ESPNU to Cover Kansas, USA National Team at World University

[JoeKidd]

Congrats to Nic, the KU Players = Team USA and finally bringing this tourney win home after several years.

[hoopmanx]

I hated Nic playing w/KU. He looked very average, shot abysmally, all while out of position. Frank Mason made him look second tier, so not exactly sure what he takes from the experience beyond a Korean trip and the Gold. To me, this was never about him getting hurt in Korea, but adding grind to his already diminutive stature, that wears down every year.

Someone tell me how all of this improved him or us, cause I don't see it.

[CoxMustangFan]

I hated Nic playing w/KU. He looked very average, shot abysmally, all while out of position. Frank Mason made him look second tier, so not exactly sure what he takes from the experience beyond a Korean trip and the Gold. To me, this was never about him getting hurt in Korea, but adding grind to his already diminutive stature, that wears down every year.

Someone tell me how all of this improved him or us, cause I don't see it.

I hear you hoop. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being a complete disaster and 10 being perfect by most accounts), I would say his time with the team would grade out to a 5. Since he was filling in for Greene, he needed to shoot like we all know he's capable of doing to approach a 10. The shots just didn't fall. He had a good time, he didn't get hurt, he won a gold medal, he got some experience playing internationally and with a faster clock, etc. Welcome him back to D and move on...

[hoopmanx]

I hated Nic playing w/KU. He looked very average, shot abysmally, all while out of position. Frank Mason made him look second tier, so not exactly sure what he takes from the experience beyond a Korean trip and the Gold. To me, this was never about him getting hurt in Korea, but adding grind to his already diminutive stature, that wears down every year.

Someone tell me how all of this improved him or us, cause I don't see it.

I hear you hoop. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being a complete disaster and 10 being perfect by most accounts), I would say his time with the team would grade out to a 5. Since he was filling in for Green, he needed to shoot like we all know he's capable of doing to approach a 10. The shots just didn't fall. He had a good time, he didn't get hurt, he won a gold medal, he got some experience playing internationally and with a faster clock, etc. Welcome him back to D and move on...

FWIW, no hate towards Nic for playing, my complaints stem w/HCLB. He's greatness, been amazing for the program, but he's done a slew of things in the last year that sorta make me question if the bats are entering the belfry. I can laundry list them and have thought about doing so in a separate thread, but the good folks around here aren't ready for that

[smusic 00]

Go for it.

Or 'post' where it 'counts.'

[PoconoPony]

I have absolutely no issue with Nic enhancing his experience and making this trip. From what I can read, the tournament was very fatiguing. Apparently, KU was almost out of energy before the final game. The box scores showed that everyone on the team had dismal shooting averages in the final game and overtimes. Nic played the over 47 minutes in the final game which was the second most on the team. His stats were not great, but he was a crucial element on the team to the point he was needed to play virtually the entire game without rest. Give the kid his due and be glad we have a coach who had the best interest of the kid.

[hoopmanx]

I have absolutely no issue with Nic enhancing his experience and making this trip. From what I can read, the tournament was very fatiguing. Apparently, KU was almost out of energy before the final game. The box scores showed that everyone on the team had dismal shooting averages in the final game and overtimes. Nic played the over 47 minutes in the final game which was the second most on the team. His stats were not great, but he was a crucial element on the team to the point he was needed to play virtually the entire game without rest. Give the kid his due and be glad we have a coach who had the best interest of the kid.

How was it in the best interest of the kid again? If his goal is to win at the highest level for SMU this year, then make the most money possible, this was a distraction.

[East Coast Mustang]

FWIW, no hate towards Nic for playing, my complaints stem w/HCLB. He's greatness, been amazing for the program, but he's done a slew of things in the last year that sorta make me question if the bats are entering the belfry. I can laundry list them and have thought about doing so in a separate thread, but the good folks around here aren't ready for that

I'd be interested to hear that. If I had to guess, top two complaints would be letting Nic play with KU and promoting Hobbie to asst?

[smupony94]

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/ ... oyed-fill/

[Stallion]

This is a Win for both Nic and SMU Basketball-raising the profile of both. Ridiculous to suggest otherwise. Are we going to complain about B.Moore and Sterling Moore perfecting their game too.

[Zman89]

Nic is in the 574 now.

[PoconoPony]

I have absolutely no issue with Nic enhancing his experience and making this trip. From what I can read, the tournament was very fatiguing. Apparently, KU was almost out of energy before the final game. The box scores showed that everyone on the team had dismal shooting averages in the final game and overtimes. Nic played the over 47 minutes in the final game which was the second most on the team. His stats were not great, but he was a crucial element on the team to the point he was needed to play virtually the entire game without rest. Give the kid his due and be glad we have a coach who had the best interest of the kid.

How was it in the best interest of the kid again? If his goal is to win at the highest level for SMU this year, then make the most money possible, this was a distraction.

How about the experience and additional coaching!!!!!!

[Bergermeister]

This is a Win for both Nic and SMU Basketball-raising the profile of both. Ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

Totally agree.

[OhioBrownFan]

I don't think he played particularly well, albeit I only watched the gold medal game against Germany and one earlier in the tourney that I can't recall off the top of my head. He played off the ball which is obviously out of position for him and he wasn't nearly effective.

On a positive note, playing off-ball can only help him as a player to learn to be more effective without the ball in his hands. I'm an advocate for it with players I coach. I think you learn to develop a different skill-set and create offense in a different manner than the traditional facilitator role.

That being said, his height was really exploited at times where he struggles to make a simple pass that a player of normal height makes in his sleep. All in all, it was a cool opportunity for him and I'm sure it won't hurt him one bit to play with players of that caliber. His weaknesses aren't much related to his skill-set at this point so much as they are to his height. He's still a good player at the end of the day.

[East Coast Mustang]

Wore an SMU shirt to the grocery store tonight- random guy came up and said he was a KU alum and enjoyed watching Nic and was going to try and get to a game at Moody this year to see us play.