USA Today - Korie Lucious To Visit MU About Transferring In The Next Few Weeks

[T-Bone]

TeeBoner:
Every Warrior fan throughout the world better hope Singleton is not Buzz' answer at the point. Let get real here and its no knock against the kid. Big time programs stay big time only with better talent than him.

I don't think (and hope not) Buzz has his eggs in that basket.  But more toward the point I was making, I think Singleton could be a contributor with the additional experience he would have over Lucious.  I would rather we got some one for the full 4 (or 2 or 3), so they have time to develop and learn the system. 
Lucious could be interesting as he'll have a year of practice with the team before he's eligible.  But from what I've read his character could be a question mark (who knows where his head's at) and his stats haven't been that impressive against a similar level of competition.  Would he be an upgrade at that (or the) point?  I have my doubts.  Cadougan has done nothing but get better as the season has progressed.  And D. Wilson may be the perfect person to spell him.  With the outside possibility of Singleton as an alternate.  I don't think Singleton is the common walk-on that we have known.

TeeBoner??  I was wondering why I get aroused every time out or technical.  Now it makes sense...

[GGGG]

What has Singleton done that leads you to believe that he is anything but a lower level player?  He wasn't particularly impressive at High Point.  He wasn't recruited by high-level programs.  Lucious OTOH was a high level recruit and the starting point guard on a Final Four team.  If you are thinking of pure basketball talent, Lucious is miles ahead of Singleton.

[Earl Tatum]

We need one very good PG, who can dish it to the right people in situations, have little better than average shot, quickness and speed with leadership and a steady backup who won't hurt you. Not five different PG's, when in the game play five different ways and screw up the offense.

[T-Bone]

Really I don't know much about Singleton.  Experience within a program is invaluable though.  And there's been tons of really good players that were ultimately not recruited by high-major programs.  

It is entirely based on a feeling.  At the same time Lucious doesn't give me a good feeling.  

Hope I'm right, but who knows.  

[brewcity77]

What has Singleton done that leads you to believe that he is anything but a lower level player?  He wasn't particularly impressive at High Point.  He wasn't recruited by high-level programs.  Lucious OTOH was a high level recruit and the starting point guard on a Final Four team.  If you are thinking of pure basketball talent, Lucious is miles ahead of Singleton.

I don't think Singleton will be the answer, but I still don't see why we need Lucious for one year. Let's look at what we know about Lucious...

• Questionable character, kicked off MSU team for violations
  
• Has never averaged more than 6.5 ppg or 4.1 apg, both less than the much-maligned Dwight Buycks has put up this season (though close on assists)
  
• Will take up 2 scholarship years for one playing year, and will possibly prevent us from pursuing the likes of Tokoto, Nolan, Stokes, and possibly even a guy like Koenig in 2013

We don't know how productive he will be. His statistical trend would probably indicate he'd give us 8 ppg and 5 apg. Is it worth handing out 2 years of scholarships for those numbers? Possibly losing out on even more talented recruits who would give us four years of playing time? And at the same time, we have the character issues. Why bring in a guy who could cause problems and upset the great chemistry Buzz has built?

Bottom line, the upside is minimal and the potential downsides are immense. I can't see any logical argument as to why we would want to bring Lucious to our program. Nothing against the kid personally, but it just doesn't add up.

[Golden Avalanche]

KL got his team to the Final Four last year. Showed some big stones.

Considering what we've done with blown leads the last two seasons, it may be nice to get a winner in the program for two years.

Remember, when Crean brought in Acker a lot of people called it the dumbest move in America and that it showed no confidence in his current stable of horses. The strange ones sometimes work out.

[Tugg Speedman]

Could be.
Singleton will have a year of practice with the team under his belt.  He is familiar with things the team does.  And will be even more so by the time Lucious is eligible. 

I wouldn't rule it out entirely. 

You could also make the case to treat his High Point experience as being akin to going the JuCo route.  We've had some really good players from that world. 

As far as his walk-on status, none of has any particular information as to what he and Marquette agreed to in transferring here.  I could speculate beyond this, but it'd be just that - speculation.  And the internet is not the place to speculate on anything.

This is 100% wrong.  Singleton is the new Frozena.  He will only see the floor in the final few minutes of a blow out.  This means OOC games and DePaul.  Nothing more than that.

To compare him to a point guard that played 24 minutes in a final four game is to suggest you don't understand basketball.

[Nukem2]

KL got his team to the Final Four last year. Showed some big stones.

Considering what we've done with blown leads the last two seasons, it may be nice to get a winner in the program for two years.

Remember, when Crean brought in Acker a lot of people called it the dumbest move in America and that it showed no confidence in his current stable of horses. The strange ones sometimes work out.

I think most thought the Acker transfer was a good one.  Proved to be so.

[Tugg Speedman]

I think most thought the Acker transfer was a good one.  Proved to be so.

Revisionist history ... I remember most thinking about him along with Brandon Bell, James Mathews, Niv Berkowitz and other forgettable signings.

[T-Bone]

This is 100% wrong.  Singleton is the new Frozena.  He will only see the floor in the final few minutes of a blow out.  This means OOC games and DePaul.  Nothing more than that.

To compare him to a point guard that played 24 minutes in a final four game is to suggest you don't understand basketball.

Sure, I'll take the bait. (semantics argument at the end)

Really?  Don't.  Understand.  Basketball.  

So tell me, one that does understand basketball, what is it that makes you so certain of that?  

And Lucious played 36(38) minutes with 4 assists to 5 turnovers.

100% wrong?  Singleton won't have a year's more experience under his belt?  You can't draw a comparison between JuCo and a school like High Point?  Perhaps it was the statements "could be" or "I wouldn't rule it out"?  Not sure how either of those could be wrong as they are not facts.  

