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Flying high

Dayton is among the few teams still unbeaten in league play

Posted: Wednesday February 05, 2003 2:08 PM

Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl answers your college basketball questions every Wednesday. Click here to send him a question.

For many moons, the 'Bag has extolled the virtues of the conference season -- the mettle-testing road trips, the annual grudge matches, the way a league championship banner rewards consistency over the long haul. We've also lamented the decline in importance of the conference season, which is precisely why it's time to take a look at the teams that are cleaning up in their respective leagues these days.

As of Wednesday, only 10 teams in the nation had spotless league marks, led by Louisville (6-0 in C-USA) and Kentucky (7-0 in the SEC, a remarkable achievement given that it's the nation's top conference). A quick word about the Wildcats: Since the second half of the Vanderbilt game on Jan. 14, Tubby Smith's team has become the most fearsome defensive unit in the college ranks since the decade-old heyday of Cincinnati's fullcourt press, UNLV's amoeba D and Temple's 2-3 zone. Whatever your allegiance, hoop fans everywhere should applaud these 'Cats for restoring our faith that hard-nosed, shoe-leather defense hasn't gone the way of the Edsel.

So complete was Kentucky's domination of Florida on Tuesday night that the Gators were reduced to staving off the 25-point blowout that would have sealed their doom for the season. (Remember, only one national champ in the past quarter-century -- North Carolina in 1993 -- has suffered a loss by more than 25 points and gone on to win the title.)

Yet surprisingly, the team I've gotten the most e-mails about lately is not Kentucky but, rather, Dayton, which somehow is absent from the polls despite a 15-3 record (including wins over Marquette, Cincinnati and Villanova) and a 7-0 mark in the resurgent Atlantic-10. Reader T. Schultz of Boston wants to know why the hoops world isn't giving the Flyers any love.

Part of the problem, of course, is that the Flyers almost never play on national TV. Having only seen Dayton once this season -- in an easy win against Duquesne -- the 'Bag called an assistant coach for a team that had taken on UD earlier this year. And here's the amazing thing we learned: The Flyers are a bunch of no-names even at the mid-major level. However, they do have three traits that separate the contenders from the pretenders in this season of hyperparity in college basketball: 1) experience, 2) depth, and 3) the ability to play together as a team.

"They don't have any great players," the assistant said, "but they do have very good balance." Indeed, seven Flyers average 6.8 points or more per game, led by a trio of seasoned vets: 6-foot-6 senior swingman Brooks Hall (14.2 ppg), 6-8 junior forward Keith Waleskowski (12.6 ppg) and 6-2 junior guard Ramod Marshall (11.9 ppg). "They score well in the post, and they have shooters on both wings," the coach says. "They also do a good job of rotating out to the corners if defenses are double-teaming in the post, like Cincinnati tried to do against them."

That said, the Flyers still have two games to play against Xavier (including one this Saturday at the Cintas Center), one at Richmond and another at home against Saint Joseph's. So far only Duke, Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis have pinned an L on Oliver Purnell's side. "If they keep it up, I'll be surprised," says the coach, who thinks the Flyers' talent gap will catch up to them. "We played both Dayton and Xavier, and I'd be surprised if Dayton beats Xavier at home or on the road."

We'll see. A couple other related points: 1) Who would have thought the A-10 would come back in such a big way without Temple or UMass being part of the equation? 2) Hearty congratulations to Dayton's home fans for not storming the floor after their team's win against Marquette. As reader Brian Dascenzo of Plymouth, Mich., writes, his dad (a Dayton grad) "is a firm believer in the act-like-you've-been-there-before theory and was proud of the kids."

Guess that's what happens when you're not on national TV.

While we're at it, props to the other teams that are undefeated in conference play (excepting the Ivy League's Brown, Penn and Princeton, which are too early in the league schedule to deserve them): South Carolina State (10-0 in the MEAC), Stephen F. Austin (10-0 in the Southland), Weber State (6-0 in the Big Sky) and Gonzaga (7-0 in the WCC). Keep an eye on the Zags, who took their lumps in the nonconference season but have improved immeasurably as a result.

Opening the 'Bag

I have a bet with a classmate. I say that Arthur Johnson of Mizzou is one of the best postup centers/forwards in the nation right now. I think that the only big men better than him are Chris Massie from Memphis and Mike Sweetney from Georgetown. My friend says that I am a fool and I should watch more college basketball. Would you please help us settle this disagreement? Also, could you list your top five big men?
—Jeremy Barber, Columbia, Mo.

