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(04/04/13 12:00am)
The attempt to dub the greatest player of all time in one particular sport is always difficult. It is not hard to do in college basketball. LSU guard Peter “Pistol Pete” Maravich dominated the game like no other.
Due to all of the madness during this March, it’s necessary to give tribute to arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time.
Maravich was ahead of his time. He was one of the first unstoppable forces in the sport. His combination of work ethic, dedication, creativity, skill and flare all contributed to his utter domination on the floor.
His offensive prowess set him apart. Only few could find the hoop like he did. His repertoire of pump fakes, pass fakes and mid-air adjustments made him impossible to guard near the basket. One may think of former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon or Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant when one thinks of the creativity of fakes and footwork. But Maravich was an avid user of these moves in the late ‘60s and ‘70s.
His dribbling skills set him apart. Three years ago, Hall of Famer John Havilcek said Maravich was the best ball-handler of all time. This talent allowed him to split defenses with his dribble moves and fancy passes. Maravich was carving up defenses with his ball control long before former Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson or Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo.
He was called "Pistol Pete" for a reason.His sharp shooting completed his offensive skillset. He shot the ball extremely well from the perimeter. It didn't matter if the shot was stand up jumper, fade-a-way or leaning in jumper.When fans think of shooters today, they don’t necessarily think of heavy ball-handling players. Three point shooting specialists today, like Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver or New York Knicks forward Steve Novak do not have to worry about dribbling.Maravich, though, did it all.
The 6-foot 5-inch guard’s ability to excel in everything on the offensive end was put to great use.
Over his three years at LSU he averaged a ridiculous 44.4 points per game.
He holds the NCAA Division I record for most points scored in a career with 3,667 in only three years.
His freshmen year, when he averaged 43.6 per contest, didn’t count toward the record. Freshmen were not allowed to participate in varsity competition at that time.
Also, Maravich did not have the groundbreaking three-point line at his disposal. He would have scored even more points if it was implemented then.
Former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown supposedly charted every game of Maravich years later and came to the conclusion that if the 19-foot 9-inch three-point line was present, Maravich would’ve averaged a incredible 13 three-pointers per game. It would’ve increased his career average to 57 points per match.
He was a three-time All-American and put the LSU basketball program on the map. The season Maravich played for them, LSU was 3-23. By his senior year, Maravich led LSU to a 22-10 record and its first NIT appearance, and it finished in the final four of the NIT. In the next decade after Maravich’s time there, the Tigers went on to win an SEC championship and qualify for the NCAA tournament.
He was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 1987.
The Atlanta Hawks picked Maravich third in the 1970 NBA Draft. Although he was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA First Team selection and averaged over 25 points per game in five years, his 10-year career was derailed by knee injuries. He spent the last half of his career with the New Orleans Jazz.
The Hawks and Jazz have retired his jersey. In 1987, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
As
dominant as the JJ Redick’s, Seth Curry’s and Jimmer Ferdette’s have seemed,
there may not be anyone like Pistol Pete ever in college basketball again. Reach the columnist at gdemano@asu.edu
(04/02/13 1:02am)
The injury to Louisville sophomore guard Kevin Ware was one of the more gruesome ones that our generation has seen. It was reminiscent of a past NBA injury.
Back in 2007, former Los Angeles Clipper guard Shaun Livingston dislocated his left kneecap after he landed awkwardly coming down from a fastbreak layup.
The Clippers picked Livingston fourth overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. His above-average height for a point guard and smooth passing skills reminded many of past Los Angeles great Magic Johnson.
Livingston’s breakout season begun in the 2006, and he averaged nine points and five assists in less than 30 minutes of play per game.
Then in late February, the 22-year-old guard injured almost every part of his knee. After the possibility of needing amputation, and months of rehabilitation to return to walking, it’s quite remarkable how he has returned to the NBA.
Now a Cavalier, injuries to Cleveland’s starting guards have allowed Livingston see about 30 minutes per game once again.
He’s averaged 11 points per game and four assists in his past 10 games.
It will be interesting to see whether Ware will be able to return to the game like Livingston. Reacher the reporter at gdemano@asu.edu
(03/21/13 12:00pm)
The ASU women’s basketball team’s season officially ended Monday when it was not invited to a postseason tournament.
(03/20/13 10:00pm)
The two seniors who have graduated from the ASU women’s basketball program aren’t ready to put down the rock quite yet.
(03/10/13 3:39am)
The ASU women’s basketball team lost in a way that seemed to epitomize a vital reason for its failures this year.
(03/07/13 1:00am)
The Pac-12 attracts some the best talent in women's basketball because of the reputation of the schools. As the season comes to a close, it is time to recognize the best players in the conference.
(03/06/13 11:52pm)
As tough as the regular season may have been, the ASU women's basketball team still feels confident as it starts the Pac-12 tournament.
The Sun Devils (13-17, 4-13 Pac-12) could be playing their last game of the season this Thursday in Seattle at the KeyArena when they face Washington State (10-19, 6-12).
ASU is the No. 9 seed in the conference tournament and Washington State is the No. 8 seed. The winner will go on to play the Pac-12’s top seed, No. 4 Stanford, on Friday.
The Sun Devils have lost nine of their last 11 games. The Cougars lost their last six of seven.
“We didn’t beat them this year, and we know they’re a good team," coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "But we feel like we didn’t play our best against them, and you have to credit them for that."
ASU lost both of its games versus the Cougars this season. In its first matchup, it gave a season-high 77 points, sporting poor perimeter defense. The second matchup saw the Cougars shoot 41 percent and the Sun Devils shoot a dismal 25 percent in another double-digit loss.
