"... I couldn’t help but think of how many people had helped me along the way. One of those people I wanted to personally thank for opening doors was Jimmy Raye. This book tells how some of those doors got pushed open. I’m sure you will enjoy reading about the journey!" - Tony DungyKentucky
Izzo long ago validated on Tobacco Road
Tom Izzo’s opinion that he needed a second NCAA title to “validate” his career sparked myriad responses. Mostly, the Michigan State basketball coach's innermost thoughts were met with rebuttals he has already proven himself. Let me tell you a story from the Heart of Tobacco...
How the good guys beat Duke and Kentucky
A Michigan State fifth-year senior and an Auburn junior slew a pair of NBA Combine team dragons, leaving Duke and Kentucky short of an NCAA title – not to mention a Final Four – a fourth straight year. Experience still matters most in college basketball. Michigan State’s Kenny...
Duke sticking point is Jones Family PG Glue
The headlines, TV replays and talking head superlatives feature Zion Williamson, but it all overlooks a dose of Jones Family PG Glue that has held together Duke’s ups-and-downs this season. Duke’s losses can all be traced to how much glue freshman point guard Tre Jones was able...
Beating Blue Devils secret is outscoring them
For people waiting to see if North Carolina and Basketball Hall-of-Fame coach Roy Williams has the secret formula to slow down Duke, college hoop’s football version of the Alabama Death Star, forget digging into his game-plan history. Syracuse Basketball Hall-of-Fame coach Jim...
Earvin Johnson still playing throwback role
There are no more Magic Johnsons in college basketball. That has been my thought the past decade while watching one-and-done college prospects follow each other like lemmings to the same two schools, Duke or Kentucky. Their paths are considered the easiest to an NCAA title, even...
Coach K is raking in recruits without Capel
Duke’s first game against Pitt and former Blue Devils assistant Jeff Capel on Tuesday brought up a touchy subject with Mike Krzyzewski. Capel’s surprise move to Pitt had generated speculation that Duke recruiting might suffer.Try telling Michigan State coach Tom Izzo that Coach K...
How to feel better about a Duke rout
My guys at Ferris State, who earned an exhibition game invitation from Duke as the defending NCAA Division II basketball champion, should feel more confident in themselves after watching Duke dismantle Kentucky on television. The numerical comparisons of Duke routing Ferris on...
Duke returns home still searching for glue man
Duke basketball’s three-game Canada exhibition tour confirmed – to the surprise of no one – that R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson are special. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski even said so three months before the Kentucky opener.“Zion and R.J. are a cut above everyone who’s on the...
History Loyola Chicago and Michigan State share
Loyola Chicago's run to the NCAA Final Four is a good time to relate overlooked pioneering histories shared by Michigan State football and the Ramblers' basketball program. Two watershed moments that changed the color of college athletics belong to the Ramblers and the Spartans....
Tar Heels winning without the one and dones
Two years ago it looked like the one-and-dones had won. The college basketball world was theirs to rule.Duke captured the NCAA title behind three freshmen who left early for the NBA Draft: Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones. In that same 2015 Final Four, Kentucky – led...