YES – LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I HAVE HEARD THIS SAD NEWS.
In fact, I was in my bathroom when I overheard the TV news person announce Bill Walton’s death;
I didn’t even know he was sick with cancer, which the UCLA and NBA (including a stint with the Clippers) legend apparently didn’t want anyone to know.
Unlike more or less everyone else, I enjoyed his commentary at basketball games, particularly Pac-12 and UCLA contests.
And a personal fun fact:
I had the pleasure of meeting Walton and getting his autograph while a student in Westwood and a member of the UCLA band in February of 1990;
It was after the game where he and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had their numbers retired as Pauley Pavilion was celebrating its 25th anniversary, so it was obviously a big day for Bruin Nation as Bill and Kareem’s numbers, along with Ann Meyers Drysdale and Denise Curry on the women’s side, were the first to be retired by UCLA basketball.
Bill, along with Ann and Denise, signed my game program, which I still have to this day.
I’ll leave listing all his basketball exploits – the 44 points in the 1973 NCAA Championship Game and the 1977 and 1986 NBA titles that he won with the Portland Trailblazers and the Boston Celtics, respectively – to the other news sources,
But I will state this as far as his career…
As far as physical durability and injury issues over the course of a stellar sports career,
Baseball had Mickey Mantle.
Basketball had Bill Walton.
I honestly can’t think of two other sports legends who had bigger problems staying healthy than those two;
As far as Walton, I felt sympathetic over all the issues he had with his feet in particular and his back after his playing days were over as the man was apparently living in agony.
I saw and very much enjoyed his ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, which only reinforced my sympathies.
And with his hippie-like, non-conformist personality and lifestyle in his protesting the Vietnam War, being a big fan of the Grateful Dead, and his clashes with Coach John Wooden during his UCLA days,
Including a famous story of how coming off an undefeated, national championship season in which he was voted National Player of the Year, he arrived at the first Bruin practice of the following season sporting a beard, which was against team rules, and telling Wooden that it was his right to wear a beard with the great coach replying,
“I admire a person who stands up for his beliefs, I really do. And the team will miss you.”
Which sent Bill rushing on his bicycle to the nearest barber in Westwood to get arguably the fastest shave and haircut of all time.
It should obviously go without saying that this man will be VERY MUCH missed on a PRONOUNCED scale, especially in Bruin Nation.
Rest In Peace Bill Walton,
And be sure to give John Wooden our most highest regards.
The big redhead doing battle during his UCLA days…
Though it has been about a year and a half since I wrote and posted my choices for an all-time football team from the movie world,
I reckoned that with March Madness – also known as the NCAA Basketball Tournament (both men’s and women’s) – upon us,
Being that in the opinion of myself and millions of other hoops fans that 68-team, single elimination affair is the best thing that basketball has to offer,
It was high time that I offered an all-time hard court team from the movie world,
The only stipulation being, like in football, that the characters be fictional,
Which is why William Gates and Arthur Agee, those memorable high school players from the Chicago area who were featured in the 1994 documentary classic Hoop Dreams, are unfortunately not mentioned here, being that they are real life people.
So let’s just get to it,
Here is my all-time fictional basketball team from the movies and television…
Warren Coolidge, Carver High School – played by Byron Stewart in The White Shadow
James Hayward, Carver High School – played by Thomas Carter in The White Shadow
Morris Thorpe, Carver High School – played by Kevin Hooks in The White Shadow
Jimmy Chitwood, Hickory High School – played by Maris Valanis in Hoosiers
Sidney Dean, Los Angeles outdoor courts – played by Wesley Snipes in White Men Can’t Jump
Billy Hoyle, Los Angeles outdoor courts – played by Woody Harrelson in White Men Can’t Jump
Monica Wright, Crenshaw High School, USC Trojans, and the Los Angeles Sparks – played by Sanaa Lathan in Love and Basketball
Neon Boudeaux, Western University Dolphins – played by Shaquille O’Neal in Blue Chips
Butch McRae, Western University Dolphins – played by Penny Hardaway in Blue Chips
Ricky Roe, Western University Dolphins – played by Matt Nover in Blue Chips
Jesus Shuttlesworth, Lincoln High School – played by Ray Allen in He Got Game
Moses Guthrie, Pittsburgh Pisces – played by Julius Erving in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (which was a TERRIBLE movie!)
Julie Connor, Deering High School – played by Daniella Deutscher in Hang Time
The Coaches:
Norman Dale, Hickory High School – played by Gene Hackman in Hoosiers
Ken Reeves, Carver High School – played by Ken Howard in The White Shadow
I’m only speaking for myself here,
But I believe I can win a string of championships with these hoopsters.
Just like in my all-time fictional movie/TV football choices,
These picks are strictly and only my opinion.
If there are any names that are left out that you feel should be added to this team, please write them down in the comments section below.
And watch for my choices for the all-time movie baseball team, which is something I’m particularly looking forward to sharing, next month;
Just in time for the beginning of baseball season!
