Waco on the Road Again

To have not just one but both Baylor college basketball teams involved in post season tourney play so close to home is a wonderful thing, even if it puts lots of miles on the family car.

Bears Out, but Were Big Winners, too!

Baylor may be out of the NCAA tournament after their somewhat controversial loss to Duke in Houston on Sunday, but I've got some reasons why that result has little bearing on just how good Baylor's season really was.

Is Spring for Getting Ready...or Getting Hurt?

As the Astros continue to win more than they lose in spring training (with too many of the wins led by players who won't even be on the 2010 team), other players continue to fall like bowling pins in a PBA tour event.

The latest is ONLY Roy Oswalt--Opening Day's scheduled starting pitcher and the one pitcher who MUST be healthy and strong through the whole season if the Astros have any chance.

After pitching four good innings on Friday Roy was diagnosed with a slight hamstring strain. Now everyone says putting him on the sidelines for a short period is purely precautionary and there is no real concern.

That may be easy for Astro medicos and officials to say, but plenty of fans are concerned. They are not worried just because of this minor hamstring thing, but rather because Oswalt and injury are becoming linked. The same can be said for Lance Berkman who still is unable to fully participate while his balky left knee calms down. Oswalt and Berkman are simply too important for them to miss games or be hampered at all once the season begins.

Now, if it will make Astro Fan feel any better the home team is hardly the only club with concerns. Albert Pujols has a lower back problem that has been keeping him out of action. And just yesterday it was revealed that 2009 NL Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum of the Giants, has a cut finger on his pitching hand. Lincecum is scheduled to face Roy Oswalt in the Astros home opener on April 5th. Wonder if either team is considering a backup plan just in case?

Back to the locals... Michael Bourn is about ready to start playing full time again. He needs it. Before his quad strain he had not shown much. Now is the time for the regulars to really concentrate on getting ready for game competition. That is one reason why having Tommy Manzella sidelined right now hurts. He needs to be facing pitchers who are trying to get hitters out and not just throwing a lot of fastballs to get arms in shape. The last two weeks of the spring is where the concentration level is greatest.

It has been great the Chris Johnson has had such a good spring. Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter to the 2010 Astros since they had already committed to Pedro Feliz at third base this year. It certainly has helped Chris in the eyes of the organization--maybe even to the point of him getting a shot later this season. However, Astros fans should not want that. It would likely mean either Feliz was injured or the club had totally failed and the decks were being cleared for 2011. Still, it has been encouraging to see the success of Johnson, Jason Castro and J.R. Towles. All three will be needed as some point down the line for the Astros. There is hope.

NCAA HOOPS NOTES

How about the dominating win for the Baylor Bears over St. Marys at Reliant Arena Friday? I did play by play for five Baylor games this season and while they only lost one of them-- a 76-74 loss to Kansas State-- they never played as well as they did Friday. Remember, though, this was the same Baylor team that struggled to beat Sam Houston State in the first game of the tourney. Still, coming off their best game of the year, don't sell them short against Duke on Sunday.

Speaking of Sam Houston State, coach Bob Marlin is leaving. I don't know all the ramifications but presumably for a large raise in salary, but moving to Louisiana-Lafayette is not much of an upward move. Apparently, Marlin did interview for the Houston job, but when an offer was not forthcoming right away he opted for ULL.

This would indicate that Billy Gillispie may be the favorite for sure in Houston, although Houston Chronicle Cougar beat writer Steve Campbell indicates Tim Floyd is still in the running as well if he doesn't accept the open job at UTEP first. The door is not shut to any of the names or applicants yet. The decision process still has some way to go.

Having seen what Billy did in building the Texas A&M program I am in his corner providing he can prove the demons that took over during his stint at Kentucky have been excised and that he would honor a contract--that HE WOULD SIGN!

COLLEGE BASEBALL ON FSHOUSTON

The regional college baseball season opens Sunday at noon on Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Southwest and others in the FSN family nationally. It will be Texas at Texas Tech. Jack Lazorko will join me on the call. Texas features righthanded pitcher Brandon Workman, the defending Big 12 pitcher of the week, on the mound. Tech is in a re-building mode this season, but Texas is already built. Ranked among the top teams in the country again, the Longhorns-thanks to superb pitching- can't be counted out from winning yet another national title in June.

It is a long way until then, but they are on the right road and it all starts on our air Sunday.

What an NCAA Tourney

The Houston regional doesn't even start till later today, but what an NCAA Tourney in 2010! Has there been a better one for excitement, upsets and thrills? OK, the form chart was followed in the East Regional on Thursday with Kentucky beating Cornell and West Virginia downing Washington assuring a battle of the region's 1st and 2nd seeds in the final on Saturday. Things in the West did not follow the form chart either in game result or game form.

How about Kansas State making it to the Elite Eight with their double overtime win over Xavier on Thursday? The Wildcats, despite being the #2 seed in the West, have surprised a number of fans if only because THEY are still alive and #1 pre-tourney seed and big rival, Kansas, is not.

The other game in the West Regional had special interest to me. My alma mater, Butler University, knocked off top West seed Syracuse. That was an upset, but not a major one based on national rankings (Butler was #11 heading into the tourney and the #5 seed in the West), but it was still a surprise--especially to Syracuse fans.

The Kansas State-Xavier game was simply wonderful for all fans-perhaps even more so for neutral ones who had no favorite. The whole NCAA tournament has had many of those. I suspect they are not done yet. Butler could make some sort of history if they could beat Kansas State, thus disposing of both the #1 and #2 region seeds in the same weekend. That is a very tall order.

Here is Houston Baylor is in a different situation. Despite never being this deep in the tourney before, they are the hunted in their game tonight with St. Marys. Although carrying a 28-5 record the Gaels are the underdog vs the Bears. Baylor will have its hands full. Having beaten Sam Houston State in a tight game and Old Dominion without showing dominance St. Marys won't be easy. Then, if successful a likely meeting with Duke before a trip to Indianapolis for the Final Four can be booked.

That is assuming Purdue won't perform another miracle with their one star short team beating Duke first.

Logic says it can't happen. But when has the 2010 NCAA Tourney followed logic?

