I've been travelling so I wasn't able to jump on the news that both Robinson and Bowman are testing the waters for the NBA Draft. (For those not up to speed on this, it means that they are not signing with an agent, are looking for feedback and can still return to college during the appropriate window.) Robinson's decision has been rumored for weeks. Bowman's was a bit of a surprise. But in the end, I think both need to do what's right for their respective careers. My big concern in all of this remains Jim Christian.
I know Christian has dealt with some difficult circumstances and has BC seemingly headed in the right direction. However, in my opinion he has yet to show that he is anything special and can take us to the next level. For every Duke win, there are some frustratingly bad losses. For every great play out of a timeout, there are huge defensive lapses. Is he a bad coach? No. Is he a great coach? I don't think so. So like any above average coach, he is going to need to recruit and develop talent. Bowman and Robinson are two guys he and his staff deserve credit for recruiting and developing. But if that is the end of the talent pipeline or its apex, then we have the wrong coach. I am not expecting BC to grab lottery pick after lottery pick, but borderline first rounders shouldn't be rare. If BC is ever going to sustain success under Christian, he needs at least one player maturing to an NBA first rounder every year.
If Robinson and Bowman return, Christian should have a Top 25 team. If just Bowman returns, he should have a team that can go .500 in ACC play. If neither returns, then he needs to avoid another flame out.
I wish nothing but the best for Bowman and Robinson. They are fun players and I hope they are not done. But either way, if Christian can't find others like them, then that is BC's real problem.
Mod is in total freakout mode. He is even considering calling for his own firing over this development. Why? Because that would be self defeating, make no sense on any level and prove nothing.
ReplyDeleteRobinson and Bowman are vivid examples of the risk with recruiting mercenaries. Do I blame them? Of course not. How can the kids say no to all that money? Instead, I blame the NCAA and the system. It's corrupt to the core.
ReplyDeleteMercenaries? Good Lord. If your kid had the opportunity to be professionally evaluated to determine whether he could get a guaranteed contract of $5MM for his first job out of college, you'd think it was a bad idea for him to do that?
ReplyDeleteThese kids committed to BC Bball when it was nowhere and have worked their rears off. They are making a prudent decision in the right way -- very likely with the support and encouragement of the institution we hold dear.
But keep calling the kids on whose back the university makes millions when they get paid nothing "mercenaries"...
They are mercs. The first chance they get to go pro (their prime objective) and they are out of here! Education, attaining their degrees and doing what's best for their University matters little to them.
ReplyDeleteEnough of the do-gooder, bleeding- heart nonsense.Five.
The players are doing well, the coaches are doing well, the universities are doing well(Power 5). The people who pay full tuition(at private schools) and the tax payers at state universities are the ones contributing more than their fair share.
ReplyDeleteThe players and coaches have enough so they can fuck off. Go win games. That is what I am paying you to do.
. . .You want to get treated like a professional?
ReplyDelete. . . Then that is the attitude you need to get used to.
ReplyDeleteWhat you’re missing Georgia is that they are both one ACL tear away from never playing in the NBA and never making that kind of money. That’s why I will never blame a kid for leaving early. Every game you play as a collegiate athlete you are risking your livelihood. With that being said, I don’t think either leaves if they don’t receive a first round grade. Robinson will likely get a guarantee from a team at the bottom of the first round and be on his way. Bowman will go undrafted or late second, so I seriously doubt he leaves. Best case scenario with Bowman returning, us adding a grad transfer at shooting guard, Hawkins returning for a 6th year, and Tabbs and Hamilton making immediate impacts as freshman, this team goes 9-9 in ACC play and sneaks into the tournament. That’s probably our ceiling with Robinson gone and us catching every other break
ReplyDeleteCrybabies. If your son . .. . Blah blah.
ReplyDeleteThe players and coaches are there to improve the University. That is their entire reason for being what they are being given. They are too dumb to realize it . . . The real problem.
Why they choose BC is interesting. For the education? Seems like that might be among the top criteria but who knows. However, it is obvious that at some point education was not the goal. I am not so sure that any opinions on this subject can be classified as " do-gooder, bleeding- heart nonsense" but the point is well made that the NBA treats the NCAA as its farm system. It is up to the players and their families as to what is important to them. Too often it is not the education that they once proclaimed to matter. I can understand the concerns about injuries if they come back. Some people measure life success with only a money yard-stick. There seems to be more than that but..............
ReplyDeleteMore relevant to ATL’s point, Christian needs to get at least 1 kid like Bowman or Robinson per recruiting class. It appears this year he has 2 in Tabbs and Hamilton. I’ve heard over recent years that rival schools in the ACC have cited BC’s inability to get kids to the next level as a big part of their pitch against us. If that’s the case, Bowman and Robinson should both pay dividends immediately on the recruiting trail. 2 perfect examples of under the radar high school players who were developed into legitimate NBA prospects. That resonates with a kid who’s been overlooked by the Duke’s and UNC’s of the world, but has the same aspirations as those kids. And a chip 10 times the size on his shoulder
ReplyDeleteNo they are there as student athletes. Everyone crying for fairness and equity misses the point of college sports. The very good players are not treated better than the rest. You play and you go to school just like everyone else. Next step from tearing an ACL is short sighted and selfish. That is the entire problem.
ReplyDeleteThere’s no way Bowman is coming out. He’s not even close to being a draft pick. Currently Robinson looks like he’s a high to mid second round pick. Even if he was a late first rounded I’d still go back to BC for another year. He could significantly improve his draft stock and become a lottery pick, thereby making many more millions and having a much better chance at making an NBA roster.
ReplyDeleteYes. Aren't there predraft tournament they can play in to get evaluated and see where they stand? They probably just want to travel around and play ball.
ReplyDeleteLike I said they aren't leaving BC. Lock.
I'd expect Robinson to sign with an agent. He's locked into the Top 35 (despite not even being in the Top 100 preseason) on most boards, and his value and ceiling is not going to get much higher, only exposure. He's making an NBA roster next season. His metrics (77", 190) leave him a little vulnerable against top 2s and 3s, and he has never shown any promise running the 1. His range and creativity make him a factor, and he's exhibited out of a very rough situation at BC.
ReplyDeleteLast I checked, you didn't need a degree to shoot the J.
I'm sure all those kids out in SV that leave school early to shop their tech are nothing but mercenaries too... I'm sure Zuckerberg really regrets not staying in school.
The gauranteed money is 1st round. Top 35 isn't first round.
ReplyDeleteIf they both go - my guess is that Christian will likely get 2-3 more years here regardless of record. BC will never duplicate Villanova's success - it's just not in their genetic makeup.
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ReplyDeleteHe will get a pass for next year's performance because his best players turned pro very late in the recruiting cycle and he couldn't recruit replacements. He will get a pass for the following year as he had an extremely young team comprised of developing freshman and sophmores. And he may even get a pass in the third year if he has a good recruiting class and/or if he wins a few more games than the previous year. The early jumping to the NBA is a recruiting nightmare as head coaches now must spend a disproportionate amount of their time recruiting replacement players - but much more so for those big name coaches where expectations always run high and who are always expected to attract good players. Christian will not face the same pressures at BC. So I see Christian's job security actually benefiting from Robinson and Bowman leaving as it establishes lowered expectations for the program. Let's hope both of them stay.
ReplyDeleteWe need 4 year players and some roster stability.
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