All cities interested in hosting NCAA championship events -- like NCAA Tournament games, for instance -- have been asked to fill out a questionnaire detailing how they'll protect athletes and fans from discrimination.
That's not new news.
The NCAA announced this development last month.
But the questionnaires are due today.
And I really am fascinated to see how all of this plays out -- specifically whether the NCAA actually refuses to place future championship events in the state of North Carolina until the controversial HB2 law is amended or eradicated. Because that's what this is about, obviously. The NCAA doesn't really need Los Angeles or New York to fill out a questionnaire. What the NCAA needs is for Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh to try to explain why the North Carolina law that limits protections for LGBT individuals won't infringe on the rights of those who might travel to the state to participate in, or just attend, an NCAA-sanctioned event. Long story not so long, this is the first step in the NCAA possibly following the NBA's lead and pressuring North Carolina to change its law.
And, absolutely, I'm all for it -- just like the majority of coaches we polled for our Candid Coaches series are all for it. They, like I, understand that the best way to bring about change is for important people and businesses -- and, undeniably, the NCAA is a big and important business -- to leverage whatever power they possess. That's why Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr and many others have cancelled concerts in North Carolina this year. It's why the NBA removed the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte (and, by doing so, cost North Carolina an estimated $100 million). And it's why the NCAA might not schedule championship events in the state until politicians change the law -- or until voters replace the politicians who won't change the law with some who will.
If elected officials want to be on the wrong side of history, fine.
But there are ways to make them pay for it.
And the NCAA taking a stand that could cost cities in North Carolina millions and millions of dollars is a way to make them pay for it, literally. So my hope is that the NCAA isn't bluffing and is really prepared to take that stand. The governing body doesn't always use its influence for good. But it can here. And it should.
FIVE OTHER THINGS ON GP'S MIND
1. They're just exhibitions against teams you've never heard of. So take it for what it's worth. But Memphis transfer Austin Nichols is averaging 15.5 points through two games of Virginia's tour of Spain. So I won't be surprised if he becomes the first player in history to earn both AAC and ACC all-conference honors.
2. While on the subject of foreign trips, let the record show that Josh Hart finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds in one of Villanova's exhibitions in Spain and averaged 22.0 points and 9.0 rebounds on the trip. The senior guard is the biggest reason Jay Wright's Wildcats have a real chance to repeat as national champions. He should be on every preseason All-America team.
3. I share the sentiments of my colleague Matt Norlander in regards to Virginia and VCU agreeing to play a home-and-home series. I wish more relevant same-state programs would follow their lead because a) those games are always fun for fans, and b) college games on college campuses trump everything else.
4. I spoke with Donnie Tyndall's attorney, Don Jackson, earlier this week, at which point he reiterated that he believes the former Southern Miss coach's case against the NCAA will eventually end up in federal court. So, no, that story isn't going away any time soon.
5. A few people have asked if I was surprised by any omissions when we polled coaches to see which player they'd most like to have on their team for this season. My short answer is ... No. I think all reasonable answers were provided -- along with a bunch of unreasonable answers. But if the question is who's the best player that not a single coach mentioned, the answer, I believe, is probably Indiana's Thomas Bryant.
FINAL THOUGHT: The biggest story in college basketball this week, by far, was Gregg Marshall's ejection from Wichita State's exhibition in Canada that caused the Shockers' coach to completely flip out.
If you haven't seen the video yet, you should.
Needless to say, it's not a good look. That's why Marshall was subsequently suspended for Wichita State's final exhibition. But I've had multiple coaches echo what former Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg tweeted earlier this week, and what Greenberg tweeted is this:
WSU suspends Coach Marshall for his outburst defending his players it will pay huge dividends. Players want a coach that is in it with them.
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) August 10, 2016
To be clear, nothing excuses that kind of outburst. And nobody is suggesting Marshall was anything but wrong. But if you're looking for some possible good that could come from an embarrassing moment, what Greenberg said might be it. Because though Wichita State's interim AD wasn't pleased with Marshall's behavior, odds are Marshall's players interpreted it as their coach fighting for them.
Players like that.
So, yeah, Marshall took a beating on social media, and for good reason. But, in the process, he might've gained something with his roster that could play a role in making a sixth straight NCAA Tournament.
