MUScoop

MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: mu_hilltopper on April 26, 2009, 03:54:32 PM

Title: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: mu_hilltopper on April 26, 2009, 03:54:32 PM
7'2" center from California, class of 2009
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 26, 2009, 03:55:45 PM
Where's Chicos when you need him? Is this the end of the line from McMorrow?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Aughnanure on April 26, 2009, 03:59:43 PM
Hopefully McMorrow is okay and someone else transfers. Having two seven footers would be amazing, but this does make me suspicious.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Tom Crean's Tanning Bed on April 26, 2009, 04:00:02 PM
Something about this doesn't make sense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssoupha_Mbao

Played pro ball in Spain?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Tom Crean's Tanning Bed on April 26, 2009, 04:03:31 PM
http://marquette.scout.com/a.z?s=415&p=8&c=1&nid=4104363

Here's his Scout.com profile...
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Daniel on April 26, 2009, 04:04:29 PM
Wow - what else do we know about this guy?  Is he any good?  Or a total project?  I too hope McMorrow is still with us and that his health is good.  Not much word on him...
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 26, 2009, 04:08:28 PM
 Wonder if they told him it snows here?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: dwaderoy2004 on April 26, 2009, 04:09:33 PM
espn ranks him as the 30th best center in 2009, with an overall grade of 88.  however, most of the written comments aer fairly negative:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=75562&season=2009 (http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=75562&season=2009)
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: GOMU1104 on April 26, 2009, 04:10:17 PM
Committed without visiting. Wonder if they told him it snows here?


He committed during his visit.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: LastWarrior on April 26, 2009, 04:11:19 PM
Committed without visiting. Wonder if they told him it snows here?

According to the Scout article...

According to sources close to the situation, Marquette received a commitment from the 7-foot-2, 215-pound center during his official visit to the Milwaukee (Wisc.) campus.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: LastWarrior on April 26, 2009, 04:12:18 PM
You can't teach 7'2"!!!!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Thomas' Danish Delight on April 26, 2009, 04:13:33 PM
Next Hasheem Thabeet?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Nukem2 on April 26, 2009, 04:16:16 PM
From Dakar, Senegal as was Ooze.  Now we'll hear Youuze... :)
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: MUfan12 on April 26, 2009, 04:19:14 PM
I hope this doesn't mean Liam is done.

Intriguing project, not sure I'm crazy about it. I'll feel better if he can take the redshirt year that Ousmane desperately needed, but we couldn't afford to give.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Tom Crean's Tanning Bed on April 26, 2009, 04:19:59 PM
Giving the Google a good run here right now on him.

http://californiapreps.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=344&tid=122405598&mid=122405598&sid=968&style=2

This post says he had interest from USC, UConn, and Kentucky.

Also said similar in this blog entry:

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

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

Plus this tidbit from July 2008.

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

The French Hoops team is loaded with talent, most of the players coming from Africa. Youssoupha Mbao is a 7-foot-2 center who looked like the best of the bunch. He is ranked No. 10 among international players of his age by Draftexpress.com.

And finally, his Draftexpress profile with some evaluations:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Youssoupha-Mbao-1334/
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Robyrd5 on April 26, 2009, 04:20:58 PM
espn ranks him as the 30th best center in 2009, with an overall grade of 88.  however, most of the written comments aer fairly negative:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=75562&season=2009 (http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=75562&season=2009)

"...his tendency to pout when things do not go his way"

Hope this is the first thing Buzz works on.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bma725 on April 26, 2009, 04:31:35 PM
Looks like he played in a pro league in Spain and another in Slovenia before coming to the US.  Wonder if there will be any eligibility issues?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: MUfan12 on April 26, 2009, 04:34:29 PM
Looks like he played in a pro league in Spain and another in Slovenia before coming to the US.  Wonder if there will be any eligibility issues?

