UNC/Kansas

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I hope we know enough about basketball to realize he may have won POY, but he is not a Michael Beasley type talent.

I'd just like to add my 100% agreement with this statement. In fact, I believe it to be quite an understatement, as TH isn't close to being a Michael Beasley type talent.

And while I believe Beasley was far and away the best player in college basketball this year, Derrick Rose is having an outstanding NCAA tournament and deserves any positive praise that comes his way...

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I hope we know enough about basketball to realize he may have won POY, but he is not a Michael Beasley type talent. I've seen this before. When Jamison won POY at UNC I was wondering, "Doesn't everyone realize Vince Carter is a better player?"

POY is the same as the Heisman - it rarely goes to the "best" player in the college game. It usually goes to the player whose school gets the most National coverage and whose school invests a bunch of $$ into a PR campaign.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I believe Hansborough will be lucky to measure a full 6'7". You can normally take whatever they're listed at on the college roster and subtract 2-3".

Agreed.

Steve Nash is listed at 6'3". I've met Steve Nash. There's no way that he's 6'3".

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I believe Hansborough will be lucky to measure a full 6'7". You can normally take whatever they're listed at on the college roster and subtract 2-3".

Say it ain't so!

[icallfouls]

Hansbrough is a very good college player, possibly the best that college ball has this year.

As far as the NBA is concerned, disadvantages: he has limited range 15-17 feet, is too small to play with his back to the basket, can't get his shot off or create against longer, faster players, and cannot leap over taller players. Things that will work to his advantage: doesn't need the ball to score, nobody will outwork him. Of course, an 82+ game season will take a significant toll on a player like this.

I also don't think that he is really 6'9" either, so on defense he is definitely going to get posted up alot and be in alot of posters while getting thrown down on.

[tomegun]

If by some stretch Hansbrough was to get on a team and start, a stretch of games in the NBA could have him seeing these players:

Garnett
Stoudamire
Nowitski
Gasol
Wallace

I think those guys wouldn't mind taking a night off against Hansbrough.

[Nate1224hoops]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I believe Hansborough will be lucky to measure a full 6'7". You can normally take whatever they're listed at on the college roster and subtract 2-3". He doesn't have much height and only decent length. He's not very athletic (compared to other college power forwards who will play in the league). His mid-range game has gotten better, but he has sub-par handles for a small PF, and his defense is not NBA-ready.

That said, he works hard and has the "want to" that will land him a roster spot for a long time. If he proves to be a consistent, long-term, productive starter for a team, I'll admit my mistake, but I just don't see it.

I am a Carolina fan and I think it's pretty funny that you think Hansborough is 6'7". I agree a lot of the time things are stretched in the programs and player profiles, but to say 6'7". If that's the case then there are no big men in college basketball anymore. You are saying that Kobe B. is taller than Hans...lol.

As far as him in the NBA, he will be fine. Is he going to score 25+ ppg, probably not. Everyone said the same thing about Elton Brand coming out of Duke. He's 6'9" and only a bruiser. Look what he has done. He has added a consistant 17 foot jumper and continues to dominate PF that are bigger and longer. Tyler has the work ethic and will to improve. I think he has shown that throughout his years at UNC. He will be a solid NBA player, probably not an all-star, but solid. The comparison to Joakim Noah is a joke. Noah had only two thing going for him in college.....energy and length. Tyler has more skill, strength and want to than Noah.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Nate1224hoops

I am a Carolina fan and I think it's pretty funny that you think Hansborough is 6'7". I agree a lot of the time things are stretched in the programs and player profiles, but to say 6'7". If that's the case then there are no big men in college basketball anymore. You are saying that Kobe B. is taller than Hans...lol.

I like TH. That said, I think he's closer to 6'7" than 6'9". I'd actually put money on 6'8" in shoes when he's measured for the draft. All you have to do is look at him next to other big guys. It's actually a testament to his desire and work ethic that he was able to put up the numbers he did this year, considering he's undersized.

I think most people are actually frustrated with the excessive media coverage of him - not because he's not good, but because some in the media have made him out to be so much more than he is. He had an excellent year and should be congratulated, but to listen to some you'd think he's the hardest working, most competitive guy to ever grace the college scene by a long shot. I just don't buy into that hype.

[Nate1224hoops]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I like TH. That said, I think he's closer to 6'7" than 6'9". I'd actually put money on 6'8" in shoes when he's measured for the draft. All you have to do is look at him next to other big guys. It's actually a testament to his desire and work ethic that he was able to put up the numbers he did this year, considering he's undersized.

I think most people are actually frustrated with the excessive media coverage of him - not because he's not good, but because some in the media have made him out to be so much more than he is. He had an excellent year and should be congratulated, but to listen to some you'd think he's the hardest working, most competitive guy to ever grace the college scene by a long shot. I just don't buy into that hype.

