I tweeted about this quite a bit a few minutes ago, but thought it was worth blogging about. Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale have been calling for high school basketball players, once they sign with colleges, to have to stay in college for three years before entering the draft. That’s the same system they have for the NFL and, to a certain extent, college baseball though in baseball you can go into the draft out of high school, but once you get to college, you have to be 21 before you enter the draft. The difference between playing pro football out of high school and playing pro basketball and baseball is pretty significant. But i’m going to concentrate on football and basketball for now. For every Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard there are very few high school football players who can go straight to the NFL because they’re just not ready physically. Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker and maybe even Marcus Lattimore were exceptions. But there are just not many of those, very few, maybe a half to one percent.
In basketball, it’s more realistic. You don’t have to have reached your potential physically in basketball to make the jump to the NBA. Guys like James and Howard were already pretty developed and could make the jump. Bryant and Garnett needed to grow, but they had the skill level to make it to the league. So in basketball, there are exceptions, not a lot, but some, who can make the leap from high school to the pros. It’s against the rules because kids have to spend one year in college basketball to qualify for the NBA draft.

But disallowing a player to make the jump after a year is unconstitutional. Don’t get me wrong, I love college basketball. I want to see guys stay as long as possible so the quality of play is better. There is a huge difference between a junior and senior and a freshman and even a sophomore though there are the exceptions there; the elite guys. Just think if John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe had come back to Kentucky. They would have been awesome this year. But John Calipari has to keep reloading with new freshmen every year it’s starting to seem like.

But you can’t deny a guy his right to play professionally and earn a living. That seems to be a violation of his freedom of speech in my opinion. There are commentators like Skip Bayless of ESPN who think the kids should be allowed to play professionally right out of high school, and, constitutionally, they are probably right. But everybody wants the level of play to be better in college and in pro ball. Kids going out of high school and being able to play in the NBA are more frequent now, but not that frequent. It doesn’t matter because the rule is one year of college ball as decided by the NBA and the NCAA. That could be challenged in the future, but that’s the way it is right now.

I think two years in college ball makes sense. Players get a chance to develop their skills, maybe help their team win a national championship and become more mature people emotionally and physically.

I still believe in the college game and think it’s terrific, but I can’t deny a young guys’ right to make a living. College basketball is really a business for these guys. And while I’m a strong believer in getting an education, a lot of these guys don’t want to be in school; they just want to play basketball. They deserve that right. Really, legally, the right thing to do is to let  them go straight to the NBA out of high school. But I don’t think the league or college basketball wants that. It might ruin the quality of play at both levels. Players should be paid a stipend in college as I have called for in previous blogs, to give them incentive to want to attend and play college basketball. I think that should happen in the future. But for right now, I think it should be a two year tenure in college for guys who want to play in the NBA. I can’t argue with one year, the way it is now; but in my opinion, two years would be more beneficial for all parties, the NBA, the NCAA and the players. Also, for the fans.

(LeBron and Kobe made the jump from high school to the NBA successfully.)

‘Bama plays in another key game at Baton Rouge tomorrow night at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Tide now 16-8 and 8-2 in conference. Playing for the conference title if they can keep it up. Will preview game tomorrow on blog. ‘Bama with an 85 RPI, but Joe Lunardi of ESPN has them in his bracket and he’s a pretty good forecaster. His success rate is very high for predicting the tournament. Play at home against Arkansas Saturday at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.
Blazers travel to Memphis tonight  for a 6 p.m. tipoff on CBS College Sports in a huge game for the Blazers’ tourney hopes. Memphis has been a major thorn in the Blazers’ side the last several years. They haven’t won against Memphis in their last 10 tries. Memphis is 31-10 against the Blazers all time. The last time the Blazers beat the Tigers was 2006 at UAB when Mike Anderson was the coach. Memphis won at UAB, 76-73, in overtime in January. Will Barton of Memphis had 17 points and eight boards.

Memphis has seven freshmen on their roster, many who play key roles on the team. Memphis is 19-6 overall and 7-3 in CUSA and are playing for a tourney berth as well so this game is big for them, too. Freshman Will Barton, a 6’6″ guard,  leads the Tigers at 13.2 ppg and five rebounds. Junior Wesley Witherspoon, a 6’9″ power forward is next at 11.5 per game and 4.9 rebounds. Freshman point guard Joe Jackson, 6’1″, averages 9.3 ppg and has 89 assists but 84 turnovers. Six foot, eight forward Tank Black, another frosh, averages 9.1 ppg and 5.1 rebounds. Antonio Barton, a 6’2″ frosh guard and Will’s twin brother, averages 8.0 ppg.

