Doug Ferguson

BIG EAST DRAFT CLASS OF 2009: A PERFECT 10

by DOUG FERGUSON

Coming into last year the Big East was said to potentially be the best conference in the history of NCAA basketball. Some say that they lived up to that hype and I would say that it came pretty close.

Coming off that kind of hype the expectations were high for the conference’s NBA rookie class of 2009. It ended up producing four first round picks (all lottery picks) and nine players selected in total. So far they have played up to projections in the same way the conference did last year. They have probably played most solid of all the conferences but haven’t done anything so far to make people drop their jaws and say “WOW”.

It will undoubtedly help them that in the end the Rookie of the Year probably won’t be claiming the ACC, Big 12, or any other college conference for that matter. They do however have two players in my Top 5 canidates for Rookie of the Year and every single player drafted from the conference has played at least sparingly so far this season. Also (as I predicted) they had at least one undrafted player make an NBA team and make a legitimate impact.

Here is a look at how the heralded Big East class of 2009 has fared as they approach the quarter pole of their first NBA Season…

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NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS: BIG EAST JUNIORS

by DOUG FERGUSON

Transition year. This is what I call the junior season of an NBA prospect. It is year that makes or breaks a player. Either they step their game to another level or they start thinking about a life abroad. Below I bring you the best of the 2010 bunch from the Big East conference…

10) D.J. Kennedy/G-F/St. John’s/6-6/215

2009 Stats: 13.0 ppg 6.6 rpg 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg
Overall Rank: 215

Has the type of verstility that is attractive to NBA teams. Needs to use his length to become a more solid all-around defender and use footwork as opposed to gambling so often.

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EARLY SEASON 2010 NBA MOCK DRAFT

by DOUG FERGUSON

Hello and welcome to the first mock draft of the year. I would like to remind people that I am almost never wrong in scouting the draft. You could say that I tell the truth, even when I lie. I did my own personal lottery since we all know the worst team never gets the first pick. The question then becomes, if Minnesota gets the first pick do they take ANOTHER point guard with John Wall? We shall see!!!!!

1. T-Wolves- John Wall/PG/Kentucky/6-4/FR
If Minnesota is serious that they are going to take the best player at any position if they are “special” then this will be the time that proves it….

2. Nets- Dontas Montejunas/PF/Benetton Treviso/7-0/1990
I think the Nets are getting lucky to have a pick this high because they are not as bad as their record indicates…..

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TOP 25 BIG EAST NBA PLAYERS: #23 KELLY TRIPUCKA

In the next two months NBE’s The Association will celebrate the previous 30 years of the Big East conference by counting down the 25 greatest NBA players from the league since its inception. Note that the list is made up of players who played for the 16 CURRENT schools of the Big East, not necessarily IN the Big East. We hope this trip down memory lane is fun and historically informative to all who read. ENJOY!!!!!!!

#23
Name: Kelly Tripucka
College: Notre Dame
NBA Teams: Detroit Pistons (1981-86)
Utah Jazz (1986-88)
Charlotte Hornets (1988-91)

Kelly Tripucka was a basketball golden boy growing up in New Jersey and became a high school legend. He continued his solid gold tradition by donning the golden shorts at Notre Dame. He started all four years for the Irish, all of which ended in NCAA tournament bids. South Bend was where Tripucka became notorious for long socks and mid-range jumpers but Detroit is where he brought it to the big time.

The Pistons took Tripucka with the 12th overall pick in 1981. It was the tail end of a pair of 1st round picks, the first of which was used to take Isiah Thomas. Starting then, Detroit would be a force to be reckoned with in the East until the Jordan era began. Tripucka averaged 20+ ppg in 4 of his 5 years in the Motor City, highlighted by his 26 a game average in his sophomore campaign. In his 3rd season, he exploded in a legendary five-game playoff series against the New York Knicks, a series which the Pistons would lose. He averaged nearly 28 points per game in that series but was out-dueled by Bernard King when it was all said and done.

