Vander Blue

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

All I would say to this is that according to most Badgers fans if a player has second thought, Bo usually "Cools" on the player.  After all Bo is above chasing players to committ to UW.  So if Vander is having second thoughts I would imagine Bo would yank his offer.

[Brewtown Andy]

I really hope one of our assistant coaches isnt dumb enough to speak on a 2010 recruit that has a verbal commitment with another university.


I understand that it is not tamperng unless the kid has signed his LOI...but recruiting strategies such a that one should stay with those on the coaching staff. He should not be discussing that out in public.

He said "implied," which could mean Layer said something like, "If there are guys that Maymon is friends with that he thinks can help us, we're interested in them."

[dennycrane]

If you want to be successful you're going to have to get your hands dirty from time to time; especially if you're not UNC, DUKE, KU,UK

If that is the standard Buzz chooses to live by all MU verbals would also be back on the market to be recruited. You can't play it both ways.

[Joe Thompson]

If that is the standard Buzz chooses to live by all MU verbals would also be back on the market to be recruited. You can't play it both ways.

Considering Bowen lives deep in SEC country, my guess is the verbal pledge will be challenged close to home for us over the next 15 months.

[bma725]

If that is the standard Buzz chooses to live by all MU verbals would also be back on the market to be recruited. You can't play it both ways.

What standard Buzz chooses to live by has no effect on whether other coaches still recruit MU verbal commits.  Within days of Bowen committing to MU, his coach talked about how Auburn was still recruiting him and was going to continue recruiting him even though he'd verballed elsewhere.  There's really no way to stop it.

[Pakuni]

If that is the standard Buzz chooses to live by all MU verbals would also be back on the market to be recruited. You can't play it both ways.

Whether Buzz or you or anyone else likes it, all MU verbals already are on the market to be recruited.
I'm not advocating that MU, or any other school, continue to recruit kids that have given a firm verbal. I think it's wrong. But you're kidding yourself if you don't think it happens with a great deal of frequency, or that Buzz potentially recruiting blue at this point would change anything.
We should be glad, at least, we're not talking college football where kids give, and change, verbal commitments seemingly at whim.

[NYWarrior]

What standard Buzz chooses to live by has no effect on whether other coaches still recruit MU verbal commits.  Within days of Bowen committing to MU, his coach talked about how Auburn was still recruiting him and was going to continue recruiting him even though he'd verballed elsewhere.  There's really no way to stop it.

+1

It happens every single day...standard operating procedure in major college basketball

[ecompt]

I don't understand how a kid would want to average 14 points a game in the most overrated offensive plan in history against mediocre opposition in crappy arenas when he could average 20 in an uptempo style in the best conference in the world in NBA arenas. But that's just me. Oh, wait a minute: I forgot that Bo's team always play better as the year goes on because he's such an excellent coach.

[GOMU1104]

I don't understand how a kid would want to average 14 points a game in the most overrated offensive plan in history against mediocre opposition in crappy arenas when he could average 20 in an uptempo style in the best conference in the world in NBA arenas. But that's just me. Oh, wait a minute: I forgot that Bo's team always play better as the year goes on because he's such an excellent coach.

Devin Harris is doing OK for himself.


How many times does it have to be said...the kid has so much talent, he will be special no matter where he goes.


Just because we all hate Wisconsin, hate the swing, hate Bo Ryan, hate the Big 10, etc...doesnt mean the kid cant be successful.

It would be great to have someone of his talent at MU, but to write his career off because he is going to UW...that is just plain dumb.

[Pakuni]

Devin Harris is doing OK for himself.


How many times does it have to be said...the kid has so much talent, he will be special no matter where he goes.


Just because we all hate Wisconsin, hate the swing, hate Bo Ryan, hate the Big 10, etc...doesnt mean the kid cant be successful.

It would be great to have someone of his talent at MU, but to write his career off because he is going to UW...that is just plain dumb.

Almost as dumb as saying that a kid who has yet to play a game of college ball will be "special" no matter where he goes.

I don't think anybody is writing off his career. But why is it unfair or inappropriate to ask why a kid would want to play in that type of offensive system?

[ecompt]

No one is writing off anything, and I agree Devin Harris has become a special NBA player (ask Brian Butch about his career, though). But does Blue want to spend four years standing around in 55-54 games or does he want to run the court against UConn, Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville, etc.? If he chooses UW, God bless him. We'll survive.

[GOMU1104]

So what you guys are saying, is that no talented players, who wish to have a future, should go to schools like Georgetown, Washington State, Wisconsin, UCLA, Arizona State because they play at a slower pace?

Who knows what 17-18 year olds are thinking, but if he's got talent and is comfortable with the situation, and sees a future for himself at that school...the system will work itself out and the kid should be successful.

Anyone who has seen him play knows he will thrive in whatever system he plays in.

[VegasWarrior77]

I thought of Aaron Bowen when this was posted too.  Until a kid signs on the dotted line and sends/faxes his LOI he's fair game.  If he's gets recruited after he's signed that would be slimy recruting.

[ecompt]

1104: That's why I said God bless him and that we would survive if he decides he wants to play for Dracula.

[Nukem2]

All this talk is speculation.  Enough is enough.  Move on to a new subject.

[bma725]

All this talk is speculation.  Enough is enough.  Move on to a new subject.

So you're the forum police now?

[GOMU1104]

So you're the forum police now?