Record: 23-8, 16-4 and second place in the Big West Conference
BIG WEST TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS, beating UC Davis 53-39 on March 16th for the title
Won 10 of their last 11 games
Rank: None
Seed: #13 in the Portland 4 Region
First Round Opponent: #4 seed Gonzaga, Saturday, March 23rd in Spokane, WA
Coach: Tamara Inoue
Key Players:
Deja Lee, G – 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Moulayana Johnson Sidi-Baba, G – 11.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Nevaeh Parkinson, C – 8.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Diaba Konate, G – 7.6 ppg, 3.7 apg
*CAL BAPTIST LANCERS (women)
Record: 28-3, 18-2 and first place in the Western Athletic Conference
WAC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
WAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS, beating Stephen F. Austin, 75-74, on March 16th
Undefeated at home (14-0)
Won their last nine games
Beat So Cal teams Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton along with San Diego State
Rank: None
Seed: #15 in the Albany 2 Region
First Round Opponent: #2 seed and 6th ranked UCLA, Saturday, March 23rd, in Pauley Pavilion
Coach: Jarrod Olson
Key Players:
Chloe Webb, G – 21.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg
Filipa Barros, G – 12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.3 apg
Grace Schmidt, F – 12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Khloe Lemon, G – 12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Kinsley Barrington, F – 10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Nae Nae Calhoun, G – 6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.7 apg
*LONG BEACH STATE “THE BEACH” (men)
Record: 21-14, 10-10 and tied for fifth place in the Big West Conference
THE ONLY MEN’S TEAM FROM SO CAL IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
BIG WEST TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS, beating UC Riverside, #1 seed UC Irvine, and #2 seed UC Davis, 74-70, for the title
Beat Michigan, 94-86, on November 17th
Beat USC, 84-79, on December 10th
Lost their last five games before the Big West Tournament
Rank: None
Seed: #15 in the West Regional
First Round Opponent: #2 seed and 9th ranked Arizona, Thursday, March 21st in Salt Lake City, UT
Coach: Dan Monson
Key Players:
Marcus Tsohonis, G – 17.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Jadon James, G – 12.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Lassina Traore, F – 12.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg
Aboubacar Traore, F – 12.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.5 apg
AJ George, G – 10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Bruins and Trojans battling in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals. Photo courtesy of si.com
A player from Long Beach State driving against UCLA a few years ago…
Riverside’s own Cal Baptist Lancers celebrating their 2021 WAC championship…
UCLA and USC getting it on a few years ago…
THOUGHTS & PREDICTIONS…
USC: This is a team that’s not only hot, with one of the best players in the country who is definitely the best freshman player in the country by a large margin,
But also hungry, which is a bigger factor this time of year.
That hunger was clearly shown during the Pac-12 Tournament in their defeat of their crosstown rivals in double overtime in particular, along with another double overtime triumph over Arizona at the end of February.
They’ve certainly shown that they can perform well without their all-universe Supergirl JuJu Watkins,
But does that lead me to see them in the Final Four in Cleveland on April 5th?
My honest answer: no.
While I think they’re capable of giving teams like South Carolina, Iowa, Connecticut and LSU a battle if given the opportunity,
It’s just too hard for me to see them cutting down any nets.
Which leads me to this official prediction for those Women of Troy…
ELITE EIGHT
UCLA: If you asked me what I thought my alma mater’s chances are at postseason glory three months ago, especially after beating ‘SC on the day before New Year’s Eve (which I saw at Pauley Pavilion),
I would have confidently predicted a spot in the Final Four for those Bruins.
However,
As much as I would like to feel the same way now,
It’s difficult to do so due to their pedestrian 10-6 record that they have sported since that blistering 15-0 start.
In fact, those band of Cori Close’s Bruins remind me of former UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, known to Bruin Nation as DTR, in the sense that as talented as that team is, they have made too many mistakes at the worst times that have cost them games,
Like their last two outings vs the Trojans, especially their battle in the Pac-12 Tournament.
Which is why while I’m predicting them to make it to the second weekend, assuming they get past the first round in particular (more on that in a bit)
Being that they would be slated to most likely play defending champion LSU in the third round,
For this UCLA team, I’m officially predicting the…
SWEET SIXTEEN
UC IRVINE: A good, solid mid-major team that had a good, solid season.
If those Anteaters’ first tourney game vs the Zags were anywhere other than their home court in Spokane, I would give UCI a chance at pulling off the upset.
But as that first round game is a home affair for Gonzaga,
My prediction for UC Irvine is…
ONE & DONE
CAL BAPTIST: As a UCLA alum, I need to be honest here.
Even though this Lancer team from my early childhood hometown in Riverside is a 15 seed playing a two seed, who happens to be my alma mater, on the Bruins’ hallowed court for the first time ever,
This game concerns me.
For all my fellow Bruins gasping in shock and screaming how crazy I am,
Let me state the reasons why I’m concerned about those Lancers…
With them winning 28 of their 31 games and not losing on their home court, that Cal Baptist team is no joke
This upcoming match with one of the storied elite blue-blooded colleges in the nation whose number of national championships is surpassed only by Stanford, who’s also the number one public institution in the country, is an ABSOLUTE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME for those Lancers
With so many of their players having very good seasons, Cal Baptist will undoubtedly go into their first round battle with the big, bad Bruins with a mindset of having ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LOSE – and I’m sure that they’ll play like that.
Which will make those Lancers dangerous as a very large percentage of their students and fans will be in Pauley supporting that team.
While I’m not officially predicting the shocking upset, that does not mean that Cal Baptist should be taken lightly.
At all.
My prediction for the Lancers is ONE & DONE.
But depending on how UCLA comes out against the Lancers, I certainly hope I’m right.
LONG BEACH STATE: I give that program all the respect and props in the world for playing such great basketball in their Big West Tourney and knocking off those three U.C. schools to punch their ticket to the Big Dance,
Especially since they had fired their coach not long before due to their regular season-ending five game losing skid.
As for their chances vs Arizona in Salt Lake, however,
This is a fairly easy thing for me to predict as “The Beach” will most likely not be able to hang with those ninth-ranked, second-seeded big boys from Tucson.