Season Already Over for Rocket Defense

Sure was a lot of breeze indoors at the Rocket game vs Oklahoma City Wednesday night. Most of it created by Thunder players rushing past Houston would-be defenders. I have some thoughts on that plus a veiled forecast on Thursdays NCAA action and a comment on the state of the Astros too.

NCAA Hoops Graduation Champs

This time of year we are all excited about the NCAA basketball tournament. The best teams and players are going head to head for the honor of being crowned National Champion.

However, one enterprising operation put all the teams that were in the original 65 team field and matched them up based on graduation rates by basketball players. The same teams went head to head as in the regular field. However, many of the winners were different when graduation rates were the criteria. Any school that did not report graduation rates for men's basketball automatically forfeited and the tie breaker between teams whose basketball grad rates were the same was the overall school graduation rate.

Anyway, just for fun, here is what resulted.

Is it a suprise that two of the final four teams on many fans pre-tourney brackets also made the "final four" based on the Federal Graduation rate? It happened as both Kansas and Villanova made the finals. Of course, both were upset in the real tournament and won't be in the actual basketball final four.

So who is still alive in the Sweet Sixteen that would also still have been alive in the "graduation tourney."

Michigan State, Xavier, Kansas State, Butler, West Virginia and Duke are the best of the best as things currently stand in both basketball and graduation success.

However, some big name programs would have not had much luck under the graduation rate matchup formula. Kentucky would have lost in the first game to East Tennessee State. Notre Dame would have beaten both Old Dominion and Baylor. Houston would have beaten Maryland, but lost to Michigan State. Texas A&M would have lost to Utah State and Texas would have lost--as they did anyway--to Wake Forest.

Syracuse would have lost in the first round to Vermont

And who among the original 65 would "win" the NCAA tournament of basketball AND graduation excellence this year?

With great pride I announce the Butler Bulldogs would be champions of the NCAA. The final four would have been Kansas, Villanova, Butler and Wofford. Butler would beat Wofford in the final matchup of graduation rates.

This graduation matchup tourney has the same pitfalls as the regular one. The wrong matchup and out you go.

If there was a surprise to me it was the first round matchup between Louisville and Cal-Berkely. As a university Cal-Berkely has very high regard. Apparently that does not include as high a graduation rate. Louisville won that one.

Can I claim a title even if the Bulldogs don't get to keep playing all the way?

Which Way for UH?

The University of Houston needs a new head men's basketball coach. Which way should they go?
Frankly, I don't really know. But I have some thoughts at least. The scenario everyone seems to want is to elevate the program back to where it once was--one of the best in the nation.

Is it possible? Yes. Would it be hard? Yes.

First of all, let us get a few things out of the way. Houston is a pro sports town first and foremost. It has been ever since the pros moved in with the old AFL and MLB in the early 60s. Then the Rockets came. During that period Rice was still playing football in the old Southwest Conference and Houston was strong enough to gain admittance to the conference. The Cougars, in fact, quickly became one of the strongest teams in the SWC in both football and basketball. Crowds were good, but nothing to compare with Texas or Texas A&M.

Soon both the Aggies and Longhorns were looking for new opponents since they felt their fan bases were paying for a lot of the programs at Rice, Houston, SMU, Baylor and TCU. Those schools were not holding up their end of the bargain.

In both Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area the alums of Texas A&M and Texas dominated. The natives of the two regions--many of whom never attended college at all--gravitated to the pro teams now available. So, when the Longhorns or Aggies came in to play the bulk of the crowd was theirs--the same folks they would rather have make the drive to Austin or College Station and fill their stadiums and make expansion of those stadiums necessary so they could stay with the Ohio States, Tennessee's and Michigans of the college world.

Once the Big 12 was formed all the "have lesses"--except for Baylor which had considerable political clout--were on their own. It will likely remain that way from now on. None of those schools will ever play in the same league as Texas or Texas A&M again.

However, ANY of those schools can be as good or better than the Aggies or Longhorns in basketball. It is happening all over the country. They may never approach either school in total fan support or revenue generated, but they can be an NCAA tournament team on a regular basis.

It doesn't even require large recruiting budgets or even state of the art facilities. It requires a solid coaching staff with a forward thinking athletic director and an administration and alumni base that are trying to reach the same goal.

Houston will never achieve the publicity or coverage of the Aggies and Longhorns in Houston because the Big 12 is the most significant league in the region and both the Aggies and Horns have the most alumni in the city and area. They also have histories that go much further back than that of UH. That, does not mean that UH cannot produce a very successful program in Division I that can compete on the field with anyone--whether their fan base is as large or their coffers as full. It is being done elsewhere.

I will use Butler University in basketball as an example. I am an alum of that school so I know a lot of the history and where the school fits in Indiana hearts. The university located in Indianapolis has only about 5000 undergrads. It is a private school. It does have a basketball history with great teams as far back as the 1920s, Its fieldhouse currently can seat about 12,000 fans, but when it was constructed in the late 1920s the capacity was 14,945. No luxury suites, but totally updated a few years ago and with one of the best actual floors in all basketball. Nearly everyone has seen it. It was the site for the Indiana State Final game in the movie "Hoosiers." Butler has been to the Sweet Sixteen three times in the past few years and has had a highly ranked program for the past decade. The historic and large fieldhouse has been a recruiting tool.

Yet, the Bulldogs are no better than the third college program covered by the Indianapolis Star in their own hometown and linked with Ball State, Indiana State, DePauw, Evansville and IUPUI in the "State Colleges" section of the newspaper. Indiana and Purdue have separate sections. Oh yes, that 12,000 capacity fieldhouse will only be sold out if the foe is Purdue, Ohio State or another Big 10 team. Despite their success, Butler averages less than 8000 fans per game. If that sounds like what the University of Houston (and Rice and HBU and Texas Southern) have to face in our city with the Aggies and Longhorns getting most of the attention, it is. Admittedly, our schools would love to reach an 8000 per game average, but remember Indiana is basketball country and still one of the nation's top ranked teams does not sell out.

Still, Butler has been achieving more in basketball over the last decade than either of the Big 10 teams. Houston can do the same.

