I am sure I am going to get a bunch of one off examples of coaches, programs, and recruits over the past few years that argue my next point, but I’m going to make it anyways.
For this basketball program, in its current state, winning will translate into recruiting successes. I will let you lists and stats guys do what you do, but I would imagine an overwhelming majority of the Top 100 recruits we have lost the past two years have went to teams that have made the tourney at least twice in the past three years. We haven’t been in 5 and selling what we “could” be is much harder than any of us can imagine. Most of these kids want to win NOW and the best way to ensure that happens is to go to a program that has been winning consistently the past 3 to 5 years. That ain’t us!
I agree that we hired BU, OA, and Chin to bring in top level recruits to get the program on track. I think they have done so with Ayo, Tevian and Andres. Samba in a year could be a ton if he reaches his potential. Our performance this year will change our current outcomes in recruitment if this team can show what BU is selling is real. Until then we will not be able to “close” these Top 50’s because they want to WIN.