As most everyone knows by now, Devin Ebanks, arguably the most heralded recruit signed by West Virginia in my lifetime, has signed with an agent and officially entered the 2010 NBA Draft.

This is certainly a blow to WVU's prospects next year, I think it's disingenuous to take that into account when evaluating this type of decision.  You have to look at it solely from a perspective of what's best for Devin.  And while I won't blame Ebanks for seeing dollar signs and leaving early, in the end, I just don't think it was the best decision for his basketball career.  Here's why...

• His game certainly isn't ready.  Ebanks is good, but he's not that good, at least not yet.  Another year at the college level would have allowed him to add muscle, maturity, and a star quality to his game.  This year, it was almost always the Da'sean Butler show.  Next year?  It would have been Ebanks' team.  That's a powerful piece of the progression puzzle (and great alliteration) for a potential NBA star.

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From our own Country Roads, on the scene:

Road ends here...but no parking

(more after the jump and I'll update as I receive more)

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Compared to many Mountaineer fans, I have had a relatively short history with the flagship program of West Virginia.

Starting as a freshman in 2000, I entered into a time of great change in Morgantown.  Don Nehlen was putting the finishing touches on his long career, which was a turbulent enough time, what with Rich Rodriguez's 3-8 first season that followed.  Surely, that should have been enough "excitement" for one small town.  Unfortunately, a year later, it would get much, much worse.

On December 22, 2001, the Mountaineers walked into Knoxville and beat a very good Tennessee Volunteers team.  It was a great win, considering that West Virginia had just brought in the most heralded freshman class in recent memory.  Names like Hargett, Schifino, and Sally were to keep winning games like this for the next four years.  Of course, that would be the second to last win of the season, and during the early months of 2002, the WVU program would implode right in front of my eyes.  If you forget how bad it got, just say the words "Drew Catlett" and wait for an inevitable cringe.

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You've probably seen countless previews of West Virginia's upcoming National Semifinal match-up against Duke.  Unfortunately, you've probably also seen countless terribly shitty, poorly researched previews.  From my perspective, it seems that the national media watched WVU's game against Kentucky, took that 40 minutes as the end-all of WVU's plan of attack, and then wrote up stories that lacked knowledge of all other games the Mountaineers have played this season.

Luckily, your main man Charley West has had the pleasure of watching nearly every minute of Mountaineer basketball this season, along with quite a few of Duke's games.  Based on that knowledge, WVU seems to be well positioned for a victory against the Blue Devils on Saturday night.  Why? Glad you asked...

• We can play man defense.  This is my #1 gripe with the national media's drive-by previews: they assume we're going to play zone.  They see Kentucky's eye-popping 34 attempts from three, many of them open looks, and think that Duke's Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler will exploit that freedom.  Au contraire, my friend.  Duke lacks an imposing offensive presence on the inside, which was one reason for the zone against DeMarcus Cousins and UK.  They also lack a penetrating guard like John Wall, which was another reason.  Yes, guys like Smith can get into the lane, but it's not at Wall-like lightning speeds.  Ebanks, Mazzulla, and Butler can stay in front of these guys.  And Wellington Smith, Kevin Jones, and John Flowers are athletic enough to defend Brian Zoubek and the fighting Plumlee brothers (note: Plumlee brothers are proven only to be brothers, not fighting).  I'm sure the 1-3-1 will make an appearance -- it almost always does -- but I bet we go man for most of the game.

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OK, my worries over my terrible bracket have officially been erased by the Final Four success of WVU.  Our own Country Roads currently leads, but his pick of Kansas as champion is dead-man walking.  He texted me last night that he would gladly give up the bracket title for a Mountaineer championship.  I didn't say it aloud, but if he had thought anything different, I would have slashed his tires.

If WVU does go on to win the title -- as well certainly hope -- TSM will have its first XX-chromosome dictated hump day.  I have absolutely no idea how that will look, but knowing Miss Hayes personally, I can only think we'll get suggestive pictures of scantily clad Cuisinarts. Considering I have a niche food processor fetish, let's just say I am excited.  I guess we'll just have to see.

Somewhat because I am a sore loser, a little bit because I have the mental maturity of an eight year old, but mostly because I picked against the Mountaineers winning it all and feel just plain dirty.  I should have never done it, regardless of my reasoning.  I'm sorry Mountaineers, you deserved better.  Now, please please please please please prove me wrong and win it all.  Please.

Below are the current standings.  We'll obviously have a much better look at how this whole thing will sort out after this coming weekend, when we're hopefully making Final Four plans.

Good luck to those who still have a chance.  For those that don't (read: me), I will be gently sobbing every time I read this post.