At the risk of accidentally writing a “we-didn’t-want-him-anyway” post, let me unequivocally say that I wanted UW to land Kentwood High’s Josh Smith. It’s a bummer, and overall not good news, but. . .
Here are three positive things about not signing Smith:
1. There’s no need to examine the possibility of changing the entire offense for a back-to-the-basket post player. An interesting chart in ESPN’s College Basketball Preview issue showed that Spencer Hawes was one of the rare, recent one-and-done players to have a negative effect on his team’s results. With their current makeup, post guys like Jon Brockman or Tyreese Breshers may be better suited to thrive at UW. That’s not to say Josh wouldn’t have put up spectacular numbers here, but maybe it would’ve been to the detriment of the program as a whole. Maybe.
2. “One-and-done” guys are a mixed blessing. Yes, the results bear out that teams generally have success in the years that one-and-done players attend their schools. Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse is the best example of a guy coming in for a single season and, basically, delivering a national championship all by himself. But, is there a more icky part of following the sport than seeing a guy unapologetically use a season of college ball as nothing more than a pro audition?
I know, I’m naive. A lot of the players we watch will stay in school only as long as they need to in order to land an NBA job. There’s just something that doesn’t sit well when it’s so obvious from the very start. (I know: there’s no guarantee that Josh leaves school after his freshman year. But, the “one-and-done” tag has been applied to Josh for months, so I’ll bet he is.)
3. It’s going to be even sweeter whooping UCLA’s butt next season. There’s an old saying that goes, “the best revenge is living well.” I’m thinking we’re going to live very well next year, even without Josh, while UCLA may be in year two of what looks like a semi-rebuilding phase.
Montlake Madness truly wishes Josh well: no injuries, a basketball career as great as he’s willing to work to make it, etc. Everything but victories at the college level.
Sure, it hurts to lose a blue-chip, hometown guy. But, if it should turn out that the Dawgs are busy making a run through the Tournament long after Josh and UCLA have finished their season?
We’ll send a postcard, and you can bet it won’t say “wish you were here.”
Tags: Josh Smith, sour grapes, UCLA is weak
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I saw that thing that showed Hawes had the negative effect on wins and at the time I thought (and still think) that that’s only a small bit of the puzzle. The bigger piece was the loss of some players who were pretty darn good, most notably Brandon Roy, who had the best season his senior year of any Pac-10 player in a long while. Bobby Jones was a heckuva player as well, and then there were solid contributors like Jamaal Williams and Mike Jensen whose eligibility ran out. Needless to say, I don’t put that on Hawes.
And I’m in agreement about the one and dones, in that it’s a mixed bag. They’re best when put around a team that would be very good anyway, and they simply put them over the top, much like Derrick Rose did with Memphis. Unfortunately, UW is in that situation where there’s going to be a ton of talent coming back in 2010/11 and one dominant guy could make a huge difference. But hey, there’s still Terrence Jones.
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In one of his interviews with scout.com, he said that during the process he talked to Kevin Love about going to UCLA. That is a NCAA Violation. I hope UW looks into this.
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Yeah, exactly cassino. Sorry MM, but I really don’t buy reasons #1 and 2. I totally agree w/ the last one though!
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Those are very good points. What bothers me is he says he knew he was going there for some time, then say so and don’t leave our coaching staff in limbo. We cannot recruit other guys. Howland does this all the time and laughs after the fact. He did it with Jrue Holiday and Drew Gooden which leaves us hanging. Fortunately, we have Romar who can recruit but he can’t get everyone. Beating them will be very nice. We have ESPN Gameday here in Feb. against the Bruins, here’s to kicking their ass.
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Some may relate to this…many likely will not. One reason I’ve always loved college b-ball is watching the newcomers to the program develop their game and improve each season. I loved watching a freshman look great early in the season and have the conversation of, “can you imagine what they’ll be like their senior year???!” For four years you watch these young men develop their game and mature physically on and off the court (case in point: Quincy Pondexter). The one-and-doners really take that aspect away. I don’t regret Spencer Hawes as a Husky, regardless what others say…and I DO regret Smith selected UCLA…BUT at the same time, personally I do find solace that perhaps the player who takes his ‘spot’ is someone we can enjoy rooting for for more than a single season.
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Percy,
Your blog is starting to sound like a bitter amateur homer. Josh would have meant the world to the UW program. In the past few years, UW has lost Bradley, Siva, and Smith. In fact, Gaddy twice choose Arizona over UW before Lute’s meltdown happened. You need to look within your own program and your own coach before you start pointing fingers. Fact is, Romar isn’t as good of a recruiter as you seem to think he is. Jones for that matter could have easily committed to UW during the early signing period but has chosen to wait. Starting to see a trend here?
