MUScoop
MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: BigSky on May 15, 2007, 04:15:39 PM
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on receiving a verbal commitment today from Brett Thompson, a very good player from Vienna IL who plays for the Illinois Warriors.
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A player we were actively involved in for some time.
Brett Thompson - Vienna, IL - Alabama, Indiana, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Purdue, St. Louis, Georgia, Illinois, Marquette, Michigan State, Northwestern
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He had a Final Four four some time of Indiana, Iowa St, Alabama, and SLU. He was recruited hard by Soderberg and Porter Moser when Moser was at Illinois St. He had always liked SLU.
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We struggle to recruit big men and he steps right in and takes one we were interested in......This will be my standard reply on all things concerning rick Majerus...a simple cut and paste. ........originally posted during the possible Crean to UK period.
It is my sincere belief that the MU program would take off under Majerus, now we would not have the song and dance marketing program that seems to be all encompassing but I strongly beleive the recruiting and the on the court performance would have shot straight up. Majerus' cache with recruits and AAU and HS coaches is very high not only due to his ESPN work but due to his amazing job at Utah. Additionally, he is 100 times the coach Crean is not necessarily knocking Crean, Majerus is 100 x a better coach than many and I feel x's and O's is truly Crean's weakest point. Bottom line is if Majerus can take Utah to 10 NCAA's with all the dificulties of recruiting and winning in Utah he could do even better in Milwaukee. Majerus achieved much more success in Utah than Crean has in Milwaukee under extraordinarily more difficult circumstances.
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Majerus achieved much more success in Utah than Crean has in Milwaukee under extraordinarily more difficult circumstances.
Again..., well said, Harrison.
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Many coaches are 100 times better than TC.
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Thompson is nothing special.
After his time ended, you'd pine for Mike Kinsella.
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Could be but Scout has him at 4 stars and he was recruited by a bevy of local High Majors. Majerus stepped in and got him in two weeks. Crean has signed one player of this ranking over 6'7" in 7 years.
Therefore, I must add.....
It is my sincere belief that the MU program would take off under Majerus, now we would not have the song and dance marketing program that seems to be all encompassing but I strongly beleive the recruiting and the on the court performance would have shot straight up. Majerus' cache with recruits and AAU and HS coaches is very high not only due to his ESPN work but due to his amazing job at Utah. Additionally, he is 100 times the coach Crean is not necessarily knocking Crean, Majerus is 100 x a better coach than many and I feel x's and O's is truly Crean's weakest point. Bottom line is if Majerus can take Utah to 10 NCAA's with all the dificulties of recruiting and winning in Utah he could do even better in Milwaukee. Majerus achieved much more success in Utah, than Crean has in Milwaukee, under extraordinarily more difficult circumstances.
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Then again, if Majerus were coach MU wouldn't get the invaluable PR they currently get when Crean shows up after games in the Brewers lockerroom.
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PRN, you would have loved Coach Crean's segment on Time Warner's Dennis Krause show. DK asked him if he has talked to Tom Izzo (implying since the NCAA game). TC responds..."oh yeah, we talked that night and the night before, you know I cannot tell you how bad Jerel wanted to play in that game"
Excuse me, what in the world does Jerel not playing have to do with Izzo-Crean talking? Making excuses...maybe?
And then DK asked if the NCAA Tourney success was over emphasized in fans minds, but before he let TC answer he reminded Coach Crean that it can be a double edge sword (see much acclaim, spring 2003).
There was also an implied comparison to the 2007 Dallas Mavericks and the 2007 Marquette team.
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PRN, you would have loved Coach Crean's segment on Time Warner's Dennis Krause show. DK asked him if he has talked to Tom Izzo (implying since the NCAA game). TC responds..."oh yeah, we talked that night and the night before, you know I cannot tell you how bad Jerel wanted to play in that game"
Excuse me, what in the world does Jerel not playing have to do with Izzo-Crean talking? Making excuses...maybe?
And then DK asked if the NCAA Tourney success was over emphasized in fans minds, but before he let TC answer he reminded Coach Crean that it can be a double edge sword (see much acclaim, spring 2003).
There was also an implied comparison to the 2007 Dallas Mavericks and the 2007 Marquette team.
Was it their intention to create the implication or was that just your perspective of it being implied? Or, is that implication too far-fetched?
As for rankings of the recruit as your assertion he is a soon-to-be star remember that Kinsella was considered a JUCO All-American by some publications.
