Darius Marrow...?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Scout has him listed immediately above Otule.  Even though they're not rated, both are three stars and it would appear Morrow is 45 and Otule is 46.  In total rankings, Scout seems to have them at about 242/247.  Just reporting facts; not making a value judgment.

That's what makes me nervous, most here thought Otule is a project.

[Henry Sugar]

Let's hold off on Marrow in favor of all the other big men that are knocking on the door to come play at Marquette.

[MR.HAYWARD]

There is really nothing wrong with signing guys like that.  The key is to sign one every year that way they are semi polished or ready to go by their junor year.  Sign one every year and the fresh and soph get  a few minutes a game , maybe more in the precon and battle the junior and seniors in practice.  That way you have a pipeline.   what happened to Mu in the past is we simply signed no one.  taht is why Barro and Mu had to suffer with him as a freshman and sophomore, that is why we had to suffer with Burke as a freshman and a sophomore.  Now obviously if you can sign someone more highly rated his timeline will increase but you cannot follow the path of our former coach.  I have said it before, we are a top 10 team the last 3 years with maybe a sweet 16 o two and maybe an elite 8 if we do not have the worst front court in the Big East.   Our loser former coach had years where he signed zero bigs.  Unless you consider signing Blackledge in April the signing of a big.  Or maybe people feel Kinsella, lott and others as D1 players etc. etc.  that guy signed more non-d1 players during his tenure than any other High d1 coach in America.    

[lurch91]

Understood Lurch....I'm just putting 2 + 2 + 2 together.  Horn doesn't want him, East Carolina, Auburn and us left, low ranking.

He may turn out to be great, but I think over the years many of the recruiting experts have had incredibly glowing praise about some of our guys only to have them turn out to be far from it.

According to Scouts.inc his final 5 were South Carolina, UAB, Fordham, Providence and LaSalle

According to Scout.com he had offers from Penn State, Cincinnati, East Carolina, South Carolina, and Fordham.

He did make the top 100 in the Georgia High School rankings at #13

http://www.coachbobell.com/top100.html

Np, I just wanted to head off all the posters saying MU was already on a downward slide for being on this guys list (being that Horn wont talk to him and he didn't get very high offers from D1 schools).

[ChicosBailBonds]

Let's hold off on Marrow in favor of all the other big men that are knocking on the door to come play at Marquette.

Sarcasm noted, of course we could bank the scholarship and try to get a big man that way as well.

[NYWarrior]

Sarcasm noted, of course we could bank the scholarship and try to get a big man that way as well.

MU's interest in Morrow could mean that the current roster will experience additional attrition.  otherwise, bank it

[lurch91]

MU's interest in Morrow could mean that the current roster will experience additional attrition.  otherwise, bank it

I could see Hazel moving on - did he even break double digit total mins this season?

[mu03eng]

Why bank it??  We will have at least three scholarships to fill next year.  Bringing in a freshmen for year(Otule is the only one in next years class), balances the class better.

I'd rather we use this scholie on a PG but Marrow seems good and we have always had a dearth of big men; not the case anymore it seems.  I really like what Buzz has done so far.

I said it in a thread a week ago and I'll say it again.....Elite Eight next year with a sweet 16 run in the next two years after next year.  You heard it here first folks. 

[mr.MUskie]

MU's interest in Morrow could mean that the current roster will experience additional attrition.  otherwise, bank it

Has MU expressed interest in Morrow?  He said MU is on his list, but has Buzz said anything about it being mutual?

[chapman]

Why bank it??  We will have at least three scholarships to fill next year.  Bringing in a freshmen for year(Otule is the only one in next years class), balances the class better.

I'd rather we use this scholie on a PG but Marrow seems good and we have always had a dearth of big men; not the case anymore it seems.  I really like what Buzz has done so far.

I said it in a thread a week ago and I'll say it again.....Elite Eight next year with a sweet 16 run in the next two years after next year.  You heard it here first folks. 

I agree.  If we get two guards next year, we still have a spot open for a big man.  If we have any additional roster attrition, we might have yet another spot to fill.  If there's nothing better out there, bring him in now and see what he can do.  

Has MU expressed interest in Morrow?  He said MU is on his list, but has Buzz said anything about it being mutual?

