Coaches? Got ‘em.
Story lines? Ditto.
Fans? Everywhere and anywhere you turn.
Atmosphere? It’s Indiana. There’s always hoops in the air.
Tradition: Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Christian Laettner, Hinkle Field House, just to cross a few “T’s”.
NBA prospects? Hmm. Have you seen the Speedway yet?
When the 2010 NCAA Final Four starts Saturday in Lucas Oil Stadium with Butler against Michigan State and Duke vs. West Virginia, there’ll be plenty of all things basketball except an abundance of NBA scouts.
Most of those talent chasers bailed out about a week or two ago when Kentucky, Syracuse, Kansas and Texas hit the return key.
The teams here are about as sexy as an Easter bunny costume for NBA tastes. What we have are lots of seniors and juniors, several sophomores and freshmen who never were seen by anyone as one-and-doners and don’t have a clue about the latest collective bargaining specifics.
There may not be a first-rounder on the court this weekend. Some players are on the fringe _ Duke junior Kyle Singler for one _ but there’s no one in the field that NBA general managers are committed to hitting over the head with a $10 million contract.
This is one is about teams, not about individual players.
Here’s a casual review of the possible NBA pecking order:
1. Gordon Hayward, Butler (6-9, soph): Could be a first-rounder, maybe a lottery pick, in 2011 but low first, high-second this season.
2. Keith Jones, West Virginia (6-8, soph): Not a first-rounder this season and needs to shed some weight off his 255-pound frame, but a possible NBA starter down the road.
3. Kyle Singler, Duke (6-8, junior): Excellent basketball player but a step slow according to NBA scouts.
4. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State (6-0, junior): Late-season injury has clouded his pro projections.
5. Shelvin Mack, Butler (6-3, soph): A pure athlete who has the speed and versatility to help in the pros if he can crack a roster.
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