Question of the Week

Liam, Topeka, KS
Subj: March Madness
In your opinion, what was the greatest NCAA basketball team of all time?

Great question, Liam. I’d personally have to select the 1971-1972 UCLA Bruins. The team was loaded from top to bottom with lightning fast guard Henry Bibby, sweet-shooting forward Jamaal Wilkes, dependable banger Swen Nater and Naismith award winner Bill Walton, the prototypical college pivot. In addition to posting a perfect 30-0 record during the regular season, the Bruins also breezed through the NCAA Tournament en route to capturing their eighth national title. As if that weren’t impressive enough, the team also led the country in point differential by regularly walloping their opponents by a margin of 30.3 points per game.

College Stars Who Fizzled In The NBA

Every year the NBA drafts a new batch of collegiate superstars and every year nearly half of them fall flat on their faces as they struggle to adapt to the speed and athleticism of the pro game. From recent rejects like Evan Turner to veteran busts like Shelden Williams, the league is full of can’t miss prospects who have kept on missing from all over the court. Come along as I examine the top 10 college stars of the past 25 years who have fizzled in the NBA. To narrow the field I’ve chosen to examine only bona fide team leaders and All-Americans who were top 10 picks in their respective draft classes. Read more by clicking here.

Mad About Mascots

Have you ever wondered who puts the real lunacy into March Madness? It’s the mascots of course. From Buckeyes to Badgers and from Tar Heels to Tigers, this year’s NCAA tournament will be overrun with oddly proportioned critters cheering their respective teams on to victory. Learn more about the hidden lives of NCAA mascots by clicking here.

In The Spotlight

It’s only a matter of time before Mike Krzyzewski receives his own wing in the Basketball Hall of Fame. This 12-time Coach of the Year has virtually rewritten college basketball’s record books during his tenure at Duke by winning 4 national championships, 11 regional championships, 12 ACC regular season championships, and 12ACC Tournament championships. "Coach K" will have a chance to add to his impressive legacy this season as he attempts to lead the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils back to the Final Four. Learn more about his career by clicking here.

Question of the Week

Nick, New Port Richey, FL
Subj: Magnum P.I.
Tom Selleck seems to tower over everyone on his TV show Jesse Stone. Was he ever a basketball player?

Absolutely, Nick. The mustachioed 6’4” actor was an outstanding high school hoopster who earned a scholarship to play basketball at Montana State University. However, the prospect of living in Bozeman didn’t appeal to him and he graciously declined the school’s invitation. "I always wanted to go to USC,” Selleck recalls, “but even though I was a good athlete no one was breaking down the doors for me.” So, Selleck spent the next two years attending Los Angeles Valley Junior College before transferring to USC in his junior year. “I didn't go to USC on a basketball scholarship,” he explains, “but I said, 'If I make your team I'm going to need some help,' because my parents were borrowing money to send me there.” A deal was reached and Selleck spent the next two years playing for the Trojans. Although he never became a star on the hardwood he was still an integral part of the team’s success. "My one brush with greatness--I've told Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about this--was that I was him,” he says fondly. “During practice at USC, the guys who weren't going to play in the real game would learn the offense of the team we were going to play next, and often I would be Kareem running the UCLA offense against my teammates."

You've Got To Be Joking

Sit back and relax as you enjoy this week’s Sports Shorts.

North Carolina guard Ty Lawson reportedly won $250 at a Detroit casino. Sadly, that makes him the fifth richest person in the city.

Experts believe Tarheels center Tyler Hansbrough has dropped 35 positions in the draft over the last four years. And that’s just the WNBA draft.

The Mets triple A affiliate is offering free tickets to all unemployed fans. We’re not sure what’s more demeaning; being told you’re not good enough to keep your job or having to watching an entire team of baseball players who were told the same thing.

Allen Iverson has said he would rather retire than come off the bench. Some people will do anything to get out of spending time with Kwame Brown.

The 49ers are uncertain about drafting Matthew Stafford because he was reluctant to talk about his parents' divorce. Luckily he did redeem himself slightly by participating in a big group hug and singing a rousing rendition of kumbaya.

A new poll has found that baseball fans want the use of instant replay expanded. In related news, a new poll has found that baseball fans want the use of instant replay expanded.

Former QB Jeff George is reportedly trying to figure out how to get back in the NFL. At this stage in his career he might want to try buying a ticket.

Danica Patrick's season got off to a rough start after she crashed in the Honda Grand Prix. On the positive side, she did learn a very valuable lesson about trying to apply her make up at 200 miles per hour.

Las Vegas bookies are predicting the New York Yankees will win 95.5 games this year. The .5 comes from simply showing up against the Kansas City Royals.

San Diego ace Jake Peavy threw five more shutout innings to finish spring training with a 0.00 ERA. The only way his spring could have been any more perfect is if he hadn’t spent it with the Padres.

Churchill Downs wants to experiment with night racing at its upcoming spring meet. The idea is expected to meet with considerable opposition since most jockeys have a strict 8:00 bedtime.

Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL combine. It sounds like someone is trying awfully hard to get the attention of the Bengals.

Question of the Week

Charlie, Clifton Park, NY
Subj: Fly like an eagle
What’s the most common university mascot in the U.S.?

That distinction belongs to the eagle. A partial list of the 74 schools that employ this majestic bird of prey includes Boston College, American University, Marquette, Emory, and Auburn. Mind you, those are far from the only schools that share a mascot. Some of the other critters that frequently pop up are tigers (46 schools), bulldogs (39 schools), panthers (33 schools), lions (31 schools), bears (30 schools), and hawks (28 schools). Oddly enough, no school has yet laid claim to the mighty gerbil. Go figure.

Question of the Week

Kim, Washington, D.C.
Subj: Orange you glad I asked
Hey Ry Guy, why are basketballs orange?

Great question! Since basketballs are made from leather they tended to be dark brown until the late 1950’s. Unfortunately that hue made them difficult to track by fans and players alike. Cue Tony Hinkle. The Butler University basketball coach was convinced a lighter shade of orange would help make the game more enjoyable and he worked diligently with Spalding to create a prototype. The new ball was rolled out for the first time at the 1958 NCAA Finals in Louisville and proved to be such a hit that it was adopted by the league on a full time basis the following year.

Ask Ryan - Let The Madness Begin

Welcome back for another edition of Ask Ryan, the column where sports and entertainment go together like heartbreak and ice cream. This week's mailbag is bursting at the seams with queries about Kurt Russell's baseball career, the origins of March Madness and the greatest college ballers of all time. Read all about it at Fox Sports.

Question of the Week

Calvin, Boston, MA
Subj: Two for the show
Who do you think is the greatest tandem in NCAA basketball history?

From the automatic scoring of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble to the devastating defense of Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, there’s no shortage of classic combinations to choose from. However, I’m going to side with Ohio State and select Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek. From the moment they first suited up for the red and white, “Luke” and “Hondo” transformed the Buckeyes from an NCAA also ran into a national powerhouse, guiding the team to its first – and only – national championship in 1960. Havilcek, who averaged 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, was the undisputable heart and soul of the team, while the 6’8” Lucas was the NCAA’s most dominant offensive weapon. During his three years with the Buckeyes, “Luke” averaged 24.3 points and 17.2 rebounds per game and was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year three years in a row. Both players have since been inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame and are synonymous not only with Ohio State but also with basketball excellence.