Very good point.  For all we know, they looked at him and weren't as impressed as he was.  Or there are other priorities and he's the fall back option. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Our loser former coach had years where he signed zero bigs.  Unless you consider signing Blackledge in April the signing of a big.  Or maybe people feel Kinsella, lott and others as D1 players etc. etc.  that guy signed more non-d1 players during his tenure than any other High d1 coach in America.    

Again, I'll be called for defending him when I'm actually just stating facts.  Zero bigs in some years?  Well, let's take a look...I'd argue you are wrong.


First class    Wade, Merritt (6'10), Blankson, Sanders (6'7")  = two bigs
Second class Diener, Howard, Menard, Townsend (6'6"), Jackson (6'8) = 1 big...some would argue 1.5
Third class  Novak (6'10), Grimm (6'10), Chapman, Bradley = 2 bigs
Fourth class  James Matthews (6'8), Dameon Mason, Brandon Bell, Marcus Jackson (6'8) = 2 bigs
Fifth class  Ryan Amoroso (6'8), Mike Kinsella (7'0), Fitzgerald (6'9) = 3 bigs
Sixth class  Ranked as high as 6th nationally....James, Matthews, McNeal, Mortenson, Burke (6'8), Lott (6'7) = 2 bigs
Seventh class   Hayward (6'6), Cubillan, Acker, Blackledge (6'8) = 2 bigs (yes, I count Hayward as a big because he plays the 3 but also the 4)
Eighth class  Mbakwe (6'8), Saunders (6'8), Christopherson, Hazel (6'7) = 3 bigs
Ninth class   Taylor, Williams, Fulce (6'7), Otule (6-10)  = 2 bigs

Now you might have a different definition of bigs, but if they play the 4 or 5 spot, I consider them to be a big.  Name me a year, as you stated, when a big wasn't recruited / signed to play for Marquette...as you suggested?  Now, you and I might be in complete agreement that the bigs weren't that good, bravo.  But that's far different then MU not signing them.


Make sure to get in the mandatory "stop defending Crean" statement in there as well.  

[MUViking]

I don't know Vike, I just saw one ranking (Hoopscoop) that had him at 366.  That's scary low

http://www.hoopscooponline.com/members/classof2008-topjuniors-fall2006.asp

I'll tell you what's scary-- giving Hoop Scoop any credibility whatsoever.  HS is easily the worst ranking entity in college hoops today. 

[mugrad99]

I guess I'll trust his judgment on whether Morrow is a good fit. Since Morrow played with excellent players on his High School and AAU teams, we probably don't know how good he can be, and the rankings may be misleading.

On that same list, Chicos, Berrgren was 506, and UW thinks they have a pretty good one

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'll tell you what's scary-- giving Hoop Scoop any credibility whatsoever.  HS is easily the worst ranking entity in college hoops today. 

Fair enough, but I'm failing to find any other rankings that make me feel much better to be honest.  Whether it's Scouts, Scout, or Rivals.....Darrin Horn for that matter.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Wow is that a stretch there Chico calling 6'6" uys bigs aor calling them bigs beacuse they have to play the 4 becuase we actually have no bigs.  Boy you take defending this guy to no end!!   Like Crean or not we had such a dearth of Power players 6'8" or over that we got destroyed in the paint the last 3 years...now maybe  you were watching another game, but i will say it again we were top 10 team and had at leats 2 sweet 16's and maybe better the last three years if we had any talent in front of or backing up Barro.   
then you go and list guys like blackledge, lott, kinsella, etc.  Please give me a break you are listing those guys as D1 players!!  but then question the signing of a 3 star kid!!! those guys were no stars!!!

[mugrad99]

Not that he needs it...but the former coach did bring in quite a few bigs...A majority of them were not developed (especially after Stephens left). 

[lurch91]

Merritt was the best big TC recruited out of high school and can truely be attributed to him alone.  Anyone remember how Brendan Haywood ABUSED Merritt his freshman year when we played UNC on national television?  Merritt, NEVER gave it to anyoen the way Haywood did to him in tha tgame when he was a senior (I think Stephens was at MU all 4 of Merritts years, was he not?).

