This is odd for me. I usually get asked to go places and do things once, never twice. But as the great George Costanza said: "I'm back, baby!" Below you'll find my second round of college hoops musings.
Who the heck can score?
We now live in a world of adjusted offensive everything, but the game has always been about putting the ball in the basket. With scoring numbers down across the board, that appears to be exceedingly tough this season.
UCLA scored seven points -- that's seven, siete, sedam (Serbian) -- against Kentucky in the first half. Let's examine how this happens: UCLA played into UK's hands by dribbling into awful areas of the floor. When you drive the ball into the teeth of Kentucky's monstrous front line, it's a real problem. Once you're in a bad spot on the floor with the ball, one of three things is going to happen:
1. You take a terrible shot;
2. You struggle to get the ball out to a teammate;
3. You turn it over.
All three outcomes are bad.
The key is to be like Larry Bird and "think one Polaroid ahead." See the next play either before you make a move or while you are making an offensive move -- that's the "basketball instinct" we TV geniuses refer to ad nauseam. If you don't tap into that instinct, you end up like Harvard, which tied an all-time NCAA record by making one basket -- that's one, uno, jedan (Serbian) -- basket in the first half of a 76-27 loss to Virginia. It was 39-8 at halftime, and didn't feel that close. That said, Harvard shot 1-for-20 and still would have been up on UCLA 8-7.
The Crimson didn't think one Polaroid ahead, but of course you also have to give credit to Virginia, which is the most comfortable and connected defensive team I've seen in a long, long time. Here's how the Cavaliers do it:
• They always talk -- always: There are no switching mistakes or two guys jumping out on the same player.
• They are incredibly fundamentally sound: An example: Cavaliers players always square their shoulders to the sidelines when hedging ball-screens. Doing that forces the ball out towards halfcourt, basically eliminating the action.
• They help and recover: The Cavs get to the middle of the lane when the ball is two passes away to help on a drive, then recover out to their man when he gets the ball. Don't watch the ball when watching Virginia play defense -- watch the lane.
• They are the best defensive transition team I've seen in six years of broadcasting: There are no layups in transition, only contested jump shots.
When you combine the four points above with real size, quickness and a great coaching staff, it yields the third-best team in the country
What the heck is up with the Big Ten?
I'm not going to bore you with which school you've never heard of beating which Big Ten school; I'm going to tell you why the league has had a shaky season to date:
1) There aren't enough NBA players in the Big Ten. D'Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and the Wisconsin duo of Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker are all going to get drafted, but it's a pretty thin year otherwise. Name some other Big Ten players who can play in the league. Terran Petteway? Branden Dawson? A.J. Hammons? As the great Big Ten alum Cris Carter says: "C'mon, man!" The league was full of NBA guys throughout the '70s, '80s, '90s and early 2000s, and now -- even with expansion by three schools since 2011 -- it seems like there are none.
2) Big Ten teams don't score enough. I don't pay attention to nonconference statistics when discussing Big Ten teams because the schedules are so ridiculous, but the fact is if you play slow, close games, you have a better shot of getting beat by someone less talented. Who in the Big Ten can score 70-plus points every night? Answer: Wisconsin, Indiana, and maybe Minnesota, which has dropped 80-plus in its past six games. Indiana coach Tom Crean, who put together one of the league's more aggressive nonconference slates, has figured it out -- unless you're playing against a big man named Okafor or your opponents are wearing UK jerseys, they're probably just OK, so don't sweat it. Play small, play fast, score in the 80's and win baby win!
On a side note, this isn't a reason for the Big Ten struggling but I always forget Maryland's in the Big Ten. In fact, the Terps may be the second-best team in the league right now, and that Dec. 30 trip to Michigan State is a heck of a "welcome to The Big Ten" opportunity. Here's an interesting little tidbit as you're sitting around listening to Uncle Fern talk about his hip this holiday week: Terps freshman Melo Trimble leads the NCAA in free throws made (85 of 94).
Kentucky over Louisville by double digits, unless ...
UK wins big at KFC Yum! Center unless these things happen:
1) Terry Rozier makes a ton of shots. Rozier had 26 points against Indiana and 32 vs. Western Kentucky. The kid has to score.
2) UK can't make shots. Remember this about shooting -- unless you're a great shooter (think Steph Curry-Larry Bird good) -- the saying is "water finds its level." I know Devin Booker has been on fire, but he's due for a 1-for-10 night at some point.
3) Chris Jones goes Isiah injured ankle-in-the-playoffs crazy. Jones is one point guard who can go nuts and win it by himself in the second half. The problem with that is UK has lots of guards with great size and toughness.
Miscellaneous
• Cincinnati Bearcats coach Mick Cronin missed the Dec. 20 VCU game after being diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm. San Diego State's Dwayne Polee II collapsed during a game Monday night with UC Riverside. Both are having tests done to determine causes and course of treatment. Keep 'em in your prayers.
• Want a great college hoops follow on Twitter? Former Central Connecticut State coach, ESPN analyst and the current "King of The Mid-Majors" Mark Adams @EnthusiAdams. He has great thoughts and info on college hoops. I respect those who did it for a living!
• Scorers, I love scorers. Iona's A.J. English leads the NCAA in scoring at 23.4 per game. Great job. A.J., but "Pistol" Pete Maravich is watching and saying: "When did college hoops go to 20-minute games?" Let's go shoot the dang ball!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all you hoops fans, and those of you who stumbled upon this whilst having a late-night, holiday-week eggnog.