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Quote:THE BUSINESS OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Transition game
A get-house-in-order mandate means old players expendable when new coach arrives
By MICHAEL MURPHY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

When fans talk about Cedrick Hensley, they're usually discussing one of two things — his phenomenal leaping ability or the night he scored 101 points in a high school basketball game.


Carlos Antonio Rios / Chronicle
Cedrick Hensley didn't want his UH career to come to a premature end, but now he's bound for Minnesota State. 
The attention tends to make Hensley uncomfortable because he would rather let someone else take the spotlight. Hensley, who is usually content to sit quietly in the background paging through the Bible he always carries with his textbooks, is far more comfortable observing than being observed.

But Hensley finds himself the center of attention — not for one of his amazing dunks or his triple-digit night at Heritage Christian that made national headlines and turned him into a must-get recruit.

No, the talk is about Hensley's departure, part of a seismic shake-up of the University of Houston basketball program. A fortuitously timed change in recruiting rules has allowed UH coach Tom Penders to bring in a seven-player class that is being hailed as among the best in the nation.

But to accommodate that group, five spots had to be opened up in addition to those created by the loss of seniors Andre Owens and Bryan Shelton, so four players were told to transfer — Hensley (headed to Minnesota State), Dwight Jones II (Houston Baptist), Englebert Cherrington (Houston Baptist) and Rodney Hannah (mulling his options).

Also, Darius Brannon, who made headlines last season when he overcame years of academic problems to regain his eligibility, is being asked to walk on. There would be no scholarships for any of the targeted players.

That's why Hensley thinks that instead of the degree in kinesiology he was pursuing, he instead received a business education at UH.

The business of major-college basketball.

"I don't think I ever got the opportunity to shine here, so maybe this is for the best," he said. "I can look back at my time at UH and be thankful for many things, but the biggest thing I learned here is the business aspect of sports. People may not think so, but (college basketball) is a business."

In a sense, Hensley is correct — college basketball is a business. But, as is usually the case in situations like this, it's a bit more complicated than that.

Penders, like every other coach, is in the business of winning, and his track record indicates he has been successful. That's why he was hired by UH athletic director Dave Maggard to rebuild a program that once had been a national power.

But Penders surprised many — including several of the players from the previous year's nine-win team — by exercising patience.

"Tom came in and told everyone that he was going to give everyone a shot, and he did," Maggard said. "I think that most everybody will understand (the moves) because I feel that he has been fair with everyone.

"But this is a one-time thing, and that's it."


Momentum is everything
After the decisions, Penders and Maggard made certain every player left UH in good academic standing and that their departure was cushioned with a scholarship at another school.

After winning 18 games last season and flirting with an NCAA Tournament berth, Penders wanted to make sure the program was able to capitalize on that success.

"My charge is to bring the University of Houston the best basketball program that we can bring them," Penders said. "We want to get to the NCAAs and the Final Four and play for national championships. That's what I've been hired to do.

"I came in and said that we would give everybody a chance, and I did just that. ... We can't lose the momentum we've gained this year."

Van Coleman, who publishes FutureStars Magazine and runs Hoopmasters.com, a Web site devoted to college basketball recruiting, noted that this example of housecleaning is unusual for a Penders-coached program.

"I realize this kind of turnover is unusual, but doesn't constitute anything unless it becomes a pattern," Coleman said. "In other words, a yearly ritual (of the revolving door) is something that hasn't been part of coach Penders' way of recruiting. This is probably an anomaly, not the norm."

One reason the Cougars (and other teams) have been able to overhaul the roster was the abolishment last year of the so-called 5/8 rule, which was implemented before the 2001-02 season. The rule limited schools to a maximum of five scholarships in a school year, and no more than eight over a two-year span.

When proposed, it was intended to prevent coaches from blatantly running off players to make room for new ones. But the rule fell under fire because it did not allow for extenuating circumstances.

A school graduated an unusually large number of players in one year? Tough. A couple of players transfer or an underclassman jumps to the NBA? Too bad. Grades take out a player or two? Work around it. Coaches were not allowed to replace anyone if it meant going over the 5/8 limit, even if their players suffered season- or career-ending injuries.


Seeking the quick fix
Without the constraints of the 5/8 rule, schools such as Houston, Texas Tech (which is bringing in eight new players), Memphis (seven), New Mexico (seven), Oklahoma State (seven), Cincinnati (seven) and Louisville (nine, seven of which are scholarship players) were able to quickly reload.

"We're in a competitive business," said Penders of overhauling the roster. "And we're in the business of getting the University of Houston back where it belongs, and that's not on some 10-year program.

"I have a great deal of compassion for all of them. But scholarships at the Division I level are on a year-to-year basis. Without a doubt, this is the best thing, both for the players and for our program. I think that some of these kids will have an opportunity now to excel at a level where they'll be more comfortable."

Not all of the players are happy with their respective fates. Jones, the son of UH legend Dwight Jones, is one of those who is not happy.

"We won 18 games last season, which is a big turnaround, and we were only a couple of games short of making the NCAA Tournament," Jones said. "So first of all, I don't understand why they're breaking up a winning team."


Influx of talent
The short answer is simple — because the incoming class should make the team better.

Freshman Emmanuel Adeife, a shot-blocking 6-10 center, and 6-9 junior college transfer Richard Young are expected to give the Cougars the inside presence they were lacking last season. Junior swingman Oliver Lafayette and freshmen Corey Bloom and Lamar Roberson will fill the Cougars' outside shooting needs. Guard Tristan Martin and forward Jahmar Thorpe are versatile players Penders can plug into several positions.

Brannon looks at all that incoming talent and sees a potential NCAA Tournament team, which is why he has no problem surrendering his free ride.

"I think I earned a scholarship, but I'm willing to sacrifice if we're going to be a better team," Brannon said. "I have to look back and see how I played last season, and I have to admit that I understand (being asked to walk on)."

Hensley will leave UH with no ill feelings, perhaps because he understands that some observers believe his situation is a case of what comes around goes around. After all, Hensley left Texas City after his sophomore year for the elevated exposure he would get at Heritage Christian.

"Even with everything that's happened, I hope they do well next year," Hensley said. "I really do hope they achieve that goal and make it to the NCAA Tournament. I will always have UH in my heart, so I hope that happens for them."

michael.murphy@chron.com

Here is the big list
Quote:The additions and subtractions to UH's basketball team since last season:

Glad to see ya
Emmanuel Adeife  6-10  C  Fr.  Dillard (Fl.) HS 
Corey Bloom  6-5  G  Fr.  Broth. Martin (La.) HS 
Oliver Lafayette  6-4  G  Jr.  Brown Mackie College 
Tristan Martin  6-2  G  Jr.  Midland JC 
Lamar Roberson  6-7  F  Fr.  Mt. Zion (N.C.) Aca. 
Jahmar Thorpe  6-6  F  Jr.  W. Oklahoma College 
Richard Young  6-9  F/C  Jr.  Hillsboro CC 

See ya later

Andre Owens  6-3  G  Sr.  Graduated
Bryan Shelton  6-3  G  Sr.  Graduated 
Englebert Cherrington  6-7  F  Jr.  HBU 
Dwight Jones II  6-2  G  So.  HBU 
Cedrick Hensley  6-4  G  Jr.  Minnesota State 
Rodney Hannah  6-8  F  Jr.  TBA
 
To tell you the truth none of the guys bolded should come as a surprise. None of these guys performed consistantly enough to be worth keeping around with the possible talent that we recruited. I wish these guys well!!!
06-20-2005 12:51 PM
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