Couisnard being honored this evening on senior day, but he is only a red shirt junior.
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Couisnard not returning next season ?
- Thread starter FCB 2013 treble
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It sounds like it and that’s troubling. I don’t understand the guys that think they can go pro but can’t get us to the ncaa tournament. I don’t know how many Gamecocks have made the pros without a tournament appearance, but it’s certainly rare. If you can’t dominate at this level you simply can’t dominate the next level.
I have heard that JC's Mom has some health issues. That *could* be influencing his decision (if he indeed decides to leave to go play for money). It could be that he needs to make money to help her out, and if that's the case, you can't fault the kid for that.
If that were the case I would completely understand and wish him luck.
A lot of players today look at professional basketball beyond the NBA. Getting a gig in Europe, China, and especially Australia (less of a language barrier) are not bad gigs. Even if you get a Two-Way spot in the NBA, when you can remain on the big club for a couple months, is not a bad gig. You have more time to improve your game without juggling school and you can make a couple hundred grand. College Basketball, unless something changes with the professional landscape, will basically be a year-to-year proposition. The transfer portal will be important for everyone to plug holes.
His mom is recovering from a cancer diagnosis, but she was at the LSU game and appears to be doing well.
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I was not aware. It is good to hear she’s recovering but I would certainly understand his decision to want to expedite the process at that point. He could certainly play ball in Europe. Like you said that’s not a bad job just to play ball. Highly unlikely it will translate to the NBA. Not knocking the kid. He’s got a better shot than some. It’s just so competitive to get one of the few roster spots that open up in the league.
He’s an interesting player…he can take over a game and also pretty well disappear sometimes.
He’s a strong guy which would bode well but not sure he’s quick enough and good enough on D right now to get an NBA spot with any minutes.
Never know though, when he’s on he’s really hard to stop so if he can keep developing that you never know.
Some of these guys too might just be letting go of that Covid year…he technically should be done now if now for that extra season everyone got.
He’s a strong guy which would bode well but not sure he’s quick enough and good enough on D right now to get an NBA spot with any minutes.
Never know though, when he’s on he’s really hard to stop so if he can keep developing that you never know.
Some of these guys too might just be letting go of that Covid year…he technically should be done now if now for that extra season everyone got.
The key for Cousinard is consistency. Definitely has an NBA Body. He just needs to become more consistent with his jump shot and tighten up his handle a tad. He is a guy that I could see resurfacing on an NBA roster in a couple years. Many think of the guy getting drafted in the first round and going on to an NBA career. However, a majority of NBA rosters are filled with guys with G-League experience or gained experience overseas before returning a couple years later. I think Lawson (playing with the College Park Skyhaws [Atlanta Hawks G-League Team])and Cousinard are guys with the size the NBA likes. They just have to improve their skill level in order to get a chance.
I think Couisnard could be the type of guy that bounces around from Europe, the G League and maybe even gets a short term contract in the NBA. As you know that’s no knock or small accomplishment. It’s difficult to break into the league for 5 days, much less a year. I would have liked to have seen him put us on his back and beat a Kentucky or Auburn (of course there’s still time for that). To me pro guys have that ability in college to win a game that you should not just by taking over.
I’m less sold on Bryant. To me his jumper is awkward and slow and not getting much better. He’s got athleticism but everyone has that in the NBA. Being in the doghouse early on and making some foolish plays didn’t help. I really wish Bryant would consider another year. Unless there is a personal situation similar, I can’t see him being anywhere near ready at this point.
Why would he want to continue with this S@&& Show… Frank needs to go and the sooner the better
Bryant is not an NBA player IMO. He is listed at 6'6", more like 6'5" to me and very thin. There are Point Guards in the NBA bigger than him. I would be more sold if he could handle the ball or had range on his jumper, but he has neither. Contrary to popular belief, the NBA has gotten more specialized and you can make a good living even if you are not a guy that has the ability to take over as a scorer. For example, Royce O'Neal has been a starter for the Utah Jazz for the past two years. Makes 8.5 million dollars. At Baylor, he averaged a career high 10pts per game his senior year. That team got bounced from the tournament by Georgia State. O'Neal's main jobs are to defend and sit in the corner for a wide open 3. Another example is Jae'Sean Tate with the Rockets. He is an undrafted guy that made the Rockets. Averaged about 12 points a game over his career at Ohio State. I guess his main skills are hustle and to just be a pest around the glass. All you need in the NBA is a defined skill-set and for one coach to like you. That's how PJ Dozier has survived. He still can't really shoot that well, but he defends and Michael Malone (Nuggets coach) liked him. It's unfortunate that he tore his ACL and the Nuggets traded him to get additional help now. He is going to have to start all over and make his way in a new system.
