McMurrow And Buzz's Thinking - Should He Think "Position" or "Best Available?"

[NYWarrior]

I think this might end up being a mistake. We are not in the position yet to take fliers. Hearing that his feet are sound from hockey is hardly a ringing endorsement. We need Wilson and PG.

huh?

TC took fliers with just about every class....at least Buzz is taking one with a kid who is 7-feet tall, has no apparent injury history, and will be on campus for 17 months before his first official action as a Warrior.   Smart move by Buzz

And he'll still get the PG.  As for Wilson - - Between EWilliams and Maymon, it seems like MU is set at F slot.

[Pakuni]

I think this might end up being a mistake. We are not in the position yet to take fliers. Hearing that his feet are sound from hockey is hardly a ringing endorsement. We need Wilson and PG.

We need Wilson? Are you kidding me?
Wilson plays the same position as Maymon who, according to many, has surpassed Wilson in terms of ability.
Wilson plays the same position as Joe Fulce, who will be a junior the year Wilson would arrive on campus.
Wilson plays the same position as Lazar Hayward, who will be a senior the year Wilson would arrive on campus.
Wilson arguably plays the same position as Erik Williams.

Sheesh ... how many threes and/or undersized fours do you want on this roster? And why would you want a complete overload of one type of player while an utter dearth of post players?
If you were making the case for another big instead of McMorrow, you might have an argument. But another wing?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I would have banked the scholarship for a 3 or 4 star any size.

Wait...

I think I'm misunderstanding.

You seemed unhappy that MU had to redshirt McMorrow and wait 15 months.

Now you want to bank the scholly instead?

I guess I would argue that McMorrow (with 15months to practice) could be more impactful in 2009-2010 than most bigs we would look at. (no way to know for sure, but mid-grade bigs don't seem to come in and be good right away).

Obviously this is all speculation... but compare apples to apples for 2009:

McMorrow with 15 months of "MU Prep" or another frosh. big man (who we don't know if he will even sign)

I'm not saying McMorrow was a great signing... (still TBD).

I just don't think it's a slam dunk that MU should "wait and see" on the other recruits.

7' with a redshirt year could be a nice role player.

[jce]

ok, back to the original question ....

According to the recruiting sites, MU is listed by 15 to 20 3 and 4 star recruits.  Yet, Buzz takes a complete unknown.  If he still had three or four slots left, I'd have less problem with this.  However, by taking McMurrow it leaves him with only one slot.  And he's sending a message that he's more concerned with "position" than "best available."  Given that he's probably going to use the last slot for a PG.

My guess is that Buzz knows a lot more about where MU really stands with these recruits than the boards do and that many of them really aren't all that serious about MU.

Furthermore, I think Buzz, a la Bo Ryan, feels that Wilson isn't staying in state and isn't going to waste his time on futile efforts.  Jamil Wilson is a nice player.  We have someone in Maymon in the same class with roughly the same ability.  I feel confident about where we stand heading into the future.

[Marquette_g]

I do not get the obsession people have with Wilson.  By all accounts he is a very good prospect, but if a person were to read only this board they'd come away thinking that the next LeBron James is playing in Racine. 

I can understand the arguments against recruiting a guy like McMurrow, but to act like not getting Wilson is such a devastating blow just seems foolish.

[Tugg Speedman]

I think the obsession with Wilson is MU showing an ability get a much sought after recruit from its "back yard" more than his ability.  If Wilson was from suburban Chicago, I doubt he would have generated so much excitment at MU.

[rocky_warrior]

However, by taking McMurrow ...
<snip>
So, what happens if one of those 3 or 4 star recruits wants to come to MU and we don't have a slot because we took McMurrow.  ...

Just for the record - it's McMorrow - and now that he's officially a Warrior it's worth it to learn his name

[THEGYMBAR]

Wilson is every bit as good as advertised. To think we do not need him because we have Maymon is crazy. Have you seen Buzz pull back the offer? Of course not, because he wants him badly.


NY Warrior---I would not copy TC's recruiting methods. We are not in position to waste any spot. Especially with Buzz being in on soo many guys. I don't care if it is 17 years before he steps foot on the court. If the kid could play he would have been playing somewhere.

[THEGYMBAR]

AnotherMU--Great point on the backyard comment. Yes we need Wilson to show UW that we get the good local studs. Easier to get players locally after the first ones sign.

You might be right on if he was from Chicago, but can say this kid is a flat out stud. I would love to see in national press that MU beat out UNC to get him. Takes us another level.

[bma725]

Wilson is every bit as good as advertised. To think we do not need him because we have Maymon is crazy. Have you seen Buzz pull back the offer? Of course not, because he wants him badly.

Wants him badly is a grand overstatement.  Wilson is not being recruited as hard now as he was when TC was here, and it has definitely dropped off since Maymon committed.

And whether or not he is as good as advertised is debatable, Wilson's hype is outpacing his actual production, and he's certainly not the player a lot of people thought he would be by this point.   

[TJ]

I don't actually think this or have a problem with either recruit, but if anything was a recruiting "mistake" it would be Dwight Buycks and not the 7 foot McMorrow.

[Marquette_g]

I would have hoped that signing two WI-based players demonstrated a desire and ability to recruit "in their own backyard."

Again, I'm not taking anything away from Wilson, I just don't believe that getting him is any more or less significant than secruing the commitment of any highly rated recruit.
 

