Notes on a Scorecard - March 23, 1992

Easier for me to say than him, but Harold Miner should resist the temptation to enter the NBA draft and return to USC for his senior season. . . .

It might even make sense financially. . . .

The draft will be weaker next season and Miner’s bargaining power would be stronger. . . .

There is an enormous difference between the size of the contract given, say, the No. 2 choice and the No. 6 choice. . . .

Miner has demonstrated that he is one of the best and most exciting performers in college basketball, but, clearly, parts of his game need work. . . .

He has to defend better, drive to the basket more often, and take fewer off-balance, fall-away jump shots. . . .

In three NCAA tournament games the past two years, he has made only 19 of 57 field-goal attempts. . . .

With Miner, the Trojans would figure to be among the tournament favorites next year. The only seniors on the surprising team that went 24-6 were point guard Duane Cooper and center Yamen Sanders. Recruiting has gone well, there is a possibility that a junior college point guard will be signed, and 7-foot freshman center Kirk Homenick was impressive in practice while redshirting. . . .

The last-second loss to Georgia Tech Saturday became even more distasteful to USC Sunday when Kansas was upset by Texas El Paso, leaving the Midwest Regional wide open and without any of the top three seeded teams. . . .

It was the only Trojan loss this season in 10 games that were decided by five or fewer points. . . .

But, no, Coach George Raveling is not going to cancel tonight’s team banquet. . . .

UCLA, the sole survivor among the four Pacific 10 Conference teams that began the tournament, was extremely businesslike Sunday while handling Louisville. . . .

The Bruins will be faced with another rematch in the West Regional championship game if form prevails in the semifinals and they play Indiana. In the Hall of Fame game Nov. 15 at Springfield, Mass., UCLA won, 87-72. . . .

The way Gerald Madkins has come alive during the second half, UCLA opponents may no longer be able to gang up on Don MacLean and Tracy Murray down the stretch. . . .

Look for a second- generation Barry in the NBA next season after the wonderful week enjoyed by Rick’s son Jon, the 6-5 Georgia Tech guard. . . .

Massachusetts’ basketball history no longer can be summed up in two words, Julius Erving. . . .

After watching Pepperdine senior guard Doug Christie during the Waves’ loss to Memphis State, Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson was quoted as saying: “I never heard of him before. But when I look at him play, now he’s as good as anybody I’ve ever seen in my life.”. . . .

Richardson was a class act after the Razorbacks’ loss to Memphis State, which is more than can be said about some of his players. . . .

What’s so hot about the Big Eight? It has the same number of teams left in the tournament as the Pacific 10. . . .

Talk about conference pride. A couple of minutes after James Forrest’s three-pointer that beat USC, the Georgia Tech rooting section chanted, “ACC! ACC! ACC!” . . .

On a Thursday afternoon in Milwaukee, 18,250 packed the Bradley Center to see teams from California, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas play first-round games. . . .

After a play during the Alabama-North Carolina game Saturday, CBS announcers Verne Lundquist and Len Elmore told us everything except the score, the fact that goaltending had been called, and the name of the player who had taken the shot. . . .

However, I wonder why Princeton continues to pass the ball around for 40 seconds before shooting when it is trailing by 10 points late in a game. . . .

Best camera shots: UTEP Coach Don Haskins covering his eyes during the last minute of the Miners’ upset of Kansas. . . .

Raveling, praising the NCAA tournament selection committee, said, “A lot of the coaches who complained are losing NIT games.”. . . .

When has there been a more improbable fourth quarter than that at Chicago Stadium Saturday when the Orlando Magic outscored the Bulls, 41-22, to win, 111-108?. . . .

Iran Barkley and Thomas Hearns did a lot for boxing’s seniors tour with their terrific fight Friday night. . . .

The Kings are six games above .500, but have scored six fewer goals than their opposition. . . .

A night should be given for Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger Stadium this season.