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Lute Olson says he's done with "one and done" college basketball stars...
Way too many jerks showing up to play for a college team, only to bolt for the NBA or Europe after one year.
Lute Olsen has had enough of this silliness and refuses to recruit "one and done" talent...
A good chunk of this year's NBA draft did bolt after just one year...
Lute sets his foot down...
So why won't the rest of the NCAA top tier programs follow his example?
Do they really need that extra buck in all the hype surrounding a star player giving one year before bolting? Way too many jerks showing up to play for a college team, only to bolt for the NBA or Europe after one year. ... more -
Greedy, Why Wait? Why High School Ballers Are Over College
In basketball today, the almighty dollar rules the world. Take young Brandon Jennings for example. One of the top high school players in the country has recently decided to skip college and go straight to the pros. Maybe your saying "Wait a second AROC, I thought high schoolers had to go to at least one year of college before going to the pros." Well you are correct my friend but only in the case of the NBA. This is not the case when it comes to playing professionally in places over seas where no such rules apply. "Ah yes AROC I think I know where you are going with this."
Over the past decade symptoms of foreign interest and involvement in the game of basketball have been growing. Before the year 2000 if I said "international basketball" you'd probably think "Tony Kucoc or Detlef Schremph?". The US has dominated the sport since its inception but now things are changing quickly. Yao Ming, Tony Parker, and Steve Nash are but a few of the foreigners that are among the best players in the league. The fact that the USA basketball team is even being questioned as the consensus pick to win the Olympics should be evidence enough to convince us all that the game is changing.
Back to Brandon Jennings. The NBA's policy is such that a player is not allowed to enter the NBA Draft straight out of high school. At first this seems like a great idea. Better players in the NCAA, more mature players in the NBA and happy fans across the boards. Besides the 1/1000 players that have a career changing injury in that one year of college everybody wins. Right? Problem is that the kids want or in a few cases need the money and don't want to wait it out. In this years NBA draft many players from overseas were questioning whether or not it was worth it to join a team that may not even garauntee them a spot on the roster. Rookie contracts in the NBA are also becoming a factor as non-NBA contracts continue to grow with the popularity of the sport. Some players might be able to find a more lucrative contracts abroad whereas the NBA limits the amount of money a rookie can make.
In the case of high schoolers like Jennings, possibly the best h.s. player in his class, the difference is very significant. A free year of schooling and college hoops at Arizona or hundreds of thousands of dollars and pro basketball overseas. Well Brandon Jennings has made his decision and will become the first player to give up his scholarship. Dorm rooms and textbooks? No Sir. He will likely play ball in Europe for a year, make a bundle of cash (hopefuly Euros for his sake) and watch college hoops from his apartment in Italy.
This will undoubtedly set the precedent for the future and could even lead to others following suit this year. The whole thing wreaks of Maurice Clarett but it does make sense and will probably work out better for the Jennings. The jig is up everyone. If it wasn't going to be Jennings then it was going to be somebody else. What remains to be seen/heard is the reaction from the NBA and NCAA chieftons who'd be smart to start figuring out a way to stop this from happening. If not, there could be two drafts next year and and a bunch of 6'9 kids signing up for Latin. In basketball today, the almighty dollar rules the world. Take young Brandon Jennings for example. One of the top high school players ... more -
Biggest underdog in College World Series history, Fresno State wins College World ...
47-31, a team that started 8-12 and coming into the CWS unranked defied the odds, as the first #4 regional seed to ever reach the CWS, Fresno State capped the biggest Cinderella run in college baseball history beating Georgia 47-31, a team that started 8-12 and coming into the CWS unranked defied the odds, as the first #4 regional seed to ever reach the CWS,... more
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The Recruiting Process: The Lifeline of College Football
Searching through the haystack of high school football players is the most time consuming part of a college coach's career, yet most people don't even think of it as one of the coach's primary tasks. The Rick is here with another insightful article, diving into the world of college football to explain how most programs find that needle.
