HOUSTON — One of the best all-around players ever believes college basketball’s biggest star possesses a more well-rounded game than the soon-to-be back-to-back NBA MVP.
Buddy Hield, presented the Oscar Robertson Trophy on Friday as the nation’s top player, was praised by the award’s namesake as being more than just an incredible shooter, unlike Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
“I don’t think any of these players can guard him, just like Steph Curry, they can’t guard him,” Robertson said. “Plus, [Hield] can go inside and he can rebound. It means a lot also other than being [a shooter], he’s a great basketball player.”
Robertson took an unprompted swipe at Curry earlier this year by saying his success was mostly due to sub-par defense in the NBA.
Villanova coach Jay Wright praises the Big East every opportunity he gets, having become defensive of the league’s reputation since its breakup in 2013. But perhaps he believes in his rivals a little too much.
“In my pool, which we do just in the family, everybody has to pick Villanova all the way through in one bracket,” Wright said. “I had Xavier in my other bracket. I just thought they were good enough, and they are.”
Don’t blame Mike Hopkins for that ugly 4-5 record when Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was suspended. Boeheim believes it’s unfair.
“That was my team,” he said. “You can’t coach somebody else’s team, especially a team that was in such flux as ours.”
Boeheim, who will retire after two more seasons, said he is confident the program is in good hands with Hopkins.
“Mike has proven to me over and over again that he understands the game, the players, the other things that surround what a head coach has to do,” Boeheim said. “He understands what we do, how to coach. He’s worked with great pro players, with the Olympics, the World Championships. He’s done everything you need to do to be prepared to be a head coach. He’s much more prepared than I was to be a head coach.”
For Gonzaga, the timing could not have been worse. Coach Mark Few told The Associated Press the NCAA called to inform him officials blew the call on a 10-second violation that went against the Bulldogs late in Syracuse’s come-from-behind win in the Sweet 16.
The turnover came with 1:17 left and Gonzaga leading 60-59. Josh Perkins skipped a pass for Kyle Dranginis into the front court, and Syracuse’s Trevor Cooney deflected it back across the line, where Dranginis grabbed it again.
Refs called a 10-second violation but the 10-second limit in the backcourt should have reset once a player touched the ball in the front court.
The NCAA declined comment.
— With AP