Brackins Invited To World University Games Training Camp

**A-town Cy** · 05-20-2009, 01:26 PM

http://www.cyclones.com//ViewArticle...ATCLID=3740908

Looks like they're 15 invited, and then trimmed down to 12 before going to Serbia for competition, this could be a really great opportunity for Craig.

Accepting invitations to participate in the 2009 USA Men's World University Games Team Trials were: James Anderson (Oklahoma State / Junction City, Ark.); Talor Battle (Penn State / Albany, N.Y.); Trevor Booker (Clemson / Whitmire, S.C.); Craig Brackins (Iowa State / Palmdale, Calif.); Da'Sean Butler (West Virginia / Newark, N.J.); Sherron Collins (Kansas / Chicago, Ill.); Mike Davis (Illinois / Alexandria, Va.); Corey Fisher (Villanova / Bronx, N.Y.); Lazar Hayward (Marquette / Buffalo, N.Y.); Robbie Hummel (Purdue / Valparaiso, Ind.); JaJuan Johnson (Purdue / Indianapolis, Ind.); Quincy Pondexter (Washington / Fresno, Calif.); Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.); Evan Turner (Ohio State / Chicago, Ill.); and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State / Brownsville, Tenn.).

**Cydkar** · 05-20-2009, 01:43 PM

Nice group.

**Mr Janny** · 05-20-2009, 01:43 PM

nice. That's some pretty good company.

**kucyclone** · 05-20-2009, 05:26 PM

Bo Ryan to coach? Why did their first 30 choices turn down the chance?

It's always hard to guess these things, but after a quick look, I would assume all four of the guards make the roster. My guess for the cuts would be Mike Davis from Illinois, Quincy Pondexter from UW, and JaJuan Johnson from Purdue. With these types of teams, though, it's always tough to tell. Coach Ryan has a bunch of options from Big 10 teams that aren't his own; hard to tell how that will shake out.

Brackins's size and offensive talents should give him a great shot to not only make the team, but also log some good minutes. Playing against all those players in practice and then hopefully the international players will be a nice experience for him which should help him grow even more as a player.

**kucyclone** · 05-20-2009, 05:43 PM

Found this somewhat interesting - this same team was announced a couple weeks ago minus three players - Brackins, James Anderson, and James Varnardo (link)

All three of these guys are fine players, but I could make a team with guys like Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson, Kalin Lucas, Ed Davis, Willie Warren, WJ, Nick Calathes, Dexter Pittman, Cole Aldrich, Tyler Smith, Kyle Singler that would beat this team. I understand that some of these guys may have other obligations. For instance, Aldrich is resting his leg injury all summer instead of playing. And Meeks, Calathes, and Smith still have their names in the draft, as far as I know, but may be more likely to pull out.

And, really, Bo Ryan? Get ready for some exciting 54-53 barnburners.

**LZclone** · 05-20-2009, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by kucyclone

And, really, Bo Ryan? Get ready for some exciting 54-53 barnburners.

Bo Ryan wins, I wish he was the Head Coach at Iowa State!

**kucyclone** · 05-20-2009, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by LZclone

Bo Ryan wins, I wish he was the Head Coach at Iowa State!

Yeah, but Roy, K, Donovan, Cal, Miller, Few, Howland, Montgomery, Self, Barnes, Crean, Capel, Wright, Dixon, Boeheim, Izzo, Calhoun, Floyd, Tubby, Matta, and Huggins were ALL unavailable?

**ubuntuCAT** · 05-21-2009, 09:32 AM

This is the same tournament that UNI represented team USA in 2007 right?

**Wesley** · 05-21-2009, 11:30 AM

No real centers?

**kucyclone** · 05-21-2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley

No real centers?

How many guys in the country last season that were good enough to play on a team like this would you call a "real center"? Thabeet, Mullens, and Aldrich. Maybe guys like Neville from Utah or Heytfelt from Gonzaga, if you even consider him a center? Well only one of those guys is still in college, and he's nursing an injury all summer.

So you're basically left with Dexter Pittman and a bunch of scrubs like Justin Hamilton. And remember, Dexter Pittman looked like he needed an oxygen tank playing something like 15 minutes a game last season. That being said, I think Pittman would have been a better fit than guys like Davis or Pondexter on this team. I wonder what the issue was there.

**kucyclone** · 05-28-2009, 09:11 AM

This is less than noteworthy, but G Dominique Jones from USF was added to the training camp roster. (link - ZAGSBLOG » Walker, St. Anthony Duo on U19 Team).

I imagine this will have slim-to-none effect on Brackins' chances of making the team.