Lisle (Ill.) Benet Academy 2014 Center Sean O'Mara is gearing up for his next unofficial visit, which will take place this weekend. We caught up with the coveted big man to get an update...
On Saturday, O'Mara will slide over to Iowa State to watch the Cyclones take on TCU in a Big Twelve battle.
"I'm going up there on Saturday," O'Mara told NY2LASPORTS.COM earlier this week. "I get to watch them play. I'll see that game and hopefully see how the coaches interact with the players and how they react during the game. I'm looking forward to it."
O'Mara holds offers from the likes of Boston College, DePaul, Illinois, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Saint Louis, Virginia, and Xavier among others.
The 6-9 junior broke down most of his offer list with NY2LASPORTS.COM.
Boston College: "I talk to them pretty regularly," he said. "They fill me in on what's going on. I've watched a couple games. They have a pretty decent big guy. They're doing good things and they're close in a lot of games that I've seen."
DePaul: "We've been talking. I'm actually looking to get up to a game soon. It's just been tough the way my schedule is working out. I like the coaches and I think they're doing well with what they have. I'll just keep watching them to see how they're doing and hopefully I'll be able to get up there soon."
Illinois: "I actually haven't talked to them too much. I think they're focusing on their season. I'm focusing on mine too. They obviously have the Big Ten to worry about. I'm sure they're plenty focused there."
Georgia Tech: "I like what the coaches have to say and what the program represents. I actually have a teammate from last year that ended up going to Georgia Tech as an engineer, so I keep up with him. He said he loves it, so I'm looking forward to getting down there soon."
Virginia: "They came out to a lot of games. It's good to see they're taking the time to make the trip. I'm looking forward to hopefully getting down there soon. I don't know when I'm going to be able to do that, but hopefully I'll set something up. I really like what they're doing with their program."
Xavier: "I like Xavier a lot. They've just been keeping in contact. They always let me know what's going on with the program. It's almost like I'm one of the players already. I like it and I think it's a good fit too."
O'Mara said reports of his Marquette offer were a little premature. Although the Golden Eagles remain interested, O'Mara says he needs to take an unofficial visit to actually pick up the offer.
"It was weird the way the whole offer happened," O'Mara explained. "I don't think it was official. They wanted to get me on campus before they offer. I'm looking to get up there for a game. They're still recruiting me. I don't know what the offer situation is. I know they want to. I just don't know if they've offered officially yet."
O'Mara has visited Dayton and Xavier this season. After Iowa State on Saturday, the junior big man wants to visit Georgia Tech, Marquette, and Virginia.
In addition to the Golden Eagles, Louisville and Notre Dame are also expressing good interest in O'Mara.
Louisville: "They came out to a game last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't play too well. They've been talking to my AAU coach regularly. They like my game. They want to wait and see me play with my AAU team."
Notre Dame: "I've been up there twice. Both times it's been good. I'm looking forward to hopefully getting back to see them play."
O'Mara played for IBA Muscle Milk Select during the grassroots travel season.
If the kid can play I would bet on ND. Awful lot of Benet Academy kids end up at ND every year.
Welcome to the board, Sean
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
If the kid can play I would bet on ND. Awful lot of Benet Academy kids end up at ND every year.
On the other hand, Dylan Flood is a Benet grad.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
If the kid can play I would bet on ND. Awful lot of Benet Academy kids end up at ND every year.
Awful lot of Benet kids end up at Marquette every year too. Some years Marquette gets more Benet Grads than ND! Generally speaking though it is roughly the same amount that go to each.
He loves football (still plays on the high school team). Even though his future is in basketball, I have to think there would be great appeal to him in going to a school with football just from an atmosphere standpoint.
I had my only quadurple-double against BA in 79.... 2 Pts, 2 Rebounds, 2 TO, 2 Fouls....
You couldn't stop me..only hope was to contain me...
I'm a Benet and Marquette grad. Think there was about 5 or 6 of us that went to MU in 2000. Benet was pretty mediocre at basketball when I was in high school. Have been consistently good the last 5 years or so, though. Sobolewski is a solid, tough starting PG at Northwestern, and it looks like Kaminsky will get a lot of run next year at Wisconsin. From what I understand, O'Mara is not super athletic, but is skilled. Interesting to see where he ends up.
Heck of a line Big Daddy. Congrats on that performance!!
IL Preps Bullseye said that Autry was out watching him earlier this week.
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on February 14, 2013, 12:43:16 PM
I'm a Benet and Marquette grad. Think there was about 5 or 6 of us that went to MU in 2000. Benet was pretty mediocre at basketball when I was in high school. Have been consistently good the last 5 years or so, though. Sobolewski is a solid, tough starting PG at Northwestern, and it looks like Kaminsky will get a lot of run next year at Wisconsin. From what I understand, O'Mara is not super athletic, but is skilled. Interesting to see where he ends up.
With names like Sobolewski, Kaminsky, O'Mara, Jorgensen, Schmidt, etc... I would think Bo Ryan has set up a tent outside your Field House
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on February 14, 2013, 12:43:16 PM
I'm a Benet and Marquette grad. Think there was about 5 or 6 of us that went to MU in 2000. Benet was pretty mediocre at basketball when I was in high school. Have been consistently good the last 5 years or so, though. Sobolewski is a solid, tough starting PG at Northwestern, and it looks like Kaminsky will get a lot of run next year at Wisconsin. From what I understand, O'Mara is not super athletic, but is skilled. Interesting to see where he ends up.
I'm a BA and MU grad as well. O'Mara is pretty athletic; certainly athletic enough given his size. He has a pretty strong frame; not one of these string bean tall types. I don't know that he'll be a star at the college level, but expect that he'll have a nice college career and certainly be capable of holding down the fort inside.
