Double Standards

Note to 99% of all college fans:

– You are not allowed to be unhappy with where your team finishes if they had a winning season.
– You are expected to support college athletics because your money helps support alot of scholarships; not because you expect excellence in the premiere sports.
– You need to accept your assigned place in the athletic world.
– Winning is not everything…after all, it’s just college sports.

Signed
Mass Media Morons

Kentucky’s 88-76 loss to Kansas looks a lot better on paper than it did during the game – the Jayhawks were in firm control throughout. So the question remains whether Tubby Smith will return (or will even want to) for an 11th season in Lexington. I wrote this last week, but to lay down blanket criticism of Kentucky fans for growing restless is disingenuous.

They give more financially and emotionally than any other fan base in the country – Kentucky’s success is based solely on its fan commitment, not on proximity to talent or major media markets. It is quite reasonable for them to expect a return on that investment. And Smith hasn’t provided it with 25 losses in the last two years, few good recruits and nearly 20 transfers under his watch.

The program isn’t what it should be. Smith is a tremendous game coach and defensive strategist but sometimes that isn’t enough. It’s doubtful UK fires him, but he may walk. And if not, he better find some recruits.


Dan Wetzel

About VaWolf82

Engineer living in Central Va. and senior curmudgeon amongst SFN authors One wife, two kids, one dog, four vehicles on insurance, and four phones on cell plan...looking forward to empty nest status. Graduated 1982

06-07 Basketball General NCS Basketball

140 Responses to Double Standards

  1. lush 03/19/2007 at 4:01 PM #

    holy crap, i agree 100% with cedar

  2. CaptainCraptacular 03/19/2007 at 4:01 PM #

    Funny, even Jay Bilas was commenting on Hansbro’s will during the MSU game.

  3. Gene 03/19/2007 at 4:03 PM #

    I heard someone comment about Hansborough’s will, during the MSU game and stopped watching. Didn’t know it was Bilas, but I do remember him chuckling when he first started talking about it.

  4. lush 03/19/2007 at 4:04 PM #

    “I think Hansborough would be better served if he relied less on his indominatable will and more on developing basketball skills.”

    also agree 100% with this. think about how many assists he would have if would kick the ball out when he is triple teamed down low, instead of just pushing his way to the basket.

  5. lush 03/19/2007 at 4:07 PM #

    i watched the entire game and not only would bilas comment on his will, but it was damn near all he could say, even my unc buddy thought it was ridiculous how many times it was mentioned. bilas must have a bet going with jimmy dykes about how many times they can mention hansbra’s will.

  6. noah 03/19/2007 at 4:15 PM #

    I think it’s like the, “They killed Kenny! You Bastards!” line in South Park. It’s not meant to be taken seriously and is just going to show up for comedic effect from now on.

    If you’re a lottery pick, you pretty much HAVE to go. You’re insane if you stay in school. Ask Terrance Morris.

    And yes, of course, I hope they all go pro. But they won’t.

  7. noah 03/19/2007 at 4:16 PM #

    Whoops, meant to add one thing.

    Wright is projected as the third pick in the NBA draft behind Odom and Durant, so he pretty much is a one-and-done player.

  8. Gene 03/19/2007 at 4:22 PM #

    I think every player would like to be several inches taller, but even without it there is no reason Hansbrough can’t produce in the NBA for 10-12 years.

    I don’t think height is Hansborough’s problem. Boozer’s not tall, but is doing well. His problem might be his lack of foot speed. Montross was nearly unstoppable in college, but wasn’t very fast. He got to the NBA and, though he had a long career, wasn’t much more than a career back up for most of it. Hansborough hasn’t shown if he has the footspeed to compensate for the fact NBA players will be just as strong as he is.

    The NBA is such a mess. They have created a system where the longer you get to scout a player, the worse it is for the player.

    Good four year players will be drafted in the lottery. The ones who get attention for raw talent, but do not develop, will fall out, like McRoberts is currently doing. Staying four years did not hurt Dunleavy, Duncan, Adam Morrison, Brandon Roy, Kirk Hinrich, Emeka Okafur, Ben Gordon or Dwayne Wade, for example, in the NBA draft.

  9. RedTerror29 03/19/2007 at 4:26 PM #

    It doesn’t look like we’re going to have as many one-and-dones as we expected with the new rule. The year of college competition has exposed weaknesses for pretty much everyone but Durant and Oden that could keep them in school (not that it will for all of them).

  10. noah 03/19/2007 at 4:27 PM #

    Leaving early didn’t hurt Gerald Wallace either…even though he was the sixth or seventh man at Alabama. He’s been a pretty good pro player.

    The players who stayed four years were all very talented players. good players will do well in the NBA.

    It’s not like Terrance Morris got WORSE as a senior. Scouts just realized that he wasn’t an NBA player.

  11. chris92heel 03/19/2007 at 4:31 PM #

    Hello, Tyler is not bigger than everyone at this level. UNC has 3 other post players taller than him.

    Tyler is a much better athlete than Montross and has a better jump shot.

    btw, Dunleavy, Morrison, Okafur, Gordon, and Wade ALL left early.

