WI AAU Question

[MUfan12]

Not to dwell on JP, but I heard an interview this morning with 1250's HS guy, and he basically said MU had no shot with JP because of Ritchie Davis being a UW guy. Now that he's with the Playground Warriors, that got me to thinking... when was the last time (if ever) MU landed a guy from his program?

Diener was with that team, but that's when Davis was running the Fox Valley team. Was Christopherson the only one?

[Benny B]

MU certainly won't be given any favors, but if someone from the team wanted to go to MU, I'm not sure any AAU coach is going to be able to stop him.

That being said, there are "coldbeds" in recruiting just like there are "hotbeds" for MU.  The entire state of Wisconsin is a coldbed... sure, a few good recruits here and there, but unless you want a team that resembles the current UW roster, MU is best to focus its time and effort elsewhere.

If I were Buzz, I would only recruit SE Wisconsin and then, only because it's cheap, easy access... not because there's a plethora of talent.  Anywhere north and west of Madison is hard-core Badger country; there's no way you would get me anywhere near Rhinelander, Adams-Friendship or La Crosse on a recruiting visit unless a recruit or coach reached out to me first.

[brewcity77]

Diener and Christopherson were the only ones I saw that came here:

http://www.wiplaygroundwarriors.com/alumni/index.htm

We should be glad Philip Nolan left town, probably our only shot with him. Though his AAU is still listed as the Playground Warriors, so it's possible that if we really have no chance with those kids, we don't have a chance with him either, though I do know Buzz was the first to offer him. Here's hoping our inroads with the Mac Irvin Fire weren't damaged with Smith leaving.

[MUfan12]

We should be glad Philip Nolan left town, probably our only shot with him. Though his AAU is still listed as the Playground Warriors, so it's possible that if we really have no chance with those kids, we don't have a chance with him either, though I do know Buzz was the first to offer him. Here's hoping our inroads with the Mac Irvin Fire weren't damaged with Smith leaving.

I think Nolan is back, but I'm not sure how much influence Davis yields there. But with that program being Adidas now, I shouldn't be surprised that he's trying to funnel kids to UW.

I wouldn't worry too much about Smith/Mac Irvin. Buzz has a solid connection there, and I'm not sure Reggie's sudden departure hurts that too much.

[ChicosBailBonds]

but unless you want a team that resembles the current UW roster, MU is best to focus its time and effort elsewhere.

Isn't that roster part of the best program in the state, a top 10 team and about to go to their 13th straight NCAA appearance....I believe an accomplishment we never reached.  I don't care for their style any more than anyone here, but that roster resembles one thing....WINNING

[butchbadger]

Not sure I would call Ritchie a UW guy. He is certainly not anti Marquette.

Travis Diener is probably his favorite all time kid.


Chico, I like the use of WINNING.   Chuck Sheen would be proud.

[NYWarrior]

Diener and Christopherson were the only ones I saw that came here:

http://www.wiplaygroundwarriors.com/alumni/index.htm

Jamil Wilson

[brewcity77]

Jamil Wilson

So as long as they leave first, then we know they'll come back to MU? That bodes well for JPT if UNC doesn't work out...

[Earl Tatum]

I wonder how Richie Davis gets paid by coaches such as Williams or any other big time program. I think the AAU stinks that way and should be cleaned up. I don't think they care about the players involved. Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, UCLA, Izzo (Mr. Clean), are mentionables. With their alumni

[MikeyT42]

I agree I think their are some shady characters in AAU. The WIAA (or NCAA for that matter) doesn't have limits on exposure and contact coaches can have with players. More and More hoops kids use their high school season as a prep for the AAU circuit.

This is true for baseball too. As a summer baseball coach in WI, I have had kids tell me that they aren't going to play for their own high school because they feel they would get more exposure playing on a traveling circuit.

[BrewCity83]

I wonder how Richie Davis gets paid by coaches such as Williams or any other big time program. I think the AAU stinks that way and should be cleaned up. I don't think they care about the players involved. Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, UCLA, Izzo (Mr. Clean), are mentionables. With their alumni

At least we don't have to get all squirmy about Buzz on this one.

[Benny B]

Isn't that roster part of the best program in the state, a top 10 team and about to go to their 13th straight NCAA appearance....I believe an accomplishment we never reached.  I don't care for their style any more than anyone here, but that roster resembles one thing....WINNING

Chicos.... buddy, you need to listen to yourself sometime.  Do you honestly believe that if MU had UW's roster they would be a perennial NCAA selection?  Do you think they'd be better than 9-8 in the Big East right now?

IMO -- UW's roster works because of the guy in charge over there.  You put nearly any other coach in the nation in charge of the players Bo Ryan has had over the last decade and you've got bottom quartile teams in any Big 6 conference.

Now if you want to discuss MU hiring Bo Ryan as head coach, I will happily suggest some nice brick walls that would be willing to listen to you.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos.... buddy, you need to listen to yourself sometime.  Do you honestly believe that if MU had UW's roster they would be a perennial NCAA selection?  Do you think they'd be better than 9-8 in the Big East right now?

