Some thoughts on Tuesday's news that Carsen Edwards is withdrawing from the NBA draft to return to Purdue for his junior season.
There wasn't a whole lot of suspense with Carsen Edwards' decision because there wasn't a whole lot of wild-card factor with him like there was Caleb Swanigan, A.J. Hammons and some others.
But that doesn't mitigate the significance of the news nonetheless, because it just made Purdue's season. You can't say it was ever undone, because I don't think he was ever likely to leave. But it makes Purdue's season nonetheless.
The guard will open his junior season as he ended his sophomore one: As an All-American. And probably the Preseason Big Ten Player-of-the-Year, barring any unexpected Happ-ening or everyone falling overly in love with Romeo.
He will be one of the highest-usage players in college basketball, a one-man fantasy team who'll lead Purdue in scoring, threes, assists, steals, free throws, gifs, oohs, aahs and whatever else you can think of. The ball will be in his hands all the time and his decision-making will be the key to not just his success but the Boilermakers' season. So will his leadership, poise and patience.
In a broader context, Edwards will bear ultimate responsibility for his team's outcomes. That is simply how prominent he'll stand over this team, as its unquestioned star and the star all others orbit.
Right or wrong, basketball stars stand out. National media types cover individuals over teams, seems like, and too many too often overlook teams to put it all over individuals, which is so often profoundly unfair, but such is life.
Edwards is Purdue's star, the player whose performance will heavily influence, if not guide, the outcome of every game in which he plays, for better or worse, probably better far more than worse, but for better or worse nonetheless.
Purdue can compete in the Big Ten next season and it will be in the mix to play in its fifth straight NCAA Tournament. Had this decision gone differently, those would be off the table.
Edwards stands just 6-foot tall, give or take, but he now stands tall over Purdue's whole season, its whole program, for at least one more season. After that, we'll see. He is a legitimate NBA prospect. His time was not now, as has been very fairly evident the past week or so. His time might be a year from now for all we know.
In the meantime, though, Purdue's team is his to carry.
There wasn't a whole lot of suspense with Carsen Edwards' decision because there wasn't a whole lot of wild-card factor with him like there was Caleb Swanigan, A.J. Hammons and some others.
But that doesn't mitigate the significance of the news nonetheless, because it just made Purdue's season. You can't say it was ever undone, because I don't think he was ever likely to leave. But it makes Purdue's season nonetheless.
The guard will open his junior season as he ended his sophomore one: As an All-American. And probably the Preseason Big Ten Player-of-the-Year, barring any unexpected Happ-ening or everyone falling overly in love with Romeo.
He will be one of the highest-usage players in college basketball, a one-man fantasy team who'll lead Purdue in scoring, threes, assists, steals, free throws, gifs, oohs, aahs and whatever else you can think of. The ball will be in his hands all the time and his decision-making will be the key to not just his success but the Boilermakers' season. So will his leadership, poise and patience.
In a broader context, Edwards will bear ultimate responsibility for his team's outcomes. That is simply how prominent he'll stand over this team, as its unquestioned star and the star all others orbit.
Right or wrong, basketball stars stand out. National media types cover individuals over teams, seems like, and too many too often overlook teams to put it all over individuals, which is so often profoundly unfair, but such is life.
Edwards is Purdue's star, the player whose performance will heavily influence, if not guide, the outcome of every game in which he plays, for better or worse, probably better far more than worse, but for better or worse nonetheless.
Purdue can compete in the Big Ten next season and it will be in the mix to play in its fifth straight NCAA Tournament. Had this decision gone differently, those would be off the table.
Edwards stands just 6-foot tall, give or take, but he now stands tall over Purdue's whole season, its whole program, for at least one more season. After that, we'll see. He is a legitimate NBA prospect. His time was not now, as has been very fairly evident the past week or so. His time might be a year from now for all we know.
In the meantime, though, Purdue's team is his to carry.