  12. CedarGroveWolf 03/19/2007 at 4:34 PM #

    “holy crap, i agree 100% with cedar”

    BTW lush, Engin started 31 out of 32 games last year & played more minutes than anyone. = returning starter

  13. CedarGroveWolf 03/19/2007 at 4:36 PM #

    “Tyler is not bigger than everyone at this level. UNC has 3 other post players taller than him”

    bigger meaning stronger

  14. TNCSU 03/19/2007 at 4:37 PM #

    I think Wright and Lawson are gone. Thompson and Stepheson probably knew he was one and done, and that’s the only reason they committed to UNC with Wright. Frasor will be back to playing the point – still only a junior, and really not that scary. Anyway, I think we’ll match up fine with Frasor, Ellington, Thompson, Hanbrough/Stepheson, and Ginyard. Also, most of the NBA scouts know of the weaknesses even coming out of HS. These players have been scouted since the 9th or 10th grade, so rarely do they get worse or get weaknesses exposed — If anything, a good four-year player will end up getting picked in the first round when he was unheard of as a Sophomore (Fells – :)), but rarely is a first-rounder as a Freshman going to drop “out” of the 1st round as a Senior IMO.

  15. Gene 03/19/2007 at 4:48 PM #

    btw, Dunleavy, Morrison, Okafur, Gordon, and Wade ALL left early.

    My mistake, they left as Junior’s, though Okafur graduated in three years.

    Anyway, staying in college for more than one year did not hurt their draft position.

  16. redfred2 03/19/2007 at 4:55 PM #

    “holy crap, i agree 100% with cedar”

    He is converting people, watch out!!!

  17. RedTerror29 03/19/2007 at 4:55 PM #

    ^^I think Fells can really be something, but he better work HARD at his game this summer.

  18. chris92heel 03/19/2007 at 4:56 PM #

    Cedar, gotcha. Tyler isn’t going to stop working when he gets to the NBA though. He’s one of the strongest players in college, and he’ll eventually be one of the strongest players in the pros.

    Gene, the difference is that none of those guys were on NBA radars coming out of high school.

  19. redfred2 03/19/2007 at 4:58 PM #

    cedar >,

  20. packpigskinfan23 03/19/2007 at 5:07 PM #

    I think Fells could be Jordan good…. if he damn put his mind to it.

  21. Texpack 03/19/2007 at 5:34 PM #

    The funny thing about both Texas & Texas A&M is that their radio announcers have to explain basketball to their listeners constantly. Only some of the time do they actually do it correctly. It’s such a waste to have the best basketball player in the nation at a school where less than 2% of the fan base actually appreciates how good he is.

  22. E-RO 03/19/2007 at 5:45 PM #

    I don’t know about Jordan good, but Fells could be lottery good maybe.

  23. Tau837 03/19/2007 at 5:59 PM #

    Random thoughts:

    Fells needs to develop the ability to drive the ball and create his own shot. It seems that he mostly settles for jumpers or gets fed on cuts to the basket. He needs to be able to beat his man off the dribble. He seems athletic enough to do it, but just doesn’t show that part of his game much. He can handle the ball, as shown by the times he has brought the ball up and run the offense, and he obviously has the athleticism.

    As for Hansbrough, I think Brand and Boozer are poor comparisons. IIRC, both of them had abnormally long wingspans for their height, and both were much better defensive players in college than Hansbrough has been (IMO). Also, I think at least Brand was more polished offensively. I definitely think Hansbrough is a tweener. That doesn’t mean he can’t make it, just that it is harder to slot him in, which will likely hold down his draft value. Lorenzo Charles is a guy that comes to mind who was very strong by the end of his college career, and scored and rebounded well in the ACC, but didn’t really have an NBA position. I think Hansbrough will make it in the NBA, but it is not a given that he’ll make an impact.

    I agree that Wright would be foolish to stay, and is likely gone. I hope the same about Lawson, but personally I think he’d benefit a lot from staying one more year.

    As far as the comments about Hansbrough and Lawson being what you ideally want in a college player, since their “flaws” keep them around longer, I think the same about Costner. He is another tweener, since he is small for an NBA PF but probably not quick enough to guard an NBA SF. I see him sticking around for at least 2 more seasons, which makes me very happy. 🙂

  24. TNCSU 03/19/2007 at 6:02 PM #

    Can you imagine if Durant would’ve come here?? I know UNC was high on his list, but he would’ve stepped in here, and done the same thing. Overall, I’m not sure how many one and done’s that I would try to recruit, but it definitely doesn’t hurt with media exposure. I’m not sure how much in the long run, that Durant will help Texas. They are definitely getting alot of publicity — i.e. basketball powerhouse type publicity, although, I do not think prior to 2 years ago, anyone would have ever thought of Texas as a basketball power. Sometimes one player can do that — I don’t think many people would consider Ohio State a basketball power prior to a year or so ago either. And then you have Arizona……

  25. packpigskinfan23 03/19/2007 at 6:06 PM #

    Tau- you exactaly correct about Fells flaws… if he could create his own shot, he could be Jordan good. Thats what I meant about his potential. He has the athleticism to do anything he wants with the game of basketball. Its all up to him and his Coach(a damn good one at that) to get all of his potential to the surface. I think his character is what his holding him back right now. He seems to not be a very confident guy. A bit shy maybe? However he is still young and I hope he grows a lot over the off-season. He could go over Costner in the draft his he lives up to his potential.

    imagine that… TWO(maybe even three if Hickson lives up the the hype) NCState players in the first round!!!!

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