Kansas earned their victory and Memphis earned the loss.  It seemed that Memphis was done in by the same quality that got them there: undisciplined basketball.  It seemed Memphis turned the ball over and didn't  cherish their possesions.  Whereas when Kansas turned it over it was due to good defense. 

Woulda, coulda, shoulda .... but, if Memphis had simply took care of the ball more in the first half, they would have had a big lead going into  halftime.  Instead, Kansas went in with momentum.

Rose is a great freshmen, but he is just another in  a long line of great freshmen.  The kid still needs some seasoning and I (if I were a GM) would not waste a draft choice on him.  Guy panics when you show him a hypodermic needle, but he'll get tatoos from a needle all day.  He's got some issues.  Expect the Clippers to draft him.

Kansas played great defense and in overtime when one would expect the stars to shine, Memphis looked lost in the half court set.  It was another indication of an undisciplined team.   Such teams excel when the play is fast paced and up and down the court.  They remind me of the Golden State Warriors and their loss to the Hornets over the weekend.

Congrats to Bill Self and the Jayhawks!  What a game!  Don't know if the better team won.  I think the better coaching won. 

Yeah, the Rocket was at that infamous party thrown by Canseco.  Now, he paid him off to lie and the FBI is  going to get to the truth of the matter in short order.  The Rocket is in lot more trouble than Barry.  Expect Jose to break down any day now and repent for his unlawful ways.

Oh, the shame, the shame, ... bringing his wife into it.  What's next?  Are his kids going to be steroid monsters as well?

The LA Times published a comment by Kansas St. Coach Frank Martin recently about super freshman, Michael Beasley.  Basically he said he couldn't say anything to Beasley about staying in school another year because the kid would be turning down so much money.  Well, if I'm the AD at K-State, I would be calling Mr. Martin into my office for a little chat.  I would chew his BLEEP out in no uncertain terms.  What he said might not be enough to get him fired, but I would definitely reprimand his BLEEP!

Would not want him coaching my kid.  He is a man without imagination or a quitter.  Here are some reasons to stay in school, so listen up Love, Mayo, and Beasley.

1) J. Noah came back to Florida when he could have taken the money and won another title.

2) That money ain't going nowhere.  You'll be just as rich in another year as you would be this year.  So, what's the rush?

3) You never get to be a kid again once you go pro.  Ask Michael Jackson.  Enjoy the life.

4) Look at all the other college kids who came out early and did nothing in the pros.  Let's not even talk about the high school players ... they stink ... (see Livingston and K. Brown)

5) Dudes, you rule in college.  You will be just another dope in the pros.  (see Mike Dunleavy)

6) Money is not everything.  Improve your mind.  Improve your soul.  (See Kobe)

7) You got a better shot at improving your game in college than you do in the pros.  (See Andrew Bynum)

8) Injury is not a factor in basketball.  Football is another story. (see K-Mart)

9) Why be in a hurry to play for a perennial loser?  (See the LA Clippers)

10) The New England Patriots have more college grads than any other NFL team.  Does that tell you anything?  It's not just book smarts.  It's the experience of life that college offers you.  Besides, college girls are a lot cuter and saner than the skanks you will see in the pros.

PLEASE READ ALL POSTS BEFORE COMMENTING!!  IF NOT, U GET DELETED AS I WILL NOT ENTERTAIN THE SAME ARGUMENTS.

Even Sir Charles, a harsh critic of Kobe Bryant in the past, has come around lately and now proclaims the Laker as his choice for MVP.  The play of the Lakers over the last 3 games is getting Kobe more votes and opening eyes ...  OK, I'm impressed.

Still, my vote for MVP is for LeBron and here is why:  Below is my response to a post by Kahn Games.

I have one disagreement: in the other professional sports like MLB for example, play of last year does factor into the voting.  Look at Pujols in baseball who won MVP for his play the year before.

I give MVP to LeBron for his play last year.

Still, the Lakers last 3 victories without Gasol are very impressive.

The Lakers may be making a believer out of their number 1 hater.  No, seriously, according to the blogs I'm just a Kobe hater.  Still, the way they destroyed the Jazz last night was impressive.  Taking out Dallas on their court was respectable also.  When you consider it was without Pau Gasol ... even the haters  got to give up props!

Lakers now have truly emerged as one of the top 4 contenders for the western conference crown, along with the Spurs, Rockets, and Suns.

Did Kobe get back in the MVP race with the last 2 victories?  Jeez Louise I hate to say it ... but I think it's true.  What is to become of me?  Maybe I should spout like 50 cent and say if Kobe gets the MVP I'll leave the business!  50 cent didn't honor his words when Kanye West beat him in record sales.

Well, the Lakers ain't champs yet and Kobe ain't MVP.   So, make me believe it.

D. Wade is shutting it down for the year, duh?  He should have never came back.  If ever there was a time when a coach needed to step in and protect a player, that was it.  Riley missed his chance to save the franchise weeks ago.  We can only hope that the tough kid didn't do any further damage to his wheels.

Seems like Phil Jackson used to give MJ and Scottie mini-brakes during the game.  He would sit them out just long enough to get a blow.

Don't expect real competitors to sit out a game if they can play thru the pain.  That's where a good coach is needed to step in and save the player from himself.

When Greg Oden comes back, he better be coming off the bench.  IT takes 2 years to get over the type of injury he had and bringing him back as a starter the next year could end his career prematurely.  That kid played about 30 games a year in college ... and he didn't even do it for 4 years!  The pros play more than 90 a year if they make the playoffs.

The Lakers and Andrew Bynum face the same problem.  First of all he was playing over his head spurred by the comments of Kobe.  He may never play at that level again.  Bringing him back too soon could end his career.

Some of these NBA coaches are actually smart and we need them to step up and be smart where the players are not.  To jump leagues to make a point ... that's what happened to Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos.  Shannahan is a great x and o coach, but he is a terrible people person.