JaVale!!!!

JaVale made a very big mistake!

This changes the outlook for next season for the WAC!

I think with our recruiting class, we'll still be the favorites. Scratch that predicition i put on the NC-UNR game in Reno. We're going to get spanked probably.

I like to think that I know a little about basketball, particularly Nevada hoops.  But, I am very surprised.  Everyone has been talking about the possibility of McGee declaring, but I have always said - "no way."  He's too immature.  He doesn't have the requisite basketball IQ yet - he makes bad decisions.  He has not developed a post up game.  He's simply not ready.  I figured that he was either aware of these things or that those around him made him aware of these things (particulary his experienced mother & father).  Based on this I predicted that he would not declare for the draft after his sophomore season.

I stand my my assessments of McGee, but I was sure wrong on my prediction.  As I posted on the RGJ website, it's a dark day for Nevada basketball and unfortunately a dark day for McGee's future as well - he's just not ready yet. 

I have no way of knowing the reasoning behind his decision.  But, if he thinks that Fox has been tough on him, wait until next year.  

This opens up some major problems for Nevada next year.  They will have no one over 6'8" next year.  Given the trouble they had against teams with a big front court this year, things appear to look grim for next year. 

Here's looking at it in the most favorable light:  Mark Fox still has 2 scholarships.  He needs to get out there and recruit at least two big men.  Fortunately, the big men won't have to be great offensive players.  All Nevada will need are some big bodies to take up space in the post and defend. 

Nevada should have enough offensive weapons to pick up the slack.  After watching Armon Johnson play this year, I believe that he is capable of becoming a consistent scorer for Nevada.  Fields had demonstrated that he can score in bunches.  He just has to be more consistent.  Also, after watching Babbitt, I believe that he will become a big time scoring threat as well.  I'm not too familar with this new Joey Shaw kid, but I'm hearing good things: He was a 4 star recruit out of high school; He went to a traditional college hoops powerhous - IU; He had a good freshman year in the Big 10; and my good friend, who is a die hard IU fan, said that the kid is good and that he really liked  him when he played for IU. 

So, if they can just get some size, the offense should take care of itself.    

I was reading some posts on Wolf Pack Chat, and those guys are making me believe this won't be too bad. I honestly believe, that when JaVale was on the bench, we went on scoring runs and played much better and *rebounded* much more effeciently. If Fox can get some 6'10'' + guys to play some defense and attack the boards, like Freeswilii said: the offence will take care of its self.

On another note, I heard Michael Beasley is staying in College and transfering to Nevada.... I wish.

To: Freeswilli and all the other Nevada fans that have been saying on these threads that JaVale wouldn't go early.

I'm not here to tell you "I told you so" even though a lot of you adamently refused the thought of McGee leaving after this year.

Do you blame him? Obviously, all of us agree that he still needs to develop his skills but would you rather develop them in the NBA D league making around $400K a year or in Reno, NV taking core humanties classes?

I think you see my point.

I respect a lot of you on here and a lot of you know a great deal about basketball but sometimes the "Nevada Bias" goes to far. Don't worry, Nevada will still the WAC next year.

GO PACK!

It just seemed like everything was set up for him to stay this year and go next year. With the amount of star big men already most likely headed to the draft (Hansbrough, Love, UConn guy, Memphis guy), he would probably wait a year. With Kemp, the star of the team this year leaving, the stage was set for him not only to be our leading big man, but also our leading scorer with the lack of dominant big men around the WAC. And with the departure of Jaycee Carroll it wouldn't be too far-fetched for him to win the WAC player of the year. With no players leaving other than Kemp he would be familiar with the team, and with an amazing (for reno) recruiting class coming in there would be more than enough to fill kemps shoes. In a three guard formation with Armon Johnson, Fields, and Burleson, and Mcgee and Babbitt down low, Nevada would be an imposing force in the wac and may have even made some noise in the NCAA tournament.

Leaving this year however, Nevada lacks a strong experienced big man which could cause trouble. UNLV made the sweet 16 last year without a strong experienced center though so i'm not throwing in the towel yet. However, With Mcgee leaving this year, I see him falling to about where Fazekas fell to last year and playing in the NBDL for a year or two. If he stayed one more year i would put him in as a lock for the first round, unless he got injured.

I can't say for sure it was a bad decision, because i don't know the ci