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Who is providing him his scholarship?

 Oh right!  It's NC State University -- not Turkey.

I think it was fine that he chose to play for the national team.  It was not OK when he realized it was debilitating his health and he kept playing anyway. 

Ken

Lets be clear that NC State offered Engin a scholarship.  Engin did not come begging to get to NC State.  He is doing us a favor, not the other way around.

Yes, he was offered a scholarship, which he signed and agreed to play basketball for in return for a free education at a prestigious American university.  It's an education that would cost an out-of-state student about $100,000 over four years.

 That is a very significant financial obligation by all measures.  It's not too much to ask the young man to avoid playing with a known chronic injury that when he arrived at school led the entire staff to acknowledge it might impact his senior season.

 Well, it has certainly done that!

More like ruined it.  Like I said, if the injury was from a fall or single play, then fine, those things happen and they are unavoidable.  I don't criticize him for playing on the national team.  I criticize him for playing with a chronic injury that needed rest.  And instead of resting that injury, he elected to play.

 He made a decision to harm his senior season to play on his national team. 

NC State will honor its last year on his scholarship.  That is the right thing to do.  But, it is also right to focus on the situation honestly and tell it like it is.  Atsur was the most important member of this year's team.  He was our only person capable of playing point guard and he was the only starting senior.  In fact, he was the only senior with any playing time.

His loss has hurt this team gravely because most of our turnovers are from inexperienced players like Fells and Ferguson trying to play out of position.  Even with Grant's experience, he is clearly out of position.

To imply that we should silently suffer that is a bit silly.  It should be honestly addressed.

Ken

Absolutely the dumbest thing I have ever heard.  I am sure that ATsur was purposely harming his senior season.  You are such a dumbass.....

"Daddy, how could Santa not bring me the entire store? I am just too darn cute."

Ken, what in the world are you talking about?????

 I criticize him for playing with a chronic injury that needed rest.  And instead of resting that injury, he elected to play.

The chronic injury that Atsur has is a bone spur in his heel. The last time I checked the heel is a good bit of distance away from the hammy, but I only got a B in anatomy. Also, I remember him hurting his hammy during the Michigan game, NOT during the National tourney.

In fact I distinctly remember you criticizing the NBA pros for not playing for Team USA, yet these guys get paid millions of $$$ per year. More of a financial obligation than a 4 year college tuition, don't you think?

I am disappointed that Atsur cannot play, however representing your country is a once in a lifetime opportunity and he should have done it. However, in the long run, while we will take some major lumps without Atsur, it will help down the road. Horner would not have the min. he is getting now and that can only help him in the future.

Derreck,

 I know you've played enough sports in high school to realize that without pre-season conditioning that hamstring pulls are far more likely.  The injury prevented him from participation in the pre-season conditioning as he normally would do.  As I wrote earlier, I am convinced this lack of normal conditioning contributed to the hamstring injury.

His performance in the Virginia game was noticeably slow.  This is understandable.  But, it certainly doesn't help the team's chances.

I would never expect an NBA athlete or college player to play with a chronic injury. 

Ken

"Ain't nothin wrong with looking good when you do what you do"

I think both of your are correct. Engin took a risk by playing for the Turkey National Team. I think a lot of the professional athletes realize that and how much time it takes away from their family life in the off season. 

I don't blame Engin for wanting to play for his country but he did gamble.  Tony Parker was in the same position, he had an opportunity to play for France and he did for a brief time until he realized his injury was getting worse.  So he and the Spurs thought it would be in his best interest to sit this one out.  No one thought less of him for his decision and I think it was a good one.