Return of Psycho T

In the season where everyone is mimicking The Clash and asking, "Should I stay or should I go?", it was refreshing to see one college superstar stay to fulfill his four year commitment. Tyler Hansbrough announced that he will return to the University of North Carolina for his senior season.

I must admit that I follow this more than some may and not just college basketball, but college hockey (obviously) and college football (if I told you the number of times a day that I check the Transactions pages for the NHL of ESPN, on the AHL website, and on INCH looking to see if Gerbe has signed yet, you would think I was crazy). I love thinking mentally about the holes certain people's departures leave on teams who now have to recruit for positions they may have thought we filled for the next season. But it's always nice to see a great talent return for one more year and fulfill his/her commitment and give the fans something to watch for one more year.

I must admit that I like the NBA system where they allow you to declare but not hire an agent so you can see if its worth coming out yet and not actually give up your eligibility. It used to be tragic when kids would have dreams of a lottery pick and then not go at all and they gave up their school eligibility for nothing. Happily, the NHL doesn't have that problem because you can be drafted without having to actually sign which allows you to stay in school (or in juniors) and still have the promises of NHL dreams to come.

I am glad to see Hansbrough come back. I'm sure the rest of the ACC does not agree with me and I know Old Man Pike doesn't. Yes, he gets calls he shouldn't and goes to the line wayyyy more times than he deserves. But you have to love the way this kid plays. He gives everything that he has on the court every night and helps his team win. I remember two seasons ago, when he had his nose smashed by a Duke player while going for a layup. He was a bloody mess. Did he ask to come out? Did he writhe in pain on the floor? No, his first reaction was to get up and show that he wasn't hurt and that he wanted to kill. The look in his eyes was pure Hannibal Lector. I loved it. He would have made a fabulous hockey player! The fact that UNC won the game against Coach Crinkle (how does his nose do that??) and the Dukies just made it even better. I enjoy watching him play as long as it's not against my team.

Kids will leave early every year in all college sports. I don't want to overly congratulate Hansbrough for staying because that's what you're supposed to do. However, it was still refreshing to see. Normally when someone is named player of the year they are guaranteed to jump ship (unless they can't by rule), to know we get one more year of that crazy man diving for loose balls and attempting to drive through 4 defenders for that bucket is good news for college basketball fans everywhere. You listening Mr. Gerbe? One more year isn't such a bad thing is it?