Recruiting Strategy for 2011

[HoopsMalone]

Recruiting during a coaching change is not easy.  That being said, Buzz did one heck of a good job with the seniors (Jimmy, Fulce, and Buycks) and Juniors (DJO and Crowder).  Crean only really had Hazell in the class that should be seniors and it was hard to keep the people coming to MU when Crean left.  Buzz proceded to add an all-Big East caliber performer in Jimmy and a potential NBA player in DJO.  Nice pieces in Fulce and Buycks, and what looks like a great replacement for J-may in Crowder.

The freshman and sophmore classes are loaded with talent and big men projects.  Buzz had to take the best players he could and he did a great job getting talent to come play for an unproven coach.
 
I think he obviously needed to take the best talent he could find, regardless of position, the last two years since the roster was depleted and Crean did not have any depth in there.  But, now there is arguably more talent here than MU has had in a while.  Would Buzz consider only recruiting bigs since that is the pressing need still?

Here is what I would like to see in 2011-
Jimmy's replacement-  He basically is a 3 who plays the 4, so I'd like Tarik Black-esq athletic big who actually plays the 4-spot.  EWill and Crowder can play some 4, but I'd like a strong defensive presense.

Fulce's replacement-  He is a 3/4 who plays the center spot.  Give me a true center as his replacement.  There is nothing wrong with going for a Barro/Burke/Otule type of project for Fulce's replacement, since that is basically what Fulce turned out to be anyway. 

Buyck's replacement-  I'd like to see Branden Dawson....   But I think a wing type of player will be best.  DJO will probably get 30-35 minutes as a senior a the 2 and 3, and we are going to count on Blue, Smith, and Cadougan to play the 1 and probably Jones. EWill, and Crowder playing most of the time at the 3 or 4 of Buzz goes small.  Get me a SF/PF swing man rather than a guard.  The bench will have one of the PG's and Newbill already at least.  Wait until 2012 to replace DJO at guard I say.

Or, do you all think Buzz should just recruit the best players, even if they are all PG's and SG's?  (obviously this is all within reason.  You take a 5-star PG any time you can at MU)

[downtown85]

Sorry if the is repetitious from all the other threads on the topic, but we need at least one big (a 4 or a 5). 

[willie warrior]

We need some quality bigs. No more tweeners.

[PGsHeroes32]

getting dawson would be a dream come true

[T-Bone]

I think Buzz already sees those replacements for the next round of seniors in what he has coming in this year and guys on the team. 

Fulce - E. Williams (he will be better - and I like Fulce).
Buycks - DJO, Blue, Smith, Newbill.
Jimmy - Crowder, Jones. 

You can't recruit expecting freshmen to replace a seasoned veteran.  If he recruited that way we'd be in trouble.  I think you recruit the best player, as long as you have room for them (position-wise along with scholarships). 

I'd expect to see very athletic kids that are versatile.  I also think we'll see the big that we've been looking for.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Buzz will continue to recruit and bring in big guys,  but I think he will continue to play small ball.  Lazar and Jimmy were extremely effective at the 4 and 5 for us.......one of the most productive "post" duos in the country and they really didn't give up much on the defensive end.  They were a major reason for this past season's success......,and last year,  in crunch time,  it was the same.  Burke was on the bench and Jimmy was in.