Make mine a public administration major

How can Auburn University's athletics wing make a straight face explanation that offering a public administration major, with an enrollment featuring less than 1% of all Tiger undergraduates, is absolutely crucial? Well, maybe to success on the field and the hardwood.

Wouldn't such an academic direction rightfully lead to some mighty fine government in action in eastern Alabama and throughout the state -- which, ahem, doesn't appear to be the case?

Public administration must mean something very different down Auburn way.

Can players be trained to increase their basketball IQ?

It won't appear by gulping down vitamins. Wearing a certain brand of shoes will be no help. Neither will wishing or praying be fruitful.

So just how does a basketball player increase his hoops IQ?

We know dribbling skills can certainly be upgraded. Shooting too. The various techniques employed are generally known and trainers available. But how does someone go about bettering his 'when to do what' on the court knowledge?

Think of how many times you've witnessed teams playing and one (or more) of the players takes a bad (early in the clock/after zero passes/when surrounded by defenders) shot. Or dribbles into a double-team. Is beaten defensively more than once by the same move? Game after game.

Some get it and some don't. What makes the difference?

Obviously many factors. Basic intelligence being a cornerstone. Plus, a willingness to recognize flaws twined with the same readiness to take specific actions to correct deficiencies.

Here's more:

From Brian McCormick's "How to Develop Smart Basketball Players"  comes: "...Developing an intelligent player requires a multi-faceted approach. Drills alone cannot teach the skills, game awareness, attentional styles and game experience required to develop a high basketball I.Q. Instead, players need a variety of activities, from individual practice to master the basic technical skills to team practices and games to practice the execution of the basic tactical skills to unstructured play to gain the experience and flexible thinking to make the appropriate decisions at the right time and with the required speed." 

Think technical ability leading to confidence, feeding off the appropriate cues, anticipation plus various forms of practice, practice, practice to attain the required experience and therefore the thinking to react so much more instinctually, a consciousness so you don't have to think anymore approach.

Do take a look at McCormick's entire article.

Keith Michalke quotes McCormick and also writes much more about this topic.

So besides the ball skills so fervently and rightfully so stressed, who out there is teaching basketball IQ development?

It's re-load, not re-build at Butte

From Butte College Athletics Men's Basketball:

"2015-2016 PRE-SEASON OUTLOOK

The Roadrunner Cagers are gearing up for a run at a third consecutive Golden Valley Conference title and their 5th in the past 8 years! Finishing the 2014-15 season with an overall 18-9 mark and a 9-1 conference record the Runners made it into the state tournament again losing a hard fought contest on the road at Consumnes River College. Despite losing an outstanding group of sophomores optimism runs high for another stellar season in 2015-2016 as the Roadrunners have a strong returning core from their championship team and another outstanding incoming recruiting class.

Returning for the Roadrunners this year is a very capable group of players poised to defend their conference crown and get back to the always prestigious “California State Championships”. Heading this list of talented returners is Michael Shoemaker 6’7”, a sophomore and an all-conference player with versatile talent who will be heavily counted upon to lead the Roadrunners this season. Joining him are two skilled but inexperienced sophs who will each have a chance to contribute to the Roadrunners’ success this season. They are Cameron Moore, 6’7” talented forward with an offensive presence; and Bradey Brummel, a 6’0” defensive-minded off-guard who plays with grit and hustle. Joining these two returners are “red-shirts” Travis Stevens, a 6’5” talented sophomore offensive wing and Brandon Sheppard, a 6’7” freshman ”blue collar” player with a “do or die” attitude.

The Roadrunners recruited five outstanding talented and versatile players to bolster their chances for a “conference three –peat” this season and beyond. They are led by Jace Fry, a 6’2” dead-eye shooter out of Foothill High School in Redding. He is joined by very fundamentally sound 6’10” sophomore post transfer Vladimir Lazarevic out of Serbia and 6’0” “jet-like” superb point guard Danny Lewis, out of Marysville High School. Rounding out this 2015-2016-recruiting class quintet are Andrew Whitsett, a 6’11” potentially very talented post player out of Hamilton High School, and Josiah Wood, a 6’5” multi-talented guard out of Galena High School in Reno, NV.