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Bob,
If Romar were at UCLA and Howland were at UW I’m certain Smith would have committed to UCLA LONG ago. UCLA sits up with UNC, Duke, Kentucky etc. who have a tremendous recruiting advantage. Nothing is more short-sighted than people who criticize Romar who has done spectacular to recruit at the level he has with UW.
As a fan I’m bummed to lose Smith…but nearly as bummed when I read comments from delusional fans who blame a coach for not being able to successfully recruit against the most elite schools in NCAA.
Keep in mind where UW is located and the lack of history – both tremendous setbacks in the recruiting game. The largest attraction UW has for a recruit IS Romar and the program he has developed.
Two years from now the NBA will have at least 6 players to come out of Romar’s program (Roy, Robinson, Hawes, Brockman, Pondexter, Gaddy) and another he successfully recruited over the other schools (Webster) – Romar is slowly building a program to compete w/ the big boys.
Don’t ignorantly and errantly aim your disappointment over losing Smith at Romar.
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Bob
You are at the wrong blog if you are addressing this to Percy Allen. As if the content of your post didn’t, alone, hint at it, your mistake points to a lack of credibility. You can count 4 and 5 star recruits before Romar on 1 finger. He has picked up almost two hands worth since he’s been here.
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Bob,
Romar puts together a top 25 class every year, and for every Bradley, Siva and Smith that he doesn’t sign, there’s a Brockman, Thomas or Hawes that he does.
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Paul,
So what you are saying is that by putting 6 players in the NBA in 9 year ( by the time Gaddy leaves) is something to be proud of? Ernie Kent has put mny kids into the NBA and is a horrible coach. You are kidding yourself if you think Josh would have left to UCLA to play for Romar if the roles were reversed. Josh’s comments on his recruitment have way more to do with the program that Howland runs and the style of play than the actual school. Fact is that Josh choose UCLA for Howland.
UW is just not getting it done. One Pac-10 titile in 50 years doesn’t make Romar a god. His track record at Pepperdine and Saint Louis are nothing to be proud of. Smart UW fans don’t forget the 7th and 8th place finishes that directly preceded last year championship. If there was some consistency at any of his coaching stops, I would grant you you argument. However, his overall resume as a coach is less than outstanding. His teams consistently flame out early in the tournament. If Lute hadn’t had his meltdown, Romar would have lost the best in state talent for 3 years running.
There is no ignorance on my part. I am just pointing out the facts. As a long time Husky fan and season ticket holder ( and donor) , I am just fed up with losing our own kids. There is no excuse for it.
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If ur fed up with it, why don’t we Bob Bender back? I mean we use to have top 25 recruiting classes year in, year out and we didn’t lose any of the instate recruits, right?
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Bob, you’re ignoring as many facts as you’re pointing out. Romar hasn’t been here for 50 years, he’s been here 7. And in that time he’s taken us to the tournament 4 times, garnered us a 1 seed, and won UW’s first ever outright Pac-10 title. There hasn’t been consistency at his coaching stops because this is the first time he’s ever had a program where he has stayed long enough to get a team full of players he recruited. He has that now, and the program is in a position to be contenders in the Pac-10 for the forseeable future.
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“UW is just not getting it done” That statement right there shows that you and I cannot and will not ever agree on Husky Hoops.
We’re focusing on different facts and forming different conclusions. I too am a long time Husky fan, a grad and a donor.
I am thrilled with the NCAA appearances, the Pac-10 championship, Pac-10 tournament champions, Sweet 16 appearances, 5-star recruits, quality of character kids, coaching style and all-around class Romar has brought.
If UW were Kentucky, UCLA, UNC, etc. I can understand spoiled fans thinking they deserve more…silly I think…but I understand where they are coming from.
But this is UW.
I am ecstatic with the job Romar has done and think he is absolutely “getting it done”.
UW is fortunate to have him and my biggest concern is ignorant (I’ll use that word because in my opinion fans like you are being ignorant…sounds like you’ll use the same adjective about me, i can live w/ that) fans will think they ‘deserve’ more and will push Romar away and Huskies will no longer even be a consideration for 5 star recruits and a perennial threat to participate in the NCAA tournament.
