Durley granted release

[GGGG]

In all fairness, both times Buzz "backed out" it worked out for the kid.

What?  DJ Newbill went to Southern Miss...transferred to Penn State...sat out a year because of the transfer and meanwhile his coach left.  That worked out better than going to MU?

Roseboro went to St. Bonaventure and transferred to UMBC. 

C'mon....  Buzz just needs to stop signing kids like this.

[MUMac]

So Mac, what about Brett Roseboro?? Didn't Buzz stand behind him when he signed him, only for Roseboro to get to MU and realize he wouldn't get much playing time and ask for his release?? That left Buzz in a bind, and a player short. It works both ways. Maybe Buzz did him a favor??

Or.....how about this....Buzz signs 5 or 6 Durley's or Roseboro's, and suddenly MU isn't winning games because the kids aren't good enough to play at the BE level. Then everyone gets upset, because "Buzz can't recruit, etc etc". It's a double edged sword. Then are you still glad he "stood behind the kids he signed"??

How many times did we read "in Buzz we trust" when it came to discussions about Durley.  Sorry, but this is 3 now - Roseboro, Newbill and Durley.  I am not a fan of this.  Why sign him in November then?  Durley was planning to come here.  UW has signed players who did not pan out, they did not cut them loose.  As much as it pains me to say it, I prefer that way.

The favor would have been not to rush to sign him.  Buzz did, and 5 months later cut him loose.  As I stated, I am not a fan of this crap.  I see all the rationalization going on.  I cannot and will not do that.  

Buzz has gone down a notch in my mind.  And I have been a staunch Buzz defender.

[chapman]

Nolan's all but going to prep school, he's doubtful to qualify.  Give us Lockett now.  If anyone else leaves the spot is likely going unfilled until 2013, in which case we have room for Nunn and/or perhaps then a big.

Love that Buzz is looking to shape his best roster continually.  Relieved Durley won't be on the roster.  I have no problem with it, I don't like him signing these crappy bigs only to get their hopes up and then have to part ways.   Wish he could land at least a top 250 big.

Agree.  I understand it's talking out of your ass to say "go sign a talented stud big man", but when Buzz has whiffed with these guys he's whiffed spin around and fall on your butt in the dirt bad.  Roseboro wasn't even a D1 player much less a high major, and with Mbao it took until his third year on a roster, second year playing, and MAC competition for him to finally score a basket at the end of the year.  If you can't find a talented player might as well go sign a Jamil Lott or Trend Blackledge, not exactly studs but at least they knew what game they were playing.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Anyone remember the "false"  Jim Hicks report back at the end of November quoting Durley's mom about Aaron going to JUCO?

[strotty]

Anyone remember the "false"  Jim Hicks report back at the end of November quoting Durley's mom about Aaron going to JUCO?

She and Aaron both vehemently denied that report, so unless they were telling bold-faced lies to me on the phone (and doing so pretty convincingly), I don't think this was decided upon in November, or anywhere near that date.

[Lennys Tap]

Whatever makes you sleep at night I guess.  I fail to see how Durley benefited from these transactions.  We should have never signed him.

Aaron was so disappointing as a high school senior he rarely played. If he came to Marquette the likely scenario was a)burning a year of eligibilty stapled to the bench, then b)transferring to a more suitable situation and having to sit out a year. How is opening up the recruiting process and finding a better fit not more benificial than that?

When Buzz signed Aaron he was the 27th rated center in his class and way ahead of Otule at the same stage of his career. This year his stock dropped like a rock according to his own coach. I feel terrible for the kid, but the fact that he went from prospect to suspect is on him. Why compound the mistake and punish both him and Marquette?

[Dr. Blackheart]

She and Aaron both vehemently denied that report, so unless they were telling bold-faced lies to me on the phone (and doing so pretty convincingly), I don't think this was decided upon in November, or anywhere near that date.

I didn't say they lied, but Hicks gets info from other sources as well.  This was well whispered.

[strotty]

I didn't say they lied, but Hicks gets info from other sources as well.  This was well whispered.

His only source was Durley's mom, and she said her words were misconstrued.

[Hards Alumni]

Aaron was so disappointing as a high school senior he rarely played. If he came to Marquette the likely scenario was a)burning a year of eligibilty stapled to the bench, then b)transferring to a more suitable situation and having to sit out a year. How is opening up the recruiting process and finding a better fit not more benificial than that?

When Buzz signed Aaron he was the 27th rated center in his class and way ahead of Otule at the same stage of his career. This year his stock dropped like a rock according to his own coach. I feel terrible for the kid, but the fact that he went from prospect to suspect is on him. Why compound the mistake and punish both him and Marquette?

I agree.

Buzz probably said something along the lines of, "you will probably not play next year, and then I will have to pull your scholly.  Or you could get out of your NLI.  I recommend you pull out of your NLI rather than burn a year here riding the bench."

What is the sense in bringing Durley in for a year?  So some people can sleep better at night?

This was a good turn of events for all parties involved.

[GGGG]

Aaron was so disappointing as a high school senior he rarely played. If he came to Marquette the likely scenario was a)burning a year of eligibilty stapled to the bench, then b)transferring to a more suitable situation and having to sit out a year. How is opening up the recruiting process and finding a better fit not more benificial than that?

When Buzz signed Aaron he was the 27th rated center in his class and way ahead of Otule at the same stage of his career. This year his stock dropped like a rock according to his own coach. I feel terrible for the kid, but the fact that he went from prospect to suspect is on him. Why compound the mistake and punish both him and Marquette?

Fine.  I'm going to withhold further judgement until the rest of the story comes out...including comments from the Durley family.  If they agreed with this, then you are right...who am I to argue?

Buzz probably said something along the lines of, "you will probably not play next year, and then I will have to pull your scholly.  Or you could get out of your NLI.  I recommend you pull out of your NLI rather than burn a year here riding the bench."

I honestly don't know what would be better.

[Dr. Blackheart]

His only source was Durley's mom, and she said her words were misconstrued.

His only quoted source.  Hicks has many other sources, enough to ask her the question at the time.  No coincidence, nor was Courtney's interview the other day.

[thebigjake]

This doesn't look great on the surface, but I have zero problem with it if Buzz and the staff were clear with the kid from day one that this could happen if his game didn't progress.

If that is true, and like Blackheart said it has been whispered since about the time he signed that an agreement of sorts existed like this.

That is a win-win IMO. Buzz signs the kid early, but is open with him about the downside. If he blows up, we have a valuable commodity locked up. If he doesn't he'll be released with enough time to find a suitable landing spot. If he truly isn't ready for MU (and that seems obvious) than this outcome is WAY better for both sides than having him show up, ride the pine for a year while losing a year of eligibility, only to have to transfer and sit out another year.

I fail to see the problem with this.  

And btw, only my opinion but I think the Newbill situation may have been different (no inside info there) and that situation didn't seem as OK to me because the kid wasn't left with as much time to find another option. IIRC, the Newbill/Jamil trade happened in mid to late summer.

[Dawson Rental]

I have no problem with this happening. It gives the kid enough time to land on his feet and gives us time to sign a higher skilled player. Really is a win -win for both parties. I predict Nolan fills the spot.

Not unless Marquette is becoming a prep school which is where Nolan is headed, again.

[Tugg Speedman]

Roseboro ... September
Newbill ... Summer
Durley ... late April

Is this a real trend is dealing with marginal recruits or a coincidence? 

If it is a real trend.  Early is better and Buzz seems to be making the call much earlier. 

And I agree this was the right move.  How does MU and Durley benefit from Durley DNPing at the end of the bench?

Glad he was given the time to find he right place.

[BCHoopster]

This all stems from the Otule injury.  Buzz is doing what he needs to keep winning.  Wilson signing set the tone as well.  Buzz gets a one year player like Russell Wilson, gets a quality player
with experience and becomes a better team for next year.  Lights a fire under TJ Taylor and Todd Mayo.  There is competition on this team for playing time now.  Vander may have to watch
out as well.  I would not be surprised with another transfer if Luckett signs next week.  It is going to be tough for Anderson or Jones to see the court, next year or ever.  Big time baskeball is at MU again!

[MU82]

This doesn't look great on the surface, but I have zero problem with it if Buzz and the staff were clear with the kid from day one that this could happen if his game didn't progress.

If that is true, and like Blackheart said it has been whispered since about the time he signed that an agreement of sorts existed like this.

That is a win-win IMO. Buzz signs the kid early, but is open with him about the downside. If he blows up, we have a valuable commodity locked up. If he doesn't he'll be released with enough time to find a suitable landing spot. If he truly isn't ready for MU (and that seems obvious) than this outcome is WAY better for both sides than having him show up, ride the pine for a year while losing a year of eligibility, only to have to transfer and sit out another year.

I fail to see the problem with this.  

And btw, only my opinion but I think the Newbill situation may have been different (no inside info there) and that situation didn't seem as OK to me because the kid wasn't left with as much time to find another option. IIRC, the Newbill/Jamil trade happened in mid to late summer.

Wow, are you giving Buzz the benefit of the doubt here.

I like Buzz. Like him a lot and have always supported him, right from when he first got the job. Glad he's our coach. Etc. I just wish he wouldn't sign kids like this in the first place. It's not "win-win." It's loser lose.

To sign Durley, fill him with hope, only to toss him aside five months later ... I just don't like it.

