I’m a big fan of college basketball, but over the last few years, especially this year, the NCAA Tournament and March Madness has lost a bit of its luster for me.  I think the biggest reason is that the whole one-and-done concept is killing the college game.

I think the idea of forcing players to go to college (by way of the NBA age restriction) is one of the dumbest rules in sports for many reasons.  It’s just a bad idea all around in my opinion.

First of course is that it ruins the quality of the college game.  By forcing the top talent into the college game instead of allowing them direct entry into to NBA has caused a huge dilemma for college coaches looking to build a program.  It’s hard to build a program without the top players, and to get the top players a coach has to deal with the fact that many of these players won’t stay more than a season, or maybe two.  This makes it impossible to maintain any continuity.  Look at teams like Kentucky and North Carolina.  These teams will have almost complete turnover of their rosters after this season.

This not only makes it hard on the coaches, but on the fans.  It’s almost impossible to follow the game from year to year.  It’s impossible to develop any familiarity with the teams from year to year.  It’s almost as if a college basketball fan has to start over each season, learning who the players are, what teams may or may not be good etc.  And by time that can be done, the season is over.  Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Austin Rivers etc.  We as fans never even had a chance to get to know these guys.  By time we start to really see then develop and appreciates their games, they are gone.  There are no star players in college anymore.

Another byproduct of recruiting the one-and-dones and other top talent is that the experience level of the players on the court goes down. Even though the top programs have the best recruits and talent, there is an element of inexperience that often can’t be overcome.  It has made these teams vulnerable and makes for sloppy basketball.  While some may disagree, I think that this parody is bad for the game overall.  Many will argue that the tournament is more exciting with all the ‘upsets’, and the success of teams like VCU and Butler.  But I see the opposite.  I think these ‘upsets’ are watered down.  The more we see it, the less exciting it is to see the mid major knock off Duke or Kansas or North Carolina.  I think the game is better when there are a number of consistently strong, dominant teams.

It also dangerous to force players to college when they have no interest in being there.  These players have zero incentive to respect the college game and its rules.  By the time things come to light, the player is usually long gone.  Look at Derrick Rose who got Memphis in trouble because he had someone else take his SAT’s for him.  By the time sanctions were handed down he was already and NBA star.  He’s now the MVP who just signed a $200M shoe deal and no one cares that he cheated.  Another example is OJ Mayo, who left a wake of carnage behind him at USC after it was revealed that he was taking money from an agent the whole time he was in college.  He was long gone before anything was discovered and his career has seen no ill effects.

To me there is a simple solution.  Apply a rule like baseball has.  If a player wants enter the draft right out of HS, let them do so.  But if they choose college make them stay for at least three season’s before they are draft eligible again.  The system in place now, which essentially lets the NBA use college basketball as it’s farm system, at no cost, is just not working and its killing the college game.

The news came down, appropriately for 2012, in a Tweet. Syracuse guard Dion Waiters is going pro, as expected.

I just want to thank everybody who supported me my two years at Syracuse I appreciate the love y’all showed towards me I will miss y’all.

It’s early to project where draft prospects will slot, but I’ve yet to hear anyone suggest that Waiters will be a lottery pick. I could see him going in the middle of the first round, the latter stages of the first round, or even the second round. And with that in mind, I wonder why he’s not coming back to Syracuse for another year.

Waiters showed flashes of electricity as a sophomore, averaging 12.6 points per game as the team’s sixth man. He was far and away the best halfcourt scorer on the team, someone who could get his own outside shot or take the ball to the rim. His 28-point barrage against Cincinnati in the Big East Tournament was a national coming-out party.

But if Waiters returned to the Orange next year, he’d be the unquestioned centerpiece of the offense, a starter and a big-minutes player. He’d probably have a shot at being the best player in the conference. Why not return for one more go, work on your game and your defense, get more time to build a national reputation?

If Waiters doesn’t go in the first round, he’ll probably regret this decision. First-round picks get guaranteed contracts, while second-round players aren’t assured of anything. If I had to bet, I’d peg him for something in the first round, but it ultimately depends on what the rest of the class looks like.

Next up for Syracuse fans: the waiting game on Fab Melo. The sophomore center had a breakthrough year (he was Big East Defensive Player of the Year), but he also ran into constant academic problems, leading to a couple of suspensions. He’s probably not mature enough for the NBA right now (and his offensive game needs a ton of work), but teams can obviously see a pro body and limitless potential. Had Melo been eligible for the NCAA Tournament, the Orange likely would have beaten Ohio State in last weekend’s East Regional Final.

