Woe to the college basketball star who stumbles on the national stage.
Jason Williams, go sit in the corner. You helped ruin a lot of tournament brackets, young man. Your missed free throw against Indiana weakened what could have been the most anticipated Final Four in memory.
For that you must pay. At least your reputation must.
As everyone knows, Williams made the mistake of suffering through a bad game in his final appearance for Duke. Suddenly, it’s open season on the national Player of the Year. Apparently, the last thing a guy does is all anybody remembers.
Williams’ flaws as a free-throw shooter, especially in the clutch, are documented. But after the loss to Indiana, the junior’s leadership qualities are being questioned. Even his jump shot is coming under review.
That’s what the pro scouts are saying, according to Williams’ critics. Never mind the totality of Williams’ career, Duke’s national title last season, and the games in which Williams put the Blue Devils on his back and carried them over the finish line. Suddenly, Williams is not enough of a leader. Neither, apparently, is he a lock to be the No.1 pick.
Naturally, it’s too early to be absolutely sure what kind of pro Williams will be. But, perhaps, a history lesson will help put his recent problems into perspective.
In 1984, Michael Jordan, also national Player of the Year, finished his career at North Carolina with a loss to, that’s right, Indiana. Like the ’02 Duke team, those Tar Heels were the No.1 seed in their region. Like Duke, North Carolina was more talented than Indiana. Like Duke, North Carolina lost in the third round.
It was a team that featured Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty in the paint, with Kenny Smith and Matt Doherty joining Jordan on the perimeter.
In the East Regional, Jordan was guarded by Dan Dakich, a player of limited athletic ability. Hounded by Dakich and hampered by a couple of early fouls, Jordan scored only 13 points in a 72-68 loss.
Jordan did not carry his team against Indiana. His last college game was one of his worst.
I don’t recall if anyone downgraded Jordan’s talent or wrote that he was overrated because of that game. But most would agree that Jordan has done all right for someone who once was outfoxed by a drone named Dakich.
Williams doesn’t bring to the court the same physical gifts as Jordan. Or Allen Iverson, either. But in his final game at Georgetown, Iverson was beaten by a couple of guards from UMass. Their names escape me.
A game or two in the NCAA Tournament either great or calamitous does not reveal anything about a player’s pro potential. Yet the contrived excitement of March leads some people to conclusions.
Williams will be a good pro, most likely. He isn’t another Jordan, obviously. But like Mike, he’s too quick and talented to allow an awkward college exit to trip him up.
Woe to the college basketball star who stumbles on the national stage.
Jason Williams, go sit in the corner. You helped ruin a lot of tournament brackets, young man. Your missed free throw against Indiana weakened what could have been the most anticipated Final Four in memory.
For that you must pay. At least your reputation must.
As everyone knows, Williams made the mistake of suffering through a bad game in his final appearance for Duke. Suddenly, it’s open season on the national Player of the Year. Apparently, the last thing a guy does is all anybody remembers.
Williams’ flaws as a free-throw shooter, especially in the clutch, are documented. But after the loss to Indiana, the junior’s leadership qualities are being questioned. Even his jump shot is coming under review.
That’s what the pro scouts are saying, according to Williams’ critics. Never mind the totality of Williams’ career, Duke’s national title last season, and the games in which Williams put the Blue Devils on his back and carried them over the finish line. Suddenly, Williams is not enough of a leader. Neither, apparently, is he a lock to be the No.1 pick.
Naturally, it’s too early to be absolutely sure what kind of pro Williams will be. But, perhaps, a history lesson will help put his recent problems into perspective.
In 1984, Michael Jordan, also national Player of the Year, finished his career at North Carolina with a loss to, that’s right, Indiana. Like the ’02 Duke team, those Tar Heels were the No.1 seed in their region. Like Duke, North Carolina was more talented than Indiana. Like Duke, North Carolina lost in the third round.
It was a team that featured Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty in the paint, with Kenny Smith and Matt Doherty joining Jordan on the perimeter.
In the East Regional, Jordan was guarded by Dan Dakich, a player of limited athletic ability. Hounded by Dakich and hampered by a couple of early fouls, Jordan scored only 13 points in a 72-68 loss.
Jordan did not carry his team against Indiana. His last college game was one of his worst.
I don’t recall if anyone downgraded Jordan’s talent or wrote that he was overrated because of that game. But most would agree that Jordan has done all right for someone who once was outfoxed by a drone named Dakich.
Williams doesn’t bring to the court the same physical gifts as Jordan. Or Allen Iverson, either. But in his final game at Georgetown, Iverson was beaten by a couple of guards from UMass. Their names escape me.
A game or two in the NCAA Tournament either great or calamitous does not reveal anything about a player’s pro potential. Yet the contrived excitement of March leads some people to conclusions.
Williams will be a good pro, most likely. He isn’t another Jordan, obviously. But like Mike, he’s too quick and talented to allow an awkward college exit to trip him up.