Those were some good Benet teams back in the late '70's. Nice work, Big Daddy. Where did you go to school?
Quote from: BigDaddy84 on February 14, 2013, 12:41:25 PM
I had my only quadurple-double against BA in 79.... 2 Pts, 2 Rebounds, 2 TO, 2 Fouls....
You couldn't stop me..only hope was to contain me...
Do you still have eligibility?
Seems odd that offer depends on him taking an unofficial visit, given a lot of Buzz's recruits commit to MU without ever visiting. I believe Dawson still has not been to MU.
Quote from: bilsu on February 14, 2013, 12:57:03 PM
Seems odd that offer depends on him taking an unofficial visit, given a lot of Buzz's recruits commit to MU without ever visiting. I believe Dawson still has not been to MU.
I don't think I would compare O'Mara with Dawson
Quote from: bilsu on February 14, 2013, 12:57:03 PM
Seems odd that offer depends on him taking an unofficial visit, given a lot of Buzz's recruits commit to MU without ever visiting. I believe Dawson still has not been to MU.
I committed to MU without ever visiting, and that turned out OK.
Quote from: MU82 on February 14, 2013, 01:02:22 PM
I committed to MU without ever visiting, and that turned out OK.
I saw MU's campus in the beginning of Tommy Boy. What else do you really need?
Quote from: Skatastrophy on February 14, 2013, 01:59:34 PM
I saw MU's campus in the beginning of Tommy Boy. What else do you really need?
Except that wasn't MU's campus. ;)
Quote from: bilsu on February 14, 2013, 12:57:03 PM
Seems odd that offer depends on him taking an unofficial visit, given a lot of Buzz's recruits commit to MU without ever visiting. I believe Dawson still has not been to MU.
Pretty sure Dawson took his official visit to a game after he committed (and I think after he signed). Could be wrong on that though.
Also a BA and MU grad, I would be surprised if more Benet kids went to ND than Marquette. I had just under 20 kids from my HS class go to Marquette.
As a St. Francis grad, it's hard for me to root for a Benet kid. ;)
My nephew went to Benet and got into ND. I think over 30 kids in his class were accepted to ND.
I've watched O'Mara and he is athletic enough, but more importantly, he has plenty of low post moves and he has been coached the right way. I think he will be productive wherever he goes but I'm curious why he would be considering DePaul...does not fit IMO.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 03:10:31 PM
My nephew went to Benet and got into ND. I think over 30 kids in his class were accepted to ND.
Accepted doesn't mean attended. If that were the case about 300 kids from Benet would go to Illinois each year.
Quote from: MUDish on February 14, 2013, 03:09:25 PM
As a St. Francis grad, it's hard for me to root for a Benet kid. ;)
Ahhh, St. Francis. About Benet's UWM, wouldn't you say? ;D
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 14, 2013, 02:01:54 PM
Except that wasn't MU's campus. ;)
Really. Chicos, I've reminded you before about ruining a good story by letting the facts get in the way. Bring out your Irish, and relax.
No crap accepted is different than going there. If accepted to ND does a normal, long term thinking kid turn down ND and go to MU?
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 03:42:26 PM
No crap accepted is different than going there. If accepted to ND does a normal, long term thinking kid turn down ND and go to MU?
Some do, and some go to schools that are more prestigious than ND. I believe this conversation isn't about a normal student though, is it?
Where would a kid rather play basketball, that is the question. ND's football team has the clear advantage, but their basketball team? Probably not as much.
Quote from: buckchuckler on February 14, 2013, 03:36:13 PM
Ahhh, St. Francis. About Benet's UWM, wouldn't you say? ;D
Loved the old Benet gym, great place to play. Miss the Slantdome too, was a great rivalry back in the day.
Quote from: MUDish on February 14, 2013, 03:49:06 PM
Loved the old Benet gym, great place to play. Miss the Slantdome too, was a great rivalry back in the day.
Sure was. Always fun. I didn't know St. Francis had a new gym. Oh well, I'm old.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 03:42:26 PM
No crap accepted is different than going there. If accepted to ND does a normal, long term thinking kid turn down ND and go to MU?
Dealing with that issue with Legs, Jr. right now. Fenwick is in a similar sitiuation as BA--lots to both.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 03:42:26 PM
No crap accepted is different than going there. If accepted to ND does a normal, long term thinking kid turn down ND and go to MU?
I did. Along with UW, Michigan State among other better academic schools than Marquette.
Quote from: MUDish on February 14, 2013, 03:49:06 PM
Loved the old Benet gym, great place to play. Miss the Slantdome too, was a great rivalry back in the day.
RIP Slantdome. For the record, St. Eds had the worst gym in the old SCC. I always felt like that place was a prison facility.
Quote from: Jajuannaman on February 14, 2013, 02:05:57 PM
Pretty sure Dawson took his official visit to a game after he committed (and I think after he signed). Could be wrong on that though.
He was susposed to come to mid-night madness, but did not for some reason. He may of visited otehrwise, but I am not aware of it.
Quote from: PTM on February 14, 2013, 04:00:45 PM
I did. Along with UW, Michigan State among other better academic schools than Marquette.
Are you saying Michigan State is a better academic experience than MU? I find that hard to believe. Obviously, there are many factors to consider but in the state of Michigan people at MSU couldn't get into UofM. I went to Michigan and there is utter disdain for MSU as a university, save for a superior coed gene pool. Saturday nights in East Lansing had a more target rich environment than Ann Arbor.
Quote from: Sir Lawrence on February 14, 2013, 03:40:48 PM
Really. Chicos, I've reminded you before about ruining a good story by letting the facts get in the way. Bring out your Irish, and relax.
