Fun with Other People’s Lists: The Most Overhyped College Athletes in the Last 20 Years
College Basketball, College Football June 9th. 2009, 2:00pm
A serviceable list, but a bit heavy on Florida State football players. Though one could argue that Seminoles have historically gotten the most highly-touted recruits (money can buy?), only to watch them struggle. This has been especially true in the last decade. Our pithy analysis in italics:
10. Felipe Lopez (hoops) – He didn’t walk on water, as SI thought he might, but the guy had a nice college career and he did make the NBA.
9. Ron Powlus (football) – Let’s just blame it on Beano Cook; Powlus set a handful of records in South Bend.
8. Lorenzo Booker (football) - This is a bust that Notre Dame fans are thrilled with (Booker verballed to ND, then opted for FSU).
7. Xavier Lee (football) – One of the many busts in a weak 2004 class.
6. Schea Cotton (hoops) – Shouldn’t have left ‘Bama early.
5. Willie Williams (football) - Bust or unlucky?
4. Ronnie Fields (hoops) – Car wreck and shaky grades ruined this dunking machine.
3. Ben Olson (football) - Derailed by the mormon mission, injuries.
2. Dan Kendra (football) – Epic bust.
1. Tamir Goodman (hoops) – Seeing as we’re from the DC area, where he was hailed as the ‘Jewish Jordan,’ this guy definitely deserves to be in the Top 5.
One basketball name that warrants consideration: a baller by the name of Randy Livingston who was a co-National Player of the year in 1992 and 1993. Was a scoring machine but knee injuries hampered his career at LSU. We also remember Livingston because when we first really dove into the web around 1995, he was mercilessly ripped by anyone who ventured into the sordid world of anonymous college basketball commenting. People were angry at this guy for failing; he was supposedly to carry the torch that was lit by Shaq and Chris Jackson. (We’d include Chris Herren, but we’ve been pulling for the kid since reading this book.)
Top 10 Most Overhyped College Players (Lost Lettermen)
193 Responses to “Fun with Other People’s Lists: The Most Overhyped College Athletes in the Last 20 Years”
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June 9th, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Where is Greg O-Done?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:05 PM
I havent heard of half these guys and the ones I do know are way past their prime
June 9th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Where the fuck is Jimmay Clausen?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:09 PM
how in the hell could willie williams’ college football career be called unlucky? the dude was, literally, a menace to society.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Bust or unlucky?
bust
June 9th, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Calling Randy Livingston a bust is unfair. He blew out his knee before he ever showed up at LSU.
/Yes it’s personal, but who gives a shit?
I nominate this guy.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Lester Earl LSU/Kansas b-ball
June 9th, 2009 at 2:12 PM
what the fuck is a dan kendra?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
+1 Duder.
I got this guy on the other line about a set of whitewalls.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
i would have to put tim thomas on the list…back in the day he was expected to be a super duper star
June 9th, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Kendra was the Second Coming as a QB. Never cracked the line up. Made a bomb and it blew up in his kitchen. Switched to FB and never did shit. Most felt he was on The Juice.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Maurice Clarett???? Guy runs a 4.8 and his whole “the NCAA is unfair and won’t pay for me to attend a friend’s funeral” whine…
June 9th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Omar Cooke?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I would strongly campaign for a couple of Dukies to be make this list: Taymon Domzowski and Shavlik Randolph.
I also think Josh Booty should be a lock for this list.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
lawrence phillips.
/end of the discussion… i win
June 9th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
how could mo clarett be a bust when he carried the buckeyes to a national championship? even if it was for one year? that’s absurd.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Lester Earl LSU/Kansas b-ball
Don’t even get me started.
/the NCAA gave him like 8 years of eligibility for taking down Dale Brown for them
//Roy Williams is the dirtiest shitbag in the history of college basketball, including John Calipari.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:19 PM
how was he a bust when he was awesome at nebraska?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Damon Bailey. I only remember him because he was on the cover of SI for Kids.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
i thought we were doing awesome college players who were busts in the pros…my bad…
June 9th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
@spencer- dollar
June 9th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I also think Josh Booty should be a lock for this list.