Rankings are so dumb. Who would you rather have: highly rated Greg Stiemsma at 6'11'' or lowly rated Ousmane Barro at 6'9''?
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PRN, you would have loved Coach Crean's segment on Time Warner's Dennis Krause show. DK asked him if he has talked to Tom Izzo (implying since the NCAA game). TC responds..."oh yeah, we talked that night and the night before, you know I cannot tell you how bad Jerel wanted to play in that game"
Excuse me, what in the world does Jerel not playing have to do with Izzo-Crean talking? Making excuses...maybe?
And then DK asked if the NCAA Tourney success was over emphasized in fans minds, but before he let TC answer he reminded Coach Crean that it can be a double edge sword (see much acclaim, spring 2003).
There was also an implied comparison to the 2007 Dallas Mavericks and the 2007 Marquette team.
Was it their intention to create the implication or was that just your perspective of it being implied? Or, is that implication too far-fetched?
Coach was talking about how great season don't always = great post seasons. Personally, I would compare the Badgers-Mavs both dominant reg season teams. MU had a good regular season but it wasn't special like the Mavs (65+ wins).
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Then again, if Majerus were coach MU wouldn't get the invaluable PR they currently get when Crean shows up after games in the Brewers lockerroom.
PRN, you're confusing TC's huge, personal pr w/ MU's occaisional pr...
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This has turned into the most laughable thread ever on this board.
I din't know there were this many trolls here.
Let's run down the topics.
Majerus signed a good player. He's a 6'10 kid with good frame, not skinny, but still needs to get stronger to play inside. Already a very good perimeter player...not Novak like because he isnot as good of a shooter...however he can put it on the floor better at this stage than Novak at same time, is bigger/stronger....just for an idea...not comparing the two....too say he is nothing special is a cheap shot. He'll be a very good player there.
However, to flame Crean is also a ridiculous cheap shot. This kid always wanted to go to SLU. And that didn't change when Soderberg was coach, nor when he left, ...and Porter Moser, Majerus' assistant was previously recruiting Thompson at Illinois St. When Moser lost his job, he went and worked out individually with Thompson. Rick met the kid, he didn't take any other visits and signed. Good job by Rick, set up by Soderberg and Moser.
The Krause show...Crean knows and understands people want to see deeper NCAA runs and said he was as disappointed as anyone with that.
The Crean flaming is laughable here. He's done well to this point as MU head coach on and off the floor. Anybody who says differently has an agenda. If going forward he doesn't win games here and there in NCAA's and make a run every few years or so....then that wouldn't be acceptable. To this point he has done very well in many areas.
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Majerus achieved much more success in Utah than Crean has in Milwaukee under extraordinarily more difficult circumstances.
Again..., well said, Harrison.
True, including a 29% graduation rate at Utah, NCAA violations, etc....he definitely accomplished more. I'd love to hear the "extraoridinary difficult circumstances"....he was at the flagship school in the state of Utah which has huge built in advantages, a larger athletic budget, a football program, an easier conference, etc, etc....
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This has turned into the most laughable thread ever on this board.
I din't know there were this many trolls here.
Let's run down the topics.
Majerus signed a good player. He's a 6'10 kid with good frame, not skinny, but still needs to get stronger to play inside. Already a very good perimeter player...not Novak like because he isnot as good of a shooter...however he can put it on the floor better at this stage than Novak at same time, is bigger/stronger....just for an idea...not comparing the two....too say he is nothing special is a cheap shot. He'll be a very good player there.
However, to flame Crean is also a ridiculous cheap shot. This kid always wanted to go to SLU. And that didn't change when Soderberg was coach, nor when he left, ...and Porter Moser, Majerus' assistant was previously recruiting Thompson at Illinois St. When Moser lost his job, he went and worked out individually with Thompson. Rick met the kid, he didn't take any other visits and signed. Good job by Rick, set up by Soderberg and Moser.
The Krause show...Crean knows and understands people want to see deeper NCAA runs and said he was as disappointed as anyone with that.
The Crean flaming is laughable here. He's done well to this point as MU head coach on and off the floor. Anybody who says differently has an agenda. If going forward he doesn't win games here and there in NCAA's and make a run every few years or so....then that wouldn't be acceptable. To this point he has done very well in many areas.
BigSky, don't you know Crean doesn't go across the street to Turners to have a beer with some fans so he's therefore a leper.
