Rose vs. Mayo: This time, it's in NYC
Posted: Monday, December 03, 2007 11:53 PM
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Freshmen
Time for some hyperbole. Tuesday’s Memphis-USC matchup in the Jimmy V Classic has an all-encompassing storyline: Derrick Rose vs. O.J. Mayo.
Nevermind that it’ll be the second Top 5 team the Trojans will have faced in a three-day span. Forget that it’s another elite non-conference foe the Tigers slated this season, which also has games against Georgetown, Arizona and Gonzaga yet to come.
After all, this game is a rematch. (Click here to watch highlights.)
Mayo’s D1 Greyhounds bested Rose’s Mean Streets Express (which also had Eric Gordon) in a 2006 game on a last-second 4-point play, which the Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy reports some call the “greatest AAU game” of all time. Rose logged a triple-double, but Mayo stole the show when he nailed a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left was fouled (one story says it was Rose who fouled, another says it was Gordon; regardless, it was a helluva game.) and sunk the free throw.
The game sparked endless debates. Rose is the better pro prospect. Mayo is the better player. Rose has more talent around him and is thus more likely to win a title. Mayo can elevate an entire program to contender status.
But the difference pointed out most often is this: Mayo is more selfish and Rose is a better teammate.
One game obviously can’t settle any of those debates, only further inflate them. Still, on the big stage in Madison Square Garden, it’ll be interesting to see which player comes out ahead in the eyes of fans and scouts. My guess is Rose, simply because he’ll have more opportunities to make everyone on a talented Memphis team look good, while Mayo tends to make it a one-man show (though coach Tim Floyd has been trying to stop that).
The only thing everyone can agree on? They’re both phenomenal players. Tune in Tuesday.
