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Thomas Robinson, who made official basketball recruiting visits to Kansas University and Memphis two of the past three weekends, now faces the task of choosing between the two schools.
"Right now, it is even," Robinson, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound senior power forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., said Sunday night after completing his trip to Memphis.
"I'd say I like both. I'm just going to sit back and think about what school is best for me," added Robinson, who visited KU on Sept. 19-20.
Robinson - he said he may need up to two weeks to finalize his decision - said he won't be making any more campus visits. He had talked about visiting Southern California on Oct. 17-18 and in the past considered Texas, Miami, Maryland, Louisville, Georgetown, Seton Hall and others.
"It's Kansas and Memphis," said Robinson, who is Rivals.com's No. 18-rated player nationally. "Kansas made a strong impression on me. I felt very comfortable there, the same with Memphis.
"Memphis was a different area of the country. Outside that, there were not too many differences. The gyms are different. Memphis shares its with the Grizzlies," Robinson added of FedExForum, home of both college and NBA basketball. "Kansas' (Allen Fieldhouse) has a lot of history."
Robinson visited Memphis on the same weekend as Xavier Henry, a 6-foot-6 senior from Putnam City (Okla.) High, who will visit KU for the Oct. 17 Late Night in the Phog, then pick between the schools.
Memphis and KU are also in the running for point guard John Wall, a 6-4 senior from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C.
Wall visited KU the same weekend as Robinson. He has yet to set dates for visits to Memphis, Oregon and Baylor. He's also considering North Carolina State.
"It would be fun to play with them in college. I will not base my decision on the schools they go to," Robinson said.
¢ Henry update: Henry was interviewed by a batch of Memphis media members during his trip to the Conference USA school.
"It's been a good visit. I got to see my brother a lot," he said in an interview aired on Memphis Fox 13 TV. "I'm glad he's here and has an opportunity to play again. That's not going to influence my decision," he added of guard C.J. Henry enrolling at Memphis last month after his minor-league baseball season ended.
"I'd like to play with my brother, but it's nice to get out on your own, too. I want to play with him, and I don't. Either way, it's the same."
Henry said he hopes to choose a school "hopefully a week or two after both my visits, as quickly as possible."
Which school leads? "Nothing has changed," Henry told the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper. "It's still Memphis and Kansas. It's the same as it was last year and the year before that."
¢ Stephenson update: Lance Stephenson, a 6-5 guard from Lincoln High in Brooklyn, N.Y., who will wait until the spring to sign, will visit KU for the Oct. 17 Late Night in the Phog. Zagsblog.net reports that Stephenson also hopes to visit Memphis, Southern California and UCLA. He already has visited St. John's.
Comments
derringer29 (anonymous) says...
Is it me or is every player we are going after memphis is right there? i never remeber going head to head so much in the same year with one school.
October 6, 2008 at 3:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mojayhawk (anonymous) says...
I keep saying, it's the fact that Memphis shares facilities with the Grizzlies that is the appeal in Memphis. It certainly can't be the city! We need an NBA team in KC!
October 6, 2008 at 4:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Toto_the_great (anonymous) says...
KU vs Memphis? KU vs Memphis? hmmm.... one has a good music (Blues and Jazz) scene and tasty BBQ and the other has a good music scene (typically college bands) and tasty BBQ. Okay, that won't work.
October 6, 2008 at 5:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mpann1818 (anonymous) says...
He certainly knows how to handle the media
October 6, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yates33333 (anonymous) says...
If the quality of the University were the main selling point, KU would have no trouble. Too bad student athletes aren't too interested in the student aspect.
October 6, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DWINOP (anonymous) says...
mojayhawk wrote:
"I keep saying, it's the fact that Memphis shares facilities with the Grizzlies that is the appeal in Memphis. It certainly can't be the city! We need an NBA team in KC!"
And having an NBA team 50 miles away, practicing and playing in a facility that KU will only play in once or twice a year helps KU recruiting exactly how?
October 6, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
K_Easthouse (anonymous) says...
I keep pointing out that we need to emphasize KU's longevity on the national stage as why recruits need to come here.
Memphis is a flash-in-the-pan program that relies on "one and done" talent to keep it going - and can't keep it up forever. If recruits want exposure on the national stage - and lets face it, they all do - KU would be the better place.
However, I have to agree with other posters here; I don't ever recall a time where two schools competed for the same recruits this consistently. Where's North Carolina, Duke, UCLA and the rest, or are they already locked up?
October 6, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says...
"And having an NBA team 50 miles away, practicing and playing in a facility that KU will only play in once or twice a year helps KU recruiting exactly how?"
That's not too hard to figure out. If there was a NBA team in KC, the ties between that team and KU would be pretty tight. Players would have access to some of those NBA players and how it all works. They'd have opportunities to make extra connections with NBA folks. It's not very hard at all to see that it would be alluring to have a NBA team close.
However, with all that said, I still don't know why someone would want to play in obscurity in Conference USA. Play in a league where you're never going to get challenged. This one is a no-brainer, but Coach Cal seems to be more than holding his own. I mean the FedEx Forum or Allen Fieldhouse. You can play in one of the most historic arenas of all time or.....? You can play in front of one of the loudest and craziest crowds in big games......or? I don't get the dilemma. For me, Memphis would be a nice Plan B school if a KU type school didn't work out.
October 6, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Toto_the_great (anonymous) says...
If the Kings and Knights (and Blades and Comets) failed in KC, I don't think we deserve another NBA team (hell, I am thankful we have the Royals). I think it will be interesting to see how the OKC Thunder fair once the newness factor dwindles.
October 6, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
"I'd like to play with my brother, but it's nice to get out on your own, too. I want to play with him, and I don't. Either way, it's the same." -Xavier Henry
Huh? Many on this board have pointed out how fickle the decision-making process can be with kids in this age range. It's no secret their brains are just not quite all wired up yet. That quote above is a good example.
It's just funny when we employ logic to try to figure out what these kids will do, when even they simply have no idea what they're going to do. It really does feel like its all based on impulse sometimes.