Official prediction: ONE & DONE
UCLA’s Charisma Osborne (#20) being hyped during the season’s first Crosstown Rivalry Clash vs USC. Photo courtesy of dailynews.com
Pauley Pavilion on December 30th, when a record sellout crowd of over 13,600 saw 2nd-ranked UCLA’s and 6th-ranked USC’s women’s basketball teams engage in an epic Crosstown Rivalry Clash – which I attended, sitting in the lower left corner in a blue cap. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
MY PEEK AT SOME OF THE COLLEGE HOOPS TEAMS IN SO CAL,
STARTING WITH THE TWO TEAMS CONSIDERED BY FAR (in mine and many other’s opinions) THE BEST THAT THIS REGION HAS TO OFFER THIS SEASON…
UCLA BRUINS (women)
Current Record: 14-0, 3-0 in the Pac-12 Conference
National Rank: #2 in the AP and Coaches’ Polls
Leading Scorers:
Lauren Betts, C – 16.0 ppg
Londynn Jones, G – 13.6 ppg
Charisma Osbourne, G – 12.4 ppg
Kiki Rice, G – 12.2 ppg
Leading Rebounders:
Lauren Betts, C – 9.0 rpg
Angela Dugalic, F – 6.6 rpg
USC TROJANS (women)
Current Record: 12-1, 2-1 in the Pac-12 Conference
National Rank: #9 in the AP and Coaches’ Polls
Leading Scorers:
JuJu Watkins, G – 26.1 ppg
McKenzie Forbes, G – 13.3 ppg
Rayah Marshall, C – 13.0 ppg
Leading Rebounders:
Rayah Marshall, C – 10.5 rpg
JuJu Watkins, G – 7.3 rpg
And now for the selected rest – not necessarily the best of the rest however, going by the men’s hoops team of my alma mater in particular…
UCLA BRUINS (men)
Current Record: 6-9, 1-3 in the Pac-12 Conference
Started 3-0, then lost nine of 12 games, including losing seven of their last eight
Leading Scorer: Sebastian Mack, 14.3 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Adem Bona, 6.8 rpg
USC TROJANS (men)
Current Record: 8-7, 2-2 in the Pac-12 Conference
Leading Scorer: Boogie Ellis, G – 18.8 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Kobe Johnson, G – 5.0 rpg
* NOTE: The three teams below are men’s teams *
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE MATADORS
Current Record: 12-3, 3-0 in the Big West Conference
Leading Scorer: De’Sean Allen-Eikens, F – 19.4 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Keonte Jones, F – 7.2 rpg
UC IRVINE ANTEATERS
Current Record: 11-5, 4-0 in the Big West Conference
Leading Scorer: Justin Hohn, G – 14.1 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Devin Tillis, F – 6.3 rpg
LONG BEACH STATE “THE BEACH”
Current Record: 11-5, 3-1 in the Big West Conference
Leading Scorer: Marcus Tsohonis, G – 17.6 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Lassina Traore, F – 10.8 rpg
The VERY good (so far) men’s basketball team from Cal State Northridge – where I attended graduate school! Photo courtesy of gomatadors.com
A UC Irvine player going up for a shot vs a Cal State Fullerton defender. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
A “Beach” player hustling down the court. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
USC guard Boogie Ellis (left) contesting a shot from former UCLA star Jamie Jaquez, Jr. (right) during a Crosstown Rivalry game last season. Photo courtesy of dailybruin.com
UCLA’s Charisma Osborne (#20) going up for a shot against USC’s Kayla Padilla (left) and JuJu Watkins (right). Photo courtesy of dailynews.com
Thoughts:
Though credit and kudos must be given out to the San Fernando Valley’s Cal State Northridge – where I went to graduate school after UCLA – for the stellar job they have done so far this season,
Including scoring a spectacular 76-72 upset of the Bruins in their Pauley Pavilion house on December 19th,
(Hold on, I’ll get to my alma mater in a bit – man, do I have things to say about them!)
It is crystal clear on a pronounced level that the best basketball in the greater Los Angeles area this season is being played by college-aged women.
With a combined record of 26-1 that the women’s hoops squads at UCLA and USC are sporting, UCLA being undefeated and ranked second in the nation with 9th ranked ‘SC’s only defeat to date coming at the hands of those Lady Bruins,
In front of a sell-out crowd of over 13,600 at Pauley on the evening before New Year’s Eve,
Which I had the pleasure of witnessing in person,
How could I possibly not proclaim the women’s basketball teams at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California as SoCal’s best?
Not SoCal’s collegiate best – SoCal’s best. Period.
And on top of everything else a rematch between those two titans – I mean Bruins and Trojans – will be held in five days (from this writing) at the Galen Center in Exposition Park, as those Women of Troy will be looking for revenge in front of their Trojan Family after their Bruin rivals knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten;
It”s a complete and total shame and an outrage that this Crosstown Rivalry rematch will only be shown on the Pac-12 Network,
Which hardly anyone gets, including me!
Especially when in UCLA’s case, their women’s team could – and probably would – beat their male counterparts if they played each other;
Those Lady Bruins are that good, while that men’s team is that bad!
I knew Mick Cronin’s bunch of Bruins were in Ruins when they lost to CSUN (Cal State Northridge), which is when I declared their season over in my book,
With their recent play not changing my low opinion about them at the least as losing to last place Cal at home convinced me that they may not win another game this year.
How can I not see things any other way after losing seven of their last eight games due to their lack of shooting ability among other faults?
In fact, here’s a prediction…
That 2023-24 version of the UCLA men’s basketball team will end up being the worst in my lifetime, and I’m in my mid-fifties!
If they end up losing every one of their sixteen remaining games to finish 6-25, it will induce no surprise in me.
All right, enough of writing about my alma mater’s ineptitude – at least on the men’s side!
It will be interesting to see who wins the Big West Conference among the three teams I’ve mentioned here;
After all, only one of those squads will be invited to the NCAA Tournament as being the mid-major conference that the Big West is, a team from there has to win the Big West Conference tournament to get a bid to the Big Dance.
We’ll find out who will get that invite in a couple of months…
Another VERY nice shot of a sold-out Pauley Pavilion. Photo courtesy of espn.com
UCLA’s Londynn Jones (#3) driving on USC’s McKenzie Forbes (#25) during their first Crosstown Rivalry Clash of the season. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
ON THE SECOND TO LAST DAY OF 2023,
THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS FROM THE TWO LARGEST INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SO CAL HELD A HISTORICALLY EPIC CROSSTOWN RIVALRY CLASH AT UCLA’S PAULEY PAVILION.
AND I WAS THERE.
