2009/2010 Offseason

[UNC]

Make early bird perdictions and talk about how awesome Roy Williams is.

[mongo]

syracuse will be good next year.

[UNC]

Hate to say it...but Duke will be vastly improved.

[mongo]

anytime paulus leaves your team, how can you not improve?

[UNC]

Clemson will go undefeated for the rest of 2009

[mongo]

no more of this. so sad.

http://dwinalsisters.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/hansborough-and-paulus.jpg

[UNC]

haha

What's Gonzaga gonna look like next year?

[mongo]

i don't follow the zags that close.

UW only graduates 2.

bucknell will have all 5 starters returning.

[UNC]

Was it uw or state that got a new coach?

...I don't follow the pac 10 that closely.

[mongo]

wsu. uw will have the same coach for a long fucking time if he keeps recruiting like this.

[shdaow]

Do any of you guys follow the WCC really closely? What do you think the Portland Pilots chances are of leapfrogging St. Mary's into 2nd?

[johnnychacski]

haha

What's Gonzaga gonna look like next year?

2 of their top 4 scorers are seniors, and Austin Daye might leave, they have a decent freshman Mangisto Arop coming in, but if Daye leaves there going to have a tough time next year.

[mongo]

Do any of you guys follow the WCC really closely? What do you think the Portland Pilots chances are of leapfrogging St. Mary's into 2nd?

living in the northwest i am forced by the wonderful people at fox sports to follow it. i'd say it's a slim chance.

[Stax]

It's women's bball, but yay UConn.

[johnnychacski]

Cousins to follow Kentucky, not much of a shock, but with Cousin and Patterson they could have a good front line next year.

[johnnychacski]

Anyone interested Jeff Goodman has his first version of the transfer list up, most notable is probably Appleton from Kansas who would have seen his time get cut with Henry probably going their next year, also Kellogg kid is transferring from Providence. You can view the list here (http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/goodmanonfox).

[heelsguy]

I just want UNC to make the 64-team field and win one game, as much as we will be losing from our team.

Oh, and splitting with Duke.
Oh, and sweep NC State.
Oh and not lose to Clemson in C.H. (since that has never happened).

[jemeske]

Please. If UNC is less than a six seed, I'll eat a nut.

[johnnychacski]

I just want UNC to make the 64-team field and win one game, as much as we will be losing from our team.

Oh, and splitting with Duke.
Oh, and sweep NC State.
Oh and not lose to Clemson in C.H. (since that has never happened).

I don't know if you read anything heelsguy, but Roy made a call to John Wall, if UNC could get involved it wouldn't surprise me if he went here. Wall is probably wide open in his recruiting process right now.

Edit: Apparently even though Roy called John, their not recruiting him, I don't buy it, only time will tell.

[UNC]

Man...Wall would start immediately. He's got game and with a little experience...could be as good as Lawson...or better.

[heelsguy]

I don't know if you read anything heelsguy, but Roy made a call to John Wall, if UNC could get involved it wouldn't surprise me if he went here. Wall is probably wide open in his recruiting process right now.

Edit: Apparently even though Roy called John, their not recruiting him, I don't buy it, only time will tell.

seriously?




Roy called Wall from the Final Four prior to playing Villanova. What I read is that UNC is not officially pursuing him, and Wall confirmed that. Some cynics see this as a result of Duke now pursuing Wall as they are looking to be more up-temp/transition to hang with UNC's style better.

BTW, it is not a lock that Lawson will turn pro. He cannot submit his name and withdraw it again, since you only get to do that once. UNC has high hopes for larry drew, jr. to run the point next fall...I would think once Roy checks around the NBA to see what ellington's and lawson stock price is thinsg will start to shake out:


BOSTON One NBA scout told the Boston Globe he doesn't think any of NCAA champion North Carolina's three stars – guard Ty Lawson, forward Tyler Hansbrough and guard Wayne Ellington – would be lottery picks this year.
He believes Lawson would go in the late teens, Hansbrough would be a late first-rounder at best, and Ellington would be a second-rounder.
“Ty has grown on me,” the scout said. “I wasn't a big fan when he initially came out last year. It was a good decision to go back to school. He's the best prospect. But at the end of the day, the three (underclassman) big boys – Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, and Tyler Zeller – may be better as pros than Lawson, Hansbrough, and Ellington.
“With Hansbrough, energy and effort only get you so far in our league. You can count on one hand how many guys get by on that. I'm not a fan.
“You've got to respect the numbers he put up. Unbelievable college career. But all that stuff doesn't translate over. He's not explosive; undersized, short arms, and limited offensively. He's an OK athlete.”
-- Boston Globe


