[Sly Fox]

Cincinnati. That explains it all

I have one word to end all arguments between the I-74 cities ... chili.

[jcmanson]

The word around here is that VCU, George mason, and Butler are all on their way to the Atlantic 10. Mid-major power conference.

I posted the same thing in the realignment thread. Would be a GREAT mid-major bball conference. You're looking at 4+ bids most years.

Butler
VCU
George Mason
UMass
Xavier
Richmond

[jcmanson]

I could see Smart trying to build VCU into something like Gonzaga out west. VCU has been pretty steady for the last 10+ years, the CAA has been a multiple bid conference the most of the last few years (and should have been this year), and Richmond is a solid area to recruit to. Unless a cherry job comes along, and they offer insane money, I could see him being happy at VCU.

Not just Richmond, but the entire state of Virginia. VCU is quickly becoming the best basketball school in the entire state, ACC or no ACC.

[NotAJerry]

I could see Smart trying to build VCU into something like Gonzaga out west. VCU has been pretty steady for the last 10+ years, the CAA has been a multiple bid conference the most of the last few years (and should have been this year), and Richmond is a solid area to recruit to. Unless a cherry job comes along, and they offer insane money, I could see him being happy at VCU.

Not just Richmond, but the entire state of Virginia. VCU is quickly becoming the best basketball school in the entire state, ACC or no ACC.

Very true, and Mason isn't far behind them. ODU is getting better as well. All 3 have finished top 5 in the CAA the last 5 years and it's been nearly 10 years since all 3 weren't in the top half of the CAA. It kind of makes you wonder why UVA and VT can't build something better than they do.

[LUconn]

UVA looks like it's got something going. I guess it's still wait and see though, until Leito's recruits are completely out of the system.

[BJWilliams]

UVa is turning things around. They ran into a buzzsaw in Florida in the tournament.

[NotAJerry]

UVA looks like it's got something going. I guess it's still wait and see though, until Leito's recruits are completely out of the system.

Bennett did well in his short stint at Washington State, but you're right that we haven't seen him with his own recruits yet.

[jcmanson]

Let's see how UVA does post-Mike Scott. Without him this year, they have a losing record. And he shouldn't have been there this year, but he got injured a year ago. I haven't seen much out of Bennett's recruits. Who does he have? Joe Harris? Good luck winning with that.

[LUconn]

From what I remember of when Washington State was good. They were winning with scores in the 40s. So I don't know that you're gonna see much out of any of his recruits ever, other than defense.

[jcmanson]

That's true, and that's what you saw this year at UVA. You still have to have someone that can score. Mike Scott was putting up 20+ points most games where the team only scored 50. Where do those 20 points come from?

[Purple Haize]

From what I remember of when Washington State was good. They were winning with scores in the 40s. So I don't know that you're gonna see much out of any of his recruits ever, other than defense.

Someone once said 'Defense Wins Champioships'. I of course played very little but still managed to eek out a championship riding the back of those who did!

[NotAJerry]

That's true, and that's what you saw this year at UVA. You still have to have someone that can score. Mike Scott was putting up 20+ points most games where the team only scored 50. Where do those 20 points come from?

Well, he's had two 4 star recruits (ESPN ratings) each of the last 2 years and supposedly has 3 more this year, so you would hope they'd get some scoring from somewhere. I'm pretty sure his dad's teams at Wisconsin were much the same, so it may just be a team that wins but isn't too aesthetically pleasing.

[jcmanson]

That's true, and that's what you saw this year at UVA. You still have to have someone that can score. Mike Scott was putting up 20+ points most games where the team only scored 50. Where do those 20 points come from?

Well, he's had two 4 star recruits (ESPN ratings) each of the last 2 years

That's what I'm getting at. Where are they?

[Purple Haize]

Cincinnati. That explains it all

I have one word to end all arguments between the I-74 cities ... chili.

And your hookers take personal checks!

[NotAJerry]

That's true, and that's what you saw this year at UVA. You still have to have someone that can score. Mike Scott was putting up 20+ points most games where the team only scored 50. Where do those 20 points come from?

Well, he's had two 4 star recruits (ESPN ratings) each of the last 2 years

That's what I'm getting at. Where are they?

The star ratings aren't showing up for the first recruiting class (2009) but Jontel Evans is a starter and puts up decent numbers as a PG.

The 2010 class had two 4 star guys in KT Harrell and James Johnson. Neither of them seems to play much. They had two 3 star guys that year, Joe Harris (2nd leading scorer) and Akil Mitchell (played all 32 games, 2nd leading rebounder [4.4], 22 mpg). Looks like the success that year was the lower rated guys.

