Tokoto to UNC

[pmi]

Tokoto said he called each of the coaches that had made his final 8
So I don't know where this idea that "He only called Bo and Roy"
He called 8 coaches, and said he spoke To each in person
But Bo was coaching his game.

This is incorrect. And you can read my story that talks about that for FOX Sports WI here: http://bit.ly/TokotoUNC  -- JP told me that the only two coaches he called were Bo Ryan (during Wisconsin's game) and Roy Williams (during his press conference). That's it.

[willie warrior]

Oh well--there is always next year--and the next switchable we can go after that is 3 stars.

[tower912]

Good luck young man.  I hope it works out for you.  If it doesn't and you want to play close to home, remember MU.

[willie warrior]

Just another example of a state kid dissing Mu and UW for the bright lights of tobacco road.

[groove]

not dissing, just facing facts. Better weather, better looking women, better chance at making final four, better looking campus, better way of life, hard to believe people still live in the upper midwest.

I'm always amazed that Marquette does as well as it does recruiting wise and academic wise considering it's located in a city with a third world quality public school system. We're lucky we are not in the Dying American City League a.k.a. Horizon League.

[Tugg Speedman]

not dissing, just facing facts. Better weather, better looking women, better chance at making final four, better looking campus, better way of life, hard to believe people still live in the upper midwest.

I'm always amazed that Marquette does as well as it does recruiting wise and academic wise considering it's located in a city with a third world quality public school system. We're lucky we are not in the Dying American City League a.k.a. Horizon League.

Three thoughts ....

When I use the same facts to argue the B10 is becoming a mid-major football conference, everyone jumps on me that I'm completely wrong.

Why stop with MU?  Why does Pitt, Syracuse, UConn, Nova, GU, SJU, DePaul, SH, Louisville, Cincy, Xavier, Dayton, MSU, SLU, etc. get any recruits at all.  They are in also in dying cities with third world education systems.  In fact many of them are much worse than Milwaukee.

Why does the Ivy league continue to attract the best?  Ever been to New Haven?  Why would any smart person consider spending more than one second in that armpit?

[willie warrior]

here we go again, making excuses why we cannot compete against UNC or Duke, etc. Better women, give me a break! If that is a reason, then the recruit is really superficial at best.

And why was Wisky his second choice? We really fumbled this one--and it was a dis.

[GGGG]

When I use the same facts to argue the B10 is becoming a mid-major football conference, everyone jumps on me that I'm completely wrong.

Because you are.  How on earth could you call the conference located in one of the largest population bases in the country, and is the second weathiest in terms of revenue generation per school, a mid-major???

[GGGG]

When it's all said and done, Vander Blue will have a better college career than JPT!

What do you base this on?  Hope and a prayer???

[GGGG]

By the way, just because he didn't call Buzz last night, doesn't mean that Buzz didn't know earlier that they were out of the picture.  My guess is that he wasn't caught blind-sided by this and thought we may have still had a chance.  Let's not jump down JPT's throught over a statement like that.

[groove]

Why does the Ivy league continue to attract the best?  Ever been to New Haven?  Why would any smart person consider spending more than one second in that armpit?

self-flagellation?

[Tugg Speedman]

Because you are.  How on earth could you call the conference located in one of the largest population bases in the country, and is the second weathiest in terms of revenue generation per school, a mid-major???

Ahh, spoken like a true B10 kool-aid drinking defender.  I said the B10 cannot longer get the recruits to compete and you respond with a lot of irrelevant non-football facts.

I guess you agree as you're trying to change the subject.

[GGGG]

They can no longer get the recruits to compete?  Michigan State just came off of two straight years in the Final Four and Ohio State is the #1 team in the country.  Purdue and Wisconsin are also in the top ten.

Are those facts enough for you?

But keep spouting your mid-major meme...it is humorous...

[NavinRJohnson]

Taylor is the man....it's a guard's game.  They could go far in the NCAA Tournament if that kid plays well.

