and one interception in 15th season
Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers Kent State 19 pass receptions for 224 yards (long of 33) and two touchdowns in 10th year
Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons California team-high 43 pass receptions for 430 yards (long of 25) and four touchdowns in 16th campaign
Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints Miami, FL third-year pro has 25 pass receptions for 252 yards (long of 24) and three touchdowns
Todd Heap TE Arizona Cardinals Arizona State long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28) in 12th season
Vincent Jackson WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers Northern Colorado team highs of 20 receptions, 370 yards (long of 54) and four touchdowns in eighth campaign
Evan Moore TE Seattle Seahawks Stanford first season in NW for third-stringer after three years with the Cleveland Browns, including four touchdowns in 2011
Julius Peppers RDE Chicago Bears North Carolina 10 tackles (eight solo/two assists) and 2.5 sacks in 11th season
Julius Thomas TE Denver Broncos Portland State second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to last season
Kendall Wright WR Tennessee Titans Baylor rookie has team-high 33 pass receptions (for 285 yards and two touchdowns/long of 35 yards)

Long and Winding Road: Five Ivy League Members Have All-Time Losing Marks

Baylor (30-8/coached by Scott Drew), Lehigh (27-8/Brett Reed) and Harvard (26-5/Tommy Amaker) set school single-season records for most victories in 2011-12 but they would need to post comparable records for an extended period to reach the breakeven plateau in their all-time marks. If their respective histories mean anything, Baylor (needs similar performance next five campaigns), Harvard (12) and Lehigh (17) are unlikely to achieve such a longstanding feat.

Harvard is among five Ivy League members saddled with all-time losing records. VMI posted a winning record last season (17-16) but has the worst mark among institutions at the NCAA Division I level for more than 60 years. NCAA playoff participants Saint Mary's (27-6), Iowa State (23-11) and Colorado State (20-12) are among over half of the following schools in the same subterranean category compiling winning marks last year but are still under water:

Losing Mark School First Season All-Time W-L Record Pct.
Virginia Military 1909 815-1397 .368
New Hampshire 1903 842-1355 .383
Brown 1901 951-1417 .402
Northwestern 1905 976-1402 .410
Lehigh 1902 983-1320 .427
The Citadel 1913 926-1216 .432
Air Force 1957 658-836 .440
Rice 1915 1034-1297 .444
Harvard 1901 1015-1253 .448
Loyola Marymount 1924 953-1157 .452
William & Mary 1906 1110-1307 .459
Drake 1907 1149-1350 .460
Texas Christian 1909 1109-1287 .463
Dartmouth 1901 1215-1392 .466
San Jose State 1910 1111-1264 .468
North Texas 1915 1067-1193 .472
Maine 1902 954-1052 .476
Delaware 1906 1082-1193 .476
Cornell 1899 1190-1308 .476
Portland 1923 1095-1202 .477
Colgate 1901 1175-1282 .478
Baylor 1907 1190-1288 .480
Mississippi 1909 1172-1220 .490
Yale 1896 1343-1396 .490
Kent State 1914 1101-1141 .491
Colorado State 1902 1132-1171 .492
St. Francis (NY) 1902 1125-1160 .492
Saint Mary's 1910 1151-1181 .494
Tulane 1906 1131-1160 .494
Furman 1909 1140-1162 .495
Iowa State 1908 1217-1239 .496
Clemson 1912 1198-1202 .499

Mid-Management Level: Certainly Not Middle-of-the-Road Talent This Year

Mid-major schools, featuring an abundance of gifted guards, could have a banner season in 2012-13. This is the first time in 40 years that mid-level schools managed to boast two returnees who were NCAA consensus first- and second-team All-Americans (Murray State guard Isaiah Canaan and Creighton forward Doug McDermott). There were three such mid-major returnees in 1972-73 - Southwestern Louisiana's Dwight "Bo" Lamar (36.3 ppg) and Oral Roberts' Richie Fuqua (35.9) were the nation's top two scorers in 1971-72 and Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (21.4) was the leading scorer for the nation's fifth-ranked team.