One of the best years in Syracuse University basketball history is now in the books. No complaining with the end result here. The Orange beat the teams it should have in the tournament, and it lost to an Ohio State team that was a little better – and a poor matchup for the Orange.

Here’s a quick exit interview with all the major personnel from this year’s club:

– Scoop Jardine: His decision-making could be spotty at times, but Jardine had a good tournament, and probably should have played more down the stretch against OSU. His enthusiasm and influence over teammates will be missed. Next Up: Eligibility expired.

– Kris Joseph: He was the enigma of the team, so talented but not the most assertive personality. A flu bug kept Joseph down in the Big East Tournament, and he didn’t play well in the NCAAs. He’ll probably be a second-round pick in the draft. Next Up: Eligibility expired

– Fab Melo: His loss in the tournament was most felt against Ohio State, as Jared Sullinger did whatever he wanted inside. Is Melo serious enough about college life to come back as a junior? Next Up: My hunch says he declares for the NBA Draft.

– Dion Waiters: He was the team’s best scoring option all year, especially in the halfcourt set. He’ll be a star next season if he returns, but there are whispers that he’s thinking about turning pro. Next Up: As a fan, I really want to see how many points he scores next year in the Dome. But the odds are likely he’s gone.

– C.J. Fair: The team’s most instinctive player, though he was inconsistent in the NCAAs. Next Up: He’ll be a rock as a junior, defending on the interior and perhaps blossoming as a scorer.

– Brandon Triche: He’ll run the show next year as a senior, and not have to worry about being jerked in and out of the lineup. Next Up: Could be an all-league performer next year.

– Rakeem Christmas: He had some good moments in the NCAAs, though Ohio State had no problems solving him. Next Up: Should be a strong, capable starter as a sophomore.

– James Southerland: The pretty shot wasn’t as consistent as we’d like, though he can get it off against anyone. His rebounding was useful in the tournament. Next Up: He might be the most improved player on the team next year, as extra playing time will do worlds for his confidence.

It’s been a fun year in Syracuse, a tumultuous year, and a successful year. And now, amidst all the distractions, the Orange are in the Sweet 16. Let’s take a look back and a look ahead, trying to get the current pulse of the club.

The Good News

– The shooting came around against Kansas State on Saturday. The Orange made 6-of-9 behind the arc, connected on 23-of-29 free throws, and shot 51 percent from the floor. That’s going to win for you most of the time.

– Rakeem Christmas has stepped up nicely. Fab Melo is still missed, of course, but Christmas is turning into a freshman Jim Boeheim can trust. The rookie played 59 minutes last week, collecting 14 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks. Those last two stats are the ones that really matter; this team can find scoring elsewhere.

– James Southerland is maturing before our eyes. He’s 11-for-14 shooting in the tournament, and he’s also helped out nicely on the boards (14 rebounds). He might essentially play starter minutes the rest of the year, even coming off the bench.

– Scoop Jardine has come out of his funk. He went for 11 points and seven rebounds in the scary win over UNC-Asheville, then had a 16-5-8 line in the victory over Kansas State. Oh, there have been some bad decisions – note the nine turnovers. But that’s what you get with Jardine.

The Bad News

– You should’t be all-out to beat UNC-Asheville in Round 1. Okay, a win is a win. The victory over Kansas State was far crisper, especially in the second half.

– C.J. Fair’s in a funk. He only played 30 minutes over the two wins, and he’s 1-for-10 on the floor. He’s still a key to this club, in part because he’s such an instinctive rebounder and a hawk for loose balls.

– Kris Joseph continues to be inconsistent. He only had one rebound against KSU, and he’s made just 5-of-17 shots in the tournament.

– The team really goes just seven deep now (or eight if you count Baye Keita, who hasn’t done much this month). Foul trouble or an injury to anyone on the front line would be a big problem.

– If Syracuse meets up with Ohio State in the fourth round (likely), they have no good way to match up with all-world pivot Jared Sullinger.

The Prediction

The Orange will dispatch of Wisconsin on Thursday; Syracuse has too much talent, and the extra prep time helps. But the Final Four dream will end two days later, when Sullinger and Co. have their way inside.

The Ides of March bring hoops, lots of hoops, and with that, lots of talking heads. Some of them know what they’re talking about, some don’t.

