Mervyn Lindsay official visit on 6/13

[TedBaxter]

I was in the corner of taking a transfer like Earnest Ross who would be sitting out anyway, so as long as you have Jake Thomas and David Singleton along with 11 players scholarship, I'd just assume Buzz bank 2 scholarships for the 2012 class where he can try to land a player like Steve Taylor and 4/5.  Nothing against Mervyn Lindsay and if he comes, he comes, but my preference would be to hold the scholarship(s).

[Hards Alumni]

There should be a known mantra of NEVER EVER bank a scolarship to anyone who reads and posts on these boards.

[bilsu]

The way I look at I see two senarios.

Buzz thinks there is a good chance that over four years he will become a solid player. Then I think we should sign him

Buzz thinks he is worth the gamble and will move him out after one year if he is not panning out. If that is the case, then he should pass on him. We should only recruit players we expect to stay. I am not sure Buzz actually moves players out, but I hate it when players transfer.

[Lennys Tap]

The way I look at I see two senarios.

Buzz thinks there is a good chance that over four years he will become a solid player. Then I think we should sign him

Buzz thinks he is worth the gamble and will move him out after one year if he is not panning out. If that is the case, then he should pass on him. We should only recruit players we expect to stay. I am not sure Buzz actually moves players out, but I hate it when players transfer.

Players want to play. All 13 can't. The stigma once attached to transferring (for both player and school) is gone. Old timers like us may not like it, but transfers are now a significant part of the landscape.

[Pakuni]

Players want to play. All 13 can't. The stigma once attached to transferring (for both player and school) is gone. Old timers like us may not like it, but transfers are now a significant part of the landscape.

Correct.
After the 2009-10 season, 367 D-I players transferred. There were 347 teams that year.
Good story from a few months back looking at the transfer issue:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2011-03-06-college-basketball-transfers_N.htm

[bilsu]

Players want to play. All 13 can't. The stigma once attached to transferring (for both player and school) is gone. Old timers like us may not like it, but transfers are now a significant part of the landscape.

I understand that. If a player wants to transfer that is okay. I do not like the perception that Buzz runs players off. I am okay with any player Buzz recruits, if Buzz actually plans on keeping the player the whole time. Several posters have indicated that the recruit will move out after one year, if he is not working out. A player may leave, but barring a major screw up, the coach should be expecting him to stay the full four years.

[BCHoopster]

I like how Duke and Syracuse recruit, you have 10 or 11 kids on the team and thats
it.  13 kids can not play, so in saying that, I would take a big project once in awhile.
A four year kid much like Bo Ryan does.

[bilsu]

I like how Duke and Syracuse recruit, you have 10 or 11 kids on the team and thats
it.  13 kids can not play, so in saying that, I would take a big project once in awhile.
A four year kid much like Bo Ryan does.

+1

[texaswarrior74]

I like how Duke and Syracuse recruit, you have 10 or 11 kids on the team and thats
it.  13 kids can not play, so in saying that, I would take a big project once in awhile.
A four year kid much like Bo Ryan does.

In Duke's case look at the minutes the top three or four generally play...anywhere from 35 + and often in the 38+ range....his teams get worn out as the season progresses. Had it not been for a VERY weak field and unbelievably favorable seeding in 2010, they would have flamed out in the first or second round as they have so often in the  last few years. His post players are there to set picks for his guards who live and die with the three.

The very short bench that K uses allows for less players on the overall roster yet they have a fairly significant number of transfers as a result of it as well.

[Jacks DC]

In Duke's case look at the minutes the top three or four generally play...anywhere from 35 + and often in the 38+ range....his teams get worn out as the season progresses. Had it not been for a VERY weak field and unbelievably favorable seeding in 2010, they would have flamed out in the first or second round as they have so often in the  last few years. His post players are there to set picks for his guards who live and die with the three.

The very short bench that K uses allows for less players on the overall roster yet they have a fairly significant number of transfers as a result of it as well.

Where are you coming up with this?  I'm not sure where to start here.  Duke has made the sweet sixteen 12 times in the last 15 years, so I wouldn't say they've flamed out in the opening weekend "so often."  The one year they lost in the first round was '06-'07 when they just weren't very good and went 8-8 in the ACC and were a 6 seed.  In '07-'08 they lost in the second round despite having one of Coach K's deepest teams, with 10 players averaging at least 8 minutes and no player averaging over 31.  Further, in the last 10 years, only six Duke players have averaged over 35 minutes in a season - Duhon, Redick, McRoberts, Singler, Scheyer and N. Smith.  No one has averaged 38 over a full season and only once during that period did more than one player on a team average more than 35 minutes - that was in '09-'10 when Singler, Scheyer and N. Smith all did it and they won the National Championship.  Way off, bro.

