New Conference so far not good for recruiting

[Otule's Glass Eye]

From what I have read we have Cohen all but locked up, and we are in good standing with Harris. Cohen is a likely consensus top 100, and Harris is on the rise and around the top 100. I would be happy landing two borderline top 100 players along with a possibly another player or two. Who knows, maybe Cohen and Harris will both shoot up in the rankings just as our 2013 recruits did and be around the top 50. However, I would still be very disappointed if we failed to land either Looney (already lost him) or Stone (if KW's sources are correct,   ). Buzz has done a great job turning unheralded guys into stars, and we have seen plenty of success the past few years, but getting a 5 star top 10 player such as Looney or Stone would likely push us over the top and into Final Four territory. This year's team looks very solid again and has the potential to climb into the top 10, and I expect nothing less than another Sweet Sixteen. Part of the reason I was mad at Vander for leaving was due to the fact that with him we are a top 10 preseason team with a very good chance at a Final Four. It's his decision in the end, so I can't fault him for making it. Getting to a F4 would make more 5 stars look at us, no matter what conference we are in.

[MtAiryGoldenEagle]

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/9420472/2014-big-east-basketball-recruiting-primer

Marquette Golden Eagles
Who they have: No 2014 recruits so far.

"Who they want: The 2013 class brought Marquette's backcourt of the future, with three ESPN 100 prospects in Duane Wilson, JaJuan Johnson and Deonte Burton, so conventional wisdom is that the Eagles would focus on their interior spots in 2014. While they could certainly use a true big man, the reality is that their 2013 class is filled with enough versatility to allow them to add the best available prospects in 2014. Shooting guard Ahmed Hill falls under that best-available category, while centers Sean O'Mara and Johnathon Wilkins would both help out up front.

Storyline to watch: Head coach Buzz Williams himself is the story, and specifically his growing reputation among recruits as someone they want to play for. If he can capitalize and deliver another strong class, it will be just the latest step in Marquette's budding national momentum.

Bold prediction: Don't be surprised to see two ESPN 100-caliber additions join the Eagles in 2014, one along the front line and another versatile wing.

Overall recruiting trend: Up. The "Buzz" is all positive about Williams these days, and recruits are taking notice. The 2013 class was his best since taking over at Marquette, and he shows no signs of slowing down in 2014."

According to Adam Finkelstein, all of the Big East teams are doing pretty well recruiting.

[GGGG]

Nice article MtAiry....

Remember the default mode for most Scoopers is somewhere between "mind-numbing worry" and "hysterical panic."

[Golden Avalanche]

Though better than Marquette over the past 20 years

That's like a Japanese lager bomb.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

According to Adam Finkelstein, all of the Big East teams are doing pretty well recruiting.

Pfttt. I'll stick with KW's sources, thank you very much.

[keefe]

That's like a Japanese lager bomb.

Perhaps after you have lived in both Japan and Germany, speak either language and have first hand knowledge of their respective lagers then perhaps you can have some meaningful perspective from which to be so dismissive.

[tower912]

But MU managed to land another 4 star forward.   Just imagine what MU could do in a land of pink ponies where there was no shifting conference landscapes. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Since Roy Williams and Bill Self have registered similar records in Big 12 play at KU one could argue thusly about the weakness of that conference too. 

I don't think so, because KU has proven it out of conference as well as other areas more consistently than Gonzaga has.  Plus, other schools in the Big12 have done very well, whereas it is hard to envision anyone other than perhaps St. Mary's being of any quality in the WCC for most of those years Gonzaga has dominated.  I realize BYU is now part of the conference, but that is a very recent undertaking.

We really shouldn't be comparing KU's domination in the Big 12 to what Gonzaga has done.  Strength of schedule so much different, various successes by Texas, Texas A&M (when they were in the league), Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State....it just doesn't come close to comparing to USD, St. Mary's, LMU, Pepperdine, Portland, Santa Clara, USF and BYU (just the last few years).  Night and day IMO.

[MuMark]

Harris is well inside the top 100 now....Scout just updated and he came in at 76 and Bossi just said he will be inside the top 75 when Rivals updates tomorrow.

