Talking Basketball

    Sometimes it is best to talk about things that are more clean, sane, sensible, pure, easy, simple; instead of their opposites. There are many opposites to those things. Topical, messy, complicated things that are not as easy to delve into: war, politics, poverty, injustice, death, suffering. Even religion and economics, and math and physics, that encompass all of those things.

    Basketball, not as much. It can get a little controversial, sad or ecstatic, and all the emotions in between, but not so much misery, unless your favorite teams and players give you misery by not succeeding. Which is the case for me is too often. But maybe I am learning the art and strength of patience. Endurance and forbearance. Suffering, purification through sacrifice. Humility. Shame. Guilt. Loyalties must be tested. Always. In my case, for many decades.

    Where to start? Where it started for me: college basketball. NCAA Division I. The first love.

Indiana University Men's Basketball

The love 'em till I hate 'em Hurry'n Hoosiers. Ugh. We used to be great. We used to be elite. Mere miles from my house. Under Bob Knight, and even before his days, we won multiple national championships in Bloomington. Not any more. Alas, the decades have past with only one sniff of a crown, and that 22 years ago!

    The current squad has a lot of talent, but they have fallen apart way too often, on offense and defense. I love the players, but I hate how they make poor decisions and plays, and lose. The home losses of late to Penn State and now Northwestern have been particularly egregious.

 

 I could go on about individuals and injuries, and the coach, Mike Woodson, who might be the ultimate blame, but I will leave at: too much losing. This season and many too many in the last 30 years. 

    I bought a Bob Knight remembrance magazine tonight. 15 bucks. Long live the king, and may he rest in peace. He died just a few short months ago.

    Brigham Young University Men's Cougars

This team, this year, has some moxy. They have disappointed a few games, but overall they are very good. People know it. They recognize their greatness. As I speak, they are giving a very talented and top ranked Baylor team a good run. (Cougs won, they played well).

    I think BYU may go far. First final four in two or three generations?

    Other College Teams

I am so tired of UConn winning the NCAA titles while my teams get none, I would love to see Purdue finally win it this year. I do not want UNC nor Duke to win it all, because like UConn, they do the championship too much. Nor Kansas. Rock Hock that Jayhawk away. I would be okay with... Houston. Cougars of Texas, okay. They are certainly good enough. Any team from the West U.S. would be good, except Arizona, which is the best one. Many good teams in the Mountain West: Utah State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico. The WCC has Gonzaga, St. Mary's, even San Francisco. 

    Let's have an all-western Final Four! There are the good Catholic schools, not Villanova, thankfully, but Marquette, Creighton... Who else? Kentucky? Let them lose! Other SEC and Big Ten schools. I think they will come up short. I am from Indiana. We hate them. The Wildcats of the Blue Grass, that is. Except for that one govvy boss who is the band wagon jumper for some reason. Turn coat. Chris. 'Nuff said. 

    Alabama, Tennessee. Big 12 has a lot of good/great teams. Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma. I would love to see Texas Tech succeed, of all of them. Minus, BYU, of course. Cougars for gold! Dayton and Alabama are good... Leaving any out? Illinois, Northwestern.  FAU? Yeah, some people are on the Owls (is that what they are?) appreciation team.

    Okay, enough college talk. IU plays tonight... If they win the next four in a row... They are 14-11! Ugh... Ugly home losses.

    I bought and have read some of the Bobby Knight mag. I have liked it. The dichotomy of the strong personality and big winner.

    Pro Basketball 

    I will keep with the NBA, because the international scene is big and mostly mysterious to me. I met a pro player in Iceland, that was cool. Eric Ayala played for Maryland; I remember watching him play.

    The West has some good teams. I want the L.A. Clippers. The Lakers are down, but not out. Denver is the reigning champ. Phoenix has a lot of talent... Who else? One more... Dallas? Or... Minnesota! Yes, they are good and talented.

    The East has Boston, and Milwaukee has Dame time, and the Sixers have all everything Embiid out with a meniscus injury, so who knows? The Pacers have me excited, but maybe they are still too young. The Miami Heat seem to always make a showing in the playoffs.

    Lots of great players, lots of great narratives. Sacramento? Golden State? Some of the best players of all time, like Steph and Klay Thompson, even Draymond Green.

    And of course, Bron Bron down in Tinseltown.

    Good stuff. Should be fun. If we can all make it that long.

    Plan on it. March Madness, June greatness. Kobe, R.I.P.