That's why the happy face, very relaxed. Unfortunately, would have liked to see Chris actually film that bit on MU's campus, but not to be.
FYI: "Marquette University" was filmed at the University of Toronto for the film, Tommy Boy.
Quote from: keefe on February 14, 2013, 05:58:18 PM
Are you saying Michigan State is a better academic experience than MU? I find that hard to believe. Obviously, there are many factors to consider but in the state of Michigan people at MSU couldn't get into UofM. I went to Michigan and there is utter disdain for MSU as a university, save for a superior coed gene pool. Saturday nights in East Lansing had a more target rich environment than Ann Arbor.
Most ratings, MSU slightly ahead of MU.
Forbes
US News
ARWU
Etc
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 14, 2013, 06:55:15 PM
Most ratings, MSU slightly ahead of MU.
Forbes
US News
ARWU
Etc
Ergo Michigan is far ahead of MU
MSU is middle of the road also.
PTM
What year did you make that decision? To be hoest in today's economy I would not give my kid that choice. They are going to ND no matter how I would hate it. IMO best networking school in the country.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 14, 2013, 06:55:15 PM
Most ratings, MSU slightly ahead of MU.
Forbes
US News
ARWU
Etc
It's really apples and oranges. If one wants to be a package designer you would go to MSU and not MU (or UofM, for that matter.) We all chose MU for very personal reasons, all of which are valid and specific to each of us. Marquette was very, very different from my two grad alma maters but that in no way diminishes the quality of the experience.
The rankings are fine but they are a directional measure.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 07:17:50 PM
PTM
What year did you make that decision? To be hoest in today's economy I would not give my kid that choice. They are going to ND no matter how I would hate it. IMO best networking school in the country.
2004. I feel sorry for your children then, they should make their own decision.
Quote from: PTM on February 14, 2013, 07:35:01 PM
2004. I feel sorry for your children then, they should make their own decision.
What??? You would let your kids make their own decisions? That is ridiculous. How will they learn anything?
I was also accepted to ND. Was just curious to see if I could get in, even though they didn't have my major (biomedical engineering) and I had no intention of going. Fun story now to tell people I turned them down.
Quote from: buckchuckler on February 14, 2013, 07:41:10 PM
What??? You would let your kids make their own decisions? That is ridiculous. How will they learn anything?
Thank God PTM won't be making his kids' decisions for them (if he ever has any). They'll be making better decisions than him while still in the womb.
Quote from: keefe on February 14, 2013, 05:58:18 PM
Are you saying Michigan State is a better academic experience than MU? I find that hard to believe. Obviously, there are many factors to consider but in the state of Michigan people at MSU couldn't get into UofM. I went to Michigan and there is utter disdain for MSU as a university, save for a superior coed gene pool. Saturday nights in East Lansing had a more target rich environment than Ann Arbor.
Spoken like a true, arrogant UofM grad.
Both schools have their strengths and weaknesses. MSU is great in agriculture science, restaurant and hotel management, political science and some others, while U of M is really good in engineering, physics, economics and general business. To be honest, U of M's requirements for getting through the Liberal Arts school there are a joke. My friends who went through that program never had to take a math, science, philosophy or language. They were able to take classes were all they had to do was show up, watch a court case in a court room for an hour, sign in and then write a 10 page paper at the end of the semester - and get 3 credits for it.
But you are right about the co-eds at MSU - much, much better scenery than in Ann Arbor.
Quote from: keefe on February 14, 2013, 07:21:10 PM
It's really apples and oranges. If one wants to be a package designer you would go to MSU and not MU (or UofM, for that matter.) We all chose MU for very personal reasons, all of which are valid and specific to each of us. Marquette was very, very different from my two grad alma maters but that in no way diminishes the quality of the experience.
The rankings are fine but they are a directional measure.
Also agree. I'm just saying broadly measured, if you buy into any of those rankings, MSU slightly ahead.
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on February 14, 2013, 07:41:23 PM
I was also accepted to ND. Was just curious to see if I could get in, even though they didn't have my major (biomedical engineering) and I had no intention of going. Fun story now to tell people I turned them down.
My son applied and was accepted to ND's engineering program. He declined and went to the University of Maryland, who's engineering program blows ND's out of the water. He initially applied in view of ND's reputation as a whole, but realized the differences in engineering after visits. Was his call and turned out to be the correct one for his field.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 14, 2013, 06:55:15 PM
Most ratings, MSU slightly ahead of MU.
Forbes
US News
ARWU
Etc
About as meaningful as the preseason coaches poll :)
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 12:10:10 PM
If the kid can play I would bet on ND. Awful lot of Benet Academy kids end up at ND every year.
And Wisconsin.
And Northwestern.
Quote from: macimaniacal19 on February 14, 2013, 12:32:16 PM
Awful lot of Benet kids end up at Marquette every year too. Some years Marquette gets more Benet Grads than ND! Generally speaking though it is roughly the same amount that go to each.
My graduating class from Benet had more kids go to ND than MU, but like you said it's usually about even. Generally, MU is in the top five to seven most popular schools for Benet grads.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 07:17:50 PM
PTM
What year did you make that decision? To be hoest in today's economy I would not give my kid that choice. They are going to ND no matter how I would hate it. IMO best networking school in the country.
Uh, I would beg to differ. My Ivy Alma Mater's Alumni Network makes Notre Dame's look like your local junior high
I attended a Redwing's game recently. They did the "I Believe that We Will Win" thing at tipoff. Sean should feel right at home tomorrow.
PTM
Talk to me in 10-20 years when your kids are ready for college. My two oldest are both college grads in fours years and no student loans. I really do not feel sorry for them at all. We discussed options with our kids and obviously got their input and they had say in college choice. As a parent who has paid every dollar of private education for four kids I do believe my wife and I have some say in the decision.
