Justin Anderson: He Gone!

[RandygoCuse]

Bud Poliquin once said on his radio show that SU fans are "hypocrites" because they claim to be concerned about the player's future and advise him on what best for him when they really just want him to stay and win games for SU.

My feeling is that SU fans will freely admit that what they want is for players to stay and win games for SU. But they realize that the player's decision will be made based what he perceives to be his self interest. Therefore they come up with arguments that jumping to the NBA at this time is not in their best interests. If we have a player like Carmelo who should obviously move on, we don't begrudge him that. But when a guy tears up a knee and is rehabing after playing only 16 games, it seems logical to us to come back for a year and play his way into the lottery rather than hoping he can get a guaranteed contract in the second round, so we say so.

I don't think that's hypocritical.

Agreed. And to give a less extreme (than Carmelo example) I think it was right for Johnny Flynn to leave as well. He did a lot less than Melo in the pros, but it was smart to leave when he did. His stock wasn't getting higher and he was pretty much assured a guaranteed contract. We can't say this for CM. Am I mad at him for leaving early or do I feel cheated as an SU fan? Of course, not. But unlike Melo or Flynn, I don't think he's making the smartest decision for himself.

 

[two3zone]

We also have a top 5 recruiting class, and a mcdonalds all american coming back who didn't play this year, at rak's position.

So all is good, losing Rak isn't a big deal after all.

 

[73CAV]

Your team was hurt by his injury and downplaying losing him now is putting your head in the sand. You would be way better with him coming back. The rest of your post is your heart talking. All fans do it except two3zone.

One year ago today, on this board, I responded in a similar fashion to a post stating that, with the losses of Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell, UVa would slide out of contention for the league title. The tone of the response I got was pretty much the same as yours. Among other things, Justin Anderson only averaged 12.2 ppg for the year. Less for ACC play. He was second in scoring behind Malcolm Brogdon and only a half a point ahead of Anthony Gill. Virginia has five players returning with significant multi-year starting experience on a team that has won 30 games each of the past two seasons. That doesn't include redshirt Darius Thompson who started numerous games as a true frosh at Tennessee. You're right that we would be better with Justin Anderson next year. Among other things, he had the skills to defend against a variety of player types, and Virginia will miss him defensively more than offensively. However, I am unsure we would be significantly better. I think we'll be fine. Of course, no one knows for sure until they lace them up and hit the courts. Slainte!

 

[pearl31]

Virginia will miss him defensively more than offensively.

:rolling:

 

[HOFCeluck]

We also have a top 5 recruiting class, and a mcdonalds all american coming back who didn't play this year, at rak's position.

That top five class has, by all accounts, one impact player for next year.

And Coleman has had multiple surgeries to repair the cartilage in his knee. That's a bad injury. I'll count him as a contributor when I see him doing it.

 

[Briancuse]

That top five class has, by all accounts, one impact player for next year.

And Coleman has had multiple surgeries to repair the cartilage in his knee. That's a bad injury. I'll count him as a contributor when I see him doing it.

We don't know how many will be impact players next year, and who saw Rak having the year he did last year? Coleman is due for a good year.

 

[HOFCeluck]

We don't know how many will be impact players next year, and who saw Rak having the year he did last year? Coleman is due for a good year.

Lydon's ging to be great, but he has to bulk up to play at this level.

Howard needs to learn how to play PG.

Diagne is a big man, so we know how that goes.

This is stuff that I've taken from the board by people who know more than I do. I respect their opinion. You know what I know a lot about? Knee injuries. So I'm going to go with what I know about cartilage injuries over you're belief that "he's due."

 

[73CAV]

:rolling:

I'm kind of curious as to why you feel this way. Anderson averaged 12.2 ppg for the season, and less during conference play. The most he scored in any one game was 21 points (at VCU). Brogdon did better numerous times. Even Perrantes and Gill had higher scoring games than Anderson. In addition, Anderson's ball handling was a bit less than mediocre. When he dribbled into a crowd, it usually resulted in a turnover. I don't know that any other single player will replace his scoring, but I suspect a combination of Nolte, Shayok, Wilkins, and Thompson can collectively accomplish it. If nothing else, there will be four players, all of whom have started at various times, entering their final season on the team. It is not unreasonable to expect some incremental increase in production from each of them. Would I rather have Anderson on the team? Absolutely, yes. Will his departure be a blow from which the team cannot recover? I doubt that seriously. I still believe Virginia can contend for the regular season title.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Why do some people find the need to vehemently defend their team on other people's message boards?

 

[73CAV]

Why do some people find the need to vehemently defend their team on other people's message boards?

Well, someone here started a thread about Justin Anderson. Among other things, I don't start threads on other schools message boards. Personally, I think that that is impolite. On the other hand, if someone here opens the door, I see nothing wrong with going through, so to speak. Additionally, I didn't think the defense was 'vehement'. Perhaps rational, but not vehement.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Perhaps rational, but not vehement.

All right, as you were.

 

[pearl31]

I'm kind of curious as to why you feel this way. Anderson averaged 12.2 ppg for the season, and less during conference play. The most he scored in any one game was 21 points (at VCU). Brogdon did better numerous times. Even Perrantes and Gill had higher scoring games than Anderson. In addition, Anderson's ball handling was a bit less than mediocre. When he dribbled into a crowd, it usually resulted in a turnover. I don't know that any other single player will replace his scoring, but I suspect a combination of Nolte, Shayok, Wilkins, and Thompson can collectively accomplish it. If nothing else, there will be four players, all of whom have started at various times, entering their final season on the team. It is not unreasonable to expect some incremental increase in production from each of them. Would I rather have Anderson on the team? Absolutely, yes. Will his departure be a blow from which the team cannot recover? I doubt that seriously. I still believe Virginia can contend for the regular season title.

Look, you got a really good team - possibly the best defensive team in the country. I watched a bunch of your games with and without Anderson (and with one-handed Anderson) and it just was not the same offensive team at all after his injury. Sure, the team could end up being just as good next year - but it's pretty blatant head-in-the-sand rationalizing to make his leaving out to be anything less than significant. Kind of like a lot of us around here were when Ennis left.

 

[Nicknack]

So all is good, losing Rak isn't a big deal after all.

That's not what he said. Of course we wish we had Rak back. However, DC2 should be solid. The other thing is that our offense should be improved which means that we won't have to rely on our Center like we did last year. We were so bad offensively that Rak was often the only reliable option. Next year this should change. Many here seem to forget that we have a solid history of returning guys making big leaps from one year to the next (just look at what Rak did for example). Things aren't as grim as you want everyone to think.

 

[two3zone]

That's not what he said. Of course we wish we had Rak back. However, DC2 should be solid. The other thing is that our offense should be improved which means that we won't have to rely on our Center like we did last year. We were so bad offensively that Rak was often the only reliable option. Next year this should change. Many here seem to forget that we have a solid history of returning guys making big leaps from one year to the next (just look at what Rak did for example). Things aren't as grim as you want everyone to think.

I understand the leaps but they were always players that showed signs. G did show a great leap last year, but at what point does he max out? If he can be the player we had the last half of last season then we'll obviously be in better shape. I think Cooney is what he is. Coleman, I'm not as optimistic as you are, the kid has had multiple surgeries and knee problems pretty much every year for the past 4, it's tough to count on him. Even healthy, has he repaired his game ie. bring the ball down on every touch, his defensive deficiencies etc etc. I think Joseph will improve considerably and Richardson should get enough minutes to make a difference. I think the jury will be out for awhile on Lydon as I don't think there are many minutes for him available and I'm sure Diange will get some minutes at the 5, but he is undersized and still a freshman in the most important spot in the zone.

 

[Dave85]

Let's be honest here. No one cares because CMac is "potentially throwing his life away." People care because of potential wins Cmac could help generate in a Cuse uniform. It really has little to do with him as a person.

If he doesn't get drafted at all he will be in bad shape. I think he's taking a risk here.

 

[CaptainJ]

If anyone cares, I like the way hockey allows players to declare and come back if not drafted, if I understand it correctly.

 

[HOFCeluck]

If he doesn't get drafted at all he will be in bad shape. I think he's taking a risk here.

still make a decent living playing overseas...if he he wants.

 

[AlaskaSU]

I understand the leaps but they were always players that showed signs. G did show a great leap last year, but at what point does he max out? If he can be the player we had the last half of last season then we'll obviously be in better shape. I think Cooney is what he is. Coleman, I'm not as optimistic as you are, the kid has had multiple surgeries and knee problems pretty much every year for the past 4, it's tough to count on him. Even healthy, has he repaired his game ie. bring the ball down on every touch, his defensive deficiencies etc etc. I think Joseph will improve considerably and Richardson should get enough minutes to make a difference. I think the jury will be out for awhile on Lydon as I don't think there are many minutes for him available and I'm sure Diange will get some minutes at the 5, but he is undersized and still a freshman in the most important spot in the zone.

You never know with injuries. Rose looked like dead meat. Bill Walton, everyone gave up on and then he had a healthy year and took the nba championship for Portland. Lets hope for that rather than Greg Ogden or Devon Brennan McBride.

 

[Hoo's That]

If anyone cares, I like the way hockey allows players to declare and come back if not drafted, if I understand it correctly.

A lot of the bball players hire agents, and that ends amateur status. The minor league baseball players who came back to college to play other sports didn't use an agent to negotiate their baseball contracts.

 

[CaptainJ]

A lot of the bball players hire agents, and that ends amateur status. The minor league baseball players who came back to college to play other sports didn't use an agent to negotiate their baseball contracts.

If they dont hire an agent can a bball player come back? For once the NCAA and I agree on something, the parasitical nature of agents. They remind me of lawyers, and the Pink Floyd song "Have a Cigar" (which ironically wasn't sung by a Floyd member). "And did we tell you the name of the game boy? We call it riding the gravy train".

 

[Hoo's That]

It may be a different set of rules for bball. I really don't know. Most seem to go out a get an agent just before or right after they announce. That may have something to do with deciding not to withdraw from the draft by the deadline.

 

[jordoo]

In bball once you sign with an agent there is no coming back.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I wish nothing but bad things for the programs we play against. This would be a bad thing for Virginia, so it's a good thing for us.

No Syracuse fan has a vested interest in Anderson like we did in McCullough, so it makes sense that we don't care that he's possibly throwing his future away. Even looking at it from a pure perspective, rather than one influenced by CMac's impact on next season's team, it makes sense that Syracuse fans would disapprove of McCullough's decision because there's some level of a connection with him. There's no emotional connection with opposing players.[/QUOTE
Fans do not have a vested interest in any player. That they think they do is one of the problems with sports.

 

[Brooky03]

Fans do not have a vested interest in any player. That they think they do is one of the problems with sports.

You'll have to explain this one to me on two fronts. First, how is our interest not a vested one? Second, how is having a vested interest in players a bad thing for sports?