Poll: Should Buzz Sign Another Player for the 2010 Class?

[willie warrior]

Well, if Mbao is staying and Williams is going nowehere, then I guess we will need Otule to step up hugely next year--or it will be the same ol same ol of us getting eaten alive underneath. Maybe Frozen A, if he is a scholie player can step up big time down low.

[4everwarriors]

OK, then substitute EWill for Frozen A.

[wadefan#1]

If the guy that signs is good then i don't see why you wouldn't want to get a new recruit. I'm pretty sure any guy they can get now would be better than Mbao. No offense to Yous, but he has a lot of developing to do before he can become a legit big man in the big east. Altough I would hate to see otule leave. Even though he got hurt the past two seasons, I thought he made big improvements last year. 

[Dawson Rental]

It's simple math. 

1. Buzz is still recruiting
2. Mbao says he staying

So, if Buzz wants another player AND NO ONE IS LEAVING ON THEIR OWN, who would be on the short end.  Answer Ewill.  Who else would you kick off (remember Mbao is not leaving)?

And to repeat again. I completely agree with you that none of the names being thrown around see like an upgrade.  They are all as highly thought of as Ewill.  They could all struggle as much as he has.

Whoever gets signed has an "a" added to the end of his first name, and Buzz hides him on the women's team roster.  This was done with regularity during Dukiet's time since he always had far more recruits wanting to come to MU then he could accommodate.

[reinko]

If the guy that signs is good then i don't see why you wouldn't want to get a new recruit. I'm pretty sure any guy they can get now would be better than Mbao. No offense to Yous, but he has a lot of developing to do before he can become a legit big man in the big east. Altough I would hate to see otule leave. Even though he got hurt the past two seasons, I thought he made big improvements last year. 

You have no idea what you are talking about.  You are pretty sure any guy now would be better than Mbao.  Well, then lace up son.

Love how you followed it with, "no offense to Mbao."  Love how you blast Mbao, with the phrase "that ANY guy coming in would be better", then you say no offense.  Get this trash out of here.

[Tugg Speedman]

If the guy that signs is good then i don't see why you wouldn't want to get a new recruit. I'm pretty sure any guy they can get now would be better than Mbao. No offense to Yous, but he has a lot of developing to do before he can become a legit big man in the big east. Altough I would hate to see otule leave. Even though he got hurt the past two seasons, I thought he made big improvements last year. 

7' 2" guys in college can develop into really nice players.  All they have to do it rebound, block and get garbage points.  You don't need to run any plays for them.  Especially an athletic high octane team like MU. 

Given all the names thrown out, it would be a mistake for MU to send Mbao packing for these any of these guys.

I will remember this thread in two years and remind you how foolish your thoughts were.

[dwaderoy2004]

I think you are wrong.  I'm not a fan of running players off.  but to suggest that we would be better off with mbao than a top 50 national player in cothron is just silly.  if all we are talking about is basketball skills.

[Tugg Speedman]

I think you are wrong.  I'm not a fan of running players off.  but to suggest that we would be better off with mbao than a top 50 national player in cothron is just silly.  if all we are talking about is basketball skills.

Cothron is the only player being mentioned you might be correct about.  And with him I'm still not sure.  

Are for forgetting this (below) about Mbao?  If we were recruiting Mbao today against Cothron, based on this alone, it would be a really hard choice.  

What make you absolutely sure Cothron won't have an Ewill type of season next year?  Go back a year ago and read what we said about Ewill.   Sounds like Cothron.

--------------
Mbao

Also said similar in this blog entry:

http://nathanblue.blogspot.com/2008/11/national-prep-showcase-day-three.html

Stoneridge's center Youssoupha Mbao has only been in the United States for around two months but numerous schools are beginning to actively recruit him. According to Coach Sy, Connecticut, Kentucky and USC is the short list, but the list will get longer before it gets shorter.

Plus this tidbit from July 2008.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2008/07/las-vegas-day-one.html

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Ewill

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111208aal.html

Williams, a 6-7, 200-pounder, will arrive on campus this Summer and have four years of eligibility with MU.

A consensus top-100 player by nationally recognized recruiting services, Williams is ranked 14th by HoopsScoopOnline.com, 30th by Hoopmasters.com, 96th by Scout.com, 97th by ESPNU.com and 99th by Rivals.com, despite missing most of his junior year because of injury.

[Tugg Speedman]

More on why I'm not sold on Cothron or anyone else we are currently recruiting.  

Below is what we said about Ewill a year ago.  I left the names off to protect the innocent.

If Cothron and Ewill were both in this year's class, we would view them as nearly equal.  Picking one over the other would be really tough.  But Ewill came a year ago and struggled (like Mbao) so we have a greatly diminished view of him.  

