Over the next few weeks, the Memphis basketball program will be hosting recruits from the 2008 and 2009 high school classes. One of the highlights of the their campus tour will be the new coaches’ quarters in the Athletic Office Building.

As part of his last contract negoation, John Calipari (right) got a pledge from the Memphis administration to redo the coaches’ offices and turn them into a showplace for the program. Though they are still waiting to finish a few decorative touches, I got to see the offices Monday. I must say, they did an impressive job. Some of the highlights include a lobby with the “M’ logo painted onto a hardwood floor, a glass trophy case, a beautiful hardwood floor in the hallway that connects each coach’s office, large portraits of every Memphis player who has graduated under Calipari and a lounge with three HDtvs, including a 61″ DLP. The lounge also has a large sectional leather couch, a video game console and some cool-looking chairs with a Tiger stripe pattern.

Without a doubt, it will be a comfortable and impressive environment in which to recruit during this crucial time of year.

Monday in Malaga was much like the rest of the Grizzlies’ time in Spain. Just a small part of the day was about basketball. The Griz had what was described as their most “spirited” practice in the morning. Perhaps one reason was because everyone participated. Stromile Swift returned from a sore left knee and appeared active. Coach Marc Iavaroni cautioned that the Griz would use “odd” rotations in its preseason debut Tuesday night against Unicaja Malaga because the coaches are still evaluating individuals as well as lineup combinations.

That said, “We’re going to try to win the game,” said Iavaroni, who took time out Sunday to watch Unicaja Malaga play MMT Estudiantes (the Grizzlies’ opponent Thursday in Madrid). “We want to make sure we play solid defense and not foul. Those guys are physical and they’ll try to get you into a physical game. We can’t fall for that.”

Video Postcard
Pau Gasol talks about being in his native Spain, Tuesday’s game and the team’s improvement.

Sneak preview
Game announcer Eddy Vidal previews the Grizzlies-Unicaja Malaga matchup. Vidal lives in Barcelona and has worked with the NBA since 1988. He was a local organizer for the 1992 Olympics.

Odds and Ends

* The Griz left practice in freshly designed gear, and stopped to take a team photo. Policia stopped traffic so that the Griz could pose in front of a large fountain located in the middle of one of downtown’s major boulevards.

The Point Guards

The Spaniards



* At roughly 6 p.m. local time, the Griz players, coaches and staff walked the streets of Malaga as crowds of people jockeyed for position in order to take pictures and get autographs. The mob was pretty well behaved, mainly because there was plenty of security to protect Mayor Francisco de la Torre Prados and the Grizzlies. Sports Minister Elias Bendondo also attended.






* I confess. I confess. My co-host on “The Morning Rush,” Peter Edmiston, unknowingly planted the idea of using video on the blog. Peter captured video with his still camera during Griz media day and posted it on www.sports56whbq.com. Once I figured out that my digital camera was capable of capturing video, I decided to go nuts. Here’s more proof that I’m pulling triple duty –- calling into my morning radio show, getting images and doing lots of interviews (below is my sorry attempt to speak Spanish with Unicaja Malaga’s Carlos Cabezas).

Talking to Sports56’s “The Morning Rush” from a payphone in Malaga

THE BIG STORY

Chris Nickson’s starting job as Vanderbilt’s quarterback is on the ropes.

Nickson has made 17 straight starts, but Vandy coach Bobby Johnson told the Tennessean on Sunday that Nickson will need a solid week of practice to hold off backup QB Mackenzi Adams.

“There’s a chance that we’ll look at making a change at quarterback,” Johnson said in the wake of Vanderbilt’s 35-7 loss at Auburn. “Looking and doing is two different things. That’s what practice is for. It allows them to demonstrate who’s got the best grasp of the game plan and who’s executing it the best. I think (Adams) will probably be getting more reps than he did last week. We’ll give him a better chance to win it.”

Nickson, who has completed 60 of 113 passes for 757 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions this season, said he has not begun doubting himself. On Saturday, he completed 5-of-16 first-half passes for 38 yards before giving way to Adams.

“You’ve got to have confidence to play football, especially this position,” Nickson said. “A lot of guys aren’t pleased with the way things went (Saturday), but you’ve got to maintain your confidence and keep striving for your goals and that’s what we’re going to do.”

As Nickson prepares for the Bulldogs, Johnson said it is important for the quarterback to trust his abilities.

“I think he’s got to believe in himself,” he said. “I think he does, but he needs to go ahead and believe in what he’s seeing and what’s happening out there and go ahead and relax a little bit and just play like he can.”

Adams, meanwhile, completed four of nine second-half passes for 24 yards with an interception — though he did lead Vanderbilt’s one scoring drive.

“He did a good job most of the time getting us into the right play and making the right checks,” Johnson said. “I don’t think he was too hesitant. He went out there and played well. He’s a competitor and I think that showed. He got sacked one time and he just bounced right back up.”

A look at the league: Read the rest of this entry »