Woe to the college basketball star who stumbles on the national stage.
Jason Williams, go sit in the corner. You helped ruin a lot of tournament brackets, young man. Your missed free throw against Indiana weakened what could have been the most anticipated Final Four in memory.
For that you must pay. At least your reputation must.
As everyone knows, Williams made the mistake of suffering through a bad game in his final appearance for Duke. Suddenly, it’s open season on the national Player of the Year. Apparently, the last thing a guy does is all anybody remembers.
Williams’ flaws as a free-throw shooter, especially in the clutch, are documented. But after the loss to Indiana, the junior’s leadership qualities are being questioned. Even his jump shot is coming under review.
That’s what the pro scouts are saying, according to Williams’ critics. Never mind the totality of Williams’ career, Duke’s national title last season, and the games in which Williams put the Blue Devils on his back and carried them over the finish line. Suddenly, Williams is not enough of a leader. Neither, apparently, is he a lock to be the No.1 pick.
Naturally, it’s too early to be absolutely sure what kind of pro Williams will be. But, perhaps, a history lesson will help put his recent problems into perspective.
In 1984, Michael Jordan, also national Player of the Year, finished his career at North Carolina with a loss to, that’s right, Indiana. Like the ’02 Duke team, those Tar Heels were the No.1 seed in their region. Like Duke, North Carolina was more talented than Indiana. Like Duke, North Carolina lost in the third round.
It was a team that featured Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty in the paint, with Kenny Smith and Matt Doherty joining Jordan on the perimeter.
In the East Regional, Jordan was guarded by Dan Dakich, a player of limited athletic ability. Hounded by Dakich and hampered by a couple of early fouls, Jordan scored only 13 points in a 72-68 loss.
Jordan did not carry his team against Indiana. His last college game was one of his worst.
I don’t recall if anyone downgraded Jordan’s talent or wrote that he was overrated because of that game. But most would agree that Jordan has done all right for someone who once was outfoxed by a drone named Dakich.
Williams doesn’t bring to the court the same physical gifts as Jordan. Or Allen Iverson, either. But in his final game at Georgetown, Iverson was beaten by a couple of guards from UMass. Their names escape me.
A game or two in the NCAA Tournament either great or calamitous does not reveal anything about a player’s pro potential. Yet the contrived excitement of March leads some people to conclusions.
Williams will be a good pro, most likely. He isn’t another Jordan, obviously. But like Mike, he’s too quick and talented to allow an awkward college exit to trip him up.
Woe to the college basketball star who stumbles on the national stage.
Jason Williams, go sit in the corner. You helped ruin a lot of tournament brackets, young man. Your missed free throw against Indiana weakened what could have been the most anticipated Final Four in memory.
For that you must pay. At least your reputation must.
As everyone knows, Williams made the mistake of suffering through a bad game in his final appearance for Duke. Suddenly, it’s open season on the national Player of the Year. Apparently, the last thing a guy does is all anybody remembers.
Williams’ flaws as a free-throw shooter, especially in the clutch, are documented. But after the loss to Indiana, the junior’s leadership qualities are being questioned. Even his jump shot is coming under review.
That’s what the pro scouts are saying, according to Williams’ critics. Never mind the totality of Williams’ career, Duke’s national title last season, and the games in which Williams put the Blue Devils on his back and carried them over the finish line. Suddenly, Williams is not enough of a leader. Neither, apparently, is he a lock to be the No.1 pick.
Naturally, it’s too early to be absolutely sure what kind of pro Williams will be. But, perhaps, a history lesson will help put his recent problems into perspective.
In 1984, Michael Jordan, also national Player of the Year, finished his career at North Carolina with a loss to, that’s right, Indiana. Like the ’02 Duke team, those Tar Heels were the No.1 seed in their region. Like Duke, North Carolina was more talented than Indiana. Like Duke, North Carolina lost in the third round.
It was a team that featured Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty in the paint, with Kenny Smith and Matt Doherty joining Jordan on the perimeter.
In the East Regional, Jordan was guarded by Dan Dakich, a player of limited athletic ability. Hounded by Dakich and hampered by a couple of early fouls, Jordan scored only 13 points in a 72-68 loss.
Jordan did not carry his team against Indiana. His last college game was one of his worst.
I don’t recall if anyone downgraded Jordan’s talent or wrote that he was overrated because of that game. But most would agree that Jordan has done all right for someone who once was outfoxed by a drone named Dakich.
Williams doesn’t bring to the court the same physical gifts as Jordan. Or Allen Iverson, either. But in his final game at Georgetown, Iverson was beaten by a couple of guards from UMass. Their names escape me.
A game or two in the NCAA Tournament either great or calamitous does not reveal anything about a player’s pro potential. Yet the contrived excitement of March leads some people to conclusions.
Williams will be a good pro, most likely. He isn’t another Jordan, obviously. But like Mike, he’s too quick and talented to allow an awkward college exit to trip him up.
