Faust Decommits

[MerrittsMustache]

I would care deeply if they wasted a scholarship on the transfer from South Dakota.

+1

A 6'3" spot-up shooter who eats a scholarship for 3 years yet only contributes for 2 (in a minor role) is not worth it. Shooting can be taught. Being a 6'6" athlete with NBA potential cannot.

[BCHoopster]

Keep in mind that Faust signed with Maryland before MU went on its Sweet 16 run as well.  There is more evidence now than at the time Faust signed with Maryland - that Buzz Williams is a very good coach - and with the liklihood Jimmy Butler gets drafted/named MVP of Portsmouth....player development also appears to be a strength of Buzz.

As Buzz said in the Chicago event the other night:  We are starting to realize the compound interest benefit of the work we've been doing the last 3 years...

So Buzz maybe can get 2 bigs for 2012, nothing against Faust but there is enough 2's and 3's right now.  Already have 2 coming in
for 2012.

[Boone]

Faust was interested in us when we needed perimeter players. We've since added Mayo and have Taylor and Ferguson waiting in the wings. The priority now should be building up the frontcourt -- and no, solely adding Breunig, who plays more like a 3 on offense and isn't a rebounder -- won't cut it.

[MerrittsMustache]

Faust was interested in us when we needed perimeter players. We've since added Mayo and have Taylor and Ferguson waiting in the wings. The priority now should be building up the frontcourt -- and no, solely adding Breunig, who plays more like a 3 on offense and isn't a rebounder -- won't cut it.

With all due respect to Mayo, Taylor and Ferguson, Faust is a significantly better player than all 3 of them. Yes, it would be nice if a top 50 big man was interested in coming to MU but, at this point, that's not the case.

In situations like this, talent trumps need.


EDIT: I'm reminded of Bobby Knight's story about when Portland contacted him asking who he'd suggest they draft Michael Jordan or Sam Bowie. Knight told them Jordan, no question. Portland told him they needed a center. Knight responded: "Play Jordan at center." Not saying that Nick Faust is going to be MJ or that he should play center, but I think that story illustrates the "talent trumps need" point very well.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Faust was interested in us when we needed perimeter players. We've since added Mayo and have Taylor and Ferguson waiting in the wings. The priority now should be building up the frontcourt -- and no, solely adding Breunig, who plays more like a 3 on offense and isn't a rebounder -- won't cut it.

We obviously need more bigs,  but I think Buzz is going to try his best to land Faust.  I just get the feeling that Buzz is going to try and get the best talent available regardless of position.  Faust is by far the highest regarded player we could land right now.

[MUMac]

The two kids from Maryland, did not want to come here initially, why does anyone think
they want to come here now?

Don't believe that was necessarily the case with Breunig.   

[Skatastrophy]

So Buzz maybe can get 2 bigs for 2012, nothing against Faust but there is enough 2's and 3's right now.  Already have 2 coming in
for 2012.

Unless you have a big in mind I'd say sign any top 50 recruit we can get our hands on no matter what position they play. 

[Bocephys]

Unless you have a big in mind I'd say sign any top 50 recruit we can get our hands on no matter what position they play. 

Agree completely.  I'd rather have 4-5 top level guys fighting for PT at a position than 2 top level guys and 2 low ceiling role players on the team.

[Earl Tatum]

Ya! Faust is a talent and talent wins.  Anyone have any info on NC State Commit Joseph Uchebo. 6-10, 240? Sounds like an athlete. Don't know how he would fit in.

[Earl Tatum]

Meant Uchebo decommited from NC State

[GoMarquette32]

We have talked about him. No signs of us having interest in him.

[Goose]

Recruit athletic basketball players and figure out the positions they play as they go. Game has changed a ton a big is not as important today as ten years ago. Great to have, but not as big of role in today's game. Give me 7-8 Jamil Wilson's and I'd get them to S16.

[brewcity77]

Faust was interested in us when we needed perimeter players. We've since added Mayo and have Taylor and Ferguson waiting in the wings. The priority now should be building up the frontcourt -- and no, solely adding Breunig, who plays more like a 3 on offense and isn't a rebounder -- won't cut it.

I'm not so sure about that regarding Breunig. From his initial practice tape at St. John's, I agreed. But I recently saw another video of highlights of him from this past season and he looked like he could legitimately play the four. He's currently 6'9" and 215, looks like he could probably add another 20 pounds of muscle to his frame. He's a good shot-blocker, can shoot in the face-up role, and has some serious offensive game inside, both in terms of finishing with dunks and putbacks.

His first highlight video made him look like nothing more than maybe a poor man's Steve Novak (because let's be honest, NO ONE shoots that well) but his more recent videos are a lot more promising in terms of inside play.