Listening to Gary Cohen call any sport (and he’s good at every one he’s ever tried) is a pure delight. To really gauge the chops of an announcer, put him on a basketball radio call. I caught a number of Cohen games this past week while traveling – he’s part of the Westwood One network for the NCAA Tournament – and the man is an absolute clinic.

Let’s to go the checklist. Cohen knows the teams he’s announcing, inside and out (you can tell he does his homework); he’s very skilled at describing, specifically, what’s happening on the court (try this sometime for a fast-moving game like basketball, it’s next to impossible); he’s constantly giving you important game resets, such as the time and score; and he’s able to deftly add subtle analysis about game flow or the quality of play. Cohen could easily make the broadcast work on his own, but he’s also skilled at bringing out the value of his booth partner (for the last week, it’s been Reid Gettys, the former University Houston guard).

We need to appreciate the Cohens of the world because they’re rare (be glad he’s your TV man, Mets fan). On the flip side, let’s consider someone like CBS commentator Clark Kellogg.

Kellogg is Jim Nantz’s partner on the top CBS tandem – Kellogg replaced Billy Packer for the 2008-09 season. The decision to remove Packer from the booth was a popular one at the time – Packer acquired his share of critics over the years – but be careful what you wish for. Kellogg has not worked out as a TV analyst.

Kellogg’s common MO in the booth is to emotionally react to what he’s just seen (sometimes using alliteration or snappy language). He doesn’t seem to understand that he’s supposed to explain what’s happening (or what’s about to happen); he’s supposed to use his basketball knowledge (the man played college and pro hoops, after all) to break down the game. Maybe if Kellogg listened to a sharp analyst like Jay Bilas for a few weeks, he’d get it. Then again, Kellogg has been in a three-man booth with Nantz and the excellent Steve Kerr in many instances, and none of Kerr’s talent has rubbed off on him.

Here’s one Kellogg example, drawing from the Lehigh-Xavier game Sunday. Lehigh had an extended offensive drought in the second half, and eventually called timeout to settle things down. Kellogg quoted some statistics while the Mountain Hawks were missing shots, but didn’t give any theories as to why they weren’t able to score.

When the game got back in motion, Kellogg said words to the effect of “It will be interesting to see what Lehigh does after the timeout.”

That’s it, Clark? No explanation as to why the offense has broken down? No suggestion on how the offense can fix the problem? It’s your job to explain why the game is trending the way it is, or to suggest where the game is about to go. Is Lehigh settling for bad shots? Has Xavier made a defensive adjustment that’s causing problems? Is Lehigh getting quality possessions but simply not making shots it normally would? Is it a problem with too much dribbling? Is there a key player who’s not being involved enough?

We see the results on the court, Clark. Tell us why it’s happening, or tell us what’s likely to happen next. You’ve been in this gig for almost four years – it’s time to start improving.

I’m certainly not the first media critic to hone in on Kellogg’s deficiencies. Here’s an excellent Kellogg Breakdown from Chris Chase of Yahoo! Sports, discussing the call of the 2009 final between North Carolina and Michigan State.

With Mike D’antoni stepping down as Knicks head coach on Wednesday, it means good news on a few fronts for Knicks fans.  For one, Carmelo Anthony looked as happy as he has all season during Wednesday nights game.  And not just because they were blowing out the Blazers.  It almost seemed like he could hardly contain the joy he was feeling to have D’antoni gone and a coach that was now on his side.

I know that on some levels it’s wrong and a bit childish on Carmelo’s part, but to me, a healthy and happy Carmelo Anthony is the most important piece of the Knicks puzzle.  I like Mike D’antoni, but it was clear that his system didn’t fit with his personnel (Carmelo).  And in my opinion its up to the coach to adapt his system to the players he has, not the other way around.  A coach should take advantage of the strengths of his star players, not try and mold them to fit his coaching philosophy.

And for those looking for the Knicks to make a splash on the coaching front, Tommy Dee over at TheKnicksBlog.com is reporting that Phil Jackson has ‘definite interest’ in taking over as Knicks coach next season.  There would be no bigger coaching splash than bringing in the Zen Master.  On top of that, yesterday Mike Francesa all but guaranteed that Phil Jackson would never want to coach the Knicks when a caller suggested it.  Considering Francesa’s track record on predicting things like this, it now probably stands at around a 95% chance Jackson is on the Knicks bench next season. This is the same guy who spent the last two weeks all but guaranteeing that Peyton Manning would end up in Miami or Houston, blowing off just about any other suggestions because no other teams fit Francesa’s criteria. Big surprise, Peyton’s final two are Denver and Tennessee.