Here we have Crean who already landed a 4 star recruit for 2008 and these guys are whining over a 4 star recruit that Majerus picked up in which SLU had been recruiting him hard for a long time. You're not going to get everyone, never will.
It's never good enough...oh, and did I mention he doesn't go to Turners to have a beer after the games. ::)
Part of me wonders if we pull a Nebraska...go to the NCAAs 7 straight years, fire the coach and get a hot "great coach" from Butler who hasn't returned them there in 6 years now. It would serve some fans right.
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You can be damn sure Crean would be in Turners if there was a moderately well-known individual in there who was willing to give him the time of day. And it would somehow be mentioned in our next ESPN telecast.
Sideline reporter: "I spoke with Coach Crean before the game and he mentioned a conversation he had at a local watering hole with former Bucks guard Junior Bridgeman. He said Bridgeman shared some wonderful insights into Don Nelson's coaching style while the two urinated beside each other in the men's room."
Color commentator: "He's got an unbelievable thirst for knowledge."
Ugh.
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You can be damn sure Crean would be in Turners if there was a moderately well-known individual in there who was willing to give him the time of day. And it would somehow be mentioned in our next ESPN telecast.
Sideline reporter: "I spoke with Coach Crean before the game and he mentioned a conversation he had at a local watering hole with former Bucks guard Junior Bridgeman. He said Bridgeman shared some wonderful insights into Don Nelson's coaching style while the two urinated beside each other in the men's room."
Color commentator: "He's got an unbelievable thirst for knowledge."
Ugh.
Let's take your hypothetical. True or untrue. Who gives a rip? Why does that bother you so much? I couldn't care less about it. If you want a nice guy, who doesn't spend time with anyone, try Soderberg, here he's available. If you want a guy to throw back beers with at Turners and Frat parties, try Mike Deane.
Nothing in your post has anything to do with being a college basketball coach. So who cares?
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Didn't Majerus's NCAA violations stem from him buying Keith Van Horn food after Keith's father passed away? If I remember correctly, the violations were pretty lame.
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Didn't Majerus's NCAA violations stem from him buying Keith Van Horn food after Keith's father passed away? If I remember correctly, the violations were pretty lame.
First, because I forgot to mention previously....it is pretty pathetic(not your post) that I drop some props to an MU guy...and it turns into Crean vs Majerus...two good friends. Pretty funny. Anyway...
Rick's violations....are known in large part for buying Van Horn dinner when his dad died...however they were more than that. Rick's problem was morality. He had good morals, which sometimes comflicted with the rules. He frequently used a billionaire booster's "guest" house for team parties etc...cookouts etc...type thing....the frequency was the issue...it was frequent. Also, as a reward sometimes, in small amounts, Majerus would give kid $10 for a pizza or something...very small amounts to get a burger etc...but again, the frequency was the issue. And there was a question as to hosting a recruit, you were only allowed one kid on your team to show recruit around, and there were more than one that did so on an occasion.
The rule has changed over the years but the rule stated then that you could have a kid over for dinner but not take them out to eat. The rule then changed at that time where you could take out to eat but had to itemize bill each time.
The reason any of this came to light was because of disgruntled fired ski team coach...yes ski team coach who had no hoops interaction. He threatend a law suit saying...you fire me when Majerus is doing this etc...so Utah self-reported to NCAA. NCAA accepted Utah's self-discipline which included losing one scholarship for two seasons, and NCAA added a third season. No other penalities were handed down...free to play on tv, in NCAA etc....If no disgruntled ski coach, nothing likely happens to Utah.
A wake up call to be more aware of rules and adhere to them more strictly, because they apply to everyone.
Hopefuly Rick and Tom Crean continue their successes and friendship for years to come. Not a coincidence that crean was one of first to speak out in positive way regarding Rick's hire at SLU. ...but it looks like Rick won't be hanging out at MU practices for a while. :D
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Rick and Tom are friends. I admire Rick tremendously, but Rick isn't a saint either as many past players and journalists have recorded....similar to other coaches. Some very scathing articles written a few weeks ago....goest with the territory. They all have people that don't care for them, usually disgruntled players or some alum that didn't get enough loving or beer tabs picked at the local watering hole.
I just found it funny that some people on this board rip on Huggins all the time for graduation rates, but want to dub Rick a Saint when his graduation rates have been paltry.
Here we have a coach currently in charge of our program (which some people do not care for...fine) who graduates at a very high rate, goes to the NCAAs, has attendance at the 2nd or 3rd highest in MU history, and zero NCAA violations.
He's pretty much delivering on everything the administration asked him to deliver on
Don't break the rules
Graduate the kids
Don't have your kids on the police blotter
Win a lot games
Go to the post season
Put MU back on the map
I have no doubt there are other coaches that can do SOME of those things, maybe even MOST of those things. There are not, however, a whole lot of coaches out there that have done ALL OF THOSE THINGS. There are some, but not that many.
I wish Rick all the success in the world. Brilliant mind, good guy, MU graduate. Would have been easily in my top 2 or 3 replacements if Crean left. Would love to have him, but we have a good one right now who is executing on the goals given to him. Goals that Rick and others have shown they have not met at their respective institutions in the past. So let's cut the canonization crap.
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Big Sky--
Your opinion of my calling Thompson "nothing special" as a cheap shot is well taken. It's just my opinion that Thompson won't be the next Fazekas. Hell, he may not even be the next Greg Stiemsma (in terms of us moaning that we missed on him). MU fans will watch him be a fine player for a mid-level A-10 program. I don't see him transforming the team or anything of the like and, thus, why I think he won't be anything special.
Crean's love affair with guards scares me but I'd rather he take his chances with a special player like Shumpert or a deadeye skill kid like Kenyi then settle for a player simply because of his height. Of course, if TC landed that height this board would be no fun because Harrison, 4ever, and PRN would all spontaneously combust due to their synchronous orgasms upon hearing the news. Boo.
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Rick and Tom are friends. I admire Rick tremendously, but Rick isn't a saint either as many past players and journalists have recorded....similar to other coaches. Some very scathing articles written a few weeks ago....goest with the territory. They all have people that don't care for them, usually disgruntled players or some alum that didn't get enough loving or beer tabs picked at the local watering hole.
I just found it funny that some people on this board rip on Huggins all the time for graduation rates, but want to dub Rick a Saint when his graduation rates have been paltry.
Here we have a coach currently in charge of our program (which some people do not care for...fine) who graduates at a very high rate, goes to the NCAAs, has attendance at the 2nd or 3rd highest in MU history, and zero NCAA violations.
He's pretty much delivering on everything the administration asked him to deliver on
Don't break the rules
Graduate the kids
Don't have your kids on the police blotter
Win a lot games
Go to the post season
Put MU back on the map
I have no doubt there are other coaches that can do SOME of those things, maybe even MOST of those things. There are not, however, a whole lot of coaches out there that have done ALL OF THOSE THINGS. There are some, but not that many.
I wish Rick all the success in the world. Brilliant mind, good guy, MU graduate. Would have been easily in my top 2 or 3 replacements if Crean left. Would love to have him, but we have a good one right now who is executing on the goals given to him. Goals that Rick and others have shown they have not met at their respective institutions in the past. So let's cut the canonization crap.
The rules of graduation rates have changed tremendously since those statistics. Both Majerus and Crean have had a lot of transfers over the years. Majerus has had Rhodes scholars, and led the country at a time in Academic All-Americans. He also had to deal with players who take Mormon Missions, also affecting those rates. Not exactly Bob Huggins like...the only pieces I have seen from journalists are from the same two journailists who are friends with each other, one for Fox Sports and one with Sal Lake paper, formerly L.A. Feature writer. Any other piece has referenced one of those two people.
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Big Sky--
Your opinion of my calling Thompson "nothing special" as a cheap shot is well taken. It's just my opinion that Thompson won't be the next Fazekas. Hell, he may not even be the next Greg Stiemsma (in terms of us moaning that we missed on him). MU fans will watch him be a fine player for a mid-level A-10 program. I don't see him transforming the team or anything of the like and, thus, why I think he won't be anything special.
Crean's love affair with guards scares me but I'd rather he take his chances with a special player like Shumpert or a deadeye skill kid like Kenyi then settle for a player simply because of his height. Of course, if TC landed that height this board would be no fun because Harrison, 4ever, and PRN would all spontaneously combust due to their synchronous orgasms upon hearing the news. Boo.
Thompson was good enough for Alabama, Notre Dame, Indiana, Iowa St, and many others.
To call him a mid-major level player is misinformed. Again, I post that Majerus got a nice player....what does that have to do with MU's team? The fact is, Thompson is a good player and good recruits, the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 thought so. SLU isn't exactly going to be a mid-level A10 program under Majerus. lol. No bias in your statement there. Had Lisch not gotten hurt, they would been in the top 3 as they were last season.
