Censored by Laurie

A couple of guys who may be on JJ's radar to fill Johnathon Jackson's now open scholarship: Allen Taylor 6'9" 270 TCU 2yrs eligibility; Zaronn Cann 6'6" 250 South Florida (Collin Dennis) 2 yrs; Marius Craciun 6'8" 230 Rice, Weatherford JC 1 yr; Dale Vanwright 6'6 205 UTEP, from Houston 2yrs; Sean Coleman 6'8" 205 Tulsa, from Houston 2 yrs...and my Top 3 to go after: Obi Ikeakor 6'8 240 St. Louis, from Houston 2yrs; Gary Flowers 6'8" 205 Oklahoma State, from Dallas 2yrs; Justin Wilkerson 6'9" 205 Texas Tech, from Greenville 2yrs. If we can land any of these last 3 guys...and maybe add Sean Coleman as 3B...our frontcourt situation looks very nice 2 and 3 seasons down the road (also assuming Odufuwa signs) . My preference would be Wilkerson...say what you want about Bobby Knight, he's a great coach who typically targets quality people as well as players.

This site also lists Ryan McCoy as one of its top incoming JUCOs.

Tell me I didn't just read a Dirk to Sturns comparison...I was liking the idea that the people on here knew basketball and could formulate reasonable arguements...however the only person who would ever compare Michael Sturns to the NBA MVP would be Michael Sturns.

Anybody seen or heard anything on whether the ASU forward signed with an agent or if he's coming back for his senior year? While McCaleb coming back is big news...New Orleans as a team will still struggle...but if Wells is in the ASU mix then they may the team to beat next season.

I'm floored at the number of Sturns apologists on here...is it that any player in Green is beyond reproach? Sturns has never been the most talented player on any Mean Green team...nor would he have been this year. He doesn't handle the ball well enough to play the point...he doesn't shoot the ball well enough to play the 2...and he's not big enough or athletic enough to play the 3. He scored his points by playing Sturns ball...inappropriate drives through three defenders, out-of-rythem jumpshots and forced transition situations. Any sort of structured offense broke down when he was on the floor...whether it be at the 1 or the 2/3. He does not understand a team focused game. I have never blamed a loss on Sturns...not even the Memphis game...I do blame him for being the catalyst for the 2 big Memphis runs...I do blame him for not finding a better shooter and deciding to pull up for a 25 ft. 3 in the last regular season game with ASU, but the loss falls at the feet of the team. He was capable of big games...but give me a guy I know I can count on for 8-10 points per night rather than the guy who may drop 25 one night and 3 the next. The over-riding factor in all of this is simple: THIS TEAM WILL BE BETTER WITHOUT MICHAEL STURNS. His departure frees up a scholarship for a much needed big man...it means that there is a role on this team next season for Collin Mangrum, Tristan Thompson, Adam McCoy, Ryan McCoy and Josh White. Will any of these players ever lead the team in scoring...no, probably not...but nor will they lead the team in turnovers or hinder the continuity of the offense. No longer will you have to say "here comes the circus" or have the reserved 'oh no " moments.

I feel that we're on the same page...but I just may need to clearify. I am by no means content with an SBC championship and a first round exit. I firmly believe that we showed the Memphis' of the world that we are a nationally competitive program...and I expect that Johnny keep us there. My previous statement was in response to a post stating that we should seek a high school post who will contribute next season, a move that I believe uneccesary...unless there is an unsigned high schooler with the skins that Odufuwa has...and I am very skeptical of that at this point. Howerton doesn't fit my view of a top 75 program player either...Stewart does, but as a role bench player, an energy guy who will block shots and rebound for 20 mins a night, not the starting 4 some people have been projecting. With this recruiting class being guard heavy, I look for Johnny to flip things next year, landing a JUCO post to contribute immediatly, hopefully start, and a freshman or two to develop.

Exactly right. If the combination of Howerton and Jackson can give you 5-10 minutes per game...once in a while 15 depending on foul trouble...and just eat space, use their 10 combined fouls, pull 4 rebounds and add an offensive rebound putback thats all we need from them. Quincey, Keith and Harold will make a very nice rotation next season...no reason to clog that up. I've begun researching the other Sun Belt programs and compiling a bit of a SBC preview for GMG... and the Sun Belt is very much a guard oriented conference and Q and Keith should have monster seasons. Adding the caliber player of Odufuwa and having the luxury of being able to tuck him away for a year AND still have 3 years of eligibility is ideal.