Everyone loves potential that has done nothing because it has not disappointed.

-------------

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=4011.0

Bingo. He is a player, and has the right combination of size, skill, and athleticism for the NBA game.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=9564.0

STUD.   Best player we've had at MU in half a decade. 

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=15791.0

I expect Erik Williams to play a "Jimmy Butler-type" role this year. I think he will struggle early on, and eventually find his niche as a scrapper down low, getting rebounds and scoring on put backs.

I think his minutes will be very matchup-based.  He (and Fulce) could prove very valuable with their versatility--if EWill can play quick enough, he could give 2guards in the conference fits.  
EWill may not get big minutes this season, and he may only contribute Butler-type D and rebounds, but he's going to be a good player in a season or two.  

I think he has the best skills out of all the freshmen to take it to the next level, the NBA.  I also believe that the JC and DJO injuries have opened up playing time for Williams and if DJO is not healthy enough to play major minutes until the Big East conference slate, that could be enough time for Williams to carve out a niche and get consistent minutes the whole year.  Much like how injuries allowed Butler to grow as a player but with much greater upside as Williams has way more raw talent than Butler.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=14703.0

I see good things for him, and very athletic and talented in the video!

The thing I'm most excited about him is his wingspan. Those arms are ridiculous.

If he hits threes at a 35 - 40% clip he'll be unguardable.


I have a feeling that he will be the most productive out of him, maymon, and cadougan. Just seems that he works harder and has more talent based upon what I have heard.

I've been thinking the same thing as I've seen highlights from the incoming class.  He just seems like the most complete recruit coming in.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=11738.0

I don't see how Williams doesn't get 20 minutes a game next year.  We will be young and green.  I think it will be fun watching the next generation thrown into the fire... EWill, Maymon, June... People keep saying Buycks is the real deal... hope so!

[Murffieus]

The more talent Buzz can stockpile, the better.

Ex.  PC's  last recruiting class-  7 incoming, 4 leaving, 1 red shirt, only 1 (Council) really contributed.  If a spot  is open, Buzz will fill it with a quality prospect or bank it.

I think Buzz is accumulating too many guys of equal ability. The seeming upside of that is more competition for mpg-----the downside is a larger rotation, which diminishes returns. Successful teams have 7-8 man rotations. If Buzz goes that route he has 5 unhappy campers who came to MU to play mpg not sit on the pine. If he increases the rotation number, he has unhappy campers amongst the starters who want maximum mpg (30 to 36 mpg). Also a larger rotation means more substituting which hurts team synergy.

Buzz over achieved last year with essentially a 7 man rotation-----at times they had a hard time puting 5 on 5 in practice yet he put a team on the floor that went 11-7 in the BE when the preseason guru's had MU only winning 6-9 games. Why bite the hand that fed you by risking team chemistry and synergy by bringing in 13 guys all capable to fill an 8 man rotation and breed discontent among the pine sitters?

Al McGuire proved the 7-8 man rotation to be optimum (the roster being filled out with with 5 practice guys who were walkons or projects)-----and that 'optimum' is still the normal for today. All final 4 teams played a 7-8 man rotation.

[WISportsmaniac]

I agree with those who have said Buzz's recruiting for 2010 may not mean as much as it seems. The thing about sports (and anything else) is that "you just never know." See J-May, Mbekwa, and others. At this point the players are doing individual workouts, shootarounds, pick up games, etc. with trainers and assistants. I'm sure Buzz is always present in some way as well, but other than that he has 2 options before bootcamp begins:

#1- Stay in his office in Milwaukee and watch film, evaluate, plan for next year.
#2- Bring all his "coaching stuff" from #1 above with him on the road, which is easily possible through all the technology in athletics these days, and continue to recruit, develop relationships with AAU and HS coaches, meet younger potential D1 teammates of these 2010 recruits, and try to get a foot in the door in regions of the country that he hasn't been present in before.

If you go with option #2 and something unexpected happens, he's prepared. If the team stays intact, then he may have developed some relationships with players/coaches that could be beneficial down the road. It's definitely not a waste of time by any stretch.  If he goes with #1, then if something unexpected happens he's screwed and there will be a thread on here chastising him for not having a backup plan in place.

Bottom line- if the annual budget allows for it, why not hit the road and see what happens? Only good can come of it. It speaks to Buzz's tireless work ethic/attitude, if nothing else. I don't think we can automatically assume something is up, but the speculation doesn't hurt either.   
     

[HoopsMalone]

E-Will played the same position as Lazar and Jimmy this year.  Hard to get into the game.  I am excited for him this year.  Lots of potential there.  Not everyone develops in the same way, so maybe he will figure it out this summer.