I think this is funny as can be. You have officials (Camron Rust) bashing, questioning other officials...all but accusing them of helping Carolina get back in the game. You have 15 people saying Tyler isn't a quality post player, yet he is the National POY and if you watch any game he played in this season, yes even the Kansas game, he is double and triple teamed in the post all game long. He is on pace, if he comes back, to become UNC's all time leading scorer. He's scored a ton more than Sean May...who may I remind you is undersized....Listed at 6'8" at UNC....http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/seanmay.asp. I think he is a pretty good NBA player. He has been plagued by injury but in his rookie season he averaged 11ppg. Do you know how many shots May blocked in his 3 season at Carolina?? 95. Do you know his career scoring average....15.8. Tyler has blocked 56...thats a difference of about .3 per game..lol. Oh and scoring, Tyler's career average is 19.8. I think he will be okay.

I think the media has made him out to be what he is. A hard working, skilled, basketball player. He doesn't have the talent of a Beasley or a Mayo, but he'll do things those pretty boys won't. I think if you ask any coach in the country who do you want to start your team....about 80% will say Tyler.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by ChrisSportsFan

17 points, 9 boards, 2 assists and 3 to's. I think there are several NBA squads that would take that. Like someone else said, UNC got outplayed at the guard spot.

Hansborough got owned several times. He got the ball stuffed and stolen more than a couple times. On defense, he didn't do much.

Also, KS was running several big men with fresh legs in there. By all means, I and not jocking Hansboro but don't dis the guy for being good. What will his NBA career be like??? We might have to wait another year. Maybe that's why he has stayed because he already knows. He did draw 4 PC and TC fouls, 2 of which looked like he duped the officials.

I agree. When the lead was >20 points, there were a hand full of interesting calls....most by the same official. Those enabled UNC to stop the bleeding and start to come back. I was watching the game with a group of officials and none of us could figure out how they came up with the calls he did. It was almost like he wanted to limit how bad UNC got beat by and gave them a couple of gifts. While I can see doing that in the end of a big blowout, halfway through the first half is way to early to shift into that mode.

[edited to reflect that it was actually more than one official but mostly one]

[tomegun]

Camron, which official are you talking about.

BTW, you are about to get blasted.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Camron, which official are you talking about.

BTW, you are about to get blasted.

It was actually two of them but mostly one (I don't know their names)...from somewhere around 6:00 remaining in the first to about 3:00 remaining in the first. There were 2-3 charge calls against KU where the UNC defender was still sliding in after the shooter was airborne. In another there was a little contact and Hansbrough threw himself on the floor for the PC. There was also a fast break with, from every camera angle, no contact as the defender cut under the shooter but a foul was called (and far more contact was being passed on prior to that point). Then there was a block called on KU where the defender had a better position than any of the previous Block/Charges that were called a PC. Just a series of head-scratching calls that were inconsistent with the rest of the game.

(and no, I'm not a KU fan and have never been)

[wildcatter]

Meh, I'm a huge KU fan, and I thought the officials did a very good job officiating a very tough game (maybe you'd agree, except with the PC/TC fouls? I'm not sure). Lots of contact, and very fast-paced... tough game for sure.

I know the calls you're talking about Camron - I've spent the entire Sunday re-watching the game on tivo. I agree with you about 2 Hansbrough PCs, but for the most part, I thought the KU PCs were right on (the multiple Collins PCs, and one of the Rush's PCs). BTW on the fast break, was that the jeremy case foul? It looked the same to me, till I realized on the undercut he slapped his elbow...

I was impressed the way the refs officiated Hansbrough when he had the ball - he can initiate contact to draw fouls and get to the line better than any college player I've seen this year. That shotput with his right hand and use of the other forearm to step in and draw contact (sometimes initiating it) is so hard to ref, especially the way he moves.

I think the refs called a good travels on him when he was trying to force his way into defenders (could have called more), and they didn't give into the temptation to call fouls even though both teams were turning the ball over so much (on steals/blocks/loose balls, when there was contact, but that didn't serve an advantage).

Only chance Hansbrough has to be a good NBA player is to extend his range and work to become a better defender... one more year could really help him work on that.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Camron, which official are you talking about.

BTW, you are about to get blasted.

That would be Tony Greene. I was rooting for KU but I thought all the TC/PC calls against KU in the first half were solid. There was one play where Hansbrough may have leaned slightly at point of contact but he still took solid contact to the torso. And don't forget he was properly called for a block on the sideline in the last minute of the 1st half (by Tone Greene).

KU started playing out of control in the last few minutes of the 1st half. It was their erratic play that allowed UNC to start its comeback.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It was almost like he wanted to limit how bad UNC got beat by and gave them a couple of gifts. While I can see doing that in the end of a big blowout, halfway through the first half is way to early to shift into that mode.

What "mode" is that? and how do you "shift into it?"