Thoughts on Buzz's Recruiting Strategy for '09

[jce]

People are not thinking clearly if they expect Marquette to "win big" in the near future. It will not happen. The coaching change set us back five to ten years with recruits and progression as a program. If we still are operating under the idea we are a border elite program than we are living in a fairy world. Right now we are a consitant middle of the road team.

Your statement also poses the question as to why we are ok to losing to Madison with regards to getting instate talent. In recent years Crean was able to land Diener, Novak, and Matthews but for the most part Marquette consistantly loses to Madison as previously stated. Why are we ok with that?

my idea is a suggestion only for the '09 recruiting class. We need to "regroup" at home. In no way am I suggesting that we stop recruiting the Big East Country or Chicago all together in the long run. My opinion is with an unproven, promoted assistant coach for the head guy at a program, few out of state kids will want to play for him. Plain and simple. Work with kids who already have incentive to go to Marquette because it is closer to home and we have easy access to.

Did you read my statement? Madison has one scholarship left. This leaves the state more or less wide open for Marquette to land a few instate recruits and hopefully set a new precident within the state.

And no where did i state that landing lacy, wilson, maymon would get us to the final four. Honestly I don't see us back their for at least seven to ten years down the road IF we can regroup under Buzz.

Hold on...I was under the impression that they have none left for 2009.

Anyway I am not sure where you are from, but I think Buzz might actually have a more difficult time in state than out at this point.  I just think there is a pro UW bias that has to be overcome with in state recruits, especially considering the resounding success that Bo Ryan has had at UWP, UWM and UW.  The only players that Crean got over Ryan head-to-head was Wes Mathews and Scott Christopherson.  (Diener for sure, and possibly Novak too, would have been Dick Bennett.)  Since then, it has been a steady stream of the top in-state talent to Madison - Landry, Steimsma, Butch, etc.

It looks as though they are focusing on the top guys for 2009, and while that's fine, they better have other irons in the fire otherwise the class will be dismal.

[RawdogDX]

First Marquette did not have the recruiting year any of the other Big East teams had. While we regrouped with a new coach other people got alot stronger with talent. If you check early predictions for top 25 next year most people have UConn in the top 5 so I dont see your reasoning with that. In regards to Norte Dame that is alot more possible but once again they have a good recruiting class and have Hansbrough's little brother transfering next year.

So are all these teams ranked?  They must all be since they are so much better than us.
Who cares how good of a recruiting year you have when you are returning 3 stud seniors a stud junior and a stud sophmore.  Do you think none of those teams have holes?  DId i miss some annoncement that pagent and hibert got a 5th year of eligibility?
Aren't Donte Greene and Joe Alexander both more likely first rounders and thus have a chance to stay in the draft?
And transfers have to sit out a year so ND won't get a slow do nothing guard for us you to worry about till next year.  And i don't know if you noticed but we were a dropped pass away from going 3 and 0 against them.

[bleedbluegold03]

So are all these teams ranked?  They must all be since they are so much better than us.

Suprisingly yes they all are. I have seen polls that have the Big East with as many as eight teams ranked in the top 25 next year. Do I hope that Marquette exceeds expectations next year? Of course, but I remain cautiously optimistic

[Wareagle]

Hold on...I was under the impression that they have none left for 2009.

That's correct.  Someone on UW would either have to leave or be "convinced" to go off scholarship for a spot to free up.

[BrewCity83]

That's correct.  Someone on UW would either have to leave or be "convinced" to go off scholarship for a spot to free up.

Wait!  Would Ratface recruit over someone?

[jce]

That's correct.  Someone on UW would either have to leave or be "convinced" to go off scholarship for a spot to free up.

My guess is that they are going to try to convince J.P. Gavinski that his future would be brighter elsewhere, especially with Evan Anderson coming onboard in a couple of years.

[bma725]

My guess is that they are going to try to convince J.P. Gavinski that his future would be brighter elsewhere, especially with Evan Anderson coming onboard in a couple of years.

They won't need to convince him to go elsewhere, the kid loves Madison so much that he'd probably give up the scholarship if he thought it would help them out.  Remember, this is a kid who said the best moment of his life was committing to the Badgers, and he's spent his life wanting to play for them.

[bleedbluegold03]

all of this stregnthens my point substantially in the fact that if madison has no more scholarships for the '09 recruiting class, than the State of Wisconsin is ours for the taking in '09.

[ChicosBailBonds]

all of this stregnthens my point substantially in the fact that if madison has no more scholarships for the '09 recruiting class, than the State of Wisconsin is ours for the taking in '09.

My vote is Gavinski pays his own way.  Another HUGE advantage that the public in state student has in this case.  Paying in-state fees for one year isn't that much....MU could never get away with it.

[avid1010]

If MU wants to be competitive with native WI players they better start playing Dick Bennett/Bo Ryan style ball.  I personally don't think there's enough talent in this state to even come close to competing in the Big East on a consistent basis.  Buzz's strength is supposed to be his recruiting...

