Big Man Preference

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

It looks like Stutz has narrowed down to Warriors, Kentucky and Wichita State University.  What is the consensus on our Center options

O'tule
Stutz
Garibay
Big Kuba
Sutton
Other??

[Ready2Fly]

O'Tule.

Never seen any of them, but from what I've read he would fit in the best (runs court very well, shot blocker, etc.)

[MuMark]

MU is not recruiting Stutz. They showed some interest but it was never to the point where they wanted him to visit.

Stutz is down to SMU, WSU, and Kentucky. Kentucky still has not offered.

[bma725]

None of those guys are an option other than Otule.  

MU is officially no longer involved with Stutz as of yesterday.  Garibay hasn't been an option since prior to the summer, he had a bad AAU season and all the high majors stopped going after him.  Sutton isn't going to qualify, though MU may stay involved with him for 2009.  Kusmieruk was never serious, MU saw him play but they were never really recruiting him.  He's down to UCF and LaSalle right now, he just took an official to UCF last week, unless he decides to wait until spring, MU is not involved.

Other than Otule, the only options are Dwight Miller or Cort Hoge...and Miller, in addition to being a tweener, appears to be a Rutgers lean at this point.  If it's not Otule, there's a good chance that MU waits until the spring signing period.

[muhoops1]

Other=Evan Anderson.  He's gonna be another Jarrod Lovette!

[bma725]

Other=Evan Anderson.  He's gonna be another Jarrod Lovette!

That's 2 years down the road.  These are all 2008 guys, Evan is 2010.

[muarmy81]

umm,
with no scholarships available and the experience of what happened last year (DJ decided not to enter the draft) I'd just wait it out a year and go long and hard after Jamil Wilson and start working on Evan Anderson...

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

Dwight Burke.....Come on down your the new 2008 Marquette Center.

Yikes

[NYWarrior]

umm,
with no scholarships available and the experience of what happened last year (DJ decided not to enter the draft) I'd just wait it out a year and go long and hard after Jamil Wilson and start working on Evan Anderson...

TC is gonna take things to at least one over -- things will work out, however uncomfortable that might seem to us as fans.

Either that or we're stuck with Burke at center next year.

[muarmy81]

umm,
with no scholarships available and the experience of what happened last year (DJ decided not to enter the draft) I'd just wait it out a year and go long and hard after Jamil Wilson and start working on Evan Anderson...

TC is gonna take things to at least one over -- things will work out, however uncomfortable that might seem to us as fans.

Either that or we're stuck with Burke at center next year.

Exactly,
I know we need to do better than Burke but I'm not too comfortable with betting on somebody leaving early, or worse, somebody not qualifying academically.  And quite honestly, after the Iman situation I'm almost leery of having too many PFs/Cs unless they're great players.  Filling the roster with late addition 2 and 3 star players just to create a log jam at the position seems to scare away some recruits. 
Anyways, I'm just a fan and not the coach so I'm sure that my opinion has no bearing what-so-ever on what TC does.  It'll probably work out for the best...these things usually do.

[4thAndState]

Otule is on an official visit this weekend -- Saturday through Sunday. He will be at the exhibition game on Sunday eve. Like most, I have not seen him play but from many accounts he would be a great pick-up. Seems like a great fit for MU -- long, athletic, a shot blocker and rebounder who can run the floor. A class of Taylor, Williams, Fulce and Otule would be solid indeed. I'll be at the BC Sunday, hopefully it will be a decent crowd to impress the 6-10 young man from Texas.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I think there a ton of people that are way too hard on Burke. I think he can be a very solid contributor.

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

I think there a ton of people that are way too hard on Burke. I think he can be a very solid contributor.

I agree that he can contribute and that is why I chose him as the best option at center, but I would much, much , much rather see him at 4 or spelling a bigger center.

[4thAndState]

PRN -- Agree with you on Burke that he can (and will) be a decent contributor. But . . . man it would be great to have Otule in the program beginning next year. He seems like the a guy who can contribute at a pretty good level right away -- especially on D and in rebounding. I see Otule as the final (and key) piece to a very solid recruiting puzzle.

[Ready2Fly]

I think there a ton of people that are way too hard on Burke. I think he can be a very solid contributor.

I disagree.  Based on his first two years, Burke has proven to be a complete defensive liability.  Not to mention he shoots a horrendous percentage for someone his size.  He's career backup material from what I've seen thus far. 

Hopefully he progressed by leaps and bounds over the summer and proves me wrong.

[Avenue Commons]

It looks like Stutz has narrowed down to Marquette, Kentucky and Wichita State University.  What is the consensus on our Center options

O'tule
Stutz
Garibay
Big Kuba
Sutton
Other??

Doesn't Shaq have some eligibility left?

[Nukem2]

I rather suspect that Burke would back up Mbakwe if no 5 was recruited.

[tower912]

Plus, from PRN's point of view, the more time that Burke spends as the starting 5, the sooner PRN's wildest fantasy (no Crean) can come true.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

what do people always say??? it takes 2-3 years for a big to develop.  I see no reason that burke couldn't develop into a serviceable big man by next year.

and I agree w/ PRN.  Is it still Halloween?