Could be a big red flag, but you'd have to think the coaching staff would have addressed that.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 77ncaachamps on April 26, 2009, 04:37:14 PM
From Dakar, Senegal as was Ooze.  Now we'll hear Youuze... :)

LOL!

However, at 7'2", are you sure they didn't mix his name up? Maybe it's Mboussoupha Yao. ;)

But bma's post does raise some concerns regarding his eligibility.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: downtown85 on April 26, 2009, 04:45:19 PM
Looks like he played in a pro league in Spain and another in Slovenia before coming to the US.  Wonder if there will be any eligibility issues?

If true, he wouldn't be eligible.  However, don't believe everything you read on the internet. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Hards Alumni on April 26, 2009, 04:49:37 PM
GAIN SOME WEIGHT.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: detroitwarrior on April 26, 2009, 04:54:03 PM
http://marquette.scout.com/a.z?s=415&p=8&c=1&nid=4104363

Here's his Scout.com profile...

According to the profile he is listed as a PG  ;D
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bma725 on April 26, 2009, 05:01:11 PM
If true, he wouldn't be eligible.  However, don't believe everything you read on the internet. 

He wouldn't necessarily be ineligible, he would just not be eligible right away.  Iowa State had it happen last year with Lucca Staiger, he was forced to sit out and lost a year of eligibility.  The NCAA can enforce the penalty even if the player does not receive any money himself as long as someone on his team received over the NCAA limit.

And it's not just internet rumor.  He definitely played for Gran Canaria in the Spanish ACB league, people did scouting reports of watching him play there.  Gran Canaria even had a story about him on their own team website.  The question is how the NCAA will view it.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: DJO's Pump Fake on April 26, 2009, 05:02:24 PM
Quote
GAIN SOME WEIGHT.

Someone take him to Qdoba
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: downtown85 on April 26, 2009, 05:11:08 PM
BMA, your confusing him with that other 7'2" Senegalese basketball player called Youssoupha Mbao who happened to play at Gran Canaria.   ;)

I think I remember some Polish player (recruited by Ohio State or some other Ohio team) that was ruled ineligible by the NCAA because he played a year of pro ball in Poland.  It will be interesting to see how the NCAA rules on this.

If the Lucca Staiger situation is the precedent, sitting out a year and beefing up won't be the end of the world.   
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Big Papi on April 26, 2009, 05:29:45 PM
I guess if true, I am not thrilled.  I am happy with the current makeup of the team.  I would hate to see someone else leave, due to medical, academics or otherwise.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: CAINMUTINY on April 26, 2009, 05:34:24 PM
I would have to assume MU did their own due diligence that told them his playing on a pro team wouldn't pose any eligibility problems.  My guess it would be similar to playing on a "juniors" hockey team in canada.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bamamarquettefan on April 26, 2009, 06:28:54 PM
I agree I hope this doesn't mean Liam is gone, but I am excited about Buzz's direction.  The fact that he is able to go out and recruit size is a good sign - but only in the country for two months and pouts, obviously concerns about if there is a risk of him being pushed to decommit by other teams if he really does look like he is good.

Let's not fall into the grass always being greener though.  We've been absolutely impossible to press during teh four years with the three Amigos - so I just hope we don't go from being completely unable to matchup inside to stop people, to not being able to get the ball up the court against a tough press.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: PuertoRicanNightmare on April 26, 2009, 06:53:42 PM
It sounds like this kid's high school makes Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, MA seem like Exeter Academy.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Tugg Speedman on April 26, 2009, 07:02:35 PM
If he has an eligibility issue and has to site out a year, then we are not over the limit on scholies.  Is this correct?

If so, maybe this was Buzz's plan.  Bring him in and let him and McMorrow bang each other for a year in practice.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bma725 on April 26, 2009, 07:06:23 PM
If he has an eligibility issue and has to site out a year, then we are not over the limit on scholies.  Is this correct?

If so, maybe this was Buzz's plan.  Bring him in and let him and McMorrow bang each other for a year in practice.

