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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Wednesday / April 24.
  • Kansas coach Bill Self was nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the ‘Hoop Hall’ announced Wednesday.

    “I consider this an honor to be nominated,” Self said. “I certainly didn’t expect this. I’m proud, mainly because of the teams’ successes we’ve had in the various stops that put me in a position to be considered.”

    A press conference announcing the finalists for the Class of 2017 will be held at NBA All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th in New Orleans, Louisiana. The entire Class of 2017, including those selected by the direct elect committees, will be unveiled on Monday, April 3rd at the NCAA Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.

    Six active college coaches in the Hall of Fame: Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.

    Hamidou Diallo will take his first official visit to UConn beginning this week and will be on hand for Friday’s game against Auburn in Hartford, Putnam Science Academy (CT) head coach Tom Espinosa told ZAGSBLOG.

    Diallo and his Putnam Science Academy (CT) teammates are currently in Florida and will play IMG Academy Wednesday afternoon. After that the plan is to take a flight home and for him to visit UConn.

    UConn has been recruiting the 6-foot-6 Putnam Science shooting guard for several years and went three deep to watch him on Tuesday at the City of Palms Classic. With head coach Kevin Ollie, associate head coach Glen Miller and assistant Dwayne Killings watching, Diallo went for 21 points and 7 rebounds in a loss to Mohamed Bamba and Westtown (PA). School. Bamba is also a UConn target.

    UConn, which has former Putnam Science and Diallo buddy Mamadou Diarra on its roster, is considered among the frontrunners for Diallo, along with Kentucky.

    John Calipari won’t be sending Rick Pitino a Christmas card, but he’s open to having him on his Podcast.

    “[Our relationship] has been fine,” Calipari said ahead of Wednesday’s titanic matchup between No. 6 Kentucky and No. 10 Louisville (7 p.m., ESPN).

    “I mean, look, we’re 90 miles away from each other and at competitive, rival schools. You know, it’s hard to send each other Christmas cards. It is what is. I’ve known him for 25 years. I know how good a coach he is. He’s a great coach, he’s a Hall of Famer, he’s won everywhere he’s been. National championships, Final Fours. I mean, come on, you know how good he is.”

    Calipari is 8-1 all-time against Pitino, and Kentucky is 5-0 against Louisville when both are ranked in the Top 10. But Calipari isn’t taking that record for granted.

    UConn rolled in three deep with head coach Kevin Ollie and two assistants.

    Indiana head man Tom Crean was in the house.

    So was Syracuse assistant Adrian Autry and Kansas assistant Norm Roberts.

    All were on hand at the City of Palms Classic for the matchup between Mohamed Bamba and Westtown (PA) School and Hamidou Diallo and Putnam Science Academy (CT) in the Signature Series final.

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