Keefe
No doubt the Ivy's also have great networking. My point on ND is at higher number of alum's than Ivy's and without a doubt a national presence with alums. I would think ND has more grads scattered around the US than most of the upper end schools.
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 07:25:05 AM
PTM
Talk to me in 10-20 years when your kids are ready for college. My two oldest are both college grads in fours years and no student loans. I really do not feel sorry for them at all. We discussed options with our kids and obviously got their input and they had say in college choice. As a parent who has paid every dollar of private education for four kids I do believe my wife and I have some say in the decision.
In that case, I'd rather come out of school with low interest student education loans that have my parental units dictate my college decision.
I'm not trying to criticize you here, just saying that ND might seem like the highest caliber school around, but it isn't. There are more than enough reasons one high school student could find wrong with ND than compared to Marquette.
Once you strip away the Bascilia of Sacred Heart and Gesu, what is taught at both schools doesn't differ one bit. The true difference is where one feels comfortable enough to be successful, while enjoying the fruits of being a college student. For these reasons, I wound up at Marquette.
There's also the reason that ND's focus within their Civil Engineering department is not what I was looking for.
PTM
I am not one that thinks ND is all that special. Unfortunately there are plenty that do. My point is simple, even if comparable degree at each school, I believe ND long term provides greater opprtunity. Trust me, I hate even typing that.
Quote from: Goose on February 14, 2013, 03:10:31 PM
My nephew went to Benet and got into ND. I think over 30 kids in his class were accepted to ND.
A Benet Grad told me that Benet is the top feeder prep school into ND. Don't know if that's true. I'd guess St Ignatius or Loyola Academy.
Quote from: Blue Horseshoe on February 14, 2013, 05:02:11 PM
RIP Slantdome. For the record, St. Eds had the worst gym in the old SCC. I always felt like that place was a prison facility.
We live in Elgin, and my two year old twins will probably end up going to St. Ed's. That gym is as old school as it gets.
I hated Driscoll's gym (RIP Driscoll).
Quote from: Room510 on February 15, 2013, 06:33:38 AM
I attended a Redwing's game recently. They did the "I Believe that We Will Win" thing at tipoff. Sean should feel right at home tomorrow.
The student section at Benet games is outstanding. I was at a game earlier this year where the entire student section was mimicking every move made by the opposing teams very loud and demonstrative coach. It was hard to focus on the game rather than watching the students it was so funny. Eventually, one of the faculty shut it down, but it was hilarious while it lasted.
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
PTM
I am not one that thinks ND is all that special. Unfortunately there are plenty that do. My point is simple, even if comparable degree at each school, I believe ND long term provides greater opprtunity. Trust me, I hate even typing that.
This is accurate. And I hate ND. An ND diploma carries much more weight than MU.
The gap has closed considerably in the last 10-15 years, but there is still a considerable gap.
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
PTM
I am not one that thinks ND is all that special. Unfortunately there are plenty that do. My point is simple, even if comparable degree at each school, I believe ND long term provides greater opprtunity. Trust me, I hate even typing that.
No doubt. Agreed.
Quote from: Avenue Commons on February 15, 2013, 09:01:11 AM
A Benet Grad told me that Benet is the top feeder prep school into ND. Don't know if that's true. I'd guess St Ignatius or Loyola Academy.
A Fenwick grad told me the same thing. Birds of a feather.
Quote from: Norm on February 14, 2013, 08:11:03 PM
Spoken like a true, arrogant UofM grad.
Both schools have their strengths and weaknesses. MSU is great in agriculture science, restaurant and hotel management, political science and some others, while U of M is really good in engineering, physics, economics and general business. To be honest, U of M's requirements for getting through the Liberal Arts school there are a joke. My friends who went through that program never had to take a math, science, philosophy or language. They were able to take classes were all they had to do was show up, watch a court case in a court room for an hour, sign in and then write a 10 page paper at the end of the semester - and get 3 credits for it.
But you are right about the co-eds at MSU - much, much better scenery than in Ann Arbor.
I went to Michigan for grad school so I wasn't caught up in the MSU disdain game. A lot of people don't realize that about 70% of the UofM undergrad community is from out of state and that the grad school was traditionally larger than the undergrad colleges. (I think they increased out of state undergrads to generate revenue) Michigan always had the second smallest undergrad population in the Big 10 but not sure what the new joiners (Neb, MD, et al) have done to that.
As far as alumni networking my corporate experience was around Asia and Michigan has a very active alumni system. There were always social events, cultural activities, and gatherings not centered around Michigan football. They also tapped us to do face to face interviews with local prospective students. I spent many a middle of the Jan 1-2 night (15 hr time difference) watching Michigan lose some bowl game at a Michigan Club hosted gathering. Michigan is simply bigger and more international than Marquette which had no alumni gatherings in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore or Jakarta. We watched Michigan win the Ship at the Sydney Sheraton with more than 500 Michigan grads. In Seattle, the Michigan Club has 600 people all wearing Go Blue stuff packed into Buckleys in Belltown. I have been to Buckleys in Queen Anne for Marquette games and we have about 30 folks for NCAA games. MU is a quarter the size of Michigan and much more parochial (pardon the pun) in its demographic profile.
Quote from: Avenue Commons on February 15, 2013, 10:36:32 AM
This is accurate. And I hate ND. An ND diploma carries much more weight than MU.
The gap has closed considerably in the last 10-15 years, but there is still a considerable gap.
Yep. They have a staggering endowment to boot. They have a lower acceptance rate than MU. I love MU, but ND wins this one.
