Recently the Phoenix Suns signed former Austin Toros' center Dwayne Jones for the second time. San Antonio Spurs and Toros fans must have cringed when the news broke Jones would be rejoining the Suns rather than returning to Austin.

It goes without saying Jones deserves his shot in the NBA and congratulations goes out to him for this opportunity with the Suns. However, with Jones in Phoenix, this is a huge loss for the San Antonio Spurs' developmental league affiliate.

In 48 games last year Jones averaged 17.6 points, 16 rebounds, 1.9 assists and had a player efficiency rating of +28. Besides averaging a double-double, a stat which stands out the most is the efficiency of +28. Only three NBA players had higher efficiency rating: Miami’s LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki. Denver’s Carmelo Anthony also had the same efficiency rating. Admittedly those stats are on the highest level of basketball, the NBA, and perhaps do not compare but the numbers are still very impressive and respectable.

A couple of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet is the energy and hustle that Jones would brought to Austin. Many times Jones would be seen diving for loose balls that were flying out of bounds and hustling back on defense when a turnover would occur.

Jones was also a rebound machine. Boxing out on every single play and it showed on his stat line -- 6.2 of his 16 rebounds per-game were on the offensive end.

It is going to be a difficult task for the Toros to replace Jones and the impact is going to be felt heavily in the paint. Not to mention the loss of a potential solid big man for the Spurs down the road.

With just under three months until the start of the D-League season, the Toros better get a jump start on finding a replacement if they hope to make another run at a championship next year.

The San Antonio Spurs released their 2010-11 broadcast schedule and if you live in the San Antonio area, here is how it breaks down:

KENS 5 will broadcast 12 games again this season, including a 30-minute pre-game show prior to nine game broadcasts. Coverage tips-off on KENS 5 with opening night on Wednesday, Oct. 27 vs. the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m. at the AT&T Center. KENS 5 will also broadcast home games against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 26 and the Miami Heat on Mar. 4.

FOX Sports Southwest will air 50 games this season, hosting Spurs Live pre and post-game shows for every Spurs broadcast. Fans can tune in to FSSW to catch exciting matchups including home games against the Orlando Magic (Nov. 22) and L.A Lakers (Dec. 28) and road coverage vs. the Boston Celtics (Jan. 5), Miami Heat (Mar. 14).

Local partner KMYS CW35 will air 12 games this season, adding an additional broadcast to this year’s schedule. Fans can tune in early for 11 pregame shows and stay tuned after the game for ten post-game wrap-ups following the broadcast. Tune in on Oct. 30 when the Spurs host the New Orleans Hornets at 7:30 p.m. to tip-off coverage on KMYS CW35 this season. (source spurs.com)

To view the complete TV schedule, click HERE.

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With the recent loss of Toros coach Quin Snyder to the Philadelphia 76ers, and the hiring of former Spur Danny Ferry to take over as Toros General Manager, it was only a matter of time before we'd hear about prospective coaches for the San Antonio Spurs' D-League affiliate.

John Treolar, the man Ferry handpicked to coach the Erie BayHawks when Ferry was the Cavs GM, is the first name to surface.

Treloar, 53, has been contacted by National Basketball Association teams, according to two sources close to the situation.

He led Erie to the playoffs in its 2008-09 expansion season with a 27-23 record, then went 21-29 in 2009-10. Treloar agreed to a two-year contract extension with Erie earlier this summer.

According to GoErie.com, the Spurs may have some competition for Treolar from new Suns General Manager Lance Blanks, who was Ferry's assistant in Cleveland.

To discuss the rumor, I talked to D-League writer and BayHawks fan, Matt Hubert, of D-League Digest and formerly of Blog Talk BayHawk.

According to Hubert, Treolar will fit in well with the Toros and should do a good job as Snyder's successor.

"They are two different personality of coaches, but you'll have that in any coaching change," Hubert said, "Quin is more of a character type of guy, but it wouldnt be a problem, it would just be a different style."

However, there may not be much of a chance for the Toros to bring him in, considering that he just signed a two-year extension with the BayHawks.

"That seems like a lateral move from unless he has word from Ferry that he may move up as an assistant coach with the Spurs," Hubert said.

When it comes to coaching defense and working under the Spurs and coaching their schemes, Hubert says Treolar should fit right in.

"That would work out great, he comes from a mindset that definitely values defense." "I think thats something he certainly preached to the BayHawks team."