The Blazers (18-6, 8-3) will once again be without Cam Moore, who is out for a couple of weeks with a broken hand, so guys like Ovie Soko (6’9″) and Anthony Criswell (6’10”) will have to step up for the Blazers. Moore had 24 points and 11 boards in the first meeting. Jamarr Sanders scored 15 against the Tigers in January, but was o for 10 from trifecta. He has to hit about four or five threes to keep the Blazers in this one. Jamarr is averaging 18.6 ppg and had 37 against Rice on Saturday,a 74-69 Blazers win. Sanders was 11-of-22 from the field, eight-of-14 from trifecta and seven-of-seven from the free throw line against Rice. Aaron Johnson will once again have to carry the team at the point. He has 179 assists (7.5 per game) on the season to 88 turnovers.

For the Blazers to win this game they will have to shoot the three well. Mike Davis will rely on Sanders and guys like Preston Purifoy, whom he says is an outstanding shooter. Dexter Fields will be a big factor. He is shooting 40 percent from trifecata (44-of-108). Criswell and Soko will have to hold their own in the middle and UAB will have to stay pretty even with the Tigers on the boards. If they get to the line, they need to shoot 70-75 percent from there. Threes and free throws are critical in road games. It’s a major challenge for the Blazers, which need this game desperately for their NCAA tourney hopes. The Blazers RPI is 35, but Cusa’s conference RPI is eighth in the country and there may only be two teams from the conference that get into the tourney even possibly one, so UAB has to win a game like this to get in the conversation for a tourney bid. If they win tonight and finish strong they could very well get in.

Auburn with a huge come from behind victory Saturday over Miss. State. Auburn was down 19 in the second half and came back and won, 65-62. The new Auburn Arena has everybody inspired. Now AU (9-15, 2-8) faces Ole Miss (16-9, 4-6) in a West showdown at Ole Miss. Earnest Ross was huge Saturday with 21 points. Kenny Gabriel added 18. Help is on the way next year with three, three-star signees and a couple of transfers, but Tony Barbee has the Tigers playing hard right now. Ross leads the team at 13.5 ppg and 6.9 rbg. He also shoots 76 % from the line. Gabriel is averaging 9,9 points and six boards, and Rob Chubb, back in the lineup Saturday after a suspension, averages eight points and four boards. Josh Wallace had a key three point play Saturday against State late in the game. The gritty point guard averages only 5.6 points but has 93 assists.

Ole Miss  is led by point guard Chris Warren who averages 18.6 ppg. He was pretty quiet in a loss to Alabama on Saturday though. He is shooting 93. 8% from the foul line, best in the conference. He’s 122-0of-130 from the stripe. Warren also has 93 assists. Guard Zach Graham is averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds. Six-ten forward Terrance Henry is averaging 8.6 points and six boards. Reginald Buckner,a 6’9″ forward, averages averages 7.3 points and 6.5 boards. And 6’4″ guard Nick Williams, a transfer from Indiana who played at LeFlore in Mobile, averages 7.2 points and four boards.

For Auburn to win they just have to keep scrappin’. That’s the key to this Tigers team. They don’t have as much talent as Ole Miss, but they have proven they can beat teams with more talent as they beat SC on the road and State on Sat. Their game before State they lost to a good Georgia team in overtime at Athens. This is a team that plays with a lot of passion and they’re coming together and becoming a pretty decent basketball team. Ross will have to play big as will Gabriel and Chubb. Have to contain Warren. Whoever guards him, probably Ross or Gabriel, have their work cut out for them. If they do contain him and keep him off the line, they have a shot.

Auburn hosts Vandy Saturday at 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.Will have Alabama preview tomorrow.

