Patrick Hazel update

[NYWarrior]

on Rosiak's blog.

http://www.jsonline.com/blog/index.aspx?id=308&month=03&year=2007&entry=35065

[Nukem2]

Sounds like Robert Byrd from the late 70's / early 80's ...??

[TVDirector]

I'd take a Byrd type.
A good, unheralded guy who did things right.. and well.

[77ncaachamps]

Love the potential - a Crean hallmark in his recruits - but got to say UGH to this:

Offensively, Hazel remains a work in progress.

"He's going to need to work on his skill level – his passing, his perimeter shooting. Even his post game," said Mantegna. "He's still not there yet. That's why we wanted to send him somewhere where they'd do a great job developing guys, which I think Coach Crean does."


Another project!

[ChicosBailBonds]

Look up Roy Hibbert when he was signed by Georgetown....the classic "project".

By no means am I saying that's where Hazel shows up, but there are so many "projects" for bigs, the country is littered with them. 

From today's paper

"Hibbert, a junior, was the quintessential "project." Set back by injuries as a high school freshman and sophomore and not highly recruited by colleges, Hibbert was slow, awkward and not well conditioned as a Georgetown freshman, averaging 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. His improvement the past two years has been remarkable, as evidenced by his sweet spin move for a basket against North Carolina on Sunday. He could be selected in the middle of the first round if he enters the draft. "

[NYWarrior]

gimme a hard worker with no ego any time........sounds like a nice role player for Crean at the very least

[The Lens]

Hibbert was 7'2" not 6'7".  There is a world of difference. 

IMO the problem with all these effort guys is that's all there is, effort.  Sometimes though the effort doesn't pay for groceries.  I'd take an over-weight under-acheiver with deft footwork and an offensive move or two anyday. 

It's really amazing that we haven't recruited a big man since Lovette*.

(*RJax was here for 1 season, though what a season it was and Merritt was very pedestrian without RJax and Lovette didn't need RJax to be effective) 

[augoman]

Interesting point, Damon, and I remember the J/S reporter saying that , to paraphrase..."Lovette couldn't play at Carroll College".

[Sir Lawrence]

It's really amazing that we haven't recruited a big man since Lovette*.

Hey, what about Grimm?

"He's what we used to call a center before basketball got all sophisticated," said Brighton coach Dan Christner. "He's a back-to- the-basket, drop step and driving type of player. I think the people in Milwaukee will really like him."

He said he picked Marquette over Boston College, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford and Xavier.

Grimm is the first player to commit for Crean's third recruiting class.

AND, 6' 10" Steve Novak,

AND, Amoroso,

AND, Barro,

AND, our three point specialist, Kinsella?

[The Lens]

If Grimm chose MU over Stanford or UNC he should have his head examined.  I love MU but we are easily third on that list. 

[bma725]

If Grimm chose MU over Stanford or UNC he should have his head examined.  I love MU but we are easily third on that list. 

Never heard about him with UNC or Florida, and I think Michigan State wasn't that involved.  The others are correct.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hibbert was 7'2" not 6'7".  There is a world of difference. 

IMO the problem with all these effort guys is that's all there is, effort.  Sometimes though the effort doesn't pay for groceries.  I'd take an over-weight under-acheiver with deft footwork and an offensive move or two anyday. 

It's really amazing that we haven't recruited a big man since Lovette*.

(*RJax was here for 1 season, though what a season it was and Merritt was very pedestrian without RJax and Lovette didn't need RJax to be effective) 

I believe your syntax is incorrect.  We have recruited tons of big men since Lovette.  We haven't signed any, that is the difference.

I merely used Hibbert as an example because he was a project, as are many big men.

[Pakuni]

Hibbert was 7'2" not 6'7".  There is a world of difference. 

IMO the problem with all these effort guys is that's all there is, effort.  Sometimes though the effort doesn't pay for groceries.  I'd take an over-weight under-acheiver with deft footwork and an offensive move or two anyday. 

It's really amazing that we haven't recruited a big man since Lovette*.

(*RJax was here for 1 season, though what a season it was and Merritt was very pedestrian without RJax and Lovette didn't need RJax to be effective) 

Scott Merritt certainly qualifies as a big man recruit. And while he may not quite have lived up to expectations, 'pedestrian' is a bit harsh. He actually improved both in scoring rebounding after Jackson left. I'm sure some of that could be attributed to more opportunities, but was a solid player, if nothing else.

[SqueallyDRyan]

his syntax (word order) was just fine, i believe that you are having issues with his diction (word choice)

[ChicosBailBonds]

his syntax (word order) was just fine, i believe that you are having issues with his diction (word choice)

LOL      Fair enough

[The Lens]

It's really amazing that we haven't recruited a big man since Lovette*.

Hey, what about Grimm?

"He's what we used to call a center before basketball got all sophisticated," said Brighton coach Dan Christner. "He's a back-to- the-basket, drop step and driving type of player. I think the people in Milwaukee will really like him."

He said he picked Marquette over Boston College, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford and Xavier.

Grimm is the first player to commit for Crean's third recruiting class.

AND, 6' 10" Steve Novak,

AND, Amoroso,

AND, Barro,

AND, our three point specialist, Kinsella?

Look I love all four of those guys you noted but how did Amo turn out?  And when you need to pound it inide how effective were Novak, Ooze & Kinsella?  To clarify my "diction" I should state we haven't had any 4 year big men who were especially offensively skilled since Lovette.  Amo would have been the first.

[77ncaachamps]

I agree with Damon: 7'2" is different from 6'7".

And your statement, Chicos, about projects are abound especially with big men, is also correct but it applies to ALL players.

But I'll easily accept a 7'2" project (can't teach height) over a 6'7" project.

Heck, our BENCH is full of projects! And that won't take you to the promised land!