For more on Treolar and the rest of the interview, click on the play button or download link below.

Thanks to Matt for continuing to share his D-League knowledge and make sure to read more from him over at D-League Digest.

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Houston Rockets' forward Luis Scola had a fantastic performance at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He averaged 27.9 points and shot 57.6% from the field. Not to mention his stellar performance against Brazil finishing with 37 points.

However, bring up his name to San Antonio Spurs fans and they will either say "Ah what could have been" or "It's old news."

Spurs fans know the story: he was drafted by the Spurs in 2002, was considered one of the best international players, buy-out issues prevented him from coming to the Spurs, was traded to the Houston Rockets and Spurs fans were left to dream of what could have been.

Now he has proven he can play in the NBA, established himself as a key player for the Rockets and was Argentina's top performer at the World Championship.

But did you know Scola really wanted to be a Spur and even memorized the system?

“I got drafted by the Spurs in 2002, but the NBA was my dream way before that,” says Scola. “During the five years they had my rights, I pictured myself playing for the San Antonio Spurs. I was watching their games. I was memorizing their system. I was looking at how I would fit there.

“I would have loved to be part of those championships and all those rings, but it just didn’t work out.” (source foxsportshouston.com)

If I opened up old wounds for Spurs fans, my apologies but for as much as this is old news, and maybe I need to get over it, I can't help but think to myself, "Ah what could have been."

While I wasn't able to make it, Jeff Garcia represented Project Spurs for the August episode of the 8th Seed.

During one of the slower NBA months, the panel talked about Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and talked about how their respective teams did in the offseason.

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Cast of the 8th Seed for August

Jared Wade of Both Teams Played Hard
Zach Harper of Talk Hoops
Rey Moralde of The No Look Pass
Jeff Garcia of Project Spurs
John Karalis of Red's Army
Glenn Moore of the Dugout Sports Show
Rob Mahoney of the Two Man Game

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most respected franchises in the NBA. From drafting or developing players to the front office making savvy free agent acquisitions to winning multiple NBA titles, the Spurs have done it all and done it the right way.

In this offseason as we all await for the new season to start, it's a good time to look back, take a break, and reminisce on some of the players who wore the silver and black in the past. Players who worked hard, persevered and did it the right way. Two who come to mind are Artis Gilmore and Bruce Bowen.

Let's talk about Gilmore first. It's not a stretch to say that Gilmore was one of the league's most intimidating centers during the 1970s and 1980s. Although he was perceived as a gentle giant by many, the truth is he was a fierce competitor, especially in the post.

His best years in basketball may have been in the ABA, but his time with Spurs should not be overlooked. He fit right in and helped the Spurs to win two straight division titles.

During the 1982-83 season, Gilmore repeated as the league field-goal percentage champ (62.6%) and returned to the All-Star Game. Over a three-game stretch in March of that season, Gilmore piled up 96 points and 35 rebounds. The teams' 53-29 record was the best since the franchise joined the league in 1976. San Antonio advanced to the conference finals for the second straight year that season.

The 7-2 Gilmore averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in his five years with the San Antonio Spurs. That stat line speaks for itself; but what's more impressive about it, is that he was able to put up those kind of numbers towards end of his career.

Perhaps it was not winning a title or his low-key, no hype personality that continue to be reasons he is overlooked by the Basketball Hall of Fame committee, but the "A-Train" deserves some recognition.

On the other hand, Bruce Bowen made a name for himself for playing tough defense. Bowen's NBA career was not an easy path. He was an NBA journeyman during the early part of his career playing for teams like Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers before finding a home in San Antonio.

It was with the Spurs where Bowen got his break. He started 59 games during his first year with the Spurs averaging 7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 38.9% from the field and 37.8% from the three-point line. In his second season in San Antonio, he played and started all 82 regular season games and shot a career best 44.1% from beyond the arc. That was the first of three championships he won with the Spurs.

Bruce Bowen's contributions to the Spurs cannot be measured by stats alone. He was assigned to contain the opposing teams' best scorer and occasionally hit the corner three when the game is on the line. And because he was so great and tough on the defensive side of the floor, opposing fans viewed him as a villain, a master of cheap shots and sneaky shoves.

Amar'e Stoudemire once insisted Bowen purposely kicked him in the playoffs. Dirk Nowitzki said after a physical playoff game that it was the Spurs who had a dirty player, not Dallas. But his reputation as a dirty player is unfair.

