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NEW YORK
SPORTS DIGEST
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NBA LEGALIZES ZONE DEFENSE
Facing declining television ratings and sagging attendance, the NBA has taken action.
Recommended by a select committee on playing rules chaired by Phoenix Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo, the NBA Board of Governors approved four major rules changes, the most drastic being the elimination of illegal defense or legalizing zone defenses.
"I can't say the television ratings or the attendance figures were not a factor because they were, but we think the most important thing is it will improve the quality of the game overall," Colangelo said.
Voting totals are not released by the league, but NBA executive director Russ Granik said the proposed changes received more than 20 needed to pass.
Along with the abolition of illegal defense guidelines, the board approved a defensive three-second violation, reduced the time line from 10 seconds to 8 and allowed defensive players to initiate brief contact if it does not impede the progress of a player with the ball.
The rules changes are designed to increase offense, which is projected to drop this season fort he 11th time in 12 years. They will go into effect at the start of the summer leagues in preparation for the 2001-2002 season.
"Plain and simple, we weren't satisfied with the way the game looked like," Colangelo said. "This should make for better balance on the court and we should see more transition basketball."
The committee was especially concerned with a reliance on half-court isolations and the barrage of 3-point shooting.
"We're in a game where we see spot-up threes on fast breaks," Colangelo said.
COOK LOOKS TO SOPH YEAR
Omar Cook put together a successful first season at St. John's University. He progressed very nicely from the first day he joined the team.
Cook came to St. John's from Christ The King High School, where he turned in a stunning career. However, the Rd Storm as a team couldn't break the .500 mark and finished with a disappointing 14-15 record, failing to make a post season tournament.
The Red Storm has one senior on their roster in swing man Reggie Jessie. But the talk of the squad was Cook, who, after the season was over, contemplated turning pro.
However, he needs to get better and play at least another year of college ball.
Head Coach Mike Jarvis doesn't feel that he is ready to make the jump.
Cook topped the Big East Conference with 244 assists, including a one game high of a college record 17 set earlier this season, for an 8.7 average.
The premier guard in the met area might even be considered for the Haggerty Award, going to the top player in the tri-state area despite the team's mediocre performance. But then again, there are other players ahead of him for this prestigious honor.
When a game is on the line a coach can count on Cook's pass to a forward for a shot or for a three-point shot, or for a defensive play. And with his fancy backcourt work, he can run the show from that position. At time he has certainly shown it. He is a true point guard who can come up big. He ranked among the top players in the circuit in baskets converted from long-range out, and steals.
But at the same time, he must cut down on his turnovers.
"Cook is a great player and will be a great player for a long time," Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim said.
"Cook has the talent but doesn't do it upstairs," Syracuse guard Allen Griffen said. "He has to be himself."
"I have to come out and play a little harder," added Cook , who scored a season high 24 points at Notre Dame.
Overall, Jarvis has been encouraged by everything that happened this year, especially with the maturity and better play by the first year players.
HOFSTRA ELEVATES PECORA
Tom Pecora has been with the Hofstra University Basketball program for seven years, including three as an associate head coach to Jay Wright.
By recruiting the right players and designing the right plays at the right time, they took an under .500 team in 1996-97, turned it around, and advanced into the NCAA Tournament for the past two years. During their tenure at Hofstra, they saw the emergence of Speedy Claxton, who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA last year.
Jay Wright recently stepped down as head coach to move over to Big East Conference member Villanova. To try to keep the same system, the Hostra administration elevated Pecora to the head position.
Hofstra will be hard hit through graduation, but at the same time will return four key players. "The Pride" recruited some very talented high school stars to fill the vacancies.
Pecora thus becomes the tenth head coach at the Hempstead based college.
"He's a good teacher and he's patient," said center Lars Grubler, who will return in September.
"I just think he's one of the best coaches available in the country," Wright said.
Pecora's efforts have developed the Pride to three straight 20-win seasons, including a 50-12 record and back-to-back American East Conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances over the last two years.
In addition, the Pride increased their victory total over each of the last five campaigns, improving from 9-18 to 26-5 this past winter.
"The great thing about working for Jay was that he allowed for not only myself but for all of the assistant coaches to have tremendous input," Pecora said. "There's not going to be great changes in the way we play."
The 43-year-old Pecora is a product of Van Buren High School in Queens Village and Adelphi University where he received his bachelor's degree in physical education and health.
He brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He was an assistant coach at Long Island Lutheran High School and Nassau Community College, was head coach for three years at the State University of New York at Farmingdale, and then was assistant at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Loyola Marymount University before coming to Hofstra.
"It was beautiful out West," Pecora said. "But I wanted to get back to New York."
Now Pecora has his chance to continue the ride to the top for "The Pride".
McCORMACK LEADS TALENTED
ADELPHI BASKETBALL TEAM
The Panthers' basketball team turned in a tremendous season setting records along the way, winning 31 straight games, but losing in the NCAA Division II quarter final playoff round. Senior Ryan McCormack ran the show from the backcourt position and paced the team in points, assists, and steals.
He was accorded with numerous awards including being named Division II player-of-the-year.
Going undefeated was a goal for the Panthers since the beginning of the year.
"These players set their goals high," coach Jim Ferry said during the season. "Going undefeated during the regular season was something very special."
"It's been an . . . experience for all the media attention we've been getting," McCormack said. "I'm not used tot hat being from a Division II or small school from Garden City. But this year going undefeated (losing the final game of the season in the tournament) has been incredible.
"The key has been coming out for every game and treating it like it was a championship game, treating every opponent faceless so you don't come out and overlook anybody."
"The key to the season was the play of McCormack," added second year coach Ferry.
"When we played our first game (of the season) we were down by 17 points against Merrimack (but we bounced back and won," continued McCormack. "That made us realize people were not going to lay down on us even though we were ranked eighth in the nation. That was definitely a wake-up call. Since then we have been so confident with our game that we've been blowing it open."
At times during the season the Panthers, also led by the offensive work of Kendell Craig, Eddie Williams, Wayne Nelson, Kevin Goodman and Tony Kellman, and the shot blocking of Richie Edwards, were top ranked in the nation.
"It's been incredible to be number one in the nation," McCormack continued toward the end of the season. "It's everything I ever worked for. Finally I've gotten to this level where my school is nationally recognized. It's incredible for me. It's been a great ride."
Ferry praised the entire group of players for their hard work and their accomplishments.
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