Question for Bama/Cracked Sidewalks

[Tugg Speedman]

Talking with some fellow Alumni we noted that MU has up to 8 former players that can log at least one minute in the NBA this coming season.

Wade, Novak, Wes, Lazar, Jimmy, Jae, DJO and finally Jarel/DJ (counting these two as one)

Where does this rank MU?  I think its in the top 10 to 20, correct.

Further, we noted that none of these players were McDonald AAs.  If you will accept that "burger boys" arrive on campus NBA ready, then these 8 MU players were "created in college," not arrived MU pre-wired for the NBA.

So, how many schools will have as many as 8 non McDonald AAs in the NBA?  Or, how many programs "created" 8 NBA players?

Do we lead in this category?

[CTWarrior]

Probably unfair to say we "created" Wade.  He'd have ended up an NCAA star regardless of where he went to college (amd that is not meant as a knock on TC in any way).  But there is good chance the rest of those guys may have missed the NBA if they didn't find themselves at the right college (whether it be being buried at a blue blood, not challenged or developed at an MU level school or not noticed at a smaller school.)

If you are going to take that position, however, you may note that some recent guys may have had the opposite experience, where for whatever reason MU's style held them back.

[EnderWiggen]

I would love to see the numbers on this

[TallTitan34]

At the end of last season, 8 players would give you a tie for 9th.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-rcs-schools_with_top_nba_players_062011

If you go by four-year college players, I'd have to assume we'd be damn near the top if not at the top.

[Blue Horseshoe]

Further, we noted that none of these players were McDonald AAs.  If you will accept that "burger boys" arrive on campus NBA ready, then these 8 MU players were "created in college," not arrived MU pre-wired for the NBA.

I think that is a false assumption. Aren't there plenty of McDonald's All Americans that do not play in the NBA, let alone be considered "NBA ready"?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Here is the link to Bama's previous work from this summer related to this topic, as a reminder.  He is in the middle of running a presidential election so he may not be able to directly answer the OP's question for a bit. Yes, he even runs value-added stats for politicians.   


http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2012/07/buzz-unmatched-in-turning-non-prospects.html

[The Equalizer]

Probably unfair to say we "created" Wade.  He'd have ended up an NCAA star regardless of where he went to college (amd that is not meant as a knock on TC in any way).  But there is good chance the rest of those guys may have missed the NBA if they didn't find themselves at the right college (whether it be being buried at a blue blood, not challenged or developed at an MU level school or not noticed at a smaller school.)

If you are going to take that position, however, you may note that some recent guys may have had the opposite experience, where for whatever reason MU's style held them back.

The "not noticed" argument doesn't wash. If a player is good enough to make they league, they'll be found no matter where they play. In 2012 alone we saw a lottery pick from Weber State and another 1st rounder from St. Boneventure.  There's no hiding from NBA scouts.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Probably unfair to say we "created" Wade.  He'd have ended up an NCAA star regardless of where he went to college (amd that is not meant as a knock on TC in any way).  But there is good chance the rest of those guys may have missed the NBA if they didn't find themselves at the right college (whether it be being buried at a blue blood, not challenged or developed at an MU level school or not noticed at a smaller school.)

If you are going to take that position, however, you may note that some recent guys may have had the opposite experience, where for whatever reason MU's style held them back.

Who are you thinking of here?

[Tugg Speedman]

Who are you thinking of here?

+1. I have no idea what MU player was suppose to make the NBA and did not.  DJ?

[jsglow]

Concur.  Certainly every guy who played his career under Buzz that had a sniff of NBA talent has been given every opportunity to make and succeed in the league.  Some, like DJO and Jerel are 'borderline" but are still given every chance.

[CTWarrior]

Nobody obvious comes to mind, but that's the point isn't it?  Guys with talent who never made it because the didn't find the right fit.  McNeal and DJ, for example, never developed like you thought they would after their freshman seasons.  Maybe they'd have developed differently somewhere else.  Maybe not.  Impossible to know.  Scott Merritt was a big guy with an NBA body and came to MU with some very nice post moves that didn't develop like I thought he would.

For Buzz, it's too early to tell as his guys are just starting to graduate.  Who knows if Jamail Jones went to a different school where the coach was convinced he was a star he would have developed a lot more by now?  Not likely, but impossible to say.

[Tugg Speedman]

Probably unfair to say we "created" Wade.

Yes by the END of his career at MU that was the case.  Not at the beginning.  Remember he lost out to Imari Sawyer for IL player of the year. 

Go back to the summer before his freshman year and how many thought Wade would make the NBA let alone be a star?