So far we have signed 2 guards for next season leaving us with 2 open spots; we need to sign at least 1 6-8 inside player and preferably 2 ; also since we already have 1 jr. college player signed I would like to see us go after high school seniors as we will lose 5 players in 2009. I do believe that Ryan Thornton is going to turnout to be a good player for us.
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recruiting
- Thread starter real fan
- Start date
BradleyBrave
New member
One thing I think this staff has done a good job of since Jim took over is recruiting. I have always felt like we've been talented enough to compete with and beat just about anyone (which is why I am so upset about how we've played in the last month). I feel that way about this year's team, and despite some already predicting a bottom 3 finish for next year's group (which I think we should have learned is extremely premature), I think we'll be talented enough to compete and beat anyone next year too.
As far as needs, a big that is ready to contribute IMMEDIATELY should be priority #1. I actually would prefer that he's of the 4 year variety rather than the 2 year variety, but the JUCO route seems most likely. Front line depth doesn't seem to be a problem next year with the hopeful maturation of Egolf and Thompson, but at this point capable depth still has to be a question mark. I can go a lot of different directions with the last scholarship. We could use a shooter, a defensive-minded athlete, or a point guard. With the last scholarship I think you usually just go for the best available player, regardless of position.
As far as needs, a big that is ready to contribute IMMEDIATELY should be priority #1. I actually would prefer that he's of the 4 year variety rather than the 2 year variety, but the JUCO route seems most likely. Front line depth doesn't seem to be a problem next year with the hopeful maturation of Egolf and Thompson, but at this point capable depth still has to be a question mark. I can go a lot of different directions with the last scholarship. We could use a shooter, a defensive-minded athlete, or a point guard. With the last scholarship I think you usually just go for the best available player, regardless of position.
BradleyBrave
New member
Yes...2 rides. 1 for an immediate-impact big man, 1 for the best available player.
Given the state of our facilites, I think that JL and staff have done one
h*** of a job at recruiting... Recruiting will get even better once the new facilities are in place.
Agree about your statement on next year as well BradleyBrave.
6'8" HS kids from Chicago that are good scorers and rebounders will go to BCS schools, not BU...unfortunately.
But yeah, I wish we could start getting some kids with a little skill and a whole lot of toughness...we are sorely lacking in that area right now.
Big Mike
Active member
Right now we haven't seen Eddrin McCain or Chris Roberts play so my main concern is ballhandling....with DR in his last season and SM, AW being the only players who seem to be able to handle ball pressure, shouldn't the staff bring in 1 more good pg or a 2 who can dribble under pressure! Sure like everyone else i'd like to see some 6'8-6'10 250 lb studs to play the 4 and 5 with the last 2 rides or even 1 going to a 6'6 or 6'7 slasher who can get to the hoop and actually score! But after watchinmg the last couple of games TW, TCS and JC cannot handle ball pressure.....so I vote for another guard with 1 of the rides to shore up ballhandling.....otherwise teams are just going to press the Braves into t/o's!
Lakeview Brave
New member
I think they have done a good job but lets not forget that coach Mo got AP and Danny Granger with these facilities and no promise of new ones.
T
TRIMAN
Guest
Mo really did a better job recruiting than Les has (since he didn't really get POB). It's gonna be really hard to get good players the way we are playing right now. Pg doesn't seem to be a true need as long as SM can progress. Freshman Pgs are rarely good.
BradleyBrave
New member
You can't say Jim didn't get POB. Al was on Jim's staff. Jim was the head coach POB decided to play for. If we're going by this logic, then Molinari doesn't get credit for Granger, since we all know that it was Broussard who had the strong relationship with him.
BradleyBrave
New member
I want at least 1, if not 2 4-year kids. We can't continue have this large turnover every year and think we're going to be successful. JUCO's are like free agents - they're nice to sign, but generally overpriced/overrated, and it's hard to build a winning team with a bunch of mercenaries who haven't grown up in your system. The teams that are able to sustain are ones that build with their farm system, i.e. the 4 year player. Yes, we've had some success with JUCO's, but the core of our last 2 winning teams - POB, Ruffin, Tauai, Adams, Crouch, Warren - have been 4 year players. I'm not saying we swear off JUCO's altogether, but I think we need to start trending towards the 4 year player.
I think we have a very solid core of 4 year players right now that we should be excited about. Sam and Warren have the makings of a very solid backcourt for years to come, and I think Egolf and Thompson are both going to be very good as well. Let's build around them with some more 4 year players who are going to grow up and win in the BU system.
I think we have a very solid core of 4 year players right now that we should be excited about. Sam and Warren have the makings of a very solid backcourt for years to come, and I think Egolf and Thompson are both going to be very good as well. Let's build around them with some more 4 year players who are going to grow up and win in the BU system.
Braves4Life
New member
Very well said BB. I totally agree. Unfortunately, that may mean we won't be very good for the next two years
BradleyBrave
New member
Very well said BB. I totally agree. Unfortunately, that may mean we won't be very good for the next two years
I don't agree with that. Sam and Warren will be as solid of a 1-2 as any in the league next year, and the following year. That's a good start. Theron Wilson is good now, and I anticipate will get a little better. One has to think that at least 1 of our JUCO's (beyone TW) will become a reliable contributor. I believe that Will Egolf and Anthony Thompson will be able to contribute as well. Kind of the way we lost a lot after '99-'00 and didn't expect much in '00-'01 (and maybe similar to ISU's lumps last year translating into success this year), I am hoping lower expectations and a year of experience will result in a suprisingly successful year next year.
It's WAY too early to predict gloom and doom. We should have learned that after last year's team showed us just how valuable experience is. We might be bad, but we have some young, talented players who are taking lumps now that should pay dividends later.
MacabreMob
New member
2 years from now:
1 - SM (Jr)
2 - AW? (Sr)
3 - AW? (Sr)
4 - WE (Jr)
5 - AT (So, but Jr in age)
I like the foundation.
(I put a ? on AW only because not sure where he will be, a 2 or 3... but HE WILL BE!)
1 - SM (Jr)
2 - AW? (Sr)
3 - AW? (Sr)
4 - WE (Jr)
5 - AT (So, but Jr in age)
I like the foundation.
(I put a ? on AW only because not sure where he will be, a 2 or 3... but HE WILL BE!)
Braves4Life
New member
Oh........you are correct my friend
My definition of "not very good" was based on my over-inflated and eternally rosey view of Bradley basketball and the "Glory Days" that never ended and are always expected (from me). Ask me who'd win tomorrow between Bradley and Carolina and I'd probably say we have a pretty good shot
What I meant by "not very good" was we might not make the NCAA tournament next year.........though I'd probably bet money (and lose) that we would
My money says he's at the 3 with Eddren at the 2, much in the fashion Will Franklin was last year. I like having a few guys that can handle the ball.
BradleyBrave
New member
Whoa there...easy with predicting McCain that high already. We've never seen the kid play yet. You're placing him at a 2 guard over a true 2 guard in 6'4" Chris Roberts (a recruit coveted by Wichita St). We don't know what kind of a player McCain is yet. Reports are that he's a true point. Considering our rebounding problems, I think we're probably going to start wanting to play with some more size if we can. I think it's only fair to keep this speculation/discussion to known quantities, i.e. players we have seen play and have an idea of what they are capable of.