One other random Knicks note.  I saw this morning that Mike Woodson made some comments indicating that Jeremy Lin could lose some time to Baron Davis.  This had clowns like Craig Carton in an uproar this morning, as if Mike Woodson was now on some quest to kill Linsanity.  Lets be clear here.  Mike Woodson’s only motivation going forward is winning games, which is all Knicks fans should care about.  He is going to play whoever he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.  He’s a head coach with a golden oppurtunity to prove himself once again.  Why would he have any other motivation besides winning games?

The New York Times reflects:

D’Antoni came to the conclusion that the continuing tension was hurting both him and Anthony and ultimately sinking the Knicks, according to a person who spoke with D’Antoni on Wednesday. With his contract expiring after the season, D’Antoni decided that it was best to sever ties now and let the Knicks determine the best way to maximize Anthony’s skills.

“He basically said he didn’t see how he could coach them to success the way it was right now,” said the person who spoke to D’Antoni. The person added, “He didn’t want to get beat up for the next two months or see Melo get beat up for the next two months.”

You have to give D’Antoni some credit here, even if it appears that he’s bailing on a sinking ship. He’ll take some considerable heat for resigning from his players, but to protect Carmelo Anthony on his way out took a lot of guts, considering their tense relationship.

This could truly spell the end of ‘Linsanity’, especially with Mike Woodson stepping in as interim head coach. If you recall his time with the Hawks, Woodson allowed Joe Johnson free reign over the ball, so Lin’s days of the high pick and roll could be numbered. Also, how does Stoudemire now fit into the scheme? The one guy who benefits here is Anthony, who should see a significant increase in the amount of time the ball is in his hands.

It’s time to see if Carmelo Anthony can truly put this franchise on his back and dig them out of the hole he partially created. I guess now we’ll really see if the Knicks franchise is heading in the right direction.

Heartbreak in the pivot on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. It’s a storyline and an emotion Syracuse basketball fans know well.

Back in 2010 the sneaker dropped with senior center Arinze Onuaku – a quad injury sidelined him right before the Big Dance. And for 2012 the hit comes on Fab Melo; the school announced Tuesday that Melo has been declared ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

Melo isn’t the best player on the 31-2 Orange, but he might be the most difficult to replace. Seven-foot centers don’t grow on a tree somewhere. Freshman forward Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 228) might pick up extended minutes; he’s been slow to adjust to the college game. Sophomore center Baye Keita, a 6-10 product, is another candidate for a role increase. Head coach Jim Boeheim hasn’t decided on the new starting lineup yet (or at least he’s not telling anyone). C.J. Fair, the team’s second-leading rebounder, is a sure bet to see more playing time.

Melo’s inconsistent defensive rebounding was a sore spot this year (it’s the Achilles heel of the entire team), but the Orange would still love to have him roaming underneath the glass. When Melo missed three games earlier in the season due to an academic suspension, Syracuse was thrashed on the backboards. Notre Dame upset the then-undefeated Orange and held a 38-25 rebounding edge; two games later, Syracuse snuck past West Virginia despite a 41-20 deficit on the glass.

Melo’s defensive chops were impossible to miss this season; he turned into an ace at drawing charges and was recently named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. If you want to have a formidable defense (and specifically a 2-3 zone defense) at the college level, nothing puts the first block in place like an intimidating center.

It’s not a definitive blow to Syracuse’s NCAA hopes, but it certainly changes the complexion of the East Regional. The Orange were the clear favorites in the East before this news; now, you probably to favor No. 2 seed Ohio State. Kansas State looms as a dangerous possible matchup in Round 2 (let’s be serious, the Orange won’t be losing to UNC-Asheville on Thursday). Vanderbilt and Wisconsin are potential opponents for a third-round game, and the bottom half of the bracket is loaded as well (Ohio State, Florida State and Cincinnati – the same Bearcats that knocked Syracuse out of the Big East Tournament).

Your move, Mr. Boeheim. You’ve orchestrated a dream season despite a number of monumental distractions. Now it’s time to show your coaching chops yet again.

There are countless keys and stories to look at as the Syracuse Orange get ready for what could be a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Today, let’s focus on six of the biggest hot-button issues, attacking the questions from a personnel perspective.

