Talk about a big hit! It's like the 09 season aftermath all over again. Marshall, Henson, and Barnes all leaving for the NBA draft (along with Zellar-senior). And there's a good chance Freshman Mcadoo is gone too! Take the 5 best players off the team in one year and that spells trouble. Holy crap that's a LOT of holes to fill that probably can't be filled in the near future. I guess it's part of the animal you create, but damn that's a HUGE loss to the program. ok... start inserting UNC jabs now.....
That's why they have to recruit about 3 years ahead of time.... which is illegal. BUT, it's getting that bad. This one and done mentality has definetly changed college ball. It's also given the little guys a chance at thinking they're good. LOL It's all screwed up.
Recruiting 3 years ahead of time is not illegal. That said, UNC will be awful next year most likely. They are FAR too late in the game for the remaining studs to make up recruiting ground IMO. That is unless someone on Kentucky or Syracuse or remaining schools still in the running surprises everyone and remains in school. Kentucky will almost certainly lose their top 6 and 8th best players (2 graduating, 6 total to the NBA). That leaves our 7th best player as the only one to crack the rotation remaining next year. That said, they already have the second best class and are leading for the 1, 2, and 7 recruit in the nation still. Rolling the dice with rosters like these is a risky game, although it can prove very fruitful (look at UK the past 3 years and UNC this year if not for several injuries). UNC has been burned twice (although the 09 aftermath can EASILY be stomached with a championship to show for it). If UNC doesn't pull off some miracles (like Alex Oriahki transfer from UCONN) they will be NIT bound again.
I agree. I smell NIT heading their way. Just not possible to replace 80% of your starting lineup. I think this current team would've at least got to the championship game against UK. And I'm not really sure any of the under classmen are even ready for the NBA. Henson will get pushed around, he's a head case and injury prone. Marshall just hit his stride the last 5 games of the regular season. Yes he dishes the ball very well, but another year in college to polish his skills wouldn't have hurt. Barnes is probably the most talented of the 3 but something is missing with that dude. He just disappears during stretches of games. he doesn't have the it factor. But of the 3 I could see Barnes going... maybe. Marshal and Henson .... not ready IMO.
Doesn't matter. You go when your stock is good. The longer you stay, some times the further you drop. Barnes is a perfect example of that. He stock was at its highest as HS senior, and has dropped every year since. I think he could definitely benefit from another year or two in school, but the draft doesn't like "old" guys.
It's crazy how times turn. Last year Barnes was heralded for his big shot making ability and, after a couple of poor games in the ACC/NCAA tournament people here in RTP and all over are riding him like he's UNC's biggest disappointment ever. He is what he is and he's going to be a good pro, he just went through a rough stretch at the wrong time. Marshall and Henson's draft stock can't get any higher. Marshall proved through out the end of the season that he can make shots and, coming back another year only opens up critics who will look at his speed, lateral movement and defensive liability as opposed to right now where people are riding high on his ability to run the team and set up teammates. The fact that UNC looked terrible without him only furthers the opinions of those who say he made that team! Henson, in a similar situation, added an offensive game this year and was comfortable with and allowed to shoot 15-footers which, given his limitations his freshmen year, show how he is willing to work on his game. Barnes may have dropped 2-3 spots over the past 3 weeks but, coming back next year with a very young team wasn't going to help him at all. He showed his deficiencies in games where he had to handle and create his own shot and that would likely be the case all next year.
I am a UNC fan...always have been and always will be. The days of having a really good player stay for 4 years is over. I think is is a shame. Big colleges are just an express lane to the NBA...UK is the best example...Granted they may win it all this year but that is not how it should be. The last 3 years I believe they have had the top recruiting class. 90 % of their recruits are one and done. I definitely do not blame the kids for going pro..That is why they pursued that sport. Then there is the $$$. However they did receive a full ride scholarship that some other person might could have gotten that would have stayed all 4 years. Yes, I know the coaches have a big part in who they recruit. They know these things will happen...It just a shame. again I am a UNC fan for life and I hate Duke but I have always respected Coach K for his ability to take average/ good players and make a great team out of them due to the fact they were lead by Seniors. Hes has only had 4 kids in over thirty seasons to leave early for the NBA including the last two years... but yet they have won 5 national titles. I would much rather have a good team with Senior leadership in a big game than team full of superstar freshmen...Just my opinion.... UNC has some good ones coming in but it is just going to be a tuff year next year....
Why do you mean by "not how it should be"? If they win, they win. Shouldn't matter what class the guys playing for the team are, should it? 90% is absurd, so I'll assume you just threw out a high number for fun. Calipari certainly has his fair share of one and dones. Big part of it is the top talent he recruits. The univeristy will make a TON more money than it will to pay an athlete's way for 2 semesters of school. Athletic scholarships are all about making the universtity money. Thats it. If the athlete chooses to take advantage of it and get a degree, good for him/her. But it is an ATHLETIC scholarship. They are brought there to play a sport, and that is what they do. Stop playing and no scholarship.
Scholarships are on a yearly basis. And the sooner we realize these guys go to school for basketball the same way I'm in school for pharmacy, the sooner we can get past this silly stigmatism that's it's bad to leave school for a guaranteed better life for your low income family. These kids have to capitalize on hype/draft stock to maximize their contract. Staying has hurt players like sullinger and barnes but helped others like doron lamb. It's a thin line. People act as if when drafted you are done growing as a player. You can still improve your game, more so since it is now your job vs living in a dorm going to class. You can always go back for a degree to feel better about yourself, there is a chance you can not go back for that nba contract.
LOL No, no its not. They can't take official visits until later in high school, but they can be recruited whenever. Does no one remember the story about the idiot Billy Gillispie offering a scholly to the 8th grader out in California during his tenure at UK? You can't make stuff like that up!