[bilsu]

I thought it was bad timing that Horn took a job before the MU job became open. It is interesting how people react to something. The posters above assumed Horn was not interested in keeping Marrow. When I read that Marrow had trouble getting hold of Horn, I thought I am glad we did not end up with Horn because he cannot follow through on South Carolina's recruits. I immediately equated him with Mike Deane. A guy that can coach, but does not want to do what is needed recruiting wise. I do not know if my assumption or your assumption is correct, but I cannot see a new coach blowing off a recruit like that. In addition to that South Carolina made a commitment to the kid when they signed him. Assuming the kid did not get into any trouble, it shows a lack of class by the athletic department to blow the kid off. I am also sure that if he had gotten in trouble Mu would not be recruiting him. I am sticking with my original reaction that I am glad we did not hire Horn.

[MUViking]

Fair enough, but I'm failing to find any other rankings that make me feel much better to be honest.  Whether it's Scouts, Scout, or Rivals.....Darrin Horn for that matter.

I've read some extremely encouraging scouting reports from South Carolina fans pissed about losing him.  He sounds a lot more skilled than Burke at the same stage, even though he is roughly the same size as Burke now.  Oklahoma has been interested in him since last fall.  I like the sound of this addition.  I think we can do a lot worse, and he could play a key role for a run in 2008-2009 in the post. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow is that a stretch there Chico calling 6'6" uys bigs aor calling them bigs beacuse they have to play the 4 becuase we actually have no bigs.  Boy you take defending this guy to no end!!   Like Crean or not we had such a dearth of Power players 6'8" or over that we got destroyed in the paint the last 3 years...now maybe  you were watching another game, but i will say it again we were top 10 team and had at leats 2 sweet 16's and maybe better the last three years if we had any talent in front of or backing up Barro.   
then you go and list guys like blackledge, lott, kinsella, etc.  Please give me a break you are listing those guys as D1 players!!  but then question the signing of a 3 star kid!!! those guys were no stars!!!

I'm just stating facts....I guess it comes down to definition....I consider a guy playing at the 4 or 5 as a big.  Hayward is a big in my opinion, not sure how he can't be when he's playing at the 4.  Is he undersized, yup he sure is but then again he also causes problems for the opposing team's "traditional" 4 as well.  Even if you don't count Hayward as a big, name a year we didn't recruit one...seriously.  I've given you all the data, pick a year we didn't sign a big

I don't disagree that we would be better if we had more bigs behind Barro....that's not what you said before....you said no bigs were recruited some years.  Really, it's ok to be wrong sometimes and admit...it really is.  You were wrong.

Finally, hate to correct you again....but actually Blackledge, Lott, Kinsella weren't "no stars" and yes they were D1 players, to suggest they weren't is a swipe at kids that isn't necessary (yet you've done that here for years under different names and you just took on some guy's wife, so no surprise).   I've never said Trend, Jamil or Kinsella were great players, in fact nothing of the kind.  But yes, they were DI ballplayers...there are 330+ DI teams and they all had multiple offers from multiple D1 teams.

Trend was offered by Washington, Duquense, Bowling Green.  All D1 last I checked

Mike Kinsella already played for a DI school in Rice.  He had offers from Creighton, SMU, and Northwestern before selecting Rice.  After he announced he was leaving Rice, he received "interest" (notice I didn't say an offer) from UNLV, Utah, Minnesota and Iowa State.  Again, all DI last I checked.

Jamil Lott had offers from South Florida, Georgia, and USC.  All D1 last I checked

Our recruiting of bigs has to get better, there is no question about it.  We are in 100% agreement.  But while you're going through your daily vitriol attacks, it would be nice to sprinkle in some facts from time to time.  Those guys were D1 players, they were not "zero" star players, and every year MU did recruit at least one big (it would have been great if they were better bigs, but they did).  

Thanks.

[StillAWarrior]

I've read some extremely encouraging scouting reports from South Carolina fans pissed about losing him.

With all due respect, I'll take those with a grain of salt, too.  This is the only message board where fans know what they heck they're talking about.  

Who am I kidding, we're a bunch of idiots too (including myself here).  I saw one reference to Marrow on this board saying how refreshing it is that we're contending for some "polished big men."  No offense intended, but I kind of doubt that the poster had ever even heard of Marrow 48 hours ago.  Now he's a polished big man.

I'm not knocking him...he might be a great addition.  I think we could use another big man.  But, I'm not sure I'm going to trust the South Carolina message board for a fair assessment of his skills.  But, if he puts on that blue and gold, I'm gonna love him.

[MUViking]

With all due respect, I'll take those with a grain of salt, too.  This is the only message board where fans know what they heck they're talking about.  