In case you missed it because you were too caught up in the College Football Playoff games or some New Year’s Eve revelry in general…
In late November, when both UCLA’s and USC’s women’s basketball teams found themselves off to great starts and on a collision course to clash for the first time in the 2023-24 season at Pauley Pavilion,
I knew I had to be there.
Especially when I found that with undefeated records and ranks of second (UCLA) and sixth (USC), this particular Crosstown Rivalry game was the first time that,
Those Bruins and Trojans have met while undefeated – EVER!
Those Bruins and Trojans have met while both teams were ranked since 1985, and…
Those Bruins and Trojans have met while both teams were ranked in the top ten since 1981!
For perspective, I was in the eighth grade when that happened!
I was fully aware of the historical significance of this game and how it would give a big boost to women’s basketball in general, being that with the Lakers, the Clippers, and the male basketball counterparts at both ‘SC and UCLA having rather mediocre years to date,
It was quite clear that those Lady Bruins, especially after what unfolded at Pauley Pavilion that Saturday night, were the best basketball team in So Cal with those Women of Troy clearly So Cal’s second best hoops squad.
At least for now.
So there I was standing in a very long line outside of Pauley that chilly-with-a-threat-of-rain Saturday afternoon with 13,658 other fans – the largest crowd to ever see a women’s basketball game at UCLA and (I’m sure) anywhere else in So Cal – roughly 90% of them members of Bruin Nation while the remaining 10% were from the Trojan Family, feeling a little disappointed that I hadn’t got there earlier but also thinking as the line stretched past the Wooden Center, me standing in front the statue of the greatest coach in the history of sports;
(That’s John Wooden for all those who had spent the past sixty years under a rock on Mars)
“It could have been worse.”
JuJu Watkins, USC’s phenomenal freshman star and this season’s top recruit who’s lived up to the hype so far. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
McKenzie Forbes (#25), who scored 23 points on Saturday. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
THEY PAVED THE WAY: UCLA women’s basketball alumnae celebrating the Bruins’ legacy at halftime. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
Bruins celebrating a key moment in their Crosstown Rivalry Clash. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
I made it to Pauley and my seat behind and to the side of the baseline, and settled in to not only see if this #2 vs #6 clash would live up to the hype,
But also if those Bruins in particular – me being a UCLA alum and all – were truly legit in my mind, or a mere fraud.
To put it simply,
That Bruin-Trojan clash was very successful in living up to the hype it generated, with them being undefeated and ranked in the nation’s top six.
Everyone in blue and gold, as well as cardinal and gold, was appropriately pumped with a DJ spinning tunes and a host talking things up throughout the contest.
AS FOR THE GAME ITSELF…
As UCLA scored the first eight points and twelve out of the game’s first 14 points, only to see ‘SC take a brief lead before the Bruins took a one-point lead at halftime,
Then stepping up their defense and hitting some CLUTCH shots in the second half, making Bruin Nation happy and proud with their 71-64 triumph,
As much as I was appropriately glad over a UCLA team beating ‘SC, there were three things that were prominent in my mind after it all ended,
As well as they played, I felt those Bruins could have played better as they missed way too many easy lay-ups in the first half, letting those Trojans into the game after taking their initial ten-point lead
Two USC players, JuJu Watkins and McKenzie Forbes, scored fifty of their team’s 64 points while there were four UCLA players in double figures, led by Londynn Jones’ 21 points – which meant that the Bruins were more balanced and have more balance in their scoring, as well as more depth.
and…
While Bruin Nation should be ecstatic over the win – I know I was – they should also keep in mind that there will be a rematch between those two crosstown rivals at the Galen Center on USC’s campus, on January 14th.
As sure as I’m typing this,
That Galen Center will be packed to capacity, much like Pauley Pavilion was.
And with them having lost to the Bruins, those Trojans will now have a factor that will very much play into their favor…
REVENGE.
Which is why that Trojan Family will be as hyped as the Bruin Nation was,
And which was why I was telling fellow Bruins to enjoy the win, but remember the upcoming rematch.
As such,
In stating the obvious, I had a good time watching my alma mater’s women’s basketball team prove themselves to me;
It was a very nice way to close 2023.
And of course it should go without saying that the rematch on the 14th of this month will probably attract more attention than the first clash was.
A great shot of the record 13,659 that witnessed the recent women’s basketball version of the Crosstown Rivalry clash; I can see me in the lower left hand corner wearing a blue baseball cap! Photo courtesy of twitter.com
Looks like it rained on this outdoor basketball court…
THE REASONS FOR NOT HAVING BASKETBALL POSTS ON THIS BLOG AS OF THIS MOMENT ARE FAIRLY SIMPLE ONES, THAT ARE TWOFOLD:
I feel that November is too early to focus on basketball, both the pro and the college kind, right now as I’ve always felt that November – and especially October in the NBA’s case – is too early to start the basketball season
and…
Football season is still going strong, and beginning to peak at the high school and college levels with the CIF Southern Section and Los Angeles City playoffs in full swing and the traditional college rivalry games – including our Crosstown Rivalry – coming very soon
In other words,
I just feel that there’s no time for me to give the proper coverage that the Lakers, the Clippers, and UCLA’s and USC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams deserve at this time.
At least until after Thanksgiving, as my plans are to have articles on So Cal’s pro and college basketball teams in early December, after college football’s regular season ends.
So don’t worry So Cal hoops fans, you’ll see stuff on the Lake Show, Clipper Nation, and the hard court versions of the Bruins and Trojans soon enough,
As well as some of the other colleges in So Cal whose hoops teams are having good starts to their seasons;
By the Christmas holidays to be precise.
In the meantime…
Next week will be a big week for this blog, the biggest week of the year;
Being that it will be Crosstown Rivalry Week as for the tenth year I will be posting articles covering the annual and upcoming clash between UCLA and USC.
