Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to resign in surprise move full-court press right now on the national level picking apart a good point guard,' Palin said, using a basketball analogy. 'She closed a chapter in Alaska politics on a very weird and bizarre note,' said former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, a Democrat
Leaving A Trail: Turkoglu Snubs Portland, To Sign With Raptors on Friday afternoon, but by nightfall those talks apparently broke off. In the latest turn of events, TNT basketball analyst David Aldridge reported late Friday night that Turkoglu has verbally committed to a five-year, $60 million contract with the
Michael Jackson Memorial Confirmed for Staples Center to the family confirmed a public memorial will take place at the home of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team next week. Jackson was rehearsing for his planned British comeback shows at the Staples Center in the days before his death last week
Raissman: NBC should get out of the tennis business feel your pain. Some things just don't change. In the opening rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, there are complaints about CBS not showing the right game or making the wrong switch. In October two things are certain: 1) baseball's
Today in History - July 4 Korean man outside a church in Bloomington, Ind.; authorities believe Smith was also responsible for killing former college basketball coach Ricky Byrdsong during a three-day rampage targeting minorities. Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport won the
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to resign in surprise move full-court press right now on the national level picking apart a good point guard,' Palin said, using a basketball analogy. 'She closed a chapter in Alaska politics on a very weird and bizarre note,' said former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, a Democrat
Summer school for basketball at Hackettstown High s head coach and athletic director, offers some pointers to participants last week during the annual Tiger Pride Basketball Camp at Hackettstown High School
Two cases of swine flu at middle school confirmed was gone. This week, the four-week Summer Arts program began at the middle school, as well as youth basketball clinics. The district sent letters home to all families of children participating in these programs informing them of the health department
NHL pushing Reinsdorf as man to solve Coyotes' woes But his group's bid for troubled franchise lags far behind one from Canada That the would turn to Jerry Reinsdorf to rescue the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes is not surprising: He has a home in the Phoenix area, business ties to the City of Glendale, where
Raptors sign free agent Turkoglu Charlotte Bobcats Gerald Wallace (L) passes the ball around Orlando Magic Hedo Turkoglu of Turkey during an NBA basketball game at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina February 20, 2009. Photograph by: Chris Keane, Reuters TORONTO
OSU Goal: Have Greg Oden in the Lineup By Jan. 1
Ohio State coach Thad Matta is impressed with the athleticism of his newcomers.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team starts practice Friday night for a season fans are anticipating more than they have in a long time, because of one of college basketball’s top freshman classes. Coach Thad Matta sat down for 30 minutes to answer questions last week before catching a flight for another recruiting trip.
Q : Let’s start with the No. 1 question in every fan’s mind. What’s the latest prognosis for how soon Greg Oden will be cleared to practice and play?
A : Don’t know. The rehab (of his surgically repaired right wrist) is going great. ... As far as a date of return, there really isn’t one. I’m hoping we have him January 1 st. (That’s) where we’re focusing. I’ll take him earlier. But I don’t want him to come back and have any risk (of reinjury) whatsoever. I’m not going to do that to him.
Q : There is more preseason excitement surrounding the program than there has been in a long time. Are you more excited about this season than you have been about any other in your career?
A : Yeah, but probably for a different reason. My excitement stems from coaching a team that has one starter returning, four returning players (and) five new guys. I’m looking forward to the challenge of trying to bring all the pieces together and watching the daily progress. This team will always be a work in progress, of getting guys to understand the level they’re going to have to play at at the college level, at the places we’re going (to play), the teams that we’re playing. (That) is going to be the biggest challenge.
Q : With this young of a team, why did you get so ambitious with the nonconference schedule, playing North Carolina and Florida on the road?
A : When you’re going to recruit the best players in the country, you want to challenge them. I know full well the challenge ahead of us; at times it appears to be frightening. But hopefully it’s going to do nothing but make us better down the stretch. Early on, we’re going to be competing at the highest level, and I think it’s going to put a sense of urgency into not only the coaches but the players. Every second is going to count. Everything that we do is vitally important. I like that perspective.
Q : Because of the excitement around the program, if ever there was a year to start a Midnight Madness event here, this is it. But you’re not a fan of Midnight Madness. Why not?
A : The first few practices for me ... you’re trying to set a tone, you’re trying to set a tempo, you’re trying to set an understanding of how we do things. I think our upperclassmen know that our practices are very challenging. I don’t think (with) our maturity, both as a program and as a team, we’re ready for anything but hard work and a commitment to the time we’re on the floor.
Q : So once the program and the team mature, you might reconsider?
A : I think if I’m at Florida and I’ve got five returning starters that have just won the national championship, I could see that.
Q : You’ve started a landslide of high-profile recruits into the program. How do you plan to keep everyone happy?
A : I’ve always said I don’t determine playing time; they do. We always shoot kids straight: We’re going to play team basketball, all five guys are going to guard the ball, we like high-assist teams. With the low number we have again this year (nine scholarship players, including the injured Greg Oden), we’re going to need everybody. Hopefully, they’re going to earn that right to get on the court.
Q : You have a policy of not letting your first-year players speak publicly until after they play in their first game. Why do you do that, and given the higher profile of the recruits you’re now bringing in, do you foresee relaxing it in the future?
A : No. My big thing is trying to keep this in perspective. My No. 1 concern when guys get to campus is that they get acclimated to college life. To let a young man talk to the media before he’s played in a game, he really won’t know what he’s saying until he’s gone through the practices and battled. Let them continue to adjust and get an understanding of what it’s really like as opposed to speculating on what they think is going to happen. I want them to live it first.
Q : The team has yet to start practice, but the coaches have been able to drill the players individually since Sept. 15. What are three things that have made an impression on you or your assistants?
A : Athleticism would be one, more of it, and (more) length (longer arms and wingspans). Another thing would be our lack of understanding defensive concepts; it’s a good thing we have a month of practice (before the first game). The third thing would be the job our upperclassmen have done bringing the new guys into the fold, welcoming them and forming relationships with them. They appear to be a close team at this point, which I’m very pleased with.
Q : Four freshmen and a junior-college transfer are expected to play major roles on this team, but none has played a minute of Division I basketball. Yet most preseason polls have Ohio State ranked in the top 10 nationally, and fans are saying if the Fab Five (of Michigan) went to the Final Four, the Thad Five can, too. How much do you think this team is capable of?
A : I’d really like to get to the final four of the BCA Classic, which means we have to beat VMI (in the season opener). That’s where my mind is.
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
Hedo Turkoglu agrees to deal with Raptors of quality teammates. The Blazers are loaded with younger and more superior talent. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden are the cornerstones of the Blazer franchise for many years to come. Turkoglu could have been the missing piece to their
Hedo Turkoglu rejects Blazers, ends negotiations now is unclear. Because the team is set at shooting guard (Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernandez) and center (Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla), it is likely the Blazers will pursue a point guard, small forward or backup power forward to play behind LaMarcus
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
Turkoglu to join Blazers Portland a huge front-line going into the 2009-10 season as he would join 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla or 7-foot Greg Oden at center, and 6-foot-11 LaMarcus Aldridge at the power forward spot
