Mills asks out of LOI!

[syscokid]

I'm thinking we should consider him. Unlike Mbao, he seems to understand the game a bit more.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/26/1131137/statement-from-ben-mills-parents.html

[Brewtown Andy]

You're basing this on Mills playing against a bunch of 16-18 year olds and Mbao playing 20 total minutes again 18-23 year olds?

[hairy worthen]

I'm thinking we should consider him. Unlike Mbao, he seems to understand the game a bit more.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/26/1131137/statement-from-ben-mills-parents.html

I thought Buzz was trying to bring in good players.

[MikeyT42]

I don't think he'd see the floor in any big east, big ten, or any major conference  THIS season. From everything I've read and heard he seems like a great kid.

UWGB might be his calling

[GGGG]

Bingo.  A bunch of midwestern schools, like Loyola, are considering him now.  And no offense, but "he's better than Yous" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

[furrious9]

Mills is not even close to being on a Big East caliber level, nor will he ever be

[willie warrior]

Never have seen the guy play, and while you are probably right, do we have anybody else as a big that is ready for the BEast?

I am hoping Otule will be, but if he continues to get hurt, we will br hurting. I do not think Yous is an answer. We need a quality big!!!!!!!

[Shack]

Either way that's pretty bush league on Boise State's part by not letting him out of his commitment.  Buzz could have done the same with Taylor but instead chose to be decent about it.  

[Mike Deane]

I think we should consider him as well.

Otule and Mbao can't get healthy.  Even if they are healthy, only Otule can be a 5. Mbao just does not have it, yet.  It may take Mbao another two years before he gets "it."

Having Mills, even though he is not bulky, is better than having nothing in Otule or Mbao.

I watched Mills played.  It seems to me that he knows the game well.  Our trainer can bulk him up.

[Pakuni]

Either way that's pretty bush league on Boise State's part by not letting him out of his commitment.  Buzz could have done the same with Taylor but instead chose to be decent about it.  

Seems to me that Boise State is doing exactly what Marquette did when Crean left ... refusing to release recruits from their LOI until a new coach is hired and given a chance to speak with those recruits.

Anyhow, I don't get all the Yous bashing around here. We all knew when he arrived at Marquette he was extremely raw and would take possibly two full seasons to develop into an effective player. Heck, if not for the Otule and McMorrow situations, he may very well have been a redshirt this year. Now that he's been exactly as advertised, people are eager to dump and/or give up on him? For a mid-major kid?
Hmmm.

[4everwarriors]

First of all, I don't remember anyone avocating we dump Yous. The reality is however, recruiting mistakes are made all the time. The trend, by coaches everywhere, is to correct their mistakes instead of letting them fester. Since Buzz, admittedly, is continuing to recruit for 2010, something's has to give. One or two additional recruits may come in. Therefore, either someone on the current roster is transferring, getting Creaned, or a commit won't qualify. I'm certain Buzz has a gameplan in place. Posters have speculated that Mbao may be on the move. Entirely possible.
As for mid-major bigs, well, some of those dudes in the Tourney would have looked damned nice in a Warrior uniform over the past 4+ years. To quote a wise man, "when you ain't got nothin', you ain't got nothin' to lose."

[MerrittsMustache]

According to ESPN, Mills chose Boise State over Weber State, Indiana State, Loyola, and Utah State. With all due respect to Mills and those programs, if he was good enough to be a Big East center then he would have attracted a lot more attention from high major program.

The whole anti-Yous sentiment is fascinating. People love the unknown. When a guy has yet to prove he can't play, everyone assumes he's better than the guy who has played unimpressively. It's the same part of the brain that makes fans love back-up QBs: as long as he doesn't prove he's bad, they assume he's better than the starter. In an ideal world, Yous would be doing an "apprenticeship" behind MU's current star big men.

[MikeyT42]

I think we should consider him as well.

Otule and Mbao can't get healthy.  Even if they are healthy, only Otule can be a 5. Mbao just does not have it, yet.  It may take Mbao another two years before he gets "it."

Having Mills, even though he is not bulky, is better than having nothing in Otule or Mbao.

I watched Mills played.  It seems to me that he knows the game well.  Our trainer can bulk him up.

Wow, so now we're in the business of trading projects for projects? Get a grip on reality. Mbao is light years ahead of Mills athletically. You may not believe me. Mills never had to go up against anyone near his size.

Sorry, he's not big east caliber.

[ChicosBailBonds]

First of all, I don't remember anyone avocating we dump Yous. The reality is however, recruiting mistakes are made all the time. The trend, by coaches everywhere, is to correct their mistakes instead of letting them fester. Since Buzz, admittedly, is continuing to recruit for 2010, something's has to give. One or two additional recruits may come in. Therefore, either someone on the current roster is transferring, getting Creaned, or a commit won't qualify. I'm certain Buzz has a gameplan in place. Posters have speculated that Mbao may be on the move. Entirely possible.
As for mid-major bigs, well, some of those dudes in the Tourney would have looked damned nice in a Warrior uniform over the past 4+ years. To quote a wise man, "when you ain't got nothin', you ain't got nothin' to lose."