So, what will it take? How should it be done? What should a coaching prospect take to the job interview?

To build the program will take time. It will take a coach and staff who can find players, some of whom may be gems in the rough, that will be willing to come in and sacrifice what it takes to make Houston not just a team that wins more games than it loses, but excels. This doesn't mean UH has to successfully recruit national blue chip players. They didn't when Guy Lewis was running the show and winning. Nationally, who was Clyde Drexler, Larry Michaux, Reid Gettys, Alvin Franklin or Akeem Olajuwon before they made their names with the Cougars? No, Houston doesn't need national blue chips any more than Xavier or St. Marys or Cornell or Northern Iowa or even Butler does. Houston needs players who can play the game as a team under a coach who knows how to get that out of them.

So, who is that coach? Some of the names floated around already might fit that bill. Bob Marlin at Sam Houston State can certainly coach. But he has been at the same post for twelve years. That is a long time. A move to a program that is seeking Division I prominence--with the recruiting needed--may be risky.

On the other hand a coach that can coach can win on any level. Only the degree of winning is different.

Billy Gillispie is responsible for making basketball matter in College Station. Remember, the new building came BEFORE Billy and there was little change. When he took over so did the program. Has Gillispie made too many wrong decisions in both his private life and with both A&M and Kentucky? He used to live, eat and breathe basketball. The late Neil Hohlfeld once told me of visiting Billy in his apartment in College Station. He had been on the job for about a year and the apartment had little furniture, no food in the refrigerator, but basketball game tapes and scouting reports strewn about. Basketball was his all consuming passion. The biggest mistake Billy has made so far in his life was walking away from A&M for the glory and more dollars at Kentucky. Could Billy Gillispie be the right man for Houston? I think he might.

Billy got the student body involved in Aggie basketball. Now, the Aggies have one of the largest student sections in the whole Big 12. Could he do the same at UH? Unless his travails at Kentucky have changed him I think so.

That will be the test for UH athletic director Mack Rhoades who worked with Billy during his days at the University of Texas El Paso. He will have to look into Billy's eyes and see if he see the same man.

Or, it could be someone who's name is unknown right now. Maybe it is someone who has been doing a great job recruiting for a major program with less head coaching experience, but who has all the attributes in other important areas.

For every candidate that has a track record there is another who is in the same spot they were in when they started their careers. At UH all one has to do is look to the success of the football program under Art Briles and now Kevin Sumlin. One was a high school coach. The other was a college assistant. Neither had run a major college program as the head coach. Both turned out quite well. The same can happen in basketball, too.

All this is why Gillispie might be the best "all around" choice for the UH job if he were interested and the school was convinced his "demons" were a thing of the past. At the same time, there are others out there who could also get the job done. It is up to Mack Rhoades to sift through the options and take the best one.

The next coach at the University of Houston has to have not only an all consuming passion for basketball, but to be able to sell it to recruits, fans and even the media that needs to be covering the team to greater lengths. When he interviews with Mack Rhodes he has to be aware of the schools past history and players, but have a vision for the future. Guy Lewis did.

While Hofheinz Arena at this point either needs replacement or total upgrading Lewis was recruiting players before even Hofheinz Arena was built. The Cougars recruited Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney and had their great teams of the 1960s with nothing but old Jeppeson Gym or local high school gyms to play in.

Guy used to tell the story that for years part of his recruiting pitch was carrying around a architects drawing of what the new place would look like--someday.

The next UH coach will have to point to a brighter day ahead and emphasize the positives of playing at Houston in one of the nation's largest cities.

Remember, this is the city that shocked the world by selling out the Astrodome for a college basketball game in 1968. And one of those teams was the Houston Cougars.

Want a Hoops break? Astros vs NY Yanks today

There is something ELSE on TV Saturday than just the NCAA Tournament. The Astros meet the Yankees and I have the set up from the sports library.

Day One a Doozy but not Kind to Texas

The NCAA tournament--which is normally always at its best on the first two days--did not disappoint for 2010. That is, unless you are a fan from the state of Texas. In that case it was a very rough and disappointing day.

One school HAD to be disappointed from Texas since Baylor and Sam Houston were both meeting each other. Yet, with favored Baylor winning in a very tight battle with the Bearcats the game was at least one of the better ones on the day.

Actually, Sam Houston State's lack of their usual three point barrage was the difference in who won. Give Baylor some credit for that. The Bears rarely left a three point shooter alone with enough time to aim and fire. And while the Baylor offense did not exactly roll--scoring just 68 points--it was good enough. Now first game jitters are over for Baylor who had not won an NCAA game in 60 years. Old Dominion is next.

Other than Baylor all the other teams from the original Texas Seven that were in the field and played on Thursday, bowed out. The Texas Longhorns loss was the most distressing because while they had a chance--losing 81-80 in overtime to Wake Forest--it also looked like a typical Texas game from this season. Texas has looked often like a team trying to get by on its athleticism and not well coached. That is just not what Rick Barnes teams have looked like during his run at U.T.

Admittedly, the Horns had some injuries and a significant number of young players. Still, the team did not play often like a TEAM and it resulted in Texas losing ten of its last 17 games after rising to the #1 spot in the polls for a week.

Texas was never that good. They were talented, but not that good. Several of their key non conference wins were not as big as many thought at the time. Remember the North Carolina victory at Jerry World? North Carolina finished at .500 and not in the NCAA tournament. The win over Pittsburgh came with two Panther starters out of the lineup. Much of the rest of the non conference schedule was weak.

Now it is over for the Longhorns.

It is also over for North Texas, ousted by Kansas State; and Texas El Paso, defeated by Butler.
The North Texas loss was expected. Some had given C-USA regular season champion UTEP a shot against Butler since the Miners had been on a roll up to their conference tourney loss to Houston and many felt their #12 seed was too low.

But after UTEP led by six at the half , number 12 nationally ranked Butler had a Yates-like 31-8 scoring run to start the second half with a bombardment of three point field goals and the game was over.

NOW THERE ARE THREE

So, Texas seven team contingent is down to three--with Baylor the only team with a first round win in the bank. Both Texas A&M and Houston are playing their first games today (Friday). The Aggies are scheduled to play Utah State at 4pm while the Cougars will take on Maryland just before 9pm.

