From: jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jazzy J )
Subject: Re: Shaq's impact
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:29:07 GMT

db@duke.cs.duke.edu (Dov Bulka) writes:
>I have a hard time buying this "on any given night" theroy. It
>almost sounds like an NCAA winner is drawn at random.
>Tell that to Kareem, Walton and Ewing.

	It's true.  For example, take when Duke beat UNLV in 1991.
	In a 7 game series, UNLV would have most probably beaten Duke.
	But on that given nite, Laettner was on, Hurley was hitting his
	3's, and Larry Johnson and Augmon were severly outplayed.  
	Therefore, a Duke victory.  But for that to happen for 7 games
	is highly unlikely.  Why do U think there are so many upsets in
	college basketball?  These sort of things rarely ever happen in
	the NBA.  Again, when there's only 1 game played, anything can
	happen.

>Jackson, Payton and Miner (and many others) are nowhere near
>the hype level surrounding Shaquille. They can be excused for
>winning nothing. My point was that in the group of college
>big man legends (Kareem,Walton,Ewing,Russel,Robinson,Akeem,
>Sampson,Shaquille) Shaq is the only one to win nothing in
>the college level. Did LSU even win the SEC?

	I wouldn't say Shaq won nothing in the college ranks.  He was
	named POY in some polls, was a 1st team all-american 2 years in
	a row, etc.  But really, just because one doesn't win a
	championship doesn't really reflect that player's abilities.
	For instance, there have been many a great player in the
	pros who never won a ring.  Take Alex English, for example.
	Or Dan Issel.  Adrian Dantley is another.  Yet they all excelled
	and are regarded as all-time greats.

	Anyways, I don't think Robinson really won anything on the college
	level.  Although his teams did reach the Final 8 one season,
	they beat patsies like Cleveland State to get there.  All the 
	good teams had been knocked off before hitting Navy.

	Also -- LSU always lost to some excellent teams in the tourney --
	not some patsies.  In 1990, they lost to Georgia tech (which went
	on to the Final 4).  In 1991, they lost to UCONN (which lost to
	Duke, the eventual champs).  In 1992, they lost to Indiana (which
	again, went to the final 4).  Wouldn't U say these were quality
	opponents?

>I strongly disagree here. He didn't have support in college?
>What do you call Chris Jackson and Stanley Roberts?

	Given, CJ and Roberts were definitely support, that team didn't
	feature Shaq.  He was a freshman then, and nobody really expected
	anything out of him.  Chris Jackson was THE superstar -- THE
	man -- and LSU was HIS team.  Shaq was a supporting cast character
	on this team.  He was looked to for neither scoring or
	leadership.  After these 2 guys left, however, Shaq was left
	with mediocre talent (save Jamie Brandon and Vernel Singleton,
	perhaps).  Compare him to those other guys -- they were 
	surrounded by talent.  Let's take a look at it --

	Kareem -- Allen, Shackleford, Warren, Wicks
	Walton -- Bibby, Farmer, Wilkes, Johnson
	Sampson -- Lamp, Carlisle, Wilson, Stokes
	Ewing -- Jackson, Martin, Floyd, Williams
	Olajuwon -- Young, Drexler, Micheaux, Winslow, Anderson, Franklin

	just about all the guys I mentioned above ended up in the NBA in
	some way or form.  None of the guys Shaq played with in his junior
	or senior seasons has come anywhere close to the pro level
	(although Brandon and Singleton do seem to have chances).

	In conclusion --

	I.  Shaq played on some teams where he was THE man, and he didn't
	    play with too much talent.
	II. LSU's performance in the tourney was more reflected on the
	    teams they played (which usually were quite top-notch).

	Shaq is going to have plenty of great players to play with in
	Orlando (Anderson, Roberts, Scott, etc.).  While he may not lead
	them to the promised land immediately -- most will tell U the
	sun shines very brightly in the Magic Kingdom, come next season.

	Jazzy J
	
-- 
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|  "I am human and I need to be loved,            | Jazzy J                   |
|   just like everybody else does..." - The Smiths| jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu | 
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