Jack Scheuer’s Off The Boards – February 18, 2015 Edition

There have been conversations of late asking if Kentucky is the best college team ever assembled, and it certainly is in the mix.  I can’t imagine there has ever been a team with as much depth as the Wildcats have, and they definitely have to rank as one of the best defensive groups we’ve seen in a long time.  One of the things against them is their youth, with so many one-and-dones, and as talented as they are, they still lack in experience.  Looking back at some of the greatest squads in the past you have the superb UCLA  teams of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton and their outstanding supporting casts, and who were led by the greatest coach in the history of the game.  How about Ohio State with John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas. and Larry Siegfried.  Indiana had an undefeated season with Scott May, Kent Benson, Quinn Buckner and Bobby Wilkerson.  Michigan State with Magic, Greg Kelser and Jay Vincent wasn’t bad, and we can’t forget North Carolina who had James Worthy, Sam Perkins and a promising freshman named Michael Jordan.  And most of those guys played at least three years with the exception of Johnson, who played two.  So is Kentucky close to being the best ever?  Give it some thought.

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Well, how did you like that sham that was the NBA all Star game?  You could see the same thing at a shoot-around which would have better defense.  I think the league would be better off if it did away with all of the excess and just promoted the three-point shooting contest.

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Trivia Time: Who is the all-time leading scorer for the Indiana Hoosiers? Answer at the end of the column.

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Talk about a team in free fall.  About five weeks ago Seton Hall was playing well, handed Villanova a loss, and was considered a tournament hopeful.  Now the losses are piling up, a good player has left the team, and another has been suspended for belting Ryan Arcidiacono.  Pirate coach Kevin Willard just might be feeling some warmth..

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This and That: I don’t see every team but I’d be surprised if there’s no better 6th man in the country than Josh Hart.  The Villanova soph does everything, and is always under control…. Todd Kalas, son of the great Harry, is the broadcaster for the South Florida Bulls….More Fathers and Sons: Aubrey Dawkins (Johnny) at Michigan; Trey Mourning, (Alonzo) Georgetown; Jacob Hazzard (Walt) at Arizona; and Evan Manning, (Danny) at Kansas….A broadcaster’s worst dream: A collision between Ryan Arcidiacono and Temple’s Obie Enechionyia….Big game for the Owls tomorrow night when they meet SMU in Dallas.

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Answer to Trivia Time: Calbert Cheaney tallied 2,613 points.