Among the posts will be,
The 35th anniversary commemoration of something personally historic – my very first in-person UCLA vs USC game, and…
A 30th anniversary commemoration of what was an epic Bruin-Trojan battle at the Coliseum that I had the pleasure of seeing live
As well as my annual preview of the game, my post game analysis of the game,
And the number one tradition of this So Cal Sports Chronicles blog…
My annual predictions of how I see the Crosstown Rivalry Clash unfolding and my pick of who I see winning the game and the Victory Bell, INCLUDING MY PREDICTION OF THE FINAL SCORE.
Which will appear on this blog exactly two days before the kick off at the Coliseum,
Which in this case will be on Thursday, November 16th.
So as I hope one can understand, although the hoops coverage will eventually appear there’s simply no room for me to do any real focusing on basketball as of right now.
But as has been the case since 2015, I’m planning this year’s Crosstown Rivalry Football coverage to be a good one;
Two of the three men’s teams from SoCal participating in this year’s Big Dance. Photo courtesy of presstelegram.com
OUR LOOK AT THE THREE MEN’S AND TWO WOMEN’S TEAMS FROM THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA THAT WERE SELECTED TO THIS SEASON’S MARCH MADNESS
To be honest,
This is the only time when I’m really into basketball as a sport.
As much as I grew up with the “Showtime” Lakers in the 80s and was a fan of Magic Johnson, James Worthy and particularly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was and remains my all time favorite Laker and basketball player,
I’ve always felt that the NBA season is way, way too long;
No winter sport should ever have its championship games at the beginning of the summer.
Which is why the NCAA Tournament, men’s and women’s, is perfect;
Three weekends – one loss and you’re gone – ending right around baseball’s Opening Day.
No best-of-seven series at the collegiate level, which makes for quite a few shocking and exciting buzzer-beater upsets from teams like Drake (the school, not the rapper) and Fairleigh Dickinson who no one sees as having any business beating Goliaths like Kentucky or number one seeds Houston and Purdue,
But are dangerous because they have nothing to lose.
Here is my annual preview of the five teams – three men’s and two women’s – college hoops teams representing Southern California in “March Madness”
And my predictions of how far I see them going in the “Big Dance”,
Starting with the men’s and women’s teams representing my alma mater…
The Bruins’ Tyger Campbell (left) and Will McClendon (right) giving props to each other during a game. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
UCLA BRUINS (Men)
Record: 29-5, 18-2 and first place in the Pac-12 Conference
PAC-12 REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
Went undefeated at home with a 17-0 record
Lost to Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game, 61-59, on March 11th
Rank: 7th AP, 6th Coaches
Region: West
Seed: 2
First Opponent/Day/Time: #15 UNC Asheville – Thursday, March 16th, at 7:05 p.m.
Place: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Key Players:
Jamie Jaquez, Jr, G – 17.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg
Tyger Campbell, PG – 13.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.7 apg
Amari Bailey, G – 10.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Adem Bona, F – 7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Thoughts:
Those Bruins have had a great season; far be it for this alum to deny that!
They’ve achieved much, including all those consecutive wins at home!
But only one thing matters in Westwood regarding this flagship basketball program that’s making it’s 52nd appearance in this tournament…
National Championship Banners
As for whether or not I see these bunch of Bruin hoopsters cutting down the nets in Houston on April 3rd and hanging that 12th banner in Pauley Pavilion’s rafters,
It depends on the health – specifically the left shoulder – of Adem Bona, who’s crucial to UCLA’s hopes with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark gone due to injury.
Here’s my official prediction…
If Bona’s OK and plays, ELITE EIGHT
If he doesn’t, SWEET SIXTEEN
Of course I dearly hope they prove me wrong and not only make the Final Four, but end that championship game on the 3rd with blue and gold confetti raining down on their heads.
We will see…
UCLA players pumping each other up at a game. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
UCLA BRUINS (Women)
Record: 25-9, 11-7 and tied for third place in the Pac-12 Conference
Beat #1 seed and 5th ranked Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, 69-65, on March 3rd
Lost to Washington State in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game, 65-61, on March 5th
Rank: 14th AP, 15th Coaches
Region: Greenville 1
Seed: 4
First Opponent/Day/Time: #13 Sacramento State – Saturday, March 18th, at 8:30 p.m.
Place: Pauley Pavilion
Key Players:
Charisma Osbourne, G – 15.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Kiki Rice, G – 11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 apg
Emily Bessior, F – 9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Gina Conti, PG – 6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.1 apg
Thoughts:
This team has a lot of young talent;
I was impressed when I saw them beat Jackson State at Pauley back on November 25th.
But it’s been kind of hard for me to really figure those Bruins out this season;
They took undefeated, defending champion, and everyone’s favorite to repeat as national champs South Carolina to the fourth quarter, giving those Gamecocks all they could handle – at their place!
They swept USC in two hard-fought triumphs,
They scored a HUGE upset over big, bad Stanford in the Pac-12 Tourney,
But they also lost to Washington State – twice – including in the Pac-12 title game.
And assuming they win their first two games over Sacramento State and (likely) Oklahoma in Pauley, guess who they’ll meet in the third round?
Yep, those number one Gamecocks from Columbia!
Which is why I’m predicting for this team the…
SWEET SIXTEEN
Which considering that those South Carolinians are practically the WNBA’s 13th team, who I know will not let those Bruins get close again,
I’ll be happy with.
Trojan stars Boogie Ellis (left) and Drew Peterson (right). Photo courtesy of twitter.com
USC TROJANS (Men)
Record: 22-10, 14-6 and tied for second place in the Pac-12 Tournament
Split the Crosstown Rivalry series with UCLA, beating the Bruins 77-64 at Galen Center on January 26th
Lost to Arizona State in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament, 77-72, on March 9th
Rank: None
Region: East
Seed: 10
First Opponent/Day/Time: #7 Michigan State – Friday, March 17th at 9:15 a.m.
