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Roundball Chatter
Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
December 15, 2006
Each Friday during the season I'll give my thoughts on the game I love, college basketball.
I can't wait to get to Madison, Wisconsin to see Pittsburgh take on the Badgers. You'd better consider Aaron Gray of Pittsburgh and Alando Tucker of Wisconsin among early candidates for national Player of the Year honors. Tucker has been sensational and Gray has been the key reason the Panthers are unbeaten. The Pittsburgh center has had four straight double-doubles.
The class of 2006 has produced some great point guards. There are a lot of very talented freshmen ball-handlers this season. Look at guys like Ty Lawson at North Carolina, Mike Conley at Ohio State and D. J. Augustin of Texas and realize that diaper dandies are being called upon to handle the pressure of the point guard position. They have the talent and ability to get the job done at big-time programs. These are not average point guards and they know how to play.
How about a salute to Tom Izzo of Michigan State! When you think about leadership, Izzo's name has to come up. Look at three schools that were hit the most by the NBA draft – Connecticut, Texas and Michigan State. Remember the Spartans lost Maurice Ager, Paul Davis and Shannon Brown, though Brown was the only underclassmen of that trio. Izzo has reloaded and the Spartans had a great win over a very good BYU squad. Michigan State earlier knocked off Texas and battled Maryland to the wire. This Michigan State team will battle because of their leader, who is as great a fighter on the sideline that you will find. Izzo's team has been plagued by injuries lately, and Raymar Morgan (shin) and Maurice Joseph (foot) are expected to miss at least a couple of weeks. That will hurt Michigan State's perimeter depth, so guys like Drew Neitzel and Travis Walton should prepare to play many minutes with limited rest.
I was really impressed with Texas freshman Kevin Durant. If there is a more talented diaper dandy in America, I want to see him. Physically, obviously Greg Oden is so strong as a true post center, a position we have seen disappear in college basketball. When you talk about using the open court, the entire floor, Durant is in a class by himself. This kid's upside is unbelievable and once he gets bigger and stronger, watch out. When he understands the nuances of the game, understands how to free to get the ball, how to get aggressive at the right time and wanting the ball, the sky is the limit. He can do anything offensively – drive to the rack, shoot the jumper, pass the ball, rebound. He is a complete, multi-talented phenom.
Talking about phenoms, I have said it before and I will say it again … if Paul Harris of Syracuse works on his shot, and becomes a more efficient shooter, he will be the total package. He is tough physically and mentally, is aggressive, has the great body and the mentality of a winner. Harris just has to work on his shooting the rock.
It's nice to see Glen Davis of LSU back in college, being able to be a kid and enjoying life as the big man on campus instead of going to the NBA early. He has lost a lot of weight, shows greater mobility and I love his game. Davis has the ability to go inside, step out and also find the open man as a good passer.
This weekend Cincinnati and Ohio State will be hooking up for the first time since the 1962 NCAA championship game. Kentucky and Louisville renew a great rivalry with Tubby Smith and Rick Pitino matching moves on the sidelines. There are some great in-state rivalries in the sport, and I can't understand why Washington is ending its relationship with Gonzaga. The Huskies say they want to play more of a national schedule, but my friends, Mark Few's program is one that has reached great stature across America. It is sad to see the series ending for now. The Huskies say they are trying to be ambitious with their scheduling, but I find this mind-boggling. Ambitious … nonsense. To be ambitious, drop the likes of Sacramento State and Nicholls State and keep a Gonzaga. That game is as natural as waking up and having a glass of orange juice. It should be played for all of the fans of the Pacific Northwest.
You can't be shocked to see the success of Tony Bennett out at Washington State and Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State. These guys have been around basketball all of their life. They have had basketball in their blood, learning about the sport from the day they were born because of their respective fathers – Dick Bennett and Eddie Sutton. They were just waiting for the opportunity to coach. The same can be said for Patrick Knight at Texas Tech and Keno Davis at Drake. When Robert Montgomery Knight and Dr. Tom Davis step down, their sons will be solid replacements because these youngsters have learned about hoops and how to lead.
Bob Huggins can't wait for the early Christmas gift. Bill Walker will be available to play for Kansas State this weekend. Walker was one of the premier high school forwards last season. It will change the whole complexion of the Kansas State lineup.
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.
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