[bilsu]

Where are you coming up with this?  I'm not sure where to start here.  Duke has made the sweet sixteen 12 times in the last 15 years, so I wouldn't say they've flamed out in the opening weekend "so often."  The one year they lost in the first round was '06-'07 when they just weren't very good and went 8-8 in the ACC and were a 6 seed.  In '07-'08 they lost in the second round despite having one of Coach K's deepest teams, with 10 players averaging at least 8 minutes and no player averaging over 31.  Further, in the last 10 years, only six Duke players have averaged over 35 minutes in a season - Duhon, Redick, McRoberts, Singler, Scheyer and N. Smith.  No one has averaged 38 over a full season and only once during that period did more than one player on a team average more than 35 minutes - that was in '09-'10 when Singler, Scheyer and N. Smith all did it and they won the National Championship.  Way off, bro.

I did not bother to look at the actual statistics, but I can read what he said. He did not say they averaged 35 or 38 minutes. He said they oftern played 35 to 38 minutes a game.

[NotAnAlum]

I like how Duke and Syracuse recruit, you have 10 or 11 kids on the team and thats
it.  13 kids can not play, so in saying that, I would take a big project once in awhile.
A four year kid much like Bo Ryan does.

I think that is a little easier to do when your 10 or 11 are McD all americans.  With the possible exception of Vander none of the Buzz recruits could be called can't miss prospects.  Everybody is high on Juan right now but who knows.  Maybe he just never makes the transition to Big E basketball and Lindsay ends up playing like Jimmy Butler.  Two years from now Juan is the one transfering and Lindsay is your main stay.  I say fill the roster and as long as you give a guy a chance to earn PT from what they do in practice everyone should be able to live with that. 

[TedBaxter]

Time is running out for 2011 high school graduates committing as Marquette's second summer session starts in just over two, so if we don't hear anything within the next 4 or 5 days, I think the only addition(s) would be a graduate transfer like the player from Vanderbilt or a transfer who has to sit out the year.

With Singleton, Marquette has 12 players and with Jake Thomas sitting out, they would have 13 to practice with who are D1 level players and with 12 players, 6 frontcourt and 6 backcourt eligible to play next year, I wouldn't take another player just to take another player.  Bank the two scholarships where you can try to land a player like Steve Taylor as a 4/3 and recruit another 4/5 with the other scholarship in a stronger 2012 class. 

[jsglow]

Time is running out for 2011 high school graduates committing as Marquette's second summer session starts in just over two, so if we don't hear anything within the next 4 or 5 days, I think the only addition(s) would be a graduate transfer like the player from Vanderbilt or a transfer who has to sit out the year.

With Singleton, Marquette has 12 players and with Jake Thomas sitting out, they would have 13 to practice with who are D1 level players and with 12 players, 6 frontcourt and 6 backcourt eligible to play next year, I wouldn't take another player just to take another player.  Bank the two scholarships where you can try to land a player like Steve Taylor as a 4/3 and recruit another 4/5 with the other scholarship in a stronger 2012 class. 

And the calculation goes down by one.  As of this moment, we have 12 for practice.  That's not enough.  Sure don't want that 4 on 4 scenario we faced in 2009-10.  At some point one needs to ink at least one kid.

[jsglow]

I truly don't know what is still available but I am of the mindset that, given the make-up of next year's roster (from a size and position perspective), if Buzz & Co is looking to add another piece to the '11 puzzle this would be a perfect opportunity to take a flyer on a project big (again, assuming there is one even available).  We're stacked on the wings and it's safe assumption that O'tule and Gardner will have the lions share of the minutes available at the 5 this season, why not bring in a big body to compete every day in practice, bulk up, work with the coaches and see if we can't develop a serviceable post player?

I think that'd be a better use of a scholarship than another guy that'll contribute to a logjam...but that said, if we do bring in Lindsay, obviously it'll be based on a decision from far-more-informed individuals than anyone of us...gonna be interesting to see how it plays out.

As I think about it further post David, I now think I'm in the 'Best Available' camp.  Maybe not a PG but that requires a bit more thought.  Be open to a quailty kid be it 2-3 year JUCO, a sit-out D1 transfer, or even a late Frosh at the 2-5 position.  I'm convinced we need another, even if only for work in the AL.

[GGGG]

Another player that hasn't commited, and I am wondering if it is an academics issue, is Chris Bryant from Florida.

[YoungMUFan4]

Another player that hasn't commited, and I am wondering if it is an academics issue, is Chris Bryant from Florida.

