Big Orange Caravan - Atlanta

[moodyjunior]

At the Big Orange Caravan at Piedmont Park last evening, I asked CCM a question when audience was asked for questions...I asked him, "Coach, since that team that wears Blue north of Knoxville has been making a habit of "one and done" recruiting of players, are you in favor of, or against the practice of signing players that may only play one year..." his response was "Yes, I would have NO issue signing a player or recruiting a player that would play only one season at Tennessee...." So, question.....do we want to be like Calipari and others, or not....?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Nah I don't like the thought of National Championships.

 

[moodyjunior]

Nah I don't like the thought of National Championships.

Well, the reason for the debate...I've heard current players in the NBA on the Herd and elsewhere, that many of these rookies in the NBA that come in early are not ready, not mature enough, and not prepared enough...Regardless, does it help a university to simply be a 12 month stopping point to the NBA..?It may be what it comes to, but call me old fashion...I can't see any love of wearing the Orange from that...I understand National Titles, but at what cost....?

 

[TNVolunteerGrad]

Personally? I could care less about the NBA if certain players brought my university National Championships. Maybe it is because I don't feel any attachment to any NBA team while I love my Vols.

 

[butchna]

Everybody keeps putting this debate in front of college coaches when it's a NBA rule...benefitting the NBA. They were fed up with taking fliers on high school stars betting they would get a Amare Stoudemire instead of a Robert Swift. One year of playing college ball or overseas is a vetting process they're not going to give up. If your college coach doesn't take a ONEANDDONER the next one will...and guess which coach will win more?
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[mdrew27]

In the grand sceme of things its a sad situation. College is college, not a pit stop.

 

[johnnybravo]

There's no way I would want Wiggins to be wearing Orange this next year unless he stayed more than one year. JK

I do wish the rule would change to 3 years. I sometimes forget Tobias even played here. He came and gone way too fast. It's better for the "college" fan for the players to stay, but for now, if you can get one you gotta take him.

 

[BigZiti09]

There's no way I would want Wiggins to be wearing Orange this next year unless he stayed more than one year. JK

I do wish the rule would change to 3 years. I sometimes forget Tobias even played here. He came and gone way too fast. It's better for the "college" fan for the players to stay, but for now, if you can get one you gotta take him.

If you want 5* guys to come here on a regular basis, you better put a few in the league and it needs to happen early in their college career vs later.

You think other schools weren't gonna use Scotty Hopson as a weapon against Pearl? "Look, you want to come here where I can put you in the NBA? Or do you want to play at UT like top 10 McDonald's AA Scotty Hopson did and stay 3 years and not get drafted?"

 

[ShowSomePride]

That's actually an interesting note, if somehow Tennessee had signed Wiggins. That would have thrown every prediction about our lineup/potential wins-losses/transfers out the window.

I would have loved to see the national media's reaction if he had magically picked Tennessee out of nowhere; would have been the biggest meltdown ever.

 

[Chris4Vols22]

Everybody keeps putting this debate in front of college coaches when it's a NBA rule...benefitting the NBA. They were fed up with taking fliers on high school stars betting they would get a Amare Stoudemire instead of a Robert Swift. One year of playing college ball or overseas is a vetting process they're not going to give up. If your college coach doesn't take a ONEANDDONER the next one will...and guess which coach will win more?
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I think the rule unfairly limits a player's options out of HS. You should be able to play professionally IN THE USA coming straight out of HS (if you're good enough, obviously). It's a joke that kids are basically forced to either go to college or play overseas if they want to get into the NBA now. Not every athlete wants to go to college, and some would admit that they're not cut out for it. Derrick Rose is a prime example. I'm a huge fan of his, but he got screwed big time. Because of the rule, he had to engage in the ACT scandal we've all heard about. Not defending his actions, but my point is that he shouldn't have to go to college to play in the NBA if he doesn't want to.

And to address another point you brought up, if everyone in the league is butthurt about it because HS stars didn't live up to expectations, isn't that more on the talent evaluators' hands?

I'm thankful that we got Tobias, but I would have rather him just go straight to the league if he didn't have any desire to be here (luckily that's NOT the case )

 

[terrypedigo]

There's no way I would want Wiggins to be wearing Orange this next year unless he stayed more than one year. JK

I do wish the rule would change to 3 years. I sometimes forget Tobias even played here. He came and gone way too fast. It's better for the "college" fan for the players to stay, but for now, if you can get one you gotta take him.

NO WAY I WOULD WANT WIGGINS.lol:

 

[butchna]

I think the rule unfairly limits a player's options out of HS. You should be able to play professionally IN THE USA coming straight out of HS (if you're good enough, obviously). It's a joke that kids are basically forced to either go to college or play overseas if they want to get into the NBA now. Not every athlete wants to go to college, and some would admit that they're not cut out for it. Derrick Rose is a prime example. I'm a huge fan of his, but he got screwed big time. Because of the rule, he had to engage in the ACT scandal we've all heard about. Not defending his actions, but my point is that he shouldn't have to go to college to play in the NBA if he doesn't want to.

And to address another point you brought up, if everyone in the league is butthurt about it because HS stars didn't live up to expectations, isn't that more on the talent evaluators' hands?

I'm thankful that we got Tobias, but I would have rather him just go straight to the league if he didn't have any desire to be here (luckily that's NOT the case )

Fairness is a matter of opinion that the NBA has gone their own path...talent evaluators are in a losing position gauging potential pro talent against high school talent...7 foot Robert Swift cleaned up against 6'3 or shorter opposition but surprisingly was spare in the big show...once again, the NBA got tired of this roulette and instituted the current rule...to their advantage...except for that pesky knee thing Rose has managed to eke out a career...hold your prayers
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[Chris4Vols22]

Fairness is a matter of opinion that the NBA has gone their own path...talent evaluators are in a losing position gauging potential pro talent against high school talent...7 foot Robert Swift cleaned up against 6'3 or shorter opposition but surprisingly was spare in the big show...once again, the NBA got tired of this roulette and instituted the current rule...to their advantage...except for that pesky knee thing Rose has managed to eke out a career...hold your prayers
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Again, I don't see why HS athletes should have to go through the ridiculous process just because professional talent evaluators are incompetent. Do you think minor league baseball is useless then?

Not sure if you understood my sentiments about Rose. He's one of the best players on earth, yet he caused Memphis to vacate their best season this millennia because if academics. Granted I'm just assuming this, but if he needed help to get a good enough ACT grade to academically qualify for Memphis, I would put my money on him wanting to go pro in America straight out of HS as opposed to going to college. I would say that the only reason he went to Memphis was to play basketball. I seriously doubt he was wanting to earn a degree. No disrespect to my 2nd favorite player in the league.

 

[butchna]

Again, I don't see why HS athletes should have to go through the ridiculous process just because professional talent evaluators are incompetent. Do you think minor league baseball is useless then?

Not sure if you understood my sentiments about Rose. He's one of the best players on earth, yet he caused Memphis to vacate their best season this millennia because if academics. Granted I'm just assuming this, but if he needed help to get a good enough ACT grade to academically qualify for Memphis, I would put my money on him wanting to go pro in America straight out of HS as opposed to going to college. I would say that the only reason he went to Memphis was to play basketball. I seriously doubt he was wanting to earn a degree. No disrespect to my 2nd favorite player in the league.

Maybe you're misunderstanding my point...like the NFL the draft eligibility age in the NBA is collectively bargained between the ownership and the players association. Starting with Kevin Garnett, the NBA draft became a financial opportunity for players to cash in before their legitimate playing ability was established...yes Lebron James, Rose, Kevin Durant et al were ready immediately...but how many hundred players were drafted since this run began, on the chance that they could play, and were given millions to spare up the league. In the 80s the NBA draft was fun because GREAT players like Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing would develop in college before going pro...it was kind of self regulated...but AAU leagues and shady hanger-on types started pushing kids in early to get everybody paid...the NBA did what they had to do to get a valid chance to evaluate prospects...if a kid doesn't want to attend college he can go overseas like Brandon Jennings or NBA D-League...Doctors,lawyers and other professionals have to go through a process before they can make the big bucks...if a kid's good enough what's a year?...The NFL requires three years out of high school with no minor league option like baseball and basketball's D-League and have doggedly fought to the Supreme Court to protect their product against the Maurice Claretts of the world...these people are serious and telling them that it's not fair for a player to wait to make millions playing a game, doesn't seem to sway them...but ask them nice...they might change their mind
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[butchna]

Again, I don't see why HS athletes should have to go through the ridiculous process just because professional talent evaluators are incompetent. Do you think minor league baseball is useless then?

And your point on the minor leagues in baseball?...of course they're not useless...baseball takes a long time to develop the average player and the minor leagues were entrenched more than a century ago for this purpose...baseball players can extend careers into their 40s and their union is the strongest in pro sports...this doesn't apply to either the NFL or NBA who have tried unsuccessfully with NFL Europe and the Continental Basketball Association respectively...and you made a point about incompetent NBA talent evaluators? How are they supposed to evaluate NBA prospects playing against HIGH SCHOOL TALENT?...I made that point previously but it got lost in the translation. Understand, I have no blind adoration of professional management in sports...they'll pinch as much as they can to avoid paying the talent that we want to see in the first place, but if things don't work a certain way you have a bad game...both college and pro...even if you disagree with my points, neither one of us want that...right?...On that I hope we agree...let me off the podium
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