GREAT NEWS!!! Kim gains eligibility

[Eight]

Ah, ok, asinine. Coming from they guy who has spent more time stereotyping and calling people "kool-aiders" than actually discussing anything substantive. Oh well, I guess I ought not waste my time hoping to have an actual discussion on the issues and the facts.

[Tony-OH]

Ah, ok, asinine. Coming from they guy who has spent more time stereotyping and calling people "kool-aiders" than actually discussing anything substantive. Oh well, I guess I ought not waste my time hoping to have an actual discussion on the issues and the facts.

Uhhh, ok. The funniest thing in this "discussion" is the fact that you and a few others are so concerned over joking comments, that you can't focus on anything else. Wonder why? Could it be your arguments don't have a leg to stand on?

That's my guess.

[Tony-OH]

Touche Tony. I would understand the people who argue that Gary is going to rebuild the program and is now hard on the recruiting trail if they had some commitments from top recruits but they don't. They have signed a project in James Padgett for 2009 and a guy ranked 90-100 in Jordan Williams also for 2009. He has ZERO commitments for 2010. They are involved with guys like Epps, Buie, etc who are top 50-75 players but none have committed to go there despite guarenteed starting positions. So whether or not Gary has increased his efforts or not the results so far are the same. If they sign them have the season they are about to have then maybe you can argue he will rebuild the team, but until then there is no evidence he is going to do so. I believe they are headed for their 4th out of 5 NIT. Then next year if Vazquez leaves to go pro (NBA or Europe) Which is likely they are heading for 5 out of 6 NIT's. But hey they are looking good for a 10th seed in 2012.

Great post and welcome to the Hangout. Those people don't let the cold hard facts get in their way of their devotion to GW. no worries, he'll fix everything by just being Gary. They don't concern themselves with the fact that we are supposed to be excited over a South Korean kid that nobody else really recruited. Yep, nothing says consistent top 25 like these kinds of recruits.

[inmn]

Again, can you make any substantive remarks about why you think the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes are poor or why you think he hasn't shown effort for those classes or the 2010 class contrary to what has been reported? Would be very interested since you insist on talking about "facts" while providing very few.

09 RSCI rankings for local players:

23 Robinson Kansas

25 Taylor Pitt

31 Armwood Villanova

34 Yarou Villanova

52 Spurlock UVA

67 Vinson LM

78 Williams

89 Hibbert Texas A&M

Md signs Williams-unranked #99 in Scout, top 200 Oetinger

Padgett unranked, top 200 Oettinger

10 Scout rankings for local players:

10 Selby Tenn

12 Smith

24 Marshall UNC

28 Barton

48 Fair Syracuse

50 Latham Xavier

54 Starks Georgetown

65 Ross

Md is not expected to sign any of the above non-committed but is involved with 53 Epps and 60 Buie as well as some other top 150 type players.

I won't go into the past but no other program is poached like MD.

They are not only failing to sign the top local players (other than Mosley)-they aren't even getting the second tier players. The losses of Taylor and Smith (assumed) are the most troubling.

This headline from the July 4 edition of the ACC Journal says it all:

"Bizarre Recruiting Cycle Raises Questions About Maryland Hoops Program"

http://rscihoops.com/

[Eight]

Uhhh, ok. The funniest thing in this "discussion" is the fact that you and a few others are so concerned over joking comments, that you can't focus on anything else. Wonder why? Could it be your arguments don't have a leg to stand on?

That's my guess.

I've asked you what your thoughts on the current recruits are, why you don't think this group will be successful in the next few years, and why you think the recruiting for the future will still be poor. You've decided to make "funny" comments instead of actually addressing those questions. I'm not really concerned about your joking comments at all. I just find it funny that you go on and on about the "facts', but aren't willing to discuss them. Oh well. :scratchchinhmm:

[Tony-OH]

I've asked you what your thoughts on the current recruits are, why you don't think this group will be successful in the next few years, and why you think the recruiting for the future will still be poor. You've decided to make "funny" comments instead of actually addressing those questions. I'm not really concerned about your joking comments at all. I just find it funny that you go on and on about the "facts', but aren't willing to discuss them. Oh well. :scratchchinhmm:

Read the other threads in the discussion. Inmn just posted a great post showing the local recruits rankings and the guys Williams actually got. This is pretty consistent for Williams.

[Mashed Potatoes]

I'm a big Gary supporter and think he's still an amazing coach. However, I don't think it's really debatable that his recruiting has been sub-par given the local talent base and the expectations for the program. Top 200-75 level recruits are good players but they only get you so far in the ACC.

[Mashed Potatoes]

I personally think the last 4 classes have been good... good enough to win with...

Vasquez, Milbourne, Hayes

Tucker, Bowie, Dupree, Gregory, Burney

Mosley, Kim, Goins

Williams, Padgett

To win what? Certainly not the ACC. Certainly not a national championship. Those should be the expectations of the program given our history, facilities, and local talent base. These classes are good enough to finish in the top 3rd of the ACC with a ceiling of a sweet 16 appearance.

[Eight]

No question the local recruits have gone elsewhere for a variety of reasons. That said, I'll take Mosley and Kim. Both will be excellent players.

[Danielos38]

Just an update on Kim:

In today's exhibition vs. Northwood, Kim had a team-high tying 20 points on route to a 44 point victory. That's awesome to see, especially with really limited practice time and knowledge of the offense.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Starting with the 2009-10 season, if Vasquez returns - I believe we are back as a national contender.. 11 talented players returning, with the addition of two front-court players to help address the weakness of the 2008-9 team.

Holy crap really? I would honestly never be happier to be wrong if that were the case!

This Hoegaarden is dedicated to you and your optimism!

[BaltimoreTerp]

A Joe Smith Moment

Every time Jin Soo Kim went to the basket and scored during the second half of today's preseason win over Northwood University, I kept thinking back to what Joe Smith did as a freshman in a preseason game against the Australian national team in 1993.

Smith scored something like 37 points against a team that included former Seton Hall star Andrew Gaze.

After that game, I asked Gary Williams if he knew the skinny 6-foot-10 forward from Norfolk, Va., could score like that, since his reputation in high school was as a rebounder and shot-blocker whose only offense on his AAU team came from putting back Allen Iverson's misses. Smith wasn't even the top player in the recruiting class; Dunbar's Keith Booth was.

"Don't create a monster," Williams said that night.

The monster created himself, destroying Othella Harrington and Georgetown a week or so later in his regular-season debut. Two seasons later, Smith was the National Player of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Ok, this is a little strong (:laughlol:), but it's still an interesting thought.

[ScottieBaseball]

Just my $.02...whether you found it funny, agree, disagree, or not...for cryin' out loud...Tony Pente is allowed to come here, share his opinion, and even indulge in some good-natured ribbing. How many freaking smilies (followed by the explanation that, 'Hey, I was joking and that's why I put in the smilies') will it take for some of you to get it?

I'd also like to cite THIS VERY THREAD as evidence the next time some nimrod makes the statement that vehemently disagreeing with Tony or any other member of this staff results in getting banned. Even though plenty in this thread took it way too personally and way overreacted, he kept the discussion in perspective. It's ashame so many others couldn't do the same.

Oh yeah...I think Gary Williams should be fired. That is all.