Place: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Key Players:
Boogie Ellis, G – 18.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg
Drew Peterson, G – 14.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.0 apg
Reese Dixon-Waters, G – 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Tre White, G – 9.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Kobe Johnson, G – 9.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Thoughts:
The prevailing thought I have about this team representing my alma mater’s crosstown rivals is that as good as their season has been to this point;
This is the third consecutive year that they’ve heard their name called on Selection Sunday and the seventh twenty-win season in the past eight years, including their fourth straight season that they have won at least twenty games,
Those Trojans could have done better, as evidenced by them inexplicably losing to an Arizona State team that they beat five days before in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Getting swept by the Oregon schools last month didn’t help their sense of consistency, either.
As such,
I see ‘SC having a shot at beating (probably) #2 seed Marquette in the second round, assuming they get past Michigan State, which I think they will.
But I don’t see them having that much of a shot, however.
And Marquette will likely be a bit too much for those Trojans.
Which although I could be wrong and I won’t be surprised if USC indeed proves me wrong,
I officially see them reaching the…
ROUND OF 32
USC point guard Destiny Littleton. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
USC TROJANS (Women)
Record: 21-9, 11-7 and tied for third place in the Pac-12 Conference
Made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014
Lost to Oregon State in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament, 56-48, on March 1st
Rank: None
Region: Seattle 3
Seed: 8
First Opponent/Day/Time: #9 South Dakota State – Friday, March 17th at 5:00 p.m.
Place: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
Key Players:
Kadi Sissoko, F – 15.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Destiny Littleton, PG – 13.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.6 apg
Rayah Marshall, G/F – 12.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg
Okako Adika, G/F – 7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Thoughts:
Much like their cardinal and gold-colored male counterparts,
Those Women of Troy, as much as they achieved this season in getting into the Big Dance for the first time in nearly a decade,
Was difficult to figure out as though they scored probably their biggest victory in years when they shocked top-five Stanford at Galen Center on January 15th,
They also lost games that they had no business losing, notably to a mediocre Oregon State team in the first round of the conference tournament.
My prediction for how far this USC hoops squad will go is pretty straight forward,
They’ll take South Dakota State in their opener,
But being that their next opponent will most likely be top-seed Virginia Tech – in their house no less,
That is as far as ‘SC will go…
ROUND OF 32
UCSB celebrating their Big West championship. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS
Record: 27-7, 15-5 and tied for first place in the Big West Conference
BIG WEST TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS, beating Cal State Fullerton 72-62 on March 11th
In the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years
Rank: None
Region: South
Seed: 14
First Opponent/Day/Time: #3 Baylor – Friday, March 17th at 10:30 a.m.
Place: Ball Areana, Denver, CO
Key Players:
Ajay Mitchell, PG – 16.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.1 apg
Miles Norris, F – 14.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Josh Pierre-Louis, G – 9.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Andre Kelly, F – 9.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Thoughts:
Looking at UCSB’s season schedule,
I was impressed at their 15 wins in 16 games, which included a nine-game winning streak, in December, January and the beginning of February.
I was also impressed at their current seven-game win streak, which earned them their Big West Tournament title.
However,
When I checked out the non-conference opponents they played,
I saw that the biggest names on that slate – Pepperdine and Fresno State – were not big names at all as far as the college basketball world was concerned,
Pepperdine in particular having a bad season.
In other words,
If they took the risks and took on teams like Kansas, Duke and their ninety miles south, UC system brothers from Westwood in their out-of-conference schedule,
Although they would have been soundly beaten,
It would have better prepared them for facing the big boys in this NCAA tournament,
Namely their first opponent, those Bears from Waco, TX,
Who happen to be the defending champions once removed, having cut down the nets in 2021.
Because of that, there’s no other choice but to see those Gauchos from Isla Vista as…
ONE AND DONE(thanks for playing)
Even though I would love to see UCSB score an upset in this Dance like UC Irvine did four years ago,
I just don’t see that happening with this Gaucho bunch.
UCLA’s Adem Bona blocks a dunk attempt by USC’s Malik Thomas during a Crosstown Rivalry clash. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
UCLA guard David Singletonand USC guard Tre White during the Bruins’ 60-58 win in Westwood on January 5th
CHECKING OUT HOW BRUINS AND TROJANS BASKETBALL – BOTH GENDERS – ARE DOING AT THIS POINT
To this point, it’s been a good year at Galen Center and a verygood year at Pauley Pavilion.
With both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at my alma mater ranked in the top ten – UCLA’s men being ranked fifth and the Bruin women being ranked 9th – how can I possibly state otherwise?
Meanwhile at Exposition Park, both Trojan teams are proving to be tough, despite the Men of Troy recently getting beat in Tucson.
As crystal clear evidence of such toughness, while the UCLA women’s team swept those Women of Troy in both of their Crosstown Rivalry meetings,
The combined margin of victory for the Bruins was a grand total of four points,
With ‘SC holding a double digit lead in the second game in Westwood only to see UCLA roar back and overwhelm them at the end.
Which apparently served to make USC more resilient and just plain tougher, as illustrated by their recent taking down of then-2nd ranked Stanford.
Incidentlally, if you include the men’s 60-58 thriller over the Trojans on January 5th,
The overall total of UCLA’s wins over USC on the hardcourt is a mere six points.
And as sure as I’m writing this,everyone in that Trojan Family – students, alums, wealthy boosters, and just plain fans – are more than prepared to give Mick Cronin’s Band of Bruins pure h**l in their second meeting of the season at Galen on January 26th.
That is, after UCLA faces another group of opponents and their fans who are likewise more than prepared to give them unadulterated Hades in Tucson.
Being that they showed much heart and guts in their comback win in Tempe over Arizona State, I know that visions of the Final Four and a 12th banner hanging in Pauley Pavilion’s rafters are dancing in many Bruin Nation members’ heads.
However,
I’m not quite ready to have those visions yet, as I need to see UCLA win at least one of those next two clashes against Arizona and ‘SC – preferably both, but I’ll accept one.
And while I don’t expect them to win all ten of their remaining regular season contests, I need to see those Bruins not only maintain their winning ways, but get stronger in March and go into the Pac-12 Tournament and – most importantly – the NCAA Tournament on a fiery roll.