The catholic schools scholastically are:
1. Georgetown (oddly only about 50% catholic)
2. Notre Dame
3. Boston College
The rest are all also rans
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 07:25:05 AM
Keefe
No doubt the Ivy's also have great networking. My point on ND is at higher number of alum's than Ivy's and without a doubt a national presence with alums. I would think ND has more grads scattered around the US than most of the upper end schools.
You are kidding, of course. I went to HBS and we have a global alumni network. In Singapore I would attend HBS/Crimson gatherings and feel absolutely humbled. I was the COO of a GE Cap JV with Sun Microsystems, SingTel, and Oracle in the Health Care/Data Management vertical but my fellow alums were Government Ministers, General Officers from regional countries, President Directors of multi-billion enterprises. HBS alone graduates 800 each year. Not sure how many UND pushes out each year but it ain't as many as Harvard.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on February 15, 2013, 12:55:12 PM
The catholic schools scholastically are:
1. Georgetown (oddly only about 50% catholic)
2. Notre Dame
3. Boston College
The rest are all also rans
"Also rans" may be a bit harsh, but you're basically correct. It's those three—and everyone else.
Keefe
How many degree's do you have? So you are saying there are more Harvard Business School alums than ND alums? No doubt that HBS has more Fortune 100 CEO's and folks on Wall Street than ND. I guess my point was the 99.9% of those who are not in the who's who of business.
I spend a fair amount of time in China and every major university has gatherings in Shanghai or Hong Kong. In 2012 I spent a fair amount of time with a Babson alum affair in Hong Kong. All good stuff but I'll stick with my point ND over MU in heart beat in national job market eyes. Now if my kid could to HBS...no frickin brainer, but that was not my original point.
Quote from: Groin_pull on February 15, 2013, 01:22:26 PM
"Also rans" may be a bit harsh, but you're basically correct. It's those three—and everyone else.
Marquette provides a great education and we have no reason to offer apologies to anyone. The wife and I are both alums and lived around the world. Not everyone heard of MU but those that did always seemed to have a favorable impression. I never felt I had to make any excuse for having matriculated at MU.
Keefe
I agree no apologies on MU education. Just sayin if my kid got into ND or GU I would steer them there over MU. I will have two a MU next year and not ashamed to tell anyone where my kids go.
Quote from: keefe on February 15, 2013, 01:31:56 PM
Marquette provides a great education and we have no reason to offer apologies to anyone. The wife and I are both alums and lived around the world. Not everyone heard of MU but those that did always seemed to have a favorable impression. I never felt I had to make any excuse for having matriculated at MU.
Matriculate...ah what a word
So Sean O'Mara huh?
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 01:38:42 PM
Keefe
I agree no apologies on MU education. Just sayin if my kid got into ND or GU I would steer them there over MU. I will have two a MU next year and not ashamed to tell anyone where my kids go.
But why then would you automatically steer them towards ND or GU?
Quote from: moomoo on February 15, 2013, 02:06:12 PM
But why then would you automatically steer them towards ND or GU?
The same reason I steered my oldest to I4-Kelley School of Business. If the field of study at another University is better than MU and your kid gets into that place, you steer them away from MU. If one of my kids wants to go into engineering, nursing or dental, I'd steer them to MU.
On a related note; Marquette offered 2014 6'10 C Jonathon Wilkins of La Lumiere (IN)
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 01:29:52 PM
Keefe
How many degree's do you have? So you are saying there are more Harvard Business School alums than ND alums? No doubt that HBS has more Fortune 100 CEO's and folks on Wall Street than ND. I guess my point was the 99.9% of those who are not in the who's who of business.
I spend a fair amount of time in China and every major university has gatherings in Shanghai or Hong Kong. In 2012 I spent a fair amount of time with a Babson alum affair in Hong Kong. All good stuff but I'll stick with my point ND over MU in heart beat in national job market eyes. Now if my kid could to HBS...no frickin brainer, but that was not my original point.
Undergrad at Marquette. Grad school at Michigan and HBS.
Your point is that UND has more grads than any Ivy and that they have a broader geographic distribution. I answered that I believe Harvard has more total grads each year than UND, illustrated anecdotally with the fact that HBS alone graduates 800 every year. I think that UND has an undergrad population of 6,000 so it graduates less than 1,500 seniors each year (more frosh than seniors given attrition.) I also think that UND is a great national university but it is in no way the international alma mater that is Harvard.
I lived in Hong Kong twice and we thought we were the only MU grads there until one morning we finished a run on Bowen Road and were walking back to our flat at Queen's Garden on Old Peak Road when a local dude yelled out, "Hey Marquette!" My wife was wearing a Warriors t-shirt. Turns out he was an engineering grad from the '60's.
Most schools had alumni groups in HK but MU was not one of them. Both Michigan and Harvard had large groups and my wife did her grad work at Columbia and they were even more active. HK was a great place to be up through '97 but Beijing by design has subordinated HK to Shanghai as a banking and commercial center. I remember going up to Shanghai before the hand over and it was nothing like HK. Today it is very different.
If you are still going to HK I would recommend Va Bene in Lan Kwai Fong. We had a standing res there every Friday evening at 9 pm. The maître d is Pino Piano, one of HK's leading gastronomes and a world class raconteur. He would always entreat my wife to leave me for him where he would take her back to Siena and lavish her with food and wine...he was flamboyantly gay so I think that would be the extent of lavishing. Va Bene is a world class restaurant, beyond the Italian category.
We last lived in HK in '96 so I am certain much has changed but it was a great place to live in the '90's. Since we lived in mid-levels we put our kids in the ESF Peak School on Plunketts Road rather than at HKIS which was on the other side of the island. Turned out to be a great decision for them and, because of social media, they have maintained friendships with classmates. Rather than spend hours on the bus each day they took the peak tram.
