June 12
BOGANS SHOULD STAY IN SCHOOL
Here is a bulletin message for Keith Bogans: Don't make a mistake by staying in the NBA draft.
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| Keith Bogans averaged 17 ppg and 2.4 apg in 2000-01. |
Don't become a basketball vagabond, chasing all over to play in Europe or the minor leagues. You can improve your stock by going back to the college campus.
He can learn from the move made by Arizona's Jason Gardner. Pulling out of the draft was a wise decision by Gardner.
Bogans can hook up again with Tayshaun Prince, who made an intelligent decision by returning to school. Remember, the Wildcats also get back Jules Camara, who sat out last season. Big things can happen on the Lexington campus.
The message is loud and clear to Keith: Go back and work on completing your game. Become a better, more consistent perimeter shooter. Continue to work on the other facets of your game. Don't worry about what your peers think. It is not a step backwards by returning to school. It will help you improve long-term.
Bogans should ask Jamaal Magloire how much it helped him to return to Kentucky. It helped get Magloire into the NBA; without the extra year of collegiate experience, who knows what would have happened?
Bogans has so much more to give to the college game.
STRONGER SCHEDULE FOR RICHMOND
Richmond has really stepped it up this season. Coach John Beilein does a great job there, and he has a big-time challenge next season.
The Spiders have a stronger conference schedule by moving from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Atlantic 10. Then there is the non-league agenda: Richmond takes on Cincinnati, Wake Forest, Mississippi State and Charlotte. That's pretty solid competition!
Give a salute to Beilein for taking on such a challenging schedule. Last season, the NCAA Tournament selection committee passed over the Spiders. The stronger schedule should help Richmond's RPI rating.
CLASSIC DOUBLEHEADER
The early season John Wooden Classic doubleheader in Conseco Fieldhouse has interesting pairings.
Quin Snyder's highly regarded Missouri team takes on Xavier, while Stanford battles Purdue. Remember, the Boilermakers stunned Arizona early last season.
For Thad Matta, Xavier's new coach, the test against the Tigers is just one rugged nonconference matchup. The Musketeers take on Cincinnati in one of the more underrated rivalries in America. Xavier also has Purdue, Creighton, Kent State and Wisconsin on tap.