I’m sorry I’m not more profound than that, but that was exactly what I was saying to myself after that epic thriller at Memorial Gym in Nashville last night. It was a game for the ages and, to me, goes down as one of the most classic regular season games in SEC history, at least in the last 10 years. So many big plays, so many big shots. Two teams that wanted it badly. One team, Vandy (17-6, 5-4 SEC),had to have it. Alabama (15-8, 7-2) is a tournament team, there is no doubt in my mind. Their performances over the last two weeks and particularly last night on ESPN2 proved it. They’ve got some work left, but if they keep this up, they’ll win the majority of their games the rest of the season. Vandy grew up before Vandy fans’ eyes last night. They were a team that was struggling in late games earlier in the season. They had lost big leads at South Carolina and at Tennessee in January. There was probably some self doubt on the team that they could hold a lead last. But they dug deep this time and showed that a Vandy team with three four star players, one five star and one high three star in the starting lineup for the first time ever at Vandy, are for real and have come into their own.
I just want to say that Anthony Grant is one of the top 20 coaches in the country. I gave Kevin Stallings the slight edge going into last night’s game, but that game wasn’t decided by coaching. Those two coaches are both tremendous.They are equal in ability. Both are phenomenal and passionate.  There is no difference. Stallings is more of an offensive-minded coach, but he believes in good defense like all coaches do. Grant has made this Alabama team a stellar defensive team, but they showed last night they can score. Grant’s coaching reminds me a lot of Mike Anderson, and before him, Nolan Richardson. He just puts his great athletes on the floor and let’s them get after it on the defensive end and create offensive opportunities off their defensive pressure. He has instilled a passion in his players. A guy like JaMychal Green, who was stellar last night and has been stellar for the past two weeks, has come into his own. Green seemed to be a bit of a head case under Mark Gottfried, a good guy and a good recruiter who had lost his team in the last few years. He has been a head case under Grant until recently. Grant has set him straight though. Green hadn’t been challenged to be the best he could be. But Grant has straightened Green out. He’s playing like the All American he was expected to be when he signed as a five star player out of Montgomery three years ago. Guys like Senario Hillman are passionate, highly athletic players. Hillman made some huge plays last night for his team. He’s got NBA athleticism and I hope he gets a shot at the next level. He at least deserves a shot at an NCAA run this year and maybe a career in Europe that could ultimately lead to the NBA.

There were just so many stellar players in this game. Green had 23 and 10 and was 10 of 11 from the free throw line. His free throw shooting has been tremendous. When you have a big guy who can knock down free throws it’s such a weapon. Festus Ezeli of Vandy has done that recently. More on him later. Green even hit a huge three with 2:17 left that tied the game at 71. Tony Mitchell added 22 on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, but he seemed to disappear a little bit at the end. Vandy’s defense on him was pretty good in the last eight minutes. Trevor Releford is going to be a star in this league for the next couple of years. The freshman point guard scored 11 points but it seemed like he was all over the floor. Chris Hines played a good game with nine points and five boards. And Hillman and Andrew Steele hit some key baskets. They  scored only six with three boards apiece, but both made some big plays when it counted. Hillman really turned up the defense throughout the game.

For VU, there were a lot of heroes as well. Tinsley made the Jordanesque shot with 17 seconds left. It was a tense time with Vandy down 77-76 and looking like they might not pull this one out. But Tinsley jumped and showed great body control, keeping his balance in the air and launching the 15 footer that went through. He was fouled by Releford, his fifth which was pretty big since Alabama had another possession coming up, and made the free throw to put Vandy up 79-77. Tinsley finished the night with 15 points, six assists and was seven of seven from the free throw line. The amazing Jeff Taylor played like the player everyone thought he’d be. He’s had performances like that this year, one against Mississippi State that stands out. But this may have been his biggest stage and he took advantage of it before fouling out with 1:30 left. He was seven-of-11 from the field, four-of-five from trifecta and added eight rebounds in scoring 19 points on the night. Talk about some huge three pointers. Taylor was dynamite from trifecta. If he keeps that up and starts really driving to the hole, there will be no question he’ll be an impact player at the next level maybe next year though Vandy fans hope it’s not for two years. John Jenkins, Vandy’s stellar sophomore, had 20 points on five-of-11 from the field, only one-of-four from trifecta and nine-of-11 from the free throw line. If you know Jenkins, nine-of-11 from the line is almost unacceptable to him as he is a 90% free throw shooter.

Alabama had a shot to tie it in the last 17 seconds. Green got the ball on the baseline and was moving towards the basket and looked to be pushed by Ezeli. There was no whistle, but then the whistle blew and Green was called for having his foot out of bounds. The replay shows Ezeli pushing him and Green’s foot clearly not out of bounds, but ‘Bama didn’t get the call. That’s going to happen late in games at the other team’s place. Vandy got robbed at Florida on a three pointer by Jenkins late in the game where Jenkins was fouled but there was a no call. That happens in big games in the SEC, really any where in the country in the big conference games. There were quite a few calls that could have gone either way throughout the game.