I know Buzz isn't the only guy ever to have done it. That doesn't mean we have to like it.

As I (and so many others) said so many times, if you're 6-10 and not even good enough to play garbage time in high school, you obviously aren't a high-major player. Yet anytime any of us wondered about Durley's rightful place as a college athlete, we were told to shut up and trust Buzz. Please.

The last few weeks, it became so obvious that Buzz was going to dump Durley, I actually found myself feeling sorry for the kid. The speculation on this board that it might be this guy or that guy ... come on. Durley was so obvious.

And then his tool of a high school coach does an absolute hatchet job in Buzz's behalf. The more I think about it, the more grotesque it seems. And now these coaches and leaders of young men can tell us it's all about the kids. What a crock.

Still like Buzz. Just disappointed this happened this way. The whole episode was unnecessary, and it ended up reflecting poorly on both him and the program.

[BCHoopster]

Otules injury put Buzz in a pickle.  Luckett wanting to come to MU sealed the deal, if he told Buzz he was coming.

[Canadian Dimes]

Right move?  I cannot agree with that.  I understand the insensitive side of college basketball.  I don't like to see it on display at my alma mater.  Buzz signed Durley 5 months ago.  Durley has been planing on attending MU.  I don't like this situation at all.  Really the seedy side of the sport.  I am not a fan of what just went down.

Absolutely Disagree buzz did not know Otile was gonna get hurt.  If otule does not get get hurt then Durley u u is still coming.  U cannot ask buzz to be more loyal to durley than otule

[KenoshaWarrior]

I just do not agree with releasing a kid you signed. The smart thing to do is not sign kids in the early signing period, if you are not sure thye are ready. Frankly, I hope Durley turns into a stud and beats MU or whatever team Buzz is coaching in the future.

Why would you hope that?

[KenoshaWarrior]

Love that Buzz is looking to shape his best roster continually.  Relieved Durley won't be on the roster.  I have no problem with it, I don't like him signing these crappy bigs only to get their hopes up and then have to part ways.   Wish he could land at least a top 250 big.

Agreed.  Always look to make your roster better.  You make a recruiting mistake? Fix it before the kid gets to school. 

[brewcity77]

Don't like this at all. Largely because I really liked the combination of what we heard early and what we heard from Aaron and his family. But I really don't like us having the offer out there and pulling the rug out from under this kid. I trust our coaching staff to make solid, educated decisions when it comes to bringing kids in. There was no injury here we know of, nothing that Durley did to deserve this. We agreed to give him his shot when we accepted his LOI.

What I especially don't like is how this seems to contradict Buzz's character. As I remember, he never personally watched JFB. He saw DJO for only a few minutes, and he saw Jae in one game, get in foul trouble, and basically play cheerleader. If he's willing to take a chance on them, why not Aaron? I can't help but feel like this is a bit of a character revealed moment, and not in a good way.

One positive...our PR department finally wins one. Excellent timing on the announcement. I may not like the news, but for once it was handled appropriately.

[Canadian Dimes]

That is a different issue than what you brought up earlier.  You said the "scholarship had to come from somewhere."  We had the scholarship even when Otule got hurt and needed a 6th.

And it seems pretty clear that MU is playing with words.  I dont think Durley requested this...he was openly cheering for MU on twitter a couple weeks ago.

No kidding. But buzz has to choose durley or otule n he is gonna be loyal to chris

[KenoshaWarrior]

Cue Rodents coming out the woodwork in 3.....2......1.....

[The Process]

Cue Rodents coming out the woodwork in 3.....2......1.....

They're too busy having a bud light with Bo.

That reminds me - time to drink!

... and Golden Tee!

[dw3dw3dw3]

Don't like this at all. Largely because I really liked the combination of what we heard early and what we heard from Aaron and his family. But I really don't like us having the offer out there and pulling the rug out from under this kid. I trust our coaching staff to make solid, educated decisions when it comes to bringing kids in. There was no injury here we know of, nothing that Durley did to deserve this. We agreed to give him his shot when we accepted his LOI.

What I especially don't like is how this seems to contradict Buzz's character. As I remember, he never personally watched JFB. He saw DJO for only a few minutes, and he saw Jae in one game, get in foul trouble, and basically play cheerleader. If he's willing to take a chance on them, why not Aaron? I can't help but feel like this is a bit of a character revealed moment, and not in a good way.

One positive...our PR department finally wins one. Excellent timing on the announcement. I may not like the news, but for once it was handled appropriately.

I think you are jumping to conclusions a little, but I guess that is what message boards are for.  It would be nice to get some quotes from the parents/coach. I'm just hoping everyone is on board this time compared to the Newbill episode where it was clear not everyone was informed of the situation.