December 10 Pick and Rolls

• Yahoo Sports Jason King has a http:/sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=AtMtg32rJZJ4MRfM3mfPLNLevbYF?slug=jn-frosh120707&prov=yhoo&type=lgns with links for highlights and obscure facts such the fact that OJ Mayo scored a 29 on his ACT, Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon once played on the same AAU team, and Kyle Singler was an all-state quarterback in high school.

• Villanova was down 21 with nine minutes remaining before http:/www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20071207_Nova_rallies_to_stun_LSU.html. Freshman guard Malcolm Grant scored all of his 18 points in the last nine minutes. Jay Wright could have a problem finding enough playing time for all his guards.

• Bill Walker’s knee might have just needed a couple weeks http:/sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/viewcast/2007/12/09/index.html?contestId=43483&vendorId=200712090288&vendorVisitTeam=95&vendorHomeTeam=288&pageType=recap. Walker reached season highs in minutes with 35, points with 30, field goal attempts with 22 and free throws made and attempted going 14 of 16 from the line. He shot only 7-22, but it was nice to see Walker be more aggressive and take some of the load off Michael Beasley, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds in Kansas State’s win over previously undefeated Cal.

• I understand Kentucky is young but http:/www.post-trib.com/sports/688482,iugame.article by Indiana who was without both of their starting guards is quite embarrassing for Billy Gillispie, who is dealing with the possibility of promising freshman Alex Legion transfering.

• Interim head coach Kevin O’Neil told ESPN’s Andy Katz several interesting things. Among them, Lute Olson won’t be at any of the Arizona team practices, Olson will coach the team next season and O’Neil will have his team play man to man at all times as opposed to Olson who mixed in zone occasionally.

• Eddy Landreth for TarHeelDaily.com wants fans to just http:/tarheeldaily.com/article.html?aid=11830 play now, and stop speculating about how good of a pro he will be.

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Terence Moore talks about Georgia’s surprisingly easy win over Wake Forest and the Bulldogs fast start http:/www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2007/12/08/gaines_turns_in.html

• The St. Paul Pioneer Press discusses a possible reason why Tubby Smith has a top 20 recruiting class set for next year.

“Tubby Smith is the man behind it all. But assistant coach Vince Taylor quietly has played a major role in putting the University of Minnesota basketball team back on the map. Of the five players who signed letters of intent last month, Taylor played a major role in recruiting Canadian guard Devoe Joseph and junior college players Devron Bostick and Paul Carter, who were impressed that Taylor worked with players such as Kevin Garnett in the NBA.”

• Washington State held Gonzaga to it’s lowest point total since 1996. Matt Bouldin did not even score, going 0-9.

• Jeff Capel discusses how his Oklahoma team was out-hustled, out-coached and out-worked in their loss to Stephen F. Austin Saturday.

• Ex-teammates at the Oak Hill Academy Brandon Jennings and Alex Legion are featured in this interesting ESPN Insider piece by Antonio Williams.