No need to hate because someone else got a good recruit. Sheesh. All I posted was good for Rick. Have you seen Thompson playthis Spring so far?...I have, and Majerus will do a lot of good things with him. His skill-set is very different from Fazekas, not that anyone compared him to a college All-American...nothing like comparing a high school junior to a college All-American...that's pretty fair.
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This has turned into the most laughable thread ever on this board.
I din't know there were this many trolls here.
Let's run down the topics.
Majerus signed a good player. He's a 6'10 kid with good frame, not skinny, but still needs to get stronger to play inside. Already a very good perimeter player...not Novak like because he isnot as good of a shooter...however he can put it on the floor better at this stage than Novak at same time, is bigger/stronger....just for an idea...not comparing the two....too say he is nothing special is a cheap shot. He'll be a very good player there.
However, to flame Crean is also a ridiculous cheap shot. This kid always wanted to go to SLU. And that didn't change when Soderberg was coach, nor when he left, ...and Porter Moser, Majerus' assistant was previously recruiting Thompson at Illinois St. When Moser lost his job, he went and worked out individually with Thompson. Rick met the kid, he didn't take any other visits and signed. Good job by Rick, set up by Soderberg and Moser.
The Krause show...Crean knows and understands people want to see deeper NCAA runs and said he was as disappointed as anyone with that.
The Crean flaming is laughable here. He's done well to this point as MU head coach on and off the floor. Anybody who says differently has an agenda. If going forward he doesn't win games here and there in NCAA's and make a run every few years or so....then that wouldn't be acceptable. To this point he has done very well in many areas.
BigSky, don't you know Crean doesn't go across the street to Turners to have a beer with some fans so he's therefore a leper.
Here we have Crean who already landed a 4 star recruit for 2008 and these guys are whining over a 4 star recruit that Majerus picked up in which SLU had been recruiting him hard for a long time. You're not going to get everyone, never will.
It's never good enough...oh, and did I mention he doesn't go to Turners to have a beer after the games. ::)
Part of me wonders if we pull a Nebraska...go to the NCAAs 7 straight years, fire the coach and get a hot "great coach" from Butler who hasn't returned them there in 6 years now. It would serve some fans right.
Call me when we get to 7 straight Dances...I'm waiting for 3 straight. And no one wants anyone fired. I have a ton of respect for Coach Crean's work ethic, game prep, player's behavior off the court. I simply pointed out his 'schtick on the DK Show. There's a great deal of coach speak there. Personally I didn't see how a question regarding Coach Izzo was related to Jerel not playing in the MSU game. At least he didn't name drop Tony La Russa this time. Wonder why? ;)
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or did it look to you also that Crean hasn't been missing too many meals lately?
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Big Sky--
Your opinion of my calling Thompson "nothing special" as a cheap shot is well taken. It's just my opinion that Thompson won't be the next Fazekas. Hell, he may not even be the next Greg Stiemsma (in terms of us moaning that we missed on him). MU fans will watch him be a fine player for a mid-level A-10 program. I don't see him transforming the team or anything of the like and, thus, why I think he won't be anything special.
Crean's love affair with guards scares me but I'd rather he take his chances with a special player like Shumpert or a deadeye skill kid like Kenyi then settle for a player simply because of his height. Of course, if TC landed that height this board would be no fun because Harrison, 4ever, and PRN would all spontaneously combust due to their synchronous orgasms upon hearing the news. Boo.
Thompson was good enough for Alabama, Notre Dame, Indiana, Iowa St, and many others.
To call him a mid-major level player is misinformed. Again, I post that Majerus got a nice player....what does that have to do with MU's team? The fact is, Thompson is a good player and good recruits, the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 thought so. SLU isn't exactly going to be a mid-level A10 program under Majerus. lol. No bias in your statement there. Had Lisch not gotten hurt, they would been in the top 3 as they were last season.
No need to hate because someone else got a good recruit. Sheesh. All I posted was good for Rick. Have you seen Thompson playthis Spring so far?...I have, and Majerus will do a lot of good things with him. His skill-set is very different from Fazekas, not that anyone compared him to a college All-American...nothing like comparing a high school junior to a college All-American...that's pretty fair.
