RE: Las Vegas Classic

[Shinkle, Randy]

I've been checking the schedules posted at the official web sites of
various schools, and here's how things appear to be arranged ....

Five of the teams listed below (Delaware State, Jackson State, Southern
Illinois, UTEP and Vanderbilt) are in a different tournament (along with
Arizona State, Cal State Northridge and Tennessee State) which holds its
finals in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend.

The Las Vegas Holiday Classic that UC is in was also intended to be an
8-team tournament, and it may still be, but as of now it only involves 6
teams.  Each participating team will play 4 of the 5 others per a
predetermined schedule.  UC will play Northern Iowa (on 11/24) and
Northwestern State (on 12/18) at home, and will then play Longwood on
12/30 and Illinois on 12/31 in Las Vegas.  Valparaiso is the team UC
won't play in the tournament.

The reason I think it's still a possibility that the tournament will go
to 8 teams is that Oklahoma State, one of the schools originally listed
as being in the tournament, has not yet released a schedule for this
year.  But I have no idea whether there's still any teams left to fill
the 8th spot.  At this late date, it's likely that it will be just a
6-team tournament, and since it guaranteed each team 4 games, the
near-round-robin schedule will probably hold.

Randy '78



-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Wyrick [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 8:02 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Las Vegas Classic


I'd be interested to see either of those matchups based on where those
programs are right now or Vanderbilt for that matter.

"Reporter: What do your players think about facing the Bearcats tomorrow
Don?

Don Haskins, UTEP: I really don't think my players can spell cat Dave."


-1992 press conference

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Harris, Derek C [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 9:34 AM
To: 'address@hidden'
Subject: [UC Basketball] Las Vegas Classic

I finally found out what teams will
be involved in this tournament.  
Cincinnati, Delaware State, Illinois, 
Jackson State, Northern Iowa, 
Northwestern State, Southern Illinois,
UTEP, Valparaiso, and Vanderbilt.  
Obviously the promoters will have UC
and Illinois on opposite sides of the bracket,
but it looks like we should face another 
tournament team in the semifinals.  I 
would guess Southern Illinois or UTEP.  
D/Taylor Mill

-----Original Message-----
From: Reber, Steven Edwin (Steve) [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 10:28 AM
To: 'address@hidden'
Subject: [UC Basketball] Why not recruit Whaley. 



I remember last year when someone asked Huggs "Why recruit Whaley?" his
response was "6'10", good ball skills, good passer, why WOULDN'T you
recruit
him???" 

I think we have several good answers now, 
If he does pan out, he would have been a 1 year contributor, and he goes
to
the NBA.
or you have a Reuben Patterson who is a constant headache for 1 year,
then
figures it out and is a major contributor for the second half of his
senior
year.  
Either way you get 1 year contribution but a very scary presence to
other
recruits.  The program got nothing but headaches out of Whaley, and his
"upside" probably scared away several recruits who wouldn't want to sit
behind him if he could have worked out.  When he does screw up, like he
had
several times before in his life (on the brink of playing top-level D1
ball,
you beat up people with a table leg????? People recognize the 6'10"
guy.) UC
is high and dry without a legit center.  

Attitude, the Steve Logan factor, should be more of a consideration.
Nothing against second chances, but too many 2nd, 3rd, 4th chances are
given
where the person isn't "hungry" for redemption.  When I lived in Tampa,
there was a kid (Richie Parker???) who was going to Long Island U. for
basketball, after having raped a girl and the other prisoners threw him
a
going away party with lots of pot, so he failed the drug test and was
not
paroled, lost his scholarship etc...
Bet on the kids with not as much talent, but who are willing to work
hard
and learn, develop.  

I think Huggs is one of the best coaches around, but if he admits to
himself
that he is not perfect, he can become even better.

Steve in Columbus