MUScoop
MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: ToddRosiakSays on June 25, 2009, 01:15:03 PM
-
Acker forgoes senior season
Maurice Acker, MU's starting point guard for the final seven games of last season, is leaving the team, the school announced on Thursday.
The senior is on track to graduate in December with a degree in communication studies, and apparently will focus on academics.
"He is one semester shy of completing his degree and we all believed it was in Maurice's best interest for that to be his priority," said coach Buzz Williams in a statement released by the school.
The 5-foot-7 Acker, who'd played in a reserve role for most of his two seasons at MU, was thrust into the starting lineup in late February when Dominic James went down with a broken left foot.
Acker averaged 5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in those seven games, but was unable to provide the dynamic playmaking or defensive ability that James did prior to his injury.
Named the Mid-American Conference's freshman of the year in 2005-'06 at Ball State, the Hazel Crest, Ill. native transferred to MU after his coach at Ball State, Tim Buckley, was fired and ultimately hired by then-Golden Eagles coach Tom Crean as an assistant.
Acker averaged 4.5 points and 1.8 assists and knocked down 26 three-pointers in 35 games as a sophomore for Crean, but saw his role diminish greatly last season under Williams prior to James' injury.
He didn't play at all in two games, and played double-digit minutes just four times in the Big East portion of the schedule before being elevated to starter. Acker's lack of height and diminutive frame -- he's listed at 165 pounds but is likely lighter than that -- made him susceptible to physical play, and unable to penetrate or defend consistently.
Acker finished the year averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 assists, and shot 29.7%. He leaves MU having averaged 3.7 points and and 1.8 assists in 68 games.
With Acker out of the picture, MU will return just one experienced guard next season -- senior David Cubillan, who does not play the point. Sophomore Darius Johnson-Odom, freshman Junior Cadougan and junior Dwight Buycks all are expected to play point guard in some capacity, with Johnson-Odom or Cadougan likely candidates to start.
Acker's departure leaves MU with just two players from the Crean era -- Cubillan and Lazar Hayward -- less than 15 months into Williams' tenure as head coach.
It also leaves MU with two remaining scholarships for the 2010-'11 class. The Golden Eagles already have oral commitments from guard Aaron Bowen and forward Monterale Clark.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/49105126.html
-
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we only have one available scholarship for '10-11? Isn't Acker's scholarship already included in that?
-
Thanks for the solid three years Mo.
This does not bother me in the least. He tried hard, but he simply does not have the size or talent necessary to be a BE point guard. He would have sucked up time in the NC part of the schedule needed by Cadougan, DJO and Buycks to learn the ropes and then faded away in the BE part of the schedule. I think MU's 2009-10 record will not be impacted by this departure.
-
Kudos to whoever broke this story about a month ago, but had it ripped down.
-
There's the confirmation we've all been waiting for. Best of luck, Mo.
-
It hurts our depth at guard big time. If we were the have an injury at the guard position, we could be in a world of hurt.
-
That's a shame. I really liked Acker. Hope he stays on track to graduate!
-
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we only have one available scholarship for '10-11? Isn't Acker's scholarship already included in that?
Yeah, you're right on that.
I liked Acker as a backup, but his departure from the team will be a positive for the new players to get extended PT during the NC schedule and thus exponential growth opportunities in preparing for BE play.
I hope him the best in his studies and enjoying just being a "regular" college student for a semester spending time at the bars on a week day and what not.
(Ohh I know a few girls that say he is quite the ladies man, so the best of luck in that regards now that he has full time to schmooze and carouse)
-
Sorry to see you go MO; I will be thinking of you on april 20th from now on.
Can we please just go ahead and get Lance Stephenson?
-
Sorry to see you go MO; I will be thinking of you on april 20th from now on.
Can we please just go ahead and get Lance Stephenson?
Come on now, what does he have to do with Hitler's bday?
-
ROFL!!
-
Sorry to see you go MO; I will be thinking of you on april 20th from now on.
Can we please just go ahead and get Lance Stephenson?
Do we really want to be left with no more scholarships for 2010-11, and spend it on a guy with that many issues?
-
The guy could possibly a first round pick....so duh, of course we do.
-
Do we really want to be left with no more scholarships for 2010-11, and spend it on a guy with that many issues?
Getting Lance(which I hope to God we don't do) has no effect on the scholarship situation for 2010-11. He's an uncommitted 2009 recruit, and he's only going to spend the 2009-2010 season in college if he goes to college at all.