October 6, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
froggiemlm (anonymous) says...
does anyone know how many scholies memphis has to offer for next year?
October 6, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bmkjayhawk (anonymous) says...
Even if some think that Henry's comment doesn't make a lot of sense, I hope he means it. Last week, most were convinced that he was definitely going to Memphis, but if he means that his decision is still up in the air, I'll take that because then we still have a chance.
October 6, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DWManion99 (anonymous) says...
Kansas = A lot more national television exposure and a conference that is solid with at least 2-3 high profile teams. Conference USA - Oh please!!! And the comment about Memphis being a flash in the pan is right on. Who really thinks that 10 years from now they will still be highly regarded.
October 6, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flipborder02 (anonymous) says...
In the full video X says that Kansas is a better school to get NBA ready. So I thought that was very interesting.
October 6, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jbrownjib (anonymous) says...
I bet on KU's History v. Memphis Griselies. Yes, Grisel like the cartilage at the end of a bone. They are not a good team. Was Robinson making a point? The Griselies have no history and neither does Memphis. Calaparie will leave the program when someone flashes $$$$ in his face at a bigger school in a real conference. Only the ACC matches the Big 12 in overall BB quality. Then the Big East, Pac 10 and SEC.
October 6, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
I'm a KU fan, but I'm surprised at the lack of respect that is being given to Memphis.
They don't have our history (very few schools do), but they didn't just show up in the title game this year. They've been to 3 Final Fours, and advanced to the last three Elite Eights.
As far as exposure, sure Memphis doesn't get much exposure during conference season, but they make up for it by playing a brutal non-con schedule, which means that while big time conference teams are playing mid majors at home, Memphis is tangling with Georgetown, Gonzaga and other top level teams. Last year Memphis was on national TV just about every week in December. The year before it was the same story.
They aren't Kentucky, UCLA, or UNC, but they have some history, and more than that, the amount of history you need is limited. Remember, you're recruiting 18 year olds, not 50 year olds. These kids weren't even BORN when we won in 1988, but they can probably clearly remember us getting bounced in the first round two straight years, just like they remember Memphis playing into the next to last weekend of the year almost every year since they were in high school. I'm 26, and I have no memory of the '88 title (and I grew up in Kansas City).
They probably have vague memories of Penny Hardaway (and Lil' Penny). They remember the legendary high schoolers like Dajaun Wagner and Derrick Rose. To them that's probably even with Paul Pierce, Finals MVP and Mario Chalmers.
Remember, we are recruiting kids, not their parents. These kids memories aren't going to go back as far, and things they read about, like the legendary Phog Allen, and the Triple OT game aren't going to impact them as deeply as Lil' Penny and the dribble motion.
October 6, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FSUJHAWK (anonymous) says...
These high school kids get easily enamored by the Memphis lifestyle. The bball program has really great living facilities. Moving away from home for the first time, which high school kid wouldn't want to set up shop in those suites, even if it's just for a year? In addition, Calipari has been known to sprinkle a bit of his magic dust on these kids, i.e., selling the "you're going to be the man" and "I've been in the NBA and at Memphis I will highlight and refine your skills for draft day-our system is designed for that."
Memphis' recent success, the living and playing facilities, and Calapari's magic dust make it difficult for any program to compete in recruiting these kids. Hopefully these kids have the independent mind and right support group to help them make the prudent decision, that is, there is no place like KANSAS!!!
October 6, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CBaller13 (anonymous) says...
I think it's a crapshoot. I think some of these recruits want the true college basketball experience (playing at a historic court with diehard fans) and some want the easy life that will pave the way to the NBA. I think at this point, I'm happy with whoever decides to come to KU because they are choosing a college rather than a stopgap. The closest KU has ever had to a Carmelo/Beasley type player is Julian Wright and I think even he considers himself to be a Jayhawk forever. If Xavier Henry comes to KU, I would not be surprised if he stays here 2 years to enjoy college while it lasts. I'm fairly confident that the NBA is a bigger selling point at Memphis and that winning a team oriented basketball championship is what we sell at KU. It will be interesting, I just want one of Xavier, Wall or Stephenson. We need one guy who can score and become an All American. As for Robinson, he sounds like a good guy. I'd like him too. Another quick point, one thing that Memphis can never offer is a late night experience like that at KU. These players are going to be wowed. I've been to a few different arenas throughout the country and Cameron Indoor and Allen Fieldhouse are the two places where you are just amazed at the atmosphere. I'm glad some of these guys are coming on that night. I think it will put us ahead. These guys will go home and tell their family and friends about what Late Night is about and how basketball players are treated like kings in Lawrence.
October 6, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
memhawk (anonymous) says...
Not that it probably matters to these kids who are making the comparisons, but, I'd bet the student-athlete graduation rates, that were recently released by KU, are significantly higher than at the U of M.
Maybe Coach Cal is using Derrick Rose as his claim to fame. A freshman who was a #1 draft pick who will undoubtedly benefit from the season that he was coached (?) by Calipari. Look at the stats from the Nat'l Champ. game, Rose went 7 for 17 field goals, 1 for 6 3pointers and 5 turnovers. Thats coaching!
Interestingly though, I recently attended my stepson's graduation at the U of M and in the graduating class was Andre Turner ("The Little General") point guard from the mid 80s Tigers teams. He was making good on a promise to his grandmother that he would return and graduate. Kudos to him.
October 6, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mdalesh (anonymous) says...
Robinson,Henry, Stephenson,Wall,Cheek, etc.,etc., How is this recruiting game working with only two maybe three scholarships to give? This exposure to top flight talent is great but it doesn't seem to fit Coach Self's style. To Hell with one-and-out's! Let them play in Europe for a year, let them throw away an education of a lifetime for a chance at the big money of the NBA. Coach, let's continue to recruit players who bond as KU Family and WIN! This Memphis v. Kansas stuff is a bunch of crap. There is NO COMPARISON between the two instutions as far as Coaches, Education, Fans, Tradition, and Winning!!!! If they are lucky enough to get a nod from the Jayhawks and turn it down, WE DON'T WANT THEM! Coach Self is A Teacher, not a NBA Scout! Whewww.