Oh this has completly made my day. And here is what's going on: For the past 3 season Michael Sturns has felt he is the second coming of combination of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. The "Point God" (the ink he has on his arm if you were unaware) makes the spectacular play once a game and it has seemingly had the ability to make people forget about the 5 terrible plays and the 5 mis-executed routine plays he makes per game. Our half-court offense goes from a structure 4-high w/o Sturns on the floor to 7 seconds worth of crossovers and a fall away 23 foot jumper. He commited 81 turnovers to just 55 assists. He shot 40 of 114 from 3. He shot under 70% from the free throw line. He was third on the team in scoring because he put up 318 shots, about 9 a game, second on the team only to Calvin Watson. Sturns was a huge liability when he was on the floor... However he is still on this team if he were even a half-way decent person or teammate. He has had the notion of his omnipotence on the basketball court since high school...Keith Langford (former NCHS and Kansas standout) couldn't stand playing with him. He was clearly an outcast on this team. His response following the Memphis loss was simply to say "he had an off night." His work ethic has been incredibly suspect since he arrived. This is why he was kicked off the team as a sophomore and not offered a scholarship last season. The fact that JJ let him play as a walk-on was Sturns' second chance. He was our Antoine Walker...and he should have plenty of shots and pointless crossovers at Holy Family. A Gala Day for Mean Green Basketball!!! Lets go sign a big and be ready to dance again next March!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

UNT 92, He only had until last weekend to declare...and I saw nothing about it on the list. Besides he wouldn't go number 1, Memphis needs a post and will take Oden...Boston would be a better fit for the Point God anyway.

Sooo...I fear I may have pulled the trigger a bit quickly on my first post...and having thought about the entirerty of this signing i'm going to play a bit of a pesimist. Based on this kids rivals board he was looking at premier programs and very low programs. Here's why: He is a premier talent, however this shoulder injury has the premier programs worried. Kentucky and Indiana can find healthy talent comperable to this kid so they don't gamble on the injury. He ends up targeting a lesser program; High Point, Murray St. as a place to go and showcase that he is healthy, re-kindling the premier program's interest, and then bolts...see Patrick Sparks...he had injury problems and while all the tools were there, there were questions about his athleticism at an SEC level...he showed he was healthy and competant at Western Kentucky for a season and left for UK. Add to that...Ryan McCoy may now be questioning his choice. If McCoy pulls out, and White leaves after a season, we may be in serious point guard trouble. This is not neccissarily my opinion of what WILL occur...just what I FEAR may occur based on history...and pure speculation. White certainly was the best player on the board (so far as we know) and may be one of the most highly touted players to wear green. If he is viewing NT as his full on commitment...4 years...this is a huge signing, and we may have the deepest backcourt in a very guard oriented conference. I still hope we have the one extra scholarship the staff has hinted at (and I hope it's Sturns') b/c to beat a dead horse...we need a horse in the middle. I think the 3 options are Johnathon Jackson, Colin Mangrum and Michael Sturns...I can't imagine it opening elsewhere unless one of the newbies backs out

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...well...this is hopefully an indication that there is still one more scholarship available as has been hinted at by the coaching staff. I've been on here harping for a big man...but I also like this signing and think it makes sense for many reasons. A. it puts a nice buffer between the point guard position and number 11. B. it stabilizes the 2 year swinging door at the point guard position...not since Jerome Rogers has our starting point been a high school recruit. C. This guy seems to have a bit of clout...Kentucky, Tulane, Indiana and Kansas St were all on his boards (and yes just as many lesser schools) and a top 10 state guy as well. This seemed to come out of left field...this may have been a guy JJ didn't think he could get...and who knows if he has some kind of existing relationship with Tic. We still need a 4 or 5 though...and maybe Tic's got one of those on call as well.

I've always kinda debated this in my head. I think in the case of a George Mason it was a group of well coached, moderatly talented basketball players peaking at the right time...I didn't believe that any of those players would be major contributors on your major conference schools. Gonzaga and your Missouri Valley schools (Wichita St., N. Iowa, SIU, Creighton ect) I've always viewed as grabbing the same moderate players with the occassional steal (Adam Morrison, Ben Jacobson, Nate Funk ect)...and then these players learning the system for 4 years. As for a school like Memphis, I don't think that with a coach like John Calipari and a number 2 seed...and somehow an elite 8 showing this year. Before the huge conference shake up, C-USA basketball was quite strong (Louisville, Marquette, Cincinati and DePaul) and Memphis probably got hosed on not going to the Big East...atleast in terms of respectability. When I said Calasian didn't strike me as SEC talent perhaps I misspoke...he didn't seem of the quality that an SEC team would invest in him for only 2 years.

