So what exactly do we know as of now? and what is a for-sure?
I think these are the most reoccuring themes:
Williams asking out of his LOI
Taylor asking out of his LOI
James to NBA
McNeal to NBA?
Loss of Jamil Wilson recruitment pick?
Loss of Erik Williams recruitment pick?
Mbakwe transferring to Minnesota (?)
Also, Crean's contract was NO BUY OUT, so we should be getting a decent chunk of change back
It all sounds pretty bad right now. Looking on the brighter side, at least we know that we will make the Big East Tournament next year!
Whoever the new coach is, he must come in and stabilize the situation as quickly as possible. MU can't afford to lose most of its 2008 recruiting class, McNeal & James to the NBA and Trevor transferring.
Right now things don't look very good. I'm very concerned about what this team will look like in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The BEAST is unforgiving league and it will eat MU alive if we lose this much talent.
Calm dowm.
Here's how I see it:
If we can name a good replacement within a week or so and keep Buzz Williams as an assistant, the recruits will all probably still come here. Not sure about Nick Williams...we may lose him. Jerel will return. James will probably return. Trevor will return--he doesn't want to sit out another year to transfer.
I can see that with Mbakwe now that you mention it, I didn't think of that. In terms of Buzz Williams as a head coach, 'the office' says that he will not be taking the job, which makes you wonder if he's following Crean to Indiana... However, I think that James will leave. I see hime leaving before anyone who is currently on the team. We'll see what happens at the press conference at 3PM