Off The Boards
By Jack Scheuer
March 9, 2016 Edition
In what will surely start arguments from all fronts, it’s time to pick the city’s best college basketball player.
Fortunately, there are only two choices to be considered. Problem is they both had terrific seasons playing for teams who had excellent years. Josh Hart followed up his impressive sophomore campaign by averaging 15.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, made numerous key baskets and is a tough defender. DeAndre’ Bembry scored at 17 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, is also strong defensively, and is obviously the team leader.
Not much to choose from between the two juniors, but Bembry does have a big edge in the assist department, 4.5 to 1.8, and is among the leaders nationally in minutes played. The 6-6 swing-man is also, without question, the leader of his team.
I know one theory is, when in doubt, the award should go to the best player on the best team, and that would be Hart. On the other hand, Villanova without him, would still be ranked high while Saint Joe’s, minus Bembry, wouldn’t be anywhere near 24 and 7.
So Bembry is my pick, and I can already hear the arguments, loud and clear.
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Drexel is looking for a coach, and Doug Overton is one of the names being mentioned, an excellent candidate in my opinion. However, let us consider this scenario: Larry Brown, who still has a home in the area, decides he’d like to finish out his long and distinguished career by coaching where he can live in his own house. He tells Drexel he’s available, and they love the idea, knowing the Hall of Famer will greatly help recruiting. So Brown becomes the coach, and Overton is named the associate-head coach, with the guarantee he will be the eventual successor.
Drexel is happy, Brown is happy, Overton is happy, and I’m happy because it was my idea. The whole thing is ridiculous you say? C’mon, we’re talking about Larry Brown here. Anything is possible.
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Trivia Time: Who is the only Div.1 coach to reach the Sweet 16 with four different schools? Answer at the end of the column. Big hint: He is still coaching.
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Okay astute basketball fans, answer this question: Which is the one word coaches use most, throughout the course of a game? (No profanity please). After a “Boards” national survey, the answer is….. “Hey.” And the all-time champion user is John Calipari.
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This and That: Every one talks about Ben Simmons being the obvious number one pick, but Kentucky’s 6-5 freshman guard Jamal Murray also looks like a sure-fire pro to me… And is there any doubt that Tyler Ulis is the best point guard in America?… Former Villanova standout Darrun Hilliard, after hardly playing most of the season, is finally getting some meaningful minutes with the Pistons…. Think Rutgers should have stayed in the Big East? In its first two seasons in the Big 10, the league record is 1 – 17. Ouch…. After turning it over 15 times against Tulane, Temple is now tied with Notre Dame for fewest turnovers in Division I with 276 (9.2 per game).
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Answer to Trivia Time: Lon Kruger, currently at Oklahoma, has taken the Sooners, Kansas State, UNLV and Florida to the Sweet 16.
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