Dick Vitale, College Basketball analyst 9y

Roundball chatter

Men's College Basketball, Syracuse Orange, St John's Red Storm, Colorado Buffaloes

Each week, I'll write about the sport I love, college basketball:

• A great honor was announced last week, the Dean Smith Award. The United States Basketball Writers Association announced the creation of the newest award. It will go to the individual, male or female, who embodies the spirit and values represented by Smith. Players, coaches and non-coaches -- are eligible to win the award.

• St. John's has had quite the roller-coaster ride during the offseason. New coach Chris Mullin had to make another adjustment after center and shot-blocking wiz Chris Obekpa announced plans to transfer.

• The NBA draft has a problem with too many underclassmen being left out in the cold. Players are currently ineligible to return to school once they declare for the NBA draft. That may change next year if a current proposal is passed. The proposal would allow underclassmen to attend the pre-draft combine in Chicago in May and receive evaluations from team personnel to get accurate information about their draft stock. After getting that feedback, the underclassman could decide to return to school at that point (if he did not sign with an agent).

• It is finally official. Mike Hopkins will take over at Syracuse when Jim Boeheim retires. Hopkins has been an unofficial coach-in-waiting for a while, and he deserves the position. He has been a loyal member of the staff for a long time.

• Colorado suffered a blow when senior guard Xavier Johnson suffered a torn Achilles. He averaged more than 10 points per game last season. There is no word on how long he will be sidelined.

• A number of college playes who went undrafted ended up getting a shot on summer league rosters. That list includes Ryan Boatright of Connecticut (Brooklyn); Aaron Harrison of Kentucky (Charlotte); Travis Trice of Michigan State (Miami); Quinn Cook of Duke (Oklahoma City); Phil Greene IV of St. John's (Toronto); Christian Wood of UNLV (Houston); Michael Frazier III (Golden State) and Brandon Ashley of Arizona (Atlanta).

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