Last season, McDermott became only the eighth mid-major player in the last 21 years to earn NCAA consensus first-team All-American status. He and second-teamer Canaan could be joined at A-A status by a couple of the following mid-level candidates:

Backcourt - Deonte Burton (Nevada), Will Cherry (Montana), Rotnei Clarke (Butler), D.J. Cooper (Ohio University), Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's), Kevin Dillard (Dayton), Jamaal Franklin (San Diego State), Shane Gibson (Sacred Heart), Tyler Haws (Brigham Young), Lamont "Momo" Jones (Iona), Frantz Massenat (Drexel), Ray McCallum (Detroit), C.J. McCollum (Lehigh), Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga), Colt Ryan (Evansville), Chase Tapley (San Diego State), Chaz Williams (Massachusetts) and Nate Wolters (South Dakota State).

Frontcourt - Anthony Bennett (UNLV), De'Mon Brooks (Davidson), Keith Clanton (UCF), Brandon Davies (Brigham Young), Erik Etherly (Loyola, MD), Elias Harris (Gonzaga), Alex Kirk (New Mexico), Tony Mitchell (North Texas), Mike Moser (UNLV), Mike Muscala (Bucknell), Kelly Olynyk (Gonzaga), Chris Udofia (Denver) and Leonard Washington (Wyoming).

Could the mid-majors manage as many as six NCAA consensus All-Americans for the first time since 1955-56? Following is a chronological list of mid-level NCAA consensus first- and second-team All-Americans who played for a school never to be a member of a power conference (Houston, Memphis, SMU and Temple moving up to Big East) since the ACC was introduced in 1953-54:

1954 - La Salle's Tom Gola (1st), Western Kentucky's Tom Marshall (2nd), Furman's Frank Selvy (1st) and Duquesne's Dick Ricketts (2nd)

1955 - Furman's Darrell Floyd (2nd), La Salle's Tom Gola (1st), Duquesne's Sihugo Green (1st), Duquesne's Dick Ricketts (1st) and San Francisco's Bill Russell (1st)

1956 - Furman's Darrell Floyd (2nd), Duquesne's Sihugo Green (1st), Holy Cross' Tom Heinsohn (1st), San Francisco's K.C. Jones (2nd), San Francisco's Bill Russell (1st) and Dayton's Bill Uhl (2nd)

1957 - Seattle's Elgin Baylor (2nd) and Columbia's Chet Forte (1st)

1958 - Seattle's Elgin Baylor (1st) and San Francisco's Mike Farmer (2nd)

1959 - Marshall's Leo Byrd (2nd)

1960 - St. Bonaventure's Tom Stith (1st)

1961 - Gonzaga's Frank Burgess (2nd), St. Bonaventure's Tom Stith (1st) and Bradley's Chet Walker (1st)

1962 - Holy Cross' Jack Foley (2nd) and Bradley's Chet Walker (1st)

1963 - Colorado State's Bill Green (2nd), Loyola of Chicago's Jerry Harkness (1st), NYU's Barry Kramer (1st) and Bowling Green State's Nate Thurmond (2nd)

1964 - Princeton's Bill Bradley (1st), Davidson's Fred Hetzel (2nd) and Wichita State's Dave Stallworth (1st)

1965 - Princeton's Bill Bradley (1st), Utah State's Wayne Estes (2nd), Davidson's Fred Hetzel (1st) and Wichita State's Dave Stallworth (2nd)

1966 - St. Joseph's Matt Guokas (2nd) and Davidson's Dick Snyder (2nd)

1967 - New Mexico's Mel Daniels (2nd), Western Kentucky's Clem Haskins (1st) and Dayton's Don May (2nd)

1968 - St. Bonaventure's Bob Lanier (2nd), Dayton's Don May (2nd) and Niagara's Calvin Murphy (2nd)

1969 - Detroit's Spencer Haywood (1st), Davidson's Mike Maloy (2nd), Niagara's Calvin Murphy (1st) and Santa Clara's Bud Ogden (2nd)

1970 - New Mexico State's Jimmy Collins (2nd), St. Bonaventure's Bob Lanier (1st) and Niagara's Calvin Murphy (1st)

1971 - La Salle's Ken Durrett (2nd), Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (1st) and Western Kentucky's Jim McDaniels (1st)

1972 - Oral Roberts' Richie Fuqua (2nd), Southwestern Louisiana's Dwight "Bo" Lamar (1st) and Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (1st)

1973 - Illinois State's Doug Collins (1st), Southwestern Louisiana's Dwight "Bo" Lamar (1st), Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (1st) and American University's Kermit Washington (2nd)

1974 - Canisius' Larry Fogle (2nd)

1975 - none

1976 - none

1977 - San Francisco's Bill Cartwright (2nd)

1978 - Indiana State's Larry Bird (1st) and Portland State's Freeman Williams (2nd)

1979 - Indiana State's Larry Bird (1st), San Francisco's Bill Cartwright (2nd), Northeast Louisiana's Calvin Natt (2nd), Dayton's Jim Paxson (2nd) and Rhode Island's Sly Williams (2nd)

1980 - La Salle's Michael Brooks (1st)

1981 - Brigham Young's Danny Ainge (1st)

1982 - San Francisco's Quintin Dailey (1st), UC Irvine's Kevin Magee (2nd) and Tulsa's Paul Pressey (2nd)

1983 - UNLV's Sidney Green (2nd)

1984 - San Diego State's Michael Cage (2nd), Brigham Young's Devin Durrant (2nd) and Cal State Fullerton's Leon Wood (2nd)

1985 - Wichita State's Xavier McDaniel (1st)

1986 - Miami of Ohio's Ron Harper (2nd) and Navy's David Robinson (2nd)

1987 - UNLV's Armon Gilliam (2nd) and Navy's David Robinson (1st)

1988 - Bradley's Hersey Hawkins (1st) and Brigham Young's Michael Smith (2nd)

1989 - La Salle's Lionel Simmons (2nd)

1990 - Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers (2nd), UNLV's Larry Johnson (1st), Loyola Marymount's Bo Kimble (2nd) and La Salle's Lionel Simmons (1st)

1991 - UNLV's Stacey Augmon (2nd), East Tennessee State's Keith "Mister" Jennings (2nd) and UNLV's Larry Johnson (1st)

1992 - none

1993 - UNLV's J.R. Rider (2nd)

1994 - none

1995 - Massachusetts' Lou Roe (2nd)

1996 - Massachusetts' Marcus Camby (1st)

1997 - none

1998 - none

1999 - Miami (Ohio)'s Wally Szczerbiak (2nd)

2000 - Fresno State's Courtney Alexander (2nd)

2001 - none

2002 - Gonzaga's Dan Dickau (1st) and Xavier's David West (2nd)

2003 - Creighton's Kyle Korver (2nd) and Xavier's David West (1st)

2004 - St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson (1st) and Gonzaga's Blake Stepp (2nd)

2005 - none

2006 - Gonzaga's Adam Morrison (1st)

2007 - Nevada's Nick Fazekas (2nd)

2008 - Davidson's Stephen Curry (2nd)

2009 - Davidson's Stephen Curry (1st)

2010 - none

2011 - Morehead State's Kenneth Faried (2nd), Brigham Young's Jimmer Fredette (1st) and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (2nd)

2012 - Murray State's Isaiah Canaan (2nd) and Creighton's Doug McDermott (1st)

Debate Prep: Top 25 Questions Needing Answers as Regular Season Starts

The start of the regular season will begin to start providing answers to the most vital questions heading into the 2012-13 campaign. Following are the Top 25 inquiries triggered by season openers:

Basketball Report: Week 6 Update on Active NFL Players Who Were College Hoopsters

The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as the NFL Basketball Report. Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is having a splendid season with the Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez leads his team in pass receptions like fellow ex-college hoopsters Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans).

Luminaries Donovan McNabb (Syracuse), Terrell Owens (Chattanooga) and Jason Taylor (Akron) are gone, but the NFL still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:

Player Pos. NFL Team College(s) Summary of 2012 NFL Season
Connor Barwin OLB Houston Texans Cincinnati eight tackles in fourth season but no sacks (after 11 1/2 last year)
Demetress Bell OT Philadelphia Eagles Northwestern State newcomer after signing 5-year deal in off-season following 30 starts with Buffalo Bills the previous three seasons
Jordan Cameron TE Cleveland Browns Brigham Young/Southern California eight pass receptions for 86 yards in second campaign
Demar Dotson RT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Southern Mississippi 6-9 lineman started four of first fiver games in fourth season
London Fletcher LB Washington Redskins Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH team-high 43 tackles (23 solo/20 assists) plus one fumble recovery and one interception in 15th season
Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers Kent State 13 pass receptions for 143 yards (long of 33) in 10th year
Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons California team-high 39 pass receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns in 16th campaign
Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints Miami, FL third-year pro has 25 pass receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns
Todd Heap TE Arizona Cardinals Arizona State long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28 yards) in 12th season
Vincent Jackson WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers Northern Colorado team highs of 16 receptions, 304 yards and two touchdowns in eighth campaign
Evan Moore TE Seattle Seahawks Stanford first season in NW for third-stringer after three years with the Cleveland Browns, including four touchdowns in 2011
Julius Peppers DE Chicago Bears North Carolina 10 tackles (eight solo/two assists) and 2.5 sacks in 11th season
Julius Thomas TE Denver Broncos Portland State second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to last season
Kendall Wright WR Tennessee Titans Baylor rookie has team-high 33 pass receptions (for 285 yards and two touchdowns/long of 35 yards)

