Ongoing pro/college basketball thread (2023-24)

[Atocep]

Bruce Pearl is retiring to force his son into the job.

[Ksyrup]

Fred Van Vleet tore his ACL at minicamp in the Bahamas.

[Ksyrup]

I came back from a conference last night, but I barely made my connecting flight in ATL and my bag did not make it. So I had to go back this morning to pick it up from an incoming flight.

While waiting at the carousel, I noticed Mark Pope and an assistant with a couple of recruits, waiting for others. I decided to go over and say hi since he wasn't doing anything but standing around waiting. I usually wouldn't do something like that because I don't have much to say, but I knew I had a topic of interest I could throw out there to make it less awkward, so I introduced myself and told him about a random connection I had which was that I went to the same high school as Jeff Sheppard and that in elemntary/middle school, he and my brother were best friends. He immediately name-checked my school and the city and thought it was really cool we knew him way back when.

He shook my hand and asked my name when we met and when I said goodbye. Seems like a real, genuinely nice guy. Didn't have the guts to ask about the rumor that he and Kelsey got into a screaming match outside a recruits' house at 1am though...

[RainMaker]

That's pretty cool. Pope played for a CBA team I used to go to games of way back in college (arena was right by a place you could donate plasma and they gave free tickets). They had God Shammgod on the team and one of the Fab 5 who didn't make it (can't remember his name).

[Ksyrup]

And then in some weird full circle way, last night my daughter met Tubby Smith at an EKU basketball event. She's a senior majoring in sports management and works in the Athletic Department.

None of us were in a bar yesterday so we didn't get a chance to meet Billy Gillispie.

[Kodos]

Indiana doesn’t have any quit in them. Kelsey out with an injury. Boston fouled out. And they still rallied to force overtime.

[Kodos]

Looks like the Fever will come up a bit short. Damn.

[Ksyrup]

I see the WNBA signed a long-term deal with USA Network.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Indiana doesn’t have any quit in them. Kelsey out with an injury. Boston fouled out. And they still rallied to force overtime.

Incredible effort. I was completely ready to call it when Mitchell went down. The heart/guts to keep the game close and force OT was amazing. Honestly if Vegas hadn't gone unconscious from 3 in overtime Indiana had a real shot to win there too.

[Lathum]

Reports trickling down that a bunch of nba players may be in hot water with the doj over a gambling scandal.

[Ksyrup]

I mean, Terry Rozier arrested and Portland HC Chauncey Billups as well. And what's crazy to me is this news comes 12 hours after news that the NCAA approved sports betting for college players and administrators. On what planet is that a good idea?

[PilotMan]

Legal sports betting was always a terrible idea. It's fucking awful.

[Ghost Econ]

I always knew the Toronto Rangers were trouble.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I mean, Terry Rozier arrested and Portland HC Chauncey Billups as well. And what's crazy to me is this news comes 12 hours after news that the NCAA approved sports betting for college players and administrators. On what planet is that a good idea?

As opposed to what, losing a court challenge that would surely come? It's a bad idea but the courts seem determined for there to be no rules on college athletics at all so I can't really blame the NCAA for yesterdays move.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

I always knew the Toronto Rangers were trouble.

If you translated the picture of John Kerry attempting to catch a football into words.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Reports trickling down that a bunch of nba players may be in hot water with the doj over a gambling scandal.

Two gambling scandals. One of the insider info variety and one of the illegal poker game variety. I know everyone is going to lose their minds over the former because integrity of the game but I feel like the second one is going to end up being the bigger deal. I suspect this is what Gilbert Arenas was involved in and why he was arrested over the summer.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr...tment-alleging

If this is true, man helluva way to setup your supposed friends and associates.

In the poker case, Billups and Jones are accused of using their celebrity to lure people into playing in poker games that were rigged by the Mafia, Nocella said. The organizers allegedly used "sophisticated cheating technologies," including shuffling machines that could read the cards in the deck, poker chip trays with hidden cameras, special contact lenses and glasses that could read pre-marked cards, and an X-ray table that could read cards facedown on the table, according to Nocella.

