While We’re Waiting… Buckeye Breakdown, and Plenty of Kyrie

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com

Looking at the Buckeyes strengths and weaknesses- “The offense will certainly have some growing pains this year, having to break in a new quarterback (possibly a freshman) who will be throwing to a relatively inexperienced group of receivers in a system that doesn’t have a true offensive mind calling the plays. Add in Mike Adams, Boom Herron, and DeVier Posey serving the aforementioned suspension for basically half the season, and you really can’t expect much out of this unit heading into the new season.

On the contrary, the defense will come into 2011 with high expectations, as there are many players returning to the group that have shown they have the ability to play at an elite level. The Silver Bullets may have lost key contributors like Cameron Heyward, Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, and Chimdi Chekwa, but this is a unit that reloads year after year. With the circumstances surrounding the team this year, it will need to be a group that rises to the occasion, much like many Ohio State defenses before them have done with great success.” [Alex/Eleven Warriors]

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“Beyond the development of Irving though, I’m also intrigued by the prospects of playing these two Guards on the floor together at the same time. At 6’4″, I see no reason why Davis couldn’t slide over into that two spot, alongside Irving at the one. And as this Cavs roster is currently constructed there’s plenty of reasons to give that lineup a long look. There aren’t any SG’s or SF’s that demand minutes on this team right now anyways, and playing these two guys together would probably go along way towards getting your best five players on the floor at the same time. Having Davis on the floor with Irving during his first year running the show in the league could take some pressure off the kid as well to be sure, but if the experiment worked there could oops flying all over the place. Irving does have some experience in the two PG set too, coming in after spending time starting alongside Nolan Smith at Duke. So while it might take some getting used to for both of them, I’d be excited to give those two guys a shot at it.” [Brendan/Stepien Rules]

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“Instead, most experts seem to believe next season’s rookies will have a minimal impact on the league’s power structure, especially when it comes to offering immediate help. Even the Cavaliers have conceded that it will likely be a few years before we see the real Kyrie Irving (No. 1 overall) or Tristan Thompson (No. 4). Makes sense, considering Irving and Thompson are only 19 and 20 years old, respectively. And looking back, not even current stars such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett or Amar’e Stoudemire were world-beaters as teens. In fact, of the three, only Stoudemire averaged more than 10 points per game in his first year.” [Amico/FSO]

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Kyrie Irving already has an endorsement deal. But it isn’t what you think. Well done young man- “If you are not familiar with Best Buddies, it is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I learned that Irving is a global ambassador for Best Buddies. He signed with agent Jeffrey Wechsler after being swayed by Best Buddies founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver that he in his position where he could make a difference in his community that went beyond making the fans forget that guy who took his talents to South Beach.” [Patrick/Black Sports Online]

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Speaking of Irving, the Sporting News has pictures of Kyrie Irving’s draft night after party.

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One more for today- Scott Fujita makes Shutdown Corner’s All-Underrated team.