-
Getting Lance(which I hope to God we don't do) has no effect on the scholarship situation for 2010-11. He's an uncommitted 2009 recruit, and he's only going to spend the 2009-2010 season in college if he goes to college at all.
So he is for sure one-and-done? That would be a ridiculous thing to do with such a young team. The only way you take that risk IMO is with an experienced team that needs that one missing piece.
-
So he is for sure one-and-done? That would be a ridiculous thing to do with such a young team. The only way you take that risk IMO is with an experienced team that needs that one missing piece.
Stephenson? Absolultely. If he were allowed to, he would have declared for the draft already.
Given that every college that was recruiting him has come out publicly and said they are no longer looking at him(except Memphis), he may not even go to college at all. Possibly prep school or Europe for a year then the NBA.
-
I am gonna pat myself on the back for calling this one months ago
-
How long until the next shoe drops?
-
too bad you were censored Ari
-
Sorry to see you go MO; I will be thinking of you on april 20th from now on.
Very nice.
-
How long until the next shoe drops?
what a really dumb comment.
Crean signed a lot of non BE caliber players...Acker all by himself demonstrated he was not BE caliber. I dont think it is a stretch to say DJO, Junior, and Buycks are all significant upgreades to Acker already. Also, given Buzz's modus operandi he will be filling the vacancy with another player better than Acker before school starts.
Remember Buzz fills late openings with guys like Butler and Mboa, not guys like Blackledge and Berkowitz.
-
This is only a one year deal. Mo's scholie is already accounted for in the class of 2010. Using the scholie now would fill all openings through 2010 and we would be "out" with 2010 recruiting prospects (assuming no one elsle were to leave in the interim).
-
I will miss his lion-hearted play. As a man of similar stature (i'm a little taller), he was the underdog to root for. When he was in, *I* was in.
Good luck on finishing up, MoAck! :)
-
Sucks to see him go. He's a good student-athlete (I am basing that on him graduating early) who seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
Hope all goes smoothly with classes through December and your future remains bright.
-
what a really dumb comment.
Crean signed a lot of non BE caliber players...Acker all by himself demonstrated he was not BE caliber. I dont think it is a stretch to say DJO, Junior, and Buycks are all significant upgreades to Acker already. Also, given Buzz's modus operandi he will be filling the vacancy with another player better than Acker before school starts.
Remember Buzz fills late openings with guys like Butler and Mboa, not guys like Blackledge and Berkowitz.
I couldn't agree more. I cited Blackledge, Berkowitz and (sorry to say because I admired his effort) Acker as evidence of Crean's absolutely lazy recruiting about two years ago and was chastised as a hater. "Crean is a tireless worker" everybody told me. What a crock of tanning solution!
-
Crean had the kahunas to say he made a mistake not offering Acker out of high school. Most may have actually believed him. You don't have to be a coach to know Maurice was out of his league. I'm with Hay on this one. Mo was never a Big East talent and his scholarship to MU was another in a long line of reaches.
-
Sucks to see him go. He's a good student-athlete (I am basing that on him graduating early) who seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
Hope all goes smoothly with classes through December and your future remains bright.
He is not graduating early. He had a red shirt year, so he is graduating in 4 1/2 years.
-
Now, who was the third party that asked the mods to take down the post and cover up the truth?
-
too bad you were censored Ari
Ari wasn't censored, stop babbling. He called it about 3 months ago. Way before anyone posted anything libelous on the forums that needed to be removed.
http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=14026.msg125755#msg125755
-
Not only that, but a transfer as well, who had no chance of ever being an effective starter at MU in the Big East.
-
I couldn't agree more. I cited Blackledge, Berkowitz and (sorry to say because I admired his effort) Acker as evidence of Crean's absolutely lazy recruiting about two years ago and was chastised as a hater. "Crean is a tireless worker" everybody told me. What a crock of tanning solution!
why do you consider this a dumb comment?
-
That he's a tireless worker?
1. He accepted a physically overmatched transfer simply because he was a friend of one of our players.
2. He offered Blackledge simply because he was a teammate of the guy who turned us down (Stemler).
3. He offered Berkowitz -- sight unseen.
That's just laziness. It's not "tireless," it's not "high energy" it's freaking lazy...especially when you consider our BB budget was near the top of all of NCAA D1.
Instead of going out and watching players, he spent money on breathing chambers, ATVs and cheesy rented limos...stunts!