Not correct.  He would still count as a scholarship player unless he is some how paying his own way.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: nyg on April 26, 2009, 07:20:04 PM
How do you pronounce this guy's name, jeez....  If he turns sideways when someone is passing to him, he will disappear.  215 lbs., Is this Manute Bol II ?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Wareagle on April 26, 2009, 07:28:58 PM
How do you pronounce this guy's name, jeez....  If he turns sideways when someone is passing to him, he will disappear.  215 lbs., Is this Manute Bol II ?
Looking at it, I would guess You-sue-fa Im(as in impress)-bow(take a bow)
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: nyg on April 26, 2009, 07:29:45 PM
Say that three times fast.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Markusquette on April 26, 2009, 07:31:01 PM
Say that three times fast.

i said it 10 times quickly without a problem :D
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 26, 2009, 07:35:21 PM
Homer will come up with something for the dude.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 79Warrior on April 26, 2009, 07:43:12 PM
I hope this doesn't mean Liam is done.

Intriguing project, not sure I'm crazy about it. I'll feel better if he can take the redshirt year that Ousmane desperately needed, but we couldn't afford to give.

Well, somebody is done. It is either Liam or Chris. My guess is Liam is not going to be playing ball at MU.   
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: mufansince72 on April 26, 2009, 08:38:00 PM
According to the profile he is listed as a PG  ;D

PG = Post Graduate - As in prep school in the ratings
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: detroitwarrior on April 26, 2009, 08:50:51 PM
PG = Post Graduate - As in prep school in the ratings

Thanks for the clarification. It seemed to odd that a scouting service would make an error on his position.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Golden Avalanche on April 26, 2009, 09:18:26 PM
I don't think the goods will live up to the sales pitch.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Blackhat on April 26, 2009, 09:22:53 PM
I don't think the goods will live up to the sales pitch.

Now that we have that expert opinion....





(I know I know your gut is never wrong)
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: detroitwarrior on April 26, 2009, 09:32:43 PM
I don't think the goods will live up to the sales pitch.

Bold first post there.

Care to enlighten the board on the sales pitch you referenced? I haven't heard one yet.......
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 26, 2009, 09:42:41 PM
Anyone have the latest stats on this cat?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: VegasWarrior77 on April 26, 2009, 10:38:48 PM
Thanks for the clarification. It seemed to odd that a scouting service would make an error on his position.

I can't imagine a scouting service making an error either.  They are ALWAYS right on the money!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 26, 2009, 10:57:17 PM
So who is being shipped out?  As I stated in another thread, I wish this kid wasn't coming from Stoneridge Prep.  Ugh.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bilsu on April 26, 2009, 11:19:39 PM
You can't teach 7'2"!!!!

That is why most of them never get off the bench in college. There are not a lot of 7" centers in college basketball and most of them cannot play.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bilsu on April 26, 2009, 11:31:01 PM
I Have to believe he will redshirt this year anyways. Uconn had that 6"10" center this year that was not approved until the second semester. He redhshirted and now has his name in the draft.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: MarquetteDano on April 27, 2009, 06:25:23 AM
Okay, I know I am going to get worked over for this post, but I am really starting to get concerned over the signings.  Too many JUCOs and now a guy who could have played for a pro team, comes from a prep school that seems to be tripping some warning flags.

What is going on?  I know Buzz had to stagger the class this year, so Sophs and Juniors were brought in (ie. JUCOs).  But, this is really starting to concern me.  I'll have to keep my confidence in the administration that someone is keeping Buzz in check on this stuff.  I withhold judgment until we see these kids "clear" and what not, but I am concerned.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: downtown85 on April 27, 2009, 07:00:11 AM
Dano, I am less concerned.  I seperate the Mbao case from the JUCOs case.  You are always going to have "issues" when you have foreign players on the team.  Remember Ooze couldn't even play for his high school team due to eligibility issues. There is a guy at UCONN now who can't play until second semester this year for some reason (I think his name is Majok or something).  I am willing to put up with this if we can get the best talent available. 

