Five best bets---
If I offered you Indiana, which lost last night at Illinois, Michigan, Miami of Florida, Duke, Arizona and Louisville---would you take those six teams against the field in the NCAA Tournament? If I threw in Ohio State, KU and maybe Gonzaga (which I really like) would you do it then? College basketball is as wide open as I’ve ever seen it this year. You think March has been maddening before? Just wait for next month.
Conference dominos---
UMKC is leaving the Summit League for the Western Athletic Conference. The move, in part, is seen a preemptive strike against the Horizon League’s expected raiding of the Summit when the so-called ‘Catholic 7’ splits from the Big East and expands to 12 teams. Oakland, MI and IUPUI are said to be coveted by the Horizon as is Evansville of the Missouri Valley Conference. If, as expected, Creighton goes with the Catholic 7 it could leave the Valley with not just one—but two spots to fill. In that case, look for North Dakota State and South Dakota State, already football playing members of the MVC, to possibly join the basketball ranks.
Another scenario---
Of course, if Butler, St. Louis, Xavier and Dayton went with the Big East secessionist—it would leave the Atlantic 10 with 12 teams. If they wanted to stay at 16, as they currently are, I’d be willing to bet that they’d reach out to Wichita State. The problem, at that point, is that WSU would be the league’s only school in the central time zone. I’m not saying it’s a perfect scenario, but the Valley takes a pretty good hit if Creighton goes, the Atlantic 10 would certainly help WSU enhance its growing stature in college hoops.
If I had my druthers---
If the Valley was no longer a viable option, which I’m not saying it will ever be—but for the sake of argument, the Mountain West would be the best place for the Shocks. The lack of football is a problem, but the conference does have only nine teams. Since the Turgeon years the Shockers are 4-2 against current members of the MWC.
Way to represent---
Among the five K-Staters invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis are three Wichitans. East high’s Arthur Brown figures to be the highest pick amongst the five with Northwest’s Chris Harper gaining ground after a nice week at the Senior Bowl. Also going is Kapaun kicker Anthony Cantele, who started his college career as a soccer player, now here he is on the verge of kicking in the NFL. I’m not sure he has the leg strength for kickoffs, although the way kickoffs are going in football they may not be around much longer. His accuracy and range for placekicking is solid, I hope he gets a chance. Interesting that Wichita has produced such a solid line of kickers at K-State with the Rheem brothers from Collegiate and now the brothers Cantele, Anthony’s little brother Jack is on the roster in Manhattan.