Once the so-called "fish" lost, the Mafia used extortion and violence to make sure they paid their gambling debts, Nocella said. Investigators found that the scheme involved members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese crime families, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Since April 2019, victims have lost at least $7 million in the rigged poker games, according to the indictment, with one victim alone losing $1.8 million.

Despite the rantings of Stephen A Smith that this was some sort of Trump revenge plot for left wing activism, many basketball insiders have said this is a 3-4 year old investigation and includes college basketball as well.

[Ksyrup]

Someone commented on a Substack I subscribe to that they are heavy into poker and there has been whispers about these Billups allegations for a couple of years amongst players.

[miami_fan]

I know we only care about Billups and Jones but they are just two of the thirty arrested. As someone who does not play cards for money, the operation seems pretty amazing despite it being illegal. Just learning about hacking the automatic shufflers and what that does blew my mind.

NBA Poker Scandal: Who's Named in 'Operation Royal Flush'? | PokerNews


I don't know what it says about the environments I grew up in and have been in my entire life but there is something equally disconcerting and hilarious about looking at the list of people arrested and also knowing people(to be clear none of the arrested as far as I can tell) with almost every nickname listed. The "Big Bruce" that I know who is a lawyer and I am 99.999% sure would die at any attempt to put handcuffs on him much less be involved in the underworld has gotten a fair bet of ribbing for not telling our friend group that he knew where all the good porker games were.

[Ksyrup]

I read just a snippet about the x-ray tables and other stuff and thought it was some sort of made-up trick you'd see in a movie.

[miami_fan]

Meanwhile on the court, the tall French guy in San Antonio seems to have put some work into his game this off season. Really hope he has good health all season.

[flere-imsaho]

This kind of thing isn't new, either: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Bloom_(author)

[Lathum]

I was surprised to see college basketball started today.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I was surprised to see college basketball started today.

This might test my resolve on caring about the Disney blackout on YouTube TV.

[Ksyrup]

I highly recommend finding video of the LeMoyne-Dillard game and the missed dunk-faked leg injury and subsequent crowd reactions. Less than 8 hours into the season and we've got a serious contender for highlight (lowlight) of the year.

I'm sitting in a conference so I can't post it well, but here's a Reddit link: Blocked

[miami_fan]

We are only a couple of weeks in but I am very impressed by the coverage that NBC and especially Amazon Prime has done on the NBA so far. They are actually talking about the games, the strategies the teams are using, strengths and weaknesses etc. Good stuff.

[Kodos]

20 minutes into the season and I can already tell this IU team is going to be more fun to watch. Multiple guys that can shoot the three. Excited for the new season!

[Ksyrup]

Not sure why, but we're getting the UK/UL game on the ESPN app. We have the Disney+ package but I didn't think that came with the regular channels unless you signed in with a TV provider. I'm confused.

[Ksyrup]

Dola

Even stranger - our family room TV is the only ESPN app we can get any games on. All of the rest of the TVs/phones/iPads give us the standard "YTTV is no longer a provider" message. Not sure why, but I'll take it.

[dubb93]

Who is going to be the #1 draft pick this upcoming year? The Pacers clearly need Haliburton more than I ever realized. If things hold the trade last year to reclaim their #1 pick could go down as an all time great trade.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Who is going to be the #1 draft pick this upcoming year? The Pacers clearly need Haliburton more than I ever realized. If things hold the trade last year to reclaim their #1 pick could go down as an all time great trade.

Most likely Darryn Peterson at Kansas. Dybansta at BYU and Boozer at Duke could be in the conversation but both those guys have more holes in the game. It's almost certain to be one of those 3 though.

[INDalltheway]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Who is going to be the #1 draft pick this upcoming year? The Pacers clearly need Haliburton more than I ever realized. If things hold the trade last year to reclaim their #1 pick could go down as an all time great trade.

