[DaKCMan AP]

Whitlock said it all:

If Beasley goes, Kansas State shouldnt act jilted

I hope Michael Beasley shocks us all today and announces he’s returning for a second season at Kansas State.

I’m selfish. Beasley makes my job easier. He’s the most wonderfully gifted college player I’ve seen since Glenn Robinson at Purdue in the mid-1990s.


I also have an ulterior motive. I don’t want to see Kansas State fans embarrassed again. They’ve spent the last three weeks convincing themselves that Beasley is agonizing over his decision to turn pro. If you believe the e-mailers, the bloggers and the message-board posters, the only reason Beasley might leave Manhattan is because of his desire to take care of his family.


Other than that, Beasley had such a good time in Aggieville, learned so much playing for Frank Martin and so thoroughly enjoyed K-State’s unforgettable, 21-12 season that he’d really prefer to build a home in Manhattan and work on his master’s degree.
You see, Beasley is just like Bob Huggins, another one-and-done phenom who had to be dragged from Manhattan kicking and screaming.


You remember the fallout when Huggy Bear left Kansas State. Jon Wefald and then-athletics director Tim Weiser cried like jilted lovers.


What worries me today is the thought of Beasley being forced to let K-State down easy in front of an audience. Seriously, breaking up is very difficult to do, especially when you’re trying to break up with someone who loves you far more than you love them.


“It’s not you. It’s me. You’re everything I want, everything any man would want, but I’m just not ready for a serious relationship.”

If Beasley is indeed bouncing to the NBA, there’s no need for a press conference. A short, simple press release would do the job. Heck, people are now breaking up with a couple of quick text messages.


“It’s just nt wrkng. C U latr.”

A departure press conference — even though K-State administrators may have insisted on one — will only serve to embarrass Kansas State. Yes, hardcore K-State fans might enjoy the emotional drama. They’d love to see Beasley shed a few tears, talk about how much fun he had in Aggieville, call Bramlage Coliseum the best-kept secret in college basketball.


I’m sure the hope is that some potential recruit will see the press conference, consider K-State and view Frank Martin as an up-and-coming coaching superstar.


It’s not going to happen. The story on one-and-done superstars has been told. Beasley and O.J. Mayo chose to attend nontraditional basketball powers and their decisions don’t look all that attractive in the rearview mirror.


Beasley and the Wildcats barely slipped into the NCAA Tournament. They had two signature moments — a home victory over Kansas and a first-round triumph over Southern California in the NCAA Tournament.


Had Beasley signed on to play at a traditional power, he probably would’ve won the player-of-the-year awards that Tyler Hansbrough won and Beasley certainly would’ve enjoyed an extended tournament run.


Send Beasley to UCLA instead of Kevin Love, and the Bruins likely win the national championship and Beasley is hailed as the greatest freshman in the history of college basketball. Beasley could’ve stayed closer to home and attended Georgetown, and the Hoyas would’ve won the national title.


I don’t think we’ll see anymore sure-fire lottery picks headed off to obscure basketball schools. Not unless their mentor/AAU coach lands an assistant-coaching job.


It’s probably not in the best interest of the player or the school long term.


Right now K-State fans think they’ll never forget Michael Beasley. That’s what they’re saying right now because Beasley hasn’t broken up with them yet. They’re still holding on to the desperate belief that the relationship isn’t over.


That’s all likely to change around 5 p.m. today. I hope I’m wrong. I’m a fan of dysfunctional relationships. They’re pretty much all I’ve ever known.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/574640.html