• Dion Waiters should be the focal point of the offense. Truth be told, I’d like to see him get the most minutes out of the guards, no matter that he comes off the bench. The Syracuse offense has struggled mightily in the half-court set of late, but Waiters can get his shot off against anyone (note the 28 he rained on Cincinnati last week, while most of Waiters’s teammates were standing around watching).

• Fab Melo must stay out of foul trouble. Melo was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year – his footwork and instincts are terrific when it comes to taking charges. He’s still not a plus rebounder, but by default he’s the best glass-cleaner Syracuse has. If the Orange don’t get to the Final Four in New Orleans, it will probably be the rebounding that does them in. (Tuesday PM Update: Is it too late to add another center? Breaking news: Melo is out for the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue.)

• C.J. Fair’s steady contributions are important. The 6-8 forward is probably the most underrated member of this year’s team, a sneaky rebounder and solid wing defender. Fair’s rebounding chops are mostly about timing and anticipation, not raw power; he’s got a very high Basketball IQ. He’s also capable of flashing inside the lane and providing offensive support, something that will come in handy if opponents throw a zone at Syracuse. It never feels like Fair is dominating in any game, but he sneaks up on you.

• Time to get Scoop Jardine back on track (or limit his minutes). The senior guard struggled mightily down the stretch, making just 6-of-23 shots over his last four games. And with 11 turnovers against 12 assists, it’s not like he was making good decisions with the basketball. Jim Boeheim hardly used Jardine in the second half against UConn in the Big East Tournament, holding him to 18 minutes.

• Kris Joseph needs to shake out the cobwebs. The senior forward only took 23 shots in his final three games, and he didn’t even have a rebound in the loss against Cincinnati (the disappointing full line: nine points, one assist, no rebounds, four turnovers). While you like Joseph’s unselfish nature and team-first attitude, it would help the Orange if he’d play with a more assertiveness. A get-back game on Thursday against North Carolina-Ashville (the Cuse is a 17-point favorite) would be a sight for sore eyes.

• Brandon Triche and James Southerland need to trust their outside shots. Triche only made 1-of-7 3-pointers in the Big East Tournament, and he even had a surprising slump at the free throw line, missing 3-of-4 there. While he’s not the purest shooter in the world, Triche is capable of hitting the trifecta and he can’t be afraid to pull the trigger if opponents give him the shot. And he needs to be on point with the free throws as the Orange look to salt away games, late; Triche is over 80 percent from the line in each of the last two years.

Southerland actually is a pure shooter, not that his current stats show it (31 percent from the arc, 71.4 percent at the line). You can see that he struggles with his confidence at times, common for a reserve; he knows that if he misses his first couple of shots, he’s probable headed back to the bench. Some early makes could go a long way for Southlerland; consider he was 9-for-23 behind the arc over the last four games, and his clutch bombing was critical in the comeback victory over Connecticut.

We’re almost halfway through the month of March, which brings the usual diversions. Spring training is well underway in Florida and Arizona. Most of America is wasting a few hours of company time today, considering NCAA bracket picks. St. Patrick’s Day comes our way on Friday.

And then there’s this yearly assignment for Yankees fans: meet up in the bluegrass, my old Kentucky home.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Kentucky’s basketball history has a quirky tie-in to Yankees history. The last six times the Wildcats have cut down the nets, the Yanks have gone on to take the World Series. It’s clicked in 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996 and 1998. Joe Dimaggio and Adulph Rupp; Reggie Jackson and Jack Givens; Derek Jeter and Rick Pitino. Are Curtis Granderson and John Calipari ready to be linked in history for 2012?

Of course there are some catches to the arrangement. For one thing, there’s no logical explanation of why Kentucky’s success should have anything to do with New York’s success. For another, the Wildcats actually have an additional title, from 1948, that didn’t link up with a Yankees title. We’re having fun with coincidental facts today, nothing more.

That said, the most superstitious fans in The Bronx probably won’t mind seeing that Kentucky is the overwhelming favorite to win the NCAA tournament this year. The Wynn Sports Book in Las Vegas sends Kentucky off as a 9-5 favorite, miles ahead of the next two options, North Carolina and Syracuse (both 6-1). This is probably the most talented team Calipari has had anywhere, and freshman power forward Anthony Davis is considered the best player in the country (and the presumable No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft if he chooses to come out).

Get to work, Wildcats. You have some interested fans rooting you on in Tampa.