How about Brock Berlin?
/since you brought up Evangel High School quarterbacks
Chris Simms deserves some recognition, even though he technically wasn’t bad.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Dejuan wagner??
June 9th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Greg Oden? Mo Clarett? Do you guys not understand the list? COLLEGE BUSTS. This should not be so difficult to understand.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
sergio mcclain.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Lawrence Phillips was a fucking machine. Yes, he was a certified psycho but bust, he was not.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
that’s a good one.
id like to throw justin zwick in there too.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Isn’t Xavier Lee STILL in college somewhere? He might have one year of eligibility left. I remember when FSU signed him…thought it was the next coming of Jesus Christ in cleats.
If you can’t study film and learn the game, I don’t care how talented you are.
See Vick, Michael.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Hi, I’m Greg Oden. I played half a year of college basketball. My team, littered with freshmen, lost 4 games all year including the national title game. Oh, yea, I also played that half year with one hand… my left hand.
/Overhyped my ass.
Powlus is A#1 on this list, bar none. The hype with that kid was absurd (thanks Beno and the 3 Heisman talk). And, he was turrible.
I like this idea though. I need to come back armed with better info from old recruiting lists and magazine articles to get some better names though. White Duke big guys are definitely in the mix!
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Not to mention he did hang around the NBA for a few years. Jay, you agree with my Josh Booty selection?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
the title reads most overhyped
June 9th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I’m also surprised how nobody brought Ron Powlus is #9 on the list, when he should have been 1 through 5
June 9th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
How about Sian Cotton?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Overhyped my ass
bust will do
June 9th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
id like to throw justin zwick in there too
Boom, maybe the biggest disappointment to step foot on the OSU campus. Fuck Massillon
June 9th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Zwick wasnt even a 5 star out of HS. He was only hyped in Ohio.
If just doing overhyped, Freddy Adu comes to mind.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
how is felipe lopez not in the top 5?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Jay V, yes and no. Yes, if he would have gone straight out of high school. But when he finally showed up at LSU, expectations were justifiably low considering that everybody knew the only reason he was there was because he flamed out with the Marlins.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
MAGGS!
June 9th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
if we’re doing other sports…i’d like to throw michelle wie and ty tryon into the shithole.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Jay, you will like this one.
Ryan Perrilloux
June 9th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Drew Henson
June 9th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
how do you figure that Lopez had a good college career? Is 41% from the field good? No. Is 29% from 3 good? No. How about a career 67% from the line? Nope. 5.8 rebounds is okay. what about 2.4 assists? nope, that sucked too.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Adu is a stud. It’s more that our dumb fuck coach doesn’t play him.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Not sure if the bust label is to be applied at the college or pro level. Lopez for one was a very good college player. Many good hs players do not make it in the nba for the simple fact that its limited. Where is Lenny Cooke
June 9th, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Jay V: the most overhyped in LSU history?
1. Lester Earl–because of the Roy Williams/Kansas incident
2. Harvey Williams–He was good, but people were talking about a Heisman the second we stole him from Texas A&M
3. John Williams–He was the Harvey Williams of the basketball program.
4. Stanley Roberts–People thought he would do what Shaq did.
5. Ryan Perrilloux–Still in progress, could be #1 when it’s over.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:35 PM
an all-time bust after 2 years? what if they go to a BCS game this year?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
chris rix.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Strasburg
/4 years from now’d
June 9th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
John Williams – didn’t he go to a Final 4?
Freddy Adu? How?