If lawson is universally seen as a lottery pick, UNC should/will go after Wall HARD...assuming Wall will even be here:


Raleigh Word of God's John Wall (above) may be eligible for the 2009 NBA draft.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank told Tom Ziller of fanhouse.com (http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/04/14/john-wall-eligible-for-2009-draft/) that if Wall applies for 2009 draft eligibility, the NBA will do its "due diligence to determine his eligibility." Wall has not yet applied for early entry, according to Frank.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement, which governs the draft, is murky on whether Wall is eligible for the 2009 NBA draft.
To be eligible a player must be 19 during the calendar year of the draft (Wall is) and be a year removed from his high school graduation (Wall is scheduled to graduate from Word of God this spring). But if a player does not graduate from high school, he needs to be a year removed from when his class graduated.
Wall is a fifth year senior. He was a junior at Broughton when he transferred to Word of God, but was enrolled as a sophomore. If he had stayed at Broughton or at Garner, where he played as a freshman and sophomore, he would have graduated in 2008.
Wall was outstanding in last week's Nike Hoops Summit game in Portland, Ore., setting the game record with 11 assists and tying the record for steals with five.
He is expected to play in the Jordan Brand All-America Game in Madison Square Garden this week and make an official visit to Miami next week.
Last Thursday, Wall said he was considering scholarship offers from N.C. State, Memphis, Miami, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and Baylor.


It is too early to start sweating UNC basketball. Let's just enjoy the trophy and try to win 8 football games + a bowl game. That would be a nice fall.

[johnnychacski]

seriously?




Roy called Wall from the Final Four prior to playing Villanova. What I read is that UNC is not officially pursuing him, and Wall confirmed that. Some cynics see this as a result of Duke now pursuing Wall as they are looking to be more up-temp/transition to hang with UNC's style better.

BTW, it is not a lock that Lawson will turn pro. He cannot submit his name and withdraw it again, since you only get to do that once. UNC has high hopes for larry drew, jr. to run the point next fall...I would think once Roy checks around the NBA to see what ellington's and lawson stock price is thinsg will start to shake out:



If lawson is universally seen as a lottery pick, UNC should/will go after Wall HARD...assuming Wall will even be here:



It is too early to start sweating UNC basketball. Let's just enjoy the trophy and try to win 8 football games + a bowl game. That would be a nice fall.

Wall pulled out, UNC isn't on his top list...as of now at least.

[eleveneighteen]

Isiah donates his first year salary back to FIU athletics... Probably under the condition that there are attractive female assistants.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4070376

[Da Raider]

i love the fact that Isiah Thomas was introduced as "Isiah Thompson". Awesome.

Someone better put some odds up on his next suicide attempt.

[Da Raider]

Clemson will go undefeated for the rest of 2009

STFU Faggot!

[Snatch]

Isiah donates his first year salary back to FIU athletics... Probably under the condition that there are attractive female assistants.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4070376

As someone with carnal knowledge of FIU students, good luck to him. Hope he likes blechh's.

[johnnychacski]

Flynn leaving early. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4073196) Big East could be wide open, with West Virgina, and Villanova towards the top. Syracuse probably a rebuilding year with Flynn, Devendick, and Harris all leaving.

[mongo]

flynn leaving surprises me. doubtful he'll be a lottery pick, where as if he'd stayed one more year, he probably would have been. weird.

[johnnychacski]

flynn leaving surprises me. doubtful he'll be a lottery pick, where as if he'd stayed one more year, he probably would have been. weird.

Agreed, I mean he won't get picked before, Rubio, Lawson, Teague, or Curry.

[Tar Heel]

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/941/F527163.jpg

Carter, Peppers, Makhtar Ndiaye, and Jamison.

Sick.

[jemeske]

I guess it's not surprising that Makhtar is the one who had time to make a sign.

