October 6, 2006
Each Friday I write about the sport I love, college basketball.
I had a great conversation with Rick Pitino recently and I could tell by the tone of his voice that he is really excited about this year's team. He told me that David Padgett and Brandon Jenkins should be ready to go and be positive forces for the Cardinals. Pitino said some young players like freshmen Jerry Smith, Earl Clark and Edgar Sosa will blend in well and he feels this will be a very deep squad. If Louisville stays healthy, watch out as this team is capable of making a lot of noise in the tough Big East conference.
When are young guys going to realize they have to be accountable for their actions? They have to be responsible, and athletes do end up under a microscope at times. Illinois guard Rich McBride was going to be a vital factor for Bruce Weber's team this season, and he still may. For now, he has to live with the bad decision he made with his recent DUI arrest. Weber made an immediate move by suspending McBride. He's young enough to learn from it and fortunately nobody was injured.
On the same front, Iowa had a pair of players arrested recently. Senior guard Mike Henderson and Tyler Smith, the Hawkeyes' top newcomer, were arrested and charged with theft. The pair allegedly was caught shoplifting $100 worth of merchandise from a Dillard's store. When will these kids understand what is right. Coaches preach to them about doing the right thing. These kids have to look in the mirror and understand they are accountable for their actions.
It was great to see the NIT added former Purdue coach Gene Keady and former New Mexico athletic director Rudy Davalos to its selection committee. These are bright mans who have been around the game of college basketball for a long time and should contribute to the success of the NIT. Davalos has a lot experience with the NCAA men's and women's basketball selection committees.
A lot of people out west have been talking about UCLA, but out in the Pac-10, don't forget about Arizona and Hall of Famer Lute Olson. I think Mustafa Shakur made a good decision returning to school and he should have a good season. Keep an eye on diaper dandy Chase Budinger, who has the potential to be one of the best newcomers in the school's history, and that is saying a lot. He still has to prove it, but this kid has a world of potential.
Great news as the Basketball Hall of Fame announced it will present an award named for Morgan Wootten. The legendary DeMatha coach will be honored by having his name associated with an award for lifetime achievement in high school basketball coaching. The award will begin in 2007.
Marquette made a great move, announcing that Dwyane Wade's #3 jersey will be retired at halftime of the Providence game on February 3rd at Bradley Center. Wade was so popular helping the school make the Final Four.
Washington got some tough news with the injury to seven-footer Joe Wolfinger. He suffered a stress fracture in his foot and he will miss some major time this season. There is even the possibility of sitting out the entire campaign. Coach Lorenzo Romar previously received bad news with a similar injury to junior Joel Smith, though he had surgery and should be ready for the start of the season.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
