That’s Debatable: New Year’s Resolutions
Posted by rtmsf on January 5th, 2010
Each week RTC will posit a That’s Debatable question or topic that is relevant to the world of college basketball. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes serious, we’ll post the thoughts from our core editing crew (in 200 words or less), but we’ll also be expanding to include our contributors and correspondents as appropriate throughout the season. We also invite you, the readers, to join us as we mull over some of the questions facing the game today. Feel free to send us your takes and/or leave them in the comments below.
This Week’s Topic: If you haven’t noticed, it’s 2010. What New Year’s Resolution would you offer to someone associated with college basketball this year?
Zach Hayes – editor/contributor, RTC
Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins should make it his New Year’s Resolution to cool his jets during games. Whether it’s pouting on the bench, complaining about a whistle or letting his emotions nearly cause a riot one minute into a rivalry game, Cousins can prove a detriment to his team’s ultimate goal if he continues to let his bipolar attitude impact his play. We know that Cousins is a damn good player, a double-double machine that complements teammate Patrick Patterson down low and who put up an 18/18 against Louisville this past Saturday. Unfortunately, he should have been tossed before compiling those numbers when his forearm shiver caught Louisville’s Jared Swopshire in a bout of frustration going for a loose ball. More than once coach John Calipari has had to babysit the unstable Cousins rather than focus on coaching. If the emotional freshman can channel his intensity flying for rebounds and finishing with authority rather than throwing elbows, Kentucky could be on their way to the ultimate prize.
John Stevens – editor/contributor, RTC
My resolution is for John Calipari, and that’s for him to promise never to say that this Kentucky team is “lucky to be 15-0,” and that they “really should be 9-6,” like he was quoted as saying yesterday. He’s made statements similar to that one a couple of times earlier this year, too. That’s a pretty playful little move. I don’t think it’s true, and I don’t think Coach Calipari thinks it’s true. There’s no need for this self-abnegation. Yeah, he’s got to keep his team humble and in check, but with the talent he has on that team (and some of the opponents they’ve faced at home), I don’t think anyone thinks the 15-0 is a matter of luck. And let’s be honest, it might not get this good again. In addition to losing seniors Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris, in all likelihood, Kentucky will lose Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall next year. They’ll still be fine next year, especially if Calipari goes out and recruits like he usually recruits. So, Coach, we all understand that you have to stay hungry and humble and get your team to think as such, but you don’t have to tell us that it’s luck that you’re not 9-6. Lehigh is 9-6. You’re not Lehigh. And by all means… enjoy it while it’s here!
rtmsf – editor/contributor, RTC
I’m going to offer a resolution to everyone’s favorite awshucks-ter, Roy Williams. It’s nothing new, but the down-homey thing is really starting to grate on people me. We all know that you’re a super-competitive and fiery coach who wants nothing more than to stick it to Coach K, Chicken Wing Gary, the KU fans who still harp on you leaving seven years later, World Wide Wes, the old bag who cut you off on the way to practice, etc. There’s nothing wrong with it. Drop a few more F-bombs during games and throw a few more loudmouth fans out of the building. Embrace who you are. Let. It. Out. The stress of keeping all that hostility inside of you can’t be good for the soul, and who knows, it might even make you more human (and therefore, likable). We can’t imagine you’d win any more games than you already do now, but what fun is winning it all every five years if you can’t cock around like a cross between Tiger at the Encore XS and Don Draper’s liver?