In reality most players are just frustrated because Bowen played great defense. While others complained, Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant always respected him and relished their matchups. I think Bowen's career could be summarized by these words. "It's not how you start but how you finish." The way it ended in San Antonio where he helped to win three NBA titles is a testament to him.

Both players have played excellent basketball for the most part of their respective careers and have given their fair amount of time giving back to the San Antonio community. Maybe a year or two from now the "A-Train" and Bowen will get what they truly deserved and that is for their jerseys to be up high in the AT&T Center rafters and possibly even enshrined to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

What do you guys think? Did we miss a former Spur who deserves their jerseys to be retired? Leave us a comment.

After what seemed like two subpar performances in Splitter's last two games in the World Championships, Team Brazil made bombshell announcement today.  According to team doctor Carlos Andreoli, Splitter suffered a leg injury that caused his minutes to be substantially cut down against Croatia, but that he was forced to play through in the team's biggest game yet against Argentina last night, a game in which Brazil suffered a close defeat in a game that lived up to every bit of its hype.

In his latest contest, Splitter managed ten points and five rebounds in 25 minutes of play versus Argentina.  A performance that had many Brazilian fans and Spurs fans alike scratching their heads can now be chalked up to an unknown injury to his right thigh, supposedly suffered during team workouts prior to the Croatia game.  According to team officials, he was cleared to play against Argentina, but still didn't see the kind of minutes that he saw earlier in the tournament.  The fact that he was forced to play through the injury is something sure to upset Spurs fans as they await his arrival in San Antonio, an arrival that fans would prefer him to make with two fully functioning legs.

It was supposed to be a showdown between the Spurs' biggest miss, Luis Scola, and the Spurs' highest expectations, Tiago Splitter.  Sadly, due to injury, fans missed out on a great matchup.

Splitter managed only five shots from the field against Argentina, but spent more time at the free throw line than he has in his previous contests at the World Championships and, in his best effort there yet, he went an impressive six for eight.  One thing we have learned in her performance in this tournament is that his free throw shooting is streaky at best however, much like Tim Duncan, he seems to be able to make them when it counts.

As the World Championships come to an end for Brazil, Splitter will have an opportunity to rest and recuperate before he reports to Spurs training camp.  Spurs fans, this was your first look at a big part of the Spurs' future.  What do you think?

San Antonio's News 4 WOAI once again invited Project Spurs to be on their panel for the Sports Talk Death Match. Jeff and I were joined by Kyle Boenitz and Dillon Emery to talk about the latest hot topics in the sports world.

Jeff and I discussed the FIBA World Championship and in particular our thoughts on San Antonio Spurs' center Tiago Splitter. We then closed out the show with some college football talk. Can you tell Jeff and I were so interested in the college football talk?

Thanks to Bob Gambert and WOAI for having us on.

 

WNBA great Lisa Leslie was in New York City last week to help announce the new Capital One Cup.

The Capital One Cup is a new premier award for excellence in on-field performance in Division I college sports. It awards one men’s and one women’s NCAA® Division I athletics program for their cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports during the fall, winter and spring athletics seasons.

Once the seasons are done, $200, 000 will be awarded to the winning program (men's and women's sports) for graduate level scholarships. The winners will be announced during the annual ESPY awards.

After the press conference I had a chance to speak with Leslie who is an Advisory Board member for the Capital One Cup. We spoke on the new award, San Antonio Silver Stars' Beck Hammond, how San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan helped her game and much more.

Jeff: How is it to be on the Advisory Board for the Capital One Cup?

Lisa: Well to be on the Advisory Board is an honor because I'm just passionate about NCAA athletics and for them (Capital One) to choose us is great. I think the Capital One award is an awesome award because we are always trying to have bragging rights on who is the best. This will truly honor those men and women. I love the fact there's two awards and it's split. Lastly it sheds a light on other athletics that don't get the attention they deserve. Like the lacrosse or swimming team.

Tell us about the point system.

I would advice all to go to capitalonecup.com to really understand the point system. It's based on championships that are won. It's not easy to explain when you can just go to the site and see it.

Now how heavy is the Cup itself?

(laughs) Oh my god I believe it's like 30-35 pounds but it's really beautiful.

Moving on to the WNBA playoffs, unfortunately the Seattle Storm beat your Los Angeles Sparks. What can the Sparks improve upon next season?