I've made my views on adding Marquez Haynes in here before...I want him in green...but I feel that if JJ thought UNT was higher on his board than Rice or Tulsa, then he wouldn't have signed Adam McCoy. Brandon Webster had some good schools on his original Rivals board (A&M, Utah, Wyoming, USC) so it seems like he would be a great addition...especially b/c he has 4 years of eligibility. Also...I wouldn't completly rule out the possibility of JJ still pursuing Calasian (Midland Post who originally signed with Utah). He mentioned he's focused his interest towards SEC schools but I think he's going to find very few if any scholarship looks out there...I feel onece he comes back to reality a bit he may give his buddy Ryan McCoy a call and see if he can't get a visit to Denton set up...pure speculation of course...but in reading up on him, he doesn't strike me as much of an SEC contributor but would be a great fit at a mid-major.

This is amazing...and has just gone from frusterating to pointless. EE, enjoy the next O'Reily factor, Revivalist convention or hooded cross burning...whatever you do for kicks. If they do allow prayer in public schools I hope every child prays for you to find some common sense. Emmitt and CMJ, thank you for youre efforts as well...but this guy is in a whole other world of ignorance.

I really wanted to just step aside from this conversation...but euless (who I feel may be Sean Hannity...and that is certainly meant as an insult) to say Appartheid (and global warming) is a myth may be the most insane statement I have ever read. Was the Holocaust a myth as well...oh wait...its the blind policy of every conservative christian to like jewish people because they hate the muslim too. Appartheid was the most violent form of racial segregation that has ever occured...and is now recognized as such an atrosity by all...white and black...south africans, and I thought all people. The following site talks about the truth and reconciliation commission that was formed to help heal that nation: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/...tion/203134.stm Its amazing to me how a person can make the statement you made on appartheid and makes me feel your Fox News and "Conservative Rags" have you sooooo poorly informed on the world. You may want to try the moderate media for a change and actually get some news rather than agenda.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." If every child is required to attend school...and all schools require a Bible class...that seems to me to be a law establishing a religion.

Jim Crow? Texas Western? The audacity of Cornerstone to claim they're being held out of UIL b/c of religious discrimination (esp. in Texas) may only be comparable to Barry Bonds claiming there's controversy about the home run record is b/c he's black. Whenever someones gets caught lying, cheating or stealing the discrimination defense is insesivly brought up and its sickening. TAPPS had legit reasons for washing its hands of Cornerstone, so why would UIL want to take on this mess? Cornerstone violated regulations, and I can assure you it is not being discriminated against by the conservative christian lawmakers who probably frequently attend Cornerstone services. GTTB has it figured out. The Jesuits ought never have been admitted in to UIL. If TAPPS school size keeps increasing, perhaps it should try a more specific classification system. As for Bible classes in public schools: Despite the fact that the majority of the population is Christian...we are not a Christian nation. The first amendment protects the ability of a person to worship however he/she feels fit and Bible classes clearly infringe on that ability. If you feel you child needs to pray in school...put him/her in a private school

Jim Crow? Texas Western? The audacity of Cornerstone to claim they're being held out of UIL b/c of religious discrimination (esp. in Texas) may only be comparable to Barry Bonds claiming there's controversy about the home run record is b/c he's black. Whenever someones gets caught lying, cheating or stealing the discrimination defense is insesivly brought up and its sickening. TAPPS had legit reasons for washing its hands of Cornerstone, so why would UIL want to take on this mess? Cornerstone violated regulations, and I can assure you it is not being discriminated against by the conservative christian lawmakers who probably frequently attend Cornerstone services. GTTB has it figured out. The Jesuits ought never have been admitted in to UIL. If TAPPS school size keeps increasing, perhaps it should try a more specific classification system. As for Bible classes in public schools: Despite the fact that the majority of the population is Christian...we are not a Christian nation. The first amendment protects the ability of a person to worship however he/she feels fit and Bible classes clearly infringe on that ability. If you feel you child needs to pray in school...put him/her in a private school

Would somebody please explain Denver's place in the Sun Belt? I realize they had a solid basketball team a few years ago...but they have neither a football nor a baseball team...add to that I don't believe that any other SBC program has hockey nor lacrosse.

From what I've seen...I don't think theres any way of this happening. It would take a lot of work to get him D-1 point guard capable at the expense of him refining his strengths. Also, its just not natural...he could put in the work and run an offense, but there would always be a better option out there and you stuck with Mangrum simply because you didn't want to be wrong on a kid.

