I know why everyone is so upset with this team.

[Marquette84]

The reason I asked is because I'm not sure comparing recruits' rankings across multiple years is relevant. 

Is the 20th ranked player in the 2010 class as good as the 20th ranked player in the 2009 class because they are ranked the same?  Is that same 2010 player better than the 30th or 40th ranked player in some other class based on his ranking in his class?  Some years yes, some years probably no. 

I don't know...it seems there are such wide disparities between classes, depth at the various positions, etc that it makes it a tricky comparison.  Not to mention the various biases that exist within the rankings themselves. 

As a result, I'm not sure what his point is, but I am sure he'll very thoroughly explain it to me.   

I'm not talking about merely rankings.

I'm talking about guys who follow MU basketball very closely--guys like Rosiak and McIlvaine--who made statements to the effect that Blue was the best recruit we've landed since Rivers and Trotter.

I'm talking about the fact that Blue was mentioned along with guys like Joe Wolf and Caron Butler as one of the best players every to come out of the state of Wisconsin.

I'm talking about the general euphoria on this board over his commitment, and the comments about how Buzz's recruiting had succeeded where prior coaches failed.

I can only surmise based on your continued line of questioning that you were not following the recruitment and commitment of Blue very closely. 

[ErickJD08]

People get juiced about the recruiting stars.  Why?  Because that's all they have.  It's like a good trailer.  Recruiting "experts" are not 100% right either or they would be coaches or GM's themselves.  I always look at the offer list as it really tells you who really thinks these players are good. 

The problem with "stars" and recruiting is that people think this is like NCAA March Madness on XBox.  We have a 5 star recruit who will comes with with 80 shooting, 90 speed, 95 handles and should be awesome.  And it's not that easy.

Everyone needs to lay off of Blue though.  I see alot of potiental with him.  If you are disappointed because you thought a 5 star should be better than take it out with the analysts that gave him 5 stars, not the player.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm not talking about merely rankings.

I'm talking about guys who follow MU basketball very closely--guys like Rosiak and McIlvaine--who made statements to the effect that Blue was the best recruit we've landed since Rivers and Trotter.

I'm talking about the fact that Blue was mentioned along with guys like Joe Wolf and Caron Butler as one of the best players every to come out of the state of Wisconsin.

I'm talking about the general euphoria on this board over his commitment, and the comments about how Buzz's recruiting had succeeded where prior coaches failed.

I can only surmise based on your continued line of questioning that you were not following the recruitment and commitment of Blue very closely. 

I followed Vander's recruiting fairly closely. His consensus ranking fell significantly from his junior to senior year, and his final ranking was close to DJ's and Diener's (with an arrow pointing down) and nowhere near Doc River's (top 10, maybe top 5). He was not the Wisconsin POY and he failed to lead his heavily favored team to the state title. His play in the summer league disappointed all of the posters here and at Dodds whom I saw comment. Sure there was euphoria on message boards - he was still top 50 (barely) and an in state recruit and some may have "mentioned" him with Butler, Wolf, etc - but he had a lot of work to do when he arrived at MU. Still does.

[Marquette84]

I followed Vander's recruiting fairly closely. His consensus ranking fell significantly from his junior to senior year, and his final ranking was close to DJ's and Diener's (with an arrow pointing down) and nowhere near Doc River's (top 10, maybe top 5). He was not the Wisconsin POY and he failed to lead his heavily favored team to the state title. His play in the summer league disappointed all of the posters here and at Dodds whom I saw comment. Sure there was euphoria on message boards - he was still top 50 (barely) and an in state recruit and some may have "mentioned" him with Butler, Wolf, etc - but he had a lot of work to do when he arrived at MU. Still does.

Gee you must think the guy who actually won the POY in 2011 must have been some outstanding basketball player.  Too bad Buzz didn't land him, as well, right?
http://www.ny2lasports.com/article_one.aspx?articleid=505

[slingkong]

I agree that you are someone who sets reasonable expectations. Two years ago you set them at 9-9 in conference and we finished 12-6. Had DJ not been hurt 14-4 would have been likely. Last year you again set expectations fairly (especially without Junior or Maymon) at 12th in the BEast and again we blew them away, finished 5th and got a 6 seed in the tournament. After Buzz demolished fair expectations two years in a row is it any secret why many MU fans would expect the projections of 8-10th place to be surpassed again? People get spoiled and develop a feeling of entitlement. As simple as it is unfair.

Why are the only realistic expectations those that have MU playing only .500 ball? Why is it unrealistic for people to expect growth?