I don't think you're a fool at all, Jeremy, but I would suggest that Johnson is in the group right below the nation's best postup center/forwards. With the caveats that the following list has nothing to do with NBA potential (but rather current college play) and that I'm guaranteed to offend and/or omit one or two names, here are my nominees:

1. Nick Collison, Kansas
2. Sweetney, Georgetown
3. Mario Austin, Mississippi State
4. Brian Cook, Illinois
5. Emeka Okafor, Connecticut

Also receiving votes: Xavier's David West, Missouri's Johnson, Memphis' Massie, Arizona's Channing Frye, Central Michigan's Chris Kaman, Valparaiso's Raitis Grafs, Texas' James Thomas, Georgia's Steve Thomas, Minnesota's Rick Rickert, Virginia's Travis Watson, Ohio's Brandon Hunter, Kentucky's Marquis Estill, Gonzaga's Cory Violette, Tennessee's Ron Slay, Western Kentucky's Chris Marcus and Wyoming's Uche Nsonwu-Amadi.

Do you think it's possible for Eddie Sutton to end up in the Basketball Hall of Fame, despite not winning a national championship?
—Ardi Wijaya, Atlanta

It's not only possible -- it's a lock. The man has won 719 games and counting. And he still might get that national title before it's all over.

Over the years, who have been your favorite family members of players? Feel free to use whatever criteria you see fit. Personally, I used television appearances/interviews in the stands to judge. Gold: Nick Van Exel's dad. Silver: John Wallace's little brother. Bronze: Carlos Boozer's mom.
—Seth, Rock Island, Ill.

Excellent question, Seth. A quick rundown, in no particular order, based solely on the most memorable relatives I've run into:

Arthur Lee's dad. Arthur Jr. (the former Stanford point guard is Arthur III) is a dead ringer -- in looks and temperament -- for Al Sharpton.

LeBron James' mom. Gloria James didn't give me a Hummer, but she can always be counted on for a big hug. Recently added to her look with new blue-tinted contact lenses, the best contacts we've seen since Jay Bilas' all-white lenses for I Come In Peace.

Kenyon Martin's sister. As a child, Tamara Ridley told me, she used to beat up kids who made fun of Kenyon's stuttering.

Casey Jacobsen's dad. The hard-driving Von Jacobsen once told me that Marv Marinovich had done some good things, which is kind of like saying Mussolini made the trains run on time. On the other hand, when Stanford beat Georgetown in the NCAA tournament two years ago, my jaw dropped when I caught Von mouthing the words "I love you" to Casey from the stands.

Any member of the Walton family.

Drew Gooden's dad. Andrew Gooden III was fond of calling his son (the product of an African-American father and a Finnish mother) a "black Viking."

Charlie Bell's girlfriend. When I met Kenya Howard for lunch, she actually wore her Miss Michigan sash to the East Lansing Red Lobster.

Richard Hamilton's dad. Big Rip told me that I should always call him "Big Rip."

Jason Gardner's uncles. Uncle Don and Uncle Greg -- or UD and UG, as they call themselves -- are the Cyberspace Uncles, as evidence by the Web site they created for their nephew (www.shepherdofthecourt.com).

Gary Williams' grandson. David Scott was easily the biggest star on the court in Atlanta last April in the celebration following Maryland's national title.

Khalid El-Amin's dad. Charles El-Amin actually told Roy Williams during a recruiting visit that it was a no-no to hug his wife -- right after Williams had hugged Mrs. El-Amin.

Dan Dickau's fiancée (now wife). The former Heather Nevenner was a Portland Trail Blazers dancer. 'Nuff said.

Desmond Mason's dad. After spending time in jail on a drug-trafficking charge, Johnney Mason had turned his -- and his son's -- life around.

Why can't basketball players keep the ball in motion? I am sick of players palming the ball. Did the rule change? I am sick of hearing how good some player is when the midrange jump shot is gone, palming is rampant, free throws aren't made, defense sucks, no player understands how to post up or defend the post position, and players have no respect for the round ball, coaches or other players. (Also, why do fans rush the court?!?)
—David York, Lansing, Mich.