Unfortunately for Tripucka, he wouldn’t be around for the Pistons glory years as he was traded after the 85-86 season to the Utah Jazz for fellow Fighting Irish hoopster and future Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley. His years in Salt Lake City may have cost him his own trip to Dr. Naismith’s shrine. He was never the same after his years in Utah where he famously butted heads with coach Frank Layden.

After two rough seasons for the Jazz, Tripucka became the first face of the Charlotte Hornets as he went there to finish out his career, leading the team in scoring its first 2 years. Tripucka retired in 1991 from the Hornets with a respectable career to look back on and as one of the most revered scorers of the 80’s. He is now a scout for the New York Knicks, which is something he might rather leave off of his resume these days.
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Career Highlights- 12,142 points (17.2 ppg) over 11 year career
New Jersey High School Player of the Century (2000)
2nd Team All-American (1979-1981)
National Polish Sports Hall of Fame (2000)
50 Greatest Pistons of All-Time (2008)

Top 25 Voters
Doug Ferguson- Lead Writer NBE The Association and Midwest Editor NBE Basketball Report
Paul Hayes- Fantasy Analyst NBE The Association
Sean King- Contributer NBE The Association
Michael LaFreniere- Scout/Analyst NBE The Association
Ray Mernagh- Senior Columnist NBE Basketball Report and College Basketball Editor for the Pittsburgh Sports Report
Zach Smart- Contributor, NBE Basketball Report
Newt Younger- Historian/Consultant, NBE The Association

TOP 25 BIG EAST NBA PLAYERS: #24 KENYON MARTIN

In the next two months NBE’s The Association will celebrate the previous 30 years of the Big East conference by counting down the 25 greatest NBA players from the league since its inception. Note that the list is made up of players who played for the 16 CURRENT schools of the Big East, not necessarily IN the Big East. We hope this trip down memory lane is fun and historically informative to all who read. ENJOY!!!!!!!

#24
Name: Kenyon Martin
College: Cincinnati
NBA Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-04)
Denver Nuggets (2004-present)

Bob Huggins coached many great players during his tenure as coach of Cincinnati. None of them were quite like Kenyon Martin though. Martin broke his leg in the final months of the 2000 college season costing Huggins what was probably his best chance at a national championship. Martin was the consensus National Player of the year that season and rode that success to becoming the top overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft despite his injury. He remains the last college senior born in the United States to be drafted 1st overall.

Matin’s professional career has been a mixture of above average play on the court with injuries and frequent troubles off the court.

Martin is one of justthree players from the draft class of 2000 to make an NBA All-Star team. He acheived this in 2004 which was probably his best as a pro. He earned all-rookie honors in 2001 averaging 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds. The next 2 years of his career were concluded by trips to the NBA Finals that came up short to the Lakers and Spurs respectively.

Following his 4th season w/ the Nets, the all-star forward was traded to the Denver Nuggets for three first round draft picks. The Nets are still prospering from these picks while the Nuggets portion of Martin’s career is still trying to find its legs literally as he has had microfracture surgery on both knees since being dealt to Denver. He has started the 2009 campaign in a positive fashion. It looks like he has returned his focus to rebounding and tenacious defense which is where his proverbial bread was buttered during his glory years in with New Jersey.

It also looks as if for now he has put some of his off the court troubles to rest as well. The most eyebrow raising non-basketball headline with Martin’s name was on New Year’s Day 2007. The normal sports stories of the day were clouded by tragedy when Denver Bronco cornerback Darrent Williams was fatally shot while leaving a birthday party in Denver thrown in honor of Martin. It was reported that the shooting was in some way gang related and although Martin was said to be in no way involved it brought more bad press to him.

If one were to ask if Kenyon Martin has played above or below his expectations in the NBA the answer would probably be slightly below. This is the problem with being the number one pick though. Unless a player is Lebron James or David Robinson the expectations will always exceed the production. All and all though he has been more than serviceable. The name KMart in the social world has always been associated with cheap and low quality. In the basketball world however, KMart is as far from either of the two as it gets.

