More Focus on JUCOs?

[DrDestiny911]

Due to the recent success of Marquette's JUCO players on a public stage, does anyone think that it is starting to open the eyes of other big name college coaches?

I feel like there was at least some stigma before the tournament that JUCO players are lesser to an extent than kids out of high school. However, Crowder and DJO specifically have kind of blown that impression out of the water so is Buzz going to face a little steeper competition in recruiting Junior college players?

Even at Iowa their back up PG Bryce Cartwright emerged as an all-conference player so I think that although Buzz may have a leg-up on the recruiting competition that some other Big 6 conference teams are going to join the race.

[Dawson Rental]

I'm not sure that JUCO's are still in Buzz's recruiting plans.  When he first got the job, and Creans' last recruiting class evaporated, he had to do something quick while he caught up on recruiting high schoolers.  While I don't think that recruiting JUCO's is now out of the question for Buzz, I think that it'll be primarily as fill ins for transfers or players that don't pan out, or big men if that's the only place he can get them from.

[brewcity77]

I'm not sure that JUCO's are still in Buzz's recruiting plans.  When he first got the job, and Creans' last recruiting class evaporated, he had to do something quick while he caught up on recruiting high schoolers.  While I don't think that recruiting JUCO's is now out of the question for Buzz, I think that it'll be primarily as fill ins for transfers or players that don't pan out, or big men if that's the only place he can get them from.

+1

I'm guessing that we might see the occasional JUCO, either to fill a transfer or simply because Buzz spotted a late-bloomer. Also possible that we'll try to nab JUCOs who ended up there because things didn't work out, I'd love that to be the case with TJ Taylor. But in general, I don't think we'll see many more JUCOs at Marquette under Buzz than most programs see.

However, it wouldn't surprise me if we helped JUCO transfers become more popular for universities that are going through rebuilding under a new coach. Buzz certainly showed that the road is open. However, that doesn't mean we'll stay on it for the long haul.

[marquette99]

Mostly agree. However I do believe buzz's history as a juco guy and the good results jucos have hadin the system may give him on edge on the jucos he wants vs his chances at blue chip high schoolers.

[dw3dw3dw3]

Do people think Buzz is limited in who he can bring in by influential donors or the administration? Or do you think he has the ability to do whatever he wants as long as it doesn't backfire? Right or not, it had to irk some people that mattered that the sweet 16 media basically only focused on the JUCO angle.

[NersEllenson]

Do people think Buzz is limited in who he can bring in by influential donors or the administration? Or do you think he has the ability to do whatever he wants as long as it doesn't backfire? Right or not, it had to irk some people that mattered that the sweet 16 media basically only focused on the JUCO angle.

I'm a Marquette alum and it didn't irk me a bit that a big part of the story from Sweet 16 media coverage was on our JUCO's.  I think Buzz has carte blanche as far as where he recruits from, so long as the kids continue to behave as well as could be expected of any college student 18-22 year old kid.

MU needs to have all avenues open with regard to recruiting, as it is tough to recruit to MU given the limited talent in WI.  As a previous poster pointed out - Buzz probably has the inside track on JUCO's given his roots, connections, and success with the current JUCO guys.  Thus he stands a far greater chance of landing the best blue chip JUKES, than HS players.

[Pakuni]

Mostly agree. However I do believe buzz's history as a juco guy and the good results jucos have hadin the system may give him on edge on the jucos he wants vs his chances at blue chip high schoolers.

Agree.
Buzz has said he doesn't want to rely on as many JUCOs in the future, but given this recent quote, I don't think he's anywhere close to abdandning that route altogether.

"I'm never opposed to signing a guy that's been on a 15-passenger bus. "Eat at McDonald's pre- and post-game and thankful to get one cotton T-shirt. Not a Dri-Fit."