I'll admit it, I was a hater. I didn't believe in Memphis because of their weak schedule until I saw them blow out their opponent with ease in their conference championship game. Until I realized how scary good Derrick Rose is.
I also think that this year's Final Four showcases some of the best college basketball teams in history. Any of the four could have won. But what makes the difference for the Memphis Tigers is their Freshman freak child Derrick Rose.
At 6-3, 205 pounds, point guard Derrick Rose is an outstanding rebounder and a pure athletic specimen. Think LeBron James, just not as freakishly overbearing. He's shorter and not as thick—LeBron is listed at 6-8, 240. He'll put up J-Kidd like numbers in the NBA but Kidd is more of a true point guard.
Rose is LeBron as a point guard. And James is currently putting up 30 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game in the NBA. These numbers are Kidd in his prime like numbers; Chris Paul-like numbers. That's how good Derrick Rose will be.
This season he's only averaging 15 points, four rebounds, and five assists in 28 minutes per game, but he also has to share the back court with fellow future NBA first-round pick Chris Douglas-Roberts who drops 18 points a night, including 28 on Saturday against UCLA.
In the NCAA Tournament however, Rose is averaging 34 minutes played, 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Pretty solid numbers for a college point guard and comparable to LeBron's NBA stats.
Kansas head coach Bill Self explained in media interviews how Rose can go the length of the court in four dribbles. Dick Vitale said that he is the best player in the country, and that out of this year's draft class he would pick Rose to build a franchise around.
Memphis head coach John Calipari called him "a unique program changer." And if the Michael Beasley's and the O.J. Mayo's weren't as flashy and overshadowing, Derrick Rose would be the standout consensus number one pick in the NBA draft.
I believe he would be an excellent pick for my woeful Knicks, who need to get rid of Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury, and insert Derrick Rose as the point guard. Rose is lightning quick and possesses great power for his size, he's a good shooter, an excellent rebounder, and a good passer. His ability to get to the rim is LeBron-esque.
Oh and he can throw it down too. I guess it just comes with wearing the number 23.
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3 months ago
When I told people about Rose, they would IMMEDIATELY GO TO STATS... Told them stats soemtimes lie. Go back, look at his games. He would have his WORST games against the Popcorn States of the world, but his BEST GAMES against tough competition. Bulls fans, don't like the Knicks, but will be placed in a strange position because this guy is not only a GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER, BUT A GREAT PERSON! May have to root for the Knicks. DARN!!!
Saw him in HS over 10 times. He is simply amazing...
3 months ago
It's funny to see all these "writers" talking down CUSA teams. CUSA has made some conferences the powers they are after it was robbed of it's "power" teams: Cincy, Marquette and Louisville, to name a few (went to Big East). One of the "worst" CUSA teams this year, Tulane, went 3 - 0 against SEC schools - Auburn, LSU and Georgia, the SEC champs. Should I repeat that? In FACT if you compare how CUSA played against the SEC (you know, home of the current NCAA champs), you'd find out that CUSA won the majority of those matchups. Should I repeat THAT? Meanwhile, with regards to the current state of "sportswriters" in this country, we need more writers who actually played the sport and fewer Harry Potter kids who learned it on video games. Come on you guys - the facts are out there - look at them!
from 3 months ago
Auburn, LSU, and Georgia? None of them would have made it to the NCAA tournament if Georgia didn't go on a miraculous run (they then lost in the first round). And the SEC was in a down year- 2 time defending national champ Florida didn't even make the tournament. Yes C-USA has been good in the past, but the fact is that this year it wasn't very strong.
from 3 months ago
Memphis played Tulsa in the conference championship game and won by 26! Tulsa? Really?
3 months ago
i dont think hell be lebron like point guard or CP3, but ill go for hall-of-famer
3 months ago
Rose will be is good as CP3 if not better... he is more athletic and more size i want the sonics to get him so durant, green and rose could tear it up in a few years
2 months ago
the sonics would be sick if they managed to get him.
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