Career Highlights- 2000 NCAA Player of the Year (Naismith, Robertson, Wooden)
1st Overall Pick in 2000 NBA Draft (New Jersey Nets)
2001 NBA All-Rookie First Team
2004 Eastern Conference All-Star Team

Top 25 Voters

Doug Ferguson- Lead Writer NBE The Association and Midwest Editor NBE Basketball Report
Paul Hayes- Fantasy Analyst NBE The Association
Sean King- Contributer NBE The Association
Michael LaFreniere- Scout/Analyst NBE The Association
Ray Mernagh- Senior Columnist NBE Basketball Report and College Basketball Editor for the Pittsburgh Sports Report
Zach Smart- Contributor, NBE Basketball Report
Newt Younger- Historian/Consultant, NBE The Association

TOP 25 BIG EAST NBA PLAYERS: #25 JOHN PAXSON

In the next two months NBE’s The Association will celebrate the previous 30 years of the Big East conference by counting down the 25 greatest NBA players from the league since its inception. Note that the list is made up of players who played for the 16 CURRENT schools of the Big East, not necessarily IN the Big East. We hope this trip down memory lane is fun and historically informative to all who read. ENJOY!!!!!!!

#25

Name: John Paxson
College: Notre Dame (1979-83)
Pro Teams: San Antonio Spurs (1983-85)
Chicago Bulls (1985-94)

John Paxson was on the first ever McDonald’s All-America team in 1979 even though he looked like he belonged nowhere near a basketball court. He took his act east one state to the University of Notre Dame playing four solid years in South Bend capping it off by earning 2nd Team All-America honors while averaging almost 18 points per game as a Senior. He was also a two time Academic All-American for the Irish.

The choice of Paxson by the San Antonio Spurs in 1983 was not very well received as the Spurs passed on former tournament heroes Randy Wittman and Sidney Lowe to select him with the 19th overall pick. Those doubts were magnified as Paxson started out his career in San Antonio with somewhat of a whimper averaging just under 5 points per game in his first 2 seasons.

After 2 years in San Antonio Paxson decided to pack up and head back to the midwest signing as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls. It was the equivalent of winning the backcourt mate lottery as Paxson immediately stepped in as the starter next to Michael Jordan. After Jordan missed most of the 1985-86 season due to injury he and Paxson spent the next four seasons as one of the more formidable guard duos in the NBA. Paxson complemented Jordan perfectly with his ability to knock down timely open jump shots opposite Jordan who was often double teamed.

In 1991 Paxson moved to a new role as Chicago’s sixth man turning over the starting reigns 2nd year man B.J. Armstrong. This proved to be the final variable in a formula that would make basketball history as it would be the start of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. The Bulls would win the first of six championships that season, helped immensely by the ability of Paxson to outplay other teams reserves by performing like a starter off the bench. In 1993 Paxson lived out every boy’s childhood dream by hitting the game winning shot of the clinching game in an NBA Finals. He did it by doing what he had done for years, calmly knocking down a wide open jumper while Phoenix Suns defenders were double teaming Michael Jordan.

Paxson retired following the 1994 season and he remained on as a coach on Phil Jackson’s staff but left shortly after to join the Bulls broadcast team. He would go on to fill the ginormous shoes of long time Bulls GM Jerry Krause in 2003, a position that he remains in til this day. Paxson has successfully used a formula of drafting players from winning and tradition rich college programs to rebuild the Bulls and return them to respectability. John Paxson was a proven winner and an outstanding representative of Notre Dame and the Big East.

