![\"Avery](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_5358-e1680246176845.jpg\")
<\/a>Avery Johnson looking really young. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one of a now-thin Charles Barkley at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
I\u2019ve watched every second of this twelve-days-over-three-weeks tourney, so, of course, basketball, in general, is front and center on my mind right now.<\/p>\n
In the midst of all the college action, there have been a lot of interesting developments on the NBA side as the post-season play-offs approach. Between the two, I\u2019m neglecting just about everything else in my life. I\u2019m barely eating and sleeping, I\u2019ve declined every invitation that would cause me to miss a game, and I\u2019m writing mainly while I watch<\/em> the games, (so if you see any weirdness in my recent work, including this one, that’s the explanation.)<\/p>\n So I realized that now<\/em> is the perfect time to share some of my thoughts on the sport.<\/p>\n We’re down to the craziest Final Four in history! Ostensibly, that group should consist of all four #1s. Duh. (There are four \u201cregions\u201d making up the brackets. There are sixty-eight teams to start off, because four of the lower-seeded teams have to play in the \u201cFirst Four,\u201d to come up with the top sixty-four teams.) It’s hardly ever those four teams at the end, but it’s never too far afield.<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n But this year, the seeds in there are a #4, (which isn’t too<\/em> crazy,) (UConn,) two #5s, (San Diego State and Miami,) and…a #9!!! (Florida Atlantic University.) Together, it’s just insane.<\/p>\n Markquis Nowell<\/strong> from Kansas State has emerged as my absolute favorite college player, perhaps ever. I actually started crying just watching him and even hearing him talk. The first time Mr. X saw me do that, he wondered what was wrong, and I had to tell him, \u201cI love this guy!\u201d<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Oh, I forgot to mention that Markquis is only 5’7\u201d, as he says, \u201con a good day!\u201d But he does everything<\/em> on the court! He even throws three-pointers like Steph Curry!!! (And that’s saying more<\/em> than something.)<\/p>\n Commentator Brian Anderson<\/strong> deemed Markquis’ stats\u2014one of having the most assists (19) in an NCAA tournament game ever<\/em>, and the other lengthy one in the image below–to be \u201cother-worldly.\u201d<\/p>\n Markquis at the free trhow line, with his amazing stat below him. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And the entire Kansas State program is almost equally impressive. (Almost.) Not one player on the team began at this college! Last summer, there were no coaches at all<\/em>, let alone a head<\/em> coach, and only two<\/em> players–Nowell and Ismael Massoud<\/strong>–who had both transferred in earlier, to boot. And now here they were, making it all the way to the Elite Eight! (I’m so sad to say that they lost at the literal very last minute of that game, though.)<\/p>\n Can you guess one reason I became a fan of Kansas State? They wear lavendar uniforms!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I have to also mention their graduate player, Keyontae Johnson<\/strong>, who has a very dramatic story of his own. On December 12, 2020, he was playing for Florida, and one day he collapsed on the court in the middle of a game, similar to what the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin did this<\/em> year. It was also an undiagnosed heart issue, and it took him two years to get back to playing basketball. In an interview, Keyontae explained that, even though he was cleared to play again by both the Mayo Clinic and the NBA doctors, he had a tough time finding a college team to let him play. And Kansas State was there for him.<\/p>\n I became a fan of their coach, Jerome Tang<\/strong>, too. He has the whole program being about love and faith. I love it! And he even went into the other<\/em> locker room after his team lost the game, to tell them they’re great and they can win the whole thing! That’s class.<\/p>\n Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang and star player Markquis Nowell. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Also (and always<\/em>) classy is Gonzaga head coach, Mark Few<\/strong>. His team suffered a humiliating loss to UConn in that same round, the Elite Eight. It was just a fluke loss that any<\/em> team could suffer at any<\/em> time; it would be okay enough during the season, but not in the tournament where if you lose, it\u2019s all over for you. I\u2019ve been a fan of this team for many years now, and I\u2019ve never seen them lose like this.<\/p>\n The play-by-play announcer, Kevin Harlan<\/strong>, declared it \u201ca complete demolition.\u201d And color man, and former NBA head coach, Stan Van Gundy<\/strong>, said Gonzaga is \u201cthe most efficient shooting team in the United States!\u201d He explained, \u201cThat\u2019s why it doesn\u2019t compute; it\u2019s just hard to process.\u201d<\/p>\n I give the Zags credit for still playing hard when, by the middle of the second half, they knew it was impossible to win.<\/p>\n Drew Timme on the right and his teammate Anton Watson on the left, celebrating some good plays against UCLA. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n But now, maybe at least Gonzaga mega-star Drew Timme<\/strong> can shave off that stupid ‘stache when he’s in the pros! I always think he’s kept that facial atrocity for these four years because he’s too superstitious to shave, which I totally respect. But enough already.<\/p>\n Adam Morrison in his commercial. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Actually, a bit worrying to me is that since 99.9% of college players don\u2019t get to go pro, are Drew Timme and Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson good enough to be drafted? I wish the analysts would let me know because I can never for sure gauge those situations for myself. I’m just about positive those guys will be in the NBA next year, but you never know.<\/p>\n By the way, as that city has done to most of us, Las Vegas really screwed Gonzaga and UCLA. That’s where they both played last week-end, with devastating results for both teams.<\/p>\n Shaka Smart, looking like he’s still in high school!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of Gonzaga, I was thrilled to see their star of yesteryear, Adam Morrison<\/strong>, in a commercial! And doing so well. It’s been a long hard road for him, so all of that warmed my heart.<\/p>\n And speaking of being happy for the old guard, Charles Barkley<\/strong> looks fabulous since he lost a lot of weight. Good for him. (That’s his “money maker,” as he calls it, at the top of this page.)<\/p>\n And it’s unbelievable how young coach Marquette head coach Shaka Smart<\/strong> and commentator Avery Johnson<\/strong> look! I need to start doing the health and wellness regimens of all three of those guys!<\/p>\n The weird black bra-looking devices that some players wore during warm-ups. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n One amusing thing\u2014I could not imagine why the Duke players were wearing black bras over their shirts in warm-up! It turned-out that it’s some crazy new technology innovation that measures their performances somehow. Who could have figured that one out?!<\/p>\n My last NCAA topic is a horrible one, for all involved. The overall (meaning top of the top) #1 seed this year was Alabama. They really do have a great team, but it’s been mired in so much controversy that I’m sure the NCAA wanted them to not<\/em> win the tournament, despite the top ranking. I think everyone wanted them to just lose early so they could stop discussing their star, Brandon Miller<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It’s too long a tale for me to discuss here, but he’s been investigated for being the person to have brought a gun to a former teammate, Darius Miles, who then killed a young mother with it. (Please research it if you want all the details.) No one knows what really<\/em> happened, but Brandon has not been charged, and police say they consider him to be just a witness.<\/p>\n Controversial Alabama head coach Nate Oats on the right, being interviewed by Evan Washburn on the left. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n He’s still played all season, which could not have been easy for him, his team, or the family of the victim. He’s even had to have armed security people around him. And meanwhile, because he’s so exceptional a player, he was named the SEC Player of the Year! And he would go high in the NBA draft in a couple of months, possibly even second<\/em>, but does a pro team really want to court that controversy, no matter how good a player he is? I don’t have the answer.<\/p>\n But I’m sure that most everyone was thrilled when ninth seed San Diego State beat Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen round. Now none of the commentators have to awkwardly discuss the super-sad story anymore.