Click the link to find out what The Rick has to say. Searching through the haystack of high school football players is the most time consuming part of a college coach's career, yet most p... more -
OJ Mayo: One and Done... heading to the NBA
Mayo, perhaps the most highly anticipated recruit in USC history, was not expected to play for the Trojans for more than one season but did not officially decide until Wednesday afternoon
USC coach Tim Floyd also released a statement.
"This comes as no surprise," he said. "We are appreciative of everything O.J. did for all
of us the year he was with us.
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Love & Collison are going pro
Pac 10 Player of the Year and should be first team All American Kevin Love and star point guard Darren Collison are reportedly going to enter into the upcoming NBA draft. A big relief to 9 Pac 10 teams.
Love's absence combined with the lo-pro bros leaving the trees to go play tarzan with the big boys takes about 20 feet of solid post play out of the Pac 10 for next season. Coming back next year are Washington twins towers (wallace and brockman) and the new best center in the conference Aron Baynes of Washington State. Unless I'm missing something. Let me know.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3... Pac 10 Player of the Year and should be first team All American Kevin Love and star point guard Darren Collison are reportedly going t... more -
Mario and the Miracles
In a game that will not soon be forgotten, the Kansas Jayhawks miraculously defeated the Memphis Tigers, securing their third National Championship. It had been twenty years since the Jayhawks' last won the title with Danny (Manning) and the Miracles. This time around Kansas would rely on their junior guard Mario Chalmers to bring some magic and a shot at another championship back to KU.
Watch the drama unfold as we recap this instant classic. In a game that will not soon be forgotten, the Kansas Jayhawks miraculously defeated the Memphis Tigers, securing their third National... more -
One Shining Moment (NCAA Tournament Montage)
What an awesome tradition. Luther Vandross and college basketball. Enjoy and look out for your B.O.Y.
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Kansas wins NCAA Tournament
Kansas pulled off an amazing comeback against Memphis to win their first National Championship in 20 years.
Memphis missed one too many free throws late in regulation Monday, allowing Kansas to overcome a nine-point deficit over the final 2:12 and win the national championship in overtime 75-68. Kansas pulled off an amazing comeback against Memphis to win their first National Championship in 20 years. ... more -
Kevin Love Hitting Chest Pass Shots From DOWNTOWN
Is this guy good or what. Try this at home and I think you'll find that this is pretty hard.
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The University of Kansas Jayhawks - Official Athletic Site
ok - kansas just beat davidson - even though davdson had a last second run.....
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2008 NCAA Tournament Video Highlights
A Sports Illustrated roundup of the best highlights from the second round of NCAA tournament action.
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NCAA Tournament: Indispensable Pieces, East Region
Just c&p'ed the picks for NC and WSU... Full article is available with all regions through the above link.
Wayne Ellington (North Carolina)
Likely national player of the year, Tyler Hansbrough is unquestionably the Tar Heel’s premier player. But the play of sophomore Wayne Ellington might be the biggest factor in UNC’s tournament success. Through the first two games against Mount St. Mary’s and Arkansas, Ellington has been stellar; averaging 22 points on an astounding 63% from the floor (14 of 22 in the two games combined). In addition to being remarkably efficient, Ellington is the player most responsible for UNC’s offensive spacing; as he is proficient at producing spotting up, pulling up off the dribble, or finishing in transition. Although, Ellington is brilliant offensively, it is his effort and production at the defensive end that is going to be most critical; as an imminent match-up against Kyle Weaver awaits. If Carolina survives Washington State, it certainly won’t get any easier for Ellington as he will either draw the assignment of defending the Smiths (JaJuan and Tyler for Tennessee or Jerry for Louisville). In each scenario, Ellington is going to face off against players and teams who are capable of making things difficult for him offensively (particularly Weaver) and challenge him defensively with their own ability on the offensive end. If UNC is going to win it all, it will certainly need Ellington to excel the rest of the way.
