OT: Deshaun Thomas to the NBA
OSU's Deshaun Thomas has declared for the NBA Draft.
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040513aaa.html
He doesnt want to get Mitch slapped.
Or Spiked.
or bielfeldt up...wait i don't think i did it right
Probably the #1 B1G player I'd steal and put on UM if I could. Suffice to say, glad he's leaving the Buckeyes.
Oladipo obviously....
Not saying that he would top the list, but Payne would also fit well in Michigan's offense, as hard as it might be to imagine.
Great scorer, and was great for OSU this year seeing as how they had no other scoring options. But I think he is a pure volume scorer (not a bad thing) and I don't really think that would fit in to well on this Michigan team.
Dont blame him.. OSU isnt getting any better.
Is freaking amazing. Best part is when he went on a "potato diet" that sapped his strength.
Interesting point, but Oden's career was more non-existant than "extraordinarily average"
I wouldn't call Michael Redd's career average. He averaged 19 ppg for his career. He was just injury prone
While I can't exactly say I like the Bucks as a program, most of their guys lately have seemed pretty likeable. I've enjoyed watching Thomas play.
I actually agree with this sentiment. I do hate Matta though, but the only player on that team I don't like is Ravenel because he gives off a Kendrick Perkins vibe to be, who is one of my least favorite basketball players.
it'll be nice not having to deal with him ever again
They were going to be very tough to beat if he came back. Ross, Thompson, and Scott were really improving as the season went on.
Speaking of early departures, I see that the NCAA has bumped up the withdrawl deadline for early departures to April 16. These guys are going to have to make a decision before they can really get any input from the NBA. They used to have until the middle of May. This is strictly an NCAA rule (it was not imposed by the NBA). It seems pretty lousy of the NCAA to move up the deadline this much.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Testing-the-NBA-Draft-Waters-in-201…
Has had a pretty solid pro career: only one All-Star appearance but a gold medal on the 08 Beijing Olympics team plus 7 straight seasons of 21+ ppg.
With Crean being @ Indiana now, I don't see how you could hate anymore more. Crean makes Matta, Izzo and Ryan likable in my eyes.
By far the most hatable coach in the Big Ten, but I don't think Ryan is that far from him. If not in large part to the hideous style of basketball he forces on the Big Ten.
you won't hear any cryin from me
Hope he takes Craft with him.
The Big10 should be very interesting with each of the top teams facing potential or expected departures to the NBA/graduation.
Indiana: Zeller, Oladipo, Hulls, Watford (all starters)
OSU: Thomas, Ravenel (rotation player)
MSU: Nix, - Maybe Payne, Harris
Wisco: Evans, Brusewitz, Berggren, but get old starting pg gasser back
Next year depends a hell of a lot on what Zeller, Oladipo, Harris, and Payne do. My message to all of them is that education is overrated and that you may never get another chance to be an NBA player.
Oladipo and Zeller are gone in my opinion. Harris can't stay healthy so he would be well advised to get paid while he can.
It was good to see him in good spirits already..
http://espn.go.com/videohub/video/clip?id=9136572&categoryid=2378529
If only he could play D, he would be a 1st rd pick.
riddance.
Ohio players usually wait to declare. Greg Oden was nearly 72 when he declared
Best of luck to him. Hopefully he does well and makes enough money to take care of himself and his young child. You could argue that he was the B1G mvp, if not it's Most Outstanding, this year because for much of the season he was OSU's offense by himself. Seems like a good kid, and I would say the same of Sullinger and Craft - as far as I know, the OSU hoop team doesn't have any douchebags on the order of Reid Fragel or the brothers Boren.
That team is going to have a hard time scoring next year unless they have someone coming in. Ross is really talented but super inconsistent. And other than him, they don't have anyone who can make a shot from the perimeter. It'll be really tough to score on them, but it may not matter unless some lights go on over the summer.
This is a Michigan blog.
Good thing, because he is a great college player. He'll probably get taken at the end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd.
Double Post.
Too bad LaQuinton Ross isn't transferring. He absolutely oozes NBA potential. Next year is going to be big for him.