Sports

Several Candidates for No. 2 Spot Behind Unbeaten Kentucky

Published

10 years ago

February 17, 2015

Virginia head coach Tony Bennett instructs from the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the NC State in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Writer

There’s no argument about who is No. 1.

The second-best team in the nation behind Kentucky, however, is up for debate.

This week, Virginia is the No. 2 in the Top 25. But Gonzaga keeps winning out West. Duke is led by a freshman who is probably the nation’s best big man. Wisconsin has experienced talent. And Villanova, coming in at No. 6 this week, can be a tough matchup with its ability to shoot the 3-pointer.

It would have been an easier choice before Virginia lost guard Justin Anderson to a finger injury. As long as he’s out, the Cavaliers are in flux.

And that opens the door for Wisconsin.

The Badgers aren’t the most explosive team, but they can go on efficient runs that turn close games into blowouts. Beyond the obvious stats, they protect the ball (No. 21 nationally in turnover margin), rebound (No. 21 in rebounding margin) and avoid mistakes (third in assist-to-turnover margin).

If senior floor leader Traevon Jackson, who is out as he recovers from a January foot injury, can get all the way back, the tournament-tested Badgers have the look of a team to trust.

Here’s a closer look at the candidates in the race for No. 2 behind the undefeated Wildcats:

___

NO. 2 VIRGINIA

The Cavaliers (24-1) are miserable to play against. They control tempo and play defense that makes opponents work for everything. The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champions also have experience and complete trust in coach Tony Bennett’s formula.

But losing Anderson for several weeks makes things tougher. He’s a physical guard averaging about 13 points and shooting an ACC-best 48 percent from 3-point range, and the Cavs won their first two games without him by a combined five points before Monday’s 61-49 win against Pittsburgh.

“They miss (Anderson), but they’ve still got a really, really good team that understands Tony’s system and they play very well together,” said Wake Forest coach Danny Manning, whose team lost 61-60 to the Cavaliers on Saturday.

___

NO. 3 GONZAGA

Gonzaga’s offense is humming. The Zags (26-1) entered the week shooting a national-best 52.7 percent and leading the country in points per 100 possessions (127.7) in a show of efficiency, according to STATS. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer gives the Zags an inside-outside scorer alongside a strong backcourt. And their only loss came at now-No. 7 Arizona in overtime.

“We’re as balanced as probably we’ve ever been up here,” coach Mark Few after last week’s win against Loyola Marymount.

But Gonzaga remains an annual mystery in one respect: Trying to measure its West Coast Conference dominance against power-conference teams. The Zags have played just two ranked opponents this year and haven’t survived the tournament’s opening weekend since 2009.

___

NO. 4 DUKE

Freshman big man Jahlil Okafor has been as good as advertised, averaging 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 67 percent. He’s also a solid passer against steady double teams to create openings for Quinn Cook, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow. Wins at both Virginia and Wisconsin say plenty about this team’s upside.

“There’s not one key when you’re playing Duke,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “You’ve got to play a total game.”

But the Blue Devils (22-3) struggled defensively in losses to North Carolina State and Miami, particularly against dribble penetration. Kicking Rasheed Sulaimon off the team this month didn’t help on that front, either, leaving the Blue Devils vulnerable to foul trouble with only eight scholarship players — though all were McDonald’s All-Americans in high school.

___

NO. 5 WISCONSIN

Preseason All-American 7-footer Frank Kaminsky can score (17.3), rebound (8.3) and shoot from outside, while Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes are strong frontcourt sidekicks on a veteran team coming off a Final Four run.

Wisconsin (23-2) is also one of the nation’s most efficient offensive teams, ranking second to Gonzaga in points per 100 possessions, according to STATS.

The Badgers miss Jackson running the show for them, though sophomore Bronson Koenig has filled in well. And the defense isn’t exactly of the lockdown variety.

“I’d still like to see more production from the eight guys that hit the floor,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. “And that includes the starters, in some ways: rebounding, defense. So I’ll always find things.”

___

NO. 6 VILLANOVA

When Villanova (24-2) is playing well — as during its first-half domination of Georgetown — the Wildcats are a scary matchup with their ability to spread the floor. They also have tremendous balance with six guys averaging at least 9.2 points led by Darrun Hilliard, who hit a game-winner at Butler on Saturday.

But they rely heavily on the 3 (eight made per game), so what happens if the shot isn’t falling? And Villanova has had a recent history of late-season fades, last reaching the round of 16 in 2009.

“We’ve been good enough to win,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said after this month’s win against Marquette, “but I really think we’re a work in progress.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.

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OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok