By Gregory Crawford---TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst--- on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt
Brian McDermott---- Yes, Brian McDermott is a really good basketball coach, as has been documented by his time as head men's coach at Southern Oregon University since the 1996-97.
McDermott's team plays in the always tough Cascade Collegiate Conference. On Friday night the CCC opened their 2014-15 league season. Southern Oregon traveled to Concordia of Portland to meet the Cavaliers in key game as both teams were ranked in the top 15 in NAIA polls.
It was a great game all the way, living up to its pre-game billing, with Southern Oregon winning in overtime 78-75, a great win in a conference that is very balanced and always tough for any team to win on the road.
But as someone who has followed college basketball for 54 years and sees over 130 college basketball games live start to finish each year, I saw something else great from Brian McDermott last night, which needs to be noted and is one more reason that makes "small college" basketball really special.
If you have ever walked by a basketball bench on any level after a game, it is usually a mess, scattered with dirty towels, worn out stat sheets and many, many used cups of water. You get the picture.
After the post-game handshakes between opponents last night (of which I continue to say should be done away with), before McDermott left to celebrate with his team in the dressing room, he personally picked up every used cup, stat sheet and towel, leaving his bench looking like it never had been used. Sports fans, that is the definition of CLASS and it is something I will never forget.
It is always easy to leave a mess in basketball with team's bench and it might not seem like a big deal, but this is a BIG DEAL. We need more things to happen like this in sports, it does count and it does matter. So Coach McDermott, keep cleaning that bench and keep up the class act.
Bryce White--- You have all seen it, it has been all over the world, led by talk on ESPN. This past Wednesday night, White faked a handshake, the stole the ball out of Alec Wintering's hand at the end of the U of Portland/Portland State game and went in and dunked. It was a rival game won easily by U of Portland. Should White have done this? Probably not, but in let's not get carried away with this and indict White as a bad person, as some have done.
Actually, I laughed about it. I am not taking sides, I love both U of Portland basketball and Portland State basketball. This inner-city rivalry is rather calm as most rivalries go and it needs a little spice. White obviously gave it a little spice on Wednesday night.
As sports fan, we often get carried away with small things, that is because we are all passionate. But White act is not the end of the world, we all have seen things in sports 100 times worse.
Oregon State--- Wayne Tinkle brings his Oregon State Beaver men's basketball team to Portland tonight to meet the Portland Pilots. Tinkle is one of the best things to happen to Oregon State basketball in long time.
At the same time, this is one talented Portland Pilot team led by coach Eric Reveno. Tonight the Pilots will try to get off to their best start since 1978-79, hoping to run their record to 7-1. My score prediction.
Oregon State 73 @ U of Portland 79
Scores---- This past week I ran my record of predicting NBA scores to 28-19. Of course this is for entertainment and fun purposes only. So here will go with Saturday night.
Golden State 104 @ Chicago 105
Phoenix 121 @ Houston 125
Orlando 99 @ Sacramento 121
more of Gregory's blogs--- http://crawfordsgolfdaily.blogspot.com (golf and sports biz)
email Gregory at gregcrawfordbasketball@gmail.com
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