LSU wants, and gets its Baby Back (Baby Back Baby Back)
Tyrus Thomas, gone. Big Baby, not gone.
Darrell Arthur, represented by a guy called Jazzy.
What a trip it must have been to go from being the second fiddle to a young West Philadelphian who moved to Bel Air with his Uncle Phil to being an AAU coach in Daltex.
Does this mean Arthur to LSU? Some have speculated as much, but I say that Shady’s got until May 17th to pick a school.
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6 Responses to “LSU wants, and gets its Baby Back (Baby Back Baby Back)”
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April 18th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
I think this is all about immediate PT and the need to be #1 on the depth chart. Arthur doesn’t want to have to compete for PT or a starting spot.
I’d say the two front runners for Arthur are LSU and Texas. Both are losing starters in the paint. The difference between the two, and the advantage for LSU, is that Kevin Durant is already committed to UT.
KU and Arizona are on the outside looking in. At KU, Arthur has to compete with Julian and the trio of big guys for PT. If Rush had left, Julian might have moved to the 3 spot, leaving an opportunity for Slim Shady.
At Arizona, Arthur has to compete against Chase Budinger for PT. They play the same position, have similar athleticism, but Budinger’s offensive game is more polished.
Dark horse: Indiana. Sampson had nudged his way in on Arthur before he left OU to coach the Hoosiers. I wouldn’t be surprised if IU rumors bubble to the surface.
Darker horse: UAB. Arthur really connected with Mike Davis. I’d be shocked if Davis isn’t text messaging Arthur on a regular basis. This horse is darker than dark, but could it be Black Beauty?
Bottom line: this will go down to the very last moment. I hope KU doesn’t hold out for Arthur to the detriment of our efforts to get 2007 kids.
April 18th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
My little fantasy is that Arthur comes to KU, beats out Kahn for the starting 5 spot, and averages 10 ppg while contributing to KU leading the nation in rebounding margin.
April 20th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
I don’t understand why people keep saying Arthur has to worry about Durant at Texas? Did anyone watch the McD AA game? Durant is a 3 spot, while Arthur is a 4 spot. Texas lost Buckman their starting 4 spot, and lost Aldridge a 4/5. So it would seem Arthur is in a good spot to start at Texas.
Throw in that word is that PJ Tucker will be going to the NBA and Texas will be returning only Gibson from last years starting 5. Paulino (PG) Graduated, Gibson (SG) will be a JR, Tucker (SF) will likely be a 1st round pick in the draft, Buckman (PF) graduated and he too will likely be drafted in the 1st round, Aldridge (C) is being touted as the top pick in the draft.
If I’m a young man wanting to play in the NBA and never thought about college like Arthur I’d be looking at a school that I can 1. Start. 2. Good launching site for the NBA. 3. Win the NCAA tourney.
The small schools like UAB don’t cover point 2 or 3.
Texas is easily the easiest choice for point 1 if Tucker does go Pro. LSU would be 2nd, followed by Kansas.
Point 2… you can’t ignore Kansas and how routinely we put players into the NBA.
Winning and being a strong part of winning helps your NBA stock. Look at Thomas at LSU. He is being touted as a top 5 pick. His stock soared due to his play in the NCAA Tourney, and primarily due to his game against Texas. Whereas Rush hurt his stock with our early exit.
Good chemistry and working with a strong team helps with that. So Kansas provides Arthur that in spades.
LSU has Big Baby for him to play besides and bang it up in the middle. They have decent guard play, and Arthur could easily be a quick replacement for Thomas.
Texas on the otherhand will likely be starting Mike Williams who despite some signs in the Tourney has never lived up to his McD AA status. Daniel Gibson will be back as a starter, and he is a real deal McD AA who went thru a Sophmore Slump, his stock didn’t change. If Williams is the starting Center, then if Tucker stays he will be the PF, with Durant at the 3 spot. Abrams (another McD AA) will be at the starting PG spot. He really came on in the Tourney.
Its possible if Tucker goes Pro, that Texas will start 5 McD AAs, including Durant who is AMAZING. Throw in Augustine as a rotating guard, and Texas is loaded up with talent more so than LSU.
Even if Tucker stays, Texas will keep the Big 12 PotY. Plus Texas recently has been putting players in the NBA. An upcoming draft likely consisting of the top pick and 2 other first rounders will look good for Arthur. Williams has never lived up to his hype, so Texas looks good for Arthur for PT.
So I’d say for point 2: Kansas, Texas, LSU.
For point 3: Kansas, LSU, Texas. Unless Tucker stays, if Tucker stays it would be Kansas, Texas, LSU.
Then again after the McD AA game I thought Durant was the second coming of Carmello. It never hurts to play beside someone like that who will take attention away from you.
I think people really underestimate what Durant can do for Texas next season. We should all be glad Aldridge left. That combo would have been scary.
April 20th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
I have always loved Phog Blog, and come here for many updates. I have started my own blog and would love for some of you to check it out and leave me some much-needed feedback. We are just a few KU students that love our schools athletics department. Thanks.
www.hawkscoop.blogspot.com
April 24th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Reports are coming in that Arthur will sign with LSU.
April 24th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Yeah, I have just read several sources that say that Arthur is heading to LSU. Too bad, but I don’t think that it will be a huge loss for us. I have an article on my site that gives a little detail and a link
www.hawkscoop.com