October 6, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irish2255 (anonymous) says...
amen
October 6, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
mdalesh...
I guarantee you some of the senior players would give up their scholarships to make room for these impact players. Some of them dont even need them and thats the Gods honest truth.
flipborder...
if truer words were spoken than in your last post, i havent heard them. you are right. Kansas is 100% better in prepping for the NBA. Big 12 competition vs. Conference USA cupcakes. hmm...I DONT KNOW???
justanotherfan...
another insightful post. Memphis came out of nowhere...SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOT LAST YEAR. They are proving themselves a force to be reckoned with not only in terms of how far theyve been advancing in the NCAA tournament, but also in terms of attention theyre getting...recruits theyre getting...etc. People who speak only of our tradition vs. theirs is akin to the statement of "sitting on our laurels".
October 6, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CBaller13 (anonymous) says...
Memphis is definately a top 5 program right now. Especially for players trying to make the NBA. Calipari is a NBA prep coach. KU is also a great progream right now. If I was rating schools right now in terms of complete package for recruits, I'd go this way:
1. North Carolina
2. Kansas
3. UCLA
4. Memphis
5. Duke
I think we will end up with some of these players. It will then be up to Coach Self, in whom Im completely confident, to turn the prospects into a team and compete. I think we are set.
As for the scholarship dilemna. I'm sure Brady Morningstar will give up his scholarship if asked to do so. I think we sign three players and then see what happens with everyone else. Let's say one player goes pro(Sherron) and one player transfers(Reed). There are 3 scholarships right there.
October 6, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen (anonymous) says...
FSUJHawk- I think the "mansion" rumor for players at Memphishas ben exaggerated. It may seem likethat comapred to wher some of them have grown up but you be the judge:
http://reslifeweb.memphis.edu/reslife...
http://reslifeweb.memphis.edu/reslife...
http://reslifeweb.memphis.edu/reslife...
Also, Calipari's claim of being in the NBA could be matched by Danny.
October 6, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen (anonymous) says...
justanotherfan- I am sure these 18 years olds don't remember our older players but I guarantee you their parents and grandparents do. They have a lot of influence on these kids. If they are impressed, the kids will generally follow suit even if they haven't seen them with their own eyes. You don't think Wilt Chamberlain is still not vividly alive to the older folks in Philly?
October 6, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mdalesh (anonymous) says...
I don't know anything about Morningstar's situation but I do know Tyrel Reed is not going anywhere. This young man Is what a Jayhawk is all about, a.k.a. Mark Turgeon.
October 6, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jpstrayer (anonymous) says...
Am I missing something? It seems to me we just aren't getting any "pop" from the Nat'l Championship...I mean we are neck and neck with the same team KU beat on the floor and the best we can get is even with Memphis.
I don't envy Coach Self...having to make a living based upon the decision making of 17 to 22 year old kids. Has to be frustrating at times.
October 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
average...
thats a student residence hall!!!
October 6, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigTamale (anonymous) says...
Lots of good points so far...I think Memphis does have a good "Wow!" factor with High Schoolers. These kids are going to gravitate to those things that are shinny and bright. Also, they have become very good as of late.
I've heard a lot about about how below average C-USA is. We must remember that is Calipari's formula to winning and getting solid recruits.
1 Coach in a NON BCS Conference
2 Win 27+ games a year
3 Get a high seed in tourney (1 or 2)
Remember when he was about to take the NC State job but ended up staying at Memphis? Had he been in the ACC with NC State, would he be getting top recruits? Probably not. He used the same formula at UMASS.
Is that the reason why he has yet to coach at a BCS conference?
I that forumla is a little weak, but it works...gotta give the man his credit.
Plus now he has a track record of producing the CDR's, Derrick Roses, and Marcus Camby's of the world.
October 6, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...
I'm a KU fan for life but I can understand why a recruit would choose Memphis over KU. As many people have already mentioned, they have much better housing, a good coach who has proven that he can win & get people ready for the NBA. Memphis is a decent size city so if you're not looking for a small town lifestyle then that can be a plus.
Memphis won't be as deep as we are which means more playing time for the recruits. Having an easy schedule in C-USA isn't altogether a bad thing is it?
So to some everything up, at Memphis you get more playing time, better housing, and get to take it easy & play an easier schedule & still make it to the NBA. Not to mention that you may also look a lot better playing against sub par competition & having more minutes doing so.
So what does KU need to do? Hurry up with the renovations at the Jaywhawk Towers!!! I lived there for 3 years & that place is a dump! Other than that we have good facilities, coaching staff & definitely have the history, tradition & exceptional winning record. I just hope we get at least 1 or 2 of these guys.
October 6, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ohioburg (anonymous) says...
jross - what student residence hall did you stay at? For a college residence it looked decent. Anyone have legit pics of Jayhawk Towers for comparison?
October 6, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
ohio...youre missing the point COMPLETELY.
yes, its nice for a residence hall. Inside it looks decent though not remarkable. but what has been described in the press, the players at Memphis live in a mansion of sorts and NOT--I repeat NOT--a residence hall! in the post above, averagecitizen linked a photo of where he said the memphis players were housed. now unless you or he or anyone else can show that these are in fact the accomodations for the memphis players, then his point is invalid and that at least considering housing, Id assume that Joey Dorsey's description of their digs is much MUCH better than the residence hall photos linked above.
why is this even an issue? because some have put forward that the plush living conditions at memphis is an advantage for their recruiting. the RESIDENCE HALL photo above could hardly be described as something that would be an advantage to their school.
October 6, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
Excerpt from an article where Luke Winn interviewed Joey Dorsey:
"JD: We actually have a house -- 11 bedrooms, all basketball players, so mostly everybody stays there.
LW: How did you find that place?
