By Paul Gotham
Quick – what do Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain have in common? Yeah, yeah, yeah basketball, I know. Guess I had that one coming. If you also said those three all played on teams that won an NBA championship, you would again be right. They are also all enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Beyond that none of them played basketball their freshmen year of college – that is they didn’t play on their individual school’s ‘varsity’ team.
Up until 1972 freshmen were not eligible to play varsity basketball. It was deemed that youngsters needed a year to acclimate to college life, and they played competitive basketball on a freshman team with a much less demanding schedule. Some of us might not want to admit to readily knowing this fact as it may give a clue to our advancing years.
Okay – what do Darryl Dawkins, Moses Malone, and Bill Willoughby have in common? Yeah – basketball again. You’re really funny. Actually these guys were the first group to skip college and declare eligibility for the NBA draft. Malone led a successful career; he too has a place in Springfield. Dawkins – or ‘Chocolate Thunder’ played parts of 14 seasons – including two years as a starter. Willoughby, on the other hand, became the example used to warn youngsters against such a rash decision.
After a five year career a broken Willoughby ended up living back at home with his parents.
How about Isaiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan? I know, I know – basketball (Is there a statute of limitations on this joke?). These hall-of–famers left school early to enter the NBA – Thomas and Johnson as sophomores and Jordan after his junior year.
And Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant? These guys were the second generation who made the jump from high school to the NBA? Obviously they have all fared better than Willoughby.
I’m not done yet – DaJuan Wagner, William Avery, and Khalid El-Amin? These guys left school early, but have fallen into the basketball abyss. All three now earn pay checks from teams overseas.
Anyone heard of Korleone Young, Ellis Richardson, and Leon Smith? They tried to make the jump from high school to the NBA. Judging by your lack of response – without much success.
Of course there’s Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and Michael Conley – the first class to sojourn on a college campus one year before becoming eligible for the NBA draft.
In just a few short decades we have gone from youngsters benefitting from the wisdom and counsel of college coaches, to an era where college coaches must market themselves and their institutions to attract prized recruits. Part of this marketing includes letting the individual display his talents whether it is for the common good or not. For some the game has become less about post entry passes and more about alley oops.
Many young athletes have abandoned the lessons to be learned from the structure provided by a college coach.
Amid this back drop of 21st century American hoops are hall-of-fame coaches, Jim Calhoun and Mike Krzyzewski.
While coaches from all sports look for greener grass, Calhoun and Coach K have thrown down some roots.
Armed with a combined five national titles and twelve final four appearances Calhoun and Coach K forge ahead into this new frontier of American basketball.
Calhoun’s Huskies most recently climbed the NCAA summit in 2004, Kryzyzewski’s Blue Devils in 2001. Recently the two have found it difficult to survive the first weekend of tournament play.
From 1986 to 1994 seven of Krzyzewski’s Blue Devil squads made it to the final four – winning the title in ’91 and ’92. Many likened this run to John Wooden’s teams at UCLA that won ten titles in twelve years during the 60’s and 70’s. Analysts pointed to a larger tournament field and an increased level of competition for recruits as reason why no school could duplicate that of the Wooden’s Bruins.
Now Calhoun and Krzyzewski’s squads seem like nothing more than mid-major bulls eye fodder.
Earlier this season Calhoun suspended Jerome Dyson for nine games and Doug Wiggins two games for violating team rules. While other schools might penalize players by taking away starting privileges and sitting an athlete for a half, Calhoun sent home a message to his players: If you plan on playing at UConn you will appropriately represent this school.
Calhoun was quoted: ‘We feel that life doesn’t begin and end on the court. It’s how we show ourselves as a basketball program. Academics are very important here, and we’ve had some disappointments. Social behavior is very important here.”
The Husky coach might as well have sent himself into recruiting exile. All those recruits looking for a stepping stone into the NBA – they just crossed UConn from their list.
Maybe that’s how Calhoun wants it.
