NCAA Coaches Not Enjoying ‘One and Done’

I don’t exactly remember whom the age limit was supposed to benefit. The league, looking to get more disciplined and less sloppy? GMs, sick of staking their reputations on unknown quantities? The NCAA, intent on having top-flight talent around? College coaches, sick of wasting their recruiting hours on lost causes?↵
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↵Well, if it is coaches, consider them less than thrilled with the way it’s turned out. Bruce Pearl, speaking to The Gainsville Sun, bluntly asserted that “it’s not working for us on college campuses.” Bill Donavon echoed this sentiment: “The whole one-year thing is a window dressing to make it look good perception wise. No question, I (favor the old rule).”↵
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↵They go on to bring up issues of chemistry, and planning, and just generally trying to put together a cohesive team around a single guy looking past the college experience, with their eyes firmly on their draft day stock. Which brings up the old question of freedom: Donavon thinks that a top prospect stopping in for a year is great if they’re interested, like Melo. Then, despite the obvious inconveniences, you’ve got someone willing to work to overcome these difficulties. Someone who (sort of) understands the situation he’s put himself into, and agreed to anyway, has on some level assented to make the best of it. Otherwise, it’s more trouble than it’s worth↵
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↵Also, will be interesting to see how much potential figures into this year’s NBA draft. If teams are looking at college freshman as unformed projects, that part of the equation is right back where it started, too.↵