Which in my view would give them their best chance at hanging banner #12.
I would also not count out either of USC’s teams as far as postseason success, and neither should anyone else as those Trojans are teams that no one will want to play.
Just ask the Stanford women.
And if the Lady Bruins get through their current “Death March” road trip with the Washington schools this weekend and especially with 24th ranked Colorado and 8th ranked Utah the following Friday and Sunday with at least a 3-1 mark; I don’t expect them to win all four games,
Their chances at a Pac-12 Tournament title and going deep in the NCAA Tourney will be quite good in my eyes.
The next seven weeks will be exciting for SoCal’s two biggest colleges on the hardwood;
I can pretty much guarantee that.
In the meantime,
Here are the stats and numbers of both of my alma mater’s and their crosstown rival’s basketball squads…
UCLA BRUINS (men)
Record: 17-2, 8-0 and first place in the Pac-12 Conference
Currently on a 14-game winning streak dating back to November 23rd
Rank: #5 in AP and Coaches’ polls
Coach: Mick Cronin
Last Game: Beat Arizona State, 74-62, on January 19th
Next Games:
at Arizona on Saturday, January 21st
at USC on Thursday, January 26th
vs Washington on Thursday, February 2nd
vs Washington State on Saturday, February 4th
Top Players:
Jaime Jaquez, Jr., G/F: 16.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Jaylen Clark, G: 14.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Tyger Campbell, G: 13.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.5 apg
David Singleton, G: 10.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Adem Bona, F: 8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg
UCLA BRUINS (women)
Record: 15-3, 4-2 and second place in the Pac-12 Conference
Rank: #9 AP, #13 Coaches
Coach: Cori Close
Last Game: Beat California, 87-70, on January 15th
Next Games:
at Washington on Friday, January 20th
at Washington State on Sunday, january 22nd
at #24 Colorado on Friday, January 27th
at #8 Utah on Sunday, January 29th
Top Players:
Charisma Osbourne, G: 17.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Kiki Rice, G: 12.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg
Emily Bessoir, F: 8.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Gina Conti, G: 7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg
Londynn Jones, G: 7.9 ppg,
Gabriela Jaquez, F: 6.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
USC TROJANS (men)
Record: 13-6, 5-3 and tied for third place in the Pac-12 Conference
Rank: None
Coach: Andy Enfield
Last Game: Lost to Arizona, 81-66, on January 19th
Next Games:
at Arizona State on Saturday, January 21st
vs UCLA on Thursday, January 26th
vs Washington State on Thursday, February 2nd
vs Washington on Saturday, February 4th
Top Players:
Boogie Ellis, G: 15.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Drew Peterson, G: 13.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
Reese Dixon-Waters, G: 9.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Tre White, G: 9.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Joshua Morgan, F: 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg
USC TROJANS (women)
Record: 13-4, 3-3 and tied for sixth in the Pac-12 Conference
Rank: Received votes in AP poll, no rank in coaches’ poll
Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb
Last Game: Beat then-#2 Stanford, 55-46, on January 15th
Next Games:
at Washington State on Friday, January 20th
at Washington on Sunday, January 22nd
at #8 Utah on Friday, January 27th
at #24 Colorado on Sunday, January 29th
Top Players:
Kadi Sissoko, F: 15.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Rayah Marshall, G/F: 14.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg
Destiny Littleton, G: 12.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg
Okako Adika, G/F: 7.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
UCLA’s Londynn Jones going against USC’s Destiny Littleton (#11) and Rayah Marshall (#13) during the Bruins’ comeback win at Pauley Pavilion on January 8th
The Thunderdome at UC Santa Barbara, home to the Gauchos’ men’s and women’s basketball teams. Photo courtesy of gauchohoops.com
THESE ARE THE SOCAL SQUADS, NOT LOCATED IN WESTWOOD OR EXPOSITION PARK, THAT ARE HAVING GOOD SEASONS TO THIS POINT
I’ve always made it a point on this blog to give whoever among the nine men’s and women’s basketball teams in Southern California not named UCLA or USC that are doing well with good win-loss records and are contenders for being the representitive from their conference in the NCAA tournament shout-outs and props,
Because from the beginning, I wanted this blog to pay attention to those other colleges’ sports programs in this region.
And I simply feel that it’s the right and fair thing to do.
Unfortunately for schools like the ones I’m about to mention,
It won’t matter if they finish the regular season in first place with twenty-plus wins, due to the fact that in the Big West and West Coast Conferences, who are considered mid-majors,
A team is pretty much required to win their conference tournament to get invited to the Big Dance.
Which means if you get tripped up during those conference tourney games, you’re done and it’s likely “Hello NIT or CBI”.