[heelsguy]

Good job, Coach K. Just keep pushing your new book about how you built a championshion team with howard, james, wade, bryant, etc.

Meanwhile Roy was back on the recruiting trail just 36 hours after winning the title.

[johnnychacski]

Well if Kansas does get Xavier Henry they are going to be a lethal force next year.

Source: Henry brothers to play for Jayhawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4089690)

[kevin6387]

Well if Kansas does get Xavier Henry they are going to be a lethal force next year.

Source: Henry brothers to play for Jayhawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4089690)

the 3 spot was our biggest concern this year. Another year for our freshman to learn and for Aldrich and Collins to improve should do wonders. Elijah Johnson is an athletic freak and Thomas Robinson might be the best rebounder in the class. Kansas should be incredibly gifted as well as deep next year. I think they have 7 players in the top 100 of their RCSI class just on the bench. Their starters are all top 100 which i think 3 should be top 20.

[Rover]

I haven't thought about Makhtar Ndiaye in years. Probably not since he couldn't hack it at Michigan and had to transfer to UNC. That must have been '95.

[johnnychacski]

Lawson, Ellington entering draft (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4091170) and Curry to enter Draft (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4091745)

Neither of which are shocks, interested to see where curry will end up, some think he might be the best passer in the draft.

[heelsguy]

Wall's getting closer to picking his school

Point guard still 'a kid,’ but he's in a pressure cooker

Tim Stevens
tim.stevens@newsobserver.com
Posted: Sunday, May. 03, 2009
http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/05/02/21/314-wallcolumn.ART_G1UFFT5H.1+johnwall.JPG.embedded.pr od_affiliate.138.jpg
John Wall, the highly recruited point guard from Raleigh Word of God, still has eight schools on his list of potential colleges. SHAWN ROCCO - (RALEIGH) NEWS & OBSERVER



The saga of John Wall's college recruitment seems to be winding down, though it may look like there is no end in sight.




The 6-foot-4 Raleigh Word of God basketball point guard still has eight schools on his list and says there is no favorite, no leader.

But when talking with him, he seems to be getting very close to deciding where he will go to school next year.

There has never been a recruiting story like this one.

Great players make college decisions every year, but few players have the explosiveness and the charisma of Wall.

Wall is so talented that college fans easily project him as leading their team to national prominence, even a national championship.

Wall might have the ability to lead Kentucky, Kansas, Florida or Duke to a national title next year.

He possibly could lead Baylor or Miami to national prominence. He could keep Memphis in the national dialogue.

He would sell lots of tickets and enter the program as a hometown hero at N.C. State.

That projected impact on some of the best programs in the country has made him special. At least two local talk shows have done segments discussing which story is a bigger — John Wall or the NHL playoffs.

Imagine comparing a professional for-profit organization that has radio shows, television coverage, a public relations department and millionaire players, with the 19-year-old guy down the street.

The attention baffles Wall.

“I'm just a kid,” he says.

His recruiting process has been filled with twists and rumors, most of which he has no control over and some of which have been mean-spirited and cruel.

Here's a few rumors and Wall's response:

**After Baylor created a coaching position for Dwon Clifton, Wall's club team coach, many assumed Wall was ticketed to Baylor.

“I'm wide open,” Wall said at the time. “Dwon and I never had that type of agreement.”

**Wall contemplated playing in Europe rather than go to college.

“No way, absolutely not. Where did that come from?” he said.

**Wall is a “one and done” player, someone who would play one year of college basketball and go to the NBA.

“I never said that,” Wall countered.

**One Web site had him down to North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Florida.

“I haven't given anybody a list of leaders,” Wall said.

And Carolina had not offered him and was not recruiting him as of last Thursday.

**For 24 hours, it was a foregone conclusion that Wall was going to enter the draft this year. He was projected as a top 10 pick.

“I don't think I'm ready to play in the NBA right now, and I want the college experience,” he said. “Going to college would be good for me."

**Wall failed a grade and bounced around from school to school.

No, he never failed a grade. He did go to three high schools. He went to Garner. His family moved into the Broughton district and he went to Broughton for less than a semester before transferring to Word of God.

**Wall is delaying his decision because he enjoys the attention.

I don't think so.

I doubt he has ever made an unsolicited call to a reporter. He has never sought publicity to my knowledge. He is confident, but not conceited.