Wagner is a good one. 100 points in a HS game, jack squat at memphis, had that injury thing in the NBA that ended it
June 9th, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Claussen looked good at the end of the year. Theyll win at least 9 games this year.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Shav Randolph…overhyped definitely, but kinda hard to call him a bust…he did get a second contract in the NBA. McRoberts would fit better in the bust category, considering that he was ranked higher than the “greatest college basketball player evar” Hanstravel. Honestly, most Duke players are overhyped, simply because they go to Duke.
also, Jay…+163461572135743 My dad consistently tells me K is dirtier than Roy because he cusses…when I point out that Roy is dirtier than sin, has actually cursed on live national TV AND radio 2 separate times, and is just mountain white trash in a fugly carolina blue suit, he just goes back to the old “polack ferret face” argument.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:40 PM
How about Sian Cotton?
rolled good blunts….gets free pass
June 9th, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Even the Pope is laughing at this.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:41 PM
u cant put on this list a guy who actually had a successful NBA career in Felipe Lopez. There are plenty of other busts around.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Look, when you hold your announcement press conference at the college football hall of fame, and show up in a stretch hummer limo, I expect earth shattering results. Clausen fucking blows.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:41 PM
How is wagner a bust? 20 plus ppg in College, Lottery pick. Multiple years of professional basketball.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:42 PM
John Williams – didn’t he go to a Final 4?
Yes, but that was the year they were the 11 seed and made that run. And that run was because of role players like Don Redden, Anthony Wilson, and Ricky Blanton
June 9th, 2009 at 2:43 PM
What? I coach cussing on tv AND radio!! What is the world coming to.
/get over it.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:43 PM
in terms of being overhyped Chris Simms comes to mind. He had a good career statistically speaking, but was never the superstar he was supposed to be and his propensity for crapping the bed in big games is well known.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:44 PM
A beginning list of some old school college hoop names (more to come as I think of them):
Harold Miner – “Baby Jordan” was maybe the most undeserved nickname ever given to someone. He was a very good college player, but certainly no Jordan, infant or otherwise.
Mark Macon – The all time leading scorer at Temple, courtesy of chucking it 40 times a game. Overhyped because his TEAM was very good. Macon chucked Temple out of the tourney when they were #1 in the country.
Steve Wojo – My favorite overhyped Dookie. Supposed to be the next Hurley. Led Duke to 4 lousy seasons (at least by Duke standards). His hype led to my banishment of volume on all Duke games announced by Dookie V.
Eric Montross – A big, slow, completely overhyped stiff who just happened to play for UNC. Terrible.
David Rivers – He might be 1 year too old for the 20 year status, but well worth placing on the list. Bad hairdo, marginal player who liked to shoot… a lot… for a point guard, on a marginal team.
Chris Thomas – The more recent version of David Rivers. He got a lot of publicity for being the point guard, who also chucked it A TON, on a lot of marginal ND teams. His backup is now playing in the NBA (Chris Quinn) while Thomas toils in Europe.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:45 PM
what if they win a BCS game this year
/fixed
//Tony Sacca could lead that team to a BCS game with their schedule
///Does Tony Sacca qualify?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:46 PM
he never beat OU right?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:46 PM
jack squat at memphis
averaged 21 ppg
June 9th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
@Spencer – Wasn’t that douche in a Tiger Woods game like 3-4 years ago? I totally forgot about him.
What about Serg…I mean….
/ducks
June 9th, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Good thing they play Hawaii 9 times this year.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
New Orleans’ own. He was Jason Kidd with a jumpshot. Injuries killed him, not lack of talent.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
and ty tryon into the shithole.
the only thing more busted than Ty Tyron’s golf career was his face and the ensuring mega-deal with Clearasil that never materialized
/that wasn’t very nice, but fuck it, it’s gold
June 9th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
He never did, Texas beat them his Freshman year, but he didn’t play in that game.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
*ensuing, damnit!
June 9th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
I think ND gets 8 wins (I can’t decide if that is before or after the bowl game), to be in the BCS they will have to go 10-2 and not get blown out by USC–the only top-20 team they will play.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Damon Bailey was third team all american and is in the top ten of all time Indiana scorers which is no shabby list, far from a bust.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Not to be a homer or anything, but what about Robert Gallery? Guy was an all-state player 3 years in HS and had a pretty solid college career. But look at him now…
I don’t even think he’s a tackle anymore, they moved him to guard. Since he had a decent college career, I dunno if he counts.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:53 PM
yea, tryon was in TW a bunch of years back.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Bryant “Big Country” Reeves?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
@Wally, I was nodding in agreement with you until you put Rivers on the list…the dude is #4 scoring, #2 assists, and #2 steals all-time at Notre Dame.