Same for Krzyzewski. Prior to 1999 early exits were something that happened at other schools – not at Duke. Then Elton Brand left – rightly so. The previously mentioned Avery hastily bolted. Corey Maggette left under a cloud of suspicion.
For the denizens of Cameron the exodus signaled the end of an era.
Since then others have left Duke early, and it appears that Coach K has tempered his recruiting efforts.
It looks like the Duke staff is willing to overlook recruits with supreme athletic gifts and hone in on kids looking to learn the game of basketball.
Is it possible that the Duke coach has decided to focus on kids more inclined to staying four years and becoming members of the Duke program than kids auditioning for the NBA?
The irony of this situation is that Calhoun has more players in the NBA than any other university. Duke is tied with UNC for second.
Let the other coaches run the rat-race of signing blue chip recruits who only need a stage for one year. Calhoun and Krzyzewski have more important things to worry about in this brave new world – like monitoring study hall, teaching the screen and roll, demonstrating a post entry pass, and showing kids the possibilities created by a college degree.
Before you go – what do Michael Beasley, OJ Mayo, and Kevin Love have in common? Yeah you guessed it – the next class to spend less than a year on campus before moving on into the brave new world.
Do you really think Kevin Love will leave after this season? I think he might if they win the title, but otherwise I see him staying another year. In the NBA, I see him as a better version of Elton Brand.
Heard that Tom Creen of Marquette will leave to take the Indiana job. The Hoosiers will be back to elite status within 3 years!!!
Part of me wishes Brey would take the IU job so that Creen comes to Notre Dame. Why, why, why, why isn’t ND better than what they’ve shown? Why, why, why, why …. are they not at least as good as Xavier, as Marquette, as Georgetown, as Wisconsin, as Butler? Please enlighten me, Hoops Doctor.
Wally
Hoops Doctor – wow! I like it. That is if you are serious.
Whoever takes the IU job better read Old Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard first. Two more starters -Bassett & Ellis were removed from the team today. With Purdue on the upswing could it be possible that Indiana might struggle to recruit? Nah!!!!!!
Do I think Love will leave? It has been rumored. Do I think he is ready? Hmmmm…I don’t think he could have cut it in the 80’s NBA. That’s not saying the league is weaker, but it just seems more accepting of these kids. By the way – did you see Love jacking full-court shots during warm ups? Move over LeBron. I think of Brand as more of a back-to-the-basket type player. Love does a lot of stuff on the perimeter and is a monster on the boards – just ask the Lopez sisters…errr….brothers.
I am partial to Brey – after all he was part of the Duke coaching staff when they had a great run. I like ND next year with Harangody, McAlarney, Kurz, Jackson, and Ayers all returning. They ran into a buzz saw in Washington State. The Cougars did hold the Heels to their second lowest point total of the season – and that total would have been lower if the Cougars could have shot better than 20%(not exactly sure of that stat but it sure did seem that way) in the first half. Down double digits at half the Cougars had to shoot earlier in the shot clock than they wanted to.
That being said – I like Villanova, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh also. The Big East can be brutal which brings up the question for me – How did they get crushed by the A10 earlier this year.
You and I both know that Brey can’t just win in South Bend. He has to win with the disadvantage of academic requirements. Correct me if I am wrong – ND has only been to one final four. That is not a cut. Just reality. I know you are going to say that Duke has those same requirements. Yeah – somehow Duke being a basketball school has something to do with this. In comparison ND football and hoops does better than the same combination in Durham. Brey is one more recruiting class away from peaking into the top 10.
Casey
aka The Hoops Doctor – someone pinch me 🙂
Casey — I was serious in annointing you the “Hoops Doc”. I think your college hoops acumen is top shelf … certainly the best among this group and pretty good compared to the talking heads we see on ESPN, etc. You have my utmost respect!
