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Originally Posted by jdw3018
This does indeed show your age. And this is firmly in fan-boy territory for me, so I'll admit that up front.
I'll concede no national titles for K-State, and won't attempt to stand the program up against UNC or KU or Indiana or UCLA. That would be foolish.
But four Final Fours, 12 Elite Eight appearances, and 16 Sweet 16s, is pretty formidable. The last 20 years have not been kind to Kansas State. But at the end of the regular season in 1988, Kansas State's "history" was pretty much equal to KU's in terms of conference championships, final fours, NCAA tourney appearances, etc, short of KU at that time having one national title. Obviously, KU went on an incredible run over the last 20 years, while K-State slipped into irrelevance.
In 2005, Street and Smith put out its Top 100 Basketball Programs list. Kansas State was 22nd. Hardly an "also-ran". One spot behind Georgetown, one spot ahead of Texas. It's a subjective list, and you can argue with it, but the idea that "no one" would list K-State in with Georgia Tech (64th) and Wake Forest (46th)? False, again.
I won't try to argue that Beasley was a model student and person all through his high school years. He wasn't. But he has been in his time at K-State, and most of those programs you listed would have taken him in a heartbeat if he'd shown any interest.
Oh, and fullor, thanks for the backup on Richmond, Boozer and Blackmond. I'd also add great coaches like Tex Winter, Jack Gardner, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and Jack Hartman.
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My age, I bet you couldn't guess my age within 10 years. That aside. History is great, I love it and actually teach it. My take is simple: Kansas St. is a great school. They have had several elite basketball teams and players. Richmond was there in '88, Boozer in 58-59, Blackman in 1980. I hardly think this puts them in college basketballs royalty. Definetly not a powerhouse. Heck, Davidson has had some greats too. Three All-Americans which included Fred Hetzel (twice), Dick Synder, and Mike Maloy (twice) and John Gerdy. This season Curry. Does this make them royalty or a place where the top players in the country want to go. I hardly think so. And if you want to talk coaches, Davidson had one of the best all time in Lefty.
I'm glad that we can finally agree that Beasley isn't exactly a model citizen or at least wan't. I think its a little easier to straight up when you know that your every move is being watched by NBA scouts. I hope he does well and I'm sure he will.