2012-2013 College Basketball thread

[thebruce44]

There goes my 2 seed and top 10 prediction. Vander just isn't ready. As an MU fan, I'd obviously like to see him stay. As a Vander Blue fan, I'd like to see him get 1 more year in too. I feel like he must be getting bad advise.

[FVBrewerFan]

Have also heard Juan Anderson is transferring, but haven't seen any published reports yet

[homer]

Have also heard Juan Anderson is transferring, but haven't seen any published reports yet

 

Yes, was in the Journal the other day.

[LouisEly]

Please be smart and don't sign with an agent...

 

Hey Remy Abell, there might be an opening at guard (and a possible scholarship) at Marquette. Your 48.5% from 3-point would fit in real nicely...

[DHonks]

I think Blue has gotten some bad advice. He's not as advanced offensively as Hayward, Crowder, or DJO. They came out as seniors. Blue had a very good year but he has a long way to go. If he goes pro, I think he'll make his money in Europe.

[paul253]

Vander's decision is a terrible one. But how often do you see this in college basketball? A player has a good run in the tournament and thinks he can play in the NBA. Blue is a terrible shooter and is too small to do anything else. I don't think he'd be a good NBA player even if he stayed another year but he could at least improve his stock a bit. He reminds me of Jerel McNeal. Good college player but just not cut out for the NBA. And McNeal was A LOT better than Blue, in my opinion. Oh well. What are you going to do? Todd Mayo is going to have to step up. And Deonte Burton and Jajuan Johnson are both top 50 recruits who should see some time at the two guard as well.

 

As for Anderson. I couldn't care less. Yes he was a starter but he certainly wasn't the best player at the position, that being Jamil Wilson. Anderson was terrible on defense too. Whenever he got into the game, especially in the tournament, I cringed. Marquette will be more than fine without him. They have Wilson. Steve Taylor looks like he has a ton of potential and was a beast on the offensive glass. And Jameel McKay fits that mold as well.

[FVBrewerFan]

Blue is getting the same advice a ton of other under-classmen are getting. It's a weak draft year, so enter the draft. There's a lot of guys who have announced they're coming out, and a lot of them a just don't get.

 

I agree with you Paul, McNeal was a better player than Blue in almost every way. But, Blue has one thing going for him- big time quicks. There may be teams out there that see him as someone who could develop into a Monta Ellis type of player (albeit an even worse shooter.) You can hang around in the NBA for a while if you do one thing very well. In the NBA Blue will have more room to navigate, and get into the paint ona regular basis with his quickness.

 

So while McNeal is a better all-around player, Blue is more athletic and quick.

[LouisEly]

Maybe Blue is eying Europe. Maybe Blue thinks that he isn't likely to be a 1st round draft pick even if he stays, and the risk of getting injured isn't worth what he could be making in Europe to help his family. Might be a lot of pressure from the family to take the money and play in Europe, especially with a single parent and how much he cares about his mom. Rashard Griffith went to Europe, made a very nice living there, and never cared about the NBA.

 

If that's the case, and he makes anywhere near what Griffith made, I can't blame him at all.

[DHonks]

The comparison of McNeal and Blue is fair (and how I was hoping Blue would progress entering the season). Both were lock-down defenders. McNeal was the better slasher (although he had a much better team around him in terms of athletic ability and scoring threats) and better 3pt shooter. Blue is probably faster and more athletic. Both occasionally spelled the PG's as primary ball-handler. If McNeal can't cut it in the NBA despite being the best player from his college team, I have no clue how Blue can make it. Then again, I was amazed that Chris Crawford played something like 8 years in the NBA considering he was constantly getting benched by Mike Deane for stupid plays.

[paul253]

Maybe Blue is eying Europe.

If this is the case I assume he'd have waited until he actually got an offer before he announced his plan to leave. I don't know. I don't think players leave college early with their eye towards Europe. I think that's where he'll end up but I don't think it is his number one goal.

