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So, Josh Selby’s debut with Kansas went pretty well, huh? Team-high 21 points in just 27 minutes of nationally televised work and the game-winning three to defeat USC and keep KU’s obscene home-victory streak alive.
Who knows if Selby was ever truly interested in Syracuse. But his dalliance with the Orange made headlines for months.
Was it Arizona? How about UConn? Does Tennessee want him anymore after Tobias Harris committed? Is Syracuse in his Top-3?
The Fizz tracked every nuance of Selby’s great recruiting battle and his ultimate decision to play for the Jayhawks. He was the top prep guard in the country and college basketball’s powerhouses wanted him.
Eventually, the NCAA ruled he would be forced to sit out the first nine games of the year for accepting improper benefits in high school. This is roughly akin to grounding your son for 20 minutes. Either you damaged your amateur status or not by taking money and/or gifts. Nine nights of a 35-game season? And you can practice with the team? Hard to find the disciplinary measure there.
Then again, it’s impossible to point at Selby alone. Most high-profile hoops players are lavished with gifts from the time they hit their first AAU jumper. But maybe Selby’s suspension would have created a dark cloud around SU had he joined the Orange.
While Fab Melo has been disappointing and Syracuse still seems to lack a go-to scorer, the Orange is undefeated and a Top-5 team in the country. Seems like the team is buying into The Per’fesser’s tutelage. Maybe the ‘Cuse doesn’t need Selby.
But with his undeniable ability and how smooth he looked in his debut yesterday, it’s hard not to think of what could have been.
Posted: D.A.
