NBA D-League has perhaps best year ever

By Gregory Crawford, Managing Editor of the East West Hoops Loop

It has a been a great year so far for the NBA D-League. Lots of close games, lots of high scoring games, many great individual games, plus some much needed publicity.

Now it is your time, who do you think will win the D-League championship this year? One choice and let us know in the comment section below.

Oh, my choice, the LA Defenders, yes with a name like that, how can you not lose.

My coach of the year in D-1 basketball

By Gregory Crawford, Managing Editor of the East West Hoops

This is a year that probably 20 people could be the coach of the year in D-1 college basketball. Certainly the favorites have to be Gregg Marshall of undefeated Wichita State and Bill Donavan of Florida.

My powerful vote goes to Rex Walters of the San Francisco Dons of the West Coast Conference. All Walters did was lead his team to a 20-10 season, a 13-5 record is the ever tough West Coast Conference and a number three seed in the WCC tournament.

This great season happened after Walters had his best player and one of the top five players in the WCC leave his team in November after an altercation with a teammate. Losing Cody Doolin at the time time was a big blow, but Walters regrouped his team and the Dons played great basketball in January and February, despite being one of the shortest teams in the country and having no true center.

There is no question Walters is a wonderful coach, it really showed this year and for that reason, he is my national coach of the year.

And since the East West Hoops is all about interactive, who is your national coach of the year? Be sure to make your opinions known in our comment section and thank you.

Portland State ends regular season tonight

By Gregory Crawford, Managing Editor of the East West Hoops

Portland State will end its regular season tonight with a home game at 7:00 pm against Idaho State. It has been an up and down season for the Vikings, but it is for sure ending on a high note. Winners of 4 of last 5, with a really good chance to make the Big Sky playoffs and  finishing in the top seven in league.

As a matter of fact if the Vikings win tonight, they will finish at least in fifth spot, a position they are tied with at present with  Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado, but hold the tiebreaker over both of those teams.

Tyler Geving and his wonderful staff, will never get the credit they deserve this year for the coaching job they have done. After Geving dismissed his best player in early January, almost everyone wrote off Geving and his team, except people that know basketball and know what a good coach he is indeed.

It is thought that Geving is in the last year of his contract and it was the total sentiment going around the Stott Center last Thursday night, that Portland State should give Geving an extension even before tonight's game, as a strong statement for the job he has done. I am convinced he will get that extension, but it can't come soon enough.

One of the best coaching jobs on the west coast was done right here in Portland, Oregon, at Portland State University.

Your thoughts?

Report: Phil Jackson offered front office role with New York Knicks

It seems like every year the Zen Master himself; Phil Jackson finds his name being called on for head coaching jobs. This time around it's not for a head coaching job instead it's for a front office position.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Jackson has been offered a front office position by the Knicks and is expected to give a decision next week.

This news is really interesting to hear because I truly believe that Phil Jackson can turn around the Knicks. Right now, the New York Knicks are in a terrible spot and who better to fix it then Phil Jackson. Remember in his playing days, Jackson was a Knick and won two championships with them. Also as a coach he has 11 rings with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Also in Isola's piece, an NBA source said "that it would be more than a consulting job." When you think of Jackson taking on this role just imagine what Pat Riley is doing with the Miami Heat.

Riley rebuilt the Heat, signed Chris Bosh and Lebron James in free agency, and so far got two titles out of the Big Three. Finally, he also got a great coach in Erik Spoelstra who he promoted within.

If Jackson decides he wants to take the front office position and if James Dolan gives him control, his first task at hand will be trying to convince Carmelo Anthony to stay in New York.

If the Zen Master can keep Melo in NY and build around him the right way, Madison Square Garden might be the Mecca of basketball again.

Huge Two Games For Portland State Vikings

By Gregory Crawford, Managing Editor of the East West Hoops

It will be a huge two nights, starting tonight and ending on Saturday for the Portland State Vikings, as they battle for a playoff spot in the ever competitive Big Sky Conference.

It all gets underway tonight when the Vikings entertain already league champion Weber State at 7:00 p.m., with the same game time on Saturday night against Idaho State.

In earlier meetings this season, the Vikings lost to both teams. At present Portland State is playing some of the best basketball of their season, winning three of four, all on the road.

Coming Friday, March 7th---East West Hoops D-1 Coach of they Year

By Gregory Crawford, Managing Editor of the East West Hoops

This Friday, that is actually tomorrow, the East West Hoops will tell you who we think should be national coach of the year in D-1 men's basketball.

There are many great choices, but only one can be selected. We will have not a bizarre choice, but a surprise choice for sure. So be sure to check back often, to see who we have chosen.

Thanks

Can Doug McDermott lead Creighton to the Final Four?

[Photo: AP/Nati Harnik]

The Creighton Blue Jays out of the Big East Conference are making a name for themselves as the beasts of the east. Creighton, who was originally apart of the Missouri Valley Conference is making it known that they are tough and are challenging for a Final Four.

But their superstar player in senior forward Doug McDermott is the reason why the Blue Jays could be contending for a Final Four. McDermott, who is moving up the NCAA Division I scoring list, is making a case for himself to be a first round pick in this summer's NBA Draft. All signs point to McDermott being a first round or lottery pick.

This season, McDermott is averaging 26.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Personally, this is the best basketball he has played in his entire career. Despite McDermott's shooting prowess he has intangibles that any coach would love to have on their team. It just so happens that McDermott's head coach is father.

Whenever Doug McDermott is on the floor, he demands attention but is also a leader. When the Blue Jays need a big shot, McDermott is there to give it to them. He is the complete total package. Now when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, can he lead Creighton to the Final Four? Yes. The Blue Jays will probably be a two seed in the field of 68 and will have a good chance of making it far.

This season, they have proved that they can beat the good teams such as the Villanova Wildcats twice. But only time will tell if the can go all the way to Arlington, Texas in April.