I came away thinking just the opposite. I think they're pretty good, but I just don't see them going far. The good news is he scored 17 consecutive points.  The bad news is he scored 17 consecutive points. As always it will come down to the match up. As much as people like to complain about MU's performance on the road, UW's is equally suspect, if not worse. This may sound stupid given that comment, but their best road win is against us.

[Tugg Speedman]

They can no longer get the recruits to compete?  Michigan State just came off of two straight years in the Final Four and Ohio State is the #1 team in the country.  Purdue and Wisconsin are also in the top ten.

Are those facts enough for you?

But keep spouting your mid-major meme...it is humorous...

Umm, the original statement was "B10 is becoming a mid-major football conference"

First you respond with irrelevant non-football statistics.

Now you respond with basketball statistics.

Again, you're agreeing with me that the B10 is a second rate football conference as your best argument is to change the subject.

Scores don't lie ... see how the B10 did this past January 1 (0-5 with three blow outs).  This is why happens when a mid-major football conference goes up against D1 schools in bowl games.

[Goose]

I was at the presser last night and came away with following observations:

1. Great kid and a lot of poise. Was very impressed with the whole package.
2. Decision obviously was easy one for the kid/family. However, I did not like when Dad said it was a "business decision". Basically if he did not take scholly soon it could be gone. I realize that happens but a place where to timeline put on him might be better choice.
3. His body language regarding Prep School indicated he wants nothing to do with that. Appears he really likes where he is at and his teammates.
4. He is SKINNY!!!
5. Beautiful Mom!!!
6. Beautiful Mom!!

I wish we would have landed him big time. That said, I believe Jamil Wilson is the real deal with a better frame. I strongly recommend all posters speak well of the kid. You never know what happens in a year or two. I do think VB, JW and J.P. would have been unreal to watch.

[MUfan12]

I wish we would have landed him big time. That said, I believe Jamil Wilson is the real deal with a better frame. I strongly recommend all posters speak well of the kid. You never know what happens in a year or two. I do think VB, JW and J.P. would have been unreal to watch.

JP and Jamil is a tough comparison, just because Jamil is so much farther along in his physical development. But I agree, he will be the real deal. He can guard 1-4 and is smooth with the ball. He seriously just glides around the court, making it look easy.

This year off might be the best thing to happen to him as well. He can get stronger, get used to the system, and build that hunger up for next season.

[GGGG]

Scores don't lie ... see how the B10 did this past January 1 (0-5 with three blow outs).  This is why happens when a mid-major football conference goes up against D1 schools in bowl games.

And the year before they had a winning record on New Year's Day.  Definately below the SEC, and the powers of the B12, but better than the rest.

[StillAWarrior]

And the year before they had a winning record on New Year's Day.  Definately below the SEC, and the powers of the B12, but better than the rest.

Not sure how he's defining mid-major, but here's the final top 25 by conference:

SEC - 6
Big 12 - 5
ACC - 4
Big 10 - 3
Pac 10 - 2
MWC - 2
WAC - 2
CUSA - 1

I can't honestly say that I've ever heard anyone refer to Big 10 football as "mid major."  I hate Big 10 football, and I was as happy to see them crap the bed this year as anyone, but they're certainly not a mid major conference.  And if you factor in Nebraska, that would put them in a tie for second with Big 12 and ACC.

And just for fun:

2009
SEC - 4
Big 10 - 4
ACC - 4
Big 12 - 3
Big East - 3
MWC - 3
Pac 10 - 2
WAC - 1
MAC - 1

2008
Big 12 - 5
SEC - 4
Big 10 - 4
MWC - 3
Pac 10 - 3
ACC - 3
BEast - 2
WAC - 1

2007
SEC - 5
Big 12 - 5
Big 10 - 4
Pac 10 - 4
ACC - 3
BEast - 2
MWC - 1
WAC - 1

2006
SEC - 6
Big 10 - 4
Pac 10 - 3
Big East - 3
ACC - 3
Big 12 - 2
MWC - 2
WAC - 1
Ind - 1

5 year total (2006-2010)
SEC - 25
Big 12 - 20
Big 10 - 19
ACC - 17
Pac 10 - 14
MWC - 11
Big East - 10
WAC - 6
CUSA - 1
MAC - 1
Ind - 1

The 2010 bowl games notwithstanding, this doesn't look to me like the Big 10 is becoming a mid major football conference.