I speak out not to debate ignorance
– but because I am grateful for what Romar has done at the UW and hope for another 10 years or more of Romarball. -
Paul,
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. “Getting it done” has everything to do with competing with the best in the nation and beating them. If you re satisfied with Sweet 16 flame outs and non consistent finishes, then fine. I just expect more.
I am not a delusional fan who thinks we can out recruit UCLA, UNC, Kansas on a regular basis. However, I do expect that Romar would be able to secure the best in state talent and even poach a kid from Oregon from time to time. It even bugs me more than UW fan sites try to call this kid fat and make excuses as to why Smith wouldn’t have been a good fit at UW. They try to play it off as a minor loss. Smith is a HUGE loss. You put him in a lineup with IT and Gaddy and you have a Final Four team.
Are you going to be here when Romar loses out on Jones and Wroten too? Or will you just be fine with having a team of high character guys who mke the tournament just long enough for UW fans to say ” well at least we got there Cougs!”.
I don’t consider myself ignorant Maybe I am bit delusional with my expectations of this program. I just happen to think more should be expected of Lorenzo going this deep into his coaching career at UW. If my resume had as much inconsistency in both recruiting and actual success, I would have been fired from my job. You can keep expecting less out of the program and the coach. And we can all look back on the Lorenzo years one dayand say, ” well we got to the sweet 16 a few times!”.
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No point to continue a circular debate…but to answer your question: “Are you going to be here when Romar loses out on Jones and Wroten too?”
Absolutely and unequivocally YES!
As a fan, grad and donor of UW – as long as Romar can put together a team that can at least compete in the upper 1/2 of the Pac-10 most years, lands solid players with high character I am thrilled.
My personal opinion is any expectations beyond is not only highly unrealistic, but unreasonable and unfair as well.
Your argument was appropriately made and though I strongly (strongly) disagree with you, I appreciate how you broached the discussion.
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Same here Paul. I will keep an eye out for you in the future.
Have a good day.
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“I will keep an eye out for you in the future”
Hmmm…sounds a little ominous…I’ve noticed there is a 2nd person on here named ‘Paul’ – if you are going to punch one of us, punch him.
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New to the site and appreciate it. I am no longer in the Northwest so this is great to read on the upcoming season. I have been a Husky fan since Jim Owens and Tex Winter ran the shows.
Does anyone think that the one and out will change like baseball has made it harder once the player enters college? I can’t blame anyone for passing money, especially in this economy. But it seems like a lot who leave early would have been better served with another year of college ball.
I am glad you guys made up and all is well. Thanks for the comments.
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Bob, you are way off base here. Why haven’t we got Jones yet? Phil Knight and a new arena, that’s why. They are all over that kid down there. What are you going to say when we get an Angelo Chol or Norvel Pelle. As long as Romar is here I will be proud of our basketball program.
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Hey Bob, can I have your season tickets?
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yeah Josh I wouldn’t agree with one and 2. When we had Spencer he was hurt most of the yr. Didn’t have a ball handler to even get him the rock. If he was healthy and lets say we had Zeke or Abdul on the squad they would’ve been fine. yes they had JD on the team but as PG he can’t find the holes in the defense zeke and abdul can.
Far as #2 there is no way in hell Smith is one and done right now. Not even close. Even if he was in shape he isn’t ready. he needs to work on his heart and being more agressive before he takes that leap. There really isn’t a reason why we wouldn’t want him. Yes i would rather have Terrence in my opinion but no way I would say i wouldn’t want josh
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I’m frankly tired of fans complaining that Romar is a failure every time that he loses a recruiting battle. By almost any reasonable fan’s measure, four NCAA tournament appearances in seven years would be considered a success. It was Romar who changed the expectations of husky fans. Now we expect to make it to the dance every year. To expect better than a sweet 16 run is to expect to have an ELITE team, one of the top 10 in the country. UW has only 14 NCAA tournament appearances all-time (107 years). UW has played in only 30 NCAA tournament games all time. Oregon St. and Creighton have been to more. The top 10 programs in the country have all played in at least 80. UNC, UK, UCLA, Duke, and KU have all been to over 100. The huskies have only made 6 NCAA tourney appearances in the last 20 years. Romar took the team to 2/3 of them in only seven years, and I’m fairly certain his fifth is on the way this season. Only now do we consistently get top 25 recruiting classes. Only now can we begin thinking about doing more than simply making it to the tournament. If we are lucky enough to make an elite 8 appearance in the next couple of years, we may begin to have the kind of sustained success of the elites, but I’m happy to enjoy any kind of success we have now, knowing our place in history. If and when Romar leaves Washington, he will have left the program far better off than when he took it over.
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