Texas A&M is favored as a fifth seed over twelfth seeded Utah State. Houston as a 13th seed is a decided underdog against 4th seeded Maryland.

If the odds makers are right only Texas A&M and Baylor will still be standing after the first round. That is good for sure in one respect. If both could win one more game they would be headed to the Houston Regional next week.

Houston would have to extend its winning streak to six to advance. If they could pull off an upset of Maryland and then another win over either New Mexico State or Michigan State they would head to the Midwest Regional in St. Louis.

And don't automatically count the Cougars out in advance. On Thursday seven of the 16 games were won by upset winners.

ONE GUY WILL BE CHEERING AND CELEBRATING

Today is Guy V. Lewis' 88th birthday. The father of University of Houston basketball who still follows the program very closely will be watching the action with rapt attention. Guy and current head coach Tom Penders have been close since Penders took over the U.H. program six years ago. Before that they were rivals with Penders coaching Texas and Lewis the Cougars. So, Happy Birthday, Guy. Let us hope your Cougars can give you a special present.

Why Even THINK About Rocket Backcourt Change?

From time to time local pro basketball fans speculate about what the Houston Rockets might look like next season with a presumably healthy Yao Ming back in the lineup.

That speculation often includes off season signings and/or trades...some of which baffle me.

For instance, while it is true that due to lack of height point guard Aaron Brooks can run into problems, particularly on defense, and his backup, Kyle Lowry, often looks to be a more true point guard there is absolutely no reason to think of trading Aaron to make this team better.

That would be folly. Brooks is capable of averaging 20 or more points per game, which he is now, for that matter. He is one of the best if not best three point shooters in the league. And while it is true you can't teach height, nor do players as quick as Brooks fall off trees.

With the return of Yao Ming that combination of speed/outside shooting is exactly what the team needs offensively.

The Rockets are finishing the season well since Kevin Martin has learned how to fit in and Luis Scola has started owning the paint offensively. But it is Aaron Brooks who has starred. A regular back court of Martin and Brooks in combination with Yao Ming and Luis Scola inside will score some points for sure.

Where the Rockets really have the need is at small forward plus some backup big players. Could Hill be one of those back up bigs? Can Trevor Ariza fill that small forward role effectively once Yao returns? Whoever plays the small forward actually needs to be a Shane Battier type--in Shane's prime. A player capable of keeping defenses honest, but who's main value is keying the defense.

Just don't trade Brooks or Lowry or Scola (unless the player acquired plays the same position and is a better player. That would be a tall order.) This year's Rocket team is headed to be a plus .500 team even if it does not make the playoffs. That is far better than it should have been in a season without Yao Ming and with the end of Tracy McGrady's effectiveness.

I am optimistic that Dale Morey will not do anything stupid. I am not convinced that a number of Rocket fans would not.

RON WASHINGTON ON SHORT LEASH

With word that Texas Ranger manager Ron Washington failed a drug test last season for cocaine simply moves him to the top of the list of managers on the hot seat in 2010. Many think the Rangers are talented enough to win 90 games. If they get off to a slow start don't be surprised if Washington doesn't get paid off. His job was very shaky after the 2008 season, but he survived. Now his team will have to play very well for him to make it through 2010. Former Round Rock manager and Astro coach Jackie Moore is the Ranger bench coach, but Clint Hurdle, former manager at Colorado is on the staff and might be the top candidate to take over if the worst happens.

Most Systems "Go" at Spring Halfway Mark

The Astros behind a strong pitching effort by Roy Oswalt and the pen in a win against the Red Sox have reached the approximate halfway mark of spring training on a good note and pace. That is all a fan can hope for in the spring.

Signifcance Less Important than Game Itself

To all the fans who missed the Rockets 125-123 win over the Denver Nuggets Monday night because they have quit paying attention missed a heck of a game.

That is the problem with the attitude that "if we can't win a championship, there is no reason to follow a team anymore." Unfortunately that attitude seems to be growing and it is too bad. Folks are missing some outstanding games.

Monday night was a recent example. The Rockets and Nuggets played an offensive slugfest which is what most fans like the most. The home team Rockets had to rally from an eleven point deficit to win on an Aaron Brooks jump shot with less than three seconds remaining.

Brooks scored 31 points. Fellow guard Kevin Martin added 29 (by the way, how does that trade look now?) and Luis Scola recorded his sixth straight double double with 23 points and eleven rebounds.

The game was an exciting and good as any that will be seen in the playoffs. The Rockets almost certainly won't be in the playoffs. They know the odds are against them. But they can still play as they did Monday. It was a great deal for the fans who had tickets or who stuck with the telecast on FS-Houston.

Yet, the mind-set has become always looking to the next year. For all of us someday there won't be a next year. Maybe its time to appreciate what we have now.

The Texans have underperformed according to any sports talk host or columnist you hear or read. The Astros won't be any good. The Rockets are a failure. No one talks or writes much about the Houston Cougars or Rice Owls. Why? Because they aren't candidates to "Win the Big One."

If you really love football or baseball or basketball, hockey or soccer there is no reason to decrease that love because your favorite team is not of championship calibre. The games they play are what you love.

Consider the Houston Cougars basketball team. Everybody loves them--today. They are an NCAA team. They won the C-USA tournament. It is the same group of players who have been playing all year. Crowds were usually in the 3000s at home all year because it was not expected they would be this successful. Seems like a whole lot of folks must have missed some exciting games even if a number of them resulted in losses.

I ask why do we have to fixate on only winning championships. Certainly that should be the goal of any team in sports. But try as one might there are some teams that just won't be winning championships on a regular basis. That does not mean, however, that following and rooting for those teams is a waste of time or money.

The GAMES are what sports is all about. Last night's Denver-Houston NBA battle was as good a game as Rocket fans have seen all year. Let's get back to watching the GAMES and letting the future take care of itself.

Happy Days Are Here Again

What a great weekend for Houston area basketball and even good news from the Astros camp. I've got the details from my Sports Library.

Oh, Yes... Carlos HAS played first base!

