Matter of Priorities: Budding Pros Appear More Concerned About Next Level
Delusional or dynamic? Freshman center Noah Vonleh, averaging a modest 11.3 points per game and posting an anemic total of 18 assists in 30 games, thinks he is sufficiently well-rounded for rigors of the NBA after failing to help Indiana participate in the NCAA playoffs.
Vonleh's attitude runs rampant throughout the sport, triggering a series of questions even for the young and restless who appeared in the NCAA tourney. Where was the heart of their principal loyalty - alma mater or professional potential? How much did outside influences affect their performance in recent days when eliminated in NCAA Tournament? Did they attend more classes or play in more games this semester? Would you have performed better (a/k/a played harder) or stayed in school longer if you were a union member? While waiting for cheerleaders and/or water-boys to unionize, sure would like the following undergraduate players to answer these questions:
| Undergraduate | Pos. | School | Class | Summary of Elimination Game in NCAA Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Anderson | G | UCLA | Soph. | 11 points and 3 turnovers vs. Florida |
| Isaiah Austin | C | Baylor | Soph. | 12 points and 1 assist vs. Wisconsin |
| Semaj Christon | G | Xavier | Soph. | 14 points and 7 turnovers vs. North Carolina State |
| Branden Dawson | F | Michigan State | Jr. | 5 points, 0 assists and 3 turnovers vs. Connecticut |
| Joel Embiid | C | Kansas | Fr. | did not play during NCAA tourney because of back ailment |
| Tyler Ennis | G | Syracuse | Fr. | 7-of-21 from floor vs. Dayton |
| Aaron Gordon | F | Arizona | Fr. | 8 points on 3-of-11 field-goal shooting vs. Wisconsin |
| Jerami Grant | F | Syracuse | Soph. | 4 points, 0 assists and 2 turnovers vs. Dayton |
| Montrezl Harrell | F-C | Louisville | Soph. | 6 points, 4 rebounds and 0 assists vs. Kentucky |
| Aaron Harrison | G | Kentucky | Fr. | 7 points, 0 assists and 3 turnovers vs. Connecticut |
| Andrew Harrison | G | Kentucky | Fr. | 8 points and 4 turnovers vs. Connecticut |
| Alex Kirk | C | New Mexico | Jr. | 3 points and 0 blocked shots vs. Stanford |
| Zach LaVine | G | UCLA | Fr. | 5 points, 1 rebound and 0 assists vs. Florida |
| James Michael McAdoo | F | North Carolina | Jr. | 14 points on 5-of-14 field-goal shooting vs. Iowa State |
| Jabari Parker | F | Duke | Fr. | 4-of-14 from floor, 0 assists and 4 turnovers vs. Mercer |
| Julius Randle | F | Kentucky | Fr. | 10 points and 0 steals vs. Connecticut |
| Glenn Robinson III | F | Michigan | Soph. | 14 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist vs. Kentucky |
| LaQuinton Ross | F | Ohio State | Jr. | 10 points and 2 rebounds vs. Dayton |
| Marcus Smart | G | Oklahoma State | Soph. | 5-of-14 from floor and 6 turnovers vs. Gonzaga |
| Jarnell Stokes | F | Tennessee | Jr. | 11 points and 2 turnovers vs. Michigan |
| T.J. Warren | F | North Carolina State | Soph. | 28 points, 6-of-14 from free-throw line and 1 assist vs. Saint Louis |
| Andrew Wiggins | G-F | Kansas | Fr. | 4 points, 1 assist and 4 turnovers vs. Stanford |