Greg's recruiting

[snowcraig2.0]

I have been reading allot of posts here regarding Greg's recruiting that say it has been a huge problem. Clearly, I am not in the Gmac supporter group anymore, but, I don't think these posts are very valid.

I think Greg has done a good job recruiting players to Ames. Even when we finished last season with 7 or 8 scholarship players, 6 of them were top 150 kids. Greg has brought 4 players in 4 years who have legit NBA potential into the program.

Greg's had plenty of problems in Ames, I just don't think recruiting is one of them. Maybe he will pull a rabbit out of his hat, and bring in that group that finally clicks this spring.

[cykoholic]

It's still twitchin' - keep on beatin it!!!

[GoCubsGo]

At this point we should see if Dykstra still has any interest.

[Drive4cy]

I think anytime you have Alex Thompson, Bryan Peterson, and Sean Haluska in your top 8 rotation in year 3 of your coaching tenure, something isn't right. He's done well recruiting some high caliber guys here but he's really struggled to get solid role players in here. He's had way too many misses IMO. Some of the transfers have been guys that were over their head at this level.

[DaddyMac]

Agreed. Recruiting isn't a problem - not much of one at all. Brackins and Wesley Johnson are almost locks to play at the next level. Mike Taylor spent some time there, correct? Some think Colvin might someday as might Gillstrap. I'm not sure how you factor Lucca's Euro career into the equation.

That's a bigger/better list than about any other coach we've had over the years.

Now retention and/or motivation is another issue.

[hursts]

I have been reading allot of posts here regarding Greg's recruiting that say it has been a huge problem. Clearly, I am not in the Gmac supporter group anymore, but, I don't think these posts are very valid.

I think Greg has done a good job recruiting players to Ames. Even when we finished last season with 7 or 8 scholarship players, 6 of them were top 150 kids. Greg has brought 4 players in 4 years who have legit NBA potential into the program.

Greg's had plenty of problems in Ames, I just don't think recruiting is one of them. Maybe he will pull a rabbit out of his hat, and bring in that group that finally clicks this spring.

He has had many recruiting misses also in his short time here. While he has brought in some quality talent his main problem has been KEEPING that talent to stay in Ames.

[Clones85']

Recruiting is a problem. For every Craig Brackins I can give you three big misses. You can't miss that often...period.

And most BCS level teams have had a couple NBA talents in a 4 year span. So it really is nothing to brag about.

2nd round pick Brackins
2nd round pick Taylor
Top 5 pick Wesley
Undrafted Gilstrap

Besides Wesley, not that great of talent over a 4 year period

[CYdTracked]

I don't think his recruiting has been bad, we have had some talent here. The problem is player retention.

[snowcraig2.0]

The only year I have felt like there was a talent problem was 08 - 09. Even in his first season we had some talent to work with.

[Clones85']

The only year I have felt like there was a talent problem was 08 - 09. Even in his first season we had some talent to work with.

First year is not on Greg at all...but we didn't have enough talent.

Second year we had talent in place to be above average. Injuries and bad luck hurt us

Third year we had no talent

Fourth year we had below average talent. Yes we had Brackins and Gilstrap but other teams went 8 deep with solid talent. We went 2 to 3 deep

I don't know how anybody can see a team we have put on the floor the last 4 years and think we had talent that would even rank in the top 8 of the Big 12

[clone4life82]

I'd also argue that if Ham kept improving he might end up playing pro ball somewhere (maybe not NBA) someday.

[aauummm]

The only year I have felt like there was a talent problem was 08 - 09. Even in his first season we had some talent to work with.

Yep, agreed.

[snowcraig2.0]

'85, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[clone4life82]

First year is not on Greg at all...but we didn't have enough talent.

Second year we had talent in place to be above average. Injuries and bad luck hurt us

Third year we had no talent

Fourth year we had below average talent. Yes we had Brackins and Gilstrap but other teams went 8 deep with solid talent. We went 2 to 3 deep

I don't know how anybody can see a team we have put on the floor the last 4 years and think we had talent that would even rank in the top 8 of the Big 12

Prior to this past season, I would guess that the majority on this website had put the MBB team higher than 8th in the big 12 with a lot thinking they should've made it to some sort of a tourney at the end of the year...

[DaddyMac]

We went to the Elite 8 with Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley - and a bunch of role players.

I don't wish to compare those stars to our stars of late. But I don't think you can convince me that the of the role players, there's a tremendous difference in basketball skill.

Attitude? Hell yes. But not necessarily skill. Front line in particular

I'm hard pressed to say Stevie Johnson, Paul Shirley or Martin Rancik is much better than a Justin Hamilton, James Vanderbeeken or LaRon Dendy.

Back court might be a bit different, Nurse and Horton were far better shooters (more consistent) than Lucca or Scotty. I'll take Colvin still over the likes of Bandon Hawkins.

But still, is there such a "talent" gap? I don't think so.

Now put those role players against against this years, and even though the talent might be comparable, I'll say the attitude and effort of the '00 guys will win the matchup 10 out of 10 times.