Nunn signed with illini

[Pakuni]

I would love to have him but his loss does not set us back or dent Buzz's recruiting reputation.  Top 50 kids are what we are supposed to get going forward.  If not him, Buzz will find another.  Trust Buzz

I'm not on the ledge thinking this is repeat of Joe Wolf spurring us for UNC in the 1980s.  We are in a much better position now.

I don't think anyone is going on a ledge.
I just think the whole "we didn't want/need/are better off without him anyway" stuff since he announced his decision reeks of Bucky-like sour grapes.
He's a very good prospect who would have helped MU. That is all.

[jsglow]

I wonder when Buzz essentially understood that Nunn was headed elsewhere?

[Groin_pull]

I wonder when Buzz essentially understood that Nunn was headed elsewhere?

I would think Buzz has known it would play out like this for a while. When you offer—and a kid continues to explore all available options—you have to know something is up. I believe Buzz recently had an in-home visit...but it was all over by that point. Buzz wants players who want to be at MU. That's doesn't describe Nunn. 

[Lennys Tap]

I wonder when Buzz essentially understood that Nunn was headed elsewhere?

According to one Illini fan Buzz had tired of the dance (not the player). When he pushed for an answer I think he heard the one he expected.

[jsglow]

According to one Illini fan Buzz had tired of the dance (not the player). When he pushed for an answer I think he heard the one he expected.

I suspect there's some truth in that.  I might speculate that Buzz has someone in mind and wasn't willing to wait any longer for fears of losing the candidate.  I recall reading that Buzz was described as a bit pushy during the in-house.  Perhaps Nunn was #1 but Buzz couldn't afford to risk #1a any longer.  Assuming that's the case, perhaps the deal is nearing completion (or already done) pending only an announcement delay to separate it from Nunn's decision.  Anyway, I hope all the kids end up happy and successful.

[Tugg Speedman]

I was just relaying what I heard.  Feel free to educate me regarding what really went down.  Also, I could very well see how outsiders could view MU as unstable at this point in time - conference, coaching turnover, coaching reprimands / suspensions, athletic sex scandal / new AD, etc.

Everything you cite is typical of the stuff made up by traditionals sitting in a dorm talking out their arse.  None of it mattered in Nunn's decision.  If it did, Nunn was focusing on the wrong things.

He went to Illinois because he liked it and has an opportunity to start from day 1.  He's also betting that Groce can turn things around. 

[MUfan12]

According to one Illini fan Buzz had tired of the dance (not the player). When he pushed for an answer I think he heard the one he expected.

He did the same thing with Jamil Wilson. So Nunn will transfer in next year.

All part of the plan.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I was just relaying what I heard.  Feel free to educate me regarding what really went down.  Also, I could very well see how outsiders could view MU as unstable at this point in time - conference, coaching turnover, coaching reprimands / suspensions, athletic sex scandal / new AD, etc.

No offense but you could fill in the Illini here.  Fact is, this was about PT and Groce would guarantee it and Buzz would not.  Mayo returning closed it.

[Tugg Speedman]

No offense but you could fill in the Illini here.  Fact is, this was about PT and Groce would guarantee it and Buzz would not.  Mayo returning closed it.

This makes A LOT more sense and why I said he might be fifth or sixth guy off the bench his Freshman year, and maybe third or fourth his sophomore year depending on how guys equal to him developed.  I was not knocking Nunn but noting the depth and quality we have at his position.

Not so at UI, he is the "the man" from day one.

[NersEllenson]

I don't think anyone is going on a ledge.
I just think the whole "we didn't want/need/are better off without him anyway" stuff since he announced his decision reeks of Bucky-like sour grapes.
He's a very good prospect who would have helped MU. That is all.

Please.  You jumped my ass for a post in which I said I would have liked to see Nunn in an MU uniform, however, that his recruitment was turning into a soap opera - showing signs of being a prima donna, diva, etc.  There was evidence to that on Nunn's twitter over the last year.  Sounds like Buzz tired of the game too, and was ready for the dance to end.  It's not sour grapes - it is just reality.  You can like a player, but not like the drama.  See Maymon, Tim/Jerrone.  Nunn wanted immediate playing time and from all signs, would not have done well sitting on the bench...which was a definite possibility at MU with the current roster.

There are other good prospects who can help MU, and want to be at MU.  That is all.

[brewcity77]

Nunn is a good prospect and there's really no way around that losing him sucks. But he wasn't a make-or-break prospect. With EC Matthews, Darin Johnson, Kam Williams, and Ron Patterson, there are still options out there. And with Blue and Mayo overlapping Nunn's first two years, he was far more a need for the Illini than he was for us.

I don't begrudge the Nunn family, either. It was clear Melvin favored us and only seemed to change his tune when it was apparent Kendrick was more interested in the glamor, glitz, and minutes than he was the proven system and waiting for his chance. That's fine. We all know what it's like to be 17, and unlike Jeronne Maymon, he went somewhere where early PT was a near-guarantee. And I hardly think Melvin is like Tim. He seems to want what is best for his son first, but also what makes his son happy. I don't get any "meal-ticket urgency" sense out of him that Tim seemed to exude.

