Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke "The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #4

(PRWeb) December 20, 2006 --
"The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #4

Kentucky 104 years, 1903-2006-07
N. Carolina 97 years, 1911-2006-07
UCLA 88 years, 1920-2006-07
Kansas 109 years, 1899-2006-07
Duke 102 years, 1906-2006-07

"The Phat 5" nickname was created from the P-H-A-T acronym that means (Producing History At the Tournament) for the 5 "Greatest" college basketball programs of All-Time.

"The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #4 is dedicated to Wilt Chamberlain. He was nicknamed "The Big Dipper" and "Wilt the Stilt." He played 2 seasons at Kansas and led the Jayhawks to the 1957 NCAA Championship game where KU lost to N. Carolina 54-53 in 3OT. Chamberlain was named the MOP (Most Outstanding Player) of the tournament in a losing effort. Wilt played 14 NBA seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He's the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game (3/2/62). Wilt averaged an astonishing 50.4 ppg. in 1961-62. His 30.06 ppg. scoring average is only second to Michael Jordan (UNC) 30.12 ppg. Chamberlain was a 2-time NBA Champion, 4-time NBA MVP, and 7-time scoring Champion 1959-1965. He was the first NBA player to score 30,000 points in his career (31,419). Wilt was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.

The "Super 5" of "The Phat 5"

Kentucky- Randolph Morris is averaging 15.4 ppg. and 7.5 rpg.
N. Carolina- Tyler Hansbrough is averaging 18.9 ppg. and 8.1 rpg.
UCLA- Arron Afflalo is averaging 16.3 ppg.
Kansas- Darrell Arthur is averaging 13.8 ppg. and 5.8 rpg.
Duke- Josh McRoberts is averaging 11 ppg., 6.8 rpg., and 4.1 apg.


Morris scored only 2 points in 16 foul plagued minutes this past Saturday (12/16) vs. Louisville. He was more like himself against Indiana a week earlier (12/09) scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Tyler Hansbrough remains a steady force for the Tar Heels who have a well balanced attack with a strong 9-man rotation. Arron Afflalo continues to lead UCLA who remains one of the 5 unbeaten teams left in NCAA Division 1. Darrell Arthur is making his case for Big-12 Freshman of the Year with Conference play starting nation-wide next week. Josh McRoberts continues to play his all-around good game but needs to develop a consistent go-to move along with his athletic and explosive talent.

Tuesday December 19, 2006 will be remembered as "Phat 5 Tuesday" as all of teams will play on this day.

Kentucky 8-3 unranked in both polls, the Wildcats played their last two games vs. 2-storied programs in Louisville and Indiana. Kentucky beat Louisville this past Saturday (12/16) 61-49 at Freedom Hall the home of the Cards for the 'Bluegrass State' bragging rights. Kentucky has won the last 3 meetings vs. U of L. UK outlasted a determined Indiana (6th ranked program of All-Time) squad 59-54 (12/09) at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Kentucky finished a brutal stretch of 4 games going 2-2, losing to "Phat 5" members UCLA and N. Carolina and then beating IU and Louisville. UK defeated Santa Clara 74-60 on "Phat 5 Tuesday" behind Randolph Morris' 23 points and 13 rebounds. The Cats will start SEC regular-season action in their next upcoming 5 games.

12/22 U Mass
12/30 E. Kentucky
01/03 Houston
01/06 @ Ole Miss (SEC regular-season play)
01/10 Auburn (SEC regular-season play

N. Carolina 9-1 ranked #2 by the new ESPN/ USA Today and AP polls, the Tar Heels moved past Ohio State to claim the #2 spot behind "Phat 5" member UCLA. UNC features a well balanced attack with super-sophomore Tyler Hansbrough and emerging freshman-phenom Brandan Wright. The Heels defeated UNC-Asheville 93-62 this past Saturday (12/16) with Brandan Wright scoring 21 points in the victory. Carolina beat High Point a week earlier 94-69 (12/09) to give coach Roy Williams his 500th victory (Kansas 418-101 and UNC 82-24). Coach Williams 499th victory was against Kentucky (12/02). UK is one of "The Phat 5" of College Basketball. Carolina dominated Florida Atlantic on "Phat 5 Tuesday" winning 105-52 with Tyler Hansbrough dropping 20 points for the Heels. UNC has a 5-game stretch that rolls into ACC regular season play.

