Archives › Mike Miller
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As news about Dean Smith’s memory issues emerged last week, there was essentially one response from readers and writers: sadness. Few coaches are more respected than the North Carolina icon, perhaps because he was as concerned about how his players developed as people as much as their basketball development. That’s the kind of person we…
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John Henson can’t gain weight. If that sounds ideal, think again. Eating six or seven meals a day would get real old, real fast. Butch Dill / AP But that’s how it goes for North Carolina’s 6-10 forward. Henson, who’ll be a sophomore this season, is a skilled, athletic player, but is sick of being…
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Michael Gilchrist’s doing his best to cement his reputation as the top recruit of 2011. And he’s done it in a matter of days. The 6-foot-7 forward, who committed to Kentucky in April, helped Team USA win gold in the FIBA U17 World Championships, averaging 15 points per game – in just 19 minutes –…
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Royce White never played basketball for Minnesota last season due to legal troubles. So he did what any NBA hopeful would do. He learned to play piano. Paul Battaglia/AP (pauses) Actually, that’s fairly impressive. Sure, maybe White could’ve worked on his post game or mid-range jumper, but I can’t fault a guy who insists on…
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Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation, but I laughed aloud after reading this headline from Eamonn Brennan: Northwestern recruit stoked about Northwestern. The recruit, David Sobolewski, is a 6-foot-1 combo guard from a Chicago suburb. When Wildcats coach Bill Carmody watched Sobolewski play on a Friday, he offered a scholarship two days later. Sobolewski accepted later…
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And you thought Oregon took its time. After nearly three months of looking, Chicago State finally found a coach. Tracy Dildy, a longtime Chicago coach and recruiter, got the nod on Monday. He’s played at King High and Illinois-Chicago. He’s been an assistant at DePaul and UIC (along with out-of-town gigs at UAB, Ball State…
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The NCAA must’ve wanted to avoid more outrage. It tried to please everyone by settling on its format for the 68-team tournament next year. The “First Four” will feature the lowest seeds and the last at-large qualifiers in games that will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday before the Big Dance begins. Tony Ding/AP This…
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No new news on the Chris Allen front. Tough to say if that qualifies as good news, however. A series of tweets compiled by KJ over at the Only Colors had these tidbits regarding Allen, a 6-3 guard who’ll be a senior this season if he decides to stay at Michigan State: WILX’s Jeremy Sampson:1.…
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Good news Kentucky fans : John Calipari’s recruiting reputation is getting a boost. Need I mention this is bad news for everyone else? Ed Reinke/AP Calipari’s been synonymous with NBA-bound point guards, sending the likes of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall to the pros, two of whom were selected No. 1 overall. Well,…
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Good luck to Duke’s announcers during the 2011-12 season. The Devils will be trotting out Plumlee after Plumlee. Marshall Plumlee, a four-star prospect who’s rated as the 40th best prospect in the class of 2011, committed to Duke Saturday night, according to Scout.com. He’ll join older brothers Miles (who’ll be a senior in 2011-12) and…
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As the Big 12 continues to iron out the kinks of its new 10-team conference (and presumably adjust the name), there’s still a sense of foreboding among the schools, particularly the five who almost were left behind: Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor and Missouri. Orlin Wagner/AP This detailed article by Sam Mellinger of the…
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One might think that after Oregon’s contractual mess with ex-athletic director Mike Bellotti, the school would finalize all its big deals as soon as possible. Or maybe that’s just me. New men’s basketball coach Dana Altman, months after coming to Eugene, still hasn’t completed his seven-year deal worth $1.8 million annually, according to the Oregonian.…
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Is there such a thing as too much ACC? ESPN doesn’t think so. The network will broadcast about 5,000 events on various platforms (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and ESPN International) during the next 12 years, which means the deal involves more than just football and basketball. Not sure the public is clamoring to see…
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The stunning, sad death of former Kentucky star Mel Turpin left Big Blue Nation in a state of shock. Though Turpin, a 6-11 center, was remembered as an NBA bust, he was anything but a bust in college. AP A three-time All-SEC player and an All-American as a senior, “Dinner Bell Me” had a big…
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There’s an embarrassment of riches on the USA Basketball Select squad. Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and Shelvin Mack all played in the national title game. Jimmer Fredette and LaceDarius Dunn are among the nation’s elite scorers. Marcus Morris and JaJuan Johnson will be vying for All-America honors at forward. And that’s just for…
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If there’s a depressing story for college hoops fans this week, it’s this report from the Fayetteville Observer: Dean Smith is suffering from memory loss. The legendary North Carolina coach, 79, helped the school celebrate its 100th year of hoops earlier this year, but the celebration among the Carolina family was a bit muted because…
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Here’s a thought to delight Duke fans: Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers in the same backcourt. Irving, an incoming freshman, may be perhaps the most talented Devils guard since Jason Williams. He’s expected to step into Jon Scheyer’s starting spot and play alongside Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry next season. And if he…
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Few teams are more desperate for a big season than N.C. State. The Wolfpack are 71-62 since Sidney Lowe became coach in 2006-07, finishing 10th, 11th, 10th and 9th in the ACC standings. David J. Phillip/AP That’s a tough run for a hoops proud school. Well, the players are trying to do something about it.…
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Rich Schultz/AP Bobby Gonzalez’s Seton Hall tenure came to an odd end. Turns out it was just a prelude to his summer. Gonzalez was arrested Monday on suspicion of shoplifting at a New Jersey mall. Police say he took a $1,400 men’s satchel from the Polo Ralph Lauren store. If true, it’s a stunning fall…
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He may even come to your school. God’s Gift Achiuwa, a 6-foot-9 forward at Erie Community College, was a third-team All-America last season after averaging 13.1 points, 13.5 rebounds and two blocks a game as a freshman. As an added bonus, he logged a 4.0 GPA last fall, and a 3.8 this spring. Sounds like someone’s living…
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AP/Orlin Wagner Kansas State, coming off its first Elite Eight appearance in more than 20 years, is poised to make another run at the Final Four in 2011. But it won’t have Dominique Sutton to help out. And that’s a good thing. For Sutton. The 6-5 wing, a starter and defensive star for the Wildcats,…
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It’s no surprise Duke pours money into its college hoops program. The Devils pay coach Mike Krzyzewski handsomely and spare no expense when it comes to recruiting. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images But $13.87 million, or more than double than 330 of 346 other D-I schools? That, my friends, is a chunk of change. (It did pay…
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Need some size on the roster? Head to the Bhullar house. Sim and Tanveer Bhullar, Canadian brothers whose parents emigrated from India two years ago, could be college basketball’s next big thing. Sim, 17, is 7-foot-4 and 285 pounds. Tanveer, 15, is 7-2 and 260 pounds. Even better? Their skill level could make them more…
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Well. That was an excellent two-week vacation. Some of youmay have noticed this blog was been dormant the last two weeks. Nada on the NBA draft, player news and random summer stuff. That’s what happens when your first child – a daughter! – is born on Father’s Day. I didn’t spend the last two weeks smoking…
