Tuesday Afternoon Delight's

Man, for what is usually a down time for college athletics (at least the ones that most people care about), there have been some big time stories stealing the headlines from the pro's. Texas did their part yesterday to keep college sports in the headlines. Personally, I am glad Texas chose to stick with the Big 12.

I am sure they made their decision based solely on the bottom line, so forgive me for not wearing my hand out patting them on the back. Still, the step will likely keep college athletics from taking another step towards professionalization. The proposed East/West layout of that PAC Monster conference looked more like a Pro Sports league than the regional conferences we are used to.

If The Big Ten decided to go to a super conference, the SEC's hand would have likely have been forced to do the same. It could have had far reaching consequences had Texas not stayed put, and I am glad they decided to do so. So even if the reasons probably had less to do with regional rivalries or the wishes of alumni, the end result is a positive for college sports.

Also, College Basketball is usually on the back burner in the middle of June, but the Cavaliers courtship of Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo is keeping our beloved hoops on people's minds. The departure of one of the sport's best coaches would have huge ramifications. Izzo has helped carry the torch for Big Ten basketball for the better part of the last ten years. Traditional power Indiana has fallen on tough times, and Izzo's final four run's have been something for the conference to hang its hat on.

The addition of Nebraska is going to do very little in the way of helping Big Ten basketball, and Izzo's departure would be a tough blow for what is traditionally a tough to watch hoops conference. Ohio State and Purdue have positioned themselves for some success with dynamic young coaches, but you have to wonder if either is truly ready to be the standard bearer like Izzo has turned State into.

Finally, we are only ten days away from the NBA draft. Five former Cats are waiting anxiously to find out where they will begin their pro careers. The buzz right now is that Wall is a lock for the Wizards, but everything else is up in the air. It looks more and more like Cousins is going to slip down the #5 or lower. Personally, I think he will end up with the Kings, but it is a very fluid situation with a little more than a week to go.

Patterson seems to have solidified himself as the third Cat in the Draft Lottery, but Orton and Bledsoe's stock are still very much in the air. There is a lot of smoke that Miami and Memphis might be two teams interested, but you never know this time of year. These two could go anywhere from the middle of the first round, all the way down to a second round pick. Expect more news on the NBA Draft over the next week. Do yourself a favor and tune into Game 6 tonight between the Lakers and Celtics. This one seems destined for 7 games, but we will see if Rondo and the Celtics have anything to say about that tonight.