He is like many high school seniors and is struggling with his college decision. He has more options than most students and probably has a lot more at stake.

His decision-making process has been slowed by coaching changes, late recruiting offers and his mother's illness. She is recovering from an aneurysm.

John Wall has been misjudged by a lot of people who wish he would get on their timetable and make his decision.

He has been polite to me and, as far as I know, honest.

During our interviews, he consistently says, “Yes, sir,” or “No, sir.”

He has spoken several times about being a teenager who has to make a big decision, a decision that he wishes he felt more confident about.

Last fall, Word of God coach Levi Beckwith said to understand Wall you need to know that he wants to make people happy. He doesn't want to disappoint.

Before Wall began taking official visits, Beckwith asked Wall to promise to not commit while on a recruiting trip. “John would commit every place he visits if he is not careful,” Beckwith said at the time. “He wants to make that coach happy; he doesn't want to disappoint him.”

Pretty soon, though, Wall will disappoint a lot of college basketball fans when their choice for him doesn't match his.

That's unavoidable and that day is coming

[mongo]

a raleigh publication talks about how he could end up at unc? inconceivable.

[heelsguy]

a raleigh publication talks about how he could end up at unc? inconceivable.


did you even read it?

the article clarfies misconceptions---one of which is that he is going to UNC-- by reitterating that UNC is not even recruiting him nor even offered a scholarship to him.

and there are 5 NCAA titles within trophy case of schools located closer to the Raleigh News & observer than UNC. That is NOT a UNC mouthpiece pub

[mongo]

yes i read it. i just like to get you going. it's easier than getting taters started. i could practically will it to happen.

[heelsguy]

yes i read it. i just like to get you going. it's easier than getting taters started. i could practically will it to happen.


yeah Mongolid, you REALLY got me going. it will be hard to get to sleep tonight because you skimmed an article instead of reading it.

[heelsguy]

John Wall charged with breaking, entering

(Raleigh) News & Observer
Posted: Monday, May. 04, 2009
http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/04/20/17/808-betterjohnwall600p.embedded.prod_affiliate.138.jpg
l (http://blogs.newsobserver.com/multi/hoops-star-john-wall)




RALEIGH John Wall, one of the country's most prized college basketball prospects, was charged last week with misdemeanor breaking and entering at a southeast Raleigh residence.
Wall, 18, a senior at Raleigh Word of God, was detained about 12:30 p.m. April 27 by a Raleigh police officer responding to a report of a breaking and entering in progress at an unoccupied dwelling at 3924 Laurel Glen Drive, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said in a statement.
The officer saw Wall leaving from the rear door of the residence and detained him without incident, Sughrue said.
A few minutes later, a second teenager, Bria Renea Draughn, 16, was detained while walking on a nearby street. A third, Reginald Leonard Jackson II, 17, was detained when he returned to the Laurel Glen Drive house, Sughrue said.
Each of the three was issued a citation on a misdemeanor charge of breaking and entering, said Wake County chief magistrate Gary Wills.
The citation is similar to one issued for a traffic violation, Wills said. "You can be cited for a misdemeanor breaking and entering," he said. No warrant was executed.
The citation has not been filed yet, but Sughrue said that was not unusual for a misdemeanor case such as this. "It was handled for what it was," he said.
There was no indication of forced entry at the residence and no indication that anything was taken from it, Sughrue said. The house is for sale but is not new construction and was previously occupied, he added.
Wall's recruitment is being followed closely by college basketball fans across the country. The 6-foot-4 point guard still has eight schools on his list, including Duke and N.C. State, and says there is no favorite.
Duke associate sports information director Matt Plizga and N.C. State assistant athletics director for media relations Annabelle Myers said the schools would have no comment on the Wall report. They said NCAA rules prevent school officials from commenting on prospective student-athletes.
Wall has said he is also considering Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Baylor, Miami and Memphis.
Scout.com national recruiting analyst Dave Telep said news of the charges against Wall probably won’t have much of an effect on his recruitment.
Telep said schools aren’t likely to stop recruiting Wall on the basis of these charges.
“I think as long as things stay status quo and nothing else comes of this, I don’t believe it will have much effect if any on his recruitment,” Telep said.
The exception, Telep said, would be a coach who believes he isn’t going to get Wall anyway. Such a coach might use the charges as a convenient excuse to stop recruiting Wall, Telep said.
Schools that have a legitimate interest and shot at Wall will continue recruiting him, Telep said

[Tar Heel]

It seems like they were partying or something in a home that had been forclosed. I guess he was tresspassing, but this is usually the case with teens that get charged with B&E without larceny.

