Former CBC and Saint Louis University basketball star Larry Hughes has found a new home in New York and he is making the most of his new opportunity with the Knicks.
Hughes has been averaging nearly 16 points a game since being traded from the Chicago Bulls to New York at the trading deadline. After scoring a total of 10 points and shooting four-of-22 from the field in his first three games as a Knick, Hughes is averaging 21 points a game in the next nine games. That included a 39-point outburst against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 10.
Hughes’ talents are a natural fit with coach Mike D’Antoni’s wide-open offensive system. It’s good to see Larry back in the mix again after some tough times in Chicago.
Mike wins with Mizzou
Congratulations to Mike Anderson and the Missouri Tigers on winning their first Big 12 Conference Tournament title last weekend. In just his third season, Anderson has taken a program that had become a national laughingstock and turned into a top 10 program and national power once again. Mizzou will take its 28-6 record and No. 3 seed to Boise, Idaho, where they will face Cornell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was only a few short months ago that Mizzou fans statewide were questioning whether he was the right man for the job. Meanwhile, the Mizzou Arena was only a third-full for some of those early games. Boy, how things have changed in just a few weeks. The tone has certainly changed from “Mike Anderson cannot get it done,” to “Please, don’t let Coach Anderson go to Alabama.”
Nothing like a little winning to change some attitudes.
My Final Four Picks
Louisville (Midwest), Memphis (West), North Carolina (South) and Pittsburgh (East).
I would love to be proven wrong and see Mizzou knock off Memphis in the Sweet 16 next week.
Locals excel in NCAA
Former Vashon High standout Kenny Daniels is a starting guard for Cal-State Northridge, the champions of the Big West Conference. He is averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Matadors, who will face Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City. Daniels was a two-year starter for the Wolverines, who won the Class 5 state title in 2006.
A few other former area standouts who will be in the NCAA Tournament this week are Mizzou’s Matt Lawrence (Lafayette), Washington’s Scott Suggs (Washington) and Louisville’s Jared Swopshire (Fort Zumwalt West).
Beal is for real
In case you haven’t noticed, this Bradley Beal kid from Chaminade is pretty good.
Official kudos
Congratulations to local basketball officials Anderson Minor, Bill Shell and Lester Knuckles, who were presented with Outstanding Service Awards at last weekend’s state basketball championships in Columbia. All three men have been officiating high school basketball for at least 25 years and have done an excellent job. It was nice to see them recognized for their great contributions.