We swung and missed. That's recruiting. Now let's hope Buzz can reel in one of those fallback options.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Please.  You jumped my ass for a post in which I said I would have liked to see Nunn in an MU uniform, however, that his recruitment was turning into a soap opera - showing signs of being a prima donna, diva, etc.  There was evidence to that on Nunn's twitter over the last year.  Sounds like Buzz tired of the game too, and was ready for the dance to end.  It's not sour grapes - it is just reality.  You can like a player, but not like the drama.  See Maymon, Tim/Jerrone.  Nunn wanted immediate playing time and from all signs, would not have done well sitting on the bench...which was a definite possibility at MU with the current roster.

There are other good prospects who can help MU, and want to be at MU.  That is all.

You can like the player and dislike the the "drama", but when you only bring up the "drama" after the kid signs someplace else, it seems like sour grapes.

I assume you are just being honest, but your timing is poor. If you thought the kid was a diva, you could have said it a while ago, right? Why wait until he signs with U of I?

[ceh]

No offense but you could fill in the Illini here.  Fact is, this was about PT and Groce would guarantee it and Buzz would not.  Mayo returning closed it.

That spaghetti didn't stick.  They fully understood the PT opportunity at Illinois, but still contended that KN's decision was influenced by internal issues at MU.  Could have been that Buzz wanted an answer and that rubbed the Nunns the wrong way.

I truthfully think that Nunn made the right decision for a lot of reasons.  I think Groce sold him big time on Illinois / Chicago connection, and that KN would be a big factor in getting the program back where it should be - the tournament.

[ceh]

Everything you cite is typical of the stuff made up by traditionals sitting in a dorm talking out their arse.  None of it mattered in Nunn's decision.  If it did, Nunn was focusing on the wrong things.

[Could be, but my colleagues aren't in dorm rooms...]

He went to Illinois because he liked it and has an opportunity to start from day 1.  He's also betting that Groce can turn things around. 

[I guess you and I agree because that is what I said in my original post, the part you did not quote.]

[Lennys Tap]

You can like the player and dislike the the "drama", but when you only bring up the "drama" after the kid signs someplace else, it seems like sour grapes.

I assume you are just being honest, but your timing is poor. If you thought the kid was a diva, you could have said it a while ago, right? Why wait until he signs with U of I?

I see your point regarding sour grapes, but this was an odd recruitment all along. Commitment, then decommitment from A+M. Dad wanting Marquette, player wanting a blueblood. When UCLA recruits a higher ranked player, he backs off his "blueblood" position and makes immediate playing time the #1 priority. I wouldn't call him a diva, but I do agree that winning a recruiting battle for a kid who isn't "all in" can mean problems down the road.

That said, Buzz still wanted him. Talking about possible red flags when Buzz was still pursuing him undercuts his judgement and if there's enough talk maybe it hurts our chances. So I'd argue the time to dissect Nunn's recruitment is after the fact. And the conclusion that we missed on a very good player who was conflicted about where he wanted to be and why - a situation that could be problematical down the road - seems reasonable to me.

Good luck to Kendrick.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I see your point regarding sour grapes, but this was an odd recruitment all along. Commitment, then decommitment from A+M. Dad wanting Marquette, player wanting a blueblood. When UCLA recruits a higher ranked player, he backs off his "blueblood" position and makes immediate playing time the #1 priority. I wouldn't call him a diva, but I do agree that winning a recruiting battle for a kid who isn't "all in" can mean problems down the road.

That said, Buzz still wanted him. Talking about possible red flags when Buzz was still pursuing him undercuts his judgement and if there's enough talk maybe it hurts our chances. So I'd argue the time to dissect Nunn's recruitment is after the fact. And the conclusion that we missed on a very good player who was conflicted about where he wanted to be and why - a situation that could be problematical down the road - seems reasonable to me.

Good luck to Kendrick.

For me, personally, I don't really get into the recruiting minutia, so none of the above stuff bothered me.

I don't know the kid. I don't know the conversations he is having. I'm not comfortable drawing a lot of conclusions on some of the newspaper quotes and whatnot.

I don't completely dismiss the concern, but none of it was expressed when everybody was drooling over him this summer.

Now he commits (someplace else), and then people call him a prima donna.

He's the same kid that he was a week ago. If we liked him then, we should like him now, right?

[NersEllenson]

You can like the player and dislike the the "drama", but when you only bring up the "drama" after the kid signs someplace else, it seems like sour grapes.

I assume you are just being honest, but your timing is poor. If you thought the kid was a diva, you could have said it a while ago, right? Why wait until he signs with U of I?

