Simmons not a fan of the NCAA
Social media lit up the last few days after video surfaced of the vast disparities in the weight room facilities in the “bubbles” at the NCAA’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Oregon forward Sedonia Prince posted a video Thursday night on Twitter that showed one set of dumbbells, 12 in all, for the women’s tournament in San Antonio. The video then showed the weight room at the men’s facility in Indianapolis. It was a vast room with row after row of equipment.
In the video Prince said the NCAA released a statement that said the difference was because of space, not financial. However, her video shows a large open area next to the women’s practice court.
Sixers guard Ben Simmons did not hold back when asked about the disparities after the team’s morning shootaround for Saturday’s game with the Sacramento Kings.
“I don’t have any respect for the NCAA at all,” Simmons said. “What they’re doing is wrong. I’ve seen the women’s stuff at the gym and it’s obviously not fair. They have so much money that they can’t set up a weight room the same and be equal with that? So that’s bull——. There’s no excuse for that.
“They have too much money not to be able to do that and take care of the women’s side. So on that side, the NCAA has been bull—— about that. I feel as though it’s disrespectful for those girls who are working just as hard as the guys and having the same opportunities.”
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Simmons did a little self-lobbying for Defensive Player of the Year honors. In the process took a polite shot at Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who won the award in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
“No disrespect to Rudy at all,” Simmons said. “He’s a great shot blocker and defender, but he’s not guarding one through five. He’s guarding fives and big fours. He’s a great defender but I don’t think he’s guarding one through five. You can’t tell him, go guard Kawhi (Leonard) or guard Paul (George) or guard a point guard. He’s not doing that on a daily basis.” •••
Sixers coach Doc Rivers had no update for guard Seth Curry, who sprained his left ankle in Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Curry was listed as out for the Saturday’s game against the Kings and Sunday’s contest against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
With Curry out, Rivers will look for more production from Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle, but in their own way.
“None of them are going to be Seth,” Rivers said. “He’s such a great shooter. Just play their game. We don’t try to ask any guys to do something that they can’t do or they’re not, just be comfortable in their own skin, understand what we’re trying to do on the offensive end and go from there.”
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After Saturday’s game with the Kings the 76ers embark on their longest road trip of the season. They will play six games in a 12-day span starting with the Knicks in New York on Sunday, then out west to play the Warriors (Tuesday), the Lakers (Thursday), the Clippers (Saturday), the Nuggets (March 30) and the Cavaliers (April 1).