<\/p>\n I had soooo many other things to discuss in this tourney, (and I have the photos to prove that multitude,) but I don’t want to exhaust any of you with them, so let’s move on to the pro probs.<\/p>\n For years, Dallas Maverick star Luka Don\u010di\u0107 <\/strong> has been creeping-up on Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/strong> as my favorite player. Shockingly, I have never\u2014not even when they were age-appropriate\u2014had a crush on an NBA player. Not even Michael Jordan<\/strong>, whom I loved in his heyday\u2026until I met him. (But that\u2019s a story for another day.)<\/p>\n The cute exchange between Luka Doncic and ref Ashley Moyer-Gleich, with her trying not to smile afterwards.<\/p><\/div>\n But a couple of years ago, when I saw Luka kiddingly flirt with one of the few female refs, my heart melted. I\u2019ve always<\/em> loved him, but that made me realize if I\u00a0had<\/em>\u00a0to have a crush on one of the players, he would be it. Even with his crooked teeth, Luka is absolutely adorbs!<\/p>\n Their exchange, (during<\/em> a game, I might add,) went something like this: Luka: \u201cYou didn’t see that foul?\u201d Ashley Moyer-Gleich<\/strong>: \u201cWhat foul?\u201d Luka: I think I’m fouling in love with you.\u201d Smiles all around.<\/p>\n I’m so jealous!!! I<\/em> would have blown the whistle to stop the game, and then laid the mac on him right there!!!<\/p>\n Now teammates, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.<\/p><\/div>\n So, now that he\u2019s my fave guy in the league, you can imagine my major chagrin when creepy anti-semite, Kyrie Irving<\/strong>, got transferred from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. Kyrie is part of the trio of my most-hated players, (along with Kevin Durant<\/strong> and Draymond Green<\/strong>,) so I definitely did not want him paired with Luka.<\/p>\n And now Luka has hinted that he feels the same way. After a recent game, where the Mavs got booed by their fans, Luka was absolutely miserable in his post-game presser, and said he used to have fun on the court, (intimating that he does not<\/em> anymore,) while Kyrie was defiant in his<\/em> press conference. He said the booing doesn\u2019t bother him. He even invited the fans to change places with him, saying, \u201cBe my guest.\u201d Let me tell you, I would do it in a heartbeat. I may not score a basket, but I guarantee you that Luka would be having fun again!<\/p>\n Luka playing before Kyrie got there…<\/p><\/div>\n Mark my words, Luka will insist on being traded next season if they keep pariah Kyrie. Nobody<\/em> wants to play with the latter except for maybe<\/em> LeBron James<\/strong>, who won a championship with him in Cleveland in\u00a02016. So, I feel that Luka will tell the Mavs basically, \u201cIt\u2019s him or me.\u201d If owner Mark Cuban<\/strong> has any brain at all, which I think he does, he\u2019ll choose his franchise player, Luka, of course.<\/p>\n …and Luka playing now that he’s forced to play with Kyrie.<\/p><\/div>\n Now here’s my last basketball topic for today: I’m getting such a kick out of that I feel the bottom teams in the NBA are trying their hardest to not<\/em> win another game. That is correct\u2014I feel that, even though it\u2019s against the rules, the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and *San Antonio Spurs are trying their hardest to lose now. None of them have won a game for at least a week and a half!!! This is why\u2014the team with the worst record has the best chance to procure the #1 draft pick at the end of the season. That\u2019s always<\/em> a bonus, but this year is the ultimate. The prize is nineteen-year-old\u00a0Victor Wembanyama<\/strong>\u00a0from France, who is touted to be the best player in history<\/em> down the line!!! (Right now, the NBA commissioner has referred to him as a “once-in-a-generation player.”) He\u2019s 7\u20192\u201d and due to his exceptional mobility and ball-handling skills, plays like a much shorter guard<\/em>!<\/p>\n On that tip, I can\u2019t wait for today\u2019s game between the two teams in the best<\/em> contention to be last<\/em>! They both have to try to lose without being apparent about it. Obviously, I’m not the only one who’s thinking this way\u2014Adam Silver<\/strong>, the NBA commissioner,\u00a0has warned that the league would pay “particular attention” to\u00a0see if any of the teams are \u201ctanking\u201d any games, so they can get that best chance at acquiring Victor in the draft.<\/p>\nMARCH MADNESS<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
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