12/22 @ St. Louis
12/28 Rutgers
12/31 Dayton
01/03 Penn
01/07 Florida St. (ACC regular-season play)

UCLA 10-0 ranked #1 by the new ESPN/ USA Today and AP polls for the 3 straight week, the Bruins remain the best team in the land as they gear up for PAC-10 regular-season play after Christmas. UCLA beat Oakland this past Saturday (12/16) 74-53 led by D. Collinson 15pts., A. Afflalo 14 pts., and J. Shipp 13pts. The Bruins won the John R. Wooden Classic (12/09) 65-62 over then #6 ranked Texas A&M. Josh Shipp led UCLA with 18 points in the win. UCLA defeated a tough Sam Houston St. on "Phat 5 Tuesday" 75-61, Josh Shipp scored a team high 18 points in the victory. The Bruins have a tough 5-game stretch starting with Michigan and then roll into PAC-10 action. UCLA looks like a #1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

12/23 Michigan
12/28 Washington St. (PAC-10 regular-season play)
12/31 #17 Washington (PAC-10 regular-season play)
01/04 @ Oregon (PAC-10 regular-season play)
01/06 @ #23 Oregon (PAC-10 regular-season play)

Kansas 9-2 ranked #12 by the new ESPN/ USA Today and #11 by the AP polls, the Jayhawks are on a 10-day lay-off since their last game a 68-58 win over Toledo (12/09). The 10 days will be the longest stretch of the season as they look forward to Big-12 Conference play starting January 10, 2007 vs. Oklahoma St. The Jayhawks soared over Winston-Salem 94-43 on "Phat 5 Tuesday." KU will play 3 games in 7 nights before the travel to SEC country and take on S. Carolina.

12/23 Boston College
12/28 Detroit
12/30 Rhode Island
01/07 @ S. Carolina
01/10 Oklahoma St. (Big-12 regular season play)

Duke 10-1 ranked #6 by the new ESPN/ USA Today and AP polls, the Blue Devils like "Phat 5" member Kansas is coming off a 10-day lay-off. Duke played last year's 'Cinderella' story George Mason (12/09) and beat the Patriots 69-53. The Devils had a tough time in the first half with a game Holy Cross squad before securing a 57-45 win (12/06). Coack K & Co. held on to win a narrow victory 79-72 over Kent St. on "Phat 5 Tuesday." Duke will be tested in their next 5-games that will also jump-start ACC regular-season play.

12/21 @ #24 Gonzaga
12/31 San Jose St.
01/02 Temple
01/06 Virginia Tech (ACC regular-season play)
01/10 @ Georgia Tech (ACC regular-season play)

"The Phat 5" Stat of the Week:

Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the "Big 3" of "The Phat 5" jersey numbers all have the #3, and are separated exactly 10 numbers apart. Chamberlain #13, Jordan #23, and Jabbar #33. The 20 years between Jordan and Jabbar will be the number of consecutive Final Four appearances for "The Phat 5" this season 1988-2007.

"The Phat 5" Extra:

The 'Garden Brawl' this past Saturday between the Knicks and Nuggets has deep seeded roots between "Phat 5" member N. Carolina and the #6 program of All-Time Indiana.

Coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets is a disciple of Coach Dean Smith (UNC) who is one win in front of Bobby Knight for the NCAA All-Time wins list . Knight coached New York Knicks current coach Isiah Thomas in college at Indiana. Thomas fired Larry Brown after the team poor performance last season. Brown is also a disciple of Dean Smith at N. Carolina, and a friend to George Karl.

Karl is not happy that Bobby Knight is passing Dean Smith on the All-Time wins list. Thomas who had a feud with Michael Jordan another disciple of Dean Smith during their playing careers is happy that Knight is passing Smith. Thomas was the star on the 1981 Indiana team that beat Dean Smith and UNC for the NCAA Championship.

Jared Jeffries of the New York Knicks played his college ball at Indiana. Jeffries was the player who was chasing Carmelo Anthony after Anthony hit his team-mate Mardy Collins with a sucker punch.There is a lot of bad blood between the Indiana and UNC alums (IU is the #6th ranked program and not a member of "The Phat 5").

For more information or interview request on "The Phat 5" or the Final Four streak of 19 years of "The Phat 5" contact Derrick E. Vaughan 443-851-5244.

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