Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Tipoff Time

Are there any remnants of tradition left in college hoops?I suppose, but, if so, it’s not a matchup of Nova and the Irish near the banks of the Tiber, almost within view of the Sistine Chapel at 9:30 EST in the a.m. of NFL Sunday the morning after the kiddos ODed on Milk Duds.Or, in the case of the team I and most of my readers adore, the University of Louisville Cardinals, at 9:00 EST in the p.m. on a school day Monday, the night of each week we tune in MNF just to see if this is the one Troy turns around and starts choking Joe on camera.But, I’m not here to lament the long ago far away eras of Peck and Wes and Grif.And I’m tired of talking about Bar Exam topics.The season beckons.I am anxious.I am ready to discover the glories and heartaches that shall ensue with a new contingent of Cardinals from far and wide.Nigeria. Spain. Congo. China.As well as Kentucky, Wisconsin, Florida.And a freckled face kid from Hickory (N.C.)I am ready for Opie and Obi, Flory, Bo and the others whose sobriquets and shorthand monikers have yet to evolve.Let’s tip. * * * * *Had an interesting chat with Barrister B at the gym the other day.After contemplating for too long that legal shit — it was before the blessing of the most recent decision — he asked me a question worthy of ponder.“Is Pat Kelsey a good enough coach to win a national championship?’That’s a leap way beyond, will we dispatch Chattanooga as we should in the opener?But it is our aspiration.We are obsessed with the end game, success on that final Monday.Unlike my default behavior, a cocksure immediate knee jerk response, I hesitated, actually contemplated the query for a moment.My thoughts raced back to observing PK’s hyper intensity from the first syllable he uttered with force at the recent practice I attended.“I think he’ll need to calm down. At least some.“That excessive energy has to wear down his players.”Or, so it seems to me.I believe his basketball mind is championship strong.His ability to adapt, bring in new voices, and rethink his modus operandi are encouraging.Yes, that is my ultimate conclusion.Yet “can” does not equal “will.”Resources. The fleeting flickering desires of teenagers and their agents. The imposition of another NCAA rule. Torn ACLs.There are eternally the whims of Naismithius. Positive and not so.Who shows up? Ulysses Cleon Reed from midcourt. Or, Tony Branch floating in the lane.Winning it all is Not Easy.A school winning three titles is a lot. Only nine schools have won more.For contextualization, here’s a list of really excellent basketball coaches, all with hundreds and hundreds of Ws, who have never worn the Crown.Mark Few. Ed Diddle. John Beilein. Ralph Miller. Bob Huggins. Rick Barnes. Ralph Miller.To name but a few.That contemplation about PK shall play out as it will.It is ever present for hoopaholics in my neck of the woods.For now, there is only this: Beat Chattanooga.— c d kaplan