JD: It's an on-campus thing; Coach Cal did it. It's almost like a mansion. You can get lost in there. It's decked out, too; the living room's got 42-inch flat screens where we can watch game tapes, or review player personnel. Or we can go upstairs where there's a theater, and just watch movies."
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_b...
Now I ask you, does this description of a HOUSE in ANY WAY mirror the RESIDENCE HALL photo that averagecitizen linked?
October 6, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
mdalesh,
If we want to continue to be in the hunt for national championships, we most certainly DO need top level talent.
Yes we just won a national title with guys that were developed by coach Self (Sasha, DBlock, RussRob), but Shady, Brandon and Mario were all top 15 recruits. You can't win consistently in college hoops without top line talent.
Every national champion for the last 20 years has had at least one McDs AA on the roster. You need that top level talent, period. You absolutely have to have NBA caliber talent to get deep into the NCAA tournament.
October 6, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...
The Zav-ee-yay interview...
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pag...
October 6, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...
Thomas Robinson interview... Hes the second player interveiwed in this clip. We need to land him if only for the reason that he talks just like Shaq.
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pag...
October 6, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bmkjayhawk (anonymous) says...
justanotherfan, is that a fact about the last 20 national champion teams? You've just got me wondering now.
October 6, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ohioburg (anonymous) says...
The description certainly doesn't match the pictures. Anyone have pictures of their real digs? And I thought special housing just for athletes were against NCAA rules. I imagine a lot of schools are walking on fine line on that one.
October 6, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hawklin (anonymous) says...
The pictures shown are where the players live. 1 complex has been modified into 1 big open unit. With a flat screen and all for jross.
October 6, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Strikewso (anonymous) says...
We're getting plenty of "pop" for our Nat'l title, it's just that Memphis is getting it, too for being in the title game and getting players to the NBA.
October 6, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen (anonymous) says...
JRoss- This residence hall is upscale and costs more. One Memphis fan's take on Dorsey's interview was that he came from humble beginnings and it probably seemed like a mansion to him. It is reported that they knocked down some walls between aprtments and made it "house" like. If just one of the buildings is done that way, it would be pretty big. And, yes, because of the NCAA other students that get to live there.
October 6, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
bmk,
I stand corrected. The lone exception is Maryland 2002. See below. Also note that most of these teams had more than one McD AA.
2008 - Kansas (Aldrich, Arthur, Chalmers, Collins)
2007 - Florida (Brewer)
2006 - Florida (Brewer)
2005 - North Carolina (Felton, May, McCants, J. Williams, M. Williams)
2004 - UConn (Brown, Villaneuva)
2003 - Syracuse (Anthony)
2002 - Maryland (none)
2001 - Duke (Battier, Boozer, Duhon, Dunleavy, Williams)
2000 - Michigan St. (Cleeves, Richardson)
1999 - UConn (El-Amin, Hamilton)
1998 - Kentucky (Turner)
1997 - Arizona (Bibby)
1996 - Kentucky (Delk, Mercer, Turner, Walker)
1995 - UCLA (Charles and Ed O'Bannon)
1994 - Arkansas (Robinson, Williamson)
1993 - North Carolina (Lynch, McInnis, Montross, Reese, Williams, Zwikker)
1992 - Duke (Hill, Hurley, Laettner, Parks)
1991 - Duke (Hill, Hurley, Laettner)
1990 - UNLV (Johnson, Spencer)
1989 - Michigan (Higgins, Mills, Robinson)
1988 - Kansas (Maddox, Manning, Randall)
October 6, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lrahardja (anonymous) says...
Hearing the above video interviews, I think we have a good chance to land these two top recruits.
X definitely is a strong character, and he will not let himself be compared with his brother on campus (a potential distraction). Thomas said he is leaning toward KS (prior to Memphis visit) and like the coaching staffs. Together with John Wall, that's another core set to another championships caliber team.
Tradition & Location:
For college basketball, one simply should not compare the tradition KU brings. Lawrence is an ideal place for these youngsters to sharpen their skills to prepare for their next career. It does not have the distraction of big cities.
Coaching:
Self will teach how to play team defense, brings a family athmosphere, while coaching staffs improve each player's skill level. The fact that 5 players were recruited to NBA speaks for the coaching staffs quality.
What can one possibly absorb if he stops by a bus stop on your way to NBA? Don't make that wrong choice.
October 6, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CBaller13 (anonymous) says...
I think based on the interviews done in Memphis, Xavier Henry is 50/50 - KU fans need to chant his name and do EVERYTHING they can at late night to get him. As for Thomas Robinson, I liked him and I think he liked KU but is keeping his options open. I would say we are the favorite for him. If we are privileged enough to land Robinson and Henry, I think either Elijah Johnson or Wall(although I dont think that's likely) would be a nice way to round out our class. Xavier is one and done but I still think he's the type of player you want even if for just one year. He reminds me of a more versatile Blake Griffin.
October 6, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
average...
one, please cite your source. you say "it is reported...". show me the report. until you have evidence of that statement, I consider Joey Dorsey sane enough to distinguish between a house and a residence hall. your argument rests on challenging the perception of his reality (I know, the thought IS tempting, but its presumptuous nonetheless).
two, keep in mind that one person's subjective account as to the intent or meaning of Joey Dorsey's statement does not mean he (Dorsey) is incorrect, and that he actually DID live in a house while attending Memphis.
in the absence of proof (or even a shred of evidence) supporting your claim, it is irresponsible to characterize a situation solely on hearsay contrary to a report of it as given by an individual who experienced it firsthand.
he said he lived in a house. not a residence hall.
October 6, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...
Here's to hoping that Late Night sways some of these fellas.
October 6, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Anybody on this post that thinks X.Henry is going to Kansas has gotta be crazy...I mean think about it,if going to Kansas is based on tradition,winning national championships,playing in Allen Fieldhouse,blah blah then dont you people think he would've chose Kansas by now!?!