A couple days ago I suggested Carlos Lee start taking ground balls to help out at first base while Lance Berkman was incapacitated. I knew in his younger days Lee had played on the infield--on both corners. I found the evidence I knew I had that he had in fact played on inning at first base for the Astros at Wrigley Field.

Do You Believe in Miracles?...Yes!

The Houston Cougars are the champions of the Conference USA men's basketball tournament! With all credit to Al Michaels who coined the headline above way back in 1980 it certainly fits the Cougars of coach Tom Penders in 2010.

Virtually no one gave the Cougars credit or a chance to make it into the NCAA tournament after a season barely .500. Many felt it would be the swan song season for veteran coach Tom Penders despite his 640+ career wins. After all the Cougars had not won a conference title or even been to the NCAA tournament since 1992 and never during the Penders regime.

The Cougars were no longer relevant for Houston sports fans outside the loyal alums and students who made it into the decaying Hofheinz Arena. Crowds--if that word is applicable- in the 3000s were normal, a far cry from the nearly 10,000 per game that followed Houston Cougar basketball during the years of Phi Slama Jama.

It certainly wasn't all Tom Penders. Other coaches had failed to keep the Cougars on the level Guy Lewis had set. There were many factors contributing to the decline of the program. Many of them were justified. The facilities were no longer top of the line. The Rockets had become the primary basketball team in Houston. The Astros had a run of playoff baseball. And football returned on the NFL level with the Texans. College sports in general were no longer as important especially after the Southwest Conference died and both Houston and Rice were no longer part of the "in crowd" with Texas and Texas A&M.

So Houston Cougar sports...basketball and football both... fell from the level in the hearts and minds of both alums and general fans.

Making the NCAA men's basketball tournament field doesn't solve the problems. But it sure makes people who live in the city very proud.

I have no allegiance to the Cougars except they play in my city. I had a tear in my eye...a tear of joy when I saw time expire and the Cougars were champions. I hope you did too. If you live in Houston regardless where you may have gone to school this was a big big win.

What does the win do for the future of the program? No way to know exactly. Remember Larry Bird and Indiana State in 1979? Have you heard of the Indiana State program since? No, there are no guarantees the Cougars can return to the level they once had. There is no guarantee the Tom Penders regime will be longer lived. But there is a guarantee there is joy in Cougarland right now. And that is good enough.

Time for Carlos to Get some Work at First?

With the less than encouraging word that Lance Berkman will need minor surgery to remove some loose bodies from his left knee and will be sidelined for two to four weeks, perhaps the time is right for Carlos Lee to get some first base work.

After all, Carlos is not exactly a gazelle in covering left field and he does have history as in infielder.

Many years...and perhaps 100 pounds ago...Carlos played some third base early in his career. He has had experience taking ground balls off the bat. At first base his biggest concern would be learning how to take throws--especially the bad ones. Fielding grounders would not be a problem.

Hopefully, Berkman will be ready to play again before Carlos would ever need to play first base on a regular basis for the Astros. However, if Lance is not ready, giving Lee a shot at the post opens up left field for a player with perhaps more wide ranging defensive skills...maybe even Jason Michaels who has been red hot this spring.

Just a thought.

What to Make of Yates?

If you caught the telecast of the Yates High School Lions 106-76 win over The Colony in the Texas state 4A high school basketball semi finals on FoxSportsHouston.com Thursday night you were no doubt impressed--and maybe appalled at the same time.

There in no question the Lions are one of the toughest teams to have to play in the history of high school basketball. The IS a question whether what they play is interesting basketball. Still, the attraction is undeniable. There were nearly 15,000 on hand at Erwin Center to see what this team looked like in the flesh. Countless more caught the action on cable TV in the DAFW metroplex and on the FoxSportsHouston.com stream of the game.

The Yates all out crashing, hustling, gambling defense often makes a basketball game look more like hockey on hardwood. Possession changes hands almost as frequently as in a typical NHL game. What is MORE interesting than in hockey is there are end results. Shots are taken and often points are scored quicker than a blink. Court side official scorers are constantly having to ask those alongside, "Who got that last basket?" The pace is that quick.

While many folks were watching the game stream on FoxSportsHouston.com and seeing Yates in action for the first time those who have seen them before say that despite the 30 point win over a team more talented than most of their HISD foes, the Lions did not play especially well.

That is good to hear because despite all the points Yates missed a ton of layups and short shots. They also turned the ball over too many times themselves and often played matador defense when The Colony took the ball right down the middle. The game featured as much organized chaos as basketball.

Am I being too picky with a high school team that is now 33-0, the defending state champions, and on a roll of 15 straight games scoring 100 or more points which is the known national record? Probably I am. After all no one should be comparing Yates to a good college team or even a bad pro team. They are only players doing what their coach is teaching them. Over the last two seasons the results have been nearly perfect...and they have been perfect this season.

It is a great honor to be regarded as the best team in the whole country even if it is impossible to truly know who is better. That number one ranking for Yates is the result of the record AND the impossibly large margins of victory which has been a sore point with many all season.

The Colony was a far better opponent than anyone Yates played within HISD this season and still lost by 30. (The game had only a nine point margin at 64-59 with 1:43 left in the third quarter.)

Is Yates the best high school team in the country...or even among the best? Who really knows? But we know they were the best in Houston and now look as the best in Texas and one of the best of all time in the state. That is pretty darn good in itself.

VIEWING REMINDER

http://FoxSportsHouston.com is the place to catch the finals action in the UIL boy's finals on Saturday. Action being at 8:30am. The 4A final--Yates (33-0) vs Lancaster (36-2) is set for approximately 3:30. Length of preceding games may push the start time back. FoxSportsHouston.com will have all the finals except for 5A which will be aired with a special telecast on the regular Fox Sports Houston and Fox Sports Southwest affiliates at 8:30pm. Check local listings since some professional conflicts may require the 5A final is moved to a "plus" channel.

FoxSportsHouston.com and HS Playoffs

What do you do when you have too many events of local interest going on at the same time and only so much space on a regional sports network to cover them all? In this modern age you utilize the new means of transmission to come to the rescue. This year for the first time all final games of the Texas boy's high school basketball playoffs from Austin can be seen--thanks to the use of video streaming on the internet through http://foxsportshouston.com. Here is the schedule starting with a special semi final game Thursday night.

