Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Evan Turner has become the quintessential college baller. He does everything on the floor and does all of it with a smile. He won the hearts of the blue collar folks by coming back sooner than expected from his broken back. He's picking up Player of the Year honors left and right, and of course his team is on to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. All of this would've been far-fetched a few years ago, according to teammate Mark Titus.
Titus, aka Club Trillion, was on Bill Simmons' podcast, The B.S. Report, and talked about the old, not-so-nice Evan Turner. When asked about Turner's rise in college hoops and on draft boards, he painted quite the picture from a few years back.
Titus: I'm very surprised because his freshman year he hated everybody. I don't know how to really explain him his freshman year. Basically, if you would've told me three years ago that he would be the best player in college basketball, I would've laughed. I would've expected him to end up at some NAIA school because he couldn't find a coach that he got along with. He was one of those types. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and I think that's what got him into trouble his freshman year. His personality in the locker room was the same way he played, he was out to get everybody. We were like "We're on your team, you don't have to hate us, we're teammates here." He was out for only himself, but he's turned it around and in two years he's matured a lot and become a great team player and it's fun to watch.Simmons: So does he see that? Would you give him crap about that now?
Titus: Oh yeah, I give him crap. We talk about it all the time. His freshman year, we were just shooting free throws at the end of practice and he was rebounding for me as I was shooting free throws. I shot one and made it and he threw a bullet chest pass back to me, so I tossed the ball back to him and said "Can you just bounce it like maybe a referee would or just not throw it that hard?" And he lost his mind and tried to fight me in practice. Coach [Thad] Matt gets mad at him and we all had to run sprints for it. The next day in practice he got kicked out or something, so yeah there's a lot of stuff like that. I like to remind him that he was a headcase his freshman year. It's kind of funny because now he's a good kid and he's got his head on right and he's destined to do some pretty great things I think.
It's hard to picture an Evan Turner that is such a locker room problem. These days, people have nothing but glowing positive reviews for him. I don't know if I agree with what Simmons later asserts -- that Turner controlling the final two weeks of the tourney would somehow vault him over John Wall in the NBA draft -- but he has clearly come a long way. Listen to the full interview over on ESPN. (Also of note: friend of the blog Alan Sepinwall of the Star Ledger and What's Alan Watching? appeared on the podcast to talk all things TV.)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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I understand the kid wears number 21 out of respect for his teamate that died in HS. One he played ball with throughout his life up to that point. I wonder how much that played in his mindset, attitude etc? People deal with things differently. Funny how that’s not mentioned… The whole "he hated everybody" his freshman year surely speaks to the the impact the death had on him. Opinions are like a$$holes; everybody has one.
by ldukea on Mar 24, 2010 6:54 PM EDT reply actions
o.k. I have heard several different off color remarks, tweets, and statements made by this Titus- I sit at the end of the bench guy- and all of them haven’t been that flattering of Evan Turner. First of all, the only reason anyone is reading his phlegm is because he mentions Evan’s name so his titles are linked to Turners name on the web. It is really sad when someone who doesn’t play demeans a player that is giving his all to his team. I want Matta to look at this guy. He shouldn’t be allowed to smear the character of a player who has held up his end of the bargain to OSU and then some. Titus, you do nothing. Your claim to fame is just that. You do not have the right to speak negatively about Turner, it is becoming increasingly obvious that you are seriously jealous of his skills. I wouldn’t like to be around a smart ass who does nothing for the team but talk either. You are not that funny. What is funny is that Turner even took the time to rebound for you. You were lucky, since you couldn’t even do a good enough job to be the team manager. It has become obvious that you have some latent problem, but that problem is making itself clear. You are the problem. You do nothing to contribute, and you are getting press by association. He wore your stupid shirt to show you support and you try to make him out as a headcase. I wouldn’t like you either. You sound like a snitch on the twitter. With a teammate like you who needs enemies. You shouldn’t be allowed to ride the bench. I am going to send this article around so people can see you for the brutus that you are.
By the way, I watched OSU when Turner played freshman year, and I can tell you that he had good reason to be mad. It was his efforts that won the NIT for OSU. Had this team not made him stand in the corner OSU might have won some games. Give me a break, you are a judas and your teammates need to teach you how to be a better teammate. As far as I can see, you suck.
by d-truth on Mar 25, 2010 1:29 AM EDT reply actions
You are an idiot. You clearly don’t get it. Titus was not bashing Evan at all. In fact he was complimenting how much he has improved since his freshman year. He has come a long way. Evan was not a star his freshman year. He was far from it in fact. Sure, he had his moments where he looked good but who doesn’t? Basically what Titus is saying is that Evan has really developed and it’s neat to see how he is now compared to his freshman year.
As far as Titus goes, he is a great teammate. He keeps everyone loose and knows his role on the team. As much as he plays it off like he has no skills, he’s no scrub. Scrubs don’t get recruited my Harvard and mid-majors. You should read up on how good he was in high school. He has done so much for OSU. Titus is clearly NOT jealous of Evan’s skills. But it seems like you are pretty jealous of Titus. But hey it’s ok, I would be too. The kid is a celebrity, and very talented and funny.
by onetwentyfour on Mar 25, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions
Don’t know too much about Titus except he seems like a pretty descent young man from what I’ve read. I didn’t take the article as a jab at ET myself. You never know what someone is going through mentally about the loss of a close friend or someone dear to them. That may have attributed to some of the issues he had or maybe he and Titus just didn’t see eye to eye. Whatever it was it seems to be water under the bridge now. Not really sure why it is being brought up now, but people can, and do change. If what Titus says is fact then evidently ET saw the light or got over whatever it was that was causing the issues. Not really sure why this piece was written or what it has to do with anything at all, other than beating a dead horse. Like I stated before maybe he and Titus just didn’t get along and Titus took it as an attitude toward the world. That’s not to say what Titus is saying isn’t true, but so far it’s just what is being reported from him. Guess you had to be there.
by rs320 on Mar 25, 2010 1:17 PM EDT reply actions
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