I live in Memphis & this is fact~Henry is ALWAYS here! Dude has been here so much since his 10th grade year you would've thought he was already enrolled at the University...he's been to Midnight Madness the last two years....The only reason he's going to Kansas' midnight madness is because he's seen ours TWICE...
And to top it all off CJ Henry is here...if you think he just picked Memphis out of the blue then you Kansas fans are being naive..Coach Cal didnt recruit CJ Henry~he chose us-because of X!..Read between the lines Kansas fans..X.Henry is playing mind games with you people....
October 6, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
And another thing~I see alot of posts on here disrespecting the U of M because of our conference...haha
Ok since you guys wanna go there let me make a point:
Michigan State(Big TEN) vs Memphis(C-USA in the Sweet 16)...it was 50-20 at Halftime...Michigan State never knew what hit them
Texas(Big 12) vs Memphis(C-USA) IN TEXAS(you might as well say homecourt) in the elite 8...ok BLOWOUT CITY-we ran Texas off the court!Period!
UCLA(Pac-10) vs Memphis(C-USA) in the Final Four..Another Blowout against so called TRADITION
Kansas beat us in what will go down as 1 of the biggest games in NCAA History...Memphis didnt win that game & I want make up any excuses but I bet no one was saying anything about us being from C-USA on that night!
Conferences & history of these so called TRADITION schools want help you win when it comes down to March Madness! Are you serious!?? Do or die is how the game is played. Your team being from the ACC,Big 12,Big East,etc want help you when March rolls around..You guys(Kansas) lost to Bradley in '06! Did it help Kansas by being from the Big 12 when that upset happened??! Ummmmm NO,I think not
Memphis has'nt won a championship-TRUE...But dont look down on a team just because they play in a so-called weak conference...Im not about to list the schools we've beaten from the GLAMOUR conferences the last 3 or 4 years but I will say this: The NCAA dont seed you the 1 seed in '2006(Elite 8),2 seed in '07(Elite 8) & a 1 seed in '08(Final 4 & NC runner-up) if you're playing weak teams...
Us Memphians dont have anything negative to say about Kansas but when you say things like we're in a "weak conference" & why would a recruit wanna go there instead of Kansas & blah blah then you're being straight up stupid.
Calipari is using the same recipe Tarkanian used to build UNLV(who were also from a weak conf) in the 80's & early 90's. He is a building a monster program over this way so you people need to wake up & stop being so naive...
October 6, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jaybate (anonymous) says...
People ultimately make their choices on where they work based on what a place does for their resume, what they will learn at a place, who they will work with and what their compensation will be and what they believe will offer the best fit for their social lives. Tradition is only relevant if it contributes to guarrantying any of the preceding three. If tradition were all important, the University of Chicago would still be playing football. Lastly, there is also a perk factor; that is, who do you get to meet and know by going to that place to work? Here's an analysis of competitive advantage in these factors regarding KU and Memphis.
Resume Padding: KU does more traditionally. Memphis does about the same recently. Advantage: dead even.
Learning Advantage: Self is the better teacher, and will elevate the game of a player more by rounding him out, but Calipari's offense seems to showcase guards more and this past draft landed a guy who was not that great as the Number 1 pick. On the other hand, KU had a slug of guys drafted. Advantage: Even.
Roster: To me, KU year in and year out has the better players. But Memphis already has a couple one and doners coming in, plus the possibility of Henry, Wall, Stephenson and Robinson joining to form a super team. It is the blue chips that Memphis has already signed for this year and next that are really enhancing Memphis credibility. Advantage: Memphis.
Compensation: Housing and academics are the chief, legitimate compensation available to student athletes. Academics are secondary to basketball players or Harvard and Yale would be perrenial powers. Memphis has the better crib for players. Advantage: Memphis.
October 6, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jaybate (anonymous) says...
Perk Factor: Playing on the same wood as the Grizzlies is BIG! Meeting and getting to know the Grizzlies is even bigger. Getting access now to the place you want to go to next is huge in any field. Advantage: Memphis.
Social Life: Recent posts by African Americans posters here suggest that a large African American community in Memphis doesn't hurt, but doesn't help that much. Memphis having vastly more women students to date seems to be the decisive factor favoring Memphis. But the fact that so many KU greats come back to Lawrence in the off season indicates social life is acceptable at KU, too. Advantage: even (I've never heard of any KU athlete have a hard time getting all the dates he wanted).
Conclusion: Replace the Jayhawker Towers now. Get an NBA team into KC ASAP. Land some one and doners quick. Stand pat on the Coach and style of play. Trust the small town college atmosphere will still attract as many as it discourages.
After some deliberation, I reckon jross1972 may have been right to be concerned about the odds of losing out to Memphis.
Time and the tides wait for no man.
Even though KU won a ring, it has to upgrade its facilities to compete. It also has to land some one and doners to prove to the others that this is the sort of place that guarranties the chance to play with the best. And there needs to be a pro team in KC to really deliver an access to the L that gives our great KU tradition a chance to be decisive.
October 6, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
to Jaybate: love your post man!! You made valid points...
If you saw what Calipari has done to the University of Memphis as far as upgrading the facilities the past 7 years then you will see that's part of the reason why high caliber recruits want to come here. And playing in an NBA city helps alot!! It's not about the Grizzlies,its all about constantly seeing the Kobe Bryants',the Carmelo's,the A.I's,etc night in & night out..Cant nothing match that....And let's be honest Calipari is NBA connected whether people wanna admit it or not...
1 more thing! You kinda threw a diss at my man D.Rose...
So,you mean to tell me you would've picked Chalmers over D.Rose if you were an NBA GM trying to choose a pg?!lol Get serious man
October 6, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kltbadboyz (anonymous) says...
If I was Darrell Arthur and I met these recruits on a visit I'd straight up tell them to go to KU. Either way we'll get a couple of the guys we want on our list. I highly doubt all will go to Memphis.
October 6, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Memphis has 3 scholarships left for '09...and it has Wall,Henry, & Robinson written all over it...I live over here in Memphis...Man,let me tell you something..D. Rose is recruiting Wall as hard as Cal is recruiting X.Henry! Do you understand where I'm coming from?!
