That’s good, but it also thinks that’ll solve most problems (and that’s bad).
In the wake of last year’s FBI investigations around college basketball/shoe company corruption, the NCAA put together a commission, led by Condoleeza Rice, to fix the sport. On Wednsday, we found out exactly how they propose to do that, and most of it rides on abolishing the one-and-done rule.
That part actually shouldn’t be too hard. NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants it gone, and if former Syracuse Orange signee Darius Bazley finds success going the direct-to-G League route, there’s a reasonable way forward for all parties. That might dilute the talent pool in college ball, but it could also provide a more cohesive product from year to year.
Unfortunately, the NCAA commission also decided to create an ultimatum around the one-and-done: Bringing back freshmen ineligibility if the NBA doesn’t act. This is foolish, as are the other ideas around NCAA-run prep leagues. In general, the exercise is practice in bad solutions and ignoring the obvious. Get rid of one and done AND provide player compensation. Then most of this goes away.
You may have similarly strong opinions for or against this, and I’d encourage you to share those below. Either way, here are your daily links:
Condoleezza Rice’s Useless Commission On College Basketball Gives Useless Recommendations (Deadspin)
This is another dumb, half-assed move which would only give the NCAA more power and jurisdiction when it can barely handle the responsibilities it has now. Rice also called for harsher NCAA-led punishments, saying they’d like to see the Level I violation penalties bumped up—as seen in every case ever that involves a ton of money exchanging hands, harsher penalties will serve as only an initial deterrent, before schools and shoe companies find new channels to subvert them.
3-star S Cornelius Nunn, WR/TE Charles Njoku high on Syracuse football (reports) (Syracuse.com)
“I like the atmosphere, the people around there. It’s good vibes,” Nunn told Miami DieHards. “I know players down there, they good with me. Just to get away from the trouble and all that down there in Miami.”
Syracuse Basketball Offers 2020 Canadian Star (247Sports)
After watching Patterson at the EYBL in Dallas over the weekend, Syracuse offered the Canadian star Tuesday night. Patterson is an elite prospect who can score from anywhere on the floor, can finish at the rim, has tremendous handle and possesses elite athleticism. He is the exact type of player Syracuse wants as a wing.
The Thunder should start Jerami Grant tonight (Welcome to Loud City)
Grant is the only member of the the team who’s emphatically playing better in the playoffs than the regular season (maybe we should call him playoff J). He and Alex Abrines are the only players on the team with a positive net rating for this series (Abrines has a net rating of +4.5, Grant +3.0). OKC’s defensive rating when he’s on the court is a tight 101.1 (101 points allowed per 100 possessions) compared to a ghastly 108.7 for the team as a whole.
Syracuse’s defense is near full health, something crucial for postseason run (Daily Orange)
Syracuse’s defense has been ravaged by injury this season. Bomberry has missed four games and defender Marcus Cunningham left the Cornell game early before missing the North Carolina conference matchup. Long-stick midfielder Andrew Helmer missed a few weeks after being a key link in SU’s run in the 2017 NCAA tournament.
How Gabriela Knutson worked to become a top singles player (Daily Orange)
Fisher says OT Martin wanted to play for father, father-in-law (247Sports)
14 ACC players that could break out during fall camp (AP)
5 Theta Tau brothers in Syracuse frat video file lawsuit against university (Syracuse.com)
Your daily music selection:
