Basketball

Expensive Lesson: Gun is Not a Joke - Gilbert Arenas
Leonard Pitts Jr.

A gun is not a joke. Maybe Gilbert Arenas gets that now. But look at what it cost him to learn: his NBA livelihood, his reputation, maybe his freedom. But even at that, you could argue that Gilbert Arenas is a lucky man.

When Good Athletes Behave Badly - Gilbert Arenas
Clarence Page

Over the years I have often had the pleasure of introducing my son to significant people as politically diverse as Barack Obama and Pat Buchanan. (Welcome to my world, kid.) He turned the tables on me one day in his early teens when he rushed across Washington's Reagan National Airport to introduce himself to basketball star Gilbert Arenas.

UNC Basketball Coach Roy Williams: Be Led By Your Dreams

One thing that makes college basketball so enjoyable, yet at the same time so challenging, is that each year the team is different. There are new players, and you may ask the student-athletes who return from the previous season to play new roles. Team chemistry changes, and the attitudes and relationships that ebb and flow from wins and losses always take on a new life. The constant is a need for outstanding leadership

Michael Jordan in Action NBA Basketball Hall of Famer

Michael Jordan: Life After Glory
By Mitch Albom

"This is not fun for me," Michael Jordan told reporters.

He was not being arrested. He was not being publicly humiliated. He was not being forced to fox trot on "Dancing With the Stars."

Michael Jordan had been selected for the Basketball Hall Of Fame. The pantheon of his sport.

And he was unhappy. His reason . . .

"Your basketball career is completely over. That's the way I look at it. I was hoping this day was coming in 20 more years, or that I'd actually go in when I'm dead and done...."

It's Not March Madness Without a Massive Investment in Consumer Electronics...

You could watch the NCAA Tournament on an old-school TV. But why would you?

(I watch games in regular definition because my cable provider doesn't carry the MSG Network in HD. Every time I flip to a game, it makes me feel like I've been transported back to 1982. Yet another reason to avoid watching the Knicks, I suppose.)

If you're still getting your system configured for this week's four-day hoop-a-thon, About.com's guide to Home Theater has some tips on configuring your system to maximize your viewing pleasure. Follow his advice, and soon you'll be able to see every pore on Bob Huggins' face... you'll thank me for it later.

Madness on the Go

If you insist on leaving your couch between Thursday and Sunday -- an action I cannot, in good conscience, recommend -- you might want to consider downloading one of these March Madness Apps for iPhone.

It's Not March Madness Without a Massive Investment in Consumer Electronics... originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 17:50:31.

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The Most Dominant Team in College Hoops...

Is Nike. Team Swoosh confirmed on Twitter this morning:

@nikebasketball: NCAA Men's Tournament Breakdown - 65 teams: 49 wear Nike shoes, 3 wear Brand Jordan shoes.

The Most Dominant Team in College Hoops... originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 09:03:07.

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NCAA Tournament Brackets and Predictions

The field is set, and now the real fun begins... that most sacred of springtime rituals, "The Filling of the Brackets." Here are my... educated guesses as to how the 2010 NCAA Tournament will play out. Feel free to use them in your office pool... but your mileage may vary.

Midwest Region: Top overall seed Kansas should advance -- but a tough matchup in the regional final against either Evan Turner and the Ohio State Buckeyes or Greg Monroe and the Georgetown Hoyas is a major obstacle.

West Region: The biggest challenge for Syracuse might be getting center Arinze Onuaku healthy. Without that big fella in the middle, Syracuse's chances of advancing to Indianapolis take a significant hit.

East Region: Kentucky has talent for days -- but is incredibly reliant on freshmen. Does that come back to bite John Calipari?

South Region: Duke is the headliner in what appears to be the weakest bracket. Could a sleeper emerge from the South?

Final Four Picks: Who will reach Indianapolis?

NCAA Tournament Brackets and Predictions originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 23:12:11.

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Houston Upsets UTEP for C-USA Crown

The Houston Cougars are headed back to the big dance for the first time since 1992 after upsetting No. 25 UTEP in the Conference USA title game.

Tom Penders becomes the fourth coach in Division I history to bring four different teams to the Big Dance.

More 2010 NCAA Tournament Teams:

2010 Automatic Bids

Houston Upsets UTEP for C-USA Crown originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 15:35:58.

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Lehigh Wins Patriot League

Winning a league title and bid to the Big Dance is always sweet. Beating your biggest rival while you're at it? Even sweeter. The Mountain Hawks of Lehigh are headed back to the Big Dance for the first time since 2006 after beating Lafayette in the Patriot League final.

The longtime rivals are neighbors, separated by a 25-minute drive in eastern Pennsylvania.

More 2010 NCAA Tournament Teams:

2010 Automatic Bids

Lehigh Wins Patriot League originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 12:15:13.

