Category Archives: Men’s Basketball

Oblivious Pitino Continues, Untouched, into Year Two

As reported in a recent ESPN article, Louisville’s Rick Pitino continues to escape the long arm of the NCAA law. As you will recall, a year ago (Fall 2015) a book was published, Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen by Katina Powell which reported Louisville basketball staff  offered recruits, fathers and their guardians “special favors” if recruits committed to Louisville. These favors were delivered on campus and involved financial exchanges between the Louisville coaching staff, players, and female entertainers. Continue reading Oblivious Pitino Continues, Untouched, into Year Two

DU Conference Affiliation Hinges on Basketball

No DU sports discussion generates more interest than DU’s primary league affiliation, the Summit League.

It all starts by dominating the Summit league in basketball.

Like it or not, DU’s only chance to eventually move to a new conference hinges on the school’s ability to succeed in men’s basketball. That will require an improved RPI and success in the Summit League before DU will be considered by other conferences for membership. For non-football schools, a healthy revenue producing basketball program adds greater national visibility, fills conference coffers, and covers athletic department operating budgets – that is what every conference wants in a new member. Continue reading DU Conference Affiliation Hinges on Basketball

Puck Swami: Building a DU Hoops Fan Culture starts with the “Pio Posse”

POSSE_FINAL (4)

We’ve all watched DU grow from what was mostly a hockey school to a nationally-ranked sports powerhouse in several sports over the last 10 years. That sports growth is helping to fuel DU’s national brand visibility around the country, creating a greater sense of engagement with the students, alumni and fans, and also fueling a higher sense of pride and purpose. DU has proven that resourcing and developing niche sports to win at the NCAA  Division I national level has important value in not only building the best non-football athletic program in the United States, but helping to build a high end front-porch for our university. Continue reading Puck Swami: Building a DU Hoops Fan Culture starts with the “Pio Posse”