C'mon, Cook. Use your head. Be a lottery pick next year.
This feels redundant but it sounds like a statement will be issued Friday confirming Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook will announce their intent to enter this year's NBA Draft. Oden will not go back on his decision while Conley and Cook will at least keep that option open by not signing with an agent before the June 18 deadline to back out of the draft and return to OSU.
At this point, I just hope Cook does the right thing for himself and returns for another year. All the money hounds in his life need to chill - in fact, they'll be able to sponge much more cash out of him if they just wait a year. As for Greg and Mike - thanks for the magical run to the Final Four. No intelligent basketball fan can argue with their choices to leave and more importantly, how mature they were when going through the decision making process.
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Man, this news, although I was expecting it, still sucks. Thinking about it, it is incredible how identical the OSU football and basketball teams finished the year.
-Both teams had incredible years, and it was a great year to be a Buckeye fan, but they still did not end in a way that I would title 100%successul. The goal every year, in my eyes, is to win a national title, so all through both teams had great years, they both lost at the same stage, and unfortunately to the same team.
-Also, look at the underclassman leaving early on both teams. Again, it is identical. Both squads had mainly 3 big underclassman who were possibilituies for going to the next level. In each case, 1 of these 3 were almost sure to leave (Ginn in football and Oden in basketball). Whereas, the other 2 seemed like they would stay and again in both cases, both sets (Pittman and Gonzo) (Conely and Cook) both made verbal statements earlier in their seasons that they were staying, only to later check their draft stock, and eventually leave.
To me it is just crazy how similar the two seasons ended. And I am dealing with the same disappointments now after b-ball season that I was in January.
However, I am not critizing these young men's decisions, I just thought I would share these almost eri simularities. Also, I don't want to seem disappointed by either team, because this was one of the best years to root for the Buckeyes: only 5 L's between both teams, 2 out right Big Ten titles, a BCS championship game appearence, a final four appearance, and maybe most importantly a big 4-0 record vs the school up north (ps: do they still have an atheletic program up there?).
So now we begin to focus on next year, where again, both teams will be in similar situations. Some solid returning starters to form the backbone, some talented recruits coming in, and some question marks as to who will fill the holes left by these great Buckeyes.
GO BUCKS!!!!
GREAT INSIGHT!!!!!
The seasons were definitely similar. You make some interesting observations. To me, the main difference is that I was ready to shank myself in the neck after the football defeat but I was much more accepting of the hoops run ending against Fla. Obviously thats due to the expectations everyone had for football whereas the hoops team surprised some folks...
The ESPN draft profile of Conley is behind a paywall, but they list as positives: "NBA Body".
I don't know. Conley has a lot of positives, but I wouldn't consider 6-0/170 an NBA body..
I understand leaving. I understand the money involved. But I'm still feeling a bit ripped off. I totally expected to enjoy at least one more season with Conley. Oh well...I hope the Cavs get him!
The Cavs could use a pass-first PG in the worst way. Conley needs to work on his shooting, but that comes with experience.
Exactly...Conley already knows how to play with a dominant scorer & keeping that player happy. It would be a perfect fit. The Cavs need a 3 pt shooter as well, but since they've gone this long without one, they could wait until Conley developed a shot.