This season promises to be exciting and challenging and we invite all our fans to follow our quest towards another banner year and return to the California Community College State Championships and the opportunity to win a state title! You never know what could happen!"

The Prep2Prep California All Star Classic

Up north here, there aren't many opportunities to see the creme of the crop talent playing in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. However, the Prep2Prep California All Star Classic fixes this problem.

Are you familiar with 6-foot-6 Lonzo Ball, a 2016 UCLA commit owning the #2 position in the national 2016 class? If not, he'll also be holding court on August 30. Which Nor Cal player or players will get the unenviable task of matching up with him?

Yes, the first annual Prep2Prep California All Star Classic will take place Sunday August 30 at Las Positas College in Livermore. This two-game event will feature a North versus South format with elite players in the class of 2016 playing at 3:30 p.m. and top players in the class of 2017 taking to the court at 1:30 p.m.

This is a truly special day for all basketball fans, unique because there is no other set of matchups pitting the best prospects in northern California against their southern counterparts.

Go here to purchase tickets for the games.

A pre-event banquet scheduled for Saturday night (the 29th) is also open to the public. It is being held at the Impact Hub located at 2323 Broadway in downtown Oakland and tickets for attending that can also be purchased here.

2016 Nor Cal

Coach Lou Richie Bishop O’Dowd

* Jordan Ford 6’0” Folsom
* Oscar Frayer 6’6” Moreau Catholic (California commit)
* Robinson Idehen 6’8” Modesto Christian
* Ben Kone 6’8” Archbishop Mitty (Oregon State commit)
* Donovan Mitchell 6’7” Buchanan
* Nikhil Peters 6’5” De La Salle
* Sayeed Pridgett 6’4” El Cerrito
* Jordan Ratinho 6’4” De La Salle
* Colin Slater 6’0” Immanuel
* Christian Terrell 6’4” Sacramento
* Kenneth Wooten 6'9" Manteca
* Solomon Young 6’7” Sacramento

versus

2016 So Cal

Coach Ty Nichols Sierra Canyon

*Milan Acquaah 6’0” Cathedral (Washington State commit)
* Mubashar Ali 6'11" St. Bernard's
* Ike Anigbogu 6’9” Corona Centennial (UCLA commit)
* Lonzo Ball 6’6” Chino Hills (UCLA commit)
* Keith Fisher 6’6” Westchester
* Leland Green 6’2” Redondo Union
* Vance Jackson 6’8” Prolific Prep
* TJ Leaf 6’9” Foothills Christian 
* De Anthony Melton 6’2” Crespi
* Devearl Ramsey 5’11” Sierra Canyon
* Vittorio Reynoso-Avila 6’4” La Mirada
* Henry Welsh 6'9" Loyola

and

2017 Nor Cal

Coach Brian Botteen San Ramon Valley

* Angelo Athens 6’1” Bellarmine
* Austin Alexander 6’5” Capital Christian
* Ramzi Carter 6’6” Sacred Heart Cathedral
* Joey Calcaterra 6'2" Marin Catholic
* Alfred Hollins 6’6” Sacred Heart Cathedral
* Jeremy Lillis 6’8” Placer
* Damari Milstead 6’2” Moreau Catholic
* Sebastian Much 6’6” Archbishop Mitty
* Darrin Person 6’6” Immanuel
* Jordan Roberts 6’7” Ridgeview
* Ja’de Smith 6’2” St. Joseph Notre Dame
* Tydus Verhoeven 6’7” Manteca

versus

 2017 So Cal

Coach Reggie Morris Jr. Redondo Union

LiAngelo Ball 6’5” Chino Hills (UCLA commit)
Jaylen Hands 6’2” Foothills Christian
Jalen Hill 6’9” Corona Centennial (UCLA commit)

Myles Johnson 6'9" Long Beach Poly

Ira Lee 6’7” Sierra Canyon
Remy Martin 5’11” Sierra Canyon
Brandon McCoy 6’11” Morse
Cody Riley 6’8” Sierra Canyon
Earnie Sears 6’4” Bishop Alemany
Jordan Schakel 6’6” Bishop Montgomery
Ethan Thompson 6’3” Bishop Montgomery
Ryse Williams 6’2” Redondo Union

Oliver joins the Pack

Chris Murray reports that 6-foot-8 Cameron (Grant High) Oliver has achieved eligibility at Nevada and is on the 2015-16 Wolf Pack roster. Good for him.

Lawrence back on the market

Ballers Bridge tweeted: "Former Fresno State commit, Brandon Lawrence (@StayWigglin) has opened up his recruitment. Potent 3-point shooter."

The Commit

Delgreco Wilson is back with an informative and intriguing "Why Did He Commit to Them? Toward A Better Understanding of the College “Decision” Process"

Milstead with another suitor

Via Verbal Commits: "2017 Moreau Catholic (CA) G Damari Milstead has received an offer from Nevada."

Coach Eric Musselman sure has gone after a number of talents beyond the reach of previous Wolf Pack coaches. If he lands just one or two then Nevada basketball is going to be elevated quickly.

Enciso and the PBA rookie draft

Rain or Shine sends draftee Simon Enciso to NLEX for future draft pick

Terry Bernal offers another feature. Another former Skyline College player, Alli Austria, was also drafted.

An Omar sighting

David Pick tweeted: "D-League center Omar Samhan closing deal with German club Goettingen, source said."

Still want him to take Charles Barkley's seat as a hoops commentator when both are done with their current duties.

Two Bay Area talents important to Irvine's 2015-16 fortunes

Will Davis and Travis Souza are gone but Jonathan (Salesian High) Galloway and Mike (Terra Linda High) Best are listed in the College Sports Madness 2015-16 preview of the UC Irvine Anteaters. An excerpt:

"...The best opportunity for major minutes, and a starting job, is at power forward. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Galloway is a physical forward who at least has a year sitting on the sidelines to learn the system. He may not be a major scoring threat from day one, but Galloway will help keep the Anteaters competitive on the glass..."

and

"...Mike Best and Ioannis Dimakopoulos will need more production. With Ndiaye’s injury issues and the fact that he is rarely going to play more than 20 to 25 minutes per game, both Best and Dimakopoulos will play key roles. Best averaged fewer than a dozen minutes per game last season, but the 6-10 senior is a decent interior scorer who has the experience to step into a starting role..."

Wanna be an assistant basketball coach?

Gary Colson writes about the do's and don't's that are musts for becoming and remaining an assistant basketball coach.

In this corner of the ring, weighing in as a heavyweight, is Nike...

"Under Armour Seeks to Do for Maryland What Nike Did for Oregon"

Fields moving on

Chabot Men's Basketball posted: "Another Gladiator moving on: Markese Fields has accepted a scholarship to Grace University (NAIA) in Omaha, NE. A highly touted 6'6 wing, Markese prepped in Palo Alto, CA before playing for Chabot during the 2011-12 season as a sophomore. Markese took the last couple years getting his academics in order and is proof that we never give up on helping a Gladiator. We are very proud to see Markese move on to continue his education and basketball career!"

Goldman passes

From Joe Davidson: "Former Herd coach dies – Dan Goldman, who coached all levels of basketball at Elk Grove in the 1990s and 2000s and was a longtime on-site contributor to the section playoffs at Sleep Train Arena, has died after a lengthy illness. He was 47. Said Todd Reiswig, a longtime coaching colleague and co-worker of Goldman’s at the arena: “Very, very sad. Such a good person.”

John R. Hull has more.

Here's his obit.