The Dagger - NCAAB

The Dagger

Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:20 pm EDT

NCAA Riches to NBA Rags: No. 4, Calbert Cheaney

By Chris Chase

NCAA Riches to NBA Rags is The Dagger's countdown of the best college basketball players who went on to have disappointing NBA careers. For an explanation of the criteria used in compiling this list, check out our introductory entry. Today we reach No. 4, Indiana's Calbert Cheaney.

Not surprisingly, opinions about Calbert Cheaney differ depending on which fanbase you speak with.

Yesterday on Twitter (follow me!) I asked for people to send in their thoughts about the 1993 consensus national player of the year. Some of the responses:

@eamonnbrennan: Old-school, tough, Bob Knight's spirit warrior, leader, all-around bad dude.

@johnmtaylor: I watched from the press box in 1998 as Cal Cheaney lit up Michael Jordan for 30 points, and M.J. still seemed more impressive.

@afriendofminewithoutatwitteraccount: His NBA career was like his jump shot ... ugly.

@unsilent He b***** goats.

You can guess where Eamonn went to school and which professional basketball team Unsilent Majority roots for.

It's like that with most NBA busts, but Cheaney, in particular, was beloved during his four years at Indiana. He was a native of the state, led Bob Knight's Hoosiers to a Final Four in 1992 and a No. 1 ranking in 1993, set the Big Ten record for career points, was a three-time All-American and seemed to be the perfect fit with Knight's motion offense. It all led to him becoming a Hoosier Hero on par with Quin Buckner and Steve Alford.

The Washington Bullets made Cheaney the sixth pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and the IU product looked to be headed toward pro success, averaging 15 ppg during his first three years. But the trade of Chris Webber and the NBA lockout derailed Cheaney and he spent his final seven years in the league bouncing around to four different teams. 

As we've written in this series before, failure is a relative term when talking about most of these guys. Cheaney played professionally for 13 years and made over $30 million during his time in the NBA. But he never gave anyone in Washington any reason to love him as much as they still do in Bloomington.

NCAA Riches to NBA Rags countdown:

No. 5 -- Lionel Simmons

No. 6 -- Juan Dixon

No. 7 -- Billy Owens

No. 8 -- J.R. Reid

No. 9 -- Adam Morrison

No. 10 -- Danny Ferry

digg delicious
more

27 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. JimmyChitwood
    1. Posted by JimmyChitwood Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:24 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This article is pretty accurate: Cal may not have lived up to his NBA potential, but he was an outstanding college player, a great role model, and an even better guy. And he is still beloved in Indiana.
    As I was a kid growing up, watching Cal and those early 90's Hoosier teams was an awesome privilege.
    Calbert is one of the many reasons I am proud to call myself a Hoosier.
  2. Al E
    2. Posted by Al E Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    He's an Indiana player and thats all he is which is why he didn't make it big. Enough said, unlike their neighbors to the south at Kansas who at least contribute in the N.B.A
  3. Marsha H
    3. Posted by Marsha H Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:11 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Yes, he was a big bust, HE ONLY PLAYED IN THE NBA FOR 13 YEARS.
    Get Real !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. david s
    4. Posted by david s Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Al E. You might want to hop back into 2nd grade geography, quit picking your nose, sniffing your friends farts, pay attention and learn your states you goat nut sack sniffer. Kansas isn't south of Indiana. What an idiot.
  5. P G
    5. Posted by P G Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    If my preschool geography is correct, isn't Kansas west of Indiana, seperated by Illinois and Missouri? Yes, I believe so.
  6. James
    6. Posted by James Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    How about Ralph Sampson?
  7. Slick
    7. Posted by Slick Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Maybe he meant Kentucky. You know all those K-States get kinda confusing sometimes. Go Big Red!
  8. Ben B
    8. Posted by Ben B Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Kansas is SouthWest of Indiana....and isn't Larry Bird from Indiana? Just one of the best of all time! Just because he wasn't flashy then you think he was a failure? We need more like him in my opinion.
  9. Scott
    9. Posted by Scott Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    2. Posted by Al E Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:43 pm EDT Report Abuse
    He's an Indiana player and thats all he is which is why he didn't make it big. Enough said, unlike their neighbors to the south at Kansas who at least contribute in the N.B.A
    ------
    8. Posted by Ben B Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:31 pm EDT Report Abuse
    Kansas is SouthWest of Indiana....and isn't Larry Bird from Indiana? Just one of the best of all time! Just because he wasn't flashy then you think he was a failure? We need more like him in my opinion.
    You *both* are wrong. If you take I-70 *west* out of Indanapolis, nine or so hours later, you will end up in Lawrence, Kansas. My college degree is from Purdue (IU's archrival), and my graduate degree is from the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Al must have meant Louisville, not Kansas.
  10. Timothy
    10. Posted by Timothy Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Why isn't Keith Lee on this list? He was drafted tenth in the first round by the Bulls in 1985, had been a consensus player of the year, and then did NOTHING as a pro. No injury, no big reason except a predictable game and not enough speed or brains to elevate said game to the pro level.
    That's KEITH LEE: a guy whose career was so nothing these supposed roundball junkies didn't remember it!
  11. jkljkljklxx
    11. Posted by jkljkljklxx Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    A second putting Keith Lee on the list and his moral character came into question more than once. I am unsure on the goat comment above, but Kansas is indeed WEST of Indiana and not south. Ralph Sampson should've made the list and been close to number 1 as expectations for him far surpassed anyone on the list. But like Chaney, he was actually a college student who got a degree and was a decent person. He gets a pass and Chaney does not is a bit odd.
  12. Alloyboy
    12. Posted by Alloyboy Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Calbert Cheaney sucked a$s with the Warriors and I don't remember him much from college. But I will always remember that he has the hottest wife I've ever seen. I sat in the next booth over from them in a resturant one time. I guess you don't have to be a star player in the NBA to pull bombshells, you just gotta get there.
  13. jahbril30
    13. Posted by jahbril30 Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I disagree with this wholeheartedly
  14. Devon D
    14. Posted by Devon D Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think it's hilarious that you put a player who was picked 6th in the 1993 draft, and averaged 9.5 points/game over 13 seasons is ranked 4th on this list of Riches to Rags. He was a much better NBA player than college superstars like Jay Williams, Bobby Hurley, Steve Alford, Billy Owens, Felton Spencer, JR Reid, Ron Mercer, Eric Montross, Kent Benson, and Quinn Buckner.
  15. ricosuave
    15. Posted by ricosuave Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sam Bowie, Chris Washburn, Brad Dougherty
  16. J
    16. Posted by J Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    hey man Calbert Cheaney shouldn't really be on this list he wasn't that bad....but soon add JJ redick to the list
  17. Jay
    17. Posted by Jay Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I wouldn't call 30 million a bust.
    this artical is not accurate!
    any of these guys workin at mcdonalds? that's a bust
    getting in trouble going to prison, throwing it away on drugs THAT IS A BUST.
  18. greg l
    18. Posted by greg l Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:26 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    this is prob the worst article i have ever read on yahoo..These 10 are not the worst... I have news for you chris chase, you did not do your research!
  19. James B
    19. Posted by James B Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:50 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Chaney's NCAA success was largely a product of Bobby Knight's abilities but a lot players are products of great coaching. Knight made Steve Alford, Damon Bailey, Keith Smart, Rick Calloway, Mike Woodson, Jay Edwards, & a host of others look good, too. Chaney was a solid starter at the 2 for a number of years in WAS. He never put up great numbers but he could mesh with guys that were scorers and could guard his position. He averaged double figures in his first six years and helped take a horrible WAS franchise to the playoffs with Webber and Howard. Sure he was an all star but he wasn't a bust, either. He was more dependable than JR Rider and far better than Shawn Bradley - and both of them went before Chaney. Considering the players drafted after him in '93 there aren't many (Alan Houston, Vin Baker, Sam Casssell the clear exceptions) that had better careers. I mean look at the first round - Terry Dehere, Scott Haskins, Rex Walters, Doug Edwards, Acie Earl, Bobby Hurley (who did get hurt but was struggling at the time)...
  20. James B
    20. Posted by James B Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:51 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Mean to say 'he wasn't an all star..."
  21. jamin v
    21. Posted by jamin v Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:55 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    kent benson a terrible college player? Benson anchored one of the best teams to ever hit the hardwood and was on the last undefeated team as well. Not too mention the Bucks took him at number one in the NBA draft!
    sounds like the little kids on here need to do some homework. Benson and Alford are from my hometown
  22. Toni M
    22. Posted by Toni M Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:42 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Al E. I'd suggest getting an elementary school geography book and taking a look at it some time. How in the hell is Kansas Indiana's "neighbor to the south." Jeez, what a moron you are.
  23. sandra h
    23. Posted by sandra h Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:40 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    if calbert cheney is a bust bust me anytime
  24. Mark S
    24. Posted by Mark S Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:36 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I watched Calbert play with the Bullets several times, and thought he had the toughest luck of any player I ever saw. Sure, his jumper was not great, but he could drive and create his shot, and I never saw a player have so layups and short jumpers rim out - and its not like he had a lot of help offensively those first few years in D.C.
  25. Twistedpup
    25. Posted by Twistedpup Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That's bull [profane], Chaney may not have been a superstar in the league but he had enough longevity in the league that he should not be on this list!

The Dagger

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Eamonn Brennan

The Dagger is a college hoops blog edited by Eamonn Brennan. Email him, and follow his Twitter.

Contributors:
Chris Chase,

Related Photo Gallery

More NCAAB Photos »

Featured NCAAB Video

More Videos »

Y! Sports Blogs

The Dagger Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)