A Positive

[WarhawkWarrior]

Duane Wilson is top scoring freshman in BE.  He also tops all other Frosh in made 3s.  He will be named to All BE freshman team.  Not many positives but I look forward to another 3 years from him, unless he is run off the team too.

[Jay Bee]

Duane Wilson is top scoring freshman in BE. 

Not on a PPG basis (conference or full season - both not #1)

[Dr. Blackheart]

Not on a PPG basis (conference or full season - both not #1)

According to Statsheet, Duane is #1 in conference (PPG)

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/stats/points_avg?games=2&conf=big-east&season=2014-2015&min=

[Loose Cannon]

Duane Wilson is top scoring freshman in BE.  He also tops all other Frosh in made 3s.  He will be named to All BE freshman team.  Not many positives but I look forward to another 3 years from him, unless he is run off the team too.


Yeah, tell me again why were they Run Off??

[Goose]

If Wilson stays healthy and plays all four years at MU, he will leave here as the all time scorer in school history. Not saying he will be best player or even top ten player, but he will be all time scorer IMO.

[keefe]

If Wilson stays healthy and plays all four years at MU, he will leave here as the all time scorer in school history. Not saying he will be best player or even top ten player, but he will be all time scorer IMO.

Dominic James

[Golden Avalanche]

Duane Wilson is top scoring freshman in BE.  He also tops all other Frosh in made 3s.  He will be named to All BE freshman team.  Not many positives but I look forward to another 3 years from him, unless he is run off the team too.

Brings up an intriguing question --- who wins the Big East FOY?

Can't be Whitehead as he missed half the season and is the reason Hall is a dumpster fire. Certainly can't give it to a good player on a crap team. And there isn't a standout performer on the top teams. My guess is Bluiett even though X is the embodiment of a home/road bipolar squad and will finish middle of conference.

[GooooMarquette]

Brings up an intriguing question --- who wins the Big East FOY?

Can't be Whitehead as he missed half the season and is the reason Hall is a dumpster fire. Certainly can't give it to a good player on a crap team. And there isn't a standout performer on the top teams. My guess is Bluiett even though X is the embodiment of a home/road bipolar squad and will finish middle of conference.

Yeah, I'm thinking Bluitt for the reasons you mentioned.  If we were anywhere close to X, Duane would have a shot...but no way he gets it if we finish 10th.

[mattyv1908]

Brings up an intriguing question --- who wins the Big East FOY?

Can't be Whitehead as he missed half the season and is the reason Hall is a dumpster fire. Certainly can't give it to a good player on a crap team. And there isn't a standout performer on the top teams. My guess is Bluiett even though X is the embodiment of a home/road bipolar squad and will finish middle of conference.

Delgado

[JTBMU7]

i'd say either Bluiett or Du Wilson. They have very comparable stats in both conf and non-conference. There really is no one else close to either of them at least to this point.  

[bilsu]

His 307 points ties him with Eford as the 9th higherst scoring freshmen at MU. He has 6 more games and should finish at least 3rd on the list.

[Jay Bee]

According to Statsheet, Duane is #1 in conference (PPG)

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/stats/points_avg?games=2&conf=big-east&season=2014-2015&min=

Not exactly. Check Whitehead's numbers -- he's averaging 13.0, which is higher than Duane. (Only 5 games & stat sheets minimum games option appears broken... but does list Zierden w7)

[JTBMU7]

another positive, we're not Seton Hall...
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/16/report-racial-tension-isaiah-whiteheads-posse-caused-rift-at-seton-hall/

[ChicosBailBonds]

another positive, we're not Seton Hall...
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/16/report-racial-tension-isaiah-whiteheads-posse-caused-rift-at-seton-hall/

I'm convinced that coaches going after some of these stars are setting themselves up for potentially a lot of issues.  Either guys leaving early and having to constantly reload every year, or having to deal with the posse BS culture that goes with it.  More and more I feel like you go after 3 star guys that are hungry as hell,want to get better and by the time they are juniors or seniors, they are there.  A four star now and again, but if you're going after the 4's and 5's you better know all the nonsense that goes with these guys.  There are plenty of quality kids that are 4 and 5 star rated kids, don't get me wrong, but how hard will they work, how hungry are they, how big is their head? 

The lure of the rating and the expectations of the fan bases drives so much of this, but is the short term gain worth it?  Before anyone says anything about HE, that's not what I'm talking about. 

[muwarrior69]

I'm convinced that coaches going after some of these stars are setting themselves up for potentially a lot of issues.  Either guys leaving early and having to constantly reload every year, or having to deal with the posse BS culture that goes with it.  More and more I feel like you go after 3 star guys that are hungry as hell,want to get better and by the time they are juniors or seniors, they are there.  A four star now and again, but if you're going after the 4's and 5's you better know all the nonsense that goes with these guys.  There are plenty of quality kids that are 4 and 5 star rated kids, don't get me wrong, but how hard will they work, how hungry are they, how big is their head? 