Taylor Rochestie (Washington State)
In virtual obscurity for much of the country, the Cougar’s junior guard has put up some very solid numbers (10.7ppg 3.2rpg 4.8apg 1stl). What’s even more remarkable about Rochestie’s level of productivity is that he has just 58 turnovers all season (its even more special considering that fourteen of them came in a two game span against Gonzaga and Portland State). It is that kind of steadiness (2.8/1 a/to ratio) that allows both Weaver and Low the luxury of operating in the half-court, and not bringing the ball up against defensive pressure. In addition to being able to handle the ball, Rochestie is arguably Washington State’s best outside shooter (43% from three) and distributor (thus far in the tournament he is averaging 8 assists per game). With an East semi-final match up against Ty Lawson and UNC, and potential match-ups against ball-hawking Louisville or Tennessee (should the Cougars advance); Rochestie’s ball handling prowess is going to be needed more than ever. Rochestie provides Wazzou the perfect third guard compliment to the tremendous Weaver and Low tandem. Just c&p'ed the picks for NC and WSU... Full article is available with all regions through the above link. ... more -
NCAA Upsets! 3 Cinderella teams emerge
A pair of No. 13 seeds (San Diego and Siena) pull off surprises, while No. 12 W. Kentucky also advances in wild first-round action on same floor.
Now this is more like it. Overtime. Buzzer beaters. Upsets. Individuals Stephen up and taking control. Thank the mid-majors for turning Good Friday into Really Good Friday.
A pair of mid-major match-ups (Davidson-Gonzaga, Western Kentucky-Drake) in the opening hours of Friday's afternoon session gave us "One Shining Moment," yet the afternoon provided the day's biggest surprise when San Diego KO'd perennial powerhouse Connecticut. A pair of No. 13 seeds (San Diego and Siena) pull off surprises, while No. 12 W. Kentucky also advances in wild first-round action on ... more -
Rogers buzzer-beater lifts Western Kentucky past Drake
In major upset news: Ty Rogers hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired in overtime as Western Kentucky defeated Drake, 101-99, in the first round of the West Region of the NCAA Tournament at St. Pete Times Forum.
After Drake took at 99-98 edge with 5.7 seconds left in the extra period following two free throws by Jonathan Cox, the Bulldogs called a timeout. Western Kentucky then inbounded the ball from under its own basket, went the length of the floor and Rogers nailed the three from the right side, well beyond the arc, to give the Hilltoppers the dramatic victory. In major upset news: Ty Rogers hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired in overtime as Western Kentucky defeated Drake, 101-99... more -
March Madness!!! Predictions Wanted...
In honor of the greatest sporting event in the world:
Tell us who your Final Four picks are!
The person who picks the most teams correctly is the victor (give us a champion and a final score for a tie breaker).
Winner gets the title of BMOC, Big Man on Current (ladies, prove us wrong and we'll change the title).
May the predictions begin!
my picks:
Kansas
UCLA
Tennessee
Texas
UCLA wins it all 69-65
Go Pac-10!
In honor of the greatest sporting event in the world: Tell us who your Final Four picks are! ... more -
NCAA basketball? Hell no! Let's watch NCAA Quidditch!
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. ― When the Middlebury College quidditch club launches its spring break road trip from March 22-29, they will be no less than missionaries, spreading the gospel of intercollegiate quidditch to colleges throughout the Northeast. The Middlebury squad has set up visits to eight schools, including Bard College, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Columbia, Vassar, Wesleyan, Amherst and Dartmouth. At each location they will provide all the equipment and instruction, and direct an intercollegiate match. MIDDLEBURY, Vt. ― When the Middlebury College quidditch club launches its spring break road trip from March 22-29, they will be no les... more
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Game on; it's the NCAA championship tournament!
"We said from the beginning, when you look at what happens in the NCAA tournament, all the publicity, all the hype, the economics ... the real thing is playing the games with the kids on the court."
--Tom O'Connor, Chair of NCAA Division 1 Basketball "We said from the beginning, when you look at what happens in the NCAA tournament, all the publicity, all the hype, the economics ... ... more -
Cal vs. UCLA: The Refs
Here is the last 30 or so seconds of the UCLA vs Berkeley game. What do you think should have happened?
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WSU basketball reserves help team improve
The bench of Washington State.
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