I didn't specifically mean just the LSU game. I meant in general in his two years at Duke, McRoberts was a bust.
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Sorry, but you're way off base calling McRoberts a bust. Here are his stats for two years at Duke.
http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/pla...josh-mcroberts
Josh had a very good all around game and had he been surrounded by a better supporting cast things would have been a lot different.
I believe he takes way too much heat because our friends down the road had that other center.;)
I dunno, Nolan8or. Josh has a lot of critics, and the collective feelings may be a case of "he-left-early-therefore-he's-a-bum." While I was disappointed he left as well, his record is pretty good: Josh was 2nd team All-ACC as a sophomore, the same as Ferry, Laettner, and Shelden (all retired jerseys); ahead of Boozer (who was injured); but behind NPOY Brand. And he was a stat sheet stuffer: 13 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.5 APG (!), and 2.5 BPG (!). And he was the third leading scorer on the JJ-Shelden 2006 team.
He clearly left too early, in that he was a second rounder without a guaranteed contract. 2012 is the first year he has made good NBA money, and he isn't in a great situation with the Lakers.
sagegrouse
I didn't realize that Austin had wanted to play for University of Florida. I agree that maybe he just didn't really want to be at Duke, that his dad may have pushed him into it, and now he can make his own decisions -- sort of. It wouldn't make any sense for him to transfer so better just to go the NBA. Good luck to him whatever he decides. There are all kinds of ways for him to get where he wants to be. I hope Doc lets him decide. It's when we start forcing our own agendas on our kids that things get screwed up.
He had a verbal commitment to florida, then withdrew it to go do duke...he wouldn't have committed to florida to the first place without his father's blessing, and you most certainly don't renege on your commitment to go someplace else if you don't really want to be at that other place.
The kid was crying on the court after we lost to FSU and gave us probably the biggest memory of the year in "the shot"
Its just nuts to think for one second that he didn't actually want to be here.
Uh, where are you getting this from?! He committed to Florida his sophomore year, but changed his mind. Is a high schooler not allowed to do that? From all reports, Doc has not pushed him to do ANYTHING, but has simply given him advice as any father would, but that it was ultimately Austin's decision. Austin said he chose Duke because of Coach K and that Florida was more of a football school. He thought Duke would provide a better chance for a national championship and make him a better player. I don't know where people are coming up with stories that Doc forced him into something he didn't want.
I always find it a bit sad that some here feel the need to disparage a guy who just gave his heart and soul to this team for this entire season. At times, while it seemed like other players weren't showing the passion, Austin always did. Did he have his faults? Of course. But he brought it every night with fire and passion and had a strong will to win and wasn't afraid to take the big shot. I, for one, am thankful for what Austin brought to this team this year and we would have been a lot worse off without him. And I'll especially remember his shot @UNC forever. If Austin decides that leaving for the NBA is in his best interest, then we should thank him for what he did for this club this year and wish him the best. Good luck to Austin with whatever he decides. I would love to have him back, but if he decides going to the NBA (obviously a dream of his) is the best choice, then I will support that as well just like the coaching staff will.
I don't mind if Austin leaves early. I don't think his teammates liked him very much. You could just tell in the demeanor of the players on the court. He came in with an NBA name and reputation and was the hot head from day 1. He is an NBA style of player (pick and roll basketball, one-on-one). I can't fault him for that because he was raised on it his whole life. I don't think Coach K will mind too much either. Austin isn't a system guy. And Coach K does things with HIS system.
Personally, I am very big on having leadership and chemistry. Your best player needs to be respected and looked upon for leadership. Austin does not do that for Duke.
When I initially heard Mason was leaving I was a bit surprised. But I don't blame him for leaving if he chooses to. He doesn't play with guards who get him the ball at his strong points (in transition and in pick and roll situations). A lot of the time a big is only as good as his guards allow him to be. If you look back at his short stint of games with Kyrie, he looked much more like an NBA type of power forward (explosive, running the floor, playing at the rim) and NBA scouts recognize this. I think Mason got sick of running pick and roll with Austin and NEVER receiving a pass from him. So maybe if Austin leaves, Mason stays.
Both players did a lot of good in their time at Duke. Wish them the best either way but I'd much rather see Mason back than Austin
I have no doubt that Austin wanted to be at Duke and played hard for Duke.
Until he says he is gone, I will be hoping for him to stay.
I have heard Coach K speak on this many times. He has made it crystal clear that he and his staff (not you or the media, or anyone else) set the goals each year for each team. K values all championships from the early season stuff like Maui, Pre-Season NIT, etc, to ACC Regular Season, ACC Tourney, Regional Tourney, National Title. Duke has won many of these over the years under K's watch. K sets the goals each year based on the abilities of the team at hand, and the goals differ each year. I can assure you he does not think that every team can win the NCAA Title, and for those teams winning the whole thing is a dream, not a goal. There's a difference.
You may feel it is your "right" to have Duke win the National Title every single year. It is not.
That said, I don't think he's afraid to say when he thinks the team can win. Often times you hear "if we do xxx, we have a chance to be really special"
I think the takaway is that the goals are realistic, but that doesn't mean he is selling any team short...he's simply not setting them up for failure by setting goals which are likely out of reach.
I beg to differ. I think Supa Dave made the same point upstream, and I beg to differ with him, too. The NBA isn't all that interested in player development. That's why they went to the 19 minimum age rule that established the one-and-done. The NBA would set the league age at 20 and be glad to let the NCAA cash in on (I''m sorry, I meant "developing") their pool of unpaid labor if they could get away with it. The NBA is all about minutes and contracts. If you're not getting minutes, you're not getting better. If you have a contract, you can do what you want until it's time to worry about the next one. Lastly, you can make a nice career in the NBA with one major-plus skill and absolutely nothing else. For example, I'm thinking of Mike Miller (3 pointers), JaVale McGee or Slammin Sammy Dalembert (shotblocking), Reggie Evans (rebounding), and in years past, Ben Wallace, Bruce Bowen, etc.
Sure, there might be more practices because the season is longer, but it's such a grind the practices aren't really for instruction. A few NBA teams who do want to develop players (e.g. Dallas, San Antonio) are investing into D-league teams, but they're the exception. It's not unusual for mid or low first round picks to cash their 3 year rookie deal, ride some pine, and then wash out of the league.
To use your example, Austin's not going to get better working against Rondo, because Rondo's only going at half speed. The real development at the college age is in the weight room - the player growing into his body, getting stronger, and (hopefully) maturing as a person. If Austin doesn't have a left hand now, he's not going to get one over the summer.
The reason people are so divided about Austin is because his NBA career has such a wide range of possibilities. Sure, he could make a couple all-star teams, or he could have a rank-and-file / journeyman career like JJ, Duhon, or GHenderson. Lot of room in between, too. That's why the right team with the right mix of players is so important. For example, if Austin winds up in Sacramento, he might as well be in Azkaban for all the good it will do his career...
Best of luck to Austin, whichever way he goes, but he played hard every minute and for much of the year was the only guy who had it and brought it every game. The Shot -- 2012 Version -- was one of the great all-time Duke moments, and Austin, for a freshman was everything anyone could realistically have asked for. I think he'd gain more both as a player and as a brand (awful word -- but it's the world we live in) by a year at Duke, but if he doesn't, best wishes to him. Anyone who knocks him is awfully hard to please. One of the best freshman years anyone has had at Duke. Horrible that it ended the way it did, but I'd love to see what a sophomore year would look like...