Career Highlights: 3-time NBA Champion (Chicago Bulls 1991-93)
5,560 career points
2,758 career assists

Top 25 Voters

Doug Ferguson- Lead Writer NBE The Association/Midwest Editor NBE Basketball Report
Paul Hayes- Fantasy Analyst, NBE The Association
Sean King- Contributor, NBE The Association
Michael Lafreniere- NBA Scout/Analyst, NBE The Association
Ray Mernagh, NBE Senior Columnist & College Basketball Editor of Pittsburgh Sports Report
Zach Smart- Contributor, NBE Basketball Report
Newt Younger- Contributor, NBE The Association

THE BIG EAST & THE NBA (11/18/2009)

by DOUG FERGUSON

For the second week in a row car troubles kept me from the NBA arena and witnessing Brandon Jennings’ rise to greatness. Instead I was forced to the 12 consecutive channels that are my life, aka NBA season pass. They actually got a well needed and well deserved rest last night as yesterday was all about the college game and in particular my latest man crush Josh Pastner. I got to scout about 30 draft prospects without getting off my couch last night though so everyone should be prepared for the best draft coverage on the planet here at NBE The Association. We will leave nothing to chance as this year my staff and I are going to get it perfect. Yes that’s right, PERFECT!!!

Game of the Night

San Antonio Spurs 94 Dallas Mavericks 99 OT

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THE NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD: PART IV (101-140)

by DOUG FERGUSON

101. Trevor Booker/PF/Clemson/6-7/220/SR
Will be asked to dominate up front if Clemson is to compete for an ACC title

102. Luke Harangody/PF/Notre Dame/6-9/255/SR
Will garner a lot of the same questions as Tyler Hansborough did last year

103. Quincy Pondexter/PF/Washington/6-7/220/SR
Nobody will benefit more by having great guards surrounding him

104. Jeffery Taylor/SG/Vanderbilt/6-6/200/SO
Very talented big guard project by some as high as a lottery pick

105. Michael Snaer/SG/Florida State/6-5/185/FR
If he can replace Toney Douglass’ production Florida State will contend for the ACC

106. Deonta Vaughn/PG/Cincinnati/6-1/190/SR
Has toiled in mediocredy for years and will finally be rewarded

107. JaJuan Johnson/PF/Purdue
Very underrated shot blocker’s stock will all depend on Purdue’s success

108. Dante Taylor/PF/Pitt
Will be tossed into the fire immediately as no frontcourt player in the country will have bigger shoes to fill

109. Tibor Pleiss/C/Koln 99ers/7-0/220/1989/Germany
Mobile big could stand to put on a little poundage

110. Royce White/SF/Minnesota/6-7/200/FR
Could one day be seen as the guy who brought Tubby Smith back to the top

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BIG EAST & THE NBA (11/17/2009)

by DOUG FERGUSON

I would like to open tonight with a little promotion. In honor of how awesome the New Big East is, tomorrow we start counting down the top 25 players from the New Big East in the NBA from the last 30 years. This commemorates 30 years of Big East Basketball. Some of the players on this list will have never played in a conference games but all players will be alumni of the 16 fine schools who make the up the league today. Here is the teaser for number 25 on the list.

This player lived every little kids dream by hitting the game winning shot of an NBA Finals clincher.

NBA PLAYER OF THE NIGHT- LEBRON JAMES (CLEVELAND CAVALIERS)
I find it pretty amazing that I’ve gone this far into the season and this is the first time Lebron has won the Player of the night award. I believe that if he makes the right decision and goes to play with another superstar somewhere that he will make Oscar Robertson’s all-time triple double record. He didn’t get one tonight but he had some big numbers in the Cavs win over Golden State. 31 points, 12 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks. I am scared to watch the next five years with him around. Whoever wants a title better get one this year.

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BIG EAST & THE NBA (11/16/2009)

by DOUG FERGUSON

By the smile on the face of Allen Iverson to the right, one would never believe it was taken a little over 2 months ago. Iverson and the Memphis Grizzlies cut ties on Monday just 2 months and 6 days after he inked his contract and he will be placed on waivers Tuesday. This leaves us to wonder whether we have seen the last of one of the most exhilarating players of this generation. I went through The Association team by team and I couldn’t think of one reasonable fit for The Answer. He has been labeled toxic by young rebuilding teams looking to bring in a veteran to mentor their youngsters and obviously starting is a prerequisite so he won’t be inking with any playoff contenders. It is clearly a grim time for one of the greatest players in Big East history.

Maybe not, however, as the New York Daily News reports that the Knicks Will Meet With Iverson.

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