He was a damn good college player.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
The Fuck Lion (Marques Slocum) is another good one, although close to my heart. Also Antonio Bass.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:56 PM
to be in the BCS they will have to go 10-2 and not get blown out by USC-the only top-20 team they will play
Absolutely, positively, beyond a shadow of a doubt disagree
/men in Orange Blazers don’t give a shit how badly they lose to USC
June 9th, 2009 at 2:57 PM
WHo the fuck said Freddy Adu? Ty Duffy?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Ron Bellamy is also right up there. I feel bad listing these kids. Many had freak injuries.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:58 PM
didn’t lorenzo booker play for the Dolphins?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:58 PM
The Fuck Lion
now THAT’S a nickname he HAD to love
pretty lady come up to him at a party, “How’s it goin’ FUCK LION?” -lol
June 9th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Patrick Ewing Jr?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Part of that might be that I hated that nappy haired, non athletic dude. I know he has great numbers, but he got a LOT of publicity for someone that was never an All American.
By the way, in the middle of this, I started looking at AA teams from 89-present. There were some badass squads in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Things really drop off in 2000 comparatively.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
If Notre Dame goes 10-2, they will play in a BCS game even if they lose to USC 84-0.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
3rd string on the eagles now.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Eric Montross? Anybody?
He could fit on this list. I believe he fits into the 20 year window.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:01 PM
didn’t lorenzo booker play for the Dolphins?
yep. playing for the Eagles now
June 9th, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Maybe we can add this dude. He just verbal’d to UGA over Florida.
http://uga.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?sport=1&pr_key=85337
June 9th, 2009 at 3:04 PM
he was 3rd team as a JR, and 2nd team as a SR. A lot of the publicity he got was because of this:
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065642/index.htm
June 9th, 2009 at 3:06 PM
I don’t know. They have such a weak schedule that a blowout at home against USC would be the last thing people see from them.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Gods, the name of the team is Notre Dame. They can go 9-3 with losses to USC, cream puff, and cream puff state by a combined 120-3 and STILL be in a BCS bowl. They “travel” well.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
BCS would have to take ND. You think theyre not taking them if they qualify? BCS obviously wants 2 from the B10 every year (most popular), 2 from the SEC (best), and ND. Then ideally the Texas/Oklahoma loser for the last spot.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
What kind of teams constitute a weak schedule? They lost to Syracuse. At home. They suck.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:12 PM
3 more for my list:
Damon Bailey – While already mentioned on here. Bailey was hailed as a 6′4″ more athletic version of Steve Alford. Bailey was never better than a decent Big 10 player. He is on IU top 10 lists, but the production could never compare to the hype.
Chris Porter – A name from the semi-recent. The Auburn dunker was just that. A dunker. He had no other ability. Couldn’t rebound against bigger guys, couldn’t shoot, didn’t defend. A whole lot of nothin’ but highlights (some damn good highlights though!).
Jacque Vaughn – Girls name. Girls jump shot. Played on overhyped KU teams (or underachieving… take your pick).
June 9th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
you suck.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Wasnt Chris Porter on the team that lost to Redd/Penn in the tourney?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Yep. OSU beat them up in the regional semis in Knoxville before beating St. John’s to go to the Final 4.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:22 PM
ND is losing one game this year, and it’s going to be USC
-suck on it sparty
June 9th, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Tyler Hansbrough, also known as Eric Montross Jr.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
d-e-l-u-s-i-o-n-a-l.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Hansbrough? You mean the guy who was the NPOY as a junior and won a title as a senior? And is the career leading scorer in ACC history?
Damon Bailey’s a good name. How many NCAA wins did he have? I believe they won a Big 10 title, but id have to check.
