Ellenson Top 3

[kmwtrucks]

Coach k played at Army, Bell Self played at OK st, Izzo was a Div 3 all american, Boeheim played at Cuse. Cal played at UNC willmington and clarion. 

Crean Buzz never played any college ball at any level. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Why so?

We already knew before this that Kentucky, MSU, Duke, and UW among others were interested. That he has trimmed some of those should increase our confidence.

But like others here, I was, and am, most worried about Izzo.

And if we get both guys - looks to be a top 3 class.

Oh I am no less confident about landing Ellenson. But I am nearly 100% confident about him deciding in time for the early signing period. I'm about 75% confident about landing Ellenson.

[ATWizJr]

Oh I am no less confident about landing Ellenson. But I am nearly 100% confident about him deciding in time for the early signing period. I'm about 75% confident about landing Ellenson.

which is when?

[GGGG]

which is when?

November 12 - 19.

[River rat]

calhoun played at Umass-lowell, and then transferred to a D2 school where he was the best player for 2-3 yeras.

Bottom line.... all the coaches named were darn good players and in fact(to the point) know what it is like to have been a player.  Crean and Buzz, like chicos, only know what its like to pick up jocks.

[ATWizJr]

November 12 - 19.

Thanks, man.

[Freeport Warrior]

You mean he isn't going to play defense?

I thought Ellenson played pretty good D on Diamond last year at the Concordia tourney. He guarded Diamond far better than Diamond guarded him. And that is the beauty of his game; if you follow him outside, he will take it to the hole with ease because of the athleticism. This guy is the total package. Not much weakness to his game at all. For a college comparison, I think he comes in as a freshman and plays much like Jon Leuer when he was a senior at UW.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agree. Yes, Crean and Williams had legit success at MU. I get that. However, I love that Wojo has been a breath of fresh air. It seems as though Crean and Williams were trying to overcompensate for having never played the game... using tackling dummy drills, bootcamps, etc.

Now, MU has a coach who has played the game at an elite college level. Wojo seems much more relaxed and confident than our previous two coaches. I'm sure he's much easier to be around.

Tackle dummy drills have been used at Michigan State for 2 decades, that is where Crean brought it in from.  They are used at a number of schools.

I agree that Wojo is likely more of a player's coach, yet to believe many of the posters here over the last 6 years, one would think Buzz was as well.  Thing is, Buzz was a player's coach to some players, but not to others...same goes for Crean.   Question for Wojo will be whether that style can succeed over the long run with discipline, productivity, etc.

[Dawson Rental]

We sure Deiner doesn't have any eligibility left?

Wojo:  Hey, Travis, I just read an article that some coaches use a drill with tackling dummies to toughen their team up.  What do you think?

[Dawson Rental]

Coach k played at Army, Bell Self played at OK st, Izzo was a Div 3 all american, Boeheim played at Cuse. Cal played at UNC willmington and clarion.  

Crean Buzz never played any college ball at any level.  

However, he did start for Team Williams which had a really nice home floor out in Mequon, I hear.

[MU82]

Take out the word elite and that argument holds no water because most of those guys played in college. A guy who played vs a guy who watched practice at a junior college and swept the floor is quite a bit diffrent. I'm sure players will be able to relate to the player much more than the janitor.

I agree. But "elite" was in the first post on this subject. K was the closest ... a starter at Army, if one considers that elite. Williams was on the freshman team at NC, couldn't cut it and talked his way onto the coaching staff. Izzo ... Northern Michigan ... elite? Come on. Etc., etc.

I would say some kids might relate to a young coach like Wojo more because he is "like them" than because he played. That's why they relate to Shaka, too; he is "cool." But again, even this is over-generalizing.

I mean, does anybody here think a single recruit chooses UNC, Duke and MSU because Williams, K and Izzo "played" 1000 years ago? Come on!

[Nukem2]

Tackle dummy drills have been used at Michigan State for 2 decades, that is where Crean brought it in from.  They are used at a number of schools.

I agree that Wojo is likely more of a player's coach, yet to believe many of the posters here over the last 6 years, one would think Buzz was as well.  Thing is, Buzz was a player's coach to some players, but not to others...same goes for Crean.   Question for Wojo will be whether that style can succeed over the long run with discipline, productivity, etc.

Don't think that Buzz is a players' coach.  He did appeal to some as a father figure, but not otherwise as a players' coach.  More of a tough displinarian who did single out specific players who he felt could take more criticism.  Not a negative.  Just who he is.

[MU82]

umm ...without counting to make exactly sure,  approx. half of this list did in fact play D1 ball.