“That’s been an ongoing battle this year," Turner Thorne said. "Just our discipline on defense, finishing and getting buckets on offense. ... Those are the two things we’ll really emphasize going into the Pac-12 tournament."
The inexperience from this young team has resulted in a season full of inconsistency in all aspects. They haven't played a game in which they dominated in all aspects.
Redshirt senior Janae Fulcher made the most of her last game at Wells Fargo Arena last Sunday. She scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, accomplishing her third career double-double.
This could be her, and senior Micaela Picken’s, very last collegiate game.
“I mean, you never know. We still have the Pac-12 tournament, so we are very hopeful,” Fulcher said. “We’re guaranteed one more game, and we’re going to fight with every bit that we have in us.”
The Sun Devils will also have a tough defensive assignment on the recently rewarded Washington State freshman guard Lia Galdeira. This week Galdeira acheived All-Conference, All-Defensive and All-Freshmen team honors from the Pac-12 media.
She currently averages 14 points per game, the highest average in the conference for a freshman. The last time the Sun Devils met Washington State, she scored 20 points.
This team may be young and still learning, but it has shown its ability to compete with top teams. If the Sun Devils don’t compete at a high level Thursday, it will be the last time the team plays for a while.
“I really feel like our team feels like, ‘Hey, bring it on,’ with anybody,” Turner Thorne said.Reach the reporter at gdemano@asu.edu
(03/03/13 11:50pm)
The ASU women’s basketball team fell behind and stayed within striking distance but could never take control during the senior game versus USC.
(03/02/13 3:45am)
The Sun Devils showed their ability to compete at a high level once against No. 17 UCLA, but their flaws showed, and they couldn't pull of a comeback
(03/01/13 1:02am)
Although the ASU women's basketball team is not going to make the NCAA tournament, there is still pressure this weekend.
The Sun Devils (13-15, 4-11 Pac-12) start their last homestand on Friday against No. 17 UCLA (21-16, 12-4) and play USC (8-19, 5-11) Sunday.
ASU hopes to make Senior Night the greatest night possible for senior forward Janae Fulcher and senior guard Micaela Pickens.
But more importantly, the Sun Devils are on their quest to reach a .500 winning percentage. Doing so will give them a shot at being chosen for the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
ASU would need to win out this weekend, then manage a first-round win in the Pac-12 tournament to get over the hump.
It’s a whole lot to take on, and ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne knows it.
“I’m honestly not taking any pressure off this team," Turner Thorne said. "I’m kind of putting some pressure on them because that’s what you have to be doing when you get into March. It’s real pressure – it’s win or go home."
Time is running out on the Sun Devils, and if they want any hope at some kind of postseason success, they’re going to need to pick up more victories.
“This time of the year everything is out on the line," junior center Joy Burke said. "You don’t have a whole season ahead of you. We definitely are just focusing on finishing strong."
As one of the team’s captains, Burke knows the importance of leadership and hopes to give senior leaders Fulcher and Pickens an enjoyable Senior Night.
“We love our seniors," she said. "It’s a big weekend for them and as a team we need to go out with a bang for them. They’ve done so much for this program."
The southern California teams will be coming into Tempe looking to ruin ASU's celebratory weekend because both have more to prove.
The Bruins have No. 19 Colorado right on their tail. UCLA wants to solidify itself as the third-best team in this strong Pac-12 conference.
ASU managed to hold UCLA to only 54 points last meeting. Anything near that would give the Sun Devils a chance at the upset.
USC’s tumble through conference play started with its loss to UCLA, which it will look to avenge this weekend.
A remarkable second half gave the Sun Devils one of their few conference wins in their last meeting with the Trojans.
Coming off victories consisting of a double overtime victory and a game-winning 3-pointer in its UA series, ASU should have more magic left in the tank.
“I think it gave us confidence, and we know that we can win," Fulcher said. "If we just stay with things, stay with our defense, stay disciplined and do what the coaches have set out for us, we can definitely win basketball games."
Reach the reporter at gdemano@asu.edu
(02/24/13 10:39pm)
The ASU women's basketball team found a way to win once again versus its state rivals in crunch time.
(02/21/13 1:00pm)
Although this season may not be one of the most successful for the Sun Devils, there is always one thing that they can hang their hat on if they prevail: beating UA.
(02/21/13 1:00pm)
Junior point guard Adrianne Thomas didn’t know she was going to have such large role until about a month prior to ASU’s home opener.
(02/20/13 10:45pm)
Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers for the past 23 years, died on Monday. For the past 18 months, he had been hospitalized with cancer.
(02/20/13 12:28am)
For the most part, the Pac-12 conference has taken shape, and the top five teams have solidified themselves as the best of the west.
(02/17/13 11:45pm)
The Sun Devils lost a heartbreaker Sunday afternoon versus the No. 21 Colorado. After being ahead for most of the game, a poor second half led to a 71-63 loss.
(02/16/13 6:07am)
It has been the ASU womens basketball team's problem for the past several games, and it hurt them once again.
(02/15/13 12:31am)
The ASU women's basketball team will look to find success as it starts its string of six remaining conference games, five which will be at home.
(02/13/13 1:00am)
There’s no doubt that the ASU women’s basketball team has suffered during conference play. However, looking at the Sun Devils’ (11-13, 3-9) upcoming schedule, things may be looking up.
(02/10/13 11:51pm)
The Sun Devils’ tough times on offensive weren’t likely to be resolved versus one of the nation’s best defensive teams.