Some of these guys might make $800,000 in Europe. After taxes, and some of those countries have high taxes, higher cost of living, travel, etc. - probably put $300,000 in your pocket? Still a good living. The leagues in Asia pay much less.
I think if a kid really wants to leave school, coming back probably won't result in them being better on the court if there heart is elsewhere.
Could even be a distraction.
The other issue is that do the colleges really prepare the kids for the NBA game? Some coaches do, however, many are concerned with their system and winning games to keep their jobs on the college level. I actually think Coach Martin is one of the coaches that would with his man-to-man defensive principles if he could attract the talent. For example, I would never consider Syracuse as a college destination if I were a high-level high school player. They are going to sit back in that 2-3 zone and you are never going to practice NBA help defensive principles and rotations. With that in mind, some kids just have the thinking that I will just make it to the G-League and figure it out from there.
Preparing players for the NBA is not the main goal of the college as an educational institute. I hope we will get back to the day when all players are serious about obtaining an education and not just using the colleges as a place to play for a while until they are ready with no thoughts on obtains a degree - and learning. The G league and other minor leagues should have the role for preparing players who have no interest in education. The colleges are poor at preparing these players in some respects because the college game teaches defense, the rules allow defense, traveling is often called, and on and on. I hope the college rules are not changed to suit the NBA game. The college game has gone down enough as it is.
I get your point, but you are hoping for a world long since past and its not coming back. You have kids that want an education, however, there are very few kids that pick up a ball right now that do it saying, "This will get me a scholarship to college". For the most part, it's always some NBA player you fall in love with and that draws you to the game. For me, it was Julius Erving. For my son, it's Stephen Curry. I am not saying the colleges are wrong for teaching the game in a way that is going to win games for them on their level. However, the players that get to that level and hope for a professional career feel that the colleges, with a few exceptions (Coach K, Calipari) are not helping them. If they did, the best players would stay longer than one year. As I said about recruiting, players vote with their choices. Forget about what they might say in an interview. Look at their choices and you will get a clear picture of how they feel.
I, also, disagree with you on the defense part. Some coaches teach defense that would help in you in a professional career. However, how does a 1-3-1 or 2-3 zone with a big just planted in the lane teach players any principles needed on the next level. This is my problem with both levels of basketball, collegiate and professional. Both sides are arrogant about the way they see the game and don't work together to make a better product. Both sides try to crush each other and act as competitors instead of stewards of the game. That is what is ruining the game instead of some thought that fundamentals are not being taught. Football has been much better in working together on the collegiate and professional level in stewarding the sport. They don't look down on their different rules and have reached some agreement on how they both can thrive. I know you prefer college basketball, but the NBA has really hurt that sport. You have to get a program out each November to know who is on the team. It takes a month to develop any continuity, and then you look up and its March (season over). If you prefer the college product right now, have at it, but it is nowhere near what it was even 20 years ago. I still follow both because I have just been reared as hoop-head, but I at least acknowledge the erosion of the college game.
The college game, unfortunately, tends to follow the NBA. What’s wrong with two different styles of ball? If we make college like the pros, it’ll become more for the great athletes. Then it’ll filter down to the high schools. The guy that’s a marginal athlete may not make it because the skills he possesses don’t excite the population. Is this all it’s about?
I watched the Lakers play the Pistons a few nights ago and the defensive effort was laughable by a team of “stars.” Players making millions would turn the ball over and then not make an effort to get back. Players driving in uncontested, a don’t care attitude - terrible basketball. That’s enough for me until they get deep in the playoffs.
Zones are a strategy. Ran properly, players are moving as much as in man. A great player vs a zone makes that player think a little differently than the clear out, or as FM says the “Do him.”
I watched the Lakers play the Pistons a few nights ago and the defensive effort was laughable by a team of “stars.” Players making millions would turn the ball over and then not make an effort to get back. Players driving in uncontested, a don’t care attitude - terrible basketball. That’s enough for me until they get deep in the playoffs.
Zones are a strategy. Ran properly, players are moving as much as in man. A great player vs a zone makes that player think a little differently than the clear out, or as FM says the “Do him.”