Centre Court: Small Kentucky College Has Previously Been in Spotlight

Here is a hoop secret neither the Secret Service nor ESPN's best researcher knows: Centre College in Danville, Ky., the location for the VP debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan, boasts a distinction that could probably render Dickie V speechless. Centre clobbered both Kentucky (87-17 in 1909-10) and Louisville (61-7 in 1919-20) by more than 50 points, handing each perennial power its most lopsided defeat in history.

Louisville, the nation's consensus preseason #1 team entering 2012-13, lost five consecutive contests against Centre from 1939 to 1941. If you as a citizen prep for the VP debate by comparing their "unchained" charitable giving, please know that this clean and articulate information was not plagiarized.

Jerry Tampering: Sandusky Case Coupled With Cline-Heard Hurts PSU Hoops

Whether it should or not, aftershocks from the Jerry Sandusky earthquake child-molestation case and sentencing will spill over from Penn State's football program and affect the entire athletic program. But what further damaged the hoops program specifically was a sentencing to 16 years in federal prison of Gyasi Cline-Heard, leaving him among the all-time "Bad Boys of College Basketball."

The leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for the Jerry Dunn-coached Nittany Lions' 2001 Sweet 16 squad was apprehended in February in Clearwater, Fla., for spearheading a drug/gun ring. Raids of his tattoo shop and multiple other residences in the area unearthed four dozen guns. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the enormity of the stockpile of weapons shocked investigators (most of them assault rifles and machine guns with rounds capable of penetrating officer's vests and cruisers).

The bust unfolded after undercover agents purchased, in the course of 11 transactions over the winter, more than a pound of cocaine - crack and powder - plus a .380-caliber handgun from the son of former NBA player and coach Gar Heard. The guns seized were "to kill people and to keep their drug operation going," the sheriff said.

Second-year coach Pat Chambers has a massive job keeping PSU's basketball operation going; especially after star point guard Tim Frazier was lost for the season because of an Achilles injury. It is akin to reviving disbanded programs at Miami (FL), San Francisco, Southwestern Louisiana and Tulane. The Sweet 16 team in 2001 was the only time since 1954 that Penn State won multiple games in an NCAA Tournament. Unhappy Valley indeed.

Conference Kingpins: KU Could Become 4th School to Win Nine Straight Titles

Kansas, bolstered by Missouri's touted transfers bound for the Tigers' new SEC digs, could become only the fourth school to capture at least nine consecutive regular-season conference championships. Despite the early departure to the NBA of leading scorer and rebounder Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks boast a sterling Big 12 Conference track record under coach Bill Self while surviving the loss of 10 undergraduates in the last six NBA drafts - 2007 (Julian Wright), 2008 (Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush), 2010 (Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry), 2011 (Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris and Josh Selby) and 2012 (Robinson).

UCLA's streak of 13 straight undisputed league titles from 1967 through 1979 is considered one of the foremost achievements in NCAA history. Following is a summary of the seven schools to secure at least eight straight regular-season league titles:

