IF the american Pros were still not allowed in the olympics How do you think we would have done in the last few Olympics? 92? 96? 00? [Would we have lost to the Lithuanians?] Rocket River BTW . . . i think the pros playing in the olympics is a small yet significant part of why players leave college early. I mean . . . it was a privilege that they no longer have.
I think that college kids can no longer play with international pros. In 1992, I seem to remember the dream team facing very little competition. If the US played college kids, we could have played: Shaq Alonzo Morning Christian Laetner Bobby Hurley etc. Would have been interesting.
RR, I really doubt this rule affected players leaving early. Perhaps a borderline case like JW last year, or MD or Bordchart this year would have stayed an extra year if it allowed him a chance at a Gold/silver medal. But the money/agent pull to leave, and the pull of college coaches/some parents/fans to stay, far far outweigh something like potential Olymic play--and even then that is only once in 4 years. I don't see how a college all-star team could compete with say the best of European teams now (or China in about 3-5 years). Two factors for this--1, most of the best of the college players now leave early or even by high school, 2- European leagues are getting better and better with the best of those players are now NBA stars. We would be talking teams with guys like JW, Dixon, Butler, Gooden and Bordchart who haven't played with each other much versus teams lead by seasoned NBA guys (Dirk, Peja, Vlade) plus other quality players (certainly they would be great Division I quality players) used to playing with each other.
Rudy basically took college and CBA players to the World Championships and got a bronze---That was a pretty fine job considering the time frame. If had proper time to prepare a college team for the Olympics i'm sure we would compete with the best, but we could certainly lose. The last Olympic Dream team almost got the shock of their lives against Lithuania.
If I remember correctly, he did not even take many college players with him. Never Mind, I found the roster: http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_1998.html Not many future NBA players of note on that squad. There were only three college players on that team-Brad Miller, Trajan Langdon, and Mateen Cleaves(missed the tournament due to injuries) Beatiful coaching job by Rudy. I am now convinced that a team of the best non-NBA players could not only compete with the international teams, but place very high.
