2007 Recruting: BE #1, MU 10th in BE

[mu_hilltopper]

It sure looks like things got tougher.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=679723

[augoman]

and we thought we had trouble w/ opponents' inside game last year.

[muball]

MU has not been consistent in recruiting, appears that TC is in a funk, had not balanced his recruiting between, guards, wings, and frontline.  Needs to get it together and balance his recruiting so he doesnt leave big holes like we currently have. Insufficient bigs to man the 4 and 5 and to many players that can play the perimeter positions. Several years ago he was balanced the other way. Not a formula for continual success in a major league.

[4everwarriors]

not been in a funk? Classes have never been balanced.

[The Lens]

I get a kick out of people who continue to defend Tom Crean based on his recruiting ability.

Bottomline, he works his tail off in game prep and PR after that he's a C student at best.

[Murffieus]

I don't know if this is coincidence or not----but TC's two best recruiting classes were his first (Merritt, Sanders, Wade, Blankson) and the class immediately preceeding MU's participation in the BE. So both classes were in front of huge NEW developments----a NEW coach & direction under TC -----and the beginning of a NEW era in MU competitive circles.

Other than those two classes, MU recruiting has been mediocure ----have to go back 17 years to Key, McIllvaine, Logterman to find a comparative quality class----but that too was KO's first class----so also under NEW direction.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I don't know if this is coincidence or not----but TC's two best recruiting classes were his first (Merritt, Sanders, Wade, Blankson) and the class immediately preceeding MU's participation in the BE. So both classes were in front of huge NEW developments----a NEW coach & direction under TC -----and the beginning of a NEW era in MU competitive circles.

Other than those two classes, MU recruiting has been mediocure ----have to go back 17 years to Key, McIllvaine, Logterman to find a comparative quality class----but that too was KO's first class----so also under NEW direction.

I'm inclined to agree that a couple of his classes haven't been great, but its important to also realize that the sample size is still pretty small. (also, I think the novak, chapman, etc. class was decent)

The Hayward, Cooby class could turn out pretty nice, and the incoming frosh. class looks pretty good too. I think a couple more years will give us a better idea on what type of recruiter and coach Crean really is. Let these incoming classes get through a couple of years.

[MarquetteVol]

He definitely is doing something right, whether it's game prep, instructional coaching, recruiting or whatever. You don't just luck into a program with 4 NCAA berths in 8 years.

[augoman]

true, it requires hard work..., but the more successful (majerus at utah, for example) programs work hard and smart.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

true, it requires hard work..., but the more successful (majerus at utah, for example) programs work hard and smart.

Therefore implying Crean is not on the smartside.

MU is Crean's first HC gig. He needed time to adjust and learn those "smarts" and he seems to have made progress in the past few seasons. By job #2 he could be a brainiac.

[augoman]

I'm afraid you're right, 'Coobey', much like it took Majerus a few stops to get it right.  I hope TC hangs tough at MU until he matures as a complete coach.

[muwarrior87]

Very valid point Coobey. I'd say if Crean continues to improve as he has from first getting here, I think he'll have a lot of success w/ MU and will find a style that works well for him...I think that's a big part of it...he still is deciding how to recuit and how to coach.  Rab I think will help out a lot w/ Crean too...our recruiting will get better.

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

I think the James/McNeal/Mathews/Burke class was ranked in the top 20 nationally.  This would make three good recruiting classes.

[MUCHI814]

The thing that worries me the most is that Marquette's program in the near future appears to be living and dying on the success of James/Matthews/McNeal class.  It makes me uneasy thinking that James might leave early, Matthews might never develop into his full potential and after that there are even more questions...just wish there was more to really look forward too.  I'm not saying that the future recruits are bad or anything, just that I would like to see Marquette's program rise to a new level and judging purely on recruits and recruits only, it seems it might be tough to take it to the next level.

[herboturbo]

The thing that worries me the most is that Marquette's program in the near future appears to be living and dying on the success of James/Matthews/McNeal class.  It makes me uneasy thinking that James might leave early, Matthews might never develop into his full potential and after that there are even more questions...just wish there was more to really look forward too.  I'm not saying that the future recruits are bad or anything, just that I would like to see Marquette's program rise to a new level and judging purely on recruits and recruits only, it seems it might be tough to take it to the next level.

Just to put your mind at ease, in the classes since james/mcneal/matthews/burke we had (just going by rankings):

2006 - one guy ranked in the top 75 by the services that do 5th year seniors (Heyward)
2007 - one top 100 PF (mbakwe) and a guard who was in the top 100 till he stopped playing AAU ball (cristopherson)
2008 - already one top 100 SG/SF (nick williams) and the rest of the class is yet to be filled out

This doesn't even take into account if anyone else from those classes becomes better than they should (according to ranking), which has already happened with Culliban.  The chances that MU will be a school that gets to choose from the 5*'s they want regularly is not very good (which appears to be what you mean by 'looking forward too').  Now if we lose out on all of the top guys we're going after in 2008, 2009, and 2010 - then you should start getting not exciting and start worrying

[ChicosBailBonds]

[Virginia Warrior 77]

Good One, Chicos!