UNC/Kansas

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by ChrisSportsFan

Also, he's 6'9" which is just fine for PF on the NBA.

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.

[JugglingReferee]

Hansborough's NBE success is only a matter of time will tell.

I don't see him amounting to a lot, though.

[jdw3018]

Oh, and I'll add the thing that disappointed me most about him last night (especially since I needed UNC to win for me to win my bracket pool for pride): he was terrible passing out of double-teams. It's the one place he could have made the biggest impact last night, and instead he constantly tried to force the score through doubles rather than finding the open man.

All that said, he was far from the problem for UNC in the first 15 minutes of that game - the guards had no ability to attack Kansas's pressure and create decent offensive opportunities for anyone. It was a purely amazing 15 minutes of basketball by Bill Self's team.

[tomegun]

Yes, he does have a lot of desire...but so did Brian Cardinal. To compare him to Dennis Rodman would be an error in my opinion. Rodman was at least athletic to go along with his desire (to rebound the basketball).

Kansas was mildly successful against him because the primary defender stood straight up and a help defender bothered his shot. Some other times they forgot what to do and the primary defender didn't resist the temptation to make contact with him. 90%, at least, of his game depends on the defender making contact. He shot a fewer free throws than he is used to as a result.

I'm not saying he was the reason UNC lost, but he sure didn't look like POY material. Who are the big men for Kansas again? 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?"

Regardless, another year where one of the two teams that routinely get the most talent will not win the championship.

[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...

[grunewar]

Does College POY translate into NBA super stardom? You be the judge.....

* 1990 - Lionel Simmons, La Salle * 1991 - Larry Johnson, UNLV
* 1992 - Christian Laettner, Duke * 1994 - Glenn Robinson, Purdue
* 1995 - Joe Smith, Maryland * 1996 - Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
* 1997 - Tim Duncan, Wake Forest * 1998 - Antawn Jamison, NC
* 1999 - Elton Brand, Duke * 2000 - Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati
* 2001 - Shane Battier, Duke * 2002 - Jason Williams, Duke
* 2003 - T. J. Ford, Texas * 2004 - Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's
* 2005 - Andrew Bogut, Utah * 2006 - J.J. Redick, Duke
* 2007 - Kevin Durant, Texas

PS - five Dukies.....

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by grunewar

PS - five Dukies.....

Please, don't make me pukie.

[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.