UCLA (13 in Pacific-8/10; 171-15 from 1966-67 through 1978-79)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coaches Overall Mark
1966-67 14-0 Lew Alcindor (29 ppg) Lew Alcindor (15.5 rpg) John Wooden 30-0
1967-68 14-0 Lew Alcindor (26.2) Lew Alcindor (16.5) John Wooden 29-1
1968-69 13-1 Lew Alcindor (24) Lew Alcindor (14.6) John Wooden 29-1
1969-70 12-2 Sidney Wicks (18.6) Sidney Wicks (11.9) John Wooden 28-2
1970-71 14-0 Sidney Wicks (21.3) Sidney Wicks (12.8) John Wooden 29-1
1971-72 14-0 Bill Walton (21.1) Bill Walton (15.5) John Wooden 30-0
1972-73 14-0 Bill Walton (20.4) Bill Walton (16.9) John Wooden 30-0
1973-74 12-2 Bill Walton (19.3) Bill Walton (14.7) John Wooden 26-4
1974-75 12-2 David Meyers (18.3) David Meyers (7.9) John Wooden 28-3
1975-76 12-2 Richard Washington (20.1) Marques Johnson (9.4) Gene Bartow 27-5
1976-77 11-3 Marques Johnson (21.4) Marques Johnson (11.1) Gene Bartow 24-5
1977-78 14-0 David Greenwood (17.5) David Greenwood (11.4) Gary Cunningham 25-3
1978-79 15-3 David Greenwood (19.9) David Greenwood (10.3) Gary Cunningham 25-5

Connecticut (10 in Yankee; 71-8 from 1950-51 through 1959-60)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coach Overall Mark
1950-51 6-1 Vincent Yokabaskas (15.5) William Ebel (9) Hugh Greer 22-4
1951-52 6-1 Vincent Yokabaskas (16.8) Burr Carlson (14.5) Hugh Greer 20-7
1952-53 5-1 Art Quimby (16.7) Art Quimby (20.5) Hugh Greer 17-4
1953-54 7-0 Art Quimby (16.3) Art Quimby (22.6) Hugh Greer 23-3
1954-55 7-0 Art Quimby (23.2) Art Quimby (24.4) Hugh Greer 20-5
1955-56 6-1 Gordon Ruddy (16.6) unavailable Hugh Greer 17-11
1956-57 8-0 Bob Osborne (15.6) Al Cooper (11.8) Hugh Greer 17-8
1957-58 10-0 Jack Rose (13) Al Cooper (11) Hugh Greer 17-10
1958-59 8-2 Jack Rose (16) Ed Martin (12.1) Hugh Greer 17-7
1959-60 8-2 John Pipczynski (15.2) Walt Griffin (11.5) Hugh Greer 17-9

UNLV (10 in PCAA/Big West; 165-13 from 1982-83 through 1991-92)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coach Overall Mark
1982-83 15-1 Sidney Green (22.1) Sidney Green (11.9) Jerry Tarkanian 28-3
1983-84 16-2 Richie Adams (12.7) Richie Adams (6.7) Jerry Tarkanian 29-6
1984-85 17-1 Richie Adams (15.8) Richie Adams (7.9) Jerry Tarkanian 28-4
1985-86 16-2 Anthony Jones (18) Armon Gilliam (8.5) Jerry Tarkanian 33-5
1986-87 18-0 Armon Gilliam (23.2) Armon Gilliam (9.3) Jerry Tarkanian 37-2
1987-88 15-3 Gerald Paddio (19.4) Jarvis Basnight (6.9) Jerry Tarkanian 28-6
1988-89 16-2 David Butler (15.4) Stacey Augmon (7.4) Jerry Tarkanian 29-8
1989-90 16-2 Larry Johnson (20.6) Larry Johnson (11.4) Jerry Tarkanian 35-5
1990-91 18-0 Larry Johnson (22.7) Larry Johnson (10.9) Jerry Tarkanian 34-1
1991-92 18-0 J.R. Rider (20.7) Elmore Spencer (8.1) Jerry Tarkanian 26-2

NOTE: UNLV tied New Mexico State in 1989-90.

Idaho State (eight in Rocky Mountain; 76-4 from 1952-53 through 1959-60)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coach Overall Mark
1952-53 10-0 Les Roh (16.6) unavailable Steve Belko 18-7
1953-54 9-1 Les Roh (17.1) unavailable Steve Belko 22-5
1954-55 9-1 Les Roh (21.7) unavailable Steve Belko 18-8
1955-56 9-1 Les Roh (20.8) unavailable Steve Belko 18-8
1956-57 12-0 Jim Rodgers (15) Jack Allain (12.5) John Grayson 25-4
1957-58 10-0 Lloyd Harris (14.7) LeRoy Bacher (9) John Grayson 22-6
1958-59 9-1 Jim Rodgers (17.4) Homer Watkins (11.6) John Grayson 21-7
1959-60 8-0 Myrl Goodwin (16.4) unavailable John Evans 21-5

