My point was, as a fanbase, it's much more exciting following a team when you know players will be around for a few years... look at the 80s/90s teams - that was basketball. Its still basketball. As fans, its fun to watch guys grow, but the players are not there for us to feel good. I understand the NBA set the rule for 1 year of college time, but how exciting (and good) would our teams have been if the likes of Seikaly, Coleman, Owens, Washington, Douglas, Moten, Wallace, etc... decided to turn pro after freshman campaigns? That was then, this is now. If they got to the Final Four,it would still be just as exciting.
It doesn't impact anyone on this board? Ok, let's see Lydon pull a McCullough, get injured n decide to turn pro, and see how fast the upbeat tone turns sour on here, because SU wouldn't be 6-0 without him on the court, and quite possibly we'd be in store for an NIT year. So what? Enjoy the guys we have.
So first, I assume you meant your reply literally, in which case, no athlete anywhere directly impacts any fan (unless you are family and hope they make millions and you benefit from it). Second, many freshmen only see possible $$$ who decide to turn pro aren't anywhere near ready and wind up undrafted, cut, overseas or in the D league, only to fall off the map of relevancy in a few years. So what? Third, what's the rush? Some kids want to play ball. Why did Taylor Swift not attend college? Why bother attending college for the rule of one year? You must, or you go overseas. Some kids don't want to do that. It's certainly not for education, or having a career to fall back on once since many flame out in a few years of pro ball. Why can't they go back to college once they are done. It all likelihood, the will do better academically. One year doesn't prepare you for anything other than trying to pad stats and boost your projection in the draft, and leaves the fan base hoping to land top recruits to fill the future voids, only to perpetuate the 1-n-done cycles of today, and leaves coaches scrambling to fill positions. So what. And unless you are the Kentuckys n Dukes of the world, filling voids with exceptional talent every season doesn't just fall into your lap. Again, so what?