Loss of Scholarship

I'm hearing Koufos leaving was surprise to Matta? WTH? The bad thing is that OSU will lose a scholarship for this move since Koufos already had started spring term. 

I'm not sure how much longer this process will last....especially when coaches are penalized with losses of scholarships for players who play a year and then take off to the NBA or Euro league ...Maybe the NCAA will adjust this for those schools that can't keep a stud for two to three years etc? Probably not but it just seems good teams get burned by this process. I know it is the American dream etc. etc.

I am a believer that High School players should have some college experience before going into the NBA.  Let's face it, all we hear about are those High School players who made it in the NBA.....KG, Kobe, Amare, Dwight Howard and Lebron.  They are exceptions to the rule though.  How about the hundreds of High Schoolers who didn't make it before the NBA imposed the current rule of 1-year??  Where are they??  Are they contributing effectively to society and our economy??

Remember Shawn Livingston's knee injury??  Some experts believe it was caused by early stress on his joint by going directly to a much more physical NBA League...rather than allow his body to develop in College.  It is true the NFL is much more physical thus the 3-year rule, but don't discount the fact that Basketball, although not as physical, is much more tyring on the hlps, knees, ankles and feel.  Think about how much running, stopping, pivoting and jumping you do during a game.  Most people's bodies and minds are not fully matured in High School.  Unless you are Lebron James, you could use a few years in college to build your body up to a point where it's ready for the NBA.

I am in favor of keeping kids in school at least 2-years before they can become eligible for the draft.  The NBA has every right, just as mentioned earlier, to put that stipulation in.  It's a business and they only want to most qualified personnel.  What better way to determine this than by seeing them in Colege and how they develop over 2-years.

It surprised Matta, becuase Koufos is not ready for the NBA.  His body may be, but his confidence and mind are not.

He'll probably get drafted in the Top 25, and may contribute some.  However, I don't see him becoming a star in the league.  I watched him play and he just seemed to lax...not aggressive enough.

1-more year in college may have helped that, and he would have been a much higher pick next year...probably Top 5.  That will cost him millions of dollars in his NBA Career....both his original contract and in any renegotiations.

As for the 2009 Buckeyes, I do like their lineup:

Crater at point, Lighty and Turner on the wings, Mullens and Lauderdale down low

Off the Bench: William Buford (may be a starter by the end of the year), Diebler, and Madsen.  The 2 Juco players they signed may contribute as well.