Rose & Wall are basically mirror images of each other...And that dribble drive offense fits the Wall kid to a tee!
October 6, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkitup (anonymous) says...
shunngunn-hey man, I live here in Memphis too and you must be smokin' something...all I hear from people down here is how Memphis gave the National Championship to Kansas. Last I checked, Chalmers still had to make that three point shot. People here are SO bitter over that lost and frankly I am sick of the smack on Kansas just because Memphis had one of the greatest choke jobs in NCAA history and Kansas never gave up and outright WON the National Championship...NOTHING was given to them.
As for your recruiting comments, there is NO WAY that Memphis lands Wall, Henry, & Robinson. I will admit that I do believe Henry is leaning toward Memphis but they will not get all three recruits.
Finally, Calipari is a joke. Plan and simple if you stick him in a REAL conference (and yes I am saying C-USA is not a real conference) there is no way he has the success he has had at U of M. There is a HUGE difference between playing Duke or North Carolina twice a year. Familiarity has something to do with it...that's why Memphis has had its struggles against UT (Tennessee).
October 6, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BrockIII (anonymous) says...
I don't know if we need to secure one-and-doners to prove we are an elite team or show recruits they can come play with elite players. That is not going to necesarily improve recruiting or our odds of winning another championship.
Losing Henry would hurt but would not break KU. Self is going to get a great class. And having guys that stick around 3-4 years can be a great thing in the end. Memphis may beat KU out for some of these guys because of style points and we have to live with that. But we have a roster of good ballplayers and just need one or two real difference makers.
October 6, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
The news is mixed.
I can never remember Kansas being in on so many high recruits in the country. Clearly a championship helps recruiting, and Bill Self was already an excellent recruiter to begin with. Still, it remains to be seen whether or not Coach can close the deal on these blue-chippers. Time will tell.
If any of the rest of you are like me, this shunngunn gets on my nerves a little bit. The audicity of a Memphis fan to come and breathe fire on our message boards takes a lot of courage, Ill tell you that. But you know what? He's right about a lot of things.
1. Memphis didnt even recruit CJ, and had even orally committed to Kansas! Makes you wonder why he chose Memphis if X werent heavily considering going there too.
2. Tradition doesnt win championships, players and coaches do. If tradition won championships, we'd win the tournament every single year. That's not the case. The reality is you have to recruit. You have to coach. You have to gel. You have to play.
3. Memphis' rise to prominence is akin to UNLVs of days gone by. I hadnt even considered this until it was stated. The outstanding question is whether or not there will be any longevity to this resurrection of sorts.
4. Memphis' facilities are probably better in the eyes of recruits than are Kansas'. We need to pour money into the program like everyone else is doing to modernize, and that includes the living conditions as well.
5. Calipari's NBA connections should not be underestimated. Even if his actual sway is not as great as advertised, his PERCEIVED power by recruits has value. This may be the big advantage Memphis really has: an NBA Coach speaking NBA language in an NBA facility.
I will say shunngunn is smoking crack about Conference USA. That place is a JOKE!
Jaybate. Those last two posts of yours are poetry. Issues are very well put and I gotta say you hit at the heart of a lot of what's going on. It appears that the Kansas vs. Memphis battle didn't end with the final buzzer in San Antonio.
October 6, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...
Good lord how many schollies does Memphis have? They just got a committment from Darnell Dodson. They also have Nolan Dennis and Will Coleman coming in next year as well.
October 6, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
to hawkitup:
Who are you fooling homie!??lol You're not from Memphis talking like that about our own school & Coach Cal..If Coach Cal is a joke then how in the hell is he able to recruit the way he does fool?! Go to the ELITE 8 three years in a row on the way to a Final Four & NC runner up this year?!...So I guess he's been lucky since '96 when he had UMASS on the map too huh?!! Grow up man!
I'll admit this, Coach Cal is no John Wooden or Bobby Knight when it comes to coaching...But you gotta give the man his props for what he's done during his time in Memphis...That's why I said YOU cant be from Memphis talking smack against SUCCESS!
And I know one thing I was at the Final Four in San Antonio..with 2 mins to go in that game & we're up 9 points, there were a whooooooooooole lotta Jayhawk fans putting their jackets on hitting the exits BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT their team had lost! No lie... So dont go there with the "Kansas outright won" crap..Kansas won the Nat'l Championship.'Nuff said. Memphis didnt hit the free throws to seal the deal..and the end result is we lost.Period.
How do you figure we cant land all three recruits?! Are you crazy or something?! And we're still recruiting Lance Stephenson,Derrick Favors, & Renardo Sidney..You better recognize what's going on over here in the M-town homie!Haha..Coach Cal is building a Monster program whether you sit there whining about weak and power conferences or not..It all comes down to WHAT YOU DO IN MARCH-Perfect example:Umm didnt BRADLEY beat a loaded KANSAS squad in the '06 tourney? Didnt George Mason beat Michigan State,North Carolina & Uconn in the '06 tourney to advance to the final four?! Yea,thought so DUMMY! If conferences matttered & get you so prepared for March Madness then how in the hell those schools lose to a Mid-Major team? Can you please explain that??!
I want you & every idiot on this post that's got something negative to say about our so-called weak conf to keep sitting there thinking Memphis is going away...it sure as hell didnt help Mississippi State,Michigan State,Texas & Ucla this year when they played us in the tourney this past March..
So you can continue to be haters all you want but the fact of the matter is this:Memphis is going to make some noise in the '09 tourney too~you can bank on it!!
October 6, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Im just having a lil fun on you guys post JROSS1972! lol I guess you can call me a bully or something...
And yes you're right C-USA is a joke! And UNLV played in a conf just like ours and were still successful back in the TARKANIAN days..Thats why I dont understand why people are constantly ragging on what conferences these teams play in...if that were the case Memphis would lose in the 1st or 2nd round every year...
October 6, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) says...