I think we have a nice core of freshmen with Mayman, Cadougan, and Williams.  Buzz has done a good job so far shoring up the weaknesses of this team now that an extremely talented Senior Class has left (who played something like 70% of the minutes last year). JUCOs were a necessary edition to the solid freshman class.   

If he can get all this new talent to play as a team, then we will all be pleasantly surprised by next year's team. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NavinRJohnson on April 27, 2009, 07:55:31 AM

What is going on? ... I'll have to keep my confidence in the administration that someone is keeping Buzz in check on this stuff.  I withhold judgment until we see these kids "clear" and what not, but I am concerned.

I think we are seeing largely why Buzz was hired, and I assure you, none of this is coming as a surprise to anyone who was responsible for that decision. He clearly is willing to take some chances that his predecessor was not, and there is no reason not to believe that is a large reason he was hired. It was rumored at the time and is bearing fruit now.

All of that being said, until there is a problem, there is no problem. The apparent lack of risk with most of the juco signings has been pretty well documented, so there is no reason to get into that, and as far as this signing goes, he is a player from Africa that has bounced around a bit. Is that in any way rare? No. There are an awful lot of guys named Ndjai or Koshwal, or dare I say Thabeet, Olajuwon, or Mutombo who took long, strange, and unspectacular journeys to D1 scholarships, and have worked out very well.

Just because the last guy, wouldn't or couldn't do the same thing, doesn't mean his way was the right way. Until these guys start screwing up, not graduating, etc., the only thing we can really conclude is that Buzz appears to be getting bigger and better players, and putting together a roster more closely matching those teams that we are expected to compete with.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Thomas' Danish Delight on April 27, 2009, 08:11:18 AM
I think we are seeing largely why Buzz was hired, and I assure you, none of this is coming as a surprise to anyone who was responsible for that decision. He clearly is willing to take some chances that his predecessor was not, and there is no reason not to believe that is a large reason he was hired. It was rumored at the time and is bearing fruit now.

All of that being said, until there is a problem, there is no problem. The apparent lack of risk with most of the juco signings has been pretty well documented, so there is no reason to get into that, and as far as this signing goes, he is a player from Africa that has bounced around a bit. Is that in any way rare? No. There are an awful lot of guys named Ndjai or Koshwal, or dare I say Thabeet, Olajuwon, or Mutombo who took long, strange, and unspectacular journeys to D1 scholarships, and have worked out very well.

Just because the last guy, wouldn't or couldn't do the same thing, doesn't mean his way was the right way. Until these guys start screwing up, not graduating, etc., the only thing we can really conclude is that Buzz appears to be getting bigger and better players, and putting together a roster more closely matching those teams that we are expected to compete with.

Well said.  Coach Buzz is willing to give guys a chance, just like Marquette did with him, and that's what Marquette should be about:  realizing that there's more than meets the eye.  Word, Marquette is transforming.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: billyd1988 on April 27, 2009, 08:29:30 AM
I agree.  Buzz and his coaching staff bring a different mentality to the program, and I really like the fact that he is taking chances on true big men.  Definitely addressing much needed size to compete in the Big East.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Golden Avalanche on April 27, 2009, 08:46:10 AM
I think we are seeing largely why Buzz was hired, and I assure you, none of this is coming as a surprise to anyone who was responsible for that decision. He clearly is willing to take some chances that his predecessor was not, and there is no reason not to believe that is a large reason he was hired. It was rumored at the time and is bearing fruit now.

Crean took plenty of chances in Wade, Berkowitz, Mortensen, Kinsella, Barro, Blackledge. From that list, one was awesome; one was solid; two were inconsequential; and two were disasters of epic proportion. Going down the risk road didn't start last April.

Buzz has credit in the casino and he's using it on the roulette table.

Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 27, 2009, 08:56:01 AM
Crean's chances were taken out of desparation. I don't sense that at all with Buzz.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ATWizJr on April 27, 2009, 09:11:31 AM
I think we are seeing largely why Buzz was hired, and I assure you, none of this is coming as a surprise to anyone who was responsible for that decision. He clearly is willing to take some chances that his predecessor was not, and there is no reason not to believe that is a large reason he was hired. It was rumored at the time and is bearing fruit now.

All of that being said, until there is a problem, there is no problem. The apparent lack of risk with most of the juco signings has been pretty well documented, so there is no reason to get into that, and as far as this signing goes, he is a player from Africa that has bounced around a bit. Is that in any way rare? No. There are an awful lot of guys named Ndjai or Koshwal, or dare I say Thabeet, Olajuwon, or Mutombo who took long, strange, and unspectacular journeys to D1 scholarships, and have worked out very well.

Just because the last guy, wouldn't or couldn't do the same thing, doesn't mean his way was the right way. Until these guys start screwing up, not graduating, etc., the only thing we can really conclude is that Buzz appears to be getting bigger and better players, and putting together a roster more closely matching those teams that we are expected to compete with.

what is the basis for your assurance?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NavinRJohnson on April 27, 2009, 09:15:07 AM
what is the basis for your assurance?

The grapevine growing on the rumor mil, but I happen to trust where it came from and I am 100% confident its true.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ATWizJr on April 27, 2009, 09:18:51 AM
got it.  it's true because you said it is.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NavinRJohnson on April 27, 2009, 09:26:30 AM
got it.  it's true because you said it is.

Well, lets see, the alternative is that Fr. Wilde and the board had no idea that Buzz was going to go out and recruits several Juco's, ytake a couple chances, etc. when they hired him, and he just went out and did it, so for them this is coming completely out of left field. I guess that does make more sense. Wake up man!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NotAnAlum on April 27, 2009, 09:33:29 AM
I think one thing that is showing up here is that the “Buzz” administration has a lot of energy and enthusiasm but not a lot of experience.  They’re taking a larger than usual number of chances; more than a seasoned coach at MU might be expected to take.  As they say the thing about experience is that you always get it after you need it.  If I read Buzz correctly I think his goals are in the right place.  He wants to run a clean program with high character players that will represent MU well.  He is not a “win at any cost” guy like Huggins or Calipari.  Some of these risks are not going to work out.  Who knows which will work out?  (Remember last year when many fans it felt it wasn’t wise to quickly accept a Juco named Butler who appeared to only be in the mix because he was a teammate of Fulce)  As long as he is willing to admit where he made a mistake and go out and get another guy I don’t think it will be a long term black mark on MU or Buzz.  Then as he and his assistances develop their own pipeline there will be less scrambling and risk taking.  I think this is one of those things we’re just going to have to live with and hope for the best if we are going to stay competitive in the BE while these guys earn their experience.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: HoopsMalone on April 27, 2009, 09:39:37 AM
I hope Buzz isn't just panicking after a season without bigs and overcompensating with his recruiting of all these bigs.  This gives us Liam, Otule, Roseboro, and now Mbao.  Next year throw in Clark and that is 5 centers pretty much.  Then there is Fulce who is a 4 man, meaning that half of our roster will be 4-5 players. 

It will be important to have big men, but we should not forget how important guards are in this game. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: StillAWarrior on April 27, 2009, 09:40:43 AM
I'll reserve judgment until I see how these kids play and how they represent Marquette.

It's clear that Buzz is playing a very high stakes, high risk/reward game.  If this works out, he is a genius.  But, there is also serious potential for crash and burn.  He's certainly shown that he's not one to play things safe.  If you do things the way things have always been done and fail, people won't blame you nearly as much as if you try something new and fail.  I like that Buzz seems willing to take chances.  I really, really hope his judgment is good and this pans out.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: MR.HAYWARD on April 27, 2009, 09:43:18 AM
I think we are seeing largely why Buzz was hired, and I assure you, none of this is coming as a surprise to anyone who was responsible for that decision. He clearly is willing to take some chances that his predecessor was not, and there is no reason not to believe that is a large reason he was hired. It was rumored at the time and is bearing fruit now.

