Obekpa refused to play?
- Thread starter getliquid
- Start date
This is B.S..
Both guys were raw. CO was barely top 75...raw kids outside of the top 50 are busts more often than not. He's not a bust and he got so much better toward the end of the season. We were clearly better on both ends of the court with him in the game, and this is why I became such a madman when he didn't play for the last 18:36 of the Providence game.
How much better can Sampson be when he is 20 pounds underweight and doesn't possess the requisite skills to play SF?
Look I have no idea whether CO refused to go back in or not, but assuming that he did, is throwing him off the team really the only option? Does he not deserve a 2nd chance-assuming he is truly sorry and apologizes-if the staff and his teammates are willing to take him back? Not saying he shouldn't receive some serious punishment(suspension a number of games) for a very serious offense, but is it a capital offense? Being the parent of 2 teenagers has definitely changed my perspective on acts of rebelliousness.
JackofVirginia
Active member
If Obekpa refused to go back in the game I would have sent him to the locker room. If that's his attitude then he didn't deserve to be on the bench. Knowing Lavin and his rules I would expect a suspension. And why not?
Jakarr had an outstanding prep year against top competition. It was warranted.
Jakarr's issue has been player development.
Can't go from ROTY to not even making 2nd team all-conference.
Admittedly so, Jakarr said he hurt the team by changing his game as to impress NBA scouts. Big of him to say that but very bad choice if him/staff were trying to showcase him.
Funny how he started to get attention when he committed himself to the defensive, not offensive, side of the ball.
If he hopes to go pro, that may be what gets him there unless he works with a shooting coach over the summer.
Purely speculation, but maybe Lavin choose to deal with it privately at a different time. Sending him to the locker room likely would have brought attention to and escalated the situation. Or maybe it was just CO giving him attitude, but not actually refusing to go back in the game, and Lavin deciding to teach him a lesson. Could be any combination of things. But if Lavin is still hoping for that contract extension and a nice raise, he'll figure out a way to deal with CO's alleged transgression and have him remain on the team.
CO came as advertised. As soon as he starting blocking all those shots many people here (I wasn't one of them) started taking about his future career in the NBA. That was and still is just crazy talk. As for Samson, he's a little less polished than I think most of us expected, but he's a far cry from a bust. Besides, if he was what most of us had hoped for, he'd be gone after this year and then we'd really be in big trouble.
JackofVirginia
Active member
Look I want Obekpa on the team. But if he refused to go back in the game (not certain) then he warrants a suspension in my opinion. Hopefully, Lavin doesn't need an extension to deal honestly with CO's insubordination. ( If in fact it was )
Being better than a very skilled mid-first round pick was not warranted by a kid that barely made the top 50 and was without a true position. We have unreasonable expectations of nearly all of our recruits. Sampson would have been slated for a low bench spot on Kentucky with all their young kids...that provides some persepective.
Sampson played well this year. He could have very easily been named to a team, but they will always side with seniors over sophs when things are close. Remember, both of these kids are true sophs. They have two years left.
Sampson was good this year in the same capacity he was good last year, which is great because that capacity helps us win games. But it was also dissapointing in the sense that there was really no improvement. If anything I thought he took a small step back offensively; little less consistency on the 15 footer, and definitely was a less effective finisher around the rim this year. Defensively I thought he took an equal step forward, and that his overall production was therefore similar to what it was his freshman year.
His biggest asset is his quiet consistency - you don't even notice him and look up at the board at the end of the game and he had 15 and 7. That has great value. But where he's at right now, he definitely can't be the #1 on a high-major program, and I don't even know if he can be the #2. It would be huge for this team if he could become a reliable #2 next year, not just putting up solidly consistent numbers, but showing the ability to regularly impact games offensively.
I know I said I won`t post until Tuesday night, but some posts I just gotta reply to. Maybe I should stop saying I won`t post until a certain time.
Now to Monte`s point. To me if he refused to go in against PC, then possibly just possibly he cost us a chance to get to the NCAA. To me that`s unforgivable. Why give him a 2nd chance? If he quit on the team once, what makes you think he wouldn`t again?
Yeah most things people deserve a second chance, costing us a ncaa tournament appearance isn`t one of them. If he quit and Lavin is letting him play Tuesday then the team will see they could do what they want, then act like their sorry and Lavin will let the m play again as well.
If he plays, as i said in previous post. Then maybe he didn`t quit, may it was another issue.
In all of these posts, there is a lot of speculation and conjecture. Has it ever been officially documented that he did in fact quit on the team Saturday?
If so,then I would say he is at least suspended. If on the other hand he did nothing other than getting 2 fouls in a matter of minutes, then I think this entire post is a waste of time and a terrible insult and accusation to one of our kids.
If so,then I would say he is at least suspended. If on the other hand he did nothing other than getting 2 fouls in a matter of minutes, then I think this entire post is a waste of time and a terrible insult and accusation to one of our kids.
rawdognyc
Well-known member
I'm confused a little. I see it simply as when he was in he played like shit. When he was on the bench they came back from down 17 to get within 1. You go with what's working. I'm not saying he didn't have a disagreement with staff over something, but I don't think it has to be this whole "he quit on the team" reason that people are floating around. If I'm coach and we are making a run I stick with whatever is working. I see it as simple as that. Don't know why people are making it into some conspiracy theory.
There is no guarantee he won't do it again. Was there a guarantee that D'Lo would tow the line this year? he has. There's always a risk when you give a kid another chance. But I leave that to Lavin to decide. Glad I could draw you out of your temporary self-imposed exile