Been a while since I have read any posts or posted.
jross,
you are on target. I also must acknowledge your pointing out that I was unfair in some comments regarding Julian Wright back during the end of the NBA season. You are correct that my comments were uncalled for. I do stand behind my belief regarding his ability.
I was also thrilled to learn of our Benedictine connection.
October 6, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
memhawk (anonymous) says...
Won't it be interesting to see what we'll get from the Morris twins this year. Don't forget, they defected to KU from their commitment at U of M. Wonder what their real reson was for the change of heart? We'll see who was smarter, them or C. J. Henry for switching allegiences.
October 6, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DatBMe (anonymous) says...
If only you could see the U of M Tigers Locker room at the FedEx Forum... Its simply mind blowing !!!!!
October 6, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
100 (anonymous) says...
So it comes down to
A. great national exposure, ESPN every game, living and practicing amongst Legends (Manning) and their Ghosts (Chamberlain, Naismith, etc) and a much better long term career in the NBA,
versus
B. a year of a really nice "weird eye for the straight guy" place to live before you jump ship and go to the NBA?
Seems like a no brainer for any college basketball player with a brain to make this decision -- Self's kind of recruit is more than smart enough to make the wise choice. If Calipari doesn't have them signed before late night in the Phog, it means the NCAA is videotaping every move he makes and he isn't quite able to hand over "the briefcase". In short, he knows if they attend Late Night, he may as well hand wrap a 2nd National Championship for Coach Self, to add to the first one he already helped him get.
P.S. Wouldn't free throw shooting be something a future pro might want to learn in college?
October 6, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Hey 100: You can hate all you want to pal but I got news for you.Do you want the brutal truth?!Or do you want me to sugar coat it for ya?!
1st of all these kids that these coaches are recruiting nowadays dont give a rat's azz about how traditional your school is or who played there 20 or 30 years ago!
It's about what can you do for them NOW....
For instance why did Derrick Rose choose Memphis over Illinois & Indiana?! Huh? Can you answer that for me?! Oh I know what your answer is~Cal is crooked & he pays players to come here lol that's funny...Because think about it Rose didnt NEED THE MONEY because he was a future lottery pick anyway!! And the dribble drive motion offense had Rose written all over it! That's why the hell he came here!!! The same reason Tyreke Evans(from Philly) chose to come down South this year..
Sports Illustrated did,I think,an 8 page article back in Feb./March on Coach Cal's Dribble Drive Motion Offense. It covered the 1000's of coaches that are installing that very same offense he's been using since the '05-'06 year..The same year Memphis went to the elite 8 with 6 freshmen,1 senior & 1 sophomore! The Boston Celtics offense is a pro version of the same offense Memphis uses..Doc Rivers learned the offense from Coach Cal..If you think I'm lying go back & read the article with your own eyes..If you dont have guards or wings the same size as ours you are going to get destroyed..Kansas was really the only team that matched up with us last year...
Let's face it,if you're banking on Midnight Madness to help Kansas steer X.Henry & John Wall then you got another thing coming..PLEASE READ BETWEEN THE LINES PEOPLE!! X.Henry's big brother is enrolled at Memphis now~Coach Cal did not recruit CJ Henry-CJ Henry WALKED on!!! Why did he pick Memphis out of all schools in the Nation?? Because his lil brother X.Henry is coming here next year that why! Duhh! Are you Kansas people blind or something? X isnt going to Kansas...if he were sold on you guys winning a Natl Championship,tradition & Danny Manning and blah blah blah then dont you think he would've signed by now! Hmmmm.........Yep that's right think about it for a second...Plus X.Henry is always seen over there on campus kicking it & it's been that way since he was in 10th grade...He's been to Memphis Madness twice already so why not let Kansas have'em this year lol haha...And oh yea' dont bank on Wall going to Kansas either..The DDM offense has Wall's name on it...
You guys better upgrade that facility over at Kansas because whether you like it or not Memphis is an NBA city that plays their home games on the same court as NBA players(and an ex NBA coach in Calipari with all of his connections) & they're around it year in & year out..Recruits are impressed with Fed Ex Forum when they visit..and let's not talk about where the Memphis Tigers basketball team practices!! That gym is so off the charts all you gotta do is go over there 1 time & you'll be impressed!!
October 7, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
And oh yea' who the hell recruits players that shoot free throws well?!!lol Man grow up...Point blank.Shooting free throws is all mental..you cant recruit players simply based on "hey Im recruiting you because we like the way you shoot free throws" hahaha Man get real!
October 7, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
shunngunn...
you think youre a bully? if you want a fight, bring one right here. Ill defend Kansas to the death. youre sorely mistaken if you think anyone is intimidated by you. making a couple of good points doesnt entitle you to strut around like a peacock. this is KANSAS, here, and on the subject of basketball it takes a whole hell of a lot more than you got to impress anyone. sit down and get an education.
you better rethink that bully mentality cause youre in way over your head. I promise ya.
October 7, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
jross1972: Wait a min buddy...when I said I was a bully on your thread I put "lol" behind it to let you know I was only joking when I said it...
This is all in good fun...i read earlier posts from your fellow Jayhawk fans disrespecting my Tigers & I had to speak up & defend them....
I dont care what thread I'm on..we're talking basketball! Get an education?! Are you serious~I've already graduated from college dude...And anyway dont turn this into something personal...I'm here defending Memphis because some of the things that are said on this post is ridiculous...
October 7, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
Dont get it twisted shunngunn: I am not your buddy.
The kind of education you need lies outside of anything you can learn in a book so dont give me your damned resume. Your degree is probably a B.S. anyway. You say youre here defending Memphis because some of the things said here are ridiculous. I could spend several DAYS proving how many of the things YOU said were just that so dont act for a moment as if youve cornered the market on sanity. Yes, you made a couple of good points, but now youve gone and lost your head. Like Elvis said, "If youre lookin' for trouble, you come to the right place." Dont get me warmed up...
October 7, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
Yes, some of the things said in these posts ARE ridiculous, and do you know why? CAUSE YOU KEEP TALKING. Need an example?