I think Porter was a JUCO, and at one point, Auburn was ranked 1st that season. He had shit for a supporting cast, didn’t he?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Hansbrough was not a COLLEGE BUST. Why is this so hard for people?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Who else is beating us then? I’m not like some of the ‘rational” people here, I know I can be proven wrong. And don’t tell me Mich St…. we are gonna beat that ass like we’re Mr. Marcus
June 9th, 2009 at 3:29 PM
agree. college bust is when you don’t live up to the hype that precedes you. Hansbrough won’t make a great pro, but he was a fantastic college player, and you cannot deny that.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:31 PM
what gives you that idea. your recent history against us?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Hansbrough will have such low expectations that I expect his NBA career to be looked at as a success. He would start at PF right now for the Cavs.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
No, the fact that you guys are GOING TO suck this year…
/And for some reason, neither of us likes beating the other team at home
June 9th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
ND’s decided schematic advantage
June 9th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Wasn’t referring to Hansbrough being a COLLEGE bust, but as the headline says, one of the most overhyped college athletes in the past 20 years. Certainly don’t think it’s possible for him to live up to the hype that surrounded him in college in the future.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
yeah, we play in South Bend this year. I think our flag is still firmly planted.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
but as the headline says, one of the most overhyped college athletes in the past 20 years
exactly. Why is this so hard for people?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:42 PM
how is he overhyped as a college athlete? you think he falls into that list anywhere?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:42 PM
No, no, no. Fail, fail, fail.
EPIC FAIL.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Yea, typical mich st class
June 9th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Irish… Post number 1 tells me that you struggled with it as well.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
why doesn’t someone on your coaching staff hit another one of our players.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Sounds like fact to me.
/Love to rip Charlie Cheeseburger fans’d
June 9th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
do msu and nd really hate each other? i thought that was a kind of benign rivalry.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Irish… Post number 1 tells me that you struggled with it as well
Are you trying to tell me Greg Oden was not overhyped? Are you going to tell me that Marcin Gortat sucks too?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Hansbrough will be the 12th guy off a bench. He can’t play defense, period, and his offensive style just doesn’t translate well to the NBA. Yeah, he showed he can hit a 15 foot jumpshot if left open, but how many times will he get that shot? There’s no room on most teams for a no defense playing backup power forward with the athleticism of a WNBA player.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
he was hyped heading into college, but he lived up to it enough in columbus.
his pro career is a different story.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:49 PM
freshman year, led Ohio State to the Finals. played the entire season with basically a bum hand. i don’t recall him being hyped to bring them a title, but came damn close.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Brien Taylor, Todd Van Poppel
June 9th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Wait… I’ll make the 2nd one easy…
Marcin Gortat SUCKS.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:53 PM
where is the Polar Bear from Wisconsin?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Love the Duke hate for Tyler. How many times did he lose at Cameron Indoor?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:54 PM
But if you kick ass at one level (college), then move up to the next (NBA) and suck balls, are you not a bust or overhyped?
June 9th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Lots of good close games between two scholls so close in proximity will do that. Plus, I likes fucking with Sparty.
/Why don’t you tell some of your players to graduate
June 9th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Magic would not trade Gortat for Oden
/irish
June 9th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
@wally- didnt think you would give Polish Hammer credit. You were hating on him all year w/o watching a single game
June 9th, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Clown – I’m no Dookie. Tyler was a great college player (still given a lot of credit for never being the best player on his own team, but great nonetheless). That doesn’t mean his game translates to the next level. It doesn’t. If he sticks for 10 years as a role player, he will have had a successful NBA career for his talent.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
@duder- you didnt even know who the Magic starting 2 guard was before we beat the overrated Cavs
June 9th, 2009 at 3:58 PM
No one that isn’t a Magic fan ever saw a Magic game.
/Irish’d
June 9th, 2009 at 3:58 PM
and that explains why Hansbrough should not be on the list. He was hyped to be big at the college level (and was), and is not being hyped for the pros.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
what the fuck do i care about that. make the school money and win games.