Early Spring Training Thoughts

The Astros are running right around .500 thru the first of the long spring training. There are some early positives to report. The battle for catcher is encouraging since both J.R. Towles and Jason Castro are hitting the ball well and have thrown out some would be base thieves.

Having Towles do well warms hearts in the Astro front office. From a pure "player control" standpoint they want him to start the season as the team's regular catcher so that Castro can start the season at Round Rock. The six year clock for free agency--unlike the arbitration clock--requires six full seasons of major league experience.

That is not to say the club would not be reticent to allow Castro to win the #1 job if he was head and shoulders the best in camp. With Towles playing well that would not be the case. So call that catcher's battle a definite positive.

Shortstop Tommy Manzella has been keeping his batting average in the .270 range and has shown he knows how to play the game. He has moved runners. He has made the plays. He has not looked over matched as a hitter. That is another positive.

Pedro Feliz has shown he has not forgotten how to come through with clutch hits--one of his most obvious strong points last season with the Phillies when he had 82 RBIs and well above average with runners in scoring position. That is a positive.

SOME SLOW STARTS

That is not to say some players have not gotten out of the chute quickly. Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui, expected to be the top two hitters in the batting order, have had trouble getting on base. But Kaz homered on Tuesday and Bourn stole two bases. A negative start, but a positive direction.

The starting pitchers have all had some control problems or been prone to a few long balls. That is not a positive, but also not something to be overly concerned with at this point. It is far better than all of those competing for the rotation are healthy.

Two relievers, Alberto Arias and Brandon Lyon are not healthy. Arias has a neck-shoulder muscle strain and Lyon is still coming back from cyst removal in a shoulder. Neither injury is serious, but Lyon is behind schedule and is hoped to be working either the 8th or 9th inning once the season begins. With a few exceptions the rest of the bullpen work--for those pitchers who will make the team--has been positive.

THE UN-NAMED

Hunter Pence has gotten off to a good start. Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee are coming along slowly with playing time but there is little to be concerned with them. Check back with about ten days to go before the season starts. That is when it will be time to see how the "big guns" are doing. The same goes for the starting pitchers for that matter. The last ten games give a much better picture of how things may look on Opening Day.

SPRING GRADES FOR NOW

The camp has been running smoothly. The club has been un-hurt by significant injuries. The main guys have been OK. No reason to be calling for a pennant or even pennant race yet. But at the same time no reason to panic or be overly concerned. We are not yet to the point when pitchers are using their brains against hitters. A lot of fast balls are still being seen by hitters that can inflate spring averages. Pitchers are still more concerned with building arm strength than pitching to hitter's weaknesses or looking at who may be next in the lineup. That will change as we get closer to the end of the spring. We will do another analysis then.

Don't forget FS-Houston will have Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies on the scene for telecasts March 18, 19 and 22nd from Florida. That is still a bit early to see the final club, but it will give fans an early peak.

To Be the Greatest You Have to Carry it Home

With the Texas Boy's basketball tournament heading down the homestretch many local fans are wondering just where this year's Houston Yates team ranks with the legendary teams of history.

Personally, I think they already rank among the best. But they can't be considered with just the relatively recent champs like Willowridge or Milby until they finish the job. That may sound harsh since all Yates has done is win 56 straight games dating back to last season which ended with a state championship.

But, like it or not, what have you done for me recently is most important in matters of this sort. Yates must not only dispose of The Colony on Thursday in the 4A semi final game, but also win the whole thing and finish the season unbeaten.

Milby did it more recently in 5A in 2004 when they went 39-0. Before that the famed Willowridge power houses won back to back titles and are still considered by many the greatest high school team in not only Houston, but Texas history.

Will Yates be remembered on the same level? Win out this year and the comparisons can begin in earnest.

You see, if Yates can't finish the job they will join a list of teams that were knocking on the door of greatness, but couldn't finish.

MANY ON THE PRO LEVEL

How many baseball fans remember the 2001 Seattle Mariners? That team won 116 games and took the AL West by 14 games over a 102 game winning Oakland A's. But in the post season the Mariners lost to the Yankees who won 21 fewer regular season games. That Mariner team is largely forgotten.

In another baseball example, the 1954 Cleveland Indians won 111 games and were favored to beat the New York Giants in the World Series. The Giants won in four straight and another super season was ruined.

How about the Patriots finishing the regular NFL season unbeaten but losing in the Super Bowl a few seasons back. Again, that cost the Patriots a spot in history.

Larry Bird was a great college basketball player and he took his Indiana State team all the way to the final game of the NCAA tournament unbeaten. They did not finish that way. Michigan State led by Magic Johnson won the title. Bird was remembered, but his team was not. A win in that final game would have ranked Indiana State among the best of all time.

YATES ACHIEVEMENT SPECIAL CHAMPS OR NOT

Certainly what Houston Yates has been able to do over the past two seasons is remarkable. No team has ever played harder or with more depth of skill than Yates High School. Some of their lopsided wins have cost them public approval. However, not unlike the old run and shoot football offense of the Houston Cougars that ran scores higher than many liked, those one sided games were more a product of the style of play than any effort to demoralize the opposition.

However, Yates does have some areas of concern. They are not a big team. They are a true team and may not be blessed with the type of player that can carry the squad on his shoulders should the opposition figure out how to slow down Yates by using size AND quickness.

So far both last year and this that has not been a problem. Yates has been so dominant and so in tuned to what they are being called on to do there have been no really close calls. If they can keep this up for two more games then it will be time to compare this Yates team to the greatest ever in Houston and Texas. Until then the job is not finished.

Cougars Surprise of College Classic

No matter who plays in Minute Maid Park it is the teams with the best pitching that will have the most success. Astro fans hope it is their team that will fit that bill in 2010, but it was already demonstrated in the just concluded College Classic.

The four teams with winning records all had solid pitching. The two teams that went 0-3 did not.

Only one team finished undefeated and it was not one of the three nationally ranked clubs-- Texas, TCU or Rice. They were all 2-1. It was the Houston Cougars who entered play three games under .500 and finished with a season record of 5-5.

