Good morning Buckeye faithful and welcome to your Tuesday Skull Session.
NBA, I have a bone to pick with you. By now you have probably heard that Jared Sullinger will not be invited to the NBA Draft because sources indicate that the former Buckeye will not be selected until around the 20th overall pick.
Admittedly, I have enormous bias in this situation. I want to see Ohio State players treated with respect when they leave Columbus; however, this is about much more than Sullinger being a Buckeye.
The guy was a candidate for college basketball's player of the year in his only two seasons. Additionally, he guided his teams to the sweet sixteen and final four.
Sullinger is a class act and a phenomenal talent. Whether he is medically red flagged or not, Sully deserves an invitation. He has been one of the premier names in college basketball, and now I really hope he gets taken earlier than the "experts" predict.
Granted, if I am Sully, I am not going to go to the draft if I am projected to be taken outside the top 15, but at the same time, it is about respect. And in my opinion, the NBA has failed to show a great former college basketball player any with its recent decision.
THE OTHER SIDE OF SULLY. As early stated, Jared Sullinger's draft stock is reportedly slipping, and it appears that the Northland High School product is finally letting the reports get to him.
Sullinger in an interview with the media after working out with the Toronto Raptors showed journalists exactly what they wanted to see: signs of frustration. When asked by a reporter if he feels more pressure to perform in team workouts now that his stock is falling, Sully did not hold back his feelings.
“Not really,” Sullinger said. “I mean, no offense, but most of you guys never played basketball, so what can they say? It is what it is. I support it because from day one I’ve been the underdog. It’s life. So I like it. Keep letting me slip; I don’t mind.”
Sullinger would later say again in the interview that these reporters had never played basketball before in their lives, so they clearly would not understand the situation.
While I firmly believe Sully is a victim of a lot of negative media, he can not let it show that these reports are bothering him. I can not imagine the pressure that comes with being in his shoes, but showing that the pressure and publicity does not get to him will show that he can deal with scrutiny.
Sullinger is no longer going to be a lottery pick, but some team that probably would have never dreamed the Ohio State star would be available will pick him. Whatever team that is will be extremely lucky, and the doubters and haters will hopefully help Sully reach new heights at the next level.
TRESSEL INDUCTED INTO GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS HALL OF FAME. A year after the scandal and his ultimate resignation, Jim Tressel has something to smile about. Tressel will be inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame on September 19.
Tressel, who is currently serving as vice president of strategic engagement at the University of Akron, is trying to move on from the mess that was created at Ohio State. Even after resigning from OSU, Tressel still faced punishment for his actions as a college head coach. As an instant-replay consultant with the Indianapolis Colts, Tressel was suspended seven games by the NFL as a result of Terrelle Pryor receiving a six-game suspension for his role in the Buckeyes' football team scandal.
As many would agree and Bill Livingston points out in his article, Tressel did a lot more good than bad in his time at Ohio State, so it is nice to see the former Buckeye coach honored. Hopefully Tressel can move on just as OSU has with the addition of Urban Meyer.
What about that dress doesn't scream #1 overall pick?PUNISHING PENN STATE. The dust is still far from clearing on the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Even though Jerry Sandusky is bound to spend the rest of his life behind bars, there is still a lot of work to be done in Happy Valley.
Penn State has yet to receive any formal punishment from the NCAA on the scandal, and Matt Hinton of CBS Sports writes that it should stay that way. Hinton discusses that the program has already suffered enough, and the rebuilding it will take to restore the program is punishment enough.
However, Hinton also analyzes other points of view on how to deal with Penn State. Hinton mentions that if Penn State is found to have knowingly sheltered Sandusky's actions to protect the program, the death penalty (i.e., the termination of the football program) should be enacted.
In my opinion, it is still too early and not all the facts are apparent yet on the situation. Penn State will most likely be punished in one way or another by the NCAA. The question is to what degree does the NCAA punish something that is this strange to college football?
I truly hope Penn State can get back to full strength soon. The Big Ten is a worse conference when one of its best football schools is under intense scrutiny. However, by no means can we treat what happened in Happy Valley lightly. Having this great football school back at the top means nothing if the school's failure to report Sandusky's actions are mot accounted for in some way.
THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS. The South Carolina Gamecocks are not your College World Series champs for the first time in the last couple seasons. The Arizona Wildcats were able to prevent a three peat by the Gamecocks, winning the best of three series in two games to win the title.
The final score was 4-1, as sophomore James Farris held South Carolina to one run in 7 and 2/3 innings pitched. Robert Refsnyder was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after going 10-21 in at bats.
Arizona finished the tournament with a 10-0 record. This is Arizona's first College World Series title since 1986.
LOS LINKS. Don't return to school if you are a projected lottery pick... Tommy Rees still practices with Notre Dame despite arrest... RGIII is a victim of extortion... Calipari speaks highly on the SEC's latest additions... Boise State deadline approaches.
