Amath declaring for NBA draft...

[JBaker]

I have nothing to say until he hires an agent. This could be one of those moments when he tests the draft, realizes he's not going to get drafted, and come back for grad school.

I thought this too, but he apparently said he's hiring an agent.

 

[bgrch1350]

OK enough with this thread. Clown posts and idiocy reign. I'm out and I hope the thread gets locked. Man it's amazing how short an amount of time it takes before offseason thoughts stink up this board.

I agree with you on this.

 

[NickZepp]

My guess is he'll end up being a decent player in France. Some people have had enough of college and I respect M'Baye's decision.

 

[tsou89]

I certainly see all the reasons he might want to "move on". Age, degree, etc.

My question would be this. Did LK know this was a possibility? Based on our current recruiting I'm not sure that's the case. Also, did OU get much bang for our buck? I'm not really talking about PPG or RPG, etc. He got 2 years of free education and we got one year of hoops.

I don't want to sound bitter...we did make the NCAA with him a major contribution. But, I would doubt many D1 coaches at a major program take a transfer from Wyoming, take the mandatory redshirt. Then expect to only get one year out him when he has 2 left.

Honestly, I think OU got screwed just a bit in this deal.

 

[bgrch1350]

Who is Ellis?

None of these guys have even stepped on the hardwood at the LNC. So they don't matter yet.

How many Capel recruits didn't show up? Better yet, how many came and then left within the first year? Chris Early, Bobby Maze, Kyle Cannon, TJ Taylor, etc.

I know you are loving this but when we are better than you think next year, you won't show up here except when we lose and then you will be here to say "I told you so". I complained every day about Capel, but I was here when he won (which wasn't much) and when he lost. You can't do the same.

1st) Meant Elliot not Ellis
2nd) It does matter b/c this his recruiting class whether their here or not.
3rd) Bobby Maze may have transferred but he turned into a good PG for Tennessee and that was Capels first year as well.
4th) I want OU to be good...but that doesn't mean I have to kid myself when its obvious that their going to struggle. We were a 10th seed this season, and now we lost 4 starters and our best reserve.
5th) Capels gone. This is Krugers team now. Next year will be his 3rd season. Season 4 looks promising, but season 3 looks really bad.

 

[skyvue]

Honestly, I think OU got screwed just a bit in this deal.

I'll admit to feeling the same way, for the reasons you cited. Not so much because of his decision (well, maybe a little, for purely selfish reasons), but because of the way it was handled.

I won't harbor a lingering resentment toward Amath or anything, but for right now, this stings. We've been left in the lurch, and it didn't have to be that way with better communication between M'Baye and the coaches along the way.

 

[CoachTalk]

I certainly see all the reasons he might want to "move on". Age, degree, etc.

Honestly, I think OU got screwed just a bit in this deal.

OU didn't get screwed. Myself included and many others thought he was a one and done. We got a good year out of him, he helped us to the dance.

 

[uberjamb]

I do think Amath broke something of an unwritten rule with the way he used an athletic scholarship to get a degree and didn't hold up the entirety of the athletic portion. That being said, this is such an interesting case, because it seems that instead of leaving due to delusions of NBA ability, he is leaving because he accomplished his goal (a degree). I really cannot dislike a person for coming, getting a degree, and going home. I had a friend of mine, who happens to teach at OU, say he was the model of a student/athlete. I can't harbor resentment.

 

[mict085]

Glad he finished his degree. I'm a little disappointed and surprised he's leaving after the uneven season he's had. That said, I wish him well and have no bad feelings toward him.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I do think Amath broke something of an unwritten rule with the way he used an athletic scholarship to get a degree and didn't hold up the entirety of the athletic portion. That being said, this is such an interesting case, because it seems that instead of leaving due to delusions of NBA ability, he is leaving because he accomplished his goal (a degree). I really cannot dislike a person for coming, getting a degree, and going home. I had a friend of mine, who happens to teach at OU, say he was the model of a student/athlete. I can't harbor resentment.

The only thing he did wrong was not tell his coaches what his plans were. I doubt that he made this decision this week.

 

[StatGeek]

Definitely shocked to see this news, but at the end of the day I don't think this will hurt as much as most think.

 

[152219]

Shocking. Oh well. Best wishes to M'baye.

Oh yeah, Capel bashers and supporters, please shut up

 

[campbest]

We had random posters last summer saying he may go pro based on his age. If Kruger didn't have an idea his head was in the sand, this was always a possibility.

 

[MsProudSooner]

We had random posters last summer saying he may go pro based on his age. If Kruger didn't have an idea his head was in the sand, this was always a possibility.

Of course it's always a possibility. And I don't think there's a coach in the world that wouldn't be aware of that. But based on what has been said in this thread, it doesn't sound like he kept his coaches in the loop on what his plans were and that's not fair to his coaches or his teammates.

 

[playmakr]

There is a major, false sense from a lot of people on this board about what most overseas professional basketball players are paid and their lifestyle. He's not making a very good financial decision. But, hopefully he can make a good overseas team and do well with them.

 

[bgrch1350]

OU didn't get screwed. Myself included and many others thought he was a one and done. We got a good year out of him, he helped us to the dance.

You also thought he was the best player on the team going into the season and you were way off on that.

 

[campbest]

Of course it's always a possibility. And I don't think there's a coach in the world that wouldn't be aware of that. But based on what has been said in this thread, it doesn't sound like he kept his coaches in the loop on what his plans were and that's not fair to his coaches or his teammates.

Like coaches not keeping their players in the loop while they hunt for new jobs and then bolting when they get something better? Doesn't sound fair to the players.

There is a major, false sense from a lot of people on this board about what most overseas professional basketball players are paid and their lifestyle. He's not making a very good financial decision. But, hopefully he can make a good overseas team and do well with them.

Agree to an extent, but Jonathan Givony says Amath will command a low six figure salary across the pond, especially since he as a French passport and a mandated foreign roster slot won't be occupied. Amath is not a first round player, might as well cash the check early with a degree in hand.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

I wish the young man the best!!! So glad he got his degree and gave himself a viable fall back option.

He represented the program well, and seemed to buy into being a Sooner. No character issues and he graduated. Good luck to him and GOD bless him & his family........ BOOMER!!!!!!!

 

[sperry]

The only thing he did wrong was not tell his coaches what his plans were. I doubt that he made this decision this week.

Sorry, but you just aren't going to disrupt everything in the middle of the year and tournament run by telling your teammates you're bailing on them at the end of the season. To expect otherwise is ridiculous. He's a talented, athletic guy. Kruger should have been planning for this contingency, and I would imagine he was.



As for his decision, I can't say I blame him. The financial decision is a fine one. The top French league is a good league, and players get decent salaries. And hell, he might even make an NBA roster. Worse players than him have gotten a shot because of athletic ability. Plus, even with Amath back next year, we still would ahve been worse than this season, and we barely made the tournament this year. Coming back to play in the NIT your senior year is not an exciting proposition.

 

[NickZepp]

There is a major, false sense from a lot of people on this board about what most overseas professional basketball players are paid and their lifestyle. He's not making a very good financial decision. But, hopefully he can make a good overseas team and do well with them.

Depends on him and what he wants. I'll agree he ain't making it in the NBA based on what he's done in college so far. But if he is ready to move on who is to say if this is a good or bad decision? It's his life. And I'm not sure he would exactly be a top NBA player after another year either. It does suck that we lost a talented player.