From what I have read we have Cohen all but locked up, and we are in good standing with Harris. Cohen is a likely consensus top 100, and Harris is on the rise and around the top 100. I would be happy landing two borderline top 100 players along with a possibly another player or two. Who knows, maybe Cohen and Harris will both shoot up in the rankings just as our 2013 recruits did and be around the top 50. However, I would still be very disappointed if we failed to land either Looney (already lost him) or Stone (if KW's sources are correct,   ). Buzz has done a great job turning unheralded guys into stars, and we have seen plenty of success the past few years, but getting a 5 star top 10 player such as Looney or Stone would likely push us over the top and into Final Four territory. This year's team looks very solid again and has the potential to climb into the top 10, and I expect nothing less than another Sweet Sixteen. Part of the reason I was mad at Vander for leaving was due to the fact that with him we are a top 10 preseason team with a very good chance at a Final Four. It's his decision in the end, so I can't fault him for making it. Getting to a F4 would make more 5 stars look at us, no matter what conference we are in.

[Groin_pull]

From what I have read we have Cohen all but locked up, and we are in good standing with Harris. Cohen is a likely consensus top 100, and Harris is on the rise and around the top 100. I would be happy landing two borderline top 100 players along with a possibly another player or two. Who knows, maybe Cohen and Harris will both shoot up in the rankings just as our 2013 recruits did and be around the top 50. However, I would still be very disappointed if we failed to land either Looney (already lost him) or Stone (if KW's sources are correct,   ). Buzz has done a great job turning unheralded guys into stars, and we have seen plenty of success the past few years, but getting a 5 star top 10 player such as Looney or Stone would likely push us over the top and into Final Four territory. This year's team looks very solid again and has the potential to climb into the top 10, and I expect nothing less than another Sweet Sixteen. Part of the reason I was mad at Vander for leaving was due to the fact that with him we are a top 10 preseason team with a very good chance at a Final Four. It's his decision in the end, so I can't fault him for making it. Getting to a F4 would make more 5 stars look at us, no matter what conference we are in.

There are no "must-get" recruits. No single player will make or break MU's program. MU isn't getting Looney...and they may not land Stone. But guess what? Buzz will find talented, capable players who want to be at MU. Getting all worked up over one player is only a recipe for heartache.

[keefe]

I don't think so, because KU has proven it out of conference as well as other areas more consistently than Gonzaga has.  Plus, other schools in the Big12 have done very well, whereas it is hard to envision anyone other than perhaps St. Mary's being of any quality in the WCC for most of those years Gonzaga has dominated.  I realize BYU is now part of the conference, but that is a very recent undertaking.

We really shouldn't be comparing KU's domination in the Big 12 to what Gonzaga has done.  Strength of schedule so much different, various successes by Texas, Texas A&M (when they were in the league), Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State....it just doesn't come close to comparing to USD, St. Mary's, LMU, Pepperdine, Portland, Santa Clara, USF and BYU (just the last few years).  Night and day IMO.

Well, it's all moot once Gonzaga joins the Big East!

[Mr. Nielsen]

Oh, they know.  Very much so.

They might think they know. Right now they are hearing about the bad PR of "The Big East is over as we know it". I must have heard it over 100 times on TV.

[ChicosBailBonds]

They might think they know. Right now they are hearing about the bad PR of "The Big East is over as we know it". I must have heard it over 100 times on TV.

The new conference is going to take a few years to earn some cred, that's just a way of life.  Some good coaches, good programs with recent quality success will continue to help in the short run.  Yes, there will be those out there that will negatively recruit against the conference, that's a way of life.  I'm not too worried about the recruiting, quite frankly.  I do believe the original statement that recruits don't know about conferences is silly....they definitely do in hoops, hockey, baseball, football and many other sports as well. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

If you believe kids don't recognize what conference a school is in and what competition it will bring then you are just plain ignorant.  

They can name the heavyweights. Most would say about the ACC, Duke & UNC and struggle with the rest.

[Mr. Nielsen]

The new conference is going to take a few years to earn some cred, that's just a way of life.  Some good coaches, good programs with recent quality success will continue to help in the short run.  Yes, there will be those out there that will negatively recruit against the conference, that's a way of life.  I'm not too worried about the recruiting, quite frankly.  I do believe the original statement that recruits don't know about conferences is silly....they definitely do in hoops, hockey, baseball, football and many other sports as well.  

Correct! This will pass, once the football season starts and the American Conference (AAC) gets playing.

Great to hear MU & Nova got nice pick ups for 2014!

[wadesworld]

Im okay with it, but if 5 star players are going to look at UW over Marquette because of a conference than I think we are in trouble

Yeah we might start losing out on all the 5 star recruits we've so commonly picked up.

