NCAA Basketball Offseason thread

[Guest Desensitized]

This is just another reason why that dumbass age rule in the NBA needs to be gone.

 

People have made millions of dollars off of OJ Mayo in the last few years. Its BS that all this hubbub over him recieving what amounts to a minimum wage job.

I wish we had some sort of system of basketball academies, where these kids just "major in basketball" and can get their endorsement money on the side there, rather than putting these guys through the charade of a four-year university to be exploited by the NCAA. College and minor league sports should have nothing to do with one another.

[Damaramu 0]

I don't think Kansas will get in trouble over the Arthur thing.

 

As for the paying players, it'd be cool if they could be paid as if it was a student job. I mean if some dude can get an internship in college making 15 bucks an hour (which an engineering friend of mine did) then why can't a football/basketball/whatever player get paid 7.50 an hour? Don't give me any of this "we must maintain amateurism" crap, that was out the window long ago. Hell football players have been paid since the sport started.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

I don't think Kansas will get in trouble over the Arthur thing.

 

As for the paying players, it'd be cool if they could be paid as if it was a student job. I mean if some dude can get an internship in college making 15 bucks an hour (which an engineering friend of mine did) then why can't a football/basketball/whatever player get paid 7.50 an hour? Don't give me any of this "we must maintain amateurism" crap, that was out the window long ago. Hell football players have been paid since the sport started.

 

Your engineering friend probably didn't get a free-ride to college. The free ride doesnt really mean much to the Reggie Bush/Michael Beasley/etcetera type athletes, but I'd say it's fair compensation for most. I just don't think you'll ever be able to pay athletes - where does it stop? Do swimmers get paid? Shotputters? Field hockey players? Is $10 an hour going to dissuade anyone from taking $500 in an envelope from a booster? $10,000 from an agent?

[Damaramu 0]

Yes I suppose that is the big problem. Even if you pay them they're still going to accept gifts and money.

[Bored 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3479195

 

Arizona signee Brandon Jennings has decided to make an unprecedented move to forgo playing in college and instead pursue a professional career in Europe next season before likely entering the 2009 NBA draft, Jenning's attorney, Jeff Valle, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night.

And the major flaw (well one of them at least) in forcing these guys to wait a year before entering the NBA is exposed. Also can Arizona's program become anymore of a mess?

[MFer 0]

I think it'd be even more interesting if it was a player without all the academic problems that Jennings had.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

There was an article in the New York Times about Jennings a few weeks ago, and some follow-up all around the internets. I remember the idea being bandied about for Derrick Rose as well, I think.

 

The question is: is Jennings good enough to actually get playing time on a Euro team? I agree that this exposes a huge flaw in the age limit (which is stupid anyway, except for purposes of making college basketball more marketable), but what are the options for an 18-year-old American going to Europe who isn't a clear LeBron/Dwight Howard type? Playing the role of Pat Burke on a quality Euroleague team? Getting some minutes in one of the smaller leagues? I don't see a Euro team really making that big a commitment to a prospect who clearly doesn't want to stick around longer than the NBA age limit requires of him. I guess you could do worse than spending a year in Europe at least practicing with pros and making a small amount of cash vs. a semester of college ball.

[bob_barron 0]

Doneal Mack transferred from Memphis to the University of New Orleans.

 

Apparently, now he's transferring back

[bob_barron 0]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NpKszHoPTR8

 

This made me laugh a lot

[Mik 0]

UNC going undefeated this year... somewhat likely or very likely?

 

Roy thought everyone was leaving and brought in 3 very talented freshmen and then EVERYONE came back except Quentin Thomas (who sucks anyway)... the talent is off the charts.

[Mik 0]

Ok, Tyler Hansbrough has suffered an injury which they are calling a "stress" to his leg which sounds like the beginning of a stress fracture and he's going to need to sit out for a bit.

 

Trying not to panic here.

 

It's not that I don't doubt that we can cruise through our season this year without him but I have aspirations of an NCAA title, undefeated season and two thrashings of a rejuvenated top-10 ranked Duke. Damn it.

[AboveAverage484 0]

Ok, Tyler Hansbrough has suffered an injury which they are calling a "stress" to his leg which sounds like the beginning of a stress fracture and he's going to need to sit out for a bit.

 

Trying not to panic here.

 

It's not that I don't doubt that we can cruise through our season this year without him but I have aspirations of an NCAA title, undefeated season and two thrashings of a rejuvenated top-10 ranked Duke. Damn it.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it, they always like to take these types of things and blow them up out of proportion. Hansbrough's father is a surgeon and claims that Tyler should be fine by the start of the season, if not soon after.

[bob_barron 0]

http://blog.peta.org/archives/pierre_henderson_niles.pdf

[CanadianChris 0]

I was unaware that John Salley was an NBA legend.