[PaintTouches]In Buzz he trusts: Chris Otule

[PaintTouchesSays]

In Buzz he trusts: Chris Otule
      

Written by: Mark Strotman
            

The story of Chris Otule's recruitment involves a bowl of Buffalo wings, a pair of "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar goggles," one of the best-kept secrets in recruiting history and a promise an assistant made to a kid who, after meeting him for ... Continue reading →


            

http://painttouches.com/2013/02/26/in-buzz-he-trusts-chris-otule/
      

[wardle2wade]

Great article!  Well done

[TallTitan34]

Say Chris decides in the offseason he doesn't want to return.  Does he miss having a senior night?

[Litehouse]

Say Chris decides in the offseason he doesn't want to return.  Does he miss having a senior night?

I was wondering that too.

[augoman]

What an awesome young man.  Every year at the barbeque he acts as the 'official' greeter, plays with kids, wears goofy hats, poses for pictures w anyone, shakes hands with "thank you for coming".  I hope he stays.  

[wojosdojo]

Great read. Thanks.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I think he's a nice person, but, just not a very good basketball player.  We need the scholarship available for next year.  I wish the Chris the best as he moves on.

[GGGG]

I think he's a nice person, but, just not a very good basketball player.

You gotta be kidding me.  He's hardly an all-American, but he certainly is a good basketball player.  Takes up a ton of space, plays good interior defense, really knows how to screen to set passing lanes, etc.  I would LOVE to have him back next year.

[thebigjake]

You gotta be kidding me.  He's hardly an all-American, but he certainly is a good basketball player.  Takes up a ton of space, plays good interior defense, really knows how to screen to set passing lanes, etc.  I would LOVE to have him back next year.

Agreed. I'd be willing to trade going into 2014 with 2 freshmen centers for having Chris on the roster next year for a potential deep run.

[warriorchick]

Say Chris decides in the offseason he doesn't want to return.  Does he miss having a senior night?

When we were at Senior Night for Men's Soccer this past fall, one of the team members they honored was someone who had graduated the previous year.  I don't know what the circumstances were, but there is precedence.

[We R Final Four]

You gotta be kidding me.  He's hardly an all-American, but he certainly is a good basketball player.  Takes up a ton of space, plays good interior defense, really knows how to screen to set passing lanes, etc.  I would LOVE to have him back next year.

+1.  I too would like to see CO back. If he can finish out the season healthy, There is still room for improvement like he has shown this year.

[MU82]

You gotta be kidding me.  He's hardly an all-American, but he certainly is a good basketball player.  Takes up a ton of space, plays good interior defense, really knows how to screen to set passing lanes, etc.  I would LOVE to have him back next year.

Well said, Sultan. Folks who disagree with this apparently believe that if Otule leaves, Moses Malone is going to join the program. The Otule-Gardner combo is one of our main strengths, one thing we have that most other teams would love to have. Chris should do what he wants to do, of course, but I know what I want him to do!

[connie]

I would love to see more of CO sealing off defenders so Gardner can roll to the basket.

[ATL MU Warrior]

You gotta be kidding me.  He's hardly an all-American, but he certainly is a good basketball player.  Takes up a ton of space, plays good interior defense, really knows how to screen to set passing lanes, etc.  I would LOVE to have him back next year.

Absolutely

[Milkshakes]

I would love to see more of CO sealing off defenders so Gardner can roll to the basket.

Absolutely! No one is talking about the fact that Gardner's big performance was do in large part to Otule's sealing off defenders and creating amazing space for Gardner to work his magic.  It makes the combination really exciting if they can actually play more together.  Given Taylor's play it seems that Otule/Gardner can share the floor more and more without too much concern.

[chapman]

We need the scholarship available for next year. 

100% guarantee there will be a roster spot available from someone transferring or not enrolling.  No inside information, just playing the percentages.  If he wants to be here, I want him here.   

[Brewtown Andy]

Anyone else spend 5 minutes beating their head against a wall over no one knowing about CO's eye until he showed up on campus?

[wadesworld]

Anyone else spend 5 minutes beating their head against a wall over no one knowing about CO's eye until he showed up on campus?

No.

[chapman]

I'd have loved to be in Buzz's office for that call to his high school coach.

[StillWarriors]

Kudos to Strotman for getting the story behind the simple story we've heard during almost every broadcast that one of his eyes did not develop properly. Great stuff. That really is pretty amazing the way it played out.

[TallTitan34]

I want Otule back.

[MUCam]

I think he's a nice person, but, just not a very good basketball player.  We need the scholarship available for next year.  I wish the Chris the best as he moves on.

And this opinion is based on what? Statistics? Anyone who knows a lick about bball knows that without Chris, Gardner doesn't go off like he did last night.

Chris does a ton of small things very well. He may not show up statistically, but he is a very important part of this team; we would be lucky to have him next year.