Tim Floyd resigned on Tuesday, perhaps due to speculation about NCAA recruiting violations concerning former player, OJ Mayo.

I know that you are innocent until proven guilty, but when you bow out like this it only makes everyone think that you are guilty. According to Rivals.com, “Floyd didn’t address the allegation in his letter to USC athletic director Mike Garrett, which was obtained by the Clarion-Ledger and also released by USC in a statement.”

In the letter, Floyd said he was resigning due to lack of enthusiasm. I find that hard to believe. He has only been USC’s head coach for four seasons. Maybe he was forced to resign, or maybe he felt that the Yahoo! Sports report about the alleged allegations had tainted his career at USC. Whatever the real reason is doesn’t matter. Floyd’s coaching career will be tainted no matter where he goes.

USC, meanwhile, is now dealing with two separate investigations into the school’s football and basketball programs.

“The University is cooperating fully in the continuing investigation with the NCAA and Pac-10 into all allegations of NCAA and Pac-10 rules violations at USC,” USC vice president Todd Dickey said in a statement Tuesday. “The university, the NCAA and Pac-10 have jointly conducted interviews of approximately 50 witnesses. No conclusions have yet been reached. … At this point, it would be both inappropriate and premature to comment further.”

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with Dickey. Conclusions by the media and the general public have already been reached. And they aren’t good.

Photo: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

Tim Floyd Resigns From USC

Self was attending a tournament in Springfield, Mo last week and said hello to one of the top recruits in the nation, John Wall. Wall is a 6-foot-4 guard from Word Of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C., and is the number one recruit in the nation according to Rivals.com.

According to the wire services, the friendly hello happened during an evaluation period when college coaches are not allowed contact with prospects other than to exchange greetings.

Kansas is already in the final year of a three year probation period for a number of violations along with its football team.

The school is looking into the possible violation and Self isn’t denying that the exchange happened. Having said that he should have known better.

This is a guy who just won the national title last season and is one of top college coaches in the nation at one of top college programs in the nation.

Just wave to the guy next time.

Post from: EveryJoe

He Had Him At “Hello”?

The Associated Press is reporting today that the reason Arizona coach Lute Olson suddenly announced his retirement last week was because his doctors advised him to do so after Olson suffered a stoke in the last year.

You can read the whole story here via Rivals.com and Yahoo Sports.

I never bought that “I wanted to spend more time with my family” excuse to begin with.

And now back to our regularly scheduled conference previews.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Real Reason Lute Olson Retired

Not a whole lot.

We uncreative types are enthusiastically awaiting Midnight Madness to begin on Oct. 17.

But for Kentucky, by way of some “loop holes” no doubt, all the madness begins on Oct.10.

Bob McClellan & Andrew Skwara from rivals.com weigh in on if it’s fair for Kentucky to have this special exception.

A Sea of Blue takes a look at this year’s Kentucky squad with a visor free appeal.

Storming the Floor continues on their journey of the “State Project”. September 14th’s edition takes a look at the state of North Carolina. Who knew that Campbell University’s mascot was the camel? Who had ever heard of Campbell University?

Tar Heel Fan takes a look at UNC’s schedule for this year. Interesting similarities to Duke’s schedule.

Big Ten Geeks is currently previewing each team in the conference. The conference needs a strong showing from the hoop squads this season because it sure is not looking pretty for the gridironers thus far.

The Daily Gopher looks at the Minnesota schedule and predicts a 23-7 record.

Yeah, didn’t expect that creepy boldness did you?

Neither did I.

(scratches head)

And just for kicks I’ll throw in a Detroit Lions jab. This is from Footbawful.

Worst of the Weekend: The NFC

The Detroit Lions: Oh good God. This Lions team may very well give last year’s 1-15 Dolphins team a run for its money. One week after getting skewered by Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, they made Aaron Rodgers (see above) and Greg Jennings (6 receptions, 167 yards) look like first-ballot Hall of Famers. They’ve already given up 82 points so far this season and a quick look at their schedule provides grim tidings: If they can’t come through at San Francisco next week or at Houston in Week 7, they could very well lose every single game this season. No, seriously. Every. Single. Game.

