Morrison vs. Redick

[texasheat]

I don't know how many of you subscribe to Sports Illustrated but you should definitely check out the latest issue (March 6, 2006). On the cover are both Morrison & Redick with the caption "Who's the Best?". (Man, when was the last time SI put two white college basketball players on the cover??!). The article inside is well-written & very complimentary of both of them. Interestingly enough in a side article, Tyler Hansbrough was named the "Best Future Pro".

This has been the most positive press I've seen in years for white college basketball players! And, it seems pretty clear that with Redick & Morrison having a Player of the Year war & to a lesser extent Hansbrough being the best freshman & the success of the West Virginia basketball team, big dents are being made in the Caste System, as far as college basketball is concerned. Thumbs up to these two guys!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Welcome to Caste Football texasheat! We just need this type of thing to keep going for a few years, and it will make a difference. I told a friend about how those 2 are leading the country in scoring and he was amazed. I hope some guys like them will start stepping up each year, but it may be wishful thinking.

 

[guest301]

I will have to check out that issue. I am very encouraged by what's happening in college basketball. A few years ago SI did a cover story on "the decline of the white athlete"...I wonder in a couple of years if they will do one on the "resurgance of the white athlete".

 

[texasheat]

Congrats to ESPN's Pat Forde for writing a nice article on Morrison & Redick. His story also provides factoids about NCAA Hoops that everyone on this site may find interesting pertaining to how white players are doing in college basketball this year:

Here's some of what he says:

"There is a chance that the first-team consensus All-America team will be a majority-white affair for the first time in 36 years. Those who could join Redick and Morrison include North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, West Virginia's Mike Gansey and Kevin Pittsnogle, Michigan State's Paul Davis and possibly Nevada's Nick Fazekas.

- Hansbrough is the prohibitive favorite to sweep national freshman of the year honors.

- The nation's No. 1 team, Duke, has started a majority-white lineup for the first time in a decade. Four other AP Top 25 teams start majority-white lineups as well (Gonzaga, West Virginia, North Carolina and Iowa). Last year, there were two teams in the final AP Top 25 with majority-white starting lineups. No team has won the national title starting three or more white players on championship Monday since Duke in 1991.

- In America's best league, the Big East, white players led the conference through mid-February in eight of 12 statistical categories (rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, free throw percentage, 3-point percentage, 3-pointers made, assist/turnover ratio and defensive rebounds).

- In America's second-best league, the Big Ten, white players led the conference in five categories (scoring, rebounding, assists, blocked shots and defensive rebounds). White players ranked third or better in 10 of 12 categories".

The rest of the article continues to talk about the resurgence of the white basketball player and what it means. Great stuff! Definitely not a Caste System Writer ... Here's the link if anyone's interested:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde _pat&id=2355728

 

[guest301]

That is encouraging and I will try to access that link. What's not encouraging at the moment is Duke's three straight losses and the close calls the Zags have had recently against vastly inferior opposition. Of course every team that plays Duke and to a lesser extent Gonzaga gears up like it's the game of their life. It should make Duke and Gonzaga more battle tested for the big dance coming up. I really like that Mike Gansey from West Virginia. I'm anxious to see what kind of pro he will be.

 

[ocaamikedm11]

Gonzaga plays to their level of competition which shows on a given night they could beat anyone or lose to anyone. The problem is the close call with some of the best teams in the nation (UConn, Memphis) ended in losses for them.. so we'll just have to wait and see... Morrison is capable of going off for 40 on any night, and they may need him to in order to win.

 

[guest301]

What they will need is a third player to step up consistently like a Ravio. Duke will need a Melchioni, Paulus or a McRoberts to step up too. There is always a game in the tournament when your top two players are slumping and you need a hero. My prediction is Paulus will shine a couple of games in the tournament.

 

[JD074]

Both teams have escaped by the skin of their teeth in a lot of games this year, especially that Duke game where they won thanks to a lucky shot from Dockerty. It finally caught up with Duke, and would've caught up with Gonzaga if they were in a tougher conference. Redick and Morrison can be shut down for extended periods of time. That doesn't bode well for their teams' chances come tournament time.

 

[speedster]

Good teams win the close games,but I know what you guys are saying because the Zag's are heading down that all too familiar road where the lack of defence could mean that once again they will not make it to the secound week of the tourney.Now the concern is offence as well as there is just too much of a reliance on Morrison.I'd prefer if the ball was spread around more since chances are good that Morrison will be double-teamed and that will give the Zag's more options.I could go on about this,but I want to finish off by saying the Zag's could really use a 3-point shooter off the bench and that should have been Texas Tech transfer Nathan Doudney who unfortunately tore his ACL early last season and that was that.Mark Few has him riding the bench.Edited by: speedster

 

[guest301]

They just need Ravio to step up to the level he was last year and Altidor-Cespedes(unusual name) seems to have the ability to drain the 3-pointer at will. Maybe use him more offensively.

 

[speedster]

Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes or P-Mac.He's of Haitan decent and born in Montreal,Quebec.Personally I think the next stud will be Josh Heytvelt,but not this year.

 

[guest301]

I agree with you about Heytvelt...injuries stunted his growth this year.