Roundball Chatter
Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball:
• Clemson fans received a major blow when outside shooting threat Terrence Oglesby decided to give up his final two years of eligibility to play professionally in Europe. Oglesby will negotiate with teams in Spain and Italy. The 6-2 guard averaged over 13 ppg. last season and was expected to provide a great outside threat to go along with the inside presence of Trevor Booker.
• I am glad the NBA draft rules will change next season. This year, players have until mid-June to decide if they want to pull out of the draft. I have said it many times, coaches are being held hostage by the current rule, waiting to see if star players will come back to college or remain in the draft. Next year that deadline is in May, which is more fair for the coaches and schools waiting on crucial decisions.
• The list of college stars competing to make the World University Games squad is impressive. I would love to coach a team that included the likes of Sherron Collins (Kansas); Evan Turner (Ohio State); JaJuan Johnson and Robbie Hummel (Purdue); James Anderson (Oklahoma State); Craig Brackins (Iowa State); Trevor Booker (Clemson); Deon Thompson (North Carolina) and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State). I think I could fare pretty well with that group. Wisconsin's Bo Ryan will have the opportunity to coach some of these kids.
• If you were wondering how Isiah Thomas is opening his career at Florida International, he recently said his first game as coach will be against Ohio State. Isiah Thomas, a star at Indiana, takes on Thad Matta and the Buckeyes!
• Give Lon Kruger a lot of credit for putting together a tough non-conference schedule. Louisville, Kansas State and Nevada all play at Las Vegas. There are potential Diamond Head Classic opponents USC, St. Mary's and College of Charleston and all finished with more than 20 wins a season ago. Add a trip to Arizona and this schedule is certainly competitive.
• Arkansas got some help when guard Jeff Peterson decided to go to Fayetteville. Peterson averaged over 10 ppg. at Iowa last season, ranking third on the Hawkeyes in scoring. He sat out the final seven games of last season with an injury.
• Kansas State received some mixed news recently. Frank Martin's team lost veteran guard Fred Brown, who decided to transfer after averaging over eight ppg. last season. The Wildcats added 6-2 shooting guard Martavious Irving from Florida.