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Seth Greenberg's Mad Range

Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg's name keeps coming up as a potential replacement for Norm Roberts at St. John's. And why not? Greenberg is a native New Yorker with deep ties to the city hoop scene -- he played for Fairleigh Dickinson in New Jersey, and his dad played for the legendary Clair Bee at LIU. He's been successful at the highest levels of college basketball, but won't command the exorbitant salary a Billy Donovan or Rick Pitino would require. He's good with the media -- a key when you're competing with the Yankees and Knicks and Giants and Jets for air time.

And as this video shows, he's got crazy range on his hook shot.

Seth Greenberg's Mad Range originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 14:31:29.

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Robert Morris, Montana Clinch Tournament Berths

The Northeast and Big Sky Conferences crowned champions yesterday -- and 14 of 65 spots in this year's NCAA Tournament are now officially spoken for.

Northeast Conference: The Colonials' stifling defense held regular-season champions Quinnipiac to just 50 points and won Robert Morris a second straight NEC Title and automatic bid.

Big Sky Conference: Montana mounted a furious comeback from a 22-point deficit to beat Weber State for the Big Sky title.

More 2010 NCAA Tournament Teams:

2010 Automatic Bids

Robert Morris, Montana Clinch Tournament Berths originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 11:27:43.

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The Audacity of Hope Reaches Madison Square Garden

The Knicks haven't posted a winning record since 2001. Their last playoff appearance came in 2004. They have no first-round draft pick this year. But despite all that, season tickets for the 2010-11 campaign are selling like hotcakes.

CNBC's Darren Rovell reports the Knicks have taken deposits on 1,800 new season tickets -- that's more than they sold even in their Patrick Ewing/Pat Riley heyday.

The only possible explanation?

Fans think they're getting LeBron.

I'm less optimistic on that point. The Knicks have a shot to sign LBJ, but several other teams will have the cap room to make King James an offer -- and many of those will be much closer to title contention than a Knick team that will have just four players under contract as of July 1.

Still, it's remarkable that a fan base that has suffered through the Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas regimes still has enough faith in the franchise to commit big dollars on the mere possibility of a big-time free agent's arrival. Of course, it also raises the possibility of some really ugly reactions if, say, LeBron says in Cleveland and D-Wade in Miami, and the Knicks are left to rebuild around the likes of Joe Johnson and Marcus Camby.

The Audacity of Hope Reaches Madison Square Garden originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 17:43:11.

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Brandon Knight, Parents Split on School Choice

Last week we suggested top 2010 recruit Brandon Knight would become the next in a string of elite point guards to play for John Calipari.

SNY's Adam Zagoria is reporting that Knight's parents favor UK, but Knight himself is leaning towards staying closer to home. That could mean the Florida native will play for Billy Donovan and the Gators... but the Wildcats are the front-runner at this point.

Kansas, Miami and UConn are also reportedly in the mix.

Brandon Knight, Parents Split on School Choice originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 15:17:23.

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Butler, Oakland and North Texas Goin' Dancin'

Three more league champions earned tickets to the Big Dance on Tuesday, including one that could make noise in the tourney.

Horizon League: Butler dismantled Wright State in the Horizon League final, and will return to the Big Dance for the fourth straight year. The number 12 team in the nation should land a three or four seed on Selection Sunday, and will enter the tournament with the longest active winning streak in Division I. The Bulldogs will be looking to erase the memory of last year's early exit -- and hoping to reach the Final Four, which will be played in their home town of Indianapolis.

Horizon League: Oakland returns to the Big Dance for the second time in school history.

Sun Belt: North Texas' school-record 24th win sends the Mean Green back to the tournament for the second time in four years.

More 2010 NCAA Tournament Teams:

2010 Automatic Bids

Butler, Oakland and North Texas Goin' Dancin' originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 14:54:25.

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About Basketball
Basketball

NBA Rookie Rankings: The Big 5
David Thorpe breaks down the five best rookies and updates the progress on other first-rounders.

Lakers run streak against Warriors to 9 games
Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Pau Gasol added 26 to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their ninth straight victory over the Golden State Warriors, 124-121 Monday night.

Rockets rally to end Nuggets' 6-game win streak
Aaron Brooks swished a jumper with 2.9 seconds left and scored 31 points to help the Houston Rockets rally for a 125-123 victory over Denver on Monday night, snapping the Nuggets' six-game winning streak.

Gilbert Arenas of Washington Wizards, in interview: 'I deserve to be punished'
Gilbert Arenas says he deserves to be punished for bringing guns to the locker room.

Shaquille O'Neal returns to Cavs, starts rehab on thumb
Injured Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal has rejoined the Cavaliers.

Celtics rebound by coasting to win vs. Pistons
Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Michael Finley scored 15 points apiece, helping the Celtics coast to a 119-93 victory over the Pistons.