Oh there’s more…

John Kitna: As awful as the Lions are as a team, Kitna was bad enough yesterday to warrant individual mention. His 276 yards and 2 touchdowns might have helped whatever poor schmucks might have started him on their fantasy squads this week, but he killed the Lions chances yesterday by standing statue-like in the pocket (leading to five sacks) and throwing three straight fourth quarter interceptions, the last two of which were run back for touchdowns by the Green Bay defense. As Kitna himself put it: “Unfortunately when we needed it the most, I didn’t get the job done.” True, John, but it was a little worse than that. You didn’t just fail to help the little old lady across the street…you pushed her in front of the speeding Mazda.

(Seriously thinking about converting to a Lions free lifestyle)

See you on the other side.

Photos via newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Storylines?

At first glance 7′1 B.J. Mullens reminds me of the classic stiff, the guy who had all sorts of people saying great things about him prior to even lacing up sneakers in the NBA.

Robert Swift, Michael Olowokandi, Chris Mihm, Jim McIlvaine, uhh, maybe not Jimster there, but those first 3 were supposed to be the next really good, even spectacular, pivots, but are the epitome of Muresanian stiffness and Will Perdue blandness.

Beating up on Gheorghe like that isn’t like me, so I’ll say Ostertag stiffness instead.

Muresan had game.

Hoops analysts and geniuses –just about every one of that species—has proclaimed B.J. to be the next Oden type impact in college basketball. He can shoot it like Dirk, dunk it like Dominique, run the floor like a gazelle and can kiss it in off the glass like Mr. Fundamentals.

Just imagine how much more we would hear about B.J. if he was going to an ACC school?

Dickie V. would be saying he’s the number one Diaper Dandy!

Milicic

Is Mullens the next Darko flop?

Does he wow people in solo workouts like Darko apparently wowed Joe Dumars?

I’m not going to sit back and say Mullens will be a total disaster his freshman year.

First off, he’ll play at least 19 games against a disaster of a conference, the Big Ten. That alone should guarantee him at least a double digit scoring average.

Northwestern, Michigan and Iowa probably have enough combined talent to make a run in the NIT if they joined together, but split up that core and you have three downright weak teams.

Penn St. and Illinois won’t turn any heads either.

Indiana, it will be awhile.

Second, Mullens will (already has) easily impress others with his hops on wide open dunks and such, inflating the esteem of the many futile videos that already exist exhibiting his growing heap of skills. With every little highlight play he makes, the koolaid will be traveling more and more.

I’ll be really blunt… there haven’t been any white (American) centers who have taken the NBA by storm in recent years. There have been quite a few who were projected to be real good, like a couple mentioned above. Add on Bryant Reeves and Travis Knight to that list save Kandi Man.

Chris Kaman is the closest definition of a solid white “center” out there now. And by all means, Chris is a valuable player and really had a breakout year in 07/08. He’s a border line All-Star caliber player.

Brad Miller is on the honorable mention list, but he’s never been a back to the basket player anyways.

So this B.J. guy has a lot to live up to and many people he must prove wrong, and also, prove right.

I think too many basketball fans and “analysts” are often overly gaga over an athletic white guy, a smooth white guy, someone who they think can break out and be considered the next Larry Bird or Bill Walton, Rex Chapman, Brent Barry, Kevin McHale, John Stockton, Chris Mullin.

Good American white players are hard to come by lately.

B.J. is a phony as of now.

You can’t teach height.

True.

But you can teach others to be aware of Darko.

Post from: EveryJoe

B.J. Mullens hype machine warm and ready

DECISION TIME

A.J. Abrams, Texas
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: The 5-10 shooting guard shocked everyone – including the Texas coaching staff – when he entered the draft. It would be an even bigger shock if he gets drafted.

Joe Alexander, West Virginia
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Nobody may have seen his stock rise more since early March. Alexander averaged 23.8 points over his last nine games, then excelled in the combine portion of the pre-draft camp. He is projected as a late lottery pick.