-
Ari wasn't censored, stop babbling. He called it about 3 months ago. Way before anyone posted anything libelous on the forums that needed to be removed.
http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=14026.msg125755#msg125755
Its not libelous if it's true.
-
Good to to Maurice. Finish up, graduate and get in the corporate world. B-ball got you a free college education, now don't waste it.
-
Its not libelous if it's true.
Man... you must have a law degree or something! :P
-
Man... you must have a law degree or something! :P
Nope, I just know the definition of libel.
-
Nope, I just know the definition of libel.
Your sarcasm detector must me malfunctioning.
-
gotta agree with some of the other posters...for Crean to on numerous occasions state that he should have offered him out of HS shows how much of an idiot he truly was. I love the heart of the kid but he was not a legitimate BE backup. And for Crean to say that only mkaes sense when you realize he signed guys like Christian, Berkowitz, HAzel, Lott, Blackledge and the beat goes on.
Then he goes to IU for similar money under the opinion that he can sign better talent. then his top recruit from last year transfers. Now two of his top recruits from this year might not get into school and so far for next year all the supposed 5 star verbals have not done so and he is so far only holding onto a 1 star recruit who happens to not even be the best player in Jacksonville Fla...that would go to Aaron Bowen.
the train wreck will be fun to watch...i wonder if he can play piano?
-
When it comes to Crean I am looking forward to an epic level of how you say....Schadenfreude?
What a glorious train wreck
-
Can't wait to see the tan one at Chris Grimm's wedding tomorrow!
-
Can't wait to see the tan one at Chris Grimm's wedding tomorrow!
Tell him I said he should kiss me where the sun don't shine.
-
gotta agree with some of the other posters...for Crean to on numerous occasions state that he should have offered him out of HS shows how much of an idiot he truly was. I love the heart of the kid but he was not a legitimate BE backup. And for Crean to say that only mkaes sense when you realize he signed guys like Christian, Berkowitz, HAzel, Lott, Blackledge and the beat goes on.
Then he goes to IU for similar money under the opinion that he can sign better talent. then his top recruit from last year transfers. Now two of his top recruits from this year might not get into school and so far for next year all the supposed 5 star verbals have not done so and he is so far only holding onto a 1 star recruit who happens to not even be the best player in Jacksonville Fla...that would go to Aaron Bowen.
the train wreck will be fun to watch...i wonder if he can play piano?
I'm not familar with Crean's "issues" you cite here. Where can I find more about it?
-
Tom Crean will be a Hall of Famer when it's all said and done. He's that good of a coach/promoter/recruiter. Stop hating on him some of you jilted lovers.
-
Tom Crean will be a Hall of Famer when it's all said and done. He's that good of a coach/promoter/recruiter. Stop hating on him some of you jilted lovers.
Yep, he and that dude from Utah State, guaranteed legends and HOF'ers, if only in their own minds. LOL.
-
i wonder if he can play piano?
OUCH! Have a little respect for the dead.
-
Yep, he and that dude from Utah State, guaranteed legends and HOF'ers, if only in their own minds. LOL.
Except that guy at Utah State is already in several Halls of Fame for basketball. I guess it comes down just which one you're referencing because he's already been inducted in some.
-
Tell him I said he should kiss me where the sun don't shine.
Saw him at the ceremony....pretty cool wedding. TC was fashionably late and lot of former MU hoopsters were in attendance, including "The Brown Deer Bomber". Can't wait for the reception tonight!!
-
Can't wait to see the tan one at Chris Grimm's wedding tomorrow!
Crean was invited to Grimm's wedding? I was told here for sure that Grimm hated him. Perhaps this will benefit Crean's career by attending.
-
Crean was invited to Grimm's wedding? I was told here for sure that Grimm hated him. Perhaps this will benefit Crean's career by attending.
Did you see him hit on any coeds?
-
Crean was invited to Grimm's wedding? I was told here for sure that Grimm hated him. Perhaps this will benefit Crean's career by attending.
Crean was only using it at a networking opportunity.
Chris Grimm and his friends are very influential people.
Also, I have to question Chris Grimm's judgment for even inviting him. Crean's such a phony that nobody should EVER want to be his friend.
-
Reception was awesome...Diener, Novak, Merritt, M. Jackson, Fitz, Townsend, Kinsella, and my personal favorite Barro were all in attendance.
-
Was it held at Sobelman's and what was served for dinner?
-
It was at the Wisconsin Club right across the street from East Hall (at least, that's what it was called when I was there).