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Roundball Chatter
Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
December 22, 2006
Each Friday during the season I'll give my thoughts on the game I love, college basketball.
What a great match-up on Saturday and I am not talking about the gridiron and the national championship, baby! It's the Gators of Florida against the Buckeyes of Ohio State and we're talking hoops! This could be a prelim for what we see at March Madness in Atlanta. These two teams could be in the mix with a say on who stands tall and cuts down the nets. Can the Buckeyes win in front of the Rowdy Reptiles. One key will be inside as Greg Oden must dominate against Joakim Noah and company. With Oden's presence defensively, there is more pressure on Florida's Lee Humphrey to hit the three. If you don't make threes against Ohio State, it is tough to get to the winner's circle. This game is in Gator Country and on their floor so they will be tough to beat. If these teams meet in March, that will be even more special.
This is a quality weekend with Texas against Tennessee; Boston College being welcomed to Lawrence, Kansas to face the Jayhawks; Michigan meeting No. 1 UCLA, and Bob Knight having a shot to tie Dean Smith's record when Texas Tech meets Bucknell. Wow! Chris Lofton of the Vols has scored 20-plus points in five straight games. The Eagles have been given a lift with the shot-blocking presence of Sean Williams. The Wolverines come in with a 12-1 record, but they haven't faced anyone with a national reputation. Facing the Bruins is a test and a shocking win at Pauley Pavilion would really impress the committee. Getting it done and showing you can play with the big boys would be a plus.
Pearl has reason to have enthusiasm and energy and the win over Oklahoma State earlier in the week was a major plus. Lofton started off slowly but lately he has shown why he is one of the premier scorers in the SEC.
Congratulations to a pair of coaches on recent milestones. Billy Donovan became Florida's all-time winningest coach, passing Norm Sloan. Donovan set the school record when the Gators beat Stetson Wednesday. Texas coach Rick Barnes recently earned his 400th career victory.
You have to be impressed by Duke's 49-game, non-conference homecourt win streak. Mike Krzyzewski's team made it 49 in a row by beating Kent State at Cameron Indoor Stadium earlier in the week.
The state of Georgia has to be lucky to have two classy, quality leaders in their big-time programs. Paul Hewitt and Dennis Felton have so much class and they square off Friday. Felton's Bulldogs have not received the kind of publicity they deserve and the recent big win over Gonzaga should open some eyes. Levi Stukes and Mike Mercer are quality athletes. Remember, Felton came into Georgia at a tough, tough time. Hewitt's squad will have its share of ups and downs with two key freshmen, Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton. It takes time to adjust to the college game. It is always an interesting in-state rivalry, plus pride is on the line with SEC vs. ACC.
Injuries certainly made news during the week. Tennessee's Dane Bradshaw had an MRI on his ailing shoulder. Georgia guard Sundiata Gaines suffered an injured ankle. California big man DeVon Hardin suffered a sprained foot. Syracuse forward Terrence Roberts suffered a knee injury.
Great to see that Providence is honoring two great coaches. On January 6, school will honor Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt. The floor at the Dunkin' Donuts Center will be named in honor of Coach Gavitt, a tribute supported by a resolution passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly. A banner honoring Gavitt and Mullaney will be hoisted to the rafters of the Dunkin' Donuts Center in tribute of their success.
Auburn got a boost with the addition of forward Quan Prowell, who sat out the team's first 11 games due to a violation of a team rule. Jeff Lebo's squad gave Pittsburgh a battle earlier this season and the Tigers will be tougher now that they are at full strength.
Sidney Lowe got some more bodies as two members of the football team have joined the basketball squad. 6-4 Jarvis Williams and 6-5 Darrell Davis, both former high school athletes from Florida, are on the Wolfpack hoop team now.
Connecticut has been dominating early. Master motivator and Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun knows he has a young squad and he has scheduled accordingly. When you are in that position you can call your shots. The real indicator of how this team is progressing will come with two road games – against West Virginia (December 30) and LSU (January 6). After those games, we will all get a better evaluation of how good the Huskies are. Watching them, you can see the talent and athleticism is there, and we know that shot-blocking and coaching is there.
Congratulations to Todd Bozeman, who got his first win as Morgan State coach when his squad beat East Carolina Monday.
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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