College Basketball 2007-2008

[Guest]

You guys actually consider the Jarret thing an issue? He paid $500 dollars in rent for a bedroom in a place where many other USC students lived while Matt Leinart's dad covered the rest. BFD. He made up the difference to charity.

 

As for Mayo...well I can't say I'm shocked. I'm just wondering what the NCAA missed when they investigated Mayo prior to his enrollment or what the NCAA, Pac-10, and USC missed when they investigated Mayo after he received some Lakers tickets from Carmelo Anthony.

 

I really do think you guys are looking at this through the same lens as booster activity at the past. Ostensibly, these agents in the Bush/Mayo situation (the Bush situation should have zero bearing on how the basketball program is punished, as I believe they will be), are giving benefits to players to get them to LEAVE school. That's an entirely different beast than a booster (boosters were not involved in either case, another misconception) paying players to ATTEND USC. If anything these guys view universities as inconvenient middlemen and would rather have commission-paying, professional clients.

 

Lack of institutional control. Don't tell me compliance, or Pink Floyd or Pom Pom didn't know.

[SpongeWorthy]

You guys actually consider the Jarret thing an issue? He paid $500 dollars in rent for a bedroom in a place where many other USC students lived while Matt Leinart's dad covered the rest. BFD. He made up the difference to charity.

 

As for Mayo...well I can't say I'm shocked. I'm just wondering what the NCAA missed when they investigated Mayo prior to his enrollment or what the NCAA, Pac-10, and USC missed when they investigated Mayo after he received some Lakers tickets from Carmelo Anthony.

 

I really do think you guys are looking at this through the same lens as booster activity at the past. Ostensibly, these agents in the Bush/Mayo situation (the Bush situation should have zero bearing on how the basketball program is punished, as I believe they will be), are giving benefits to players to get them to LEAVE school. That's an entirely different beast than a booster (boosters were not involved in either case, another misconception) paying players to ATTEND USC. If anything these guys view universities as inconvenient middlemen and would rather have commission-paying, professional clients.

 

Lack of institutional control. Don't tell me compliance, or Pink Floyd or Pom Pom didn't know.

 

Don't tell me you have any reason to be so certain in your own absolutist claims that compliance, Floyd, or Carroll MUST HAVE known other than your own bias.

 

And I'm not even saying they didn't know...but "because I say so" hardly constitutes grounds for certainty.

 

But that game is so easy to play. Dan Guerrero and Radio MUST HAVE KNOWN that Eric Scott was a common burglar. DON'T YOU TELL ME THEY DIDN'T!

 

See how easy that is?

[CuseCubFan69]

I thought they had laws about this where an agent would lose his eligibility if he were caught guilty in this? This one and out thing is a joke.

[Guest]

Lack of institutional control. Don't tell me compliance, or Pink Floyd or Pom Pom didn't know.

 

Don't tell me you have any reason to be so certain in your own absolutist claims that compliance, Floyd, or Carroll MUST HAVE known other than your own bias.

 

You're telling me Carroll and/or USC staff really didn't know about Reggie? Reggie Bush's family suddenly moves from modest means in East San Diego to a much more lavish home in Spring Valley and USC doesn't pick up on it? All of a sudden, the family is at his road games when in the past they couldn't afford to? Midway through his time in college, Bush suddenly starts driving around campus in a modified Chevy Impala. And then he and his car end up on the cover of DUB magazine while still at USC. That seems like the type of stuff a competent complaince system could easily pick up on.

 

Heck, that Yahoo Sports story that broke the Reggie Bush story alleged USC running back coach Todd MacNair knew:

 

Yahoo Sports[/url]"]Also, McNair allegedly knew of Bush's involvement with the New Era venture before last season's national championship game against Texas, according to two sources. And at one point during the 2005 season, sources say Bush thought that Carroll knew about his parents' living arrangement and feared he was going to conduct his own investigation. Bush called Michaels, instructing that if Carroll called regarding the house to "tell him that you're a longtime family friend." Carroll never called Michaels.

 

I believe the story goes that OJ Mayo wasn't well off so rather than giving Tim Floyd his cell phone number, he'd call Floyd to start the recruiting process. How does a poor boy from West Virginia end up with a flat screen TV in his dorm, $1000s in clothes, shoes and whatnot? Seems like the type of thing school and team authorities could easily pick up on...I mean, it was right there in his dorm.

 

And I'm not even saying they didn't know...but "because I say so" hardly constitutes grounds for certainty.