IMO -- UW's roster works because of the guy in charge over there.  You put nearly any other coach in the nation in charge of the players Bo Ryan has had over the last decade and you've got bottom quartile teams in any Big 6 conference.

Now if you want to discuss MU hiring Bo Ryan as head coach, I will happily suggest some nice brick walls that would be willing to listen to you.

Do I think Bo Ryan and that Wisconsin team would be better than 9-8 in the Big East right now?  Yes

[77ncaachamps]

I agree I think their are some shady characters in AAU. The WIAA (or NCAA for that matter) doesn't have limits on exposure and contact coaches can have with players. More and More hoops kids use their high school season as a prep for the AAU circuit.

This is true for baseball too. As a summer baseball coach in WI, I have had kids tell me that they aren't going to play for their own high school because they feel they would get more exposure playing on a traveling circuit.

Not to mention they get to play more games against better talent.

Unfortunately, this is the state of HS sports.
Unless your HS is a perennial winner and magnet of local talent.

[ringout]

Isn't that roster part of the best program in the state, a top 10 team and about to go to their 13th straight NCAA appearance....I believe an accomplishment we never reached.  I don't care for their style any more than anyone here, but that roster resembles one thing....WINNING

And failing miserably in the tournament.

And before you say it, we have not seen Buzz with his best talent in the tournament yet.

[shaquilvaine]

Very ironic that Ritchie Davis is a UW guy given the Wisconsin playground warriors was originally started by a big time MU guy who's son was playing AAU hoops.  Now with the merger with Fox Valley Skillz, it is no longer a pro-MU team.  With its shoe affiliation coinciding with the badgers, you do the math.  Jamil Wilson was actually getting advice from some AAU members to go elsewhere from Marquette.  He ended up doing this and it was obviously bad advice.  Now he's back where he originally belonged. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

And failing miserably in the tournament.

And before you say it, we have not seen Buzz with his best talent in the tournament yet.

I've been consistent for 20 years on the tournament.  It's a crapshoot. Some years you get a layup in terms of the style of teams you play.  Some years the matchups are terrible.  Some years you have practically home games and some years practically road games.

Failing miserably?  I wouldn't say that.  Since 2000 they have a Final Four, an Elite 8, two Sweet 16's, five round of 32 appearances.  They've only been knocked out in the first round twice in those 11 years.

They are 16-11 since 2000.  I fail to see how that is "failing miserably" unless they were a number 1 seed in each of those years, which they weren't.  Don't get me wrong, some of those years they cut a deal with the devil to get the draw they got.  Nothing better than having them lose in Milwaukee as well.

[BrewCity83]

That's not just Bo, though.  What's Madison's record in the NCAA's since Bo took over?

[ChicosBailBonds]

That's not just Bo, though.  What's Madison's record in the NCAA's since Bo took over?

His record is 12-9.  Hardly failing miserably.  .571 winning %

One Elite 8
Two Sweet 16's
Four Round of 32
Beaten in the first round one time

[ringout]

I've been consistent for 20 years on the tournament.  It's a crapshoot. Some years you get a layup in terms of the style of teams you play.  Some years the matchups are terrible.  Some years you have practically home games and some years practically road games.

Failing miserably?  I wouldn't say that.  Since 2000 they have a Final Four, an Elite 8, two Sweet 16's, five round of 32 appearances.  They've only been knocked out in the first round twice in those 11 years.

They are 16-11 since 2000.  I fail to see how that is "failing miserably" unless they were a number 1 seed in each of those years, which they weren't.  Don't get me wrong, some of those years they cut a deal with the devil to get the draw they got.  Nothing better than having them lose in Milwaukee as well.

Good God man.    I was NOT referring to the Badgers record.  I was referring to their underperformance based on their seed, and you know that.  You're not that ignorant.  You sound like the Badger homers that live around here, and a couple I know are former Badger FB and BB players.  I cut them some slack because they drank the kool aid and can't be expected to be rational.  What's youe excuse?

[ChicosBailBonds]

And like I've said for years, I don't buy into that crap because the NCAA is a crapshoot.  In 2002 we were a 5 seed playing a 12 seed....Tulsa was only like 4 or 5 spots different than us in the RPI.  Matchups are key, locations, etc.

Once you get past the first round, 32 teams are left and they are ALL GOOD.  Forget the seeding.

[ringout]

And like I've said for years, I don't buy into that crap because the NCAA is a crapshoot.  In 2002 we were a 5 seed playing a 12 seed....Tulsa was only like 4 or 5 spots different than us in the RPI.  Matchups are key, locations, etc.

Once you get past the first round, 32 teams are left and they are ALL GOOD.  Forget the seeding.

We are'nt talking about once or even twice.   We're talking about a trend beginning the day he stepped into the Kohl hole.