Experience counts
I see a changing landscape in college basketball.
The last two years, the diaper dandies have dominated the sport. They have been so influential in many programs across America. Think about two years ago, when Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. led the Buckeyes of Ohio State to the national championship game. Kevin Durant was Player of the Year as a freshman, leading Texas to the big dance.
Last season, guys like Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love were among the impact diaper dandies. They were also one-and-done. Yes, these guys were special, super, scintillating, sensational.
I have a feeling that this season, we will have more veteran players dominate on the scene. Look at the great ones that have returned for this year, led by Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. Think about guys like Darren Collison of UCLA and Chase Budinger at Arizona who passed on the draft to be BMOC (big men on campus).
That tells you what to expect.
I think it creates a scenario where experienced players will be so vital. Look at the Big East. Notre Dame has its top player back in Luke Harangody. Connecticut has a lineup featuring guys with a couple of years of seasoning now. Louisville has so much veteran talent back. Marquette returns its trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews.
Stephen Curry of Davidson is back and he has so much winning experience after putting on a show at the big dance.
The wealth of experience will be positive. Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington of North Carolina will be favored to cut down the nets at Ford Field come April 2009. A.J. Abrams and Damion James return with great experience for Rick Barnes down in Austin, Texas. I look at a Tyrese Rice at Boston College with so much experience.
Yes, there will be a number of freshmen that will be influencial, guys like Jrue Holiday of UCLA, Tyler Zeller at North Carolina, Samardo Samuels of Louisville and on and on. It won't be like the past two seasons, where Durant and Beasley were among the creme de la creme, baby!
The world of experience will be a big-time factor in determining the stars of the 2008-09 season!