Kansas (eight in Big 12; 111-19 from 2004-05 through 2011-12)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coach Overall Mark
2004-05 12-4 Wayne Simien (20.3) Wayne Simien (11) Bill Self 23-7
2005-06 13-3 Brandon Rush (13.5) Brandon Rush (5.9) Bill Self 25-8
2006-07 14-2 Brandon Rush (13.8) Julian Wright (7.8) Bill Self 33-5
2007-08 13-3 Brandon Rush (13.3) Darnell Jackson (6.7) Bill Self 37-3
2008-09 14-2 Sherron Collins (18.9) Cole Aldrich (11.1) Bill Self 27-8
2009-10 15-1 Sherron Collins (15.5) Cole Aldrich (9.8) Bill Self 33-3
2010-11 14-2 Marcus Morris (17.2) Markieff Morris (8.3) Bill Self 35-3
2011-12 16-2 Thomas Robinson (17.7) Thomas Robinson (11.9) Bill Self 32-7

NOTE: Kansas tied Oklahoma in 2004-05 and Texas in 2005-06 and 2007-08.

Kentucky (eight in SEC; 82-3 from 1944-45 through 1951-52)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coach Overall Mark
1944-45 4-1 Jack Tingle (11.7) unavailable Adolph Rupp 22-4
1945-46 6-0 Jack Parkinson (11.3) unavailable Adolph Rupp 28-2
1946-47 11-0 Ralph Beard (10.9) unavailable Adolph Rupp 34-3
1947-48 9-0 Alex Groza (12.5) unavailable Adolph Rupp 36-3
1948-49 13-0 Alex Groza (20.5) unavailable Adolph Rupp 32-2
1949-50 11-2 Bill Spivey (19.3) unavailable Adolph Rupp 25-5
1950-51 14-0 Bill Spivey (19.2) Bill Spivey (17.2) Adolph Rupp 32-2
1951-52 14-0 Cliff Hagan (21.6) Cliff Hagan (16.5) Adolph Rupp 29-3

NOTES: Kentucky tied Tennessee in 1944-45 and Louisiana State in 1945-46. . . . UK did not field a team in 1952-53 before tying LSU in 1953-54 and winning outright in 1954-55.

Long Beach State (eight in PCAA; 75-13 from 1969-70 through 1976-77)

Season League Mark Scoring Leader Rebounding Leader Coaches Overall Mark
1969-70 10-0 George Trapp (16.3) Sam Robinson (7.8) Jerry Tarkanian 23-5
1970-71 10-0 Ed Ratleff (19.9) George Trapp (11) Jerry Tarkanian 24-5
1971-72 10-2 Ed Ratleff (21.4) Nate Stephens (10.3) Jerry Tarkanian 25-4
1972-73 10-2 Ed Ratleff (22.8) Leonard Gray (9.3) Jerry Tarkanian 26-3
1973-74 12-0 Clifton Pondexter (15.6) Clifton Pondexter (8.6) Lute Olson 24-2
1974-75 8-2 Rich Johnson (17.8) Bob Gross (8.5) Dwight Jones 19-7
1975-76 6-4 Anthony McGee (14.8) Clarence Ruffen (7.4) Dwight Jones 14-12
1976-77 9-3 Lloyd McMillian (15.8) Lloyd McMillian (7.9) Dwight Jones 21-8

NOTE: Long Beach State tied Cal State Fullerton in 1975-76 and San Diego State in 1976-77.

Twin Billings: How Will Harrisons Rank Among All-Time Best Sets of Twins?

For those who revel in recruiting rhetoric and reviews, the world stopped revolving when the Harrison twins (Aaron and Andrew) announced their intention to attend Kentucky. There are all sorts of short-term Harrison Hysteria questions regarding how they reached their verdict. But the biggest long-term question is how will they rank among the most touted twins in college basketball history; especially in regard to impact including multiple seasons.