Edited to add a question mark.

[Tugg Speedman]

Sure, I'll take the bait. (semantics argument at the end)

Really?  Don't.  Understand.  Basketball.  

So tell me, one that does understand basketball, what is it that makes you so certain of that?  

And Lucious played 36(38) minutes with 4 assists to 5 turnovers.

100% wrong?  Singleton won't have a year's more experience under his belt?  You can't draw a comparison between JuCo and a school like High Point?  Perhaps it was the statements "could be" or "I wouldn't rule it out"?  Not sure how either of those could be wrong as they are not facts.  

Edited to add a question mark.

So, using this logic you expect Ewill to start next year?  He'll have three year of experience under his belt.

Singleton is probably a nice guy and hard worker but their is a reason he is paying to be on the team as opposed to getting a scholarship.

[T-Bone]

So, using this logic you expect Ewill to start next year?  He'll have three year of experience under his belt.

Singleton is probably a nice guy and hard worker but their is a reason he is paying to be on the team as opposed to getting a scholarship.

That's quite a jump in logic you're making there.  No, I don't expect Ewill to start next year by virtue of entering into his 3rd year - though he could and it'd be a hell of a surprise.  Which isn't the point of anything I've said. 
The discussion point I raised is that Singleton *could* be better than Lucious having an additional year of experience in Buzz's system. 

Singleton could be paying his way for a myriad of reasons.  None of which either of us knows. 

If it were a debate of you had to take either Lucious or Singleton on a scholarship, I, and I think everyone else, would take Lucious.  That's in a vacuum though.  Singleton's paying his way, Lucious may have some problems and his numbers for the year were ugly and we'd have to use a scholarship for him being on the practice squad next year. 

So, we'll see what happens.

[StillAWarrior]

What if getting kicked off MSU was a wakeup call? And if it was what if he recommits himself to being the best person and bball player he can over the next year?  There's no doubt about his talent, it's his decision making that's been in question.

If you can get a focused, commited year out of a kid with his talent, it could be huge.

What if it wasn't?  What if he doesn't?

As far as I'm concerned, his upside doesn't justify the risk.  We'd be using two years of scholarship for a "one-and-done" that hasn't shown all that much.  I'm very confident that Buzz can find a better use for that scholarship.

[GGGG]

The discussion point I raised is that Singleton *could* be better than Lucious having an additional year of experience in Buzz's system. 

Well a lot of things *could* happen.  The Bradley Center roof could collapse tomorrow.  I think I am more interested in knowing what would likely happen.

[MUBurrow]

Despite his problems, Izzo wouldn't have dismissed Lucious if he thought he really needed him.  If they are having this bad a season and decided to cut bait, I don't see what we really hope to gain by adding a floor general for one year who has been unimpressive up to this point.

[APieperFan3]

So, using this logic you expect Ewill to start next year?  He'll have three year of experience under his belt.

EWill started at the beginning of the season this year.

(and scored our first points of the season,  i believe)

[Nukem2]

Revisionist history ... I remember most thinking about him along with Brandon Bell, James Mathews, Niv Berkowitz and other forgettable signings.

Think you are the one with revisionist history.  Most thought Acker was a good backup plan for DJ and also a stabilizing factor for his high school teammate McNeal.  Remember, Acker was frosh of the year in the MAC.  He was not chopped meat.

[Lennys Tap]

To me he is very similar to Dwight Buycks. A combo guard playing the point who turns it over too often. I don't think he's worth two years of scholarship for one year of play.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Revisionist history ... I remember most thinking about him along with Brandon Bell, James Mathews, Niv Berkowitz and other forgettable signings.

HEY!!!!Get off my back!

[Niv Berkowitz]

And I don't recall any mass majority of people saying the Acker signing was a bad deal. A lot of people thought he was small and shot poorly, but he was a good field general and thought it'd be a good compliment having Jerel's buddy on the team. I'm sure some thought it wasn't good, but I don't recall anyone on these boards going ape over signing Acker.

This move? I wouldn't like this move at all. It'd be like grasping for straws with an unknown Israeli PG who has little-to-know experience versus competition of this caliber.

[Golden Avalanche]

Think you are the one with revisionist history.  Most thought Acker was a good backup plan for DJ and also a stabilizing factor for his high school teammate McNeal.  Remember, Acker was frosh of the year in the MAC.  He was not chopped meat.

I remember people saying he was far too small and slight to compete in the Big East, even in a reserve role; that his stats were inflated playing in a watered down league; and that the only reason he was accepted was because Crean had promised a player he'd look out for his good friend if possible (which happened with Buckley).

Added together and there was a contingent who thought bringing him in was a waste of four years when MU was "in on" so many high profile PG prospects (which is an eerily familiar theme in this discussion).

[NickelDimer]

What if it wasn't?  What if he doesn't?

Easy, then you don't extend an offer.  Buzz's job in this process will be to evaluate where KL is at emotionally, mentally, etc. 

[StillAWarrior]

Easy, then you don't extend an offer.  Buzz's job in this process will be to evaluate where KL is at emotionally, mentally, etc. 

Fair enough...there's a bit of guess work in all recruiting, so this would be no different.

That said, I still think the two year scholarship/one year play trade-off isn't worth it.

[NickelDimer]

Fair enough...there's a bit of guess work in all recruiting, so this would be no different.

That said, I still think the two year scholarship/one year play trade-off isn't worth it.

Yeah, this certainly is not a no-brainer.  If he's genuinely interested in coming to MU Buzz is going to have a very tough decision.

[Aughnanure]

Can't we go after Larry Drew instead?