How many D1 players come out of WI on an annual basis

[jce]

My vote is Gavinski pays his own way.  Another HUGE advantage that the public in state student has in this case.  Paying in-state fees for one year isn't that much....MU could never get away with it.

But they just can't yank his scholarship.  He'd have to be convinced to either drop it or to transfer.

[jce]

all of this stregnthens my point substantially in the fact that if madison has no more scholarships for the '09 recruiting class, than the State of Wisconsin is ours for the taking in '09.

Well...Wilson is a national recruit who could go anywhere.  Lacy has academic issues that may prevent him from coming to MU in the first place.  Maymon may the best option out there.

[ChicosBailBonds]

But they just can't yank his scholarship.  He'd have to be convinced to either drop it or to transfer.

That is correct

[ChicosBailBonds]

If MU wants to be competitive with native WI players they better start playing Dick Bennett/Bo Ryan style ball.  I personally don't think there's enough talent in this state to even come close to competing in the Big East on a consistent basis.  Buzz's strength is supposed to be his recruiting...

How many D1 players come out of WI on an annual basis

How many DI or how many high DI?   DI has improved quite a bit in the last 20 years.  Kids going to mid-majors, etc.

Mark Miller has the number I'm sure.  I'll bet it's about 7 to 10 per year that go DI, and probably 2 - 3 per year that go high DI.  Just a guess

[nyg]

The talent in Wisconsin is not there on a consistent basis, but 2009 has Wilson, Lacy and Maymon, all of whom will be Division I players with significant impact on the teams they sign with.  Each will be highly ranked.  2010 has Anderson (gone to UW) and Flavian Davis.  Its a cyclical scenario and Buzz must take care of the opportunity now. The 2009 recruiting class will determine the program's fate and Buzz has some outstanding talent in his own backyard.  He was hired for this purpose and lets see how it turns out. 

[Wareagle]

How many DI or how many high DI?   DI has improved quite a bit in the last 20 years.  Kids going to mid-majors, etc.

Mark Miller has the number I'm sure.  I'll bet it's about 7 to 10 per year that go DI, and probably 2 - 3 per year that go high DI.

I'll try to summarize the high D1's or "close to high" as I see them.
'08
Korey to MSU
Kwamain Mitchell to SLU (eh, feel free to not count this one if you want)
DeMarcus Phillips to JUCO - pretty sure he had the talent to go somewhere

'09
Jamil Wilson - ???
Jeronne Maymon - ?????
Johnnie Lacy - ?????????
Luke Russell - was getting interest from Minnesota

'10
Evan Anderson - UW
Flavien Davis - ??? - MU and Baylor have offered, picking up interest from IU (hurts to write that), UK, UCLA and others
Vander Blue - UW
Anyone else in '10 would be pure speculation by me

So it seems like around 3 per year is about right, with '09 and '10 being the jail break years as far as quality of the players.

[jce]

I'll try to summarize the high D1's or "close to high" as I see them, '09 may have
'08
Korey to MSU
Kwamain Mitchell to SLU (eh, feel free to not count this one if you want)
DeMarcus Phillips to JUCO - pretty sure he had the talent to go somewhere

'09
Jamil Wilson - ???
Jeronne Maymon - ?????
Johnnie Lacy - ?????????
Luke Russell - was getting interest from Minnesota

'10
Evan Anderson - UW
Flavien Davis - ??? - MU and Baylor have offered, picking up interest from IU (hurts to write that), UK, UCLA and others
Vander Blue - UW
Anyone else in '10 would be pure speculation by me

So it seems like around 3 per year is about right, with '09 and '10 being the jail break years as far as quality of the players.

The next in 2010 is probably Kammeron Cerroni from Sussex Hamilton, a 6'2" guard, coaches son, who can really score.  He has been offered at UWGB and UWM.  That's probably where he should be at this point.

[bma725]

Another top player in 2010 is Kyle Kelm from Randolph, kind of a Novak like big guy.  Iowa State is the only high major to offer so far, UWM and UWGB have offered as well, and Wisconsin has high interest in him.  Supposedly he really likes Wisconsin, even though they don't have a schollie to give.

[Wareagle]

Oops, I forgot to put Marquis Mason from Madison East on the list for '10.  He's rated by Mark Miller as the #4 prospect in the '10 Wisconsin class, and per Cracked Sidewalks, Crean offered him when he was still coach.  Not sure where things stand with that.

[Coach Norman Dale]

But they just can't yank his scholarship.  He'd have to be convinced to either drop it or to transfer.

I thought scholarships are subject to annual renewal.  If that is so, why can't they yank it [besides the phenomenal bad PR that would come with such a move]?

[jce]

I thought scholarships are subject to annual renewal.  If that is so, why can't they yank it [besides the phenomenal bad PR that would come with such a move]?

You are correct.  They *can* yank it by notifying them by July 1.  I meant from a PR perspective.