FRONT OF THE RIM

AMEN. Your act got old months ago.

Have you ever heard a player say he doesn't like to play hurt? Obviously no one says this, but from having watched him play this summer it is my, and others, opinion. Someone who was at the Peach Jam said a player from an out of town team ask the Travellers team where Spalding was and when informed he "quit" the team responded "That doesn't surprise me because he was "soft" when we play againest him". As I said, time will tell.

McDonald will be a much better player in college than some people think because he is a total team player. As good a passing big man as you will see. Used to break presses. Extremely good basketball IQ. Will he average 20 a game? No, because that's not what he does. Will his team be much better when he is in the game than when he isn't? without a doubt. People love spactacular dunks, etc. which isn't his game, but if you need a basket he will get it. People always surprised after a game when they see his stats because his points and rebounds are "quite" but still count the same. Regarding Spalding, he can be very special IF he changes his work ethic. Have seen him a number of times and he never goes 100% very long. As for the injuries, he doesn't like to play if it hurts. He has plenty of time to change, but if he doesn't he won't see the light of day at Louisville. Time will tell, as potential is just potential until it is realized. I know a number of people will disagree with this assesment, but let it play out and we will see who is right.

How many All A tournaments have you seen to make the observation there are usually no decent teams? In the past 10 years NewCath/Holy Cross have almost had a free pass to the state finals in AA football. Very seldom even challanged with a lot of running clocks. This has NOT been the case in All A basketball. Since you never went to a small school it obviously bothers you that smaller schools get some attention, but keep telling yourself it doesn't mean anything if that makes you feel better.

I think he moved back to Mississippi after the basketball season, all expenses paid.

Well, I guess to each his own. I just think doing it this way you still won't KNOW where you actually stand even if you win nationals at a lower level. I mean, from what I have read you have some REALLY good players so why sell yourself short.

I would have thought that the kids would want to play in the best division to measure themselves rather than try to win in a lower division. I noticed Hoop Dreams are playing in the Super Showcase, so I thought the Ville would play in that division also.

You got it. Then it is just a matter of which one is the best fit for the individual student.

I refereed when Clooney played at Augusta. One time he flopped trying to take a charge and I told him to get up, that he was a terrible actor. Guess I missed that call.

Typical of all of these type of games. Two players for each team took more than half the team's shots. Why bring the other guys along. Five guys from Indiana didn't even play 10 minutes.

Thanks anyway.

Any details on scoring, etc.

I don't have any kids attending either school, but if I were to spend over $6,000 a year in tuition I don't think it is fair to tell me I can only send my child to a specific school. You really think a number of kids at NCC for instance who would be forced to go to Brossart because of where they live would actually go there? They would simply choose Campbell Co. or Highlands. See where the enrollments for both schools would go then. A parent who is willing to spend that kind of money should not be forced to choose one school over another simply to keep that school afloat. As was mentioned before, "Build it and they will come".

Why is it just open season on the kids from Brossart feeders? Kids from other feeder systems can go to Brossart if they choose. The train runs both ways.

Where would this new building be? How would it be paid for? What becomes of the current campuses? If it where to be built in Cold Spring they would loose most of the inner city kids for sure, and if it were built in ,say, Southgate they would loose a lot of county kids. The area it would cover is way too large and both schools have roots that would not allow it. Theoretically sounds good but WAY too many hurdles for it to happen.

I don't. Why?

I wanted to clarify something that was mentioned in this morning's paper. It mentioned that Bolden had a very game on Saturday, which he did, but that McDonald didn't play. To be perfectly clear, McDonald WAS NOT INVITED to play in Saturday's game by the selection committee. They picked a core of 6 players who were supposed to play in BOTH games and 6 players who were supposed to play Friday and 6 DIFFERENT players who were supposed to play in Saturday's game. McDonald was selecteted to play Friday but not Saturday (for whatever reason). So he was NOT one of the players who did not show for Saturday's game. The coaching staff, if they knew in advance 3 players were not going to be there Saturday easily could have asked 3 players from Friday's team to also play Saturday, but they didn't. If McDonald had been asked he certainly would have been there, and undoubtedly would have helped them. The whole selection process was a mess from beginning to end.

Why only 9 players? The Ky selection committee did a terrible selecting and replacing players. If guys aren't going to show up replace them. I don't think a player seklected this year who didn't show up without a LEGITIMATE reason should be eligible for the senior game next year.

If kids want to be noticed they have to play outside their region. High school coaches have an obligation, I believe, to get in the Louisville and and Lexington type tourneys to give their kids exposure. Then you have a real sounding board to compare them with the other elite kids in the stste. Until then, it will always be IF you could see them play.

Put a smaller guy on McDonald and he will post him up and kill him. He has no problem scoring on players his own size also. Never realized you got "style" points on how your shot looked either. People need to see him night in and night out to appreciate everything else he does on the floor. How many big men on top 10 teams were second on their team in assists in addition to being the leading scorer and rebounder?

Schulte from NewCath

I heard that the method used of comparing records of the 4 teams against the established field of 21 as the tie breaker was actually suggested by someone outside the selection committee. The 2 teams playing the play in game had idenical records resulting in the playoff. Great way to break the tie, and congrats to whoever came up with the suggestion.

Great news. This team seems to be playing well and hopefully will do well in Peach Jam. Congratulations.

Or Justice.

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