My wife spoke Japanese and I know she loved Japan but looking back on it I think she enjoyed living in HK more. Her stories were most often about HK and China. One of her favorite places in this world was the limestone peaks in Yang Shao. She loved how in the morning the mist wrapped its dewy fingers around the formations like spun silk curtains. She would force us up at 4 am in order to catch the formations at dawn.
Do you live in HK or are you a frequent visitor?
Quote from: Lighthouse 84 on February 15, 2013, 02:16:26 PM
The same reason I steered my oldest to I4-Kelley School of Business. If the field of study at another University is better than MU and your kid gets into that place, you steer them away from MU. If one of my kids wants to go into engineering, nursing or dental, I'd steer them to MU.
My opinion of that school in Bloomington was altered irrevocably in 2008. So long as the stench of tanning butter permeates the air of Indiana that opinion shall remain in effect.
Keefe
Agreed on Va Bene. Have dined there often. I had office in Kowloon Bay for roughly a decade and moved into China in 2001 completely. Spend roughly a third of my time in China currently. Also agree on the MU alum part of it. One of my highlights was seeing a factory worker wearing the 1977 championship drawing short that had the team holding up the banner. Great t shirt and even better seeing on someone that had no idea what it meant a decade and a half after the fact.
Quote from: Room510 on February 15, 2013, 06:33:38 AM
I attended a Redwing's game recently. They did the "I Believe that We Will Win" thing at tipoff. Sean should feel right at home tomorrow.
That's where that chant belongs - high school. That's where I first heard it, my high school did it in the early aughts. Oh, and also Mormon colleges.
Quote from: Goose on February 15, 2013, 02:43:24 PM
Keefe
Agreed on Va Bene. Have dined there often. I had office in Kowloon Bay for roughly a decade and moved into China in 2001 completely. Spend roughly a third of my time in China currently. Also agree on the MU alum part of it. One of my highlights was seeing a factory worker wearing the 1977 championship drawing short that had the team holding up the banner. Great t shirt and even better seeing on someone that had no idea what it meant a decade and a half after the fact.
We had offices at Stock Exchange Square but as you know HK was a China play so you flew out on Monday and came back Friday. After a week in China it was a relief to be back in HK. We were very big into the Red Chip privatization stuff so we were crawling around factories outside of the SARs, places like Xian, Wuhan, and Szechuan. My stomach is cast iron after all the bugs I ingested in some of those hell holes.
I was always amazed at the t-shirts worn by the workers in Chinese factories. I especially loved the ones made for the Japanese market which tried to use clever Ingrish.
Next time you hit Lan Kwai Fong try Nanbantei. Best Japanese in HK. Also, please give my regards to Pino at Va Bene. He will remember my wife as the blond haired American German girl who spoke Japanese. Tell him she is waiting for him in a better place where they only serve Grappas made by his family!
So Sean O'Mara huh?
Quote from: keefe on February 15, 2013, 02:26:13 PM
My opinion of that school in Bloomington was altered irrevocably in 2008. So long as the stench of tanning butter permeates the air of Indiana that opinion shall remain in effect.
You need to get over it...very good school. Excellent Business School. He's built it up right, kids graduating, did MU right for 9 years. If my kids wanted to go to Notre Dame, I would happily send them. Great networking, awesome school. It would hurt, but I'm not going to deny them that opportunity. UW-madison would hurt more, only because it's a public school and there are better public schools in state that I can pay in-state tuition for.
Quote from: keefe on February 15, 2013, 02:26:13 PM
My opinion of that school in Bloomington was altered irrevocably in 2008. So long as the stench of tanning butter permeates the air of Indiana that opinion shall remain in effect.
Agreed, my brother got into IU and seriously considered it but I convinced him to go to MU instead. He is more than happy with his decision
Quote from: Strokin 3s on February 15, 2013, 03:06:47 PM
So Sean O'Mara huh?
Why are you bringing this guy up???
People are debating whose is bigger--for four pages.
Quote from: We R Final Four on February 15, 2013, 03:32:00 PM
Why are you bringing this guy up???
People are debating whose is bigger--for four pages.
Gone from O'Mara to News and World Report on college rankings to Travel Channel to Food Network. But, interesting read.
I love Marquette. But I love my kids more than anything in the world. I would always do what was best for them, including sending them to another (better) school.
Nyg
Well played.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 15, 2013, 03:13:29 PM
You need to get over it...very good school. Excellent Business School. He's built it up right, kids graduating, did MU right for 9 years. If my kids wanted to go to Notre Dame, I would happily send them. Great networking, awesome school. It would hurt, but I'm not going to deny them that opportunity. UW-madison would hurt more, only because it's a public school and there are better public schools in state that I can pay in-state tuition for.
In fact I agree with you on IU's biz school. Always in the top 20. The kids I have known from there worked hard and were devoid of the BS one had to listen to from most snot nosed MBA's.
We went to MU but ours went to Middlebury, Wazoo, and Columbia. Each asked for advice but made their own choice. We were there to answer questions and were very pleased with their decision-making process, though one was really all about football. The one thing we told each of them was that there were no financial or geographic constraints and that this was entirely their decision to make since they would live with it for the next 60 years.
Since our first chose Middlebury I took a deep breath as I wrote out that first check but I understood Middlebury my first visit there. There is no more beautiful place on God's earth than Middlebury, Vermont in early October and the college made Parent's Weekend meaningful. After 4 years of Middlebury we saw our son grow in ways I never would have imagined. He had also been accepted to Berklee in Boston and I talked to him at length about what I knew of the music industry. My second cousin is with Sony Music in NY and his insights were compelling to sway the choice in favor of Middlebury.