Heres one:
"if he were sold on you guys winning a Natl Championship,tradition & Danny Manning and blah blah blah then dont you think he would've signed by now!"
Well point that high-powered perception at yourself and regale all of the Kansas faithful with something coherant about why Xavier hasnt signed with Memphis by now.
October 7, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...
Is that how they talk in the South? "Blah, blah, blah" every few sentences? Or is that just the rambling of someone who has nothing better to say.
Im fittin'a step on your blue suede shoes. Step back or step up. Nobody talks trash on Kansas and wins. I hope you had your caffeine cause you got a long fight ahead of you...
October 7, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
derringer29 (anonymous) says...
hey shunngunn-you can have all the one and dones you want, here at kansas well take the kids that want to be part of the family and not catch the cash train.it doesnt matter the talant level of players you get, if your damm coach cant coach them in crunch time(not fouling at the end of the game lol)i cant wait to see the next choke at memphis whats the excuse going to be this year lol. we build teams here at kansas this isnt the D-LEAGUE(MEMPHIS)are players check their egos at the door and if they dont want to we send them to are X assisant coach down at memphis..when cal bolts for another job for more money well send u are scarps for a coach AGAIN.
October 7, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Oh my God you really are scaring me by writing on a freakin' blog lol..Dude get a life~you're taking this sports talk a lil too personal...and it's hilarious lol.. And yea we talk like that in the SOUTH in MEMPHIS to be exact when we feel like it's nonsense being said about our team..PARTNER!
"Well point that high-powered perception at yourself and regale all of the Kansas faithful with something coherant about why Xavier hasnt signed with Memphis by now"
ok well to let you guys tell it-KANSAS has more tradition than Memphis~So on that note alone he should've chose Kansas a lonnnnnng time ago over little ol' Memphis....
Let me go into detail! It's the same reason I told everyone D.Rose was coming to Memphis two years ago after all of this junk that was being said about playing in the Big Ten & "why would he pick Memphis over playing at traditional schools like Indiana or Illinois"? Rose visited Illinois during Midnight Madness just out of respect for saying he'd visit their campus..What ended up happening?! He signed with Memphis two weeks later..X.Henry is about to do the same thing...he's going to go to Kansas during MM & right after that he's going to announce he's signing with the University of Memphis....
And when he announces it,Im going to hop right back on here say TOLD YOU SO Ms. Ross!!HAHaa
Bottom line: Coach Cal is an ex NBA coach living in an NBA city & he has a ton of connections.Those recruits love him & love playing in the DDM offense..Point blank..
October 7, 2008 at 1:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
Hey derringer29: Look back at the tape D.Rose DID foul him,the stupid ref didnt make the call lol but it's cool.We choked on the free throw line & you guys capitalized on it & won...I didnt come on this thread to diss Kansas~I came on here to defend Memphis...I saw alot of negative comments being made about my Tigers so I'm simply defending them & I dont care about this being a Kansas thread...
You guys are acting Coach Cal is some type of high school coach or something..The man is building a powerhouse program down here in the big M-Town! You can hate all you want to but facts is facts!
October 7, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shunngunn (anonymous) says...
You guys are acting like Coach Cal is some type of high school coach or something..The man is building a powerhouse program down here in the big M-Town! You can hate all you want to but facts is facts
October 7, 2008 at 1:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...
of course....
Coach Cal need to move his ex to Big conference and prove it..
sorry shunngunn!! C USA...??? what C USA.... get real man.
October 7, 2008 at 1:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...
hey Fact is facts!!
October 7, 2008 at 1:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
shunngunn - Thanks for the counterpoint. The view here can be rather myopic, but it beats the jr hi name calling at the KCStar, or the over the top conference homerisms of the national blogs.
One point that you and many posters here seem to be missing is the connections that Carl (Papa) Henry made a month or so ago. (Sorry that I don't have the article reference, but the facts are easy enough to verify.)
Carl Henry is a KU grad, and BB alum. I believe Mrs. Henry is also an athletic & academic alum. There is a very definite connection here for X & CJ - which is why CJ committed here years ago even though he was planning to play baseball.
So why's CJ at Memphis? Listen to Papa, or go check out the roster from the 80's when he was here. Cal was his coach. There is a very definite conection there as well.
You say that CJ wasn't recruited, but you are only half right. He wasn't recruited in the traditional sense of the word, but Cal has been recruiting him since he was a little boy; everytime he was talking to Papa or Papa was talking about playing at KU and learning from Cal.
You are abolutely right about Memphis remaining a national player, regardless of whether anyone else from C-USA is or not, as long as he stays there. Personally, I think he retires from there. He's had his grass is greener moment, and learned what Coach Brown talks about learning after the fact: It is good to find a place to make a home and cultivate your own green grass.
While the dribble drive offense may be used by NBA teams, go back to the end of the X interview and listen to what he says about who will better prepare him for the NBA - KU. That's the other reason why he is still considering KU.
He'll better learn to play team ball and D at KU. It is at least part of the reason that Mr #1 was nuetralized by a bunch of second rate guards. That doesn't mean that Chalmers, RR, Sherron, or anyone else is better than DRose, or would have been a better pick. It does mean that DRose could have benefitted from learning from Coach Self for a year. It is the same reason DWade still says that Hinrich was the best defender he has ever played against, though Hinrich obviously didn't learn from Self. That isn't lost on X. Scoring pts is the Bling of the game and gets you attention - X already has plenty of that, but D wins championships and that's what he needs because the NBA wants it too. He'll learn more of that at KU.
As for the killer B's that you brought up. Yes, we had 2 early flame outs that had nothing to do with conference powers, but everything to do with learning new systems for old and then really young players in back to back seasons. How relavent was Cal in his first years?
Either way, there are plenty of top players considering both schools. It's not likely that either will be going away.
Gotta be at work in 7 hours, so look forward to hearing from you in a month?
Rock Chalk
October 7, 2008 at 1:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )