Just a quick little rant

So, basically, I just got home and I was browsing the net when I came across the story about B.J. Mullens jumping to the NBA after just one year in college. Big surprise; Ohio State should go from being the Buckeyes to the “OneandDones.” Think about it for just a minute. If the NCAA hadn’t instituted this stupid rule to make high school players go to college for at least one year before turning pro, then a lot of good, quality young players would have made the jump directly and failed (or just succeeded a little bit, or spent time in the NBDL, etc.) Instead, they’ve spent a year in college and improved their game, wasted a scholarship, and maybe, just maybe, improved the school’s program while they were there. Then again, this whole thing is ridiculous.

What is suffering? Well, mostly, college basketball. On the whole, college basketball is still very entertaining (last year’s NCAA tournament should vouch for that.) Then again, think of the the multitude of teams that would have benefited if their players stayed TWO years instead of one. Memphis with Derrick Rose this year, too? Or what would USC really had done with O.J. Mayo patrolling the backcourt again this season? Can’t it be argued that Arizona may have pushed even further with Jerred Bayless? And what about the year before? Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young left Georgia Tech after their freshman campaigns. And what of Washington? Spencer Hawes, anyone?

But back to my original point. I don’t think anyone would have benefited more from players staying two years before going pro than the Ohio State OneandDones. I mean, sure Oden and Conley have been amazingly good (sic), and Daequan Cook won the 3-point shootout this year! Come on! Still don’t believe me? Check out the roster if all of these guys would have come back for a second year and who would have joined them. This is the list of who would have probably started and what the bench would have looked like for last year’s Ohio State Men’s Basketball team:

Starting 5:

C- Greg Oden
F- Othella Hunter
F- David Lighty
G- Mike Conley
G- Jamar Butler

Bench:

Jon Diebler
Daquan Cook
PJ Hill
Kosta Koufos
Dallas Lauderdale
Matt Terwilliger
Evan Turner

Yeah. That’s what I thought. Probably would have done a little more than just won the NIT, don’t you think?

Anyway. I really have no idea where I want this to go completely. Should the NBA change it’s rule? Maybe. But then again, would two years be enough for these guys? Would college basketball really be any better? I don’t really know. But I do know that like most Buckeye fans, I would have really liked to have seen that team play. Really.