/the 2nd part we aren’t very good at…unless it is Notre Dame.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I’ll throw Cameron Colvin out there for some Northwest homer action. Although I feel bad since he was starting to figure it out his senior year before breaking his leg. But still, if you pick your school on a live espn feed, you need to at least do something in your first 3 years of college.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I still dont.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
@wally- think of some excuses for Oden for the upcoming season. looking forward to hearing them
June 9th, 2009 at 4:11 PM
He and Green never lost in Cameron. I would’ve killed to have him in the right shade of blue. The fact that K went after McRoberts instead of Hansbrough is one of the great tragedies of my world (even if McRoberts was higher rated…fucking hate McRoberts…never seen a more toxic teammate in college basketball). I’ve got no real beef with him, just the average jealousy fueled rage that any fan feels for their arch rival’s great players.
That said, these delusions that Tyler will be a 10-10 guy in the NBA are exactly that, delusions. The thought that he’d start at PF for the cavs right now is ridiculous. His stats in college were inflated due to Roy’s run and gun system, he has never been more than an average defender against college level competition, and he’s not athletic enough to do his bull in a china shop impression in the NBA. I mean, dear lord, he ended up with a career total of 66 blocks and decreased every year.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:12 PM
I totally agree. I am a UGA grad and I could care less if the athletes graduate. They make a good bit of money for the school (football anyway), and that is more important that a very small sample size not graduating. UGA has 35,000 students, so if 30 football players fail to graduate who the fuck cares (aside from the media of course)?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:15 PM
So you guys believe the ends justify the means. Wasnt that a famous dictators philosophy?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Haha, we are gonna have some fun in september sparty… we can watch it on NBC
/Notre Dame sucked for 10 years and the suits still wanted a piece of our ass
June 9th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Nice comeback. I’m hoping he can recover from microfracture knee surgery enough to play the same as he did before it. It doesn’t look good now, but it took Stoudamire more than one season to recover from it. I don’t wish the kid any ill will and not really sure why anyone else would. He’s a great dude, who is spending his summer attending classes at OSU.
Did Oden piss in your Corn Flakes in a dream or something? Not sure I understand the bitterness, but whatever makes you feel good.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Sparty: That would make him a bust.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM
where do you live?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
@wally- stoudamire again? you said the same thing last year. jesus
June 9th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
really? i think if he is drafted high, or is expected to produce at a high level in the NBA and then doesn’t, that would make him a bust.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
this might be true. remains to be seen. but not sure how you can be on an overhyped list AND have a POY honor and national title. plus another F4 visit and all the records he has.
much hype, yes … but the guy delivered
June 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM
How would you know about Stoudamire or Oden or any non-Magic player, anyway? They don’t play for the Magic, therefore you’ve never seen them play.
/Irish logic’d
June 9th, 2009 at 4:23 PM
If you are referring to me, I would say that since the schools make obscence amounts of money from football, if all the kid does is star on the field for 3-4 years, sell a million jerseys and get the school free publicity, than I have a hard time bitching about it if he fails world history. Would I like the athletes to graduate? Of course. Will I lose sleep and say the coach should be fired because the player was lazy in the classroom? Hell no.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
@wally- you said the same thing last year. come up with something new
June 9th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
And it was a famous writers’ philosophy first.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
@wally- or you can admit you were wrong about Gortat and we can move on
June 9th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Greg Odens 8 PPG in 21 minutes = bust
Courtney Lees 8 PPG in 25 minutes = superstar
Who cares if Lee is 2 years older?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:26 PM
what GOTGI said.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:27 PM
This was an excersize trying to name highly touted HIGH SCHOOL players who ended up being dogshit in college… some of you need to put on your thinking caps.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:27 PM
@Sparty: Paterson
June 9th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Courtney Lee was a number one pick?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
@Maggs- why is F Lopez on the list? dogshit in college?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I’m too lazy too scroll through the comments…. did we mention a one BJ Mullens
June 9th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Lebron James?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
he fucking sucked. go look at his numbers, again.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Kobe Bryant?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Who cares if Lee is 2 years older?
who cares if Lee wasn’t the #1 overall pick
June 9th, 2009 at 4:32 PM
go look at his numbers, again.
averaged 17 ppg playing in the Big East. He would have scored 20+ in the Big 11
June 9th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Irish (aka Gortat’s BIGGEST FAN) -
When Gortat’s numbers approach Oden’s, I’ll take back my statement. Currently, if Oden sucks, then the Polish Pick Axe doubly sucks.