Either way, I know OSU will still take him.

[ADD]

Ruh ro, Rorge

Floyd allegedly paid cash for Mayo

LOS ANGELES -- A former associate of NBA star O.J. Mayo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3450) says that Southern California (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=30) basketball coach Tim Floyd paid a man who helped get Mayo to play for the Trojans, Yahoo! Sports reported on Tuesday.

Louis Johnson, the former associate of Mayo's, told the Web site that Rodney Guillory told him that Floyd had given Guillory "a grand." Johnson said he was able to view $100 bills inside an envelope Guillory had. Last year on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Johnson accused Guillory of providing Mayo with improper benefits while the guard played for USC. Johnson said the payment occurred in 2007. Johnson was not present for the actual exhange, but Guillory reportedly told him that they were meeting Floyd to receive money that they could spend at All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. Johnson saw Guillory meet Floyd outside a cafe and drove around the block. When he picked up Guillory 15 minutes later he was shown the envelope containing money. Yahoo! Sports reported Johnson has told NCAA investigators and federal authorities -- including the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office -- that Floyd paid Guillory. If Floyd did pay Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would be a major NCAA violation. Yahoo! Sports also reported that Southern California is the subject of an NCAA investigation into alleged improprieties in both the football and men's basketball programs. The football probe stems from allegations of 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9588) receiving improper benefits for a sports marketing agent while at USC. Guillory and Floyd declined to comment to Yahoo! about the latest accusations by Johnson. USC general counsel Carol Mauch Amir also declined comment. The NCAA does not comment about ongoing investigations. Johnson had described Guillory as a "runner" who steered Mayo to the Bill Duffy Associates (BDA) sports agency. Johnson said Guillory received between $200,000 and $250,000 from BDA Sports for his efforts, which resulted in Mayo initially signing with BDA when he left USC after one season for the NBA in April 2008. Mayo had switched to agent Leon Rose before he was drafted third overall by Memphis last year and was runner-up for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award to Chicago's Derrick Rose (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3456). Johnson's attorneys, Anthony V. Salerno and David Murphy, confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that Johnson had told FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office investigators on May 28, 2008, about his account of the payment from Floyd to Guillory. Two weeks later, Johnson told the NCAA, according to the attorneys. Salerno told Yahoo! Sports that Johnson's account to federal authorities carried the threat of potential prosecution if Johnson was found to be lying.

[heelsguy]

I thought mayo sent a letter to floyd saying he wanted to play for USC and that was like a gift from God or something. if the above is true, we now know it was bullshit

[johnnychacski]

Let's be honest, half of these high profile recruits get money one way or another.

[mongo]

i friend of a friend of a friend of a friend told me they say the cash too.

[StrangeBrew]

Ku has the chance to win the national championship next year and go undefeated in Big 12 conference play they have everyone returning and Bill put together another great recruiting class with Elijah Johnson, Xavier Henry, and Thomas Robinson i dont see how we couldn't win the Big 12 again.

[johnnychacski]

Source: Top Recruit Wall Commits to Kentucky (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4178271)

Kansas still has the best and deepest team, but if Meeks does indeed come back Kentucky is going to a team that is definitely a threat this year, and maybe even top 5.

[Tar Heel]

Nice. Dook gets snubbed again.

[mongo]

meeks will not come back.

[Penguin Rick]

And this (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4210798) might be why Calipari kept getting those amazing recruiting classes at Memphis.

I hate to say it, but I suspect the player in question might be Derrick Rose.

[johnnychacski]

And this (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4210798) might be why Calipari kept getting those amazing recruiting classes at Memphis.

I hate to say it, but I suspect the player in question might be Derrick Rose.

This doesn't shock me in the least bit.

[mongo]

Meh, they need to change shit in ncaab. These days every team violates. It's just about who gets caught.

