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Calhoun, Krzyzewski and the brave new world

Quick – what do Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain have in common? Yeah, yeah, yeah basketball, I know. Guess I had that one coming. If you also said those three all played on teams that won an NBA championship, you would again be right. They are also all enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Beyond that none of them played basketball their freshmen year of college – that is they didn’t play on their individual school’s ‘varsity’ team.

Up until 1972 freshmen were not eligible to play varsity basketball. It was deemed that youngsters needed a year to acclimate to college life, and they played competitive basketball on a freshman team with a much less demanding schedule. Some of us might not want to admit to readily knowing this fact as it may give a clue to our advancing years.

Okay – what do Darryl Dawkins, Moses Malone, and Bill Willoughby have in common? Yeah – basketball again. You’re really funny. Actually these guys were the first group to skip college and declare eligibility for the NBA draft. Malone led a successful career; he too has a place in Springfield. Dawkins – or ‘Chocolate Thunder’ played parts of 14 seasons – including two years as a starter. Willoughby, on the other hand, became the example used to warn youngsters against such a rash decision.

After a five year career a broken Willoughby ended up living back at home with his parents.

How about Isaiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan? I know, I know – basketball (Is there a statute of limitations on this joke?). These hall-of–famers left school early to enter the NBA – Thomas as a sophomore – Johnson and Jordan after their junior years.

And Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant? These guys were the second generation who made the jump from high school to the NBA? Obviously they have all fared better than Willoughby.

I’m not done yet – DaJuan Wagner, William Avery, and Khalid El-Amin? These guys left school early, but have fallen into the basketball abyss. All three now earn pay checks from teams overseas.

Anyone heard of Korleone Young, Ellis Richardson, and Leon Smith? They tried to make the jump from high school to the NBA. Judging by your lack of response – without much success.

Of course there’s Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and Michael Conley – the first class to sojourn on a college campus one year before becoming eligible for the NBA draft.

In just a few short decades we have gone from youngsters benefitting from the wisdom and counsel of college coaches, to an era where college coaches must market themselves and their institutions to attract prized recruits. Part of this marketing includes letting the individual display his talents whether it is for the common good or not. For some the game has become less about post entry passes and more about alley oops.

Many young athletes have abandoned the lessons to be learned from the structure provided by a college coach.

Amid this back drop of 21st century American hoops are hall-of-fame coaches, Jim Calhoun and Mike Krzyzewski.

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While coaches from all sports look for greener grass, Calhoun and Coach K have thrown down some roots.

Armed with a combined five national titles and twelve final four appearances Calhoun and Coach K forge ahead into this new frontier of American basketball.

Calhoun’s Huskies most recently climbed the NCAA summit in 2004, Kryzyzewski’s Blue Devils in 2001. Recently the two have found it difficult to survive the first weekend of tournament play.

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From 1986 to 1994 seven of Krzyzewski’s Blue Devil squads made it to the final four – winning the title in ’91 and ’92. Many likened this run to John Wooden’s teams at UCLA that won ten titles in twelve years during the 60’s and 70’s. Analysts pointed to a larger tournament field and an increased level of competition for recruits as reason why no school could duplicate that of the Wooden’s Bruins.

Now Calhoun and Krzyzewski’s squads seem like nothing more than mid-major bulls eye fodder.

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Earlier this season Calhoun suspended Jerome Dyson for nine games and Doug Wiggins two games for violating team rules. While other schools might penalize players by taking away starting privileges and sitting an athlete for a half, Calhoun sent home a message to his players: If you plan on playing at UConn you will appropriately represent this school.

Calhoun was quoted: ‘We feel that life doesn’t begin and end on the court. It’s how we show ourselves as a basketball program. Academics are very important here, and we’ve had some disappointments. Social behavior is very important here.”

The Husky coach might as we …

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