As I say in a later comment ... I was responding to that certain coaches played "elite" level major ball. Not a one hear did, that's for sure.

[swoopem]

I mean, does anybody here think a single recruit chooses UNC, Duke and MSU because Williams, K and Izzo "played" 1000 years ago? Come on!

It's not because of the fact that they played, it's the fact that they have a diffrent outlook. They can understand the kids more/better. You're right that Izzo probably doesn't show up in a kids family room with his college stats, but he might say "look I played in college too. I wasn't that good which is why I went to Northern, but I played so I know what it's like. If you come to MSU I'll watch out for you because I understand what it takes to be a student athlete."  

Who knows what these coaches say and how they pitch these kids, but being a former player is another arrow in the quiver.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Don't think that Buzz is a players' coach.  He did appeal to some as a father figure, but not otherwise as a players' coach.  More of a tough displinarian who did single out specific players who he felt could take more criticism.  Not a negative.  Just who he is.

Fair point, though I think it comes down to benchmark comparisons.  There were players that hated the rigid structure Crean put into place around classes, tutors, practice, etc, etc.  Felt like they had no freedom to do anything...as an example.  Don't get me wrong, Buzz had a regimented system, as well.  Players that played for both seemed to think one was more lax than the other, thus more of a "player's coach" in comparison.  There are certainly some coaches out there that are very lax that make Buzz look like an authoritarian.

[wadesworld]

However, he did start for Team Williams which had a really nice home floor out in Mequon, I hear.

Wojo:  Hey, Travis, I just read an article that some coaches use a drill with tackling dummies to toughen their team up.  What do you think?

On a roll.

[brandx]

I thought Ellenson played pretty good D on Diamond last year at the Concordia tourney. He guarded Diamond far better than Diamond guarded him. And that is the beauty of his game; if you follow him outside, he will take it to the hole with ease because of the athleticism. This guy is the total package. Not much weakness to his game at all. For a college comparison, I think he comes in as a freshman and plays much like Jon Leuer when he was a senior at UW.

I was just kidding cuz they compared him to Kevin Love.

I (and obviously many others) really apreciate your posts here. They are almost always 'must reading'..

[Galway Eagle]

I agree. But "elite" was in the first post on this subject. K was the closest ... a starter at Army, if one considers that elite. Williams was on the freshman team at NC, couldn't cut it and talked his way onto the coaching staff. Izzo ... Northern Michigan ... elite? Come on. Etc., etc.

I would say some kids might relate to a young coach like Wojo more because he is "like them" than because he played. That's why they relate to Shaka, too; he is "cool." But again, even this is over-generalizing.

I mean, does anybody here think a single recruit chooses UNC, Duke and MSU because Williams, K and Izzo "played" 1000 years ago? Come on!

I think it's possible at the beginning of their career it was something that they might've thrown out there. But just like every resume things get old and pointless to have on there after awhile

[jakeec]

Would be a pretty good class for Marquette if Ellenson goes there.  Heldt looks like top 150 now and Noswoiak just inside top 100.  Nice first class for Wojo.

[real chili 83]

Why would Ellenson and Stone both declare their lists today?  Coincidence?   Special date?

[MUchamp22]

Izzo. Krzyzewski. Calipari. Calhoun. Boeheim. Ryan. Self. R. Williams. Smart. And, yes, Crean and B. Williams.

Just a handful of the dozens of highly successful current (or recent) coaches who never played college basketball at the elite level.

This is such an overrated dynamic. If it weren't, K and Cal wouldn't have top-10 recruiting classes every year.

Might it influence some recruits or please some players after a guy like Wojo arrives? Sure. But please. The list of great coaches who never played elite basketball is far longer than the list of great coaches who did. It's probably not even close.

FYI MU82 Boeheim played at Syracuse

[BM1090]

Would be a pretty good class for Marquette if Ellenson goes there.  Heldt looks like top 150 now and Noswoiak just inside top 100.  Nice first class for Wojo.

Not sure if this is an intentional downplay...but Heldt is 94 in the 247 composite which factors in all rankings. Noskowiak is 68.

[keefe]

Wojo:  Hey, Travis, I just read an article that some coaches use a drill with tackling dummies to toughen their team up.  What do you think?

Outstanding!

[Johnny B]

Why would Ellenson and Stone both declare their lists today?  Coincidence?   Special date?

Lol that is quite the coincidence I think

[Litehouse]

Lol that is quite the coincidence I think

Technically, wasn't Ellenson on the 27th (although late) and Stone on the 28th?