Well I think they just didn't generate enough points -- 66 points in two games. With Candace Parker out, obviously that's 25 points missing right there. I think they will be fine when she's back. It was a tough season to lose her. Betty Lennox was injured and at one time they (Sparks) had eight players, so for them to make the playoffs, it was an awesome season. They showed a lot of heart and fight. It's not over. They will be back.

I'm sure watching the games or being at the games gets your competativeness going.

(smiles) Oh yeah! I had a great time being at the Garden (Madison Square Garden) watching New York (Liberty) and Indiana (Fever). It was an exciting game. I thought Indiana would pull it out, on paper. But when I saw them in person I thought Indiana was tough but Taj McWilliams stepped up big as well as as Cappie (Pondexter) because when she is hot, you're in trouble.

How was it to play against and see in action Becky Hammond of the San Antonio Silver Stars?

Becky is phenomenal! At her size, 5'6" maybe, if you saw her on the street you wouldn't even think she can shoot the ball let alone do what she does. She is a phenomenal player and one of my favorite players to watch. Unfortunately they (Silver Stars) didn't make it in the playoffs with Phoenix (Mercury) beating them.

You are considered one of the best ever to play the center position in the WNBA. Another player who plays in the paint is Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. Was he an influence on your game?

(laughs) Who? Tim Duncan? (smiles) Absolutely. Oh my god! Mr. Fundamental! He's an absolute phenomenal player to watch. His ability to hit the bank shot left or right. In fact, I had the opportunity at the NBA All-Star Weekend to ask him to show me how he shoots it (the bank shot), what does he look at and he did! It really helped me in my final season. I've always respected Tim Duncan. His foot work, his ability to score, his demeanor. Obviously he's not very flamboyant player but he is very consistent and you have to respect that every time he steps on the court.

What about the center before Duncan, David Robinson?

I loved David Robinson. Very strong solid player on the block. He could finish and had a nice turn around jumper. He didn't mind banging in the paint but more than anything he was a gentleman. I loved it when he represented our country in the Olympics and I liked the fact when Tim Duncan did come, he didn't have a lot of pride and decided to do whatever it takes to win. David Robinson is one of my all time favorites.

In my opinion, when Duncan leaves the game, only then will fans and the media realize what they lost.

He is a great guy. Phenomenal role model and that's all you can ask from him.

Thanks to Taylor PR and Don Povia (Blogs With Balls) for inviting Project Spurs to attend the press conference.

After struggling against New Zealand, Nando De Colo was back in action on Sunday when France played Turkey.

While De Colo was ineffective for all but one quarter against New Zealand, he remained consistent throughout the game against Turkey.

He got started early on a few drives to the basket and hit his first three of the game, but threw the ball away a few times and picked up a foul towards the end of the first quarter when Turkey built a five-point lead to end the quarter.

De Colo scored eight points in the fourth quarter when the game was already over and France's fate was sealed. He finished with 15 points on five of eight from the field and three of five on three-pointers. De Colo also had four rebounds, but also turned the ball over four times. For the tournament, De Colo averaged 8.8. points, 2.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game.

France lost 77-95, ending their run in the FIBA World Championship.

As we've said all along, De Colo's final two years with Valencia should help him work out some of the inconsistencies and flaws in his game before he has a chance to even consider the NBA. San Antonio Spurs fans should like what they see in De Colo, especially his shooting stroke, as he connected on 48 percent of his shots from the field throughout the tournament. If he is signed prior to the 2012 season, he may have a better chance making the team at shooting guard. During the tournament, he was much more comfortable spotting up on the outside instead of playing the role of  a distributor and he has the size at 6-5 to play at that position.

Overall, based on his six games in the FIBA World Championship, he's proven to be a good second-round draft pick for the Spurs in 2009.

While you may see De Colo in a Spurs jersey down the road, the one thing this tournament has sadly shown is that the Spurs are likely not in 2001 draft pick Robertas Javtokas' future.

Javtokas started the tournament off struggling with a foot injury that kept him from playing major minutes, and when he has had the playing time, he hasn't done enough to make an impact.

Against China today, he had four points, seven rebounds and one block in 22 minutes. Through five games (DNP against Lebanon) Javtokas is averaging 2.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game.

While he hasn't impressed yet, he'll have another chance to do so as undefeated Lithuania faces off with Argentina on Thursday. But I wouldn't hold my breath, Spurs fans, it appears Javtokas' will be another of the draft and stash picks that will never make it to the NBA.