"What are you...the shoe police?"


"I am"

[wadesworld]

People were saying the same thing about Trevon Hughes after his Wisconsin high school basketball career.  They were saying he'll be in the NBA, he's finally an athletic guard for UW, etc.  Pretty sure he won't be in the NBA any time soon.  If Olando Tucker goes to a different school that fits his game more, he's in a much better situation right now.  Brian Butch might have been the 1st McDonald's All-American ever to redshirt his freshman year.  He was 1 of the best 26(?) high school players in the USA.  He was never even close to a top 100 college player at Wisconsin.

Devin Harris is doing great for himself.  Others who were expected to be after Wisconsin are not.  Who knows what will happen with him?

[GGGG]

People were saying the same thing about Trevon Hughes after his Wisconsin high school basketball career.  They were saying he'll be in the NBA, he's finally an athletic guard for UW, etc.  Pretty sure he won't be in the NBA any time soon.  If Olando Tucker goes to a different school that fits his game more, he's in a much better situation right now.  Brian Butch might have been the 1st McDonald's All-American ever to redshirt his freshman year.  He was 1 of the best 26(?) high school players in the USA.  He was never even close to a top 100 college player at Wisconsin.

Do you really think that players not living up to expectations are unique to Wisconsin?  Brian Butch wouldn't be in the NBA no matter where he played college ball - and his redshirt helped him because he was nowhere near strong enough to play college ball right out of high school.  Trevon Hughes wouldn't be an All-American either.  Being at Wisconsin isn't what prevented Alando Tucker from developing an NBA jump shot.  These guys just weren't/aren't talented enough.

[avid1010]

I believe there's a reason Bo doesn't get any athletes at UW-Madison.  Who wants to play in that offense when you can play in Buzz's offense??  Who wants to play in the Big 10 when they can play in the BEAST.  Some will choose Bo, and for some it's a good choice, but I don't think Buzz's ideal player is the same as Bo's.  I've always thought Bo's offense makes average players good and great players good.  As a result he has a good team...never a great one. 

[GGGG]

But MU really hasnt' had a great team either.  I mean, yes they got to the Final Four once, but hasn't been to the Sweet 16 before or since.  Bo has at least gotten the Badgers to the Sweet 16 three times. 

I guess we all like to rip on the Badgers, but Bo is a good coach and Wisconsin is a solid basketball program.  Vander Blue would be just fine there.

[Pakuni]

Do you really think that players not living up to expectations are unique to Wisconsin?  Brian Butch wouldn't be in the NBA no matter where he played college ball - and his redshirt helped him because he was nowhere near strong enough to play college ball right out of high school. 

He may never have been an NBA player, but I don't see how you can give Bo and his staff a pass on Brian Butch's lack of development over five years. They took a skilled big man with decent athleticism and turned him into - or, at very best, allowed him to become - a soft, perimeter-oriented player. He never developed any moves in the post, never learned proper footwork, never learned to play with his back to the basket. His senior year was worst in memory when it came to Big 10 big men, and Butch averaged fewer points and rebounds than Lazar did this season against the Big East.
That may be fine in Bo's offense, but it essentially killed the kid's NBA hopes. It may very well be that he had no real shot at the NBA. Kind of surprising for a 6-foot-11 McDonald's AA, but possible. But the way he was used and developed at UW made it a sure thing.
Brian Butch's example is why people ask why a kid with NBA aspirations would want to play for Bo. His system is not conducive to developing NBA talent. And the fact you can point to one player in eight seasons as having made it doesn't change that.

[GGGG]

Butch was overrated coming out of HS.  He was a weak, perimeter oriented player going into college.  He was redshirted because he had to be.  He was never that quick or that strong.  Bo frankly used him as he should have.

[bma725]

He may never have been an NBA player, but I don't see how you can give Bo and his staff a pass on Brian Butch's lack of development over five years. They took a skilled big man with decent athleticism and turned him into - or, at very best, allowed him to become - a soft, perimeter-oriented player. He never developed any moves in the post, never learned proper footwork, never learned to play with his back to the basket. His senior year was worst in memory when it came to Big 10 big men, and Butch averaged fewer points and rebounds than Lazar did this season against the Big East.

I don't think that's necessarily the case.  I don't know if you saw Butch play at Appleton, but what made him stand out was that he had perimeter game.  A couple different scouting services named him the best perimeter shooting big man in the class of 2003, and there were thoughts the he would be best served staying light weight and becoming a Novak type player.  People continually raved about his sweet stroke, his ability to run the court like a small forward, and how he was the perfect European type big man who could handle the ball and stroke it from three.  Playing in the swing would not have been a problem at all if he hadn't bulked up and slowed down.  If he'd stayed thin and kept working on the stroke he had in high school, he would have had a much better chance of making the NBA than by bulking up and becoming a true center.

[bilsu]

Do you really think that players not living up to expectations are unique to Wisconsin?  Brian Butch wouldn't be in the NBA no matter where he played college ball - and his redshirt helped him because he was nowhere near strong enough to play college ball right out of high school.  Trevon Hughes wouldn't be an All-American either.  Being at Wisconsin isn't what prevented Alando Tucker from developing an NBA jump shot.  These guys just weren't/aren't talented enough.

I disagree with that. He goes to Arizona he would of played in NBA. Olson was good at developing players for NBA. I do not think going to MU would have helped him as Crean did not have a good record with bigmen.