I have no idea how this all spun out of control. We are all entitled to our opinions. Mine differs from yours yet you seem intent to punish me for it and constantly bring up rankings and supposed offers (because no one other then the kid truly knows) as if to beat me into liking Thompson. I have no "hate" for SLU, Thompson, nor Majerus. I'm simply providing my thoughts.
You claim bias on my part yet seem to exempt yourself. If I recall correctly, you were very public about your knowledge of the Majerus/SLU negotiation process and your history makes it plainly obvious that you are a big fan of Majerus and perhaps even a true friend. That must certainly cloud this matter to the point in which you've taken up residence as the SLU defender and seem to be portraying a tad more of a shield then is necessary.
Finally, re-read my original explanation: never called Thompson a mid-major player (rather just that he is playing for a mid-level A-10 team which is exactly where SLU is right now) and I didn't compare the games of Fazekas and Thompson; I brought up Fazekas because he's been a rallying point around the program for bemoaning that he never came to Milwaukee and on the surface these two players do have similar tendencies but Thompson won't measure up to what Fazekas accomplished in college.
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Had to sort through all the semantics....the effort at dot connecting, and you doubting that the kid had the offers he had....that's funny...."supposed"....Lol.....lol some more. Then you proceed to say you weren't comparing Fazekas and Thompson but then just did. Still lol. That's too much.
Post of the year.
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This has got to be the most pathetic post ever from the guy who posts almost nothing but....it's from chico's if you had not guessed.
In response to my post that Majerus had accomplished more at Utah with a more difficult situation.
Here it is....
"True, including a 29% graduation rate at Utah, NCAA violations, etc....he definitely accomplished more. I'd love to hear the "extraoridinary difficult circumstances"....he was at the flagship school in the state of Utah which has huge built in advantages, a larger athletic budget, a football program, an easier conference, etc, etc.... "
Simply laughable becuase this same guy will post ad nauseum about MU's strength of being a basketball only school, about the strength of being in the Big East, how big the MU basketball budget is, etc etc. But now when Majerus's 10 straight NCAA's at Utah is mentioned as better than Crean's 4 NCAA's in 8 year at MU. It is becuase he was in an "easier conference", etc. Chico's was the conference USA not easier during the first 6 years? Only Chico's would say it is easier to build a program at Utah than it is at MU.
Bottom line... strengths then become weaknesses if mention of Tom Crean possibly not being the greatest come up. Chico's = Bill Clinton
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C'mon Harrison. Everyone knows Utah is a recruiting hotbed for basketball players. The comparison of Majerus to Huggins was also a highlight. I'm sure he'll sit down with his buddies Rick and Tom and set things straight. Regarding 4everwarriors comment about not missing any meals. I noticed the same thing. The head shot they run in the Journal on occasion makes me laugh. The chins are starting to multiply.
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Had to sort through all the semantics....the effort at dot connecting, and you doubting that the kid had the offers he had....that's funny...."supposed"....Lol.....lol some more. Then you proceed to say you weren't comparing Fazekas and Thompson but then just did. Still lol. That's too much.
Post of the year.
Again, I didn't compare the two players. All I wrote was they have similar tendencies and having watched him once this spring (which apparently makes you an expert) you would see that. A comparison would involve much more depth and breadth (and I'm sure you could provide it).
As for the offers thing the point of the matter is that no one other then the kid truly knows who has and who hasn't offered. I'm sure you're one of the MU fans who believes Mbakwe turned down Florida's offer to play in Milwaukee. Lot of doubt about that one. Lot of doubt about many other kids and their "offers" through the years.
You can knock me about semantics and derisively dismiss my posts but I did like that you sidestepped your friendship with Majerus and claimed I was the biased one. You've beaten me to a pulp with nonsense and I'll be sure to never question your dog-like loyalty to Majerus and his program because you'll bite back and bite back hard. Hopefully, he rewards that loyalty with a slice of pizza now and again.
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This has got to be the most pathetic post ever from the guy who posts almost nothing but....it's from chico's if you had not guessed.
In response to my post that Majerus had accomplished more at Utah with a more difficult situation.
Here it is....
"True, including a 29% graduation rate at Utah, NCAA violations, etc....he definitely accomplished more. I'd love to hear the "extraoridinary difficult circumstances"....he was at the flagship school in the state of Utah which has huge built in advantages, a larger athletic budget, a football program, an easier conference, etc, etc.... "
Simply laughable becuase this same guy will post ad nauseum about MU's strength of being a basketball only school, about the strength of being in the Big East, how big the MU basketball budget is, etc etc. But now when Majerus's 10 straight NCAA's at Utah is mentioned as better than Crean's 4 NCAA's in 8 year at MU. It is becuase he was in an "easier conference", etc. Chico's was the conference USA not easier during the first 6 years? Only Chico's would say it is easier to build a program at Utah than it is at MU.
