General Recruiting Discussion/Comments 2022 and before

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

I am currently on an iron lung...on life support...and living in a bubble...and my current wife is threatening to pull all the plugs.....we need that big man now!

bressler3south · Unread post by **bressler3south** » 9 years ago

Ramulous wrote:I am currently on an iron lung...on life support...and living in a bubble...and my current wife is threatening to pull all the plugs.....we need that big man now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya4WoU7 ... freload=10

She wouldn't dare!!!!!!!!!!!!

A BRESSLER PRODUCTION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH EMOTICON ENTERPRISES

A SUBSIDIARY OF GOULASH LLC

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 9