Calipari to Kentucky

Not much to say here, other than it generally sucks to be a college basketball fan. If you're a fan of 95% of the schools, any success your team has will be followed by the coach who built that success leaving for one of the other 5% of schools, also known as the traditional powers. If you're a fan of one of the traditional powers, it's also depressing because the only acceptable season is one that results in a championship and that happens once a decade or so even in the best programs.
Cal to Kentucky is part of life in college basketball. He'll probably do fine there, because he's one of the best recruiters around. No one can blame him for going after more money and probably a better chance to win championships than he had in Memphis. The pressure will be ramped up, but he seems like the type who will thrive on it.
As far as the prospects involved, I suspect this changes the status of Tyreke Evans entrance into the 2009 NBA draft from probable to certain. I have little idea what affect it will have on Pat Patterson or Jodie Meeks. I doubt Patterson will be affected much, as he's a talented player who would do well in any system. Meeks seems like more of a beneficiary of a system to me and he may never find his draft stock higher than it is now.

Sweet 16/Elite 8 ramblings

Right now I think Carolina looks pretty safe as the team to beat. Nova has been seriously good, but with no real NBA prospects, I'll be very surprised if they even get into the final game. Same for Michigan State. UConn is strong, but I doubt their perimeter guys can stay with the Heels. NC has enough depth inside that they should be able to neutralize Thabeet. That's the games, but this blog is about the prospects. Let's look at what the prospects have done for their prospects.

• Nothing happened to change my opinion that Tyreke Evans is the best perimeter prospect in college.
• Blake Griffin's defense is subpar and this could become an issue before the draft. Ditto for Dejuan Blair, but these two are by far the top PF prospets.
• Cole Aldrich could well be a top 5 pick if he declares this year. Aldrich had as good a tournament as any big man. With even the best big men having questions, Aldrich should start looking better and better to NBA people.
• This tournament is shaping up as belonging to Ty Lawson. He's had a couple disappointing finishes his first two seasons and seemed headed for another after sitting out some games with an injured toe. In 3 games Lawson has averaged 20 PPG, shot 57%, dished out 20 assists while commiting only 2 TOs. This performance, while playing injured, should convince any doubters that he's clearly the best pure PG in the draft and worthy of a top 10 pick.

Why hasn't Zoubek played more?

Why is Brian Zoubek, and Miles Plumlee for that matter, getting so little PT? In yet another disappointing tournament exit, the Blue Devils were crushed by Villanova last night. Zoubek played only 14 minutes, Plumlee didn't play. Teams don't win the NCAA championship without solid inside play. For most teams a 3- or 4-guard lineup is a necessity, because they lack any quality big men. Playing so many guards is just their way of getting the best players on the court. Duke doesn't have that excuse. While Zoubek is hardly the the next big thing, his per minute numbers are are something any center prospect would love to have on his resume. The pain of Henderson and Scheyer going a combined 4-32 last night could have been eased had Zoubek been utilized for some easy baskets and putbacks against Villanova's smallish front line.
It also bothers me as a draft geek that a decent prospect in Zoubek has spent 3 years wasting away in an offense that isn't suited to him. Coach K has a choice. He could tweak the offense for 2009-10, getting Zoubek, Plumlee and incoming freshmen Kelly more involved. Or he could continue with the smallball, run through the ACC and land a decent tournament seed before getting embarassed again.