 

None of what I said is slam dunk proof but a lot of the stuff Bush and Mayo had or did seems rather blatant and obvious. The type of stuff that would be easy for fellow teammates, coaches and compliance to pick up on.

 

But that game is so easy to play. Dan Guerrero and Radio MUST HAVE KNOWN that Eric Scott was a common burglar. DON'T YOU TELL ME THEY DIDN'T!

 

See how easy that is?

 

I'm pretty sure Karl Dorrell knew about Scott's history, his story didn't jive (but I have an unhealthy dislike for Dorrell). I'm not sure if Dan Guerrero knew but I do find it hard to believe that one of the better compliance departments in NCAA sports missed out on that (Guerrero does seem to play by the rules and he wants a job down the road in the higher levels of the NCAA so he has to).

 

Glad to have a USC fan around finally. :D

[Guest]

LSU lets J'Mison Morgan out of his NLI. Step one down:

 

Sources told FOXSports.com that new LSU coach Trent Johnson plans to honor signee J'Mison Morgan's request and will release the senior big man from his letter-of-intent on Tuesday afternoon, effectively paving the way for Morgan to land at UCLA.

The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Morgan signed with former LSU coach John Brady and appeared to stick with his decision even after Trent Johnson was announced as the Tigers new coach on April 10. However, the family had a change of heart last week and asked for his release.

 

According to sources, Morgan has made no secret of his desire to play at UCLA.

 

Morgan, a Dallas native, is ranked the No. 29 player in the country by Scout.com and would fill a major need for UCLA. Bruins freshman big man Kevin Love declared and Ben Howland doesn't have a legitimate low-post presence.

[illiniguy]

LSU lets J'Mison Morgan out of his NLI. Step one down:

 

Sources told FOXSports.com that new LSU coach Trent Johnson plans to honor signee J'Mison Morgan's request and will release the senior big man from his letter-of-intent on Tuesday afternoon, effectively paving the way for Morgan to land at UCLA.

The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Morgan signed with former LSU coach John Brady and appeared to stick with his decision even after Trent Johnson was announced as the Tigers new coach on April 10. However, the family had a change of heart last week and asked for his release.

 

According to sources, Morgan has made no secret of his desire to play at UCLA.

 

Morgan, a Dallas native, is ranked the No. 29 player in the country by Scout.com and would fill a major need for UCLA. Bruins freshman big man Kevin Love declared and Ben Howland doesn't have a legitimate low-post presence.

Same high school as Darrel Arthur? I think I would check those grades were I UCLA.

[Guest]

Indeed, I'm sure Coach Howland will look at that. To be fair, J'Mison Morgan had a 3.8 GPA so even if his grades are faked, I'd hope he qualifies! And he's not yet a Bruin...

 

What's the word on Alex Stepheson, MPrior22? I've been hearing since the winter that he wanted to transfer close to home (he's from the Valley) and UCLA would be his first choice. Wonder how Morgan would affect the situation now that he has transferred.

[CubinNY]

You guys actually consider the Jarret thing an issue? He paid $500 dollars in rent for a bedroom in a place where many other USC students lived while Matt Leinart's dad covered the rest. BFD. He made up the difference to charity.

 

As for Mayo...well I can't say I'm shocked. I'm just wondering what the NCAA missed when they investigated Mayo prior to his enrollment or what the NCAA, Pac-10, and USC missed when they investigated Mayo after he received some Lakers tickets from Carmelo Anthony.

 

I really do think you guys are looking at this through the same lens as booster activity at the past. Ostensibly, these agents in the Bush/Mayo situation (the Bush situation should have zero bearing on how the basketball program is punished, as I believe they will be), are giving benefits to players to get them to LEAVE school. That's an entirely different beast than a booster (boosters were not involved in either case, another misconception) paying players to ATTEND USC. If anything these guys view universities as inconvenient middlemen and would rather have commission-paying, professional clients.

 

Lack of institutional control. Don't tell me compliance, or Pink Floyd or Pom Pom didn't know.

 

Don't tell me you have any reason to be so certain in your own absolutist claims that compliance, Floyd, or Carroll MUST HAVE known other than your own bias.

 

And I'm not even saying they didn't know...but "because I say so" hardly constitutes grounds for certainty.

 

But that game is so easy to play. Dan Guerrero and Radio MUST HAVE KNOWN that Eric Scott was a common burglar. DON'T YOU TELL ME THEY DIDN'T!

 

See how easy that is?

I don't really care, but when Mayo shows up to campus driving a Lexus alarm bells should be going off all over Troy. The kid comes from a single parent home where his mom makes @ $23,000/year.

 

IMO, the entire problem is related to the stupid one year rule. Lot's of bright kids get jobs right out of highschool and choose not to go to college. The problem is the NCAA and their hold politics.

 

However, that doesn't excuse any program from feigning ignorance.

[Guest]

Don't just blame the NCAA for the 1-year rule, the NBA plays a big part in it too. Not sure all the blame should go there though since this was a problem before the 1-year rule and it's clearly a problem in football where the rules of when to turn pro have been set for some time.

 

Man, the Arizona program has gone to hell in a hurry...all the assistant coaches were let go or left (including Miles Simon who was unceremoniously fired and their best recruiter in Pastner). Nick Wise is likely to transfer and now Emanuel Negedu wants out of his NLI and Lute won't grant it.

[illiniguy]

Indeed, I'm sure Coach Howland will look at that. To be fair, J'Mison Morgan had a 3.8 GPA so even if his grades are faked, I'd hope he qualifies! And he's not yet a Bruin...

 

What's the word on Alex Stepheson, MPrior22? I've been hearing since the winter that he wanted to transfer close to home (he's from the Valley) and UCLA would be his first choice. Wonder how Morgan would affect the situation now that he has transferred.

Raisin I have heard thta this is much like the Tyler Smith situation and that he will be able to play for you guys next year. Supposedly you are the school he is going to choose.

[Flames24Rulz]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/2008/05/freeman_to_siu.html#more

 

yes yes yes yes yes

[SouthSideRyan]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/2008/05/freeman_to_siu.html#more

 

yes yes yes yes yes

 

That's a great get for SIU and the MVC.

[Guest]

Indeed, I'm sure Coach Howland will look at that. To be fair, J'Mison Morgan had a 3.8 GPA so even if his grades are faked, I'd hope he qualifies! And he's not yet a Bruin...

 

What's the word on Alex Stepheson, MPrior22? I've been hearing since the winter that he wanted to transfer close to home (he's from the Valley) and UCLA would be his first choice. Wonder how Morgan would affect the situation now that he has transferred.

Raisin I have heard thta this is much like the Tyler Smith situation and that he will be able to play for you guys next year. Supposedly you are the school he is going to choose.

 

Thankfully it sounds like his father's illness is not life threatening a la Tyler Smith so we'll see if the waiver works.

[hawkeyecub]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/2008/05/freeman_to_siu.html#more

 

yes yes yes yes yes

 

That's a great get for SIU and the MVC.

 

Yeah it is. Glad he's going to a solid program where we can occasionally see him.

 

I must say it is pretty odd that he's going to SIU when he was frustrated by the slower offense and was looking for a faster pace. I'm not sure how well he fits in there offensively. I mean he can do anything they'll want and will still be very productive but I think he'll have some of the same problems in their system that he had under Lickliter.

He would be ideal in a Tennessee-style offense where he can run the court and spot up from outside.

[hawkeyecub]

Wesley Johnson is transferring from Iowa State. Packed up his stuff at the end of school and left without saying anything to any coaches or teammates. His family called McDermott Thursday and said he was transferring.

Big blow for them, he was a really solid player. There has just been massive turnover consistently since McDermott took over. It will be year 3 and now I don't know if things will be any better than the first two. I wouldn't have expected it but I don't mind seeing it.

[Vanilla Ice]

Devin Ebanks committed to WVU :yahoo:

[SouthSideRyan]

Devin Ebanks committed to WVU :yahoo:

 

I thought he was pretty much a lock to Rutgers...and that you were a Duke fan.

[Hosak8]

Emanuel Negedu has asked out of his LOI at Arizona, and speculation is that if it's granted, Tennessee and Indiana are likely destinations, with Tennessee leading. A signing is expected to happen fairly quickly.

 

If he is not granted the dismissal, he has said that he will attend another year of prep school.

[Vanilla Ice]

Devin Ebanks committed to WVU :yahoo:

 

I thought he was pretty much a lock to Rutgers...and that you were a Duke fan.

well on rivals, it says solid verbal to WVU

 

I am a Duke fan and that is my college, but since Duke could not get him, I wanted him to go to WVU. That is my second favorite team because my mom went there and a lot of family from West Virginia.

[SouthSideRyan]

Emanuel Negedu has asked out of his LOI at Arizona, and speculation is that if it's granted, Tennessee and Indiana are likely destinations, with Tennessee leading. A signing is expected to happen fairly quickly.

 

If he is not granted the dismissal, he has said that he will attend another year of prep school.

 

That would be awesome if he sits out and goes to prep school, simultaneously shattering the hopes of 3 of my least favorite teams.

[ISUCubsFan]

Wesley Johnson is transferring from Iowa State. Packed up his stuff at the end of school and left without saying anything to any coaches or teammates. His family called McDermott Thursday and said he was transferring.

Big blow for them, he was a really solid player. There has just been massive turnover consistently since McDermott took over. It will be year 3 and now I don't know if things will be any better than the first two. I wouldn't have expected it but I don't mind seeing it.

 

Ugh. I didn't see that comming, and it doesn't sound like anyone else did either. Probably wasn't going to be a good year for ISU next year anyway, but losing the team's best returning player makes it much worse. "Massive turnover" might be an understatement at this point. Off the top of my head, since the end of the 2006 season ISU has lost:

 

Will Blalock - pro early

Curtis Stinson - pro early

Shawn Taggart - transfer

Tasheed Carr - transfer

Ross Marsden - quit

Mike Taylor - kicked off team

Corey McIntosh - transfer?

Dodie Dunson - transfer?

Cory Johnson - transfer

Marcus Brister - transfer?

Clayton Vette - transfer

Wesley Johnson - transfer

 

12 players (at least) lost in the 26 months since the Wayne Morgan scandal broke. About half of them would be starters on most teams in the country. I feel sorry for McDermott, but he's had a lot of his own recruits leave, so I can't say he's completely blameless.

[SouthSideRyan]

All those players leaving is gonna kill their scores and cost them some serious scholarships.

[snoodmonger]

All those players leaving is gonna kill their scores and cost them some serious scholarships.

 

I thought if transfers stay academically eligible and graduate elsewhere it doesn't hurt the school. Or something like that. Am I wrong?

[brinoch]

All those players leaving is gonna kill their scores and cost them some serious scholarships.

 

I thought if transfers stay academically eligible and graduate elsewhere it doesn't hurt the school. Or something like that. Am I wrong?

 

The school still takes a ding under the APR for a transfer -- if a player transfers while ineligible, that's really bad for the school.

[Guest]

Really, there isn't a better place than Tucson for this to happen (yeah, I understand some of these are just rumors):

 

Arizona Daily Star[/url]"]Friday afternoon at the Tucson Convention Center, senior guard Daniel Dillon received his diploma from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

 

Mr. Dillon, who majored in psychology, could surely write a book on the moral elements and thought processes that turned UA basketball into a state of disorder.

 

There would be a chapter on the betrayal of Jim Rosborough.Another chapter would examine the paranoia — spies inside the organization! — as a mole was placed to get dirt on Kevin O'Neill. Is that why O'Neill and Miles Simon didn't speak?

 

Dillon could go into detail on the alleged disharmony inside the team: Did Jerryd Bayless really punch out teammate Zane Johnson a few hours before an NCAA loss to West Virginia? And why did Johnson have all of those stitches across his mug?

 

How did Lute Olson bungle the acquisition of assistant coach Reggie Geary by hiring another assistant, Miles Simon, for, gulp, the same job? And was Simon really a world-class sourpuss?

 

What prompted O'Neill to become such a bully that Chase Budinger periodically broke into tears? Wasn't Budinger tough enough? Is that why he won't come back? Before hiring O'Neill, why didn't Olson diligently research the issues that led to KO's being fired more times than Billy Martin?

 

What made Olson say there was an 80 percent chance Bayless would return for his sophomore season, and then watch as, about 12 seconds later, Bayless hired an agent and bolted for the NBA? Is the coach that out of touch?

 

What about Emmanuel Negedu? Is it true an angry Olson hung up on him last weekend, effectively severing their relationship?

 

And what is driving Nic Wise? How long will he hold the UA hostage?

 

If you choose to write a book on your four years as a Wildcat, Mr. Dillon, it would be a best-seller in the Arizona Territory. Working title: "Chaos on the Court." Subtitle: "A Few Seconds From the Final Four to Too Few Players to Hold a Practice."

 

One thing Dillon surely learned from his psych classes was that sooner or later, the UA would launch a damage-control campaign. That day was Monday.

 

Putting a temporary pause to all the questions — Will freshman Brandon Jennings bolt to Europe for $500,000 rather than play point guard at Arizona? — the UA trotted out two relative strangers to take a few questions.