Category — College Basketball

That’s Larry Brown’s take on the situation in Charlotte, where he was fired as coach last season by Michael Jordan. Brown, the new head coach at SMU, used the Dan Patrick Show this morning to take some shots at Charlotte GM Rod Higgins and his staff for the problems of the awful Bobcats, who are headed for 1 of the worst finishes in NBA history.
Dan Patrick
Touchy, touchy: Apparently weary of hearing his boys are a bunch of “yes” men, his Airness responds to Brown’s rip job. Can’t wait for that North Carolina reunion.
Charlotte Observer

The dwindling number of sports cartoonists is another sickness plaguing the newspaper industry.
N.Y. Times

The former NBA journeyman and Florida star passed Sunday from respiratory failure. He was only 43.
Tampa Tribune

With yesterday’s committment by Shabazz Muhammad and the recent one by Kyle Anderson, UCLA and its fans have high hopes of returning to the high life in college basketball. As much as we’d like to share in their enthusiasm, and we do to a certain extent, we’re still bummed Ben Howland is the Bruins coach. But blame Dan Guerrero for that 1 since both should have been shown the door after this past season’s fiasco and the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the program.
The good news, though, is the pressure is on Howland to produce next season despite the pass he has received from the L.A. media. Obviously, if he doesn’t, you can bet the farm he’s history and maybe someone at UCLA will have the balls to boot Guerrero, too. Howland, who apparently went to the same school for offensive strategy as Mike Brown, has even promised to open up the offense. We’ll believe it when we see it. But for the players sake, let’s hope the Bruins are as fun to watch as the talent they have stockpiled. Maybe even Howland can’t screw that up.
College Basketball Talk
Jackie Robinson Day: Major League Baseball will celebrate the icon on Sunday.
MLB.com
The day after: Fans (writers and broadcasters, too) are still stunned by the way the Lakers hammered the Spurs Wednesday night without Kobe.
ESPN LA
Money in the bank: With a big assist from David Stern, the Clippers deal for Chris Paul is paying off as well as any investment. Ask the Thunder.
NBA.com
Will the NFL ever return to L.A.?: As fans, we could care less.
O.C. Register

It’s about time.
San Diego State and UCLA will clash Saturday, Dec. 1, in the 19th John R. Wooden Classic at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
“We are honored to have an opportunity to play in an event that bears the name of John Wooden,” San Diego State Coach Steve Fisher said. “I had the privilege to get to know Coach Wooden and he is what every coach aspires to be. It is very special to play in his event against the school for which he coached.”
San Diego State and UCLA have met 21 times in a series that dates back to 1922. The schools, however, have not crossed paths since 1991. The Bruins have won 8 straight in the series and own a 16-5 lead. SDSU, however, has won 9 in a row vs. current Pac-12 Conference schools, including a 3-0 mark in 2011-12. It also has won 23 consecutive games vs. schools from California.
Tickets: GoAztecs.com or 619.283.7378.

Grounded: Lamar Odom and wife Khloe can work on making babies 24/7 after the Mavs cut their losses today.
Dallas Morning News
No Kobe: The Lakers star, who didn’t speak to reporters again, will miss his 2nd consecutive game tonight because of a painful shin injury.
ESPN LA
Can’t bear the load: Dwight Howard will sit out the next 2 games because of back spasms. Guess he’s weary of carying all of that baggage between him and Stan Van Gundy.
Orlando Sentinel
General soreness: Can we just put Bobby Knight out to pasture?
USA Today
Pitching a bitch: John Paul Morosi says there are good reasons the Yankees and Red Sox are off to 0-3 starts.
Fox Sports
I’m sorry: Nutcase Ozzie Guillen will return to Miami after today’s game in Philly and apologize for his love of all things Fidel Castro.
Miami Herald
Well duh: Kansas forward Thomas Robinson will skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft.
Kansas City Star
All eyes on Yu: The Rangers pitcher will make his debut tonight against the M’s.
MLB.com
Blair Kiel dead at 50: The former Notre Dame quarterback reportedly died of natural causes.
ESPN.com

Someone other than us slammed the L.A. Times and its partner Bleacher Report for the idiotic and sometimes racist bs and lists the website passes off as “news.” The criticism means little coming from small potatoes like us, but its encouraging to see folks who carry some juice like Kevin Roderick taking aim.
L.A. Observed

The men’s basketball teams at San Diego State and Syracuse will face off on USS Midway Museum flight deck in San Diego on Friday Nov. 9.
“We are very excited to be participating in the Battle on the Midway,” SDSU coach Steve Fisher said. “We look forward to bringing the focus of the nation to the military, the city and San Diego State University with this wonderful event. It is natural for SDSU to take a part in an event which will showcase our community to the country. The fact that we are playing Syracuse, the top-ranked squad for most of this past season and a perennial top-10 team, will help make it a national draw.”
Last season’s North Carolina-Michigan State contest on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego attracted President Obama and Magic Johnson, who’s chronic roving eye apparently is sneaking a peek at the First Lady.

What’s up with all the hate, Houston? We get that you’re stoked that Brittney Griner, one of H-Town’s finest, and Baylor completed their perfect run. But do you really have to rub Skylar Diggins’ nose in it? Don’t hate. Just appreciate.
Culture Map

Brittney Griner and Baylor wrapped up the women’s national championship Tuesday night with a dominating win over Notre Dame to finish their unbeaten campaign at 40-0.