Nonetheless,
Let me give props to these teams that are killing it on the hardwood to this point, starting with the teams from the school that my mother wanted me to go to and including the team from the town where I was born and spend my early childhood;
And state that I hope that these teams get into the Dance…
UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS (men)
Conference: Big West Conference
Record: 15-3 overall, 6-1 and tied for second place in the Big West
Coach: Joe Pasternack
Last Game: Beat Cal State Northridge, 72-52, on January 19th
Next Games:
vs Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, January 21st
at Hawai’i on Thursday, January 26th
Top Players:
Ajay Mitchell, G: 15.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.6 apg
Miles Norris, F: 13.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Josh Pierre-Louis, G: 10.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Andre Kelly, F: 9/7 ppg, 6.7 rpg
UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS (women)
Conference: Big West Conference
Record: 12-5 overall, 5-2 and tied for second place in the Big West
Coach: Bonnie Hendrickson
Last Game: Beat Cal State Northridge, 70-45, on January 19th
Next Games:
at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, January 21st
vs Hawai’i on Thursday, January 26th
Top Players:
Ila Lane, F/C: 12.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg
Alexis Tucker, G: 11.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Laurel Rockwood, C: 11.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg
Alyssa Marin, G: 8.6 ppg, 3.8 apg
UC IRVINE ANTEATERS (men)
Conference: Big West Conference
Record: 13-6 overall, 6-1 and tied for second in the Big West
Coach: Russell Turner
Last Game: Beat Hawai’i, 76-68, on January 19th
Next Games:
at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, January 26th
vs Cal State Northridge on Saturday, January 28th
Top Players:
Dawson Baker, G: 14.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg
DJ Davis, G: 13.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Bent Leuchten, C: 10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Devin Tillis, F: 6.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Pierre Crockwell II, G: 86 assists, 4.8 apg
UC IRVINE ANTEATERS (women)
Conference: Big West Conference
Record: 15-3 overall, 7-0 and first place in the Big West
Coach: Tamara Inoue
Last Game: Beat Hawai’i, 71-67, on January 19th
Next Games:
vs Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, January 26th
at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, January 28th
Top Players:
Naomi Hunt, F: 11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Hunter Hernandez, G: 9.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Olivia Williams, G: 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Diaba Konate, G: 7.7 ppg, 50 assists, 3.6 apg
UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS
Conference: Big West Conference
Record: 14-6 overall, 7-1 and first place in the Big West
Coach: Mike Magpayo
Last Game: Beat UC Davis, 74-72, on January 19th
Next Games:
vs Hawai’i on Saturday, January 21st
vs UC San Diego on Saturday, January 28th
at Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, February 2nd
Top Players:
Zyon Pullin, G: 19.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Flynn Cameron, G: 11.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.7 apg
Lachlan Olbrich, F: 10.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Kyle Owens, F: 10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Note: This is the team/school from the town where I was born and spent my early childhood, living there with my grandparents until age nine and spending nearly all my vacations there until age eighteen.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS
Conference: West Coast Conference
Record: 14-7, 4-3 and sixth place in the WCC
Coach: Stan Johnson
Last Game: Beat Gonzaga, 68-67, on January 19th – Huge win, first over Gonzaga in over a decade!
Next Games:
vs Portland on Thursday, January 26th
vs Pepperdine (PCH Cup) on Saturday, January 28th
at BYU on Thursday, February 2nd
Top Players:
Cam Shelton, G: 18.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.6 apg
Keli Leaupepe, F: 14.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Jalin Anderson, G: 9.8 ppg
Two of the top teams in the Big West Conference, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara, going at it at UCI’s Bren Center. Photo courtesy of twitter.com
IF YOU ARE A STUDENT-ATHLETE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AND YOUR HEART’S DESIRE IS TO SOMEDAY PLAY IN THE NFL, NBA, OR WNBA,
YOU NEED TO READ THIS POST.
A couple of weeks ago or so I felt compelled to do a little bit of research.
I was curious as to the exact odds of a football or a men’s or women’s basketball player in college one day achieving the extreme blessing and privilege of wearing – and getting paid to wear – a uniform in the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, or the Women’s National Basketball Association.
So after finding out exactly how many student-athletes participate in those NCAA athletic programs, here are my findings…
For those football student-athletes aspiring to make the NFL:
There are 73,712 young people who play football in all of the NCAA’s three divisions.
Of that number, 11,050 were given scholarships to be in those programs;
We’ll base the odds on those 11,050.
Among the National Football League’s 32 teams, there are seven rounds and 224 available picks in the annual ballyhooed and televised-by-ESPN NFL Draft held at the end of April.
Meaning that the official odds of hearing one’s name getting called by Commissioner Roger Goodell or some guest at that podium is…
ONE IN 49.
Which means there’s about a 1.57% chance that someone who plays for Georgia or TCU (who recently played for the national championship at SoFi Stadium), or UCLA or USC, or who plays for any of the other 127 Division 1 teams will be able to cointinue their careers once their time as a Trojan or a Bruin (or whoever) is over.
Meaning there is a 98.43 % chance of one’s career being over after their last college game.
As for those aspiring – and usually one(season)-and-done – student-athletes dreaming about the glamourous life in the NBA:
There are 4,654 men among the 358 teams that play Division 1 basketball in the NCAA.
In the National Basketball Association’s draft, there are but two rounds with a mere sixty overall picks.
Meaning that the official odds of having one’s name announced and going on the podium to hug Commissioner Adam Silver and puting on a Lakers or a Clippers cap is…
ONE IN 78.
Meaning there’s a 0.012% chance that a Bruin hearing cheers in Pauley Pavilion or a Trojan hearing “Fight On!” at the Galen Center, or someone who plays for Duke, North Carolina or Kansas, will ever be among the approximately 450 players who are currently showing what they got in the NBA.
Which means that the chances of one’s life in hoops being finished after college or high school is 99.98%.
And now, for all those young women hoopsters who see themselves playing in the WNBA one day:
There are 16,509 women student-athletes involved among the NCAA’s three divsions that field women’s basketballl programs.
Among them, 4,503 have Division 1 scholarshps, which is what I’ll base the odds playing WNBA ball on.
The WNBA Draft consists of three rounds and 36 total picks among its twelve teams.
Which puts the official odds of playing for the Sparks at Crypto.com Arena (formerly known as Staples Center), or the Aces in Las Vegas, or any of the other ten teams, is…
ONE IN 126.
Which means there’s a 0.007% chance of being paid to play women’s pro basketball in America, which is the foremost reason why playing overseas is common.
Meaning that the chances of a women’s basketball career being over after college is an incredible 99.99%.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND…
It’s not my intention – at all – to discourage anyone who wants to play for the Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, or Sparks.
Or any of the other NBA, WNBA, or NFL teams for that matter.
If that is what a high school or college kid really wants to do, I hope and pray for them to be successful and wish them all the best in that endeavor.
HOWEVER,
The point I am making is this,
If I had a son or daughter whose aspiration is to play pro football or basketball,
I would insist, demand and require that they obtain their college degree and have a career that they could enjoy to fall back on in case they are among the 98 to 99% of those who never get a paycheck to wear an NFL helmet or an NBA or a WNBA uniform.
And that’s all I’m saying to any young football and basketball player who may be reading this.