Columbia was a white knuckler since it involved an only daughter and I had concerns about her living in NYC. Her mother gently reminded me that she had lived there at 21 and everything would be fine and if I dared mention the safety issue I was dead. Somehow I would have preferred she had gone to Wazoo as there is no safer place than the Palouse but her football skills were significantly below her brother's. She is still in NY, living in Brooklyn and thriving in so many ways. Frankly, Columbia was the only place she should have ever attended.
One of the most exciting times is watching your children go through the process of identifying then applying to colleges. As the acceptance letters (and rejections) start arriving is when the real thinking takes place. It is remarkable just how insightful 18 year olds can be.
Quote from: nyg on February 15, 2013, 03:42:29 PM
Gone from O'Mara to News and World Report on college rankings to Travel Channel to Food Network. But, interesting read.
Good. Seen this kid play several times and even played against him. He is big, but WAY too slow. I have a hard time picturing him seeing the floor.
Quote from: buzzchiapet on February 17, 2013, 01:00:17 AM
Good. Seen this kid play several times and even played against him. He is big, but WAY too slow. I have a hard time picturing him seeing the floor.
Sounds tailor made for Mr Ryan
Here I thought I would get some info on O'Mara and it's a 4 page preenfest between some Chicago Catholics comparing d*** sizes. Please tell me did you have steak or lobster the other day at Harvard? UGh
Why is this 4 pages?
Why
Why
Why
Quote from: mujivitz06 on February 17, 2013, 03:41:03 AM
Here I thought I would get some info on O'Mara and it's a 4 page preenfest between some Chicago Catholics comparing d*** sizes. Please tell me did you have steak or lobster the other day at Harvard? UGh
Aren't you the guy whose first post called this site a "cess pool?"
Tell you what - In a few months I'm heading back to Nepal where I now live. Why not join me? Twice a day, 7 days a week we eat daal baht - steamed rice and lentil curry. Same thing the orphans we have rescued from sexual slavery eat. No steak (the kids are Buddhist or Hindu for Crissakes!) No lobster...shell fish doesn't keep real well in Mustang since we don't have a fridge because there isn't steady electricity. Anyhow, I tend to eat simple these days for philosophical reasons plus the fact that my sense of taste comes and goes due to brain trauma from an IED event in Iraq.
Send me a PM and I'll get you hooked up so you can spend some quality time helping kids who have nothing and I do mean nothing. Not much penis measuring going on there in Mustang Nepal. Here's what you get: The pay is zero, the living conditions below Spartan, creature comforts non-existent. The medical plan is asking one of the passing Medecins Sans Frontières docs, "hey, could you take a look at this?" You better like reading books because there isn't internet, radio, or TV. Your night light is a little candle. When it begins to sputter it is time to try and sleep (which PTSD makes difficult sometimes what with the nightmares.) You wake and sleep with the sun and always remember to keep your torchlight handy in case you need to go at night. (There is no indoor plumbing) Your oven is made of clay and wood fueled, drink is yak butter tea, lemon tea, or iodine tinged water. Central heat is what your own body generates inside a sleeping bag. Need a bath? You can sponge it or hike down to the river where there are natural hot springs. It's 30 minutes down, 50 minutes up. And by hike I mean just that - there are no cars, roads, mopeds, buses, bikes, trolleys, trains, light rail...
What do you say MUjivitz? Your disgust with dick measuring Chicago Catholics suggests you would like to give something back in an environment where materialism is not only alien but discouraged. If you are looking for meaning I think I know some people who can help give you the experience of a life time where there are no fancy meals or designer labels. But you get to help some of the poorest people on earth whose only sin was to be born into that poverty and illiteracy. You also get to look up at night and see God's own canvas being painted. Sunrises and sunsets in the Himalaya are spectacular, too. As is the quiet. And the solitude.
By the way I am neither from Chicago nor a Catholic. I was brought up high church Anglican which has an almost identical liturgy with the Roman Church. But I do get what you say about Chicagoans in general.
Seems like we got a good chance, especially considering his engineering comments, which I think is authentic:
"As one of the better post prospects in the Midwest in the class of 2014, center Sean O'Mara has received quite a bit of recruiting attention. The 6-9, 240-pound center from Benet Academy has had a solid spring with IBA Select and continues to hear from a number of programs.
O'Mara previously listed offers from UIC, SIU-Edwardsville, Iowa State, Xavier, Loyola, LaSalle, Saint Louis, Boston College, Virginia, Illinois, DePaul, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Lehigh and Oakland but has recently added some new offers.
"I've picked up recent offers from Seton Hall and Columbia," O'Mara said.
Two other high-major programs have yet to offer scholarships but have also been coming on strong in O'Mara's recruitment of late.
"Wake Forest has been talking to me a lot and Marquette has talked to me a lot recently as well," O'Mara said.
A few programs have also stood out to Sean as programs that have been on him the hardest in his recent recruitment.
"There are about six or seven schools coming hard," O'Mara said. "Xavier, Loyola, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Marquette and Saint Louis (are on me the hardest.)"
While it was looking like O'Mara would take some early official visits in the recruiting process -- with previous talk of some official visits in June to Georgia Tech and Virginia-- O'Mara has extended the recruiting process a bit and opted for some later visits.
"I've decided to change the dates for the official visits to later in the recruiting process so I have more of an idea for things," O'Mara said. "I talked to Georgia Tech and Virginia and they'd rather have me visit at a later date because they don't like the feel of the visits as much in June without people on campus."
O'Mara still plans on using his official visits, but has a distinct purpose for them in mind.
"I plan on using my official visits for places that I can't drive to," O'Mara said. "If I have some (official visits) left over then I'll use them for places I'm interested in."
O'Mara is interested in pursuing an engineering program in college and mentioned some other factors in his future collegiate decision.