[kevin6387]

they need to change it so coaches who leave programs right before the hammer comes down gets punished too. Calipari is looking at having both of his FF at 2 separate schools being vacated. He needs to be punished as well as the schools who hire him.

[ADD]

Due to controversy, Floyd has stepped down at USC

Embroiled in controversy, Southern California coach Tim Floyd resigned on Tuesday, The Clarion Ledger of Jackson, Miss., reported.


The newspaper obtained the contents of a letter that the coach submitted to USC athletic director Mike Garrett.


"Unfortunately, I no longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of Southern Cal," the letter said. "I always promised myself and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor."


Floyd has been accused of giving money to a man who helped O.J. Mayo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3450) land with the Trojans. According to a May 12 Yahoo! Sports report, Louis Johnson -- a former confidante of Mayo -- said that Floyd gave Rodney Guillory, an associate of sports agent Bill Duffy, $1,000. Such a payment would constitute a major violation of NCAA rules.


Mayo played only one season before entering the NBA draft. He currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=mem).


The Hattiesburg, Miss., native led a resurgence of USC basketball, taking the Trojans to the NCAA tournament the past three seasons.

[jemeske]

Shit. He should have gone to Arizona.

[mongo]

he'll be somewhere by next season. i really get the feeling a large portion of him leaving has to do w/ how much fucking talent he lost. all his quality guys left for the nba or graduated, his incoming class isn't all that strong, the program is gonna struggle for a bit now.

scout.com doesn't even have his class in the top 25. ouch.
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&cfg=bb&c=14&yr=2009

[jemeske]

If that's the case, why wouldn't he have gone to Arizona two months ago? I think this has to be because this Mayo situation is about to get worse.

[mongo]

If that's the case, why wouldn't he have gone to Arizona two months ago? I think this has to be because this Mayo situation is about to get worse.

1. wildcats lost a shit ton of talent too.
2. who wants to follow lute? those are some gigantic shoes.
3. ????
4. profit! (and give the cash to mayo)

[jemeske]

Yeah, but there aren't exactly a ton of college openings that are great situations (lots of talent returning).

Plus, Floyd didn't really do that much at USC.

[heelsguy]

link (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/773667.html)


When did “effort'' become a dirty word?
It seemed that way Wednesday, following a Charlotte Bobcats pre-draft workout that included North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough. Coach Larry Brown said anyone with Hansbrough's motor will do well in the NBA.
Thanks, Hansbrough said, but no thanks. He's concerned that label – “hard worker'' – trivializes anything else he offers an NBA team.
“I don't think any team is drafting me to be a practice player,'' Hansbrough said. “My skills get overlooked because people dub me a hard-worker. I've proven myself and expanded my game a lot.
“When people get me in a gym, they're kind of surprised sometimes'' by all he can do.
If Hansbrough sounds a bit defensive, it's understandable. In a sport where players almost always turn pro early, he's the over-exposed, over-scrutinized college senior. Despite winning a national championship and setting the ACC scoring record (2,872 points, 12th in NCAA history), four seasons in Chapel Hill left him open to scouts' deconstruction:
Is he big enough to play power forward? Does he have a jump shot? Can he get to the foul line with anything close to the frequency he did in college?
In terms of height, Hansbrough is comparable to the draft's consensus top player. Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, also a power forward, was a quarter inch taller than Hansbrough (6-8 ½ in stocking feet) and a quarter-inch shorter in wing-span (6-11 ¼).
Hansbrough's situation is similar to that of another former ACC star, Wake Forest's Josh Howard. He also spent four years in college and was seen as a reliably good/nothing great prospect. He lasted to the end of the 2003 first round, going to the Dallas Mavericks.
Howard ended up an All-Star.
“Our league has a tendency to talk about what guys can't do. That's silly – particularly with a kid like him,'' said Bobcats coach Larry Brown.
So what can Hansbrough do at the pro level?
“He gets extra possessions (because) he hustles. Big guys in our league don't like to block out, they don't run on every play. They don't rebound every ball. If you have the mentality to do those things, then you have a chance,'' Brown described.
“He's a much better athlete than most people think and he's obviously been well-coached. And he's used to winning and doing the right things. So he'll be fine.''
The Bobcats' No. 12 pick seems a little high for Hansbrough (typically ranked 18th-26th in this draft), but their backup power-forward spot is unsettled.
“Every day he comes to practice, it's going to elevate our practices,'' Brown said, when asked to project Hansbrough as a Bobcat. “He's going to get better. I don't think he's even gotten close to where he can be, and we all know he'll work.
“We need athleticism and we need size, so I'm sure we'll look at him very carefully.''

barring serious injury, hansbrough will have a 10 yr career in the NBA. that's all anyone this side of kobe/d-wade/howard can ask for.