Who am I kidding, we're a bunch of idiots too (including myself here).  I saw one reference to Marrow on this board saying how refreshing it is that we're contending for some "polished big men."  No offense intended, but I kind of doubt that the poster had ever even heard of Marrow 48 hours ago.  Now he's a polished big man.

I'm not knocking him...he might be a great addition.  I think we could use another big man.  But, I'm not sure I'm going to trust the South Carolina message board for a fair assessment of his skills.  But, if he puts on that blue and gold, I'm gonna love him.

First of all... it's Morrow, not Marrow.

Second... no offense to Chicos or anyone else who is down on him, but I'll take the word of a guy who's seen him play over the thoughts of a guy who is speculating based on HoopScoop rankings or Scout or Rivals or whatever other rankings you want to look at any day.  A guy who apparently saw him play said he's a skilled big man who would have competed for the starting C spot at South Carolina this year.  That sounds very promising.

I'm certainly not thinking Morrow is the next Michael Beasley or Big Baby or Robert Jackson, but this at least sounds like a promising pickup at this stage.  This guy sounds like a lot better basketball player than Dwight Burke at the same stage, but he is also Burke sized.  I would certainly not be upset if Buzz were to sign the big fella.

BTW, if you connect the dots, Aki Collins is the guy who brought Morrow and Marquette together for this interest.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've read some extremely encouraging scouting reports from South Carolina fans pissed about losing him.  He sounds a lot more skilled than Burke at the same stage, even though he is roughly the same size as Burke now.  Oklahoma has been interested in him since last fall.  I like the sound of this addition.  I think we can do a lot worse, and he could play a key role for a run in 2008-2009 in the post. 

I hope so Viking....by the way, I'm not down on him.  I'm just trying to find information on him, and there isn't much.  I don't like to get into the attacking student athletes stuff like some...sure I stray from time to time, but I try not to.  I believe Matt Painter liked him at Purdue.  We could definitely do worse but I guess that's my question...is it worth the gamble or do you bank it.  I haven't been overly blown away by Spring signings (ours or other schools) for the most part.  Sometimes you get lucky with late bloomers or those that want to wait to sign.  I'd want to be really sure.  All one can do is trust the coaches that they're doing the right thing.

Nevertheless, if he comes to MU I'll be 100% behind him and DEFEND him to the hilt.   

[StillAWarrior]

First of all... it's Morrow, not Marrow.

Thanks.  Should have gone with my initial spelling.  I had it right, then looked at the title of the thread and changed it.

Second... no offense to Chicos or anyone else who is down on him, but I'll take the word of a guy who's seen him play over the thoughts of a guy who is speculating based on HoopScoop rankings or Scout or Rivals or whatever other rankings you want to look at any day.  A guy who apparently saw him play said he's a skilled big man who would have competed for the starting C spot at South Carolina this year.  That sounds very promising.

I'm certainly not thinking Morrow is the next Michael Beasley or Big Baby or Robert Jackson, but this at least sounds like a promising pickup at this stage.  This guy sounds like a lot better basketball player than Dwight Burke at the same stage, but he is also Burke sized.  I would certainly not be upset if Buzz were to sign the big fella.

BTW, if you connect the dots, Aki Collins is the guy who brought Morrow and Marquette together for this interest.

Don't get me wrong...I want the kid and I hope we get him.  We need bigs and he's going to be better than any other option that I'm aware of.  But I don't put too much stock in message board talent evaluators.  I agree that message board talent evaluators who have actually seen a kid play are far more reliable than message board talent evaluators who haven't seen the kid play.  In any event, I misinterpreted your "scouting reports from SC fans" as being people who hadn't seen the kid play but were just run-of-the-mill message board geeks (like me).  I am always encouraged to hear positive scouting reports from people who actually have seen a kid -- whoever the person is.

[Litehouse]

I don't like the idea of banking the scholarship for next year.  If we can get a serviceable big guy, like Morrow, I say take him.  Buzz's best recruiting tool for the future will be having a successful season next year while he's the head coach.  The table is set with the three amigos and if Buzz can get them some help up front I believe it will pay dividends in the long run.  Next year is our year to make a run and we need to do everything possible to take advantage of it.  If Morrow can come in for 5-10 minutes, play some physical D, get some rebounds, and finish on some dump offs from the amigos, he would provide a very valuable contribution.  Same goes for Otule IMHO.