Oh wait...

[Aughnanure]

I don't think so, because KU has proven it out of conference as well as other areas more consistently than Gonzaga has.  Plus, other schools in the Big12 have done very well, whereas it is hard to envision anyone other than perhaps St. Mary's being of any quality in the WCC for most of those years Gonzaga has dominated.  I realize BYU is now part of the conference, but that is a very recent undertaking.

We really shouldn't be comparing KU's domination in the Big 12 to what Gonzaga has done.  Strength of schedule so much different, various successes by Texas, Texas A&M (when they were in the league), Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State....it just doesn't come close to comparing to USD, St. Mary's, LMU, Pepperdine, Portland, Santa Clara, USF and BYU (just the last few years).  Night and day IMO.

Yeah. I mean, the Big XII really has kinda been a mediocre and sometimes overrated conference (a reason, I have always thought, to why KU has had trouble in the tourney under both Self and Williams - not soo much anymore)  but come on. The WCC is such a poor conference (unfortunately). And BYU is what, only 2 years in?

[Atticus]

Im not a recruitnik because the transfer rate is so high and it's tough for me to get excited about every single recruit. That said, if this conference is off to a bad start, can anybody tell me how Pitt, UConn, UL, and Cuse are doing now that they are in new conferences?  If the ACC has become such a huge draw, are their top schools doing even better....? Too early to tell?

[KenoshaWarrior]

Though better than Marquette over the past 20 years

Disagree.  Marquette has  a final 4.  Tied with Gonzaga for Elite 8 appearances.

We are a bigger draw than Gonzaga.

Gonzaga lived off it's 1999 tourney run, and it's goofy name that was able to sell a ton of jerseys

[bilsu]

But MU managed to land another 4 star forward.   Just imagine what MU could do in a land of pink ponies where there was no shifting conference landscapes. 

Change MU to Buzz and your statement would be correct.

[Silkk the Shaka]

So getting back to the topic of the thread.  We have gotten 2 commits since the announcement of the new conference.  One a top 75 SF/PF, the other a top 60 PG/2G.  We're 2/2.  No evidence whatsoever that the conference is hurting recruiting, except the evidence that exists in badger fans' fantasies.

[Pakuni]

So getting back to the topic of the thread.  We have gotten 2 commits since the announcement of the new conference.  One a top 75 SF/PF, the other a top 60 PG/2G.  We're 2/2.  No evidence whatsoever that the conference is hurting recruiting, except the evidence that exists in badger fans' fantasies and sky-is-falling Scoopers.

Fixed.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Fixed.

Thanks for the upgrade.

[The Equalizer]

Im not a recruitnik because the transfer rate is so high and it's tough for me to get excited about every single recruit. That said, if this conference is off to a bad start, can anybody tell me how Pitt, UConn, UL, and Cuse are doing now that they are in new conferences?  If the ACC has become such a huge draw, are their top schools doing even better....? Too early to tell?

21 of the top 50 (using ESPN's list) have made commitments.  Only 1 to the new Big East (#47 Issac Copeland)

Of the teams you called out:
--UL landed ESPN #22 JaQuan Lyle, #28 Quentin Snyder and #53 Shaqquan Aaron
--SU landed ESPN #7 Chris McCullough
--UConn (not going to the ACC) has landed ESPN #17 Daniel Hamilton.
--Pitt has no ESPN top 100 recruits yet. 

As an aside, the team that seems to be leveraging its new conference situation is Maryland.  They have top top 50 2014 commits.

[Pakuni]

21 of the top 50 (using ESPN's list) have made commitments.  Only 1 to the new Big East (#47 Issac Copeland)

Of the teams you called out:
--UL landed ESPN #22 JaQuan Lyle, #28 Quentin Snyder and #53 Shaqquan Aaron
--SU landed ESPN #7 Chris McCullough
--UConn (not going to the ACC) has landed ESPN #17 Daniel Hamilton.
--Pitt has no ESPN top 100 recruits yet.  

As an aside, the team that seems to be leveraging its new conference situation is Maryland.  They have top top 50 2014 commits.

Maryland's been strong on the recruiting trail since hiring Turgeon. He landed Alex Len just after getting the job and landed a couple top 100 players (including #30 overall) in the class of 2012. Also, they were a close second to Kentucky for the Harrison twins.