Bottom line... strengths then become weaknesses if mention of Tom Crean possibly not being the greatest come up. Chico's = Bill Clinton
Nice try hairy.
You're mixing arguments again which you consistently do. MU does have a strength of being a basketball only school if you play into that strength. But it is also not a surprise that nearly every successful school in hoops in the country has a football program with only a few minor exceptions, MU, Villanova, Georgetown and Gonzaga being the most notable. Bigger budgets, better facilities, more exposure because you're in the "sports news cycle" all the time, not just during basketball season.
Secondly, Utah is in the west where there are fewer people and fewer schools to compete with. Who is Utah competing with in the state for recruits? BYU? Who are they competing against in the region? Colorado? Wyoming? Nevada? MU has to deal with being in the middle of the Big Ten country, a successful program 90 miles to the west, a successful program to it's south, and a bevy of schools coming in for the same talent. If positioned right, it can do great things. But if you're Utah and you want a Utah kid...you get him. You want a Colorado kid, you stand a great chance. You want a Nevada kid, great chance. If you're Marquette and you want a kid from Chicago or Wisconsin, then you're in for a dogfight. Simple as that. Sorry it was so hard for you to grasp this very easy concept.
Third, are you comparing Conference USA to Utah's conference? I hope not, that would show how little you know about college basketball which is proven over and over again when you open your mouth. When MU was in CUSA,Conference USA sent the same or MORE schools to the tournament then Utah's conference did in EVERY YEAR BUT ONE the two conferences played. Yeah, CUSA is easier than the Big East, but still MUCH harder than what Utah had to deal with year in and year out.
37 CUSA bids to 25 for the Mtn / WAC
2005 CUSA 4 bids, Mtn West 2
2004 CUSA 6 bids, Mtn West 3
2003 CUSA 4 bids, Mtn West 3
2002 CUSA 3 bids, Mtn West 3
2001 CUSA 2 bids, Mtn West 1
2000 CUSA 4 bids, Mtn West 2
1999 CUSA 4 bids, WAC 3 (Utah then in the WAC)
1998 CUSA 3 bids, WAC 4
1997 CUSA 3 bids, WAC 2
1996 CUSA 4 bids, WAC 2
Fourth, nice of you to gloss over the graduate rates and NCAA violations Rick had at Utah. Remind me again of the NCAA violations at MU under Crean....crickets chirping. Remind me again of the poor graduation rates under Crean at MU....crickets chirping. Are you a win at all costs kind of guy? If so, pick another school because the current administration won't tolerate it nor should they.
And finally, the irony of ironies. Majerus had his crack at MU....3 straight NIT appearances after inheriting a team that went to the NCAAs two previous years and 12 of the previous 13 years. If Crean were to do that, he would be run out of town by you hairy. Run out of town....that is if anyone gave a squirt of piss for what you have to say on the matter. Do you think Crean goes to the NIT 3 straight years after inheriting a team that had gone to the NCAAs 12 of the previous 13 years? Majerus had his shot and didn't do well. Since then, he's done admirably but also while committing NCAA rules violations and having low graduation rates. Crean inherited far, far less successful teams and talent, hasn't broken the rules, has high graduation rates and....ding dong...has had FAR FAR FAR more success at MU then Rick ever did as a head coach when he had his turn at MU.
And on that note, this is 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back dealing with you.
Have a wonderful day.
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Re Majerus violations - Buying cookies for his players, pizza for KVH after his father's passing.
Re Majerus Grad Rates - The old system punished schools with tranfers regardless of academic progress. TC's rate would be 43% (4 year players, 7 of 16).
Re Lack of Competition - There's a reason there are so few schools out by Utah, there are no human beings. I'm staring at a DMA Map in my office right now, its a waste land out there.
Schrutebag - gawd love the Internet for making that word big. Great episode last night.
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You don't honestly believe it's harder to recruit in Milwaukee than in Utah. Fewer people also means fewer basketball players. Not a lot of African Americans hanging out in Utah either. The talent pools in the two regions aren't comparable.