I would be very happy if we added Breunig. Faust would be nice, but isn't the need he was before we inked Anderson and Mayo, and got a verbal from Ferguson.

[dmjt4160]

Most feel Faust will stick with Maryland, his request to be released came as a pretty big shock. No idea on Breunig, he was at MD mainly because of the scouting and recruiting of assistant Rob Ehsan who isn't being retained by Turgeon.

[tower912]

Faust is more highly ranked, but if I got to choose I would still take the 6'9 guy.    Next year's team needs a spot up 4 with a little inside game more than another 2-3.

[94Warrior]

Are the 'experts' who think he will remain with MD they same 'experts' who thought he would not re-open?  How often does a recruit re-open and then choose their original school?  Not very often.

Of course I'd take a 4 star PF over a 4 star SF/SG, based on need.  But, not many 4 star bigs are available.  I'd much rather take a 4 star wing than a 3 or 2 star big.  And, with how fluid rosters are from year to year leaving 2 schollies unused is foolish. 

Faust is talented and long, any school would love to have him.   

[wadesworld]

Are the 'experts' who think he will remain with MD they same 'experts' who thought he would not re-open?  How often does a recruit re-open and then choose their original school?  Not very often.

Of course I'd take a 4 star PF over a 4 star SF/SG, based on need.  But, not many 4 star bigs are available.  I'd much rather take a 4 star wing than a 3 or 2 star big.  And, with how fluid rosters are from year to year leaving 2 schollies unused is foolish. 

Faust is talented and long, any school would love to have him.   

Well put.  Agree with everything you say here.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Mean while, we will wait for the announcement(s).  Our fingers are crossed.

[brewcity77]

One thing about Faust, he does have a very big wingspan for his size. It's not quite Jeremy Lamb big (6'5" with a 7'4" wingspan) but I've seen it listed as anywhere between 6'10" and 7'0". He's clearly not a four, but in Buzz's system, if he can build strength, he can probably defend the 1-4.

[PBRme]

Faust is more highly ranked, but if I got to choose I would still take the 6'9 guy.    Next year's team needs a spot up 4 with a little inside game more than another 2-3.

Agreed, Eric Copes #55 on the ESPN 100 just opened up his recruitment and he fits the bill.

[GGGG]

Copes had signed with George Washington, got his release, but has signed with George Mason.

[bilsu]

One thing about Faust, he does have a very big wingspan for his size. It's not quite Jeremy Lamb big (6'5" with a 7'4" wingspan) but I've seen it listed as anywhere between 6'10" and 7'0". He's clearly not a four, but in Buzz's system, if he can build strength, he can probably defend the 1-4.

Keep talking about Faust playing the 4 and I guarantee he will not come here.

[brewcity77]

Keep talking about Faust playing the 4 and I guarantee he will not come here.

I think this is one problem we have that may be miscommunicated to recruits like Jarion Henry (better off without him anyway, though). At Marquette, it's not really playing the 4. Just because you can defend a 4 doesn't mean you are playing power forward. Lazar defended 5s. Did that make him a center? Was he drafted in the first round to the NBA because of his upside as a center?

Jae guarded 4s, no one would confuse him for being a power forward. Jimmy guarded some 1s, does that make him a point guard? I don't see Faust as a power forward, I'm sure Buzz didn't, but that doesn't mean he couldn't defend power forwards if he bulked up when you consider his wingspan. And when it comes to his future, playing offense like a 2/3 and defending like a 4 would be incredibly valuable to his potential pro future.

[GGGG]

I think this is one problem we have that may be miscommunicated to recruits like Jarion Henry

I am fairly certain that the recruits are listening to Buzz and the coaching staff about their role on the team more than they are Scoopers.

[brewcity77]

I am fairly certain that the recruits are listening to Buzz and the coaching staff about their role on the team more than they are Scoopers.

I'm confident you're right about that, but in this age of Twitter, you do get more communication between fans and recruits. Like the person that tweeted to Jarion Henry something along the lines of "Hope you come to Marquette, we need a power forward" and he responded "Sorry, but I'm not a power forward". I'm confident that by that time we had already moved on from him, and he had probably already decided on UNM, but who knows if there are prospects from 2013, 14, and 15 that Buzz hasn't contacted yet that could end up with a first impression of our program from some idiot tweet that misrepresents us before Buzz has a chance to make inroads.

Does it happen often? I doubt it, but as social media becomes more prevalent it will be a lot more difficult to control illegal contact between recruits and boosters and quite often the message delivered won't be anything close to what the coaching staff would say if they got first crack.