A collegiate obituary for Jacob Pullen

Throughout this season the one thing we have always noticed about the ubiquitous Kansas State guard was his role as peacekeeper between coach Frank Martin and the other players. There were countless times we saw Martin rip apart one of his guys only to have Pullen walk over, pull the kid aside and put his arm on his shoulder, seemingly saying "It's ok, you know what to do so lets do it." Also, the number of times we saw Martin rip Pullen directly? Zero.

The gang over at Rush The Court have always been strong admirers of Pullen. We just wanted to throw our two cent worth in. You'll be missed, Jacob.

The crying game

We already tweeted about this earlier but it was so good it deserved a full blog post. The article, written by Zach Hillesland talks about and explains why college seniors cry when they lose in the NCAA Tournament. What makes this a must read is that he explains this in painful detail...

"The real reason they cry is because they go from feeling like it’s the middle of their careers to knowing it’s the absolute end, all in the span of one 40-minute game. The end brings the wave of emotions that was both built up and suppressed for the past four years. This is the last game I’ll ever play with my friends and teammates. This is the last time I’ll play for my school. This could be the last time I’ll be part of a team. What is next?"

We here have always teased them but we wanted to take a step back and acknowledge the sacrifice they give to their school for the love of the game. As the saying goes most of them will go pro in something other than sports.

The whole story on Brandon Davies dismissal from BYU

Scene: Monday evening, February 28th around 8:45 pm in Provo, UT. BYU forward Brandon Davies is walking home from the school library. An unassuming gentleman with a short sleeve white shirt and black tie approaches...

Unassuming gentleman: "Hey, you're Brandon Davies!"
Davies: "Yes."
Unassuming gentleman: "Cool, great win against San Diego State! You guys swept them."
Davies: "Yeah, thanks man."
Unassuming gentleman: "Your rebounds and assists were crucial in that game. You kept the momentum from swinging to those guys."
Davies: "Yeah. We were just working hard against a real good team."
Unassuming gentleman (extending hand to shake): "Indeed! By the way, my name is Marcus. Pleasure to meet you. I'm a big fan of yours."
Davies (reciprocates handshake): "Nice to meet you... Wait, did you say you're a fan of mine?"
Marcus: "Yes!"
Davies: "What about Jimmer?"
Marcus: "Yeah, he is good too. But I am a student of the game and I know that without a great supporting cast he would not be all that. Plus I like the unsung heroes."
Davies: "Wow, thanks a lot. I appreciate that."
Marcus: "No problem. Hey, I have a friend that I would like you to meet."
(A mysterious woman appears from the bushes wearing a long buttoned up brown trench coat. Davies recognizes her immediately.)
Davies: "Uhhhhh, that's my girlfriend. Hey honey, why are you dressed like that?"
Marcus: "Oh, she has a present for you. To celebrate your win."
Davies: "Honey, how do you know this guy?"
Girlfriend: "Brandon baby, this is for you. I think it's time now."
(She unbuttons her coat and exposes herself to the chilly night air)
Davies (jaw drops): "What. The. Fuuuuuu..."
Marcus: "Yes sir."
Davies: "Honey, you know we can't do that. The Code and all."
Marcus: "Aw, come on. She's a Black man's kryptonite! A White girl with a big booty. We call 'em PAWGs around my area. How you resisted for so long amazes me. Just let yourself go, no one is looking."
Davies: "Uhhhhhh....."
Girlfriend: "Take me, take me now Brandon!"
(Davies almost uncontrollably grabs her luscious rear end and starts kissing her. Amazingly, BYU's Athletic Director Tom Holmoe just happens to strolls by)
Holmoe: "What is going on here?! Mr. Davies, you know how seriously we take the Honor Code."
Davies: "But but but..."
Holmoe: "I will need to have a talk with coach Rose about this."

Brandon looks around for help but unable to find any as Marcus and Davies' girlfriend have run off. The only thing that he sees is a crumpled game program on the ground that says "SDSU - BYU, Saturday, February 26th @ Viejas Arena" on it.

fin.

An Inconvenient Truth

"This tournament at its heart is a huge money-making operation that makes millions of dollars for coaches, television networks and the NCAA, which is the sport's governing body.

It makes this money by shamelessly exploiting athletes, many of whom would never find their way onto campus if not for their ability to shoot a basketball. Although their coaches sign lucrative contracts, the players can be expelled for as much as taking a pair of shoes.

Ah, but they get a free education. But in too many cases, demanding classes are discouraged and athletes are directed to courses specifically designed to meet minimal academic standards."

All true. And we here at M2M have always advocated that Student-Athletes should at the very least receive a monthly stipend derived directly from the profits of their chosen sport.

But until that day comes where the NCAA comes to their senses, compensate these kids a little, enforce more stringent rules concerning classes taken and GPAs earned, let us ignore all of this and enjoy the splendor of the Sweet 16. It's go time.

One and done

Like our man crush Keith Olbermann would say, and now a special comment...

We want to officially go on record in saying that the NBA should adopt the NFL rule of players being 3 years removed from high school before being able to enter the pros. We have felt this for years as players such as Kobe Bryant went pro while we were left thinking "Could you imagine him at Duke?"

Then the NBA came up with this one year removed rule. This just pissed us off more. If you want to go pro, then GO! Don't waste our time and make a mockery of the collegiate system by enrolling, signing up for classes only to drop out when the semester is over. The term is Student-Athlete, not Possible-Millionaire-In-Waiting.

We were reading the Bible and John Gasaway made the following comment about Kentucky's super frosh John Wall:

I’m on the record as thinking one-and-done has got to go and, post-Wall, I still believe that. Wall should be in the NBA right now. (Duh.) To keep him out is unfair. But to love hoops as I do is to love what you’ve been seeing, however it came to be. Again, enjoy Wall while you can.

Yes, Wall is good but imagine if he remains at Kentucky longer? And when Kentucky loses (and they will) would that say Wall is NOT ready for the NBA? Should Michael Jordan have jumped ship and not played at UNC (or worse only play one year)? Was he THAT much better than the college competition?

Ok, we're done. < /soapbox>

Stay and fight

Give him a fucking siren for this comment!

I hope more college guys take a look at Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green and decide that they, too, want to put off the NBA for a year and try for a national championship. I want to see more teams like that. I want to see more guys who decide they can wait for the NBA. I'm just hoping it starts a trend. I hope that Tyler Hansbrough makes it cool to stay in school.
- Matthew J. Darnell, The Dagger

Amen brother.