One guy I didn’t mention was Ezeli of Vandy. Ezeli had 11 points and six boards, not spectacular numbers, but he was five-of-six from the free throw line with two huge ones with 1:2o left that put the ‘Dores up 76-75. If you’ve watched Ezeli the past two years, you’ve seen him really struggle from the stripe. He was at best a 50 percent free throw shooter last year. Every time he toed the stripe last year, you knew he was going to miss it. But he committed himself to free throws in the offseason and this year and it has paid off big time. He’s just a 63 percent free throw shooter now, but the past five or six games he’s got to be shooting 70-75 percent. It’s just been an amazing improvement and a testament to how hard the junior has worked.

Bottom line, both of these teams are NCAA tourney teams in my opinion. Vandy’s been considered pretty much a lock since the SEC season started. Alabama is now making their way into the minds of the Selection Committee. After last night, both teams should have cemented bids if they can keep playing well. Alabama has more pressure on them because they have ground to make up from their non conference struggles. Their RPI is only 96 so there is work left to be done. Same for Vandy. The season is far from over. Both teams have big games Saturday. ‘Bama hosts West rival Ole Miss at 3 p.m. on the SEC Network and Vandy plays host to Kentucky at noon on CBS.

I know that was just one game, but its sure was  special and one that will be remembered as a season changer for Vandy and one in which Alabama improved their tournament resume. It was a tremendous college basketball game. I know there was a winner and a loser on the scoreboard, but there were no losers in this game.  Both are marquee teams and headed for March with high hopes.

(JaMychal Green, left, and Brad Tinsley played like All-Americans last night.)

Alabama @ Vanderbilt
Time: 8 p.m.

Where: Memorial Gym (14,000+ capacity) Nashvegas

TV: ESPN2

Records: Alabama (7-1 SEC, 15-7 overall) RPI: 96

No.23/24 Vanderbilt(AP, ESPN polls) (16-6, 4-4) RPI:20

The Key Players:

‘Bama: JaMychal Green (6’8″ 228, Jr. 15.6 ppg, 7.5 rbg), Tony Mitchell (6’6″ 210, soph. 15.3, 7.5), Trevor Releford (6’1″, 180 frosh. 9.9 ppg. 78 assists), Charvez Davis (6’3″, 186, Sr. 9.1 ppg, 47-124 trifecta, 37%), Senario Hillman (6’2″, 195, Sr. 8 ppg), Chris Hines (6’8″ 227, Sr. 5.1 ppg, 6.5 rbg), Andrew Steele (6’4″, 230 redshirt soph. 3.8 ppg)

Vandy: John Jenkins (6’4, 220 soph. 19.2 ppg, 63-154 trifecta 40%, 104-115 fts 90%) Jeffrey Taylor (6’7″, 225, Jr. 14.9 ppg, 5.2 rbg) Festus Ezeli12.8 ppg, 6.1 rbg), Brad Tinsley (6’3″, 210, Jr. 10.5 ppg, 100 assists, 50 turnovers), Rod Odom (6’9″, 215, Frosh. 4.7 ppg, 23-54 trifecta, 42%), Lance Golbourne (6’8″, 230, Jr. 7.7 ppg, 7.5 rbg), Steve Tchiengang (6’9″, 245, Jr. 5.2 ppg. 3.8 rbg).

Analysis: For ‘Bama to win they’ve got to defend like they’ve been defending and put pressure on the ‘Dores in the backcourt. If they can force 15 to 20 turnovers and win the battle of the boards, they’ve got a shot. The team sank 10 of 10 free throws in overtime last Saturday to upset Tennessee, 65-60. Shooting 72% from the line. If Green can get to the line, getting Ezeli and Tchiengang in foul trouble, and make his free throws, that would help Tide. Tony Mitchell a key factor. He will be going against another terrific athlete in Jeff Taylor of Vandy. They are probably the two best athletes in the SEC. Who wins that battle could determine the outcome. Taylor can be tentative at times going to the hole, but has improved his three point shooting. If Mitchell can win the battle with Taylor, that would help the Tide’s chances. Trevor Releford, the Tide’s frosh point guard, will probably have the quickness advantage over whoever guards him. Could be John Jenkins or Brad Tinsley, both good players, but not as quick as Releford. If Releford can drive to the basket and sink layups or pass it to Green or Mitchell for easy scores, Tide will be in good shape. Also, the outside shooting for Tide could be a factor. If Charvez Davis, Andrew Steele and Releford can sink some threes, that would help.