All of that being said, until there is a problem, there is no problem. The apparent lack of risk with most of the juco signings has been pretty well documented, so there is no reason to get into that, and as far as this signing goes, he is a player from Africa that has bounced around a bit. Is that in any way rare? No. There are an awful lot of guys named Ndjai or Koshwal, or dare I say Thabeet, Olajuwon, or Mutombo who took long, strange, and unspectacular journeys to D1 scholarships, and have worked out very well.

Just because the last guy, wouldn't or couldn't do the same thing, doesn't mean his way was the right way. Until these guys start screwing up, not graduating, etc., the only thing we can really conclude is that Buzz appears to be getting bigger and better players, and putting together a roster more closely matching those teams that we are expected to compete with.

very well said even the Ousmane BArro jounrhey was filled with trial and tribulatin before landing at MU.  Buzz can recruit and that is how you win in college basketball.  i am simply enjoying the refreshing feeling of not singninng our perennial class of 4 6'6" and under players
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Fullodds on April 27, 2009, 09:56:07 AM
If we're going to take a chance on a kid, I like the fact that the kid is 7'2" tall. Better than taking a flyer on Niv, Mortenson, Christian, etc.

Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ATWizJr on April 27, 2009, 09:59:55 AM
Well, lets see, the alternative is that Fr. Wilde and the board had no idea that Buzz was going to go out and recruits several Juco's, ytake a couple chances, etc. when they hired him, and he just went out and did it, so for them this is coming completely out of left field. I guess that does make more sense. Wake up man!

Got it.  it's true because you feel strongly that it is. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bilsu on April 27, 2009, 10:34:05 AM
There are two questions to resolve yet.
1) Is Buzz now done recruiting? It had been rumored he was going to sign one or two more players.
2) Where are the scholarship(s) coming from? My guess is if he is still recruiting Liam is gone along with someone else. If it is not Culliban or Aker then you are getting into Buzz recruits. To have O'Tule transfer out will hurt Buzz's standing in Texas, so that is not going to happen. Besides that, if a player was looking to transfer to another school, I think that would have been announced by now. So we are looking at a player who is giving up basketball, which points us to Liam's health question or Culliban going back to Venezuela. There is another possibility and that would be Fulce and his split knee problem. Fulce could stay at MU on a scholarship and no longer be on the basketball team due to medical reasons.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 27, 2009, 10:47:34 AM
Difficult to speculate, but medical issues seem to be the most logical explanation.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Hards Alumni on April 27, 2009, 10:55:15 AM
He has to be done now.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NavinRJohnson on April 27, 2009, 11:05:11 AM
Got it.  it's true because you feel strongly that it is. 

Fine. Don't believe it. I care!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Lennys Tap on April 27, 2009, 12:12:09 PM
Crean took plenty of chances in Wade, Berkowitz, Mortensen, Kinsella, Barro, Blackledge. From that list, one was awesome; one was solid; two were inconsequential; and two were disasters of epic proportion. Going down the risk road didn't start last April.

Buzz has credit in the casino and he's using it on the roulette table.


You can add Brandon Bell, Carlton Christian and James "Manchild" Matthews to that. The list of Division 1 basketball players who score 1200+ on the SATs and spend their summers building homes for Habitat for Humanity is a short one. Many come from tough neighborhoods, bad schools and broken homes. It's up to the coach to find kids who will take advantage of an opportunity and it's up to the university to provide the support necessary to enable the student/athlete's success. Marquette has fared much better than most in this area for as long as I can remember. I fully expect this to continue under Buzz. In fact, I'm sure Fr. Wild made it clear to Buzz that anything less would be unacceptable.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Big East Warriors on April 27, 2009, 12:44:14 PM
All those looking forward to next year raise your hand?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: StillAWarrior on April 27, 2009, 01:02:38 PM
This is awful sloppy and seems to be a pretty bad translation, but it's info:  http://www.nbadraft.net/players/youssoupha-mbao

Sorry if it was posted before...I hadn't seen it.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ATWizJr on April 27, 2009, 01:07:18 PM
Fine. Don't believe it. I care!