The lure of the rating and the expectations of the fan bases drives so much of this, but is the short term gain worth it?  Before anyone says anything about HE, that's not what I'm talking about. 

Butler anyone?

[tower912]

I'm convinced that coaches going after some of these stars are setting themselves up for potentially a lot of issues.  Either guys leaving early and having to constantly reload every year, or having to deal with the posse BS culture that goes with it.  More and more I feel like you go after 3 star guys that are hungry as hell,want to get better and by the time they are juniors or seniors, they are there.  A four star now and again, but if you're going after the 4's and 5's you better know all the nonsense that goes with these guys.  There are plenty of quality kids that are 4 and 5 star rated kids, don't get me wrong, but how hard will they work, how hungry are they, how big is their head? 

The lure of the rating and the expectations of the fan bases drives so much of this, but is the short term gain worth it?  Before anyone says anything about HE, that's not what I'm talking about. 

JUCO's.   That's the way to go.   JUCO's with a chip on their shoulder.   

[Jay Bee]

I'm convinced that coaches going after some of these stars are setting themselves up for potentially a lot of issues.  Either guys leaving early and having to constantly reload every year, or having to deal with the posse BS culture that goes with it.  More and more I feel like you go after 3 star guys that are hungry as hell,want to get better and by the time they are juniors or seniors, they are there.  A four star now and again, but if you're going after the 4's and 5's you better know all the nonsense that goes with these guys.  There are plenty of quality kids that are 4 and 5 star rated kids, don't get me wrong, but how hard will they work, how hungry are they, how big is their head? 

Yes. Risk/reward, like so many things in life.

Some may want to feel bad for coaches who have 'troubled players'... but very often, the signs are there and the high degree of risk is known. Just depends on your appetite.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yes. Risk/reward, like so many things in life.

Some may want to feel bad for coaches who have 'troubled players'... but very often, the signs are there and the high degree of risk is known. Just depends on your appetite.

I know the Jalpeno poppers over at Koppe Bridge are going to make me sh*t fire in a few hours but sometimes the prize is worth it!

[Lennys Tap]

Yes. Risk/reward, like so many things in life.

Some may want to feel bad for coaches who have 'troubled players'... but very often, the signs are there and the high degree of risk is known. Just depends on your appetite.

I think there's way more risk in the Chico model of getting a bunch of 3 star "grindies" and hoping for the best.

[Goose]

I take Juco's all day long. We need help and need it quickly. Do not want to see Henry here a year or two and be a bubble team. Getting top five recruit only matters if team has real success.

[brewcity77]

JUCO's.   That's the way to go.   JUCO's with a chip on their shoulder.   

Opens up potential APR issues though. Definitely feel this staff needs to be more selective with which JUCO players they offer.

And while the three star model can work, it can also lead to a team full of guys like Derrick, Jake, and Mayo providing a combination of underachieving and dysfunction, and if those peppered in four stars are like Juan, Jamail, Steve, and E-Will, it won't work.

There's a reason title winning teams are made up of four and five star players and Bo only just got to the Final Four last year.

[Lennys Tap]

I take Juco's all day long. We need help and need it quickly. Do not want to see Henry here a year or two and be a bubble team. Getting top five recruit only matters if team has real success.

Exactly. Crean had top 10 Noah Vonleh for a year along with a Mickie D AA at the point and it didn't even get him into the NIT.

[WarriorFan]

Opens up potential APR issues though. Definitely feel this staff needs to be more selective with which JUCO players they offer.

Yes, many of these guys went to JUCO because they're dumber than a box of rocks.  Brent did prove that there are exceptions.  Lowering standards to get JUCO's, imho, is not what MU is all about.

[MU Buff]

Of course there's some risk with 4 and 5 star players, just as there is a risk with less heralded players. As brew implied, look at the roster composition of national title winning teams and you'll have your answer.

[wadesworld]

Yes, many of these guys went to JUCO because they're dumber than a box of rocks.  Brent did prove that there are exceptions.  Lowering standards to get JUCO's, imho, is not what MU is all about.

I'm sure you'd say that to Jae Crowder's, DJO's, Dwight Buycks's faces, aina?  I'll take someone who's "dumber than a box of rocks" but is classy enough to keep an opinion like that inside of them to represent "what MU is all about" than someone who is going to put that label on kids who came in and worked hard to better their place in life, get a good education, and get a good job, opportunities that they would've otherwise not had if it weren't for a particular skill set that they had.  That's what the Jesuits were all about, no?  Providing an educational opportunity for those less fortunate in the community?