How they did it was quite simple. When they played they pitched very well. No game was more impressive than their Saturday win over Texas. The Cougars scored only one run--on a wild pitch no less-- but the Longhorns didn't score any. Both teams had a few chances to score more, but either superb pitching or defense stopped those chances. The game ended with Texas having two runners on when a line drive to shortstop found the glove.

That thriller was one of several in the nine game weekend. Houston beat Missouri 3-0 in their opening game. They let the bats fly in their Sunday finale and whomped 15-8.

Texas finished 2-1 with a one run win over Rice (2-1) on Friday, the loss to Houston and a non conference 8-5 victory over Big 12 foe Missouri on Sunday.

Rice was also 2-1. After the loss to Texas they beat Texas Tech 3-2 and finished the Classic with a 5-4 win over TCU on a two run last of the ninth capped by a game winning single by Chase McDowell.

The Horned Frogs were the third 2-1 team. The handily disposed of Texas Tech in the Friday opener. Then they took out Missouri 4-3 before losing the heart breaker to Rice.

Winless were two Big 12 teams, Missouri and Texas Tech. Missouri dropped games to Houston, TCU and Texas while Texas Tech lost to TCU, Rice and Houston.

NAMES TO REMEMBER

While the Texas Longhorns began the season ranked #1 nationally, Rice was #5 and TCU also in the top 20 all three have dropped in the rankings, but still top 20 teams. Texas showed why it was so highly regarded thanks to its pitching staff. Two of the four pitchers named to the All Tourney team were Longhorns. Taylor Jungman who features a 92-94 MPH fastball and slurvy sliding breaking ball was superb in his start against Rice. Brandon Workman was equally effective, although the losing pitcher in the 1-0 loss to Houston. Rice's Taylor Wall who faced Jungman on Friday was also an all tourney teamer after his performance.

The fourth pitcher on All-Tourney was Michael Goodnight of Houston who allowed no runs in seven innings of his only start.

Houston also placed DH M.P Cokinos and SS Blake Kelso on the honor team. Cokinos hit .333 with a home run and six RBIs. Kelso hit .400.

Rice Owls honored included Wall plus OF Jeremy Rathjen who hit .333.

TCU with its impressive offense had three hitters on the Classic team. Catcher Bryan Holaday hit .538 including two doubles and a triple. He was named the Houston College Classic Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the team by 1B Matt Curry who hit .333 with a home run, three RBIs and two doubles. Also honored 3B Aaron Schultz and his .357 average, one home run and four RBIs.

Remember some of these names. They will be heard from down the road.

COLLEGE BASEBALL COMING UP ON FSN

The college baseball season for our region gets underway on FSN's affiliates the end of March. We will have the telecast of Texas at Texas Tech on Sunday, March 28th starting at noon central time. Jack Lazorko will join me for that one as part of our Big 12 package to be aired on FS-SW, FS-Houston plus nationally on others in the FSN family. This will mark the 26th consecutive season I have had the chance to do play by play on college baseball starting with the old Southwest Conference in 1984. There have been a great many improvements in the level of play and facilities since then. Jack, a former collegiate star at Mississippi State and long time professional pitcher, has been my partner for more than ten seasons. We are both looking forward to getting things started. Our entire schedule includes the Tech-Texas game plus Missouri at Oklahoma on 4/10; Texas at Texas A&M on 4/17; Kansas St at Missouri on 4/24; Kansas at Oklahoma St on 5/1 and the Big 12 Conference Tournament final on 5/30.

In addition fellow FSN affiliates will provide games from other conferences from time to time. For Big 12 and other college action check your local listings. Some games may be moved to alternate channels due to commitments with major league baseball.

Baseball is Topsy Turvey Early On

The colleges have played about ten games. The Major Leaguers are only into the first week of spring training games. Right now they look like the stereotype of each other.

Consider the Astros two spring training games and one intrasquad scrimmage. They have scored 38 runs and surrendered 35. Meanwhile the Astro's College Classic which began on Friday has seem some amazingly good pitching.

The Rice-Texas game fully lived up to its billing Friday night. With about 10,000 fans on hand Rice lefty Taylor Wall matched up with Texas rightly Taylor Jungman in a dandy. The game was scoreless till the last of the 6th when the Horns top hitter, catcher Cameron Rupp singled home the first run. Rice tied in the top of the 8th on a pinch hit single by Abe Gonzalez, but Texas took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double by Brandon Loy.

With the win Texas snapped a four game losing string to Rice and moved to 7-2 for the early season.

The other two games on Friday were equally impressive. In the opener #7 TCU had an easy time with Texas Tech 11-2 and showed both power and pitching. Houston blanked Missouri 3-0 in another well pitched game.

All six teams are playing again today and tomorrow. It is a great way to get zeroed in for the upcoming major league season and perhaps whet the appetite to catch a little more college action around the area as well.

HOW TO FOLLOW SPRING TRAINING

In the meantime all those runs being scored...and scored against the Astros early on are nothing to be proud of or worried about. There is a way to watch spring training that does not involve final scores.

Watch the players who are going to be on the team. Don't worry about the fellows who were always long shots or figured to be lower minor leaguers and not ready yet anyway.

In other words of the seventeen runs given up by the Astros in their 17-7 loss to Detroit on Friday 14 were scored off pitchers who don't figure to be Astros on April 5th anyway. Chacin, Bazardo, Trinidad and Englebrook were those victimized.

While Wandy Rodriguez did surrender the first three runs in two innings the first outing or two is not a concern for established pitchers either. They are not trying to make the team, but often are working on specific pitches. They are also not concerned with scouting reports or even who the hitters are in the batter's box. That all changes the last start of two of the spring. We are a long way from that.

BY THE WAY THAT STEREOTYPE ISN'T ACCURATE ANYMORE

Earlier I mentioned the stereotype that college games are slugfests and it is in the major leagues that well pitched games are more expected. That stereotype has been inaccurate for several years regarding the collegians. As one who has done play by play on college baseball for 25 years starting with the old Southwest Conference I can attest the games are as likely to be well pitched and "real" baseball as games on any level.

