re: Basketball Recruiting Thread

Here's how I read that.

If everyone all of a sudden does shite they've never proven they can do and exceed all expectations, we'll be decent.

If they do what we expect, our record will be the same as the last year, give or take 1 game.

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I just don't expect players to come back next year as the same players they were.

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Half the players are gone. They aren't coming back at all.

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I just don't expect players to come back next year as the same players they were.

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Hopefully not.

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Some examples are Clarkson, Brown, Denmon, Bowers, Lawrence, & Carroll.

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First, no one on this team compares talent wise with most of the guys on that list. Second, all I remember from about a year ago was a certain segment of the fan base gushing over how much work the guys were putting in on the off season and how much of a change that was and how Gant worked his arse off in the weight room to add weight. Saw what that got us last year.

The bad news: 5 of our 8 top scorers are gone from last year.
The good news: None of them hardly scored shite so it shouldn't take much to replace those numbers.

Phillips - Probably the biggest hope for Mizzou. It's his attitude, apparent loyalty to Mizzou and KA and his hard play that needs to become infectious. That's probably needed as much as his increase in assists. I've always said I'm a fan of this kid and any hopes there are I think are pinned on him as the floor general.

Walton - Had nearly as many turnovers as assists. Only averaged .9 assists per game. Could he play PG in a pinch? Sure. So could Puryear. Is he truly a PG? No. I saw flashes of ability. Probably not as much or as often as Teki, but there is some hope. Mizzou lists him as 6' 3" and 195. Either Mizzou is lying or he's the smallest 6' 3" 196 pounds I've ever seen.

Puryear - My concern here is that people now know he is our only threat. He really needs a true big man playing with him to allow him to play his true position effectively. We don't have that. He'll be solid. We just can't expect him to carry the team.

Woods - Expect nothing. That way, if you get anything, you're pleasantly surprised.

Van Leer - Would be a good 6th, 7th or 8th guy off the bench. Problem is he's got to be a starter. He's got to improve leaps and bounds to show he can play anywhere near this level.

That's it for returners. Not awe inspiring. Even if they improve, I don't see that core getting to 15 wins. The talent just isn't there. Working hard is only going to get you so far. Hell, I worked my arse off.

Barnett - The guy went from playing very little to not at all at Texas. Texas was ok last year but hardly where I'd like to see Mizzou. I'd be shocked if he contributed more than Gant did.

Smith - I'd be shocked (pleasantly so) if he's ever a contributor in his time at Mizzou. If I had to go out on a limb I'd guess he transfers out for lack of playing time after his sophomore year.

Nikko - Really more of a defensive player. Won't generate much offense on his own underneath, but if he's smart he won't try to. He will put himself to benefit from Phillips dishing him the ball for easy lay ups. Would be shocked if he averages more than 3 ppg as a freshman.

Jackson & Hughes - Better hope they can step in and average near double digits if we want to make post season play. There just isn't much offense anywhere else. The hype by some reminds me of the hype around Walton. Walton averaged about 3 ppg.

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Jackson & Hughes - Better hope they can step in and average near double digits if we want to make post season play. There just isn't much offense anywhere else. The hype by some reminds me of the hype around Walton. Walton averaged about 3 ppg.

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Walton actually averaged over 5 per game, in just u der 14 minutes. He's the guy that I would expect to make the biggest jump. Statistically he should have played much more as a freshman.
Though I also that that Wright and Gant should have been able to make big jumps last year, instead they got a little better. Just not enough.
I expect the team to try running an offense similar to Haith's first year.
If Walton, Phillips, & Puryear are worthy of playing 30+ minutes a game then there is a chance for KA. Even at that it's just a chance.

“Jakeenan has been in the weight room every single day trying to get stronger,” Williams said. “He’s been working extremely hard.”

LINK

“They’re talented, but they know they have to get better, too. Their work ethic has been phenomenal. They’re in the gym late at night. They’re in the gym after practice. They’ve brought something to the table. … The new guys have come in with an enthusiasm and exuberance that I think have helped everybody. They’ve helped the old guys, too.”

“I think the chemistry is a lot better than last year,” Isabell said on the subject. “The coaches can definitely attest to that. Everyone’s talking and everyone’s ready to not be what we were last year. Everyone’s giving that extra effort and that’s paying off.”

And yes, a whopping 5.3 ppg.

Ok, I see what you're saying.

What you're saying is if these guys had the work ethic of Michael Jordan, they'd all be better. I get it. My point is that none of these guys have the talent either. So will hard work make them better? Yes. Will hard work ever make them as good as Clarkson, Brown or Denmon? Very doubtful. Yet, that is what your statement implies.

And not having guys that can produce on a steady basis falls squarely on KA's shoulders. He is either bringing in kids without the talent or he's bringing in kid's without the necessary work ethic. Does that change in the future? Maybe. Maybe not. But going back though some posts from last year, I heard the exact same things being said about Phillips/Walton/Puryear right now being said about Clark/Gant/Wright a year ago. Time will tell

The problem is we don't have older guys. Unless you count sophomores as older guys.

And your point about elite players I think is what most fans want to change. We have landed elite players in the past. Just not on a consistent enough basis. I don't think most want the status quo. Most would like to see a Final Four before they die. In order to do that, the talent level has got to get better. It starts by not winding up signing plan S or T. Have got to at least get to landing Plan C or D players. Maybe occasionally landing Plan A or B players.

Again, that's part of the point. We need a coach that will put the program in a position to land those type of players if we want to take the next step. Just because we haven't landed the Lee's and Beal's and Hansbrough's and Porter's in the past doesn't mean we should accept that in the future from our HC. KA has not only failed to land those elite players but that next level of player in the state as well. Cook/Sneed/Whitt/Morgan/Anunoby/Shamet.

What is sad is that at this point we are talking about what kind of players it would take to get to .500. My expectations aren't .500. It's getting to the Final Four and some day maybe playing in that championship game. I just don't see KA ever being able to do that. We are heading into year 3 and we are so far away from landing a Porter or Tilmon it is laughable.