Back to ND … recruiting is indeed one of their challenges. If he’s gonna land another really good class … great. They do have the horses coming back next season to be really good. BUT, I still have my doubts they’ll get to Elite 8 or better … the main reason is that Brey’s players aren’t scrappy and tough enough! Too much finesse … too easy to knock them off their game physically and mentally. We saw it at the end of the season … play real in-your-face man-to-man defense against ND and they fold like a cheap umbrella. Marquette did it to them and so did Wash State. Just don’t think Brey’s demeanor translates into the toughness you need to get to the Final 4.
And you’re right … ND has been to only one Final 4 (’78 with Digger and 5 NBAers — Tripucka, Laimbeer, Woolridge, Jackson, Hanzlick, et al). Kentucky beat Duke (sorry) in the Final game that year … Jack Givens poured in 44 that night … the night I became a big fan of the Bluegrass State. Duke would later get their revenge with the Laettner Miracle ….
Wally
Wally,
Thank you for the compliments – not to be picky but I think Givens scored 41. Especially impressive considering that game pre-dated the three point arc. I distinctly remember my old man cussin’ up a storm that night.
I know what you are saying about Brey’s kids lacking a killer instinct – they do resemble altar boys – which is good if they are dating one’s daughter, but not so good when needing to make up points. Kinda like the Duke kids this year – and Butler – and friggin’ Clemson when it came down to it. I might be giving Brey too much of the benefit of the doubt.
Do you know who he has coming in next year?
Casey
Probably 2 more slender 6’6″ white guys with short haircuts from the Chicago Catholic league who can shoot treys. Like we need more of those …
No, I don’t really know who he’s got. I think I remember a story came out in January about him landing someone decent. And seriously, I think he was from Chicago area. Sorry … no details.
Wally
I can look that up and it makes for a conversation, but most of these kids you never know until they get on campus, and then when they finally see competition.
You mentioned Love and the outlet passes in the POTW discussion – man those were great ….err…yeah they created an ughhhh sound from me. What a weapon. The Musketeers started sending more guys to the glass and Love made them pay for it. Of course it’s nice when ya got Collison at the other end of those passes. I don’t know if that kid is quick-fast or fast-quick. I just know that he gets from point A to point B before 99% of the human race.
Casey
I read somewhere that Collison’ parents are former track stars. The article was on how they actually wanted him to star in track but he went with basketball instead. Both parents were Olympic track runners for Guyana,
One thing I know about track and sprinting, it is about the first step – getting out of the gate. Certainly helps in basketball if you are the first or the quickest to react.
Collison’s jumper is a bit quirky … although it seems to go in with regularity … and he’s defintely one of the quickest to come around in awhile. Great point guard! Tell his parents the NBA pays a lot better than track sponsors.
On a related note … have ya seen what Rajon Rondo is doing for the Celtics???? Talk about a guy with raw skills maturing at a rapid pace.
Wally
Wally,
I should wait for Reynell to come in and comment about Rondo. That kid is enjoyable to watch. He certainly took it to heart when earlier this year people pointed to Boston’s PG as their achilles. Did you see his move in the post last weekend? I say in the post only because that is where it happened, but the move really occurred in transition.
Yes … I saw that move … the one where he literally broke someone’s ankles with some dribbling misdirection on the way to the hoop. I heard that his hands are absolutely huge, which really helps with the dribble moves. He’s pretty good on the boards, too. Future star … we’ll see him do his stuff in the playoffs … Boston will be tough, especially if he keeps playing like this!
Wally, I think you were talking about the move he put on Steve Nash. Not that Nash can guard his shadow, but he almost broke Nash’s ankles with the move he put on them.
What I find amazing about the Celtics is that they have the best defensive team in the NBA. Sure offense can win games, but come playoff time – defense wins games. Just ask Tracy McGrady about the C’s defense. He is still have nightmares.
I am not sure who got who to buy into playing defense – I gotta believe it is Garnett. But Pierce and Allen are playing defense like their lives depended on it.
Which leads me to the conversation of MVP in the NBA? It is too bad that we are so locked into numbers, because Kevin Garnett deserves alot more consideration for MVP. His presence on the Celtics has changed the franchise. They are in pursuit of their 60th victory of the season. Last year they were looking for their 24th about now. Ray Allen was going to be a nice addition. Kevin Garnett is the difference.
Agreed that Garnett is the difference.
The move I’m talking about happened Saturday when Rondo had his back to the basket and did a spin move. The matador on the play tried to protest that Rondo used his arm as a hook.
How about the first piece of business is to announce that Kevin O’Neill wasn’t coming back next year. I am trying to understand the thought process behind this move – especially since the University had tabbed O’Neill as being Olson’s sucessor.
Kevin O’Neill certainly put on the best face he could. After filling in for Olson this year and getting them to the tournament, he was a good soldier and was ready to go back to being the assistant coach. Not too be.
Is this Olson’s way of telling everyone this is my team for the foreseeable future? If that is the case, how does the University plan for the future? Olson is no spring chicken so it is only right for the University to have a plan in place.
That is supposed to be Lute Olson’s first piece of business.
wow – that was kinda abrupt. ok – let me get my bearings – we’re talking about Arizona and the coaching soap opera.
Casey, you gotta stay with me tonight. I am all over the place.
Yeah – ok.
Maybe Chris Paul of the Hornets is the MVP this year? Where would they be without him???? Nowhere near the playoffs … that’s where.
Without Garnett, the Celts are still in the Top 4 in the NBA Least. I admit he’s having a great year though.
Anyway, the whole NBA MVP thing really sucks. It’s really more like a career appreciation or lifetime achievement award. People who deserve it don’t get it when they actually earn it; they have to play 2-3 legit MVP-type seasons before they’re even considered (Kobe).
I’ll tell ya who shouldn’t get the MVP until his TEAM actually does something: LeBron! I don’t give a shit what his scoring average is … I have never seen him make the really big shot in a really big game … usually, he clanks it. On the other hand, did MJ EVER miss a big shot????? I honestly can’t remember him failing in a big game.
Wally
oh my goodness – please check espn.com right now. A classic Oscar Gamble hair sighting. Oh I love it.
Chris Paul is friggin’ sweet. He does have a nice supporting cast (ooh I don’t like using that term): Tyson Chandler, David West, Peja Stojakovic. Maybe not on the same par with Pierce, Allen, Rondo, and Big Baby but…..
Back to LeBron – I love his escapades, but here’s my question: Is LeBron a great athlete who plays basketball? Or is he a great basketball player who is supremely athletic?
There is a point here: Basketball is getting a little out of balance. Once was a time when the top players in the NBA and College hoops were great basketball players first – guys like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Walton, Dr. J, Jack Sikma, Dennis Johnson, MJ (greatest competitor ever?). Now hoops is becoming more about great individual feats on the court. That does not make for great hoops.
So is LeBron an athlete? Or a basketball player?
Well … I’ll say he’s both. But as far as “basketball player” goes, he’s got to do better at making his teammates better and hence create better TEAM performance. That’s the key to “great players” … do their teams make great playoff runs and win chan’ships now and then? Are their teams consistently in the hunt? IMO, the “greatest players” make their respective teams great … or at least consistently “very good”. I suppose we can allow for the great player who’s gonna play for a crappy organization for most of their career … but I don’t think that’s the situation with the Cavs. It’s probably too early to put labels on LeBron, but he’s not the MVP … yet.
Wally
Agreed!
If you haven’t already, check this out – great old pictures
https://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/080402&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1
Wally,
I am not sure I would say that the Celtics would have been a Top 4 team in the NBA with Kevin Garnett. I think this team has taken on his persona. I think Pierce and Allen have bought into the idea of playing defense because of his influence.
What stands out for me is the fact that the Celtics have just completed the greatest turnaround in terms of record in a season in the history of the NBA.. Ugghh, I sound like Bill Walton. But this team wouldn’t be where they are without the Kevin Garnett. To me if Chris Paul isn’t the NBA, it has to be Kevin Garnett
MVP that is