I will be surprised if he reaches lottery. But if he does, while I love scoop, it is almost per se evidence that he was underutilized this year. I don't think you should go from largely irrelevant 4th guard to top 5 guard nationally in one year unless you are at a top 5 program and playing behind other lottery picks. I was always a big fan of scoop and he even turned some doubters around this year but this is why I was somewhat lukewarm on his return. I was glad but not convinced it made Cuse appreciably better bc of the mcw upside. If he goes lottery I think in retrospect it will be unfortunate he was not given the keys last year, to an extent.
I don't see it. How would where MCW goes in the draft be any sort of evidence of underutilization? Being a pro at the end of next year does not mean he was better than Scoop this year. I can understand initially being skeptical, but in hindsight you really have to give kudos to JB for sticking with his senior.
If MCW goes lottery what unfortunate circumstance will you look back on? 34-3 could have been better, really? Do you think MCW would have made any difference in the OSU game, because that is really all you can look back on the season and try and improve on. As for the regular season, you would have to think it would have been worse without Scoop. MCW's handle has looked a little suspect. MCWs minutes were nonexistant against LVille and Marq for that reason.
Lukewarm about Scoop coming back? What about future benefits. With Scoop coming back the guards were loaded and we had the luxury of redshirting Whitehot. That benefit has yet to be fully played out. The team went 34-3, how much remorse can you possibly have? Another possible benefit of Scoop returning is we have no doubts about MCW coming back next year. If you think MCW can be lottery at the end of next year, don't you think that if MCW played all year that he might be mid to late first round now?
I think you should consider the possible negative ramifications if Scoop had left. Dion may have bolted. Cooney would not have redshirted and we would not get his extra year. SU would not have had near the regular season, probably around 22-11. SU would not have been a 1 seed and probably bowed out at the sweet sixteen.
MCW could have played himself into a mid to late first round pick. He may have taken the money and run (under the real money is made on your second contract theory).
There are no circumstances that can in retrospect make it unfortunate that Scoop was given the keys. It was a great move and people who may have questioned the move need a big serving of crow. Most here who did not rejoice in the return of Scoop and Dion have now, in hindsight, quietly gotten on the bandwagon. There is room for you on the Scoop appreciation bandwagon. And that appreciation is not affected by MCW, even if MCW goes to first team all-NBA ("per se" nothing).
No, regardless of what happens with MCW, Scoop should have earned all SU fans respect and admiration. That was a season for the ages, and it was Scoop who was directing the team.