peace davids
- Colorado
Asst
I would go visit my sister every day just to troll us Illini fans (if I were Cuonzo, of course).
Asst
I'm really concerned with the lack of bigs. Based off today's scholarship grid, we'll have something like*
Guards
Lucas
Frazier
[possibly Smith]
Da'Monte
JCL
AJ
Pickett
Wings
Kipper
DJW
Forwards
Black
Finke
Center
Tilmon
with 1 to give. To me, this says we absolutely have to get a center, or or 4/5 that is able to defend. We're painted into a corner with our guard heavy roster, and pursuit of Smith.
*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.
*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.
I'm really concerned with the lack of bigs. Based off today's scholarship grid, we'll have something like*
Guards
Lucas
Frazier
[possibly Smith]
Da'Monte
JCL
AJ
Pickett
Wings
Kipper
DJW
Forwards
Black
Finke
Center
Tilmon
with 1 to give. To me, this says we absolutely have to get a center, or or 4/5 that is able to defend. We're painted into a corner with our guard heavy roster, and pursuit of Smith.
*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.
Don't know Underwood's system, but Kipper could put in some minutes every game as a small-ball 4.
Brian Cook tweeting Mr. Mark Smith, if it hasn't already been reported. Mentioning the pride and joy to come on home and represent!
That's not playing devil's advocate, that's reality. I'm sure that's going to be part of Cuonzo's pitch to Smith tonight. Get as many people into his ear as possible. Problem with Porter Jr.'s pitch is that the guy is going to be there for one year and Missouri will be in his rear view mirror. Smith is a different story.
I found two of them. Their names are Kipper Nichols and DJ Williams... :huh:Watching the opponent play volleyball off the glass when it comes to offensive rebounds is most definitely a problem when you lack size the way we're lacking it right now. An athletic 6'8'' or 6'9" post player....That actually plays in the post would look pretty good about now. A 6'6" slashing wing who can get to the rim would also be a welcome addition. If anybody can find those two guys out from under a rock for 2017-2018, it would be much appreciated.
That's not playing devil's advocate, that's reality. I'm sure that's going to be part of Cuonzo's pitch to Smith tonight. Get as many people into his ear as possible. Problem with Porter Jr.'s pitch is that the guy is going to be there for one year and Missouri will be in his rear view mirror. Smith is a different story.
Seems like Smith didn't want to play for Groce and it didn't help that we came in late with an offer.
From what I've heard/read, the Groce part is.
As far as recruiting, I was at the game where Lou Henson announced his retirement. Lou's announcement blind sided me because he seemed ageless to me at that time. I only bring this up because guys like Roy Williams and Tom Izzo are on the wrong side of 60 and recruits may be wondering if they will be there for their 4 years.
Smith wanted to play for Groce, the whole class did. And we did not come in late with an offer. We were one of the first actually.Here's how I read the Mark Smith situation:
- If Underwood was coaching last year, Smith likely commits. Seems like Smith didn't want to play for Groce and it didn't help that we came in late with an offer.
:faint:opcorn:
My information wasn't from this board. It was from employees at his high school.
Also, having a good relationship and wanting to play for are 2 different things. Groce seemed like a very likable guy who made a great impression on pretty much every player he recruited.
But if 'relationships' are key with Smith, why he is letting in Calipari and Izzo last minute? Seems like those 2, or at least Calipari, is trying to swoop in without having done much recruiting of him prior to this.
If not, seems unfair to talk about unfamiliarity with Underwood when other coaches are getting in on him late. Not saying that's happening, but it's been thrown around as a possibility.
I stand corrected on the late offer.
So is Smith just waiting to get all the love from bigger programs now that he's blown up? Was Cuonzo recruiting him hard when he was at Cal? Or did he even have a relationship with him?
If not, seems unfair to talk about unfamiliarity with Underwood when other coaches are getting in on him late. Not saying that's happening, but it's been thrown around as a possibility.
Right, I agree. But how well does he know Izzo, Calipari, Cuonzo if they're putting the full court press on him late?
Sounds like Smith is more concerned about committing to a coach than a university. Which is fine.
Just to play devil's advocate.
Tod Palmer @todpalmer Porter Jr. said Mizzou still needs to add size. Hasn't given up on East St. Louis' Jeremiah Tilmon: "I'm on him hard."
Sounds like Smith is more concerned about committing to a coach than a university. Which is fine.
Isn't it against the rules to recruit someone who has signed a letter of inten?
Its surprising in that Texas' talented athletes are pushed into football (and therefore track), and even baseball (especially at my school and we're only good at basketball). At some schools down here football coaches expect football players to be in the football athletic period every day all year, even if the athlete is in a different sport currently in season. All the money and the prestige and attention is given to football. Aside from a really top notch coaches clinic, the deck is stacked against basketball growth in every area.
Conversely, Illinois is a basketball first state, and some schools located in the hottest basketball recruiting area in the country don't even have football teams. The best athletes in Illinois are full time basketball players a majority of the time. And they started early, I think I remember school sports starting around 5th grade in Illinois. These things are not true of Texas.