[THEGYMBAR]

bma---I would not be so sure on your comments. I have heard that Buzz is very high on him. What I do not get is that if Buzz signs him everyone on here will be saying it is MU's biggest recruit in years. You have to be consistent in evaluating players. If he is not better than Maymon remember you stated that.

[jce]

I would have hoped that signing two WI-based players demonstrated a desire and ability to recruit "in their own backyard."

Again, I'm not taking anything away from Wilson, I just don't believe that getting him is any more or less significant than secruing the commitment of any highly rated recruit.

And offering both Flavien Davis and Kyle Kelm for 2010.

That being said, I don't know how special it really is to get someone from your own backyard.  You want the best talent regardless of where they are from.

[Marquette_g]

JCE - I agree completely.

Get the best talent available regardless of geography.

[bma725]

bma---I would not be so sure on your comments. I have heard that Buzz is very high on him. What I do not get is that if Buzz signs him everyone on here will be saying it is MU's biggest recruit in years. You have to be consistent in evaluating players. If he is not better than Maymon remember you stated that.

Being very high on someone and recruiting them hard are two different things.  TC had JW as his main target and was doing everything he could to get JW here.  Buzz isn't doing that at all.  He's still recruiting him, but it's not hard, and JW hasn't been one of the main targets since late April, right around the time the Maymon recruitment started to take off.  

[bma725]

And offering both Flavien Davis and Kyle Kelm for 2010.

That being said, I don't know how special it really is to get someone from your own backyard.  You want the best talent regardless of where they are from.

Davis was an old offer, TC extended it back in 2007, Buzz is just honoring that but he's not going after Davis as hard Crean did.  Same thing he did with Johnnie Lacy. 

[THEGYMBAR]

bma---Reluctantly I am going to go along with you on the Buzz wanting Wilson badly or not. Your track record is solid in recruiting. Iheard recently from two people I trust that Wilson was still big target. But, with that said, I will take your word on this.
Recently I heard it was MU or UNC for Wilson.

[bma725]

bma---Reluctantly I am going to go along with you on the Buzz wanting Wilson badly or not. Your track record is solid in recruiting. Iheard recently from two people I trust that Wilson was still big target. But, with that said, I will take your word on this.
Recently I heard it was MU or UNC for Wilson.

Not saying he can't come here, but it is a very long shot at this point and it has been since April 1st.

That said, I wouldn't look for him to go to UNC either.  They have hardly been involved with him at all.  Michigan State is the big player right now, especially because of the Korie Lucious connection.  Duke would be the leader if they would offer, but they haven't done that yet. 

[wadesworld]

McMorrow is a mid-major recruit and doesnt deserve a scholarship for a Top 5 BE team.   Time will tell, but one has to question this one and 15 mos is too long to wait.

Well considering we played quite a few mid-major teams who's bigs dominated our bigs in previous years I'll take a mid-major recruit down low.  I would've gladly taken those team's bigs over ours, so now I guess we have them.  And if we were 1 unlucky bounce of the ball (and unlucky draw of teams) away from the Sweet Sixteen without them I can't wait until we have them.

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

Quick question...

Will we be able to see McMurrow at Marquette Madness?

[Pakuni]

Quick question...

Will we be able to see McMurrow at Marquette Madness?

Yes. He's eligible to practice with the team all season long.

[The Man in Gold]

One other point to keep in mind that I think was only brought up once in this whole thread is that we don't have to have a PG at all costs. 
If a 4-star gem recruit happens falls in our lap, Buzz certainly should consider it.  Cubi and Acker as seniors can handle the point for a season.  Obviously a stud PG will make everybody feel better, but with 2 senior PG's MU could manage if the right recruit called up Buzz and begged to be a Warrior.  Plus transfers and other events  do happen that open up scholarships, so a late deciding player like Wilson could still be in play.

Everyone please step back from the ledge.

[Big Papi]

Lost in the fact from all the crying that is going on around here is that Buzz seems to value big men.  Now as good as Buzz might be as a recruiter, I doubt he lands 6-10 plus studs who make a major impact right away at MU anytime soon.  They are hard to find and Memphis, NC, Kansas and a few others have an edge over us.  Chances are we are going to have to find some diamond in the roughs with lots of potential and just plain develop them.  Thats why while initially a little disappointed, I really like this pick up a lot.  We can dream all we want about Kemp Jr and any other stud centers, we are not going to get them to come here now or next year.  There is just too few ready made impact studs and we still have an unknown commodity of a new coach.  This staff now has 15 months to mold this kid into a contributor his soph year and potentially a big impact player.  There has always been a clamoring around here to sign legit bigs.  Then when we sign them, redshirt them because it takes time to develop them.  And look what we have here.  We sign a big and in essence are redshirting him and there is still posters crying.

   

[avid1010]

Lost in the fact from all the crying that is going on around here is that Buzz seems to value big men.  Now as good as Buzz might be as a recruiter, I doubt he lands 6-10 plus studs who make a major impact right away at MU anytime soon.  They are hard to find and Memphis, NC, Kansas and a few others have an edge over us.  Chances are we are going to have to find some diamond in the roughs with lots of potential and just plain develop them.     

I agree, but maybe not with the diamond in the rough part.  Perhaps MU simply needs to recruit athletic big men who can play a back up role for a year or two with an emphasis on deffense and rebounding.  After some work they'll have developed these players into offensive threats.  Once recruits see that MU can develop big men then possibly we can get the studs....which are typically around for a year or two anyhow.  I get a kick out of all the "maybe Buzz knows something we don't" comments....you think?!?!