Links Everywhere

Larry Abney won something in Holland or did he just buy a trophy with his Taipans money?

Sorry about the laziness over the past few days people, but I'm in San Diego just taking in the sights and sounds of sunny southern California with my family before I head home.

As there are many fine golf courses down here, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a links edition.

Although it is the lazy way out of blogging, there is plenty happening in the world of hoops that is holding my attention.

Hope the same can be said for you. Enjoy!

- A hot topic here in the USA over the past few days has been where will Mike Dunlap end up when his coaching merry-go-round stops. The wait is now over people. He has signed on as the assistant coach at Oregon for a lazy $400k.

I will go on record and say that the players of Oregon better get ready for the individual workouts they are about to become part of.

Dunlap is the best I have worked out for in this area. Players can do nothing but improve. He is that good I would send my own kids his way...just to see if he can break them down.

- Australian basketball will have a presence at the Final Four in Detroit this weekend. Both Aron Baynes of Washington St and Luke Nevill of Utah will play in the Hersey's College All-Star Game on Friday (Saturday Down Under).

- "The only thing that Shaq likes better than speaking his mind is giving nicknames to big guys who get dunked on. If Robin Lopez doesn’t push back, he could end up like “Ericka Dampier” or Andrew Bogut, who is “Ericka Dampier with a beard.” Maybe Lopez can be “Ericka Dampier with stupid looking hair.” Courtesy of Dime Mag.

Get to get the full story behind this Shaq quote chick here.

- This article is for all my Australian friends that think I'm a little one eyed towards Gonzaga and their success. Read for yourself, it is a great place to play.

- Former Canberra Cannon boss Ron Harvey honoured by the International Olympic Committee.

- Boti Nagy fills us in on what is going on around the traps.

- Boomers can be found in Vegas over the off season.

- Luke Schenscher is looking at overseas option.

- Julian Khazzouh loves to surf. Who would have thought?

- Former Kings import Jerome Beasley given second chance in Holland after setting fire to the wrong thing.

Just couldn't go past this footage!

News & Links

Where will Mike Dunlap end when this offseason's coaching movements are complete?

I've just moved camp today from cactus country (Phoenix) to beachside (San Diego).

I'm taking the easy way out today with links everywhere. The six hour drive (which included three border patrol stops, Mexico is very close) has me a little weary but there is plenty happening in Australian basketball right now.

Enjoy all this good stuff.

- First, we have a change of head coach with the National Team. Out goes Brian Goorjian who has held the job for the past six years, and in comes energetic NBA assistant Brett Brown. Brown has been given the job until after the London Games (2012).

Goorjian had two Olympic campaigns during his time at the helm with 9th and 7th place finishes.

Will Brown be able to improve on this? We can all judge his after the London Games.

- It seems the Wollongong Hawks have done everything asked of them to qualify them for the New NBL and all with a touch of Bollywood. Click here for an audio interview with Mat Campbell as well.

On the otherhand, it is a nervous wait for fellow hopeful the Cairns Taipans.

- Kerry Williams is helping out the young hoopers of the Northern Territory. Well done to Kerry.

- One of the NBL's worst kept secrets has finally become public knowledge. Brendon Joyce will not coach the Gold Coast Blaze next season.

- Joe Ingles goes home to play for the Tigers. I'm beginning to sense the 36ers will fullcourt press Ingles about playing for his home team next season.

Only trouble is 36ers coach Scott Ninnis has never dribbled let alone shot a basketball with his left hand. How could he help develop left handed Ingles?

- In the NZNBL, there is a father/son combo.

- For those interested, Mike Dunlap is getting plenty of attention in the USA and Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl supports him.

- Memphis give Kentucky permission to speak to John Calipari. Is Dunlap a chance at the Memphis job?

- Click here to see who was named to the All-American 1st team in college.

Zona Prove Their Worth

Chase Budinger and the Arizona Wildcats prove they deserved to be in the NCAA Tourney.

One of the big stories before the NCAA Tournament kicked off was the Arizona Wildcats sneaking in as one of the last "Bubble Teams" selected by the committee.

Making it ahead of such teams as West Coast Conference's St Mary's, the Wildcats answered their critics with two solid wins over Utah and Cleveland St to advance to next weekend's Sweet Sixteen round.

Their next opponent is Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals.

With non conference wins over Gonzaga and Kansas, while suffering a one point loss to Texas A&M at College Station, their resume looked solid without being eye catching.

On the other hand, St Mary's went 2-2 against top 50 opponents and a question mark hung over Pat Mills and his health leading into the tourney. (Trust me, playing Eastern Washington days before Selection Sunday did not help.)

There is no doubt I would have loved to see the Gaels make the tourney because I'm a WCC guy, and I want to see the conference prosper as much as possible.

But this time round the Selection Committee has got it right. You must reward teams that have played a tougher schedule throughout the year. That is what the Wildcats did.

Hopefully we can see St Mary's play a tougher non conference schedule in the future and there will be no question they deserve their spot in the NCAA Tourney and not have to settle for the N(ot) I(nvited) T(ournement).

- Here is a interesting piece on former Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Dunlap.