The 2011 class had Malcolm Brogdon, 4 stars, who gave them 6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, and 1.4 apg as a bench player in 28 games last year. He may be a real player. They also had Paul Jesperson, 4 stars, who got into 21 games but didn't produce much. 3 star post player Darion Atkins also got a good bit of run and is the only real low post guy Bennett has recruited that did anything at all.

It's likely got a lot to do with the system, but they've done better with the supposedly lesser talented guys and they've only had decent production from one post player in 3 recruiting classes. They really need to hit with their 6'11" 4 star C recruit this year.

[jcmanson]

Jontel Evans – Leitao recruit
KT Harrell – transferred out
James Johnson – transferred out
Joe Harris – good player, will be leading scorer next year
Akil Mitchell – solid post
Malcolm Brogdon – will be a solid wing
Paul Jesperson – scrub
Darion Atkins - scrub

[NotAJerry]

I thought Evans was a Bennett recruit. At the least, he didn't transfer out when Bennett was hired in March 09.

That 2010 class would be a wash except that Harris and Mitchell worked out. Mitchell is listed as a SF but does play more PF due to the lack of size at UVA.

Brogdon does look solid. I wouldn't be surprised if Atkins is a player, grabbing 2 boards every 10 minutes as a 6'8" frosh isn't the worst thing in the world for a 3 star recruit. I'll withhold judgement on Jespersen since he was supposed to redshirt and only started playing when the 2 transfers happened.

They really do have to get a solid player out of the 6'11" kid this year to help with the post game.

I would suspect their starting 5 next year is Evans-Harris-Brogdon-Mitchell-Atkins. Definitely not much depth behind that and they need Jespersen, or one of the two 4 star wings they recruited this year, to step up immediately in addition to the C.

[thepostman]

This reminds me a lot of the whole Dwight Howard crapfest. This guy turns down the "big name" school and shows a little loyalty and is criticized for it but then if someone leaves a lesser program for a big time program he is also criticized. Much like Dwight decided to stay in Orlando and was criticized by the same people who criticized LeBron for leaving Cleveland.

Nobody ever can win. If it likes it at VCU I think thats great and if he decides to move on at some point then thats fine too..

[NotAJerry]

This reminds me a lot of the whole Dwight Howard crapfest. This guy turns down the "big name" school and shows a little loyalty and is criticized for it but then if someone leaves a lesser program for a big time program he is also criticized. Much like Dwight decided to stay in Orlando and was criticized by the same people who criticized LeBron for leaving Cleveland.

Nobody ever can win. If it likes it at VCU I think thats great and if he decides to move on at some point then thats fine too..

Dwight is leaving in a couple of months despite his show of "loyalty." He stayed for the sole purpose of the bigger contract extension that he can get in Orlando along with a forced sign and trade this offseason.

Smart seems genuinely happy where he is. He knows that his current situation is not far enough below a job like Illinois to jump. He also has set the bar for him leaving at the level of getting an elite job offer from a program that will be winning right away if he's going to leave at all.

[thepostman]

This reminds me a lot of the whole Dwight Howard crapfest. This guy turns down the "big name" school and shows a little loyalty and is criticized for it but then if someone leaves a lesser program for a big time program he is also criticized. Much like Dwight decided to stay in Orlando and was criticized by the same people who criticized LeBron for leaving Cleveland.

Nobody ever can win. If it likes it at VCU I think thats great and if he decides to move on at some point then thats fine too..

Dwight is leaving in a couple of months despite his show of "loyalty." He stayed for the sole purpose of the bigger contract extension that he can get in Orlando along with a forced sign and trade this offseason.

Smart seems genuinely happy where he is. He knows that his current situation is not far enough below a job like Illinois to jump. He also has set the bar for him leaving at the level of getting an elite job offer from a program that will be winning right away if he's going to leave at all.

Dwight, by waving his player option, actually will be making less money next year. He may be gone after next year but I don't remember the last time I saw a nba player agree to wave his player option when they would be guaranteed to make more.

Do a little research before posting, just sayin...

[BJWilliams]

Postie's right...he cant leave after this season because he waived his opt out on the last year of his contract. he's gonna be in Orlando next year. Now what happens after that remains to be seen...

[NotAJerry]

That's right, it pushes him to the next offseason when he can get the maximum extension and broker a sign and trade.

[thepostman]

which he could've done this year...a year earlier. Which is why everyone was calling him stupid. For not taking the money now because you never know what could happen in a year. That is what all the great minds at espn had to say