Hansbrough and Curry
How much did Tyler Hansbrough improve his professional prospects and potential draft position with last night's NBA-style performance? A lot, I'd say. Consistently hitting 18-foot jump shots in pressure situations will make him a threat in any league. And what team wouldn't want a guy whom Rick Pitino says plays harder on every possession than anyone he's ever seen?
It's incredible that Hansbrough's moved into second place on Carolina's all-time scoring list, passing four-year 1980s star Sam Perkins and trailing only legendary Phil Ford.
I've compared Hansbrough to one of my favorite Carolina players, Antawn Jamison, another super-hard worker. Earlier this season, my son Kenny asked me who I thought had the better college career. Their stats were very similar, I noted, but Jamison played in the Final Four (actually twice) and Hansbrough didn't, and that was the margin of difference. Now Hansbrough's on his way. Jamison's teams, even with Vince Carter, unfortunately didn't win a Final Four game. Obviously I'm pulling for this Carolina team to win two.
I'm rooting for Davidson to get there, too. It occurred to me yesterday that the athlete to whom I'd compare the amazing Stephen Curry isn't even a basketball player but hockey's great one, Wayne Gretzky. Neither is the biggest, strongest or necessarily fastest; and they share important characteristics that set them apart:
Incredible efficiency. The ability to see where play is going and being ready to seize every opportunity. Using small openings in the defense to make big plays. Total awareness of self, teammates and opponents at all times. Confidence and coolness, the conviction that he will succeed when the moment is right. A killer instinct. Toughness. Making good decisions and avoiding mistakes.
Whether Davidson can beat Kansas depends on how much help Curry gets from his 'mates; so far, they've all been good enough. One more and it's Carolina vs. Davidson in San Antonio.
That will be fun: On college basketball's biggest stage, a showdown between two teams whose stars get more from their talent than anyone else in the sport.
Comments (13)
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Unless Hansbrough grew 4 inches or increased his vertical by 10 inches yesterday, he didn't influence his draft position.
Posted on March 30, 2008 3:33 PM
How much did Tyler Hansbrough improve his professional prospects and potential draft position with last night's NBA-style performance? A lot, I'd say*Doug
Have you consider a new career in professional sports as a highly trained consultant for the Chicago Bulls? Or would you love to be the Sports Agent for that freshman kid from UCLA name Love?
Posted on March 30, 2008 4:12 PM
The bulls need some help from someone...
Posted on March 30, 2008 7:30 PM
When Kenny becomes an NBA GM, he'll hire me as a draft consultant.
Posted on March 30, 2008 8:30 PM
Hansbrough's a 12 ppg, 4 rpg 6th man in the NBA. Can't see him as anything more than a solid player. But truly one of the UNC college greats: definitely first-team all-UNC.
Posted on March 31, 2008 3:27 AM
Hansbrough's NBA success will depend on where he plays and how he's used. Anytime he's on the floor, he'll score a certain number of points by out-hustling most others. If he continues to work on his game (is there any doubt about that?) and expands his shooting range, he can be effective.
I hope he goes to the Bobcats. How about you, Kenny?
Posted on March 31, 2008 10:30 AM
I hope he goes to the Bobcats. How about you, Kenny?* Doug
Naw! He will be drafted by Utah Jazz and will become the 7 th Mormon missionary to knock on your door to sell season tickets. Let's face it, Tyler fits the profile of a young white good looking kid in a white shirt and black tie as a mormon missionary.
Of course Tyler would look silly in a pair of baggey pants and a baseball redneck rap sideway cap trying to sell Bobcat season tickets?
Posted on March 31, 2008 12:51 PM
If the Bobcats draft him, I am no longer a Bobcats fan.
I doubt he'll ever average double figures for a season.
Posted on March 31, 2008 11:29 PM
brian: definitely first-team all-UNC.
I hadn't thought about that.
G Ford
G Jordan
F Scott
F Worthy
C Hansbrough?
Hmm, did I leave out anyone ... or 30?
Posted on April 1, 2008 11:10 AM
Please allow this non Carolina fan to slap you both and remind you that you do NOT make a Hansborough your alltime greatest center when you have Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty in your past.
Just sayin'.
And you put Charlie Scott on there just to put the shiv in me, didn't you?
Rosenbluth?
Cunningham?
Antawn?
Posted on April 1, 2008 11:02 PM
Are you still pulling for Kansas to beat Carolina Saturday?
Yeah, Charlie Scott!
Posted on April 2, 2008 8:20 AM
As much as this will enrage most Carolina fans, Hansbrough really reminds me of someone.
Another tall, white, Forward/Center who played in the ACC not too long ago. Like Hansbrough he was emotional, played hard on every play and was basically the glue that held his team together.
Christian Laettner. Now, that parallel will enrage as many Dukies as it will Carolina fans, but if you step back and look at it analytically... they're quite similar.
Oh, and their opponent's fans loved to hate both of them.
Posted on April 4, 2008 3:54 PM
That's a valid comparison. And, although I was never a Laettner fan, I certainly would nominate him for First Team All-Duke.
Posted on April 4, 2008 4:17 PM