Thank you, Andy Rooney. I agree with you on a lot of this stuff (see Sports Illustrated's College Basketball Preview issue on old-school basketball), but there are pockets of hope: 1) I'm starting to see palming called more lately. 2) This year has featured some of the longest individual free-throw streaks in NCAA history. 3) Kentucky has made good defense fun to watch again. 4) Some places (see: Dayton) are learning not to rush the court so much.

I can't believe that you, a basketball writer, would recommend American History X. Disregarding the performance of Edward Norton (who is a fine actor, I agree), this flick has the most absurd, unbelievable basketball sequence in film history (Flubber included). C'mon, no way Norton has a 48-inch vertical (I mean, he's looking down at the rim on the final dunk), and no way that horrifically obese kid can control the boards like he did. Ain't gonna happen. Otherwise, good movie.

Question: Whom do you pick so far as national player of the year? No one stands out, in my opinion, making this one of the most parity-filled seasons I can remember. I rather like it.
—Tom Vasich, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Serious question first. My nominee right now for national MVP is (drum roll, please) Arizona's Jason Gardner. It has little to do with stats and everything to do with how well Gardner has melded the egos and talents on what the 'Bag still regards as the best team in the country. Think about it: If there's any year in which we should put aside personal stats in favor of the players who most influence the success of the nation's top teams, this is it. I'll write more on this in a future column (and include my full list of nominees), but for now Gardner is my man.

As for dubious movie hoops sequences, you're right about Norton in American History X (it surely cost him the Best Actor statue). But Norton was way better than Leo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries and Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf. We'll save the long, sordid list of bad hoops movies for another day (send your suggestion here), but the 'Bag's biggest pet peeve is movies set in the pre-3-point era that have !#$% 3-point arcs on their courts. Drives me nuts.

There's been some discussion that Al Bohl, the Kansas athletic director, may decide that KU needs to replace Allen Fieldhouse within the next decade in order to generate revenue from luxury suites. I think this is an appalling idea; a good part of the lore and tradition of KU basketball is Allen Fieldhouse. Why should we cut off Samson's hair for a few bucks?
—Dave Byrd, Washington, D.C.

Agreed, Dave. Anyone who suggests the demise of Allen Fieldhouse and Oregon's McArthur Court (an even more likely possibility, if you can believe it) should be throttled. You don't see anyone trying to demolish the Palestra or Cameron Indoor, do you? With the rise of airless hoops mausoleums (the Dean Dome, Ohio State's Schottenstein Center, Wisconsin's Kohl Arena), purists must do everything they can to save the game's sacred grounds.

Mike Montgomery is proving again this year that he is among the best coaches in college basketball. Stanford lost two starters (Casey Jacobsen and Curtis Borchardt) in the first round of the NBA draft, one key player (Teyo Johnson) to the NFL draft, and its starting point guard (Chris Hernandez) and power forward (Justin Davis) to injury, yet Montgomery has the team near the top of the Pac-10. With only one senior, the Cardinal already has beaten Arizona, Florida, Oregon and Xavier. Granted, Montgomery has never won a national title, but why is he not mentioned among the elite coaches of the land?
—Brian Steele, Chicago

Montgomery is assuredly one of the nation's top coaches in my mind, and Stanford's sweep last week of the Arizona schools on the road joined Notre Dame's three-game run over Marquette, Maryland and Texas among the top feats of the season. What's hard to fathom about this year's Stanford team is its inconsistency (see: losses to Richmond, Montana and Washington). Yet the fact remains: Montgomery has solved all sorts of personnel issues and has the Card well-positioned for another NCAA bid.

I think this whole Bracket Buster thing is a conspiracy by the larger conferences to keep deserving mid-majors out of the Dance. The Bracket Buster can, and likely will, be used by the selection committee as an elimination tournament. Lose your game and don't even think about an at-large bid.
—Steve Gradoville, Boone, Iowa

Steve, as much as I'd like to call out a conspiracy by the major conferences, the Bracket Buster was devised as a benefit for the mid-majors, not a deterrent. Let's wait and see how the Buster's debut season affects the brackets on Selection Sunday. If it's a negative, we'll call out the committee (as we always do anyway). But I suspect a couple of teams will benefit from quality wins against opponents they wouldn't have had the opportunity to play had the Bracket Buster not existed. It's something to watch, though.

Wacky uniforms (cont.)

Thanks to those of you who had comments on last week's best-and-worst uniforms package. Got several e-mails nominating N.C. State's infamous spandex unitards; if anyone has a photo link for those monstrosities (or for Notre Dame's chartreuse kit), send it here.