He's going to attend Fishburne Military Academy

[GGGG]

Ah OK...thanks Young...hadn't heard.

[bamamarquettefan]

I understand the counter arguments, but I still don't ever see how it can help a team to deliberately not use every scholarship available to take a shot.

Unless I've been misunderstanding the story, Buzz filled a spot with a ZERO star player out of junior college who he had never seen play for no other reason than Joe Fulce asked him too and he had nothing else to do with the scholarship.  He could have banked that one, but instead we got Jimmy Butler.

You just never know.  Take a shot, give the player a shot to prove he is being underestimated, and if he has to transfer he can move down to a Boston University or somewhere else with a year under his belt against top flight D1 players.

Sure, I'd love to have Buzz tell a guy he is going to really have to go out and prove he belongs at the MArquette level, but all these kids and coaches now know these are only one year commitments, so I say take the best shot you can and sign him in the end.

[TedBaxter]

I understand the counter arguments, but I still don't ever see how it can help a team to deliberately not use every scholarship available to take a shot.

Unless I've been misunderstanding the story, Buzz filled a spot with a ZERO star player out of junior college who he had never seen play for no other reason than Joe Fulce asked him too and he had nothing else to do with the scholarship.  He could have banked that one, but instead we got Jimmy Butler.

You just never know.  Take a shot, give the player a shot to prove he is being underestimated, and if he has to transfer he can move down to a Boston University or somewhere else with a year under his belt against top flight D1 players.

Sure, I'd love to have Buzz tell a guy he is going to really have to go out and prove he belongs at the MArquette level, but all these kids and coaches now know these are only one year commitments, so I say take the best shot you can and sign him in the end.

Scott Monarch was the assistant coach at Tyler, so I think the idea that Buzz had no clue on Butler is wayyyyyyy overstated.  Jimmy had over 40 points in Tyler's playoff loss and the game was on an internet feed that was archived and I'm 99.99% sure Buzz saw what he was getting.

[NersEllenson]

I understand the counter arguments, but I still don't ever see how it can help a team to deliberately not use every scholarship available to take a shot.

Unless I've been misunderstanding the story, Buzz filled a spot with a ZERO star player out of junior college who he had never seen play for no other reason than Joe Fulce asked him too and he had nothing else to do with the scholarship.  He could have banked that one, but instead we got Jimmy Butler.

You just never know.  Take a shot, give the player a shot to prove he is being underestimated, and if he has to transfer he can move down to a Boston University or somewhere else with a year under his belt against top flight D1 players.

Sure, I'd love to have Buzz tell a guy he is going to really have to go out and prove he belongs at the MArquette level, but all these kids and coaches now know these are only one year commitments, so I say take the best shot you can and sign him in the end.

To bank or not to bank? That is the question.  Catch 22.  Some here get all up in arms over the transfer rate.  The reality is that if Buzz has to tell a kid - hey, I think you will struggle at mu, but I'll give you a 1-year shot - that kid's contribution to the program/practice, and definitely game impact is likely to be ZERO.  Buzz has said he is starting to reap 'compound interest' on the recruiting trail.  2012 is a deep class.  mu is in on a lot of good talent.  Buzz now has a Sweet 16 to sell, and his loyalty to MU.  It is only goinhg to get easier for Buzz on the recruiting trail, and he will land some of the top 100 kids he is in on for 2012.  Why take a flier at this point.  12 guys plus Jake Thomas is plenty to do everything you want to do in practice...

[jsglow]

Ners,

Am I missing somebody?  Isn't it 11 before Jake?  I really don't think you head into October with 12 kids doing Boot Camp.  11 eligible to play, fine.  But you need more for practice in my opinion.

[TedBaxter]

Ners,

Am I missing somebody?  Isn't it 11 before Jake?  I really don't think you head into October with 12 kids doing Boot Camp.  11 eligible to play, fine.  But you need more for practice in my opinion.

Hold an on-campus tryout for a walk-on.

[GGGG]

Where do people think we don't have enough bodies to practice?  C'mon...if Buzz thinks we need another, just get another walk-on.

Some people here will find anything to worry about.

[bamamarquettefan]

Scott Monarch was the assistant coach at Tyler, so I think the idea that Buzz had no clue on Butler is wayyyyyyy overstated.  Jimmy had over 40 points in Tyler's playoff loss and the game was on an internet feed that was archived and I'm 99.99% sure Buzz saw what he was getting.

That's a valid point then.  I doubt he completely realized what he was getting, but granted based on your email he may have at least realized he had a huge potential upside.  Let me amend my comment then to say that I believe it's better to either take a longshot with someone, or trust that Buzz has pulled a Jimmy Butler out of the hat rather than just banking it.