Got it. The grapevine and the rumor mill.  Very solid sourcing for one who was bashing posters during the BE tournament for their opinions. 

Thanks.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: yungmufan20 on April 27, 2009, 01:07:25 PM
GAIN SOME WEIGHT.

have him live with me for a couple of weeks he will be probably 275...hahaha
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Stretchdeltsig on April 27, 2009, 01:43:25 PM
What a huge surprise for Buzz to land a 7'2" center on top of the super six recruits!!!  This has to be the greatest recruiting class of all time!  The 2009-10 team will really be entertaining!!!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: strobl2 on April 27, 2009, 04:00:18 PM
Now I know that over the years we have lacked that dominant big man, and I have complained about it too. But I am kind of uneasy about having so many big men on the roster like someone before said. If you look at the last few championship teams they had excellent guard play, and in my mind guards  win you games not big men. I guess I'm not against having big men but I don't want to give up having great guards on our roster like seasons past. Now that Buzz has his big men and his big men projects I think we really need to focus on our guards.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Phi Iota Gamma 84 on April 27, 2009, 04:07:41 PM
Darius, junior, aaron, dwight are all guardswith three coming in next year to replace the three leaving.

Don't get ahead on your worrying
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: NavinRJohnson on April 27, 2009, 04:11:41 PM
I guess I'm not against having big men but I don't want to give up having great guards on our roster like seasons past.

Well, one could argue we gave up on having big men in order to have great guards. You have to have both. I know actually getting big guys may take some getting used to around here, but doing so would seem to indicate that the roster is actually balanced, not the other way around. We have had plenty of good guards, but that has not translated into a whole lot in terms of real success (likely impacted by the DJ injury). The last handful of teams playing this year, generally didn't just have good guards, they had good teams.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 4everwarriors on April 27, 2009, 04:17:20 PM
It's a big man's game. Good problems to have.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Wareagle on April 27, 2009, 04:26:43 PM
We have had plenty of good guards, but that has not translated into a whole lot in terms of real success (likely impacted by the DJ injury). The last handful of teams playing this year, generally didn't just have good guards, they had good teams.
Truer words have never been spoken on this board. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 27, 2009, 04:35:20 PM
Truer words have never been spoken on this board. 

Of course there were teams like Memphis that had good bigs that got bounced early because they didn't have good guards. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Wareagle on April 27, 2009, 04:44:55 PM
Of course there were teams like Memphis that had good bigs that got bounced early because they didn't have good guards. 
Does top 10 pick Tyreke Evans count?  Mizzou was a very good team, and Memphis had an off night.  That's all it takes to lose when you get that deep in the tournament. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: radome on April 27, 2009, 05:35:30 PM
I don't remember the year but I was in Hawaii watching an NIT game (04 or 05?) and we were up by a couple and could not inbound the darn ball.  One of the most frustrating losses that I can remember.  I also remember thinking that we need some guards and that I hope that we are never that thin again on guards.  I don't think we are there but I can understand some concerns.  We do have a guard in each of the next 2 classes though.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: bilsu on April 27, 2009, 06:00:12 PM
I not seen them play, but supposedly Maymon and Williams can play the two.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Lennys Tap on April 27, 2009, 06:17:53 PM
Of course there were teams like Memphis that had good bigs that got bounced early because they didn't have good guards. 