 

But like I said, life for MU goes on. As dumb as this may sound I think Chris Otule's return is more important than Blues. Without OTule MU's biggest guy is 6'8''. Buzz finally started playing he and Gardner together towards the end of the year and it seems like he really found something there. They'll be a very deep team next year but PG may be a question mark. Derrick Wilson is nothing more than a backup. I've seen Duane Wilson play a ton in HS. He is an amazingly talented player but he needs to add at least 15lbs of muscle. But overall a starting lineup of Duane Wilson, Todd Mayo, Chris OTule, Jameel McKay, and Jamil Wilson with Gardner, Johnson, Burton, Derrick Wilson, and Taylor coming off the bench should be a pretty decent team.

[Funketown]

Worthless random thought I had: With James Michael McAdoo returning, UNC will likely start 4 McDonald's All Americans. The lone starter without that designation? Leslie McDonald.

 

 

I don't blame Vander Blue for going. Honestly he might just not enjoy school and want to focus on basketball. Odds were slim that sticking around would get him into the draft, so if he thinks he can improve by playing overseas, that's completely understandable.

[LouisEly]

"I've seen Duane Wilson play a ton in HS. He is an amazingly talented player but he needs to add at least 15lbs of muscle."

 

I think you could say that about most HS basketball players (if not 30 lbs).

 

Semi-worthless random thought I just had - what if Thomas had waited two weeks before deciding on transferring? Would he have a scholarship for next year again? Anyone else out there that can pull a Trent Lockett and graduate with a year of eligibility left that Marquette can bring in at SG?

 

And if there is a scholarship open is there anyone decent taller than 6'7" who still hasn't committed yet? Marquette supposedly offered two guys who haven't committed yet; Brian Bridgewater is a 3-star PF - he's only 6'6" but he makes up for that by being 230 lbs. ESPN scouting report says "He doesn't possess that ideal lengthy frame, but when it comes to strength, bulk, and explosiveness he is peerless". The other is TreShawn Bolden, a 3-star 6'7", 220 lb PF.

[paul253]

I heard the name Tarik Black thrown out there. He played for Memphis last season and I think was an MU target when he was being recruited out of HS.

[thebruce44]

"I've seen Duane Wilson play a ton in HS. He is an amazingly talented player but he needs to add at least 15lbs of muscle."

 

I think you could say that about most HS basketball players (if not 30 lbs).

 

I think MU will have no problem getting him where he needs to be. There was an article in the JS not too long ago about how good their facilities and training are. They spend more money per basketball player than any other school in the country not named Duke. Sure, that doesn't transfer directly to results, but it still speaks volumes.

[thebruce44]

I heard the name Tarik Black thrown out there. He played for Memphis last season and I think was an MU target when he was being recruited out of HS.

 

Here is a list of transfers that could be targeted according to Crackedsidewalks (an excellent MU blog). They also have a writeup of each if you follow the link:

 

Here are the 5 most intriguing immediately eligible players:

 

1) Antonio Barton

2) Josh Davis

3) Tarik Black

4) Jerron Granberry

5) Sheldon McClellan

 

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2013/04/looking-at-transfer-list.html

[FVBrewerFan]

"I've seen Duane Wilson play a ton in HS. He is an amazingly talented player but he needs to add at least 15lbs of muscle."

 

 

Semi-worthless random thought I just had - what if Thomas had waited two weeks before deciding on transferring?

 

I was actually wondering the same thing, only about Ferguson. I know most people have a "meh" attitude towards him, but I really saw him as an athletic guard with a little length to him, and think he'll develop nicely. Would he still be at MU if he knew Blue and Anderson were leaving? Who knows, but something tells me we'll be hearing from him again at tourney time with VCU or somebody.

[MJLiverock]

Check out the hops on this 14 year old basketball phenom. Callipari must be salivating at trying to get him on campus for a year.

 

[bani1717]

The only thing that I didn't find impressive in that video was the music

[Funketown]

Something tells me Bo Ryan won't be recruiting him too aggressively.

[homer]

Marcus Liberty Redux