I mentioned briefly in my last article something about this, but I will get more extensive now. The Chicago Bulls last 5 drafts correlate with your argument and they have improved drastically in the last 5 years because of this. Take a look:
2006:
1st Round Tyrus Thomas, LSU (Final Four experience)
2005:
No Picks
2004:
1st Round Ben Gordon, UConn (National Champ)
1st Round Luol Deng, Duke (Who wins more than Duke?)
2nd Round Chris Duhon, Duke (Final Four experience)
2003:
1st Round Kirk Hinrich, Kansas (Final Four)
2nd Round Mario Austin, Mississippi State
2002:
1st Round Jay Williams, Duke (Final Four)
2nd Round Roger Mason Jr., Virginia
2nd Round Lonny Baxter, Maryland (National Champ)
Notice there are no Europeans or high school picks in the last five years. Also notice, at the begginning of these 5 years the Bulls were as bad as anyone in the league and now they are going to have home-court in the first round.
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