It is REALLY hard to graduate basketball players.
It doesn’t matter if you’re Gary Williams, Fang Mitchell, Jim Boeheim, or even Herb Sendek out here in Arizona (who I’ve asked about this many times); it is just plain HARD to graduate basketball players.
There are only two sports where even mid-level athletes can make significant money playing professionally. One is football-where practice squads, an Arena League, and Canada provide the opportunity for athletes to make money even if they are not particularly superior.
In Basketball, athletes have a chance in the NBDL or overseas to make significant money (Drew Nicholas is living a HECK of a life); even if the NBA Draft isn’t an option at all.
(As a note-Soccer, Hockey, and Baseball have all seen early defections-but they are much less common. Even Women’s Basketball had Candace Parker give up a year of eligibility this year.)
But with Basketball; there are no redshirts (for the most part). The season stretches over BOTH semesters; with the 2nd semester opening during the most trying part of the season. For players whose Draft statue is much less guaranteed; the final semester before the Draft is almost assuredly going to be spent preparing.
But; as Rick Maese says so well today; Gary Williams is not the only Coach having troubles graduating basketball players. Every other school in the country is dealing with the same issues.
The bottom line is that Gary Williams is still in the transition period of a very bad streak in Maryland hoops. In many instances, players were not only bad on the court; they were no better anywhere else. I don’t think this is breaking news.
Mike Grinnon was a model citizen for the Maryland basketball program; but even he couldn’t have known what kind of trouble his close friend Chris McCray would leave the program in during McCray’s senior campaign. John Gilchrist’s issues didn’t help either. But the truth is; of the players that I consider to be the 4 most significant since 2000-Juan Dixon, Drew Nicholas, Steve Blake, and DJ Strawberry-NONE have degrees.
Gary IS right about players who go on to play professionally, no matter where they play. Players SHOULD work hard to make a living this way. And Gary also knows that the academics issue must improve. In a funny way; players who we might not have thought deserved scholarships may help most in this area (Dave Neal, Parrish Brown, etc.)
When I look back on the last ten years of Maryland basketball players; I DO get the feeling that a significant group of the young men who came to College Park left the school as better people. Unfortunately for basketball players and coaches; the head coach/player relationship is much more significant because teams are smaller. If something goes wrong in JUST ONE of these individual relationships; it can hurt the entire program for years to come.
But when I compare where a group of athletes were getting here to where they left, I see many of them as being better people. Looking at Dixon, Blake, Nicholas, and Strawberry; I get the feeling that more than one of them will probably come back for degrees (much like Keith Booth, Tahj Holden, Kevin McClinton, LaRon Profit, Duane Simpkins, and Terrell Stokes all did). I know that guys like Mike Jones and Chris Wilcox left school as better human beings; much like James Gist and Bambale Osby will.
The on court results have to improve; and the classroom numbers have to improve. Everyone in College Park knows this. Gary is working. If it doesn’t improve over the next few years, Gary won’t be there. I think it’s safe to give that some sort of stone cold lock guarantee.
If I was a betting man, I’d say things will have improved in 2-3 years; but Gary will be facing some sort of other criticisms.
Let’s see what everyone else has to say…..
Best of Tuesday’s WNST Blogs:
ORIOLES:
The Sun’s Dan Connolly