It feels like they are willing to tank and that is great imo. There are at least 5 guys that I would be excited to get right now in the draft.

[Ksyrup]

I know it's early but ... could the Pistons actually be really good this year? Especially in a down Eastern Conference? I think they've won 8 straight and just beat a good Bulls team without Cunningham or Duren playing.

[Atocep]

At the end of the 1st half of the WVU/Duke women's game last night there was a bit of a scuffle. 6 WVU players were ejected (5 for leaving the bench) and 1 Duke player was ejected. That took WVU down to 5 players available for the 2nd half and they were down 3. WVU went ahead by as many as 15 and went on to win by 8.

[JPhillips]

Just crazy that the Thunder are 17-1 and have the Clippers pick in 2026 and rights to swap in 2027. They could easily end up with two top five picks in the next two drafts with another three first round picks that they can trade with.

[Ksyrup]

I believe OKC also has Utah's #1 in 2026, but it's top 8 protected. So if they finish outside the bottom 8, OKC has 3 #1.

[bronconick]

With 3 wins in 2 weeks, the Spurs appear to be the Thunder's kryptonite

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by bronconick

With 3 wins in 2 weeks, the Spurs appear to be the Thunder's kryptonite

And Victor isn't fully back from his injury as yet.

Meanwhile, the best player in the game quietly put up 56-16-15 against the Timberwolves. Criminally underrated even as a three times MVP.

[Atocep]

It looks like Trae Young is getting traded. At least a year too late though. The return on a trade is going to be fascinating. He hamstrings a team defensively so much I don't see why any good team would bother. His offense has also cratered with his shooting and the refs not buying his foul baiting as much.

There may not be a bigger gap between general perception and actual value for a player in the league.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Atocep

It looks like Trae Young is getting traded. At least a year too late though. The return on a trade is going to be fascinating. He hamstrings a team defensively so much I don't see why any good team would bother. His offense has also cratered with his shooting and the refs not buying his foul baiting as much.

There may not be a bigger gap between general perception and actual value for a player in the league.

Looks like it most likely going to be a salary dump with the Wizards. The Hawks might even have to send picks. My nephew is a beat writer for the team, and he told me at the begining of the season that the team was definitely trading him before the deadline. His contract would just handicap the team too much going forward.

[miami_fan]

If the Hawks do not send multiple 1st's to the other team along with Trae, the other GM deserves to be fired immediately.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

If the Hawks do not send multiple 1st's to the other team along with Trae, the other GM deserves to be fired immediately.

If the Hawks send multiple first along with Trae, the Hawks GM should be fired immediately. I have seen they might send a second or some other such sweetner, but the people suggesting they are going to send the Pelican first round pick are bonkers.

[Ksyrup]

Depends on how much salary they take back. If they want him AND his salary gone, then they have to give something else up because at this point, he's considered a net-negative.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Depends on how much salary they take back. If they want him AND his salary gone, then they have to give something else up because at this point, he's considered a net-negative.

He would (and likely will be) a good fit for the Wizards, and they have the cap to burn.

[GrantDawg]

All the trade parts are sitting tonight for the Wizards. The final deal is imminent.

[Lathum]

Funny how the Lakers are the ultimate winner in a trade between the Hawks and Mavs.

[GrantDawg]

It git announced in the middke if the Hawks gsne. Trae for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. So far no other compensation, though both sides were asking for draft compensation.

[GrantDawg]

Just checked with my Hawks insider. It is a straight up deal. Hawks fans are mad they didn't get anything else, and the Wizards fans are mad they didn't get anything else. So, good trade.

[JPhillips]

I don't at all understand what the Wizards are thinking.

[flere-imsaho]

Every bad contract the Wizards take on, someone gets a blowjob?

[GrantDawg]

The trade honestly makes a lot of sense for them. They have lots of young players who aren't good at creating their own shots, and they brought in the best table setter in the game. They have cap to burn, so his cost isn't a problem. Adding a lot of offense gives them something exciting to watch even while the team isn't good. They might extend Trae or they might not. T