Knicks stop 76ers, get second straight road win
Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points, Toney Douglas added 20 and the New York Knicks won their second straight on the road by rallying past the struggling Philadelphia 76ers, 94-84 on Monday night.

Boozer's 23 points fuel Jazz's rout of Wizards
Carlos Boozer scored 23 points, Deron Williams notched his 35th double-double of the season, and the Utah Jazz ended a two-game losing streak with a 112-89 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Miami Heat see Dorell Wright return to team
An emotional Dorell Wright returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Monday, four days after being arrested on a driving under the influence charge and being suspended by the team for two games.

Several Bulls missed pratice on Monday
Several Bulls missed pratice on Monday

Suns assigns first-round pick Earl Clark to NBA Development League
The Phoenix Suns have assigned first-round draft pick Earl Clark to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher ponders coaching after playing days are done
Lakers' Derek Fisher ponders coaching after playing days are done.

Miami Heat eyeing Kenny Hasbrouck to fill vacant roster spot
With two roster spots available to fill, the Miami Heat are on the cusp of signing former Siena shooting guard Kenny Hasbrouck, a deal that could be done as early as Monday.

Indiana Pacers' T.J. Ford expected to miss seven to 10 days
Pacers point guard T.J. Ford is expected to miss seven to 10 days with a sore left groin.

Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich says he didn't intend to bump referee
The Bulls' Kirk Hinrich says he didn't intend to bump referee Bennie Adams.

LeBron, Cavs break down Celtics in second half
LeBron James scored 30 points, 24 in the second half, and Cleveland wore down the aging Boston Celtics for a 104-93 victory on Sunday, the Cavaliers' second decisive win over one of the East's premier teams in less than a month.

ESPN.com - NBA
Latest NBA news from ESPN.com

Pistons' Prince limps from game with sore back
Detroit forward Tayshaun Prince limped off the court with assistance during the first quarter of the Pistons' game Monday night against Boston.

Shaq rejoins Cavs after thumb surgery
Injured Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal has rejoined the Cavaliers.

Suns assign rookie Clark to Energy in D-League
The Phoenix Suns have assigned first-round draft pick Earl Clark to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Wright apologizes for DUI arrest, returns to Heat
An emotional Dorell Wright returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Monday, four days after being arrested on a driving under the influence charge and being suspended by the team for two games.

Bucks' Bogut, Trail Blazers' Roy named Players of the Week
The Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut and the Portland Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 8-14.

Arenas: 'I deserve to be punished' for gun prank
Gilbert Arenas says he deserves to be punished for bringing guns to the locker room.

With roster spots to fill, Heat eyeing Hasbrouck
With two roster spots available to fill, the Miami Heat are on the cusp of signing former Siena shooting guard Kenny Hasbrouck, a deal that could be done as early as Monday.

Heat's O'Neal tossed after tussle with Sixers' Dalembert
Jermaine O'Neal has been ejected from the Miami Heat's game against Philadelphia after grabbing Samuel Dalembert's face.

Okur, Kirilenko sit out Jazz game vs. Thunder
Center Mehmet Okur and forward Andrei Kirilenko were missing from Utah's starting lineup Sunday night as the Jazz played a key game for playoff positioning at Oklahoma City.

Heat's Beasley misses second game with bruised thigh
Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley is sitting out his second game in a row because of a bruised left thigh.

NBA.com: News
NBA.com delivers the latest news, video, and scores from around the NBA league.

FanHouse: Are Blue Devils vulnerable in South?

Andy Staples: In NCAA tournament selection unconscious human bias exists
Does bias exist in the selection process? Yes, it's human nature.

Assault case dropped against UCLA's Dragovic
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A felony assault charge has been dropped against UCLA basketball forward Nikola Dragovic who was accused of assaulting a man after a concert in Hollywood.

Tourney-bound Murray State player's mom dies
MURRAY, Ky. (AP) -- The mother of Murray State reserve guard Picasso Simmons was killed in a car crash Monday, on the eve of the team's departure for the NCAA tournament.

Calhoun had to nix retirement buzz for recruiting
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun says it's been difficult to convince players to come to Connecticut when other people are telling them he's about to retire.

Charlotte dumps coach Lutz
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Less than two months ago, Bobby Lutz was seemingly in the middle of a dramatic turnaround at Charlotte. The 49ers were 18-5, alone in first place in the Atlantic 10, and had wins over NCAA tournament-bound teams Louisville, Richmond and Temple.

Iowa cans Lickliter after 3rd straight losing year
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa athletic director Gary Barta saw the Hawkeyes rack up loss after loss in an often half-empty arena and decided he'd seen enough.

KU unanimous No. 1 in final poll
Kansas was on top of the preseason poll and the Jayhawks were in the same spot in the season's final Top 25.

Big East Conference will stay put in Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The Big East Conference is staying in Providence, the league's home for more than 30 years, Mayor David Cicilline announced Monday.