And Jersey -
No mention of Mullens yet. Not sure that he was THAT hyped, but I’ll agree in principal with it. Pretty sure he thinks he’s good, but reality says otherwise.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Dwight Howard? He didn’t score a single point in college.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Impossible, he can’t have the entire team’s score….
June 9th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I’ll agree to that, but I think any team that drafts him is going to expect him to produce at a high level, which I have a hard time believing he will live up to.
Go G-Men.
“And what do they say about assumption being the brother of all fuck ups?”
“It’s the mother of all fuck ups, stupid!”
June 9th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Master P’s son got a lot of “hype” when he signed with USC, does he count?
June 9th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Peyton Manning?
couldn’t win the Heisman
June 9th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
When Gortat’s numbers approach Oden’s, I’ll take back my statement
i think you need to stop reading Pluto and Big B and expand your horizons
June 9th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Chris Webber?…. I think they even took away his admission to Michigan
June 9th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Layups are overrated
/Courtney Lee
June 9th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
so scoring 17ppg on 40% shooting for your career makes you a good player. nice to know.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Wisconsin hoop fans will never forget the names:
Sam Okey
Rashard Griffith
June 9th, 2009 at 4:41 PM
amen, brotha.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Barry Sanders? He couldn’t beat out lowly Thurman Thomas for a starting spot in college.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Little late getting back to this but Bailey was on the 92 team that went to the final four I believe, that was the team was the consensus #1 team most of the year and probably would have won the title if Allen Henderson didn’t get injured.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Calling Randy Livingston overhyped is just not right. Anyone who watched him in high school saw a player with absolutely no ceiling. Watching him in high school, you could envision him doing what LeBron’s doing right now (OK, a few less rebounds, a few more assists). He was the best prep player in the nation after his sophomore year in high school … beating out Jerry Stackhouse, who has had a pretty decent NBA career. One of his teammates was Peyton Manning and if you had asked anyone who was more likely to have an all-pro career in their respective sport, practically everyone would have said Livingston.
The player he was at LSU was, at best, 50 percent of what he was in high school … not because the caliber of competition was better, but because his knee was that wrecked. Someone could write a good book about LSU’s snake-bit athletes. Livingston, Cecil Collins, Jamie Howard, Josh Booty (National Player of the Year … beating out Manning … but chose baseball over football which doomed his athletic career … if you call signing a multi-million dollar contract “doomed.”).
June 9th, 2009 at 4:53 PM
good call, general. 1992 F4 visit for Bailey. he’s off the hook
June 9th, 2009 at 4:54 PM
thank you, Pete.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I hope this guy realizes that Hansbrough tested better then Blake Griffin in most of the atleticism tests at the pre-draft camp.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:56 PM
rondo, sam okey lives in the lores of wisconsin fans. hilarious.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Yes!!! There are many stories about what Sam Okey is now doing around the state.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:03 PM
it’s been about 10 years since i lived there, but if i had to guess i would say short order cook at a happy chef in the dells. maybe doing some life guarding at noah’s ark during the summer.
next time i talk to my dad i’m going to bring up sam okey. he’ll fly off into orbit he’ll get so pissed.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Jack Sikma.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Tim Tebow and Tyler Hansbrough, number one and number one a, with a bullet.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:46 PM
This is a joke right?
June 9th, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Wow, Randy Livingston. Growing up as an LSU fan, he was my favorite player on any of the basketball teams sans Shaq. Such a shame with the knee injuries.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Chris Porter
June 10th, 2009 at 12:25 AM
anyone down to move here