Maybe Gorgui is getting a big crowd out and going to announce he is staying? I don't think so but that would be cool.

Maybe Gorgui is getting a big crowd out and going to announce he is staying? I don't think so but that would be cool.

It would be weird, but so would him never having an official announcement that he's going pro. :idunno:

That is not true and very unfair to Chane. For example, he flat out told Rick to leave Harrell in the game against Syracuse in the BET.

 

OK. Maybe that was a little harsh. Chuck Hayes is probably my favorite UK player of all time so I get a little defensive on his behalf.

I can't remember a time when a player/location were promoting an autograph signing without charging.

 

Would be opening Pandora's box. He's gone if he has the autograph session. It's what you do after you leave school.

Dieng is gone. Although I despise UL, I've always really liked this kid & plan to follow his pro career.

 

I think Russ will probably leave as well, though he certainly seems 50/50 at the moment. I think this will be his best opportunity to get a favorable spot in the Draft, even though he needs to work on some things.

 

The Behanan/Hayes comparison is a good one. If Chane works his tail off as Chuck has, he can enjoy a similar career IMO.

It would be weird, but so would him never having an official announcement that he's going pro. :idunno:

 

Didn't Louisville honor Dieng on Semior Night?

Dieng is gone. Although I despise UL, I've always really liked this kid & plan to follow his pro career.

 

I think Russ will probably leave as well, though he certainly seems 50/50 at the moment. I think this will be his best opportunity to get a favorable spot in the Draft, even though he needs to work on some things.

 

The Behanan/Hayes comparison is a good one. If Chane works his tail off as Chuck has, he can enjoy a similar career IMO.

 

Agreed. He was a man child in the final, that's for sure.

Didn't Louisville honor Dieng on Semior Night?

Yes, but that was all Pitino, and c'mon, you guys basically never believe Pitino.

For the record, the autographs from Gorgui will cost $20, per Big Time Yurts. So, unless it's for charity (and a charity which does not benefit any high school students, etc.) then that's that.

I am still not buying the Chane vs. Chuck comparison. Just because they are both 6' 6" power forwards does not make them similar. Chuck Hayes made every player around him better by doing little things every night. He could make things happen when he had the ball in his hands. Chane is more of the typical power forward who rebounds and gets stick backs. One stat tells the tale. Hayes had more assists than turnovers every season as a Cat. Behanan has 2x more turnovers than assists. Hayes had more assists in his first season as a starter than Behanan had in his first two seasons. Similar in size and position but different in how they play.

I am still not buying the Chane vs. Chuck comparison. Just because they are both 6' 6" power forwards does not make them similar. Chuck Hayes made every player around him better by doing little things every night. He could make things happen when he had the ball in his hands. Chane is more of the typical power forward who rebounds and gets stick backs. One stat tells the tale. Hayes had more assists than turnovers every season as a Cat. Behanan has 2x more turnovers than assists. Hayes had more assists in his first season as a starter than Behanan had in his first two seasons. Similar in size and position but different in how they play.

Very different teammates and offenses as well. Louisville had, for their most played line up:

 

Siva

Smith

Hancock

Behanan

Dieng

 

Siva was an automatic primary ball handler and Dieng was the post distributor. Hancock and Smith were also guys who could create and run the show on occasion. Behanan (and Harrell when he was in) was the clear choice to be the low block beneficiary of Siva and Smith's drives and Dieng pulling defenders away from the basket. Behanan hunting assists would have been a criminal waste and outside of the offense.

 

He will have to develop more passing next year, though, without Dieng in the high post. That said, I think that we will see Harrell at the 5 a lot more next year than we did this year, and I know the staff worked on his mid range during Big East play.

Smith should go. He's not going to change what he is. In fact he may not get drafted next year. He'll be a year older and may get exposed more without Siva.

 

Chane will get a chance to play in the NBA. A smart guy his size would add a three pointer in the off-season. I think he'll eventually be a late second round or I drafted guy but he'll get a chance to see if he can play.

Smith should go. He's not going to change what he is. In fact he may not get drafted next year. He'll be a year older and may get exposed more without Siva.

 

Interesting point. I think I may agree with it.

Smith should go. He's not going to change what he is. In fact he may not get drafted next year. He'll be a year older and may get exposed more without Siva.

 

Interesting point. I think I may agree with it.

 

Cats' example reminds me of the year after Francisco Garcia left, and Tyquan Dean stayed for his senior year. As a duo, they were tough to guard. Both were serious threats from beyond the arc, Dean was more of the ball handler, but he got many very good looks because people helped off him to guard Garcia. The next year, Dean didn't have nearly as much success, because teams keyed on him solely. The same could happen to Russ next year. More teams keying on him more directly, especially until one of the incoming PG's can prove they are a scoring threat.

Taquan Dean was a very good player, but a very different player than Russ. Slower, much less defensive ability, better spot-up shooter but less able to get his own shot; all these things added up to why he struggled without Garcia and O'Bannon playing next to him. Dean was a good piece alongside those players but had even less of a next-level role than Smith.

 

Russ' best attributes--his speed, his body control and his quick hands--aren't changing no matter who is in the backcourt with him. I think having Siva gone matters less to Smith than losing Dieng, again because of Dieng drawing defenders away from the rim running the pick and roll.

 

As to the argument that Smith might get exposed and not even get drafted next year, well, what exactly is the risk? There is zero benefit in being a second round pick over an undrafted free agent. So this year, next year, good year, bad year, that's not really making a difference.

 

What I'm saying is Smith is going to have prove he can do it in a summer league against other pros before he gets a contract anyway, whether that's this year or next year. There's definitely an advantage to taking another year to work on his game before he puts himself in that situation. The only way there's no merit to that is if you think he's a first round guy this year.