I like Nwigwe...but is he a middle or an outside linebacker? Also...you want your MLB to be your defensive play caller (Urlacher, Lewis). It was Mendoza's head that has made him successful. Mahan has the head and is a better athlete than Mendoza...Nwigwe is a beast...but does he have the head to run the defense? I think he's a great situational guy at this point...let him be a maniac on 3rd and 12 and tell him to go kill the guy with the lowest number on his chest...my fear is that on 1st and 10 or 2nd and 3 he over runs a play or misses an assignment.

I mentioned this in a previous thread...but I feel it needs to be re-hatched considering the signing of Tristan Thompson. In a 3 guard system, you ideally have five contributors in your guard rotation...2 capable point guards and 3 wing players. Last year Bell and Sturns(sigh) ran the point and Young, Watson and Davis were your wings. Mangrum and Edwards played sparingly and Edwards left to find PT elsewhere. Next year, Bell and R. McCoy will play the one with Dennis, A. McCoy and Sturns on the wing. Thompson and Mangrum again will be the odd men out. The following year it will be R. McCoy and a new point, with the wings manned by Dennis, A. McCoy and Thompson. Players leave programs after 2 seasons of limited PT unless they can see their next 2 seasons as being showcase years...Edwards saw he wasn't going to factor into the plans so he bolted. Next year Mangrum may well do the same. I never saw Mangrum as a star here...rather a glue guy like Rich Young or Kenneth Mangrum (no relation...come on...thats funny)...a guy who can really help you win. And I'm not posting this because I'm a white 2 guard and have an affinity for others of my kind...my concern is with the player turnover here. We already bank heavilly on JUCO's...if our freshman keep bolting as well I think we have a serious problem. I highly doubt Thompson would take a redshirt which would help the problem. Also, if Mangrum does stay...and never works into the guard rotation then you spent a scholarship on a guy who will average 2 points for four years. I don't want to be taken as critical of Thompson...I was high on him when he was first mentioned...I like prep kids and Brewsters has put out some good ones...I think my major concern is how the scholarships are being distributed...it seems the length of Johnny's foresight is the next season rather than the next 2 or 3. I mentioned before what I viewed an ideal recruiting class as...and this just isn't shaping up as it. These are good players...some of the best JJ's ran through here...but even if you find the reincarnation of Chris Davis you cant win with 12 Chris Davis's...especially if ten of them will only be here for 2 years. Now...if Sturns doesnt have a scholarship...or if he does and its at SFA...then this is moot and I like this class a lot more. Mangrum plays your reserve wing this season with Thompson working in every once in a while...things shape up much better for continuity in the future. I can tie Sturns bashing into anything...I rule!

You are my new leader!!

He'll be back...hes not a pure point and doesn't have the jumper (unless its with 1.2 seconds and the game is in denton) or the height to be a 2. He'll eventually round out someones NBA roster but not worth bolting year early to go play with the Idaho NBDL team. That having been said...I hope he goes in the lottery

Oh...it is certainly too early to be engaging this conversation...but its much less asinine then debating whose touchdown ritual we're going to steal for next season...and as i mentioned...i was ohhhhh so bored. I would prefer to see Vizza redshirted as well...its a nice concept to think we could have a guy learn the system for a season then be a cornerstone for 4 years (Colt McCoy)...however it seems the indication is that Vizza has been told to be ready to compete for the job as soon as he's on campus. If it is a returnee at QB...give me Woody Wilson. He threw a nice ball in the spring game and has the added ability to run is something Todge has a hiastory of implimenting (Chase Daniel, Riley Dodge). I think he and Meager have the best shot of the returnees...Tune still needs a bit of time and Phillips is our Kyle Boller (not much past that big arm), and both these guys are true pocket guys. After his games against UT and SMU I felt Woody should've been named starter last season. A lot of his mistakes were the result of mentally looking over his shoulder at Meager and Phillips...he forced passes and tried to make too many plays b/c he felt a need to impress rather than just run an offense. The OL didn't help obviously...but with the new system that shouldn't be nearly the issue it was in a run oriented game. My knock of Wilson is game management...even in the hurry-up he had 2 delay calls in the spring game...I feels hes an instinct type player who has occassional mental lapses. I think the most important thing is that we have a "starter" established after the Arkansas game (preferably earlier) and just trust the offense to him the rest of the way...barring injury or awful play. It isn't fair to a quarterback to be involved in a compition for his job all season. UT had QB controversy in spring ball last season...McCoy or Sneed...but they resolved it before the season and put their confidence behind Colt and he excelled. We have 5(really 3) guys who will be competing in the fall...so I'll expand the window a bit.