If the Harrisons simply become the latest additions to UK's list of "one-and-done" players, they won't crack the Top 10 of the most influential sets of twins at the same school - 1. Van Arsdales (Indiana); 2. O'Briens (Seattle); 3. Lopez (Stanford); 4. Morris (Kansas); 5. Collins (Stanford); 6. Graham (UCF/Oklahoma State); 7. Hughes (Wisconsin); 8. Holmes (VMI); 9. Hayes (Western Carolina/Georgia); 10. Williams (VMI); 11. Kerrs (Colorado State); 12. Stanley (Texas A&M); 13. Nelsons (Duquesne). Here is a chronological look at them plus many of the nation's most outstanding sets of twins who played together at least one season on the same team:

  • George and Francis Coakley were members of Clemson's 1939 Southern Conference Tournament championship team. It is the Tigers' only league tourney title.
  • Clifford and Beauford Minx combined for 10.9 ppg for Missouri's 1944 NCAA Tournament team.
  • Forwards John and Rupe Ricksen combined to average 9.7 ppg for California in 1950-51, 15.9 ppg in 1951-52 and 18.4 ppg in 1952-53. The Bears won at least 16 games each of their seasons together. They were co-captains as seniors when Cal captured the PCC South Division title and John earned first-team all-conference status.
  • Bantam-sized Johnny and Eddie O'Brien were the top two scorers for Seattle (26-3 record) when it reached the 1953 NCAA Tournament in the Chieftains' first season at the major-college level. They also were infielders for the Pittsburgh Pirates the same year. Johnny O'Brien, a 5-8 unanimous first-team All-American who played center on offense, is the only player to score more than 40 points in his first NCAA Tournament game (42 in an 88-77 victory against Idaho State). Eddie contributed 21 in the same playoff contest.
  • Bob (8.6 ppg in 63 games) and Bill (7.5 ppg in 40 games) Gaines played together for Furman from 1954-55 through 1956-57. Each of them averaged 10.3 ppg as a senior.
  • Don and Pat Stanley combined for 17.3 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1959-60 and 24.8 ppg and 11.7 rpg in 1960-61 for Texas A&M. They earlier played at Kilgore when it won a national J.C. title.
  • Don and Doug Clemetson combined for 9.5 ppg for Stanford in 1960-61 and 11 ppg in 1961-62. The 16-6 Cardinal finished AAWU runner-up to UCLA, which wound up at the 1962 Final Four.
  • Tom and Dick Van Arsdale ranked sixth and seventh on Indiana's list of all-time leading scorers when they graduated in 1965. They were among the nation's top 60 point producers as juniors in 1963-64 and combined for 76 points in a 108-102 neutral court victory over Notre Dame. The Hoosiers went 19-5 their senior campaign. They each played 12 seasons in the NBA, where they both scored more than 14,200 points.
  • Lloyd and Floyd Kerr were swingmen who combined to average 25.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg for Colorado State from 1966-67 through 1968-69. Brothers Kerr each scored more than 10 points in all three NCAA playoff games when the Rams reached the Midwest Regional final their senior season (17-7 record) before becoming NBA third-round draft choices.
  • Barry and Garry Nelson combined for 21.7 ppg and 16.9 rpg for Duquesne teams that compiled a 59-16 record from 1968-69 through 1970-71. Garry led the team in field-goal percentage all three seasons and in rebounding as a sophomore and junior.
  • In 1974, seniors Kim and Kerry Hughes carried Wisconsin to its only winning record in Big Ten Conference competition (8-6; 16-8 overall) in a 34-year span from 1963 through 1996. Kim was the Badgers' top rebounder as a sophomore. The 6-11 identical twins combined for 27 ppg and 22 rpg in their junior season and 26 ppg and 20.3 rpg in their final year. Kerry had 21 points and Kim contributed 20 in a home game versus Northwestern their senior year.
  • Billy and Bobby Martin excelled for UNC-Wilmington in 1976-77 and 1977-78 after transferring from junior college. Bobby and Billy still rank among the school's all-time leaders in assists.
  • Harvey and Horace Grant combined for 16.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg as sophomores for Clemson's 16-13 NIT team in 1984-85. Harvey transferred after the season to a junior college before enrolling at Oklahoma. Each of them had long NBA careers.
  • Wichita State's Dwayne and Dwight Praylow combined for 16.3 ppg in 1987-88 (20-10 record) and 20.1 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 1988-89 (19-11 record).
  • Victor and Vincent Lee played for Northeast Louisiana from 1986-87 through 1988-89. Their best season was 1988-89 when they were juniors (9.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg).
  • Terry and Perry Dozier combined for 9.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg with South Carolina from 1986-87 through 1988-89.
