Mr. Hazel...Your table is ready

[Wade for President]

With the almost comical list of injuries, transfers, and shortsighted recruiting plaguing our low post, it is time for Mr. Hazel to step up.  With the availability of minutes designated for our bigs ever increasing, there is no better opportunity for Mr. Hazel to step up.

His offensive struggles are of no concern to this team.  It is this moment where we need him to focus all of his efforts on the defensive end of the ball and hitting the glass.

With next year's recruiting class designed to shore up our inefficiencies down low, there's no better time than the present, for Patrick to make a name for himself.

Patrick has plenty of games and time to develop, however I truly believe the next month and a half will go a long way in determining what his contributions will be and what we can expect from him throughout his Marquette career.

[Jay Bee]

Absolutely... even before the Fulce and Otule injuries, Hazel has had the opportunity to move this team into elite status this season.  If he can run the floor decently, get rebounds and play solid post d, it would be a huge boost to the team.  I recall during his short courting by Crean-Pie, Hazel was described as a guy who was into doing the dirty work... now we need it, badly.

He also has been described as having a high ceiling.. Hazel needs to realize some of the potential this year and, if he does, could be a reason why this becomes a team that can get to the Final Four, instead of what I think they are now - a team that can reach the Sweet Sixteen.

That being said, I fully expect that he'll suffer a high ankle sprain or something worse within the first 10 minutes of tonight's game. 

[79Warrior]

Absolutely... even before the Fulce and Otule injuries, Hazel has had the opportunity to move this team into elite status this season.  If he can run the floor decently, get rebounds and play solid post d, it would be a huge boost to the team.  I recall during his short courting by Crean-Pie, Hazel was described as a guy who was into doing the dirty work... now we need it, badly.

He also has been described as having a high ceiling.. Hazel needs to realize some of the potential this year and, if he does, could be a reason why this becomes a team that can get to the Final Four, instead of what I think they are now - a team that can reach the Sweet Sixteen.

That being said, I fully expect that he'll suffer a high ankle sprain or something worse within the first 10 minutes of tonight's game. 

Elite Status? Even without the injuries, elite status is quite a stretch.

[MU B2002]

That being said, I fully expect that he'll suffer a high ankle sprain or something worse within the first 10 minutes of tonight's game. 

Gotta love the glass half full outlook.

[Jay Bee]

Elite Status? Even without the injuries, elite status is quite a stretch.

  "Elite status" in this context doesn't have a global definition, so we may be talking about two different things here.  Or, maybe you truly do not believe this year's team, with a Patrick Hazel stepping up big time, can become a team that people will consider a possible final four team when March rolls around.

[bma725]

 "Elite status" in this context doesn't have a global definition, so we may be talking about two different things here.  Or, maybe you truly do not believe this year's team, with a Patrick Hazel stepping up big time, can become a team that people will consider a possible final four team when March rolls around.

Even if Pat Hazel can become the second coming of Jason Maxiell and Eric Hicks rolled into one, that still won't be enough to overcome this team's short comings and turn them into a possible final four team.

[OneMadWarrior]

Honestly, Hazel may be serviceable, but its not like we are talking about the second coming of Scott Merritt here. At best he may be a poor man's Marcus "Scary" Jackson.

[ErickJD08]

Only one way MU can reach elite status... Michael Snaer.  We get that guy and we will have 6 players in the ESPN 100 (I watched ESPNU last night and we have 5 so far.  I guess Roseboro got in the top 100 somehow.) and probably close to the number one recruiting class in the country.  That is how MU will reach elite status.  Without Snaer, MU will have a bright future but a shaky mistake filled 2009 season.  

[OneMadWarrior]

In terms of elitie status the team is on a better track becasue its mor balanced with basically a starting 5 comign in on one Class
PG Junior Cadougan
SG Dwight Buyucks
SF Erik WIlliams
PF Jeronne Maymon
C Brett Roseboro

Balance is what separates great teams from e lite teams, and thsoe elite teams generally nee top 10 recruits at every position to get there.

[bma725]

Only one way MU can reach elite status... Michael Snaer.  We get that guy and we will have 6 players in the ESPN 100 (I watched ESPNU last night and we have 5 so far.  I guess Roseboro got in the top 100 somehow.) and probably close to the number one recruiting class in the country.  That is how MU will reach elite status.  Without Snaer, MU will have a bright future but a shaky mistake filled 2009 season.  

MU has three players in the top 100, not five.  ESPN barely ranks Roseboro in the top 300, and Buycks isn't eligible as he is a JUCO.

[ErickJD08]

MU has three players in the top 100, not five.  ESPN barely ranks Roseboro in the top 300, and Buycks isn't eligible as he is a JUCO.

I know.... I am just saying.  I was watching ESPNU Recruiting Show last night and Marquette was ranked 10th with 5 of 5 in the ESPN 100.  I know you are right but that's what they were putting up.

[OneMadWarrior]

Buyucks is considered a Juco All American and probably in the top 10 of JUCO's ESPN also has Rosebor at a 86 and rising fast due to his size and post up ability and the fact that he may be a legitimate 6'10 maybe he has Top 100 potential. the remaining 3 are top 100's that probably calrifies it for all involved.

[bma725]

I know.... I am just saying.  I was watching ESPNU Recruiting Show last night and Marquette was ranked 10th with 5 of 5 in the ESPN 100.  I know you are right but that's what they were putting up.

The ranking is 10th, but ESPNU must have had the stats wrong on TV.  Because their own web version of the ranking states, "10. Marquette, five commits, three ESPNU 100 commits (Junior Cadougan, Jeronne Maymon and Erik Williams)"

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?page=2009ncbclassranks