I agree.....but the term will have to be changed to "getting Buzzed" if it continues.   I'm not saying it's wrong, it's part of college basketball today.  Kids are told they aren't going to play here any longer so best to find somewhere else to play.

[Nukem2]

I agree.....but the term will have to be changed to "getting Buzzed" if it continues.   I'm not saying it's wrong, it's part of college basketball today.  Kids are told they aren't going to play here any longer so best to find somewhere else to play.

JP Gavinski never got the message after he was Bo'd.  Those walk-ons love to travel....

[Sharpie]

If he can stay healthy, my money for most improved player goes to otule. I have a good feeling he turns the corner this year. I think mbao makes strides as well. Small ones at that but strides. A lot ofyou forget that it is possible for players to get a lot better over the course of the offseason and even during the season. Look at jb last yr during and this yr considering how much he improve in the offseason. Acker and cubillan also got a lot better throughout the offseason. Otule actually looked somewhat decent at times while out there albeit being against crummy competition but my point is that most people are writing off the entire front court without giving them a chance.

[wyzgy]

depends on how hard he wants to work.  put 30-35 lbs. on him.  you probably won't have to worry about his daddy getting in the way.  comes from a good school so admission isn't a problem.  while utule and mbao are tearing it up, mills has a couple of years to get ready-no pressure and just get him adequate.  our strengths have been with or guards and small forwards-not asking him to be our blake edwards or anything-we need an aircraft carrier as al would say

[Mike Deane]

Wow, so now we're in the business of trading projects for projects? Get a grip on reality. Mbao is light years ahead of Mills athletically. You may not believe me. Mills never had to go up against anyone near his size.

Sorry, he's not big east caliber.

Yes, I agree project for project in this case.  However, I am not saying we should dump Mbao as I think he has potentials.  I don't know how long it will take for his potentials to develop.
In Mills, we will have a project that knows the game and plays the game a little better RIGHT NOW.

[MikeyT42]

In Mills, we will have a project that knows the game and plays the game a little better RIGHT NOW.

And the way he plays the game is no where near a major conference level. not worth a scholly. Just my opinion!

I'll take Fulce, Crowder and Otule playing up front next season.

[pillardean]

Yes, I agree project for project in this case.  However, I am not saying we should dump Mbao as I think he has potentials.  I don't know how long it will take for his potentials to develop.
In Mills, we will have a project that knows the game and plays the game a little better RIGHT NOW.

That's a bold statement "Right Now" 
How could you qualify that without them competing head to head? 

Have you seen Mbao before games working on moves.  Rigid, yes, but much smoother, quicker, stronger than anything Mills was working on.  Mills shoulders are thinner than his waist (exaggeration) and makes Mbao look like a strongest man competitor (again, exaggeration). 

Good player in high school, yes.  But if we go looking for answers for bigs from him I'd say no and ask if Buzz was boozing.  The fact is Otule is better now than Mills will ever be and Mbao is damn close as well.  Stop falling in love with the local kid, it's the facts and ya gotta see that.

EWill would EAT MILLS ALIVE!

[Brewtown Andy]

If he can stay healthy, my money for most improved player goes to otule. I have a good feeling he turns the corner this year. I think mbao makes strides as well. Small ones at that but strides.

I don't think Yous is capable of taking small strides.

[Pakuni]

In Mills, we will have a project that knows the game and plays the game a little better RIGHT NOW.

You're basing this on what? How Mills fared against high school kids mostly 6+ inches shorter than he?
Please keep in mind that Mbao put up similar-to-better numbers than Mills while playing against much tougher competition at Stoneridge Prep.

Also, for your consideration ....
Mbao was being recruited by Marquette, Kentucky, USC and Virginia Tech.
Mills was being recruited by Boise State, Loyola, Ball State, Weber State and Indiana State.

[Pakuni]

First of all, I don't remember anyone avocating we dump Yous. The reality is however, recruiting mistakes are made all the time. The trend, by coaches everywhere, is to correct their mistakes instead of letting them fester. Since Buzz, admittedly, is continuing to recruit for 2010, something's has to give. One or two additional recruits may come in. Therefore, either someone on the current roster is transferring, getting Creaned, or a commit won't qualify. I'm certain Buzz has a gameplan in place. Posters have speculated that Mbao may be on the move. Entirely possible.
As for mid-major bigs, well, some of those dudes in the Tourney would have looked damned nice in a Warrior uniform over the past 4+ years. To quote a wise man, "when you ain't got nothin', you ain't got nothin' to lose."

So, based on 60 minutes of playing time as a raw freshman who was not expected to contribute at all this year, you're decalring Yous a mistake?
Yikes.
What did you have to say after McCaskill's first 60 minutes? Or Aaron Gray's? Or some of these mid-major bigs you're touting?

As for mid-major bigs, yep ... a few of them would look good in an MU uniform. The vast majority wouldn't make a lick of a difference.
But that sounds like a good plan ... recruit mid-major talent and hope you get the one out of 50 that develop into big-time players.

[Mayor McCheese]

Ben Mills is better than Evan Anderson.

Seeing both of them play, Ben Mills is much more talented than Anderson, and has a much bigger upside, he would be a steal for UW-GB