Baylor's Perry Jones Returns

Last season, Baylor big man Perry Jones III was one of the best high school basketball players to come out of the state of Texas. He became Baylor’s most celebrated recruit.

Jones, known as PJ3 in Texas, entered the season with high expectations. Some projected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the National Basketball Association’s draft if Jones left school after his freshman season.

Well, Jones didn’t dominate the college basketball world. He had some freshman growing pains. He showed people he was human. PJ3 couldn’t control the middle of the lane every game, but the freshman did scored 13.9 points per contest.

Jones’ season was also controversial. The NCAA slapped a six-game suspension on him before the Oklahoma Big 12 Conference tournament game for benefits received prior to his Baylor enrollment. Baylor lost that game and was not invited to a postseason tournament.

Many questioned whether Jones would fulfill the rest of his suspension and instead jump to the NBA. Baylor fans were happy when Jones announced he would return for his sophomore season and fulfill the remaining five-game suspension.

By all accounts, Jones is a qualify person. He showed some real maturity when he took his medicine and didn’t bolt to the NBA.

PJ3 opened his season against Prairie View A&M Tuesday night and displayed why he is such a special talents. Granted Prairie View isn’t exactly the LA Lakers, but the sophomore did torch the visitors for 27 points on 10-14 field goals and 7-9 free throws.

You think the guy has a little more incentive this season sitting out the first five games? I sense he is going to really take it out on opponents and is posed for a banner season.

Others predict a stellar season too. For example, the Big 12 named Jones as its Preseason Player of the Year.

With all that Jones has encountered in his one plus years in college, it’s not difficult cheering for this rising star.

You Either Love Them or Hate Them

Duke won its fourth national championship last night. That definitely stirred feelings in most serious college basketball fans and probably several non serious fans as well.

Duke does that to people. You either have strong feelings for the Blue Devils or you have strong feelings against them. No sitting on the fence with this one, unlike say if Boston College won the tournament.

Duke basketball is similar to John Wooden's successful run at UCLA. UCLA won so many national titles in a row that people wanted someone else, anyone else to win one. Duke has been pretty successful, but not that successful. Still, I think The Blue Devils are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Lakers of their sport.

Sadly, I think it's human nature to root in sports against a consistent winning team. People want their team to win and when someone else grabs the victories often, they don't approve of it. It provides the person a reason to always cheer for the team playing against the so called hated team.

Duke is like any other college basketball team in the country. The Blue Devils play to win. And to the delight of their fans (and maybe a few others) they win often.

I venture to guess there were many fans that cheered for Butler last night in hopes that Duke would not become national champion. Yes, they probably enjoyed Butler's story, but hey, there were also playing Duke.

I know this house was favoring Butler.

What are your thoughts about Duke? Are you for or against them?