[jemeske]

That's a pretty simplistic view. There are levels between the career Pscyho T will have and those of Kobe, Wade, and Howard.

I think Hansbrough will have a career something like a better version of Mark Madsen.

[ADD]

Hansbrough, in a situation where there's no pressure and he's with a good set of guys and good organization and as in being the backup for a Chicago, LA, Orlando, San Antonio will be just fine.

[heelsguy]

That's a pretty simplistic view. There are levels between the career Pscyho T will have and those of Kobe, Wade, and Howard.

I think Hansbrough will have a career something like a better version of Mark Madsen.

well madsen has a ring, so if Hansbrough has a better career than that, good for him. I never said he would be an all-star. what I said was he would play 10 years barring injury.

[johnnychacski]

Texas' James withdraws from NBA Draft (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4256335)

Well this will help Texas a lot. Add him with Mason, Pittman and Gary Johnson who return, and add freshman Avery Bradley and Lucas who's transferring from Florida and Texas should have a solid basketball team this year.

[kevin6387]

I'd say Texas has a top 3 squad.

[ADD]

O'Neill will replace Floyd at USC. Not a bad hire me thinks.

Former Marquette and Toronto Raptors basketball coach Kevin O’Neill has been hired at USC, according to an Associated Press report.

The school made the announcement Saturday, less than two weeks after Tim Floyd suddenly resigned amid allegations of improper payments.

[johnnychacski]

Agreed, didn't do to bad of a job at Arizona while he was there, big question is how well can he recruit.

[ADD]

USC recruits itself

[johnnychacski]

Well for his case, I hope your right, because he seems like a great guy.

[ADD]

You're in LA, there's a beach and hot women. If that doesn't sell, you have a problem.

[johnnychacski]

Than why haven't they won as much? I see your point, always hear this side of the argument but USC, with the exception of 2007 have had a hard time making it to to the sweet sixteen, let alone a final four. I just don't think it's as easy to recruit, as it is in football.

[heelsguy]

O'Neill will replace Floyd at USC. Not a bad hire me thinks.


didn't he get in trouble with the NCAA once before?

[Pollo]

USC has a thing for hiring bad professional coaches and it usually works out well, i.e. Carroll and Floyd (before he resigned).

it's not a bad hire, but had they snatched Dixon away from Pitt, I would of loved the Howland/Dixon showdowns given how close of friends they are.

[kevin6387]

Carl Henry gave an interview about how Xavier and CJ henry are both one and done's and how CJ is better than any guard at KU. He also stated something about how Xavier wants to be at Kentucky because Wall and Orton keep calling him telling him to come now that Meeks is gone. Kansas fans flamed him on the internet about it and now Xavier doesn't think he will be welcomed in Lawrence so the family will be meeting with Self tonight.


This kid's recruitment has been nuts.

[jemeske]

A lot of craziness for a couple of one and dones. Is CJ even that good?

[kevin6387]

Xavier is one and done. He has the body/size to have gone pro from high school. He also has a great shot.

CJ was a 3 star recruit coming from high school, got drafted by the yankees, made his moeny and now he wants to play basketball. He hasn't played competitively in years, and he was never as talented as his brother. For his dad to say he's better than an All-American in Sherron Collins is hilarious. He also is competing with Tyshawn Taylor who got on the U19 squad and is projecting to go in the 1st round next year as a sophmore. And he has another 5 star freshman in Elijah Johnson to compete with. His dad is off his rocker for thinking CJ will start. He might be able to get into the rotation, but he won't start, he'll be competeing with Elijah.

[johnnychacski]

Lance Stephenson to Cincinnati. (http://web.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090630&content_id=5614770&oid=2&vkey=21)

[mongo]

that should really help out cinci come NIT time.

[johnnychacski]

that should really help out cinci come NIT time.

Haha, if he's even eligible.