With a Champ Crowned: What does the future hold? Irving? Barnes? Plumlee? Lockout?

If you aren’t a fan of UConn, today you maybe wondering what to do until college basketball starts up again.  If you are a UConn fan, you are probably continuing to burn down Storrs to show…how happy you are?!?!  As a Duke fan I have a few things I’ll be keeping my eye on closely over the next few weeks.  Some decisions that will be made in the upcoming weeks will greatly affect the outlook of the 2011/12 season.

Kyrie Irving’s Decision –

As discussed ad nauseam here, Irving is weighing his decision on whether or not to go pro after 1 injury robbed year at Duke.  What we know? He is in most people’s mind the #1 selection if he leaves.  NBA lockout sounds imminent.  He has unfinished business at Duke after getting bounced in the Sweet 16 and missing most of the year with an injury.  Kyrie has tweeted (he announces a lot via Twitter. Not on Twitter? Follow him on Mr. Duke) he will make an announcement in the next week.  If he comes back, Duke will battle arch rival UNC for the top spot in preseason polls. 

Harrison Barnes’ Decision –

Monday it was announced Barnes would announce his decision to stay at UNC on Tuesday.  As this post was written that announcement hadn’t come to fruition, but an announcement saying that Barnes’ announcement would come in the next week has been announced.  So like Irving, we can only speculate, and speculate we will.  I see Barnes returning, he has definitely given stronger signals that he is leaning that way than his pal Irving has.  Like Irving, if Barnes returns his team will then become a favorite next year.

DeAndre Daniels’ Decision –

DeAndre Daniels is a top SF recruit that, in most “expert’s” opinion, has Duke as his most likely destination next year.  At 6’8, Daniels seems like a very nice replacement for Kyle Singler at the SF/PF (PF maybe a stretch with his slight frame) flex player for Duke.  Daniels is lean and will need to add some strength this summer, but with a great shooting stroke and ability to score in a lot of ways, Daniels could be the cherry on top of Duke’s already great recruiting class sundae.  Daniels is scheduled to visit Duke April 15^th, an announcement regarding his decision could come soon after.

Mason Plumlee Decision?! –

At the beginning of this year I was worried that Mason would possibly jump to the pros after his sophomore year.  Following a mildly disappointing season for Mason, I wasn’t expecting to hear he was still considering it.  Yet he is because the NBA loves long and athletic big men who play at big schools, because of this Mason has some NBA scouts loving his upside.  With a very weak draft class only getting weaker as big men like Jared Sullinger decide to stay in school, it is possible Mason sees an opportunity to get drafted higher than he probably should this year. 

Although I think it’d be a mistake by a NBA team to take Mason, I would not be entirely shocked by Mason making the decision to go.  Mason again isn’t going to be a focal point of the offense next year, in fact he maybe even less of a focal point as he will have more competition for minutes and inside touches.  Marshall Plumlee is said to possibly be the best of the Plumlees, and with him coming into the fold in 2011/12, Mason may actually be a little overshadowed and lose NBA value.  Keep an eye on Mason, I hope if anything he just tests the NBA waters and gets some tips on improving and gauging his value without jumping into the draft in full by hiring an agent early.

NBA Lockout Talk –

There will be draft this summer.  The question is when will those drafted be able to play?  NBA insiders are making it sound like the owners will be making some demands that will be very tough for the player’s association to accept.  With that in mind, the insiders are thinking it is almost a lock that the lockout will continue into the regular season and cause the NBA to miss a month or two of games.  Why does this matter to a college basketball fan?  If the talk of a lockout continues to be pessimistic in tone, college basketball players with NBA hopes will be more prone to stay in school.  The more quality players staying in school, the better the college product next year and hopefully we don’t have to relive the Butler-UConn championship game next year. 

In fact there is a lot of talk that coming from the labor negotiations a 2 or 3 years in NCAA play requirement maybe agreed upon.  Meaning that if you commit to play in college, you will have to play 2 or 3 (whichever is agreed upon) years prior to being able to play in the NBA.  The rule already is in affect in MLB and the NFL and would improve the college game greatly by creating teams that stick together longer than one year.  Imagine some of the super teams that would have been playing in this years NCAA tourney had all the kids who have left early in the past 3 years been required to stay in school until after their junior year…wow.

College bball is over.  A champion has been crowned.  Yet, the intrigue within the college basketball world is anything but over, in fact STOB is already looking forward to next year.  Stay tuned.