There are two main reasons for this. Number one the aluminum bat was re-engineered several years back reducing its liveliness. While the ball may still jump off the bat a bit quicker than off wood and the sweet spot larger there is much less difference than ten years ago. Number two colleges are recruiting and holding more pitchers with lively arms.

It used to be that college teams were full of pitchers who could only get their fast balls to the low 80s and relied more on curves, cutters and sliders. Breaking balls were rampant. Not now. All the best programs--and that includes just about everyone in the Big 12, C-USA and the other top leagues--have pitchers who regularly reach 90mph or more with the fast ball and are not reluctant to use them.

Texas' Taylor Jungman who started against Rice on Friday was clocked regularly between 92 and 94 with his fast ball. He is not alone.

BOTTOM LINE

The bottom line on all this is that you can see some very good baseball on the college level even if you are a major league baseball fan. And it is a very good way to follow the game during that spring training period when the "everybody plays" philosophy is in effect. Not only that, but on the college level the games count.

Astros Roll...College Classic to Begin

The Houston Astros showed some booming bats in their exhibition opener on Thursday with a 15-5 romp over Washington. Hunter Pence hit two homers as part of a five home run attack. That was fun, but it was only an exhibition. Closer to home the Astros home field, Minute Maid Park, has real baseball this weekend with nine college games on tap. I have the schedule.

Used To Be That Shooting Well was Enough

For a long time I have always remembered the words of Hall of Fame basketball coach Tony Hinkle who said basketball was a simple game. "The team that hits the most shots will win."

Of course, Tony broke it down more than that. He figured 45% shooting, X number of rebounds and X number of turnovers would be just about right.

The Houston Rockets, unfortunately, are rarely getting to the first part-- 45% shooting. Consequently, all their other weaknesses--like very weak defensive rebounding--are killing them.

In the loss to Sacramento on Wednesday the Kings only shot .320 and WON! That should never happen. But it did because they hit more shots--two--thanks to a whopping 23 more field goal attempts. And that was the result of an unheard of 24 offensive rebounds.

All in all it made for an ugly game and a very frustrating one for the Rockets and their fans. Carl Landry came back to burn his old mates with 22 points and ten rebounds while the main man coming from the Kings to the Rockets, Kevin Martin , was only 3-13 shooting for a total of 14 points. With Houston dropping to 30-30 and now 11th in the Western Division playoff order it is time to think about next season for fans.

Speaking of next year...Yao Ming who will be expected to be a key part of that is in the news for another reason. He and his wife have recently returned to the United States from China. He does that all the time, but this return comes as he and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child. Some folks in China are upset that the birth may take place in the United States making the Yao Ming baby a U.S. citizen. The concern seems to be what if the child turns out to be a top notch (and large) athlete? Talk about getting priorities mixed.

CORPUS CHRISTI TICKET DRIVE

With word that Koby Clemens had three hits including a homer, double and single in Wednesdays Astro intrasquad game ticket sales for the Corpus Christi Hooks may take a jump. The son of Roger is slated to play there this summer. Where he plays may be in question. He was at first base in the intrasquad game, but can also play third and catch. If his bat continues to sizzle as it did Wednesday and last season at Lancaster a position will be found for him.

RICE--LIKE THE ROCKETS-- NEEDS TO LOOK AHEAD

The Rice men's basketball team needs to be looking toward next season just as the Rockets. This one is NOT one to focus on. By losing to Houston Wednesday they dropped to 8-21 for the season and 1-14 in Conference USA. Of the major collegiate sports basketball is the easiest to rebuild in less time, but the Owls need to get out the hammer and nails now.

BASEBALL IS BETTER

The Rice Owl baseball team is, of course, one of the nation's top programs. But even they have gotten off to a slow start. How long it takes for them to get into full gear may be shown at the Minute Maid Park College Classic starting Friday. The field includes Rice, Texas, Missouri, Texas Tech, Houston and TCU. Each team plays three games. Weather is expected to be great and the roof open for most if not all the action.

The Sports Jumble

The Rockets took advantage of some key missing parts with Toronto to take a one sided 116-92 win Monday night. That's OK that he Rapters were short-handed. The Rockets have been battling (and still are) that quite a bit lately themselves. If you are only a casual follower of the club...or have been out of the country for a month...that bottom part of the roster is quite unfamiliar. It is good for TV and radio folks, though. It gives them new people to interview instead of the same faces for 82 games....speaking of new faces that is what will be playing in the Astros intrasquad game in Kissimmee Wednesday. Skipper Brad Mills says he will be using a lot of the expected pitching staff, but the position players will be minor leaguers and those competing for backup roles on the Astros. The real exhibition season starts Thursday.

Two other baseball notes... the Missouri legislature has a move underway to remove Mark McGwire's name from a section of interstate that cuts through St. Louis. Visiting teams leaving Busch Stadium for St. Louis' Lambert Airport spend some time on Mark McGwire highway..or at least have for the last few years. Welcome back to the Cardinals, Mark!

Some brands of maple wood bats are being banned in the minor leagues. I don't know if you noticed during the major league season, but MLB was collecting all broken bats to study why there were so many being broken and why they were almost disintegrating. I guess we have the answer--at least with some brands of maples. This ruling does not affect the major leagues since--repeat after me-- Everything has to be approved by the player's association.

Nice that the Texas Longhorns on the day they dropped from the top 25 in men's college basketball were able to win their final home game. Despite their recent fall they drew a full house of 16,012 fans to see them beat Oklahoma 87-76. Was that crowd a sign of fan loyalty in tough times and that basketball may yet catch on in the state--0r, was it in large part because the foe was Oklahoma?

Texas Southern has not had a totally positive basketball season. But they won on Monday 98-57 and are two games over .500 in the SWAC. Although they are only 13-15 overall they could still wind up in the NCAA field with a post season tourney win and that is not out of the question.

Olympics Over... Baseball Next!

I was impressed with a lot from the Winter Olympics starting with the ease Vancouver hosted with too little snow and warm temperatures to great individual feats in women's figure skating, speed skating and hockey. The U.S. did great with its depth. Canada did great with its stars.