Micheal Beasley, O. J. Mayo, and Other Big Named College Basketball Players

[erpowers]

At the beginning of the College Basketball season, maybe even before, the big name was O. J. Mayo. Mayo was supposed to be the best high school basketball players in the country. He decided to go to USC, but it seems that USC may not be having the best season. Once the college basketball season started the name many people starting saying was Michael Beasley, who goes to Kansas State. His team also may not be having the best season ever. Both USC and K-State are having winning season, but it is not guaranteed that either team will get into the NCAA tournament. I am not writing all this to criticize Mayo and Beasley, but to ask a question.

It seems that team with players who get less attention are having much better years. Last night both USC and K-State lost their games. However, Mayo and Beasley each scored more than 30 points. My major question is are Mayo and Beasley ball hogs who should pass the ball more, or are their teams just so bad to the point that Mayo and Beasley have to score so much.

In the bill up to last night's game of Kansas versus Kansas State most of what I heard was how great Beasley was. However, during the game, the second half of which I watched, Kansas outplayed K-State. Kansas won the game with a score of 88-74. However, Beasley scored 39 points. All the other players on the K-State team were in single digits. Does that show that the other players on the team are not that good, or does it show that the other players defer to Beasley, because he is the big name on the team, and that may hurt the team?

In terms of USC, Mayo scored 37 points, but his team lost to Arizona State 80-66. So I have the same question about the Trojans. Is it that the other players on the team are not that good, or is it that the players defer to Mayo, because he is the big name on the team, and that hurts the team?

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. Mayo is a ball hog

he's like a bigger version of Allen Iverson. He'll be a really bad PG or really small SG in the NBA.

Beasly is a Power Forward, so I wouldn't call him a ballhog. He could end up being a Derrick Coleman type of NBA player though.

[Awsi Dooger]

2. I think he's less of a ball hog than you're suggesting

USC has a thin team and many players have been hurt, necessitating Mayo playing high number of minutes and taking things into his own hands. Hackett is just getting back into the lineup and is not close to 100%.

Plus, the rest of the team is generally reluctant to shoot. Because of that, on USC message boards there is concern the team will face plenty of zone the rest of the way.

Remember, USC lost a couple of guys early to the pros last year so this team is young, and Mayo is the guy Floyd wants in control. He says Mayo is the best player he's ever coached.

Early in the season USC came within a missed free throw of upsetting Memphis. The Kansas game was in doubt in the final seconds. In conference there have been wins at UCLA and at Arizona. The team is doing fine, and one more win should cinch a spot in the NCAAs.

[northzax]

3. that's like saying

for the past few weeks that lebron James has been a ball hog. Sure he has, he's the best option everytime until his new teammates get used to playing with him. Although I do think oj mayo may have made a financial error short term in going to college, he would have been a lottery pick last year, will he still be? Probably, but not guaranteed. He should consider another year at USC, to hopefully get some playoff experience under his belt, march madness time can really pay off in the NBA.

[underpants]

4. It just depends look at Duke and look at the Fab Five

Duke is known for not turning out players who could translate into the Pros, until recently. They do have players who play within the system and that system itself will manufacture about 8 points a game all by itself.

Now look at the Fab Five- they had a loaded team but they played AS A TEAM. No they didn't win a championship but they did play in two straight finals before they all went there separate ways and three of them had long productive pro careers. They played for the championship as true freshmen too-think about that.

So although you need good players talent in and of itself doesn't translate into wins.

[davidinalameda]

5. they defer to him and it hurts the team

this ain't high school where one or two players can carry a team