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Had to sort through all the semantics....the effort at dot connecting, and you doubting that the kid had the offers he had....that's funny...."supposed"....Lol.....lol some more. Then you proceed to say you weren't comparing Fazekas and Thompson but then just did. Still lol. That's too much.
Post of the year.
Again, I didn't compare the two players. All I wrote was they have similar tendencies and having watched him once this spring (which apparently makes you an expert) you would see that. A comparison would involve much more depth and breadth (and I'm sure you could provide it).
As for the offers thing the point of the matter is that no one other then the kid truly knows who has and who hasn't offered. I'm sure you're one of the MU fans who believes Mbakwe turned down Florida's offer to play in Milwaukee. Lot of doubt about that one. Lot of doubt about many other kids and their "offers" through the years.
You can knock me about semantics and derisively dismiss my posts but I did like that you sidestepped your friendship with Majerus and claimed I was the biased one. You've beaten me to a pulp with nonsense and I'll be sure to never question your dog-like loyalty to Majerus and his program because you'll bite back and bite back hard. Hopefully, he rewards that loyalty with a slice of pizza now and again.
Is the kid himself and also his parents..good enough sources for who has and hasn't offered him scholarships? All of them are on record as to who has offered.Again you have a facts problem. I have seen him play several times this Springa nd several other times prior. He isn't even the same player as a year ago. I spend a lot of time at AAU events in Spring and Summer, and also see some kids during high school season. Fazekas and Thompson do not have the same game. You keep saying you aren't comparing them....but do it every time. "All I am saying is they have the same tendencies"....that is comparing.
You are reaching bad when you bring up Trevor Mbakwe. I have not mentioned his name once. And, I have not mentioned Thomspon's name in relation to MU once either.
I'm as objective as it gets. Read some posts in this thread. I am not objective because I mentioned that Thompson is a good recruit, and mentioned where else he had offers? That's laughable.
Majerus should have been more on top of the rules, as in adhering to them at Utah and I've said that in previous posts. The graduation rates are a joke because of transfer rule then, kids who go on Mormon missions, and early NBA entries. In reality, He led D-1 in Academic All-Americans and also had Rhodes scholars on his team. He is a stickler for academics. He did more than just buy Keith Van Horn a pizza when his dad died, or Utah would nothave gotten a scholarship subtracted for 3 years. His intentions were well and good, ...didn't gain any competitive advantage...butrules are rules.
You've repeatedly try to downplay the Thompson kid. If he wasn't any good I'd say so. But that isn't the case. And some very good BCS basketball schools thought so too. Then you repeatedly question whether or not he really had the offers, when itis on public record from him, his parents, and those schools. Not tough info to find.
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You don't honestly believe it's harder to recruit in Milwaukee than in Utah. Fewer people also means fewer basketball players. Not a lot of African Americans hanging out in Utah either. The talent pools in the two regions aren't comparable.
I didn't realize only good players are African American....who knew. Did you take a look at the Utah rosters much when Rick was there? Gonzaga's roster? Etc....they seemed to do just fine regardless of what race made up the majority of their team.
(http://www.fansonly.com/photos/schools/utah/sports/m-baskbl/mg-cover.jpg)
Keith Van Horn. Bogut. Doleac. Mitch Smith. Tom Chambers (before Majerus). Alex Johnsen. And on and on. BYU and Utah have always been "white" teams by and large, and have been successful. Race doesn't mean you can't be a good team, come on Tony!
The advantage he has is the entire state wants to go there. Just as the entire state wants to go to Wisconsin. Smaller population states have that hugh advantage. You're carried throughout the state on tv and radio and in every newspaper. You're not fighting for scraps like MU, or Xavier, or Gonzaga, or DePaul. Do you think that Springfield carries news on DePaul? Hell no, but Chicago sure as hell does for the Illini.
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Wow, where did I say only good players are African Americans? I would say if you look at the makeup of the NBA or college basketball that African Americans make up a very high percentage. I'd say if you looked at the last several All American teams or top 100 high school players in the country that most likely African American make up a high % on the list. Please don't twist my words to try and make me out to something I am not. Oh my goodness sound off the alarms, African Americans dominate the game of basketball-there's a new one. If there's not many African Americans in your state it may be hard to recruit them to your school. You talk about how easy it is for Utah because all the in state kids will stay there where Marquette is fighting for the second tier kids in Chicago etc. Well, generally the 25th ranked kid in Illinois is rated higher than the #1 kid in Utah.