Sullinger Says He’s Coming Back To Ohio State

After putting the final nail in my bracket last night, Jared Sullinger is trying to ruin my dream of the Detroit Pistons drafting him. He says he’s coming back to Ohio State next year.

The Big Ten freshman of the year and averaged 17.1 points and 10.0 rebounds and will probably be named to plenty of first team all american lists. Not to mention he’s a possible player of the year candidate. He would be a top 5 NBA draft pick if he came out, maybe top 3. I know I would love to see him in a Detroit Pistons uniform.

After losing to Kentucky in a Sweet 16 matchup, he announced he would be coming back to Columbus.

“I did make a decision and I’m definitely coming back next year,” Sullinger said. “I need to work on a lot of things. I have to come back. I’m coming back to win.”

Whether he follows through on that promise remains to be seen. We’ve seen this one before. Star player says he’s coming back and then changes his mind when those high dollar figures start getting thrown around.

If he does come back he’ll be playing for a young Buckeyes team that will reload with top notch talent once again.

“I’m going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year,” he said at his post-game press conference following Friday night’s tournament loss to Kentucky as reported by ESPN. “This isn’t why I came here, to come in here and see my seniors in here crying.”



“I came here to win a national championship,” he added. “”I’m a man of my word. I don’t change my word and no one changes it for me. This is what I want.”

With the NBA’s current labor situation in question that would be a good decision. For Ohio State fans they better hope this doesn’t end up like Shareef Abdur-Rahim’s press conference in a few weeks.

 

Start Tanking For Sullinger

I don’t like to advocate losing intentionally, or tanking for a lack of a better term. But hey, it worked for the Houston Rockets back in the day when they “won” the right to draft Ralph Sampson, so I’m not against trying to get a few more ping pong balls in the hopper.

If I’m Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars, I facilitate trades for Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and let the losing begin. I know Joe has a lot of pride so he’ll never go for this idea. I don’t think a lot of people that read this would like this idea. But like I said, it worked for Houston so why not give it a try. The player I’ve fallen in love with in this short college basketball season is Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger.

Being from Michigan, I haven’t liked many Buckeyes. That goes for football and basketball. Save for Jay Burson and Dennis Hopson I don’t root for many. But Sullinger is different. I know the Pistons lack an elite level point guard and as much as I hate to say it Duke’s Kyrie Irving could be used here in the Motor City. I could be wrong, but I feel Sullinger is a guaranteed can’t miss. Put Sullinger next to Greg Monroe, and they might form a nice combo on the front line. Jared is a beast down low. He has a good back to the basket game and can actually hit a midrnge shot, even though you prefer he doesn’t take that shot frequently. He’s a strong rebounder and if he can stay out of foul trouble he could step right in and be a force. He knows his range so you don’t have to worry about him straying out to the three point line. If you question what I’m saying, just check his stat line from the Florida game (26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals). He is DeMarcus Cousins without the attitude. He averages a double double and shoots 59 percent. I’m still waiting to see what he does once the Big Ten season starts, but right now he would be number one on my draft board right now.

I know Joe Dumars doesn’t have much room to operate and there may not be a season next year, but drafting Sullinger is a must. This would be the certified home run draft pick he needs to keep the bullets off his back regarding his shaky draft record. Just make the trades and let lottopalooza start and let the ping pong balls rack up. Just remeber, it got Houston into that epic coin flip that landed them Ralph Sampson. Like I said earlier, Dumars has too much pride to let that happen. Let’s not kid ourselves. This team is going nowhere except lotteryland so why not try to maximize the potential to get the best draft position.