Josh Akognon, Cal-State Fullerton
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: At best, this 5-11 guard has an outside chance at being a second-round pick. He was not invited to the pre-draft camp.

Ryan Anderson, California
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: Anderson is looking for a first-round guarantee. If the forward doesn’t get it, new Cal coach Mike Montgomery may have the best player in the Pac-10 next season.

Chase Budinger, Arizona
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: It’s tough to envision any scenario where Budinger slips out of the first round — which likely means he’s staying in the draft. His other option is to return to a program whose coaching staff seems to be in constant limbo.

Mario Chalmers, Kansas
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: After a recent workout with the Denver Nuggets, Chalmers told reporters he has no intention of staying in school. He probably will be taken between the 20th and 40th picks.

Lee Cummard, BYU
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Four NBA teams are bringing in Cummard for workouts, but he didn’t receive an invitation to the pre-draft camp. Unless the swingman plays extraordinarily well at those workouts, he’ll be suiting up for the Cougars next season.

Robert Dozier, Memphis
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Dozier has been criss-crossing the country working out for teams, but Memphis coach John Calipari expects the big man to pull out of the draft. He would be fortunate to be selected in the second round.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis
STATUS: A lock to stay in
THE BUZZ: Signing with an agent is a mere formality for CDR. He has made it clear his college career is over. He is expected to be taken between the 20th and 30th picks.

Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Ellington looked great at times at the pre-draft camp — but he also looked terrible at times, too. He is a second-round pick at best.

Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Gordon, who has been busy on the workout circuit, is committed to staying in the draft even though it’s a deep class for point guards and he probably won’t be taken until the second round.

Danny Green, North Carolina
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Racked up multiple injuries at the pre-draft camp. He’s hoping to get a second-round guarantee, but that is a long shot.

Richard Hendrix, Alabama
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: He put together a solid performance at the pre-draft camp, but remains a borderline first-round pick at best.

J.J. Hickson, N.C. State
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: Needs to impress in workouts to lock up a spot in the first round. Otherwise, draft day will be a nerve-wracking experience
.
George Hill, IUPUI
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Played well at pre-draft camp, but with so many point guards available, he likely would go undrafted.

Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin
STATUS: On the fence
THE BUZZ: A lot of teams are showing interest, but this small-school star measured a shade under 6 feet (5-11 3/4). That’s a big concern, especially when you’re not a true point guard.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina
STATUS: Likely to stay in
THE BUZZ: Remains a probable first-round pick despite a recent arrest for driving after drinking alcohol. The Denver Nuggets may take Lawson with the 20th pick.

Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Showed he could score at the pre-draft camp but had problems taking care of the ball. He would be better-served by using his senior year to sharpen his skills.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Not returning to school would be a big mistake. He has little chance of being drafted.

Ronald Steele, Alabama
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Had a so-so performance at pre-draft camp. Questions remain about whether Steele can regain the quickness he had two years ago. If he stays in the draft, he can do no better than a second-round pick.

Robert Vaden, UAB
STATUS: Should head back to campus
THE BUZZ: Vaden was at the pre-draft camp and has been working out for teams, but he’d be risking going undrafted if he doesn’t pull out.

Bill Walker, Kansas State
STATUS: Likely will stay in
THE BUZZ: Walker, who elected not to go to the pre-draft camp, is banking on impressing scouts at workouts. He is projected as a borderline first-rounder.

source

First I’m somewhat surprised at the Luc Richard Mbah A Moute buzz.

Could have sworn he was listed as a first round pick in at least 3 different mock drafts I looked at.

Of course I’m not exactly sure how informed those particular sites are (can’t remember which sites either), not to say somebody can’t ever be right who is uninformed, but usually … well it goes without saying.

It’s like those NBA trade proposals certain fans make up that are so one-sided that it just leaves you saying,

“The other team(s) would not do that!”

You know, those kinds of people.

Having internet access doesn’t mean you’re qualified at putting together a mock draft.

Just be careful what mock drafts you look at.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mock Drafts are just that, Mock