  • Damon and Ramon Williams combined for 28.9 ppg in their four-year VMI careers from 1986-87 through 1989-90. They were All-Southern Conference Tournament first-team selections as sophomores in 1988. Ramon was an all-league first-team pick as a junior and Damon achieved the feat as a senior. They rank among the school's top scorers in history.
  • Carl and Charles Thomas were among the top 40 scorers in Eastern Michigan history when they finished their careers following the 1990-91 campaign. They combined to average 16.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg in college before making brief stints in the NBA.
  • Sean and Shawn Wightman played together with Western Michigan for three years (1990-91 through 1992-93) after transferring from Illinois State. They combined for 17.9 ppg as juniors. Sean was the nation's top three-point marksman as a junior and led the Mid-American Conference in free-throw shooting as a senior.
  • Joe and Jon Ross played together with Notre Dame from 1990-91 through 1993-94. They combined for more than eight rebounds per game their last two seasons.
  • Sammie and Simeon Haley of Missouri combined for 12.5 ppg and 8.8 rpg for an NCAA Tournament team in 1994-95 (20-9 record) and 14.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg for an NIT team in 1995-96 (18-15 record) after transferring from junior college.
  • Jim and David Jackson combined for 7.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Virginia Tech's NCAA Tournament team in 1995-96 (23-6 record) and 13.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 1996-97 (15-16 record).
  • Bill and Bob Jenkins combined for 14.9 ppg and 12.5 rpg for Valparaiso's NCAA playoff Sweet 16 team in 1997-98 (23-10 record).
  • Stanford's Jarron and Jason Collins combined for 19.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg in 1999-2000 before powering the Cardinal to a 31-3 record in 2000-01 with 27.3 ppg and 14.5 rpg.
  • Jarvis and Jonas Hayes combined for 25.1 ppg as freshmen with Western Carolina in 1999-2000. They transferred to Georgia after Jarvis led the Southern Conference in scoring with 17.1 ppg. With the Bulldogs, the twins teamed for 25.8 ppg and 10.3 rpg in 2001-02 and 25 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 2002-03.
  • Joey and Stevie Graham combined for 25.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg as sophomores with Central Florida in 2001-02 before they transferred to Oklahoma State. They collaborated for 15.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2003-04 and 24.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 2004-05 for two OSU NCAA playoff teams.
  • Errick and Derrick Craven combined for 17.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg for Southern California in 2002-03, 17.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 2003-04 and 10.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 2004-05.
  • Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart combined for 13 ppg and 4.8 rpg with Southern California in 2003-04 before Rodrick transferred to Kansas.
  • Yale swingmen Caleb and Nick Holmes combined for 12.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.2 apg from 2004-05 through 2007-08.
  • Travis and Chavis Holmes combined for 18.7 ppg with VMI in 2005-06, 34.2 ppg in 2006-07 and 34 ppg in 2007-08. They colloborated for 57 points in a 156-95 victory over Virginia Intermont in 2006-07 when they each ranked among the nation's top five in steals (placed 1-2 in the Big South Conference). Finished 1-2 nationally in thefts their senior season.
  • Centers Brook and Robin Lopez combined for 20.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.1 bpg with Stanford as freshmen in 2006-07 and 29.4 ppg, 13.8 rpg and 4.4 bpg as sophomores in 2007-08 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices.
  • La Salle's Jerrell and Terrell Williams combined for 12.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg from 2007-08 to 2009-10.
  • Charles and Philip Tabet combined for 7.2 ppg and 3 rpg with South Alabama in 2008-09 before falling off to 2.8 ppg with 4.5 rpg in 2009-10.
  • Markieff and Marcus Morris from Philadelphia combined for 12 ppg and 9.2 rpg with Kansas in 2008-09, 19.5 ppg and 11.4 rpg in 2009-10 and 30.8 ppg and 15.9 rpg as All-Big 12 Conference selections in 2010-11 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices. Marcus was KU's leading scorer (17.2) and Markieff its leading rebounder (8.3) for the Jayhawks' 2011 Big 12 champion.
  • David and Travis Wear combined for 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg as freshmen for North Carolina in 2009-10 before transferring to UCLA.
  • Charlie (freshman RS in 2009-10) and Colin Reddick combined for 7.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg with Furman in 2010-11.

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