"Academics is the first thing and then the style of play is also important to me," O'Mara said. "It's more run-and-gun in AAU and in the high school season we play more halfcourt and I'm also used to playing with two posts, so any of those styles of play will work for me.
It's also important seeing how programs use their big guys and also the relationship I'll have with the coaches and the players so that the transition from high school to college is as smooth as possible."l
I've seen him outplay must faster teams and bigs including Alexander from Curie and Proviso East back when he was a soph. I don't agree he is too slow for a big. He is faster than Gardner with a ton of post skills. Well coached. I like the idea of having legitimate size and scoring options in the post.
Quote from: buzzchiapet on February 17, 2013, 01:00:17 AM
Good. Seen this kid play several times and even played against him. He is big, but WAY too slow. I have a hard time picturing him seeing the floor.
http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/16774055-419/boys-basketball-sean-omara-leads-benet-past-curie.html
Looks like a Notre Dame type of recruit.
Really like his passing. Good size, would be a nice component.
I heard Georgia Tech has an engineering program, hey?
On a quick first read it said we are pursuing him hard, but have not offered him a scholarship.
Quote from: BCHoopster on June 10, 2013, 02:12:20 PM
Looks like a Notre Dame type of recruit.
While we snicker those UND-type players have stung Marquette badly over the years.
Flowers, Lambeer, Harangody, Tripucka, Cooley, Tower, Garrity, et al...
They may be traditionals but their tradition includes beating Marquette.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on June 10, 2013, 02:14:59 PM
I heard Georgia Tech has an engineering program, hey?
Midwest kid going down south to a great engineering school, but a hoops program that has been under achieving as of late? Better chance he stays local, goes to a very good engineering school, and gets to the final four.
Shumpert bolted as well. But then again, I'm figurin' he just didn't want to play for Coach Tom Crean.
And UVA. If we really want him, and he is as smart as he seems to be, GTech and UVA are the likely biggest competitors (good bball; excellent academics, including engineering) to MU on his list.
If this guy is good, why haven't we offered yet? Are we saving the slot for a Guard commit?
Buzz cooled on him
Quote from: BCHoopster on June 10, 2013, 02:12:20 PM
Looks like a Notre Dame type of recruit.
Not even sure what to do with this dopey comment except to say:
Yeah, we never could have made room for Harangody on our squad.
Quote from: MU82 on June 10, 2013, 09:42:03 PM
Not even sure what to do with this dopey comment except to say:
Yeah, we never could have made room for Harangody on our squad.
interestingly enough...nd played pretty well with harangody out hurt, and to some extent a few guys i know that have knowledge of the game and nd felt the same way about cooley...although they didn't feel the offense ran through him as much as gody.
Quote from: keefe on June 10, 2013, 02:30:25 PM
While we snicker those UND-type players have stung Marquette badly over the years.
Flowers, Lambeer, Harangody, Tripucka, Cooley, Tower, Garrity, et al...
They may be traditionals but their tradition includes beating Marquette.
I agree, there is nothing wrong with those type of players, physical, strong and not overally athletic. It has worked for years at ND, I never said it was bad but O"Hara reminds of those
types of players. A banger, nothing wrong with that. MU could use a big body to defend.
Quote from: BCHoopster on June 11, 2013, 08:38:48 AM
I agree, there is nothing wrong with those type of players, physical, strong and not overally athletic. It has worked for years at ND, I never said it was bad but O"Hara reminds of those
types of players. A banger, nothing wrong with that. MU could use a big body to defend.
Exactly. Marquette's 3 best post players in the last 15 years all fit that description - Robert Jackson, Chris Otule, Davante Gardner. The only difference between them and the "ND-type" is their skin tone.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on June 11, 2013, 09:10:02 AM
Exactly. Marquette's 3 best post players in the last 15 years all fit that description - Robert Jackson, Chris Otule, Davante Gardner. The only difference between them and the "ND-type" is their skin tone.
Actually, after having watched that Kentucky elite 8 game again this weekend, Robert Jackson was really agile around the rim. Also had a really nice jump stop in the lane that Verne & Raf went gaga over. And Otule pre-knee injury was pretty athletic for his size (he was chasing down a loose ball at half court when he got injured after all). And Davante would never be described as "athletic," but when was the last time you saw an ND big (or any big for that matter) go coast to coast like in the UW game, or pull out a Euro step on a fast break like in the Butler rematch? However, I don't disagree that a guy like O'Mara would fit well in our program.
Quote from: keefe on June 10, 2013, 02:30:25 PM
While we snicker those UND-type players have stung Marquette badly over the years.
Flowers, Lambeer, Harangody, Tripucka, Cooley, Tower, Garrity, et al...
They may be traditionals but their tradition includes beating Marquette.
ND, like UW, overachieves in the regular season due to system then flames out in the tournament. In no way shape or form do I want to emulate either program.
Regardless, from what I've read and what little I know, I'd be all on board with a guy like O'mara suiting up at MU.
Quote from: BCHoopster on June 10, 2013, 02:12:20 PM
Looks like a Notre Dame type of recruit.
Could'nt really get a great view of him. Does he look like Jack Cooley or Shreck?
In the 80's all ND players had the page boy look. Is he going with that?
Quote from: mu-rara on June 11, 2013, 11:49:04 AM
In the 80's all ND players had the page boy look. Is he going with that?
David Rivers?
Is he still a spokesman for Clearasil?
Quote from: willie warrior on June 10, 2013, 03:19:10 PM
If this guy is good, why haven't we offered yet? Are we saving the slot for a Guard commit?
The only assumption that makes sense is that Buzz is cautiously optimistic about getting a big man that he likes better.
I like the way you think Murs----it will happen.....hopefully soon.
O'Mara committed to Xavier tonight.
Judging by his final list, it looks like his recruitment never really took off.