Wasn't the far and away best player on Memphis (Tyreke Evans) a guard?
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: strobl2 on April 27, 2009, 06:52:29 PM
I know what you are saying that you can still be good with a great big man, but I think its better to have the best player on your team and the most dominant aspect of your team to be guards. Then you have a few bigs that can finish in the lane and rebound. If you really think about it, did the 3 amigos really need a dominant big man. Not really, they just needed average bigs who could rebound and finish down low when given easy oppurtunities. Which they didn't have this year.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 27, 2009, 07:14:48 PM
All those looking forward to next year raise your hand?


(http://www.visitingdc.com/images/statue-of-liberty-picture.jpg)
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 27, 2009, 07:19:07 PM
Does top 10 pick Tyreke Evans count?  Mizzou was a very good team, and Memphis had an off night.  That's all it takes to lose when you get that deep in the tournament. 

Takes more than one good guard....I think they had many off nights....they barely beat Cal State Northridge, they lost to G'Town in the regular season, lost to Xavier, lost to Syracuse.  Hard to pick a very good team they beat all year long except for Gonzaga, that's about it.  Unless we count UAB, Tennessee and Maryland as very good wins.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 27, 2009, 07:20:31 PM
Wasn't the far and away best player on Memphis (Tyreke Evans) a guard?

Yes....but I said guardS.  It can't be about just one guard. 
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Wareagle on April 27, 2009, 09:16:25 PM
Takes more than one good guard....I think they had many off nights....they barely beat Cal State Northridge, they lost to G'Town in the regular season, lost to Xavier, lost to Syracuse.  Hard to pick a very good team they beat all year long except for Gonzaga, that's about it.  Unless we count UAB, Tennessee and Maryland as very good wins.
Antonio Anderson (8-13 from the field against Mizzou) played guard as did Robert Sallie (3-5 on 3's).  The fact of the matter is that Mizzou shot over 50% against Memphis.  Teams for the year were shooting 40% from 2 and 30% from 3 against the Tigers.  The chances Mizzou does that in a 10 game series is probably 20%. 

I just wouldn't draw too many conclusions from one game in the tournament, especially when Memphis DID have more than one good guard.  Sometimes the better team loses and there's no lesson to be drawn from it.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Pakuni on April 27, 2009, 09:52:57 PM
  Sometimes the better team loses and there's no lesson to be drawn from it.

That's one of the wisest comments I've ever read here.
Seriously.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on April 27, 2009, 10:22:52 PM
Antonio Anderson (8-13 from the field against Mizzou) played guard as did Robert Sallie (3-5 on 3's).  The fact of the matter is that Mizzou shot over 50% against Memphis.  Teams for the year were shooting 40% from 2 and 30% from 3 against the Tigers.  The chances Mizzou does that in a 10 game series is probably 20%. 

I just wouldn't draw too many conclusions from one game in the tournament, especially when Memphis DID have more than one good guard.  Sometimes the better team loses and there's no lesson to be drawn from it.

I'm drawing my conclusions based on them beating only one good team all year....Gonzaga.  But I do agree with you, sometimes the better team loses.  In this case, Missouri was the better team.
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: 77fan88warrior on April 27, 2009, 10:54:49 PM
Someone take him to Qdoba

I can testify to the fact that 40 year old guys gain weight quickly at Qdoba!
Title: Re: Youssoupha Mbao .. newest Warrior.
Post by: Pakuni on April 27, 2009, 11:26:21 PM
Crean took plenty of chances in Wade, Berkowitz, Mortensen, Kinsella, Barro, Blackledge. From that list, one was awesome; one was solid; two were inconsequential; and two were disasters of epic proportion. Going down the risk road didn't start last April.

Buzz has credit in the casino and he's using it on the roulette table.

You can add James Matthews and perhaps even Jamil Lott to that list. Matthews barely qualified and ended up not lasting a semester at MU and unlike, say, Jimmy Butler, Joe Fulce and JBO, Lott had to spend two years at a JUCO to qualify.