BGleas

Fun while it lasted, but to really win this game we needed to be up something like 24-6 or 21-6 at halftime, not 10-6.

Then right back to up the middle.

So, running up the middle on 1st and 2nd down isn't working. Maybe try something else?

IU was out of bounds.

You can't keep making these mistakes. These drops have been huge.

Kind of like the Steelers on Thursday, I don't mind the decision, just hate the play they ran.

I think we're in first come, first serve mode with Jaylen Fisher and Bruce Brown.

I think my favorite part of his quote is "...Coach Crean's plan for me to develop over time." Sounds like a kid that's not expecting instant gratification the day he steps on campus. A kid that isn't going to transfer if he doesn't play 30 minutes a game from day 1. A kid looking to work hard and develop.

This is MSU vs. UK all the way. Even if we make the final 3, he's not coming to IU.

You could argue the only two that we have a real shot at are Davis and Jones. I just see this getting way worse before it gets better.

Agree, but there's a good chance we're losing Yogi, Troy and JBJ this offseason, and an outside chance Bryant could bolt too. We'll most likely have Holt, OG, Hartman, Morgan and RoJo back, while adding GG and Newkirk. We've got the role players, with the remaining scholarships we need to backfill the studs.

It's certainly not an underwhelming class, but to be honest I will be disappointed if we strike out on all of Alkins, Leaf, Bridges, Maker... It's not that Davis, CuJo and Brown are underwhelming, it's knowing we couldn't close the deal with any of the big fish when we had a chance.

You're probably right. The key to this signing IMO is who else we're going to bring in for 2016. If we can go something like Davis, CuJo, Brown, Gelon and 1 of Alkins/Leaf/Maker,Bridges then I really like the Newkirk pickup. It's one more veteran player who has been through the grind in a major conference. His numbers might be pedestrian, but next years team is going to need some vets. Adding 4-5 freshmen to Newkirk, RoJo, Bryant (hopefully), Hartman, OG, Holt, Morgan, is a nice blend of youth, talent and experience. With Newkirk, we're not adding 6 freshmen next year.

This is another move, like Gelon, where you have to see what other pieces fall into place. It's a great pickup if you have a impact freshmen point guard and then Newkirk backing him up. You don't want the 2016 team to have a freshmen pg starting and a bunch of freshmen guards as your bench too.

If you're Crean though, and you feel you have a real shot at some players you've prioritized above him, and those players are visiting soon, then there's no way you can accept that commitment before those kids visit. It's just not smart. I'd hope some of the offers he throws out are conditional and they're not all first come first serve.

No, you're good! I just completely missed it :).

"A focal point" and "the focal point" aren't the same. Coaches say a lot of things in recruiting. This is Yogi's team. Yogi is the engine, and guys like Blackmon and Troy are as well. Bryant will be our best/featured big and a big piece of our success. But, he's the missing piece, not the savior. He's a cog in the wheel, albeit an important one.

You're confusing "savior" with "missing piece". I frequent multiple boards and I don't think I've seen anyone saying Bryant is going to carry the team or being the focal point. He's talented 5 on a team that has most other aspects covered, except inside play.

I don't mean to direct this specifically at you, but I hate when people say this. Defense is just as much knowledge and defensive principles, if not more, as it is hustle. JBJ and most our team had horrible defensive principles and understanding last year. They were constantly out of position, constantly not on the same page and constantly playing with their hands down and not keeping their eyes on ball and man. Constantly turning their backs to either their man or the ball. Their defensive fundamentals were horrible.

It's all going to come down to how hard he's willing to work. He has all the athleticism and size you can ask for, as well as what seems to be a nice base of skill. Work like VO and the sky is the limit for this kid. Work like Hollowell and Perea and he could be playing at Georgia St in two years.

I hear where you're coming from too, a few guys would definitely do this, I just think it would be a mistake for anyone not locked into a high lottery pick. For example, I think it would be a collassal mistake for someone like Caleb Swanigan. Just raises more questions though. Is the 700k for multiple years? If a McDonald's AA comes in highly touted, but then ends up not being NBA material after 1 year, does he just get 700k for each year he's still there? I've worked with NBA players making over 800k a year that were basically broke. After taxes 700k is what? Maybe 400k? Rent a house in Vegas and buy one for Mom back home, and we're probably down to 250k- 200k. Pay your AAU coach to come live with you in Vegas and you're down to 150k-100k (this happens a lot). Buy a car for you and mom and after the down payment were at somewhere between 80-50k, and we haven't eaten, paid for the internet, paid for cell phones for the "crew" and family. I'm telling you, it goes quick. On the Euro thing, there's multiple levels of European basketball. I played with/against kids at the D2 level that are still playing in Europe and I played college ball from 97-2001. I played with a kid in high school who was a D2 level player, but never made it to college and played in Europe. The point is, the talent level can be good, and it can be highly questionable.

Agree with everything you said. Most don't realize, but kids can go straight to the NBDL from high school. Nobody has done it because the pay isn't great, but they can do it.

Like I said, I think the idea has merit. But, some unsanctioned, glorified AAU coach in Vegas implementing it would be a disaster. Work this concept into the NBDL, where you can trust the coaching/organization, etc., and I think it could be a great idea. Maybe with the NBA, through their scouting, releasing a list of "eligible" players.

But the alternative isn't welfare, the alternative could be going to a school that has a policy like IU's, where they'll honor your scholarship even if you leave early. You might not have interest in college at 18, but you might at 28, and it would sure be nice if it was free. 700k isn't that much in the grand scheme for an 18year old that has no clue how to manage that money, especially in Vegas. Look at how many pro athletes that have made millions upon million of dollars are broke within 5 years. You know how many late first/second round pick current NBA players are broke? You'd be surprised. But this outfit is going to suddenly figure out the secret sauce to get young, impressionable and uneducated athletes to wisely manage their money? What's the coaching like in this thing? Is it glorified AAU or is it actually preparing kids for the NBA? Whats the medical staff like? S&C staff? What's the competition like? Can this guy actually bankroll the payroll? Will the games be on TV? Because while the NCAA doesn't pay players, it provides them free marketing, which does result in endorsement money should they make it in the NBA.

There's a concept here that makes a little sense, but this idea as laid out would be a colossal failure IMO. You'd have to be a moron to let your kid do this, and yes I realize there are a lot of morons out there.