DROPPING DIMES: Sunday news

by Glenn Logan on Jun 17, 2007 7:50 AM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats News

There is very little in the way of news today worth reading, but I will link what I found.

The Courier-Journal has this article explaining that Billy Gillispie plans to schedule "based on [the] team". Presumably, that means the weaker the team, the weaker the schedule? I don't know, but we'll just have to wait to see how that works out.

Jerry Tiption at the Herald-Leader has this article about UK athletics' academic performance, and I must say that the women are handing the men their asses. Tipton also slaps Donovan around a bit more, just in case he hadn't been smacked around enough. The real Gimel Martinez also makes an appearance in the article (not to be confused with the Fake Gimel Martinez at Firebilly.com).

Wildcats Thunder has a detailed update on where we stand in 2008 recruiting. Go Big Blue Cats and The Wildcats Blog also have posts covering the rest of today's Kentucky Wildcats news, including a rumor about Derrick Jasper.

Finally there is this from CBS Sportsline about an experimental game played on an 11-foot rim. It is interesting in many ways, since it represents a change so basic that the players found themselves relying more on basketball fundamentals than pure athleticism.

Perhaps this deserves more comment -- how the nature of the game has changed by the greatly enhanced athleticism of today's athletes. It may also reflect a reason why we perform so poorly in international competition, where the rules and court are configured to reduce the impact of athleticism on the game.

Well? What do you think?

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11 ft rim ...

I'm not sure what to think about it right now. I mean, initially I thought it would help bring out fundamentals more but the change would have to be accepted globally in today's game. That's one huge change, especially for those kids who rely purely on their power and size and on their monster jams. I don't know I think right now I'd welcome the change just like I welcomed the change to the 3 point line.

Just as long as they aren't planning on widening the basket. Know what I mean? LoL.

Loading ... checking memory card ... press Start and enjoy the game.

by giddyupwcb on Jun 17, 2007 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think ...

basketball fans are quite ready to give up "entertainment" style basketball for good fundamentals. I think there is possibly a happy medium, but really, I don't hear an outcry to reduce the number of dunks or go back to the set shot.

I would love to see more fundamental and basketball that relies on teamwork and less one-on-one stuff, but I'm old-fashioned like that. My perception is that most fans want to see more athleticism, even if it means less of a team sport.

by Glenn Logan on Jun 18, 2007 6:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't like it...

I accept that fundamentals would be more important if the rims were raised, but I don't like the change. Rims have been at 10 feet for 100+ years and pushing them to 11 feet would change everything about basketball. I'm not an NBA fan, but I love the game of college basketball as it is. This change would be the same as moving the pitching mound or shrinking the end zone on the football field. In my opinion, those types of changes are just too drastic.

Josh Centor NCAA http://www.doubleazone.com

by jcentor on Jun 18, 2007 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for coming by, Josh ...

I agree with you that raising the rim to 11 feet is too drastic. Further, it's hard to see any support out there for such a move.

But widening the lane, or making it trapezoidal could eventually be considered. Heck, the NBA now allows zone defense (of a sort), and college BB is moving back the 3-point line (which wasn't in the game 100 years ago, either). But these changes do seem relatively minor compared to raising the rim height.

by Glenn Logan on Jun 18, 2007 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions