Jan. 18
THE TONY AWARDS
I recently sat down with Tennessee guard Tony Harris and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.
I asked him to pick the five SEC players he would want on his team (excluding his own Volunteer teammates).
The five he tabbed were:
Joe Johnson, Arkansas
Rod Grizzard, Alabama
D.A. Layne, Georgia
Keith Bogans, Kentucky
Udonis Haslem, Florida
That's a pretty impressive five, baby -- hey, let's give them all Tony Awards!
TOUGH BREAKS FOR UTAH, FLORIDA
It has been a rough season for the Runnin' Utes. First came the tough times for Rick Majerus. We all wish Rick the best of luck and look forward to seeing him back on the sidelines next season.
The Utes suffered a blow when Chris Burgess, the transfer from Duke, fractured his ankle. He is expected to be out six to eight weeks.
Then there is Florida. My heart goes out to Billy Donovan. He loses Brent Wright and Teddy Dupay to injuries, and now guard Justin Hamilton suffers an ACL injury that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season.
The Gators look like an All-Band Aid team right now. Florida suffered a tough setback against Georgia on Wednesday night in Gainesville.
A-10 SHOWDOWN
What a matchup coming up in the Atlantic 10 as Skip Prosser's Xavier Musketeers take on surprising St. Joseph's.
Phil Martelli's team is on a big-time roll, with victories over Dayton and Temple in a three-day span. I think the Hawks have one of the nation's most underrated backcourts. Keep an eye on the tandem of Marvin O'Connor, the transfer from Villanova, and diaper dandy Jameer Nelson.
David West of Xavier has developed into a force inside. He had 26 big points in a win over George Washington.
This figures to be a great battle.
STAYING FOCUSED
I was really impressed with the big three of Maryland -- Juan Dixon, Terence Morris and Lonny Baxter -- in Wednesday's win over Wake Forest. Just how good is the ACC? The Demon Deacons have suffered three road losses in league play, and we know how good Dave Odom's team is!
The Terps have a dangerous trap this weekend, going down to Raleigh to face N.C. State. The Wolfpack, coming off a big win (much-needed) over Georgia Tech, has some momentum now.
N.C. State is 25-5 at its new Entertainment and Sports Arena. If Maryland is to be one of the nation's elite teams, it must stay focused to win big games on the road.
Jan. 16
TRAVELING MAN
Do you know that Maryland guard Steve Blake's dad, Richard, doesn't like to fly? He takes a van from Miami Lakes, Fla. to College Park, Md. on a regular basis to see his son play.
That trip is 1,150 miles and usually takes about 19 hours. Richard Blake has a real fear of flying; a plane he was in more than 10 years ago made an emergency landing due to engine problems. That would be scary for anyone, and now he doesn't want anything to do with airplanes.
He sounds like an ideal member for the All-John Madden team!
UNSUNG DIAPER DANDIES
In the world of college basketball, there have been a number of impact diaper dandies. Many have received publicity, players like Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall, Zach Randolph of Michigan State, Omar Cook of St. John's.
There are a number of standout diaper dandies who deserve more ink, baby! At St. Joseph's, Phil Martelli has an outstanding point guard in Jameer Nelson. He has been bothered by an ankle injury, though he makes crowd-pleasing passes and the Hawks have been among the best in the A-10 so far this season.
Since gaining his eligibility, Tito Maddox has been sensational for Fresno State. He sat out the first eight games, and his presence has been a key for Jerry Tarkanian's club. Maddox is an outstanding passer.
Willie Shaw of St. John's can really hit the trifecta. He forms a dynamic diaper-dandy tandem with Cook. Gerald Fitch didn't come to Kentucky as a heralded McDonald's All-America but rather as a good prospect. He has now won a starting berth with his quickness and shooting ability.
At Mississippi, Justin Reed has put up big points on the board for Rod Barnes' surprising Rebels.
Those are some of the unknown diaper dandies.
