John, <...their most severe test of the season.> I thought that the Illini had played Wake or one of the other ACC heavyweights early on, but maybe you mean before teams really began to establish themselves for the season.
<I'm gonna catch up by seeing more ESPN, and hearing less NPR.> Balm for the spirits, if not for the spirit and soul. I remember Battle and, of course, Kendall Gill, who went on to have a solid, if not outstanding, pro career, propelled by his outside mid- to-long-range jumper. As I recall, he particularly excelled from the corner. Bardo does not ring any bells.
Soft spot in the NYC metro area for the Salukis, who sent Walt Frazier this way. He still does color for Knick games on radio and, I think, for some MSG broadcasts.
<Perhaps in the same group as NC, NY, and CA?> Why not. Some of the local papers have excellent coverage of the HS round ball scene, but I only glance at it occasionally. I could try to persuade myself that it is a purer, more fundamental game at the HS level, but then I think that the college and pro recruiting tentacles have embedded themselves so far down that I'm not sure what level of kids' sports is immune from the hype, the prep, the inducements. |