For Vandy to win they have to handle the Tide’s pressure because it’s coming. How Brad Tinsley and his backup, Kyle Fuller, take care of the ball  will be a big factor in this game. Ezeli and Tchiengang need to stay out of foul trouble and hold their  own on the boards. Tchiengang and Lance Golbourne, a great rebounder, have both battled with  bad ankles and they are key players on the interior for the ‘Dores, so we’ll see if the lingering effects of their  injuries play a factor at all. Jenkins needs to shoot well from three of course. He usually does, maybe one of the best pure shooters in the country, he has figured out how to get himself open off screens and sprinting around on the floor. He’s also gotten pretty good at driving to the basket. And Jeff Taylor is always a factor for Vandy. How well he plays both on offense and defense could determine the outcome of this game. Tinsley can sink some threes too, as well as the emerging freshman Rod Odom.

Key matchups: 1. Taylor vs. Mitchell; 2. Ezeli vs. Green 3. Tinsley vs. Releford

Coaching: Anthony Grant has brought this team a long way in the last two years. He has his players committed to defense and they lead the SEC in scoring defense. They are relentless on the defensive end. If they’re scoring in the middle with Green and and Mitchell and Releford, Davis and Steele are hitting their outside shots, ‘Bama tough to beat. Grant done a terrific job and he’s a first class guy.

Kevin Stallings: He’s in his 12th season at Vandy and is 213-137 as coach of the ‘Dores. He has led Vandy to two Sweet 16 appearances in 2004 and 2007 and was a no call on a Georgetown walk of making it to the Elite Eight in 2007. He’s done a tremendous job at Vandy and every one of his players who have played for him have graduated. Pretty phenomenal. He’s a great competitor and is dedicated to his players. Can work it in the half court and also play up tempo. I would say he’s a better offensive coach than defensive coach. He always has great scorers.

Coaching edge: Vandy barely

Final Analysis: Should be a classic SEC showdown in the Music City. Vanderbilt really needs this game to keep pace in the SEC East. Alabama has to keep winning to keep their NCAA tourney hopes alive. Key game for both squads. Both teams are very athletic. If Vandy can handle Bama’s pressure, and win or stay even on the boards, and shoot well enough, they’ll win. If Tide can put the clamps down on defense and shoot well enough themselves in the middle with Green and Mitchell and outside with Releford, Davis, Mitchell and Hillman, they get it done. But I’ve got to go with the home team. Alabama hasn’t beaten Vandy in a long time in Memorial Gym. This is one they can get because they are a good team and becoming a very good team, but I’m going with the Dores in a tight one that may go into overtime.

Vandy 75, Alabama 73 overtime

(Tony Mitchell of ‘Bama, left, and John Jenkins of Vandy are critical to their team’s success tonight.)

Here is Alabama’s signing class thus far. Both Alabama and Auburn want to sign shooting guard Trevor Lacey from Butler of Huntsville. He’s a four star and can light it up. Had 51 recently. 6’4″, 190 shooting guard. ‘Bama’s class looks very good. Lacey could make it a top 10 class. Anthony Grant and Tony Barbee going hard for Lacey.
‘Bama class of 2011:

AU needs to add some players. Will check with some sources to see who else they’re after and have it up later in the week. Got a couple of good players out of Central Park Christian in B’ham. Both big guys. One is an established player, the other may be more of a project. Both are just commits, not signees yet. Need to close them out and get a few more.

AU’s class:

Both of UAB’s players are commits, not signees. Mike Davis needs to get to work.

UAB class:

Kentucky’s class truly amazing. Calipari is the Nick Saban of basketball. Just keeps reelin’ em in. If he could keep’em for more than one year, he might be able to win it all for a couple or three years in a row. Maybe he’s got some guys who want to stay in college and win a national championship. That would be refreshing.

Ky’s class 2011:’

Bama looking pretty good. Just need Lacey to finish it off. Will be fighting with Kentucky. Apparently, Lacey likes Ky a lot and they’re bringing in a stellar class as you can see above. Will stay on top of it.

(Anthony Grant and Tony Barbee going to fight it out for Trevor Lacey and Barbee needs some others.)