[texaswarrior74]

2. Decision obviously was easy one for the kid/family. However, I did not like when Dad said it was a "business decision". Basically if he did not take scholly soon it could be gone. I realize that happens but a place where to timeline put on him might be better choice.

Recruiting at the truly elite level is a completely different ball game. Roy has five spots total for class of 2012 (barring any early departures) and already has filled two and insider rumors are that the dominoes are about to start falling with the others. He had offers to two point guards, LJ Rose and Marcus Paige and Paige committed a few weeks back. After the Paige commitment, Rose went public with the fact that UNC had been his leader and was somewhat disappointed that he had not acted sooner.....it's really a game of high stakes poker.  When only two offers are made they are told it's first come, first served....

At this level most kids have a pretty good idea of where they want to go after one visit....some want to take advantage of the whole process and visit a lot of schools just for the fun in doing so but they also run the risk of having the schollie disappear if they drag things out too long.

JP was the first person Roy called and also first to get an offer in the class of 2012....he has also offered Shabazz Mohammed and has told several others that their offers are dependent on what happens with the first two. UNC insiders believe that Roy is now about to focus on bigs for the class and will also continue to recruit the back ups for the SF position that Mohammed plays.

You can't blame the coaches especially those like K and Roy who really don't cast a wide net because they have a need that has to be filled and they can't take the chance of waiting out someone and ending up empty handed. Roy has 18 players for the classs of 2012 on the radar but has only made 4 offers to date and two have already accepted.....like I said....it's a very different ball game.

By comparison, look at all the offers Buzz has out there...he has to throw far more against the wall because as much as we hate to admit it, MU (and even UW) doesn't have the cachet of a UNC or Duke and the closing percentage is much lower as a result.

[Goose]

Texas Warrior-- I agree with your post 100%.  I realize he loves the school and tradition and most likely will have an awesome career there. However, I believe he is taking a gamble and possibly going one level down would be a better fit. My gut feeling is he is a great kid with a big heart and sometimes guys like that get lost in the shuffle.

He did not appear to me to a "making a business decision" type of kid. He came across as a kid who loves his family, teammates and friends. Normally I am not impressed with 17y kids, including my own, but he was impressive. Question is does he have a killer instinct? If not, UNC could be long four years.

[IWB]

Correct.  The pushing of SC out did not help in that regard either.  That is not opinion, that is straight from several coaches mouths in the LaCrosse area. 

Could not be further from the truth. he was not pushed out.

[brewcity77]

Could not be further from the truth. he was not pushed out.

IWB, you seem like the kind of guy who might know. Was MU in the running at all for Tokoto, and has Buzz been putting any effort over the past 4-5 months in recruiting him as it became more and more likely that UNC was the only horse in the race? Or was the addition of Jamal Ferguson for 2012 somewhat a sign that we weren't really holding out hope for JP?

[IWB]

MU had a legit shot as JP's mom absolutely loves Buzz, and she wanted him to stay close to home, but let him be the one to make the decision. Yes, Buzz was recruiting him and the kid was at MU weekly over the summer playing with the guys. Seemed to fit in well. The commit from Ferguson had no bearing on the recruitment of JP, but I also believe that Buzz knew a while ago that MU was not going to be the school of choice.

[brewcity77]

MU had a legit shot as JP's mom absolutely loves Buzz, and she wanted him to stay close to home, but let him be the one to make the decision. Yes, Buzz was recruiting him and the kid was at MU weekly over the summer playing with the guys. Seemed to fit in well. The commit from Ferguson had no bearing on the recruitment of JP, but I also believe that Buzz knew a while ago that MU was not going to be the school of choice.

Cheers for that. And it seems to poke a bit of a hole in the "tobacco spit" theory that so many have been postulating regarding JP's mom not wanting him to have anything to do with Buzz. Thanks.