My original post on the matter said I would have liked to see him in an MU uniform - so I wasn't hating on the kid.  Just making an observation...that he also could have some diva tendencies....and it isn't always a bad thing to "miss" on a diva.  I did post about 3 weeks ago that reading the tea leaves - I didn't see him coming to MU.  I didn't want to make any type of negative post prior to the kid making his decision - if the kid and his family potentially read the board. 

[Pakuni]

Please.  You jumped my ass for a post in which I said I would have liked to see Nunn in an MU uniform, however, that his recruitment was turning into a soap opera - showing signs of being a prima donna, diva, etc. 

Please.
I "jumped your ass" (really wish you had phrased that differently) after you called a high school kid you don't know an "attention whore" and other less-than-flattering terms and claimed it was best for MU that he went elsewhere. Nowhere did you state anything about a soap opera or use the phrase "showing signs."
And, as has been mentioned several times, you only saw fit to raise these concerns after Nunn committed elsewhere.

Just like Bucky fans and their "Bo cooled on him" mantra every time they lose out on as recruit, some here continue to fabricate excuses. Buzz was tired of the drama. Buzz was pushing for an answer. How could any of you possibly know this?
Look, MU recruited the kid hard and wanted him. He decided to go elsewhere. It happens every year at every school not named Kentucky. Move on to the next prospect.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I didn't want to make any type of negative post prior to the kid making his decision - if the kid and his family potentially read the board. 

Then why say anything after? He's the same kid, with the same family.

We should extend him the same courtesy, even if he's not wearing blue and gold, right?

[GGGG]

Please.
I "jumped your ass" (really wish you had phrased that differently) after you called a high school kid you don't know an "attention whore" and other less-than-flattering terms and claimed it was best for MU that he went elsewhere. Nowhere did you state anything about a soap opera or use the phrase "showing signs."
And, as has been mentioned several times, you only saw fit to raise these concerns after Nunn committed elsewhere.

Just like Bucky fans and their "Bo cooled on him" mantra every time they lose out on as recruit, some here continue to fabricate excuses. Buzz was tired of the drama. Buzz was pushing for an answer. How could any of you possibly know this?
Look, MU recruited the kid hard and wanted him. He decided to go elsewhere. It happens every year at every school not named Kentucky. Move on to the next prospect.

Exactly.  Why this board has to microanalyze every recruit's rejection when no one here really knows the reason is beyond me.

[Lennys Tap]

For me, personally, I don't really get into the recruiting minutia, so none of the above stuff bothered me.

I don't know the kid. I don't know the conversations he is having. I'm not comfortable drawing a lot of conclusions on some of the newspaper quotes and whatnot.

I don't completely dismiss the concern, but none of it was expressed when everybody was drooling over him this summer.

Now he commits (someplace else), and then people call him a prima donna.

He's the same kid that he was a week ago. If we liked him then, we should like him now, right?

I liked him a week ago and still do. Seems like a good kid. Also like his Dad - seems like a concerned and involved parent.

That said, it was pretty obvious that we were his Dad's choice, not Kendrick's. He wanted either a blueblood or guaranteed immediate PT - at least that's how his quotes read. Given that, MU wasn't his best fit, but as long as Buzz thought he could "learn" to love us I was on board. I don't think that waiting for it all to shake out and then concluding this was maybe the best outcome for all involved is sour grapes. Again, I wish him nothing but the best.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I liked him a week ago and still do. Seems like a good kid. Also like his Dad - seems like a concerned and involved parent.

That said, it was pretty obvious that we were his Dad's choice, not Kendrick's. He wanted either a blueblood or guaranteed immediate PT - at least that's how his quotes read. Given that, MU wasn't his best fit, but as long as Buzz thought he could "learn" to love us I was on board. I don't think that waiting for it all to shake out and then concluding this was maybe the best outcome for all involved is sour grapes. Again, I wish him nothing but the best.

You're entitled to your opinion.

I just can't jump to the conclusion that MU was his father's choice, and ultimately he went to UofI for playing time.

I've read the quotes and articles... but for me, I'm just not comfortable jumping to that conclusion.

Buzz has had a lot of private conversations with the kid and his family. I trust he knows what is going on.

Saying that the kid might be a better fit elsewhere isn't necessarily sour grapes. However, saying a kid should go elsewhere after he signs elsewhere definitely appears like sour grapes. Poor timing at the very least.

[Lennys Tap]

You're entitled to your opinion.

I just can't jump to the conclusion that MU was his father's choice, and ultimately he went to UofI for playing time.

I've read the quotes and articles... but for me, I'm just not comfortable jumping to that conclusion.

Trust me, no one will ever accuse you of "jumping" to conclusions Coming to one period is torture for you.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Trust me, no one will ever accuse you of "jumping" to conclusions Coming to one period is torture for you.

That's fine. I'll wear that hat. God forbid somebody on the internet say "I don't know".

I don't know exactly why Nunn decided to go to U of I. I'm sure he has his reasons, and I'm cool with that.

[BubbaWilliams]

Hey Guns N Ammo, does it get lonely on that pedestal of yours?