MVC v. B10

[IlliBraves]

I always thought that high schoolers going right to the NBA gave mid-majors a better chance. Guys like Greg Oden and other top tier high schoolers going straight to the pros narrows the talent gap between so called "power" schools and us. We will get guys with about the same talent level regardless of if players are going pro straight out of high school, but take away a player like Kevin Durant from Texas last year and replace him with a less talented player and mid-major schools have a better chance to win more games.

That's an interesting thought. I see what you're saying as far as going straight out of high school, just not so much if you're staying for a year with regards to closing the talent gap. I figure those guys aren't going to be pro no matter what, and I also think the level of talent at schools such as Bradley and Southern Illinois among others has increased drastically. Also, while the big boys can recruit superstars, mid-majors more often play "team ball" and center themselves around the fundamentals, playing a more traditional style of basketball than what I often see as a hybrid-street ball I often see with these superstars.

[cpacmel]

I disagree. Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara were really solid. IU has some good guards and DJ White but that Syracuse team was more then just Carmelo. I know he was the superstar, but there was a lot more to that team then just Anthony.

If Warrick and McNamara were so good, why didn't they return to even the Elite 8 the year after they won the National Championship? Because Carmelo was the difference between a Sweet 16 team and a National Championship team.

[cpacmel]

It is my belief that a champion is built around a team of good but not great players who develop into great players over their four years.

What would you say about the 2006 and 2007 National Champs in regards to the above?

[TRIMAN]

I've heard recently from major coaches, Coach K as one of them, saying that the NBA's ruling is hurting the college game and he would like to see a rule if a player goes to college they have to stay for two years before they can be considered for the draft.

I'm not sure how this would help the little guy since we never get a one and done but it probably would be good for the college game. This would allow the one and done go to the Pros right out of HS.

I agree that it should be at least 2 years. One year of college doesn't really do much for the kid or the school. You still can end up with "potential" sitting on the end of a bench and a good veteran out of the league.

Syracuse was more than just Melo. He was the difference, but that wasn't a one man show like Durant at Texas last year.

[DoubleJayAlum]

This is an interesting discussion that you guys are having.

I've always considered the one and done to be a bit of a benefit to us smaller schools. For example, for each Gordon, Mayo or Beasley that a big school signs, it fills a scholarship and bumps another 3 or 4 star player (who may actually stay 4 years) that the school would have signed to a different, often smaller school like a Bradley, Creighton, SIU, etc. The net effect is that we get a player we may not have otherwise been able to land and the big school has to fill the hole the next year after the superfrosh jumps to the NBA.

Another potential long term advantage we may have is what Bob Knight talked about last year. If enough of these superfrosh keep leaving for the NBA from the same big schools, it could cause the big schools to ultimately lose scholarships as the graduation rate will fall below the new NCAA thresholds. I don't know how likely this particular potential advantage really is though...

[BUBraves06]

If Warrick and McNamara were so good, why didn't they return to even the Elite 8 the year after they won the National Championship? Because Carmelo was the difference between a Sweet 16 team and a National Championship team.

All I said was that Syracuse's surrounding cast was better then the current IU surrounding cast.

[BradleyBrave]

If Warrick and McNamara were so good, why didn't they return to even the Elite 8 the year after they won the National Championship? Because Carmelo was the difference between a Sweet 16 team and a National Championship team.

Because it's the tournament and good teams with GREAT get beat all the time. Houston had 2 NBA Hall of Famers in Olajuwon and Drexler and couldn't win a title. It doesn't lessen them as players. Heck, MJ couldn't even win another title in college...and I think he's pretty darn good!

[BUBraves06]

Because it's the tournament and good teams with GREAT get beat all the time. Houston had 2 NBA Hall of Famers in Olajuwon and Drexler and couldn't win a title. It doesn't lessen them as players. Heck, MJ couldn't even win another title in college...and I think he's pretty darn good!

That's what I meant to say. And the examples to support the argument go on forever and get added to every year.

[cpacmel]

I was going more on this comment:

It is my belief that a champion is built around a team of good but not great players who develop into great players over their four years.

And I believe there are plenty of arguments that don't support the above. (like the last 2 national champs, which were made up of mostly freshmen and then sophs.)

I would rather it be done your way, but it seems like it happens other ways as well.

[Ruffin=UNREAL]

Indiana's defense looks bad. SIU's is amazing. It should be interesting how this one plays out. I see Shaw as potentially being the toughest match-up for Indiana. Hope Indiana goes down.

[MacabreMob]

This is an interesting discussion that you guys are having.

I've always considered the one and done to be a bit of a benefit to us smaller schools. For example, for each Gordon, Mayo or Beasley that a big school signs, it fills a scholarship and bumps another 3 or 4 star player (who may actually stay 4 years) that the school would have signed to a different, often smaller school like a Bradley, Creighton, SIU, etc. The net effect is that we get a player we may not have otherwise been able to land and the big school has to fill the hole the next year after the superfrosh jumps to the NBA.

Another potential long term advantage we may have is what Bob Knight talked about last year. If enough of these superfrosh keep leaving for the NBA from the same big schools, it could cause the big schools to ultimately lose scholarships as the graduation rate will fall below the new NCAA thresholds. I don't know how likely this particular potential advantage really is though...

Interesting indeed.

So running with your comments about Bobby Knight's comments....

So if a BCS school may put themselves in jeopardy with another 1-n-done player.... maybe that 4/5 star player will get turned down and he will go with his next option which could be a Mid-Major.

So for example... a 4/5 Star recruit has it down to 2 BCS schools and Bradley, and all the sudden the BCS schools are sweating their schollies from a dropping graduation rate... maybe the player re-opens recruitment, but isn't comfortable with the latecomers and decides on Bradley for the 1-n-done. Whalla... Bradley (or another MVC or Mid-Major) lands a 4/5 Star recruit.

[bert notorius]

71-60 P U

[MacabreMob]

1-3

RESULTS:

11/23
Bradley 67-56 vsIowa (SP Island Classic)
IU 70-57 @ ISU

12/1
Indy St 60 Purdue 71
SIU 51 IU 64

UPCOMING MATCHUPS:

12/4
BU vs Michigan St

12/5
UNI vs Iowa

12/14
Drake @ Iowa

12/23
Mo St vs Purdue*

* potential matchup in Las Vegas Classic[/quote]

[MacabreMob]

2-5

RESULTS:

11/23
Bradley 67 Iowa 56 (SP Island Classic)
ISU 57 IU 70

12/1
Indy St 60 Purdue 71
SIU 51 IU 64

12/4
BU 61 Michigan St 66

12/5
UNI 55 Iowa 62

12/14
Drake 56 Iowa 51

UPCOMING MATCHUP:

12/23
Mo St vs Purdue*

* potential matchup in Las Vegas Classic[/quote]

[MacabreMob]

2-6 FINAL

RESULTS:

11/23
Bradley 67 Iowa 56 (SP Island Classic)
ISU 57 IU 70

12/1
Indy St 60 Purdue 71
SIU 51 IU 64

12/4
BU 61 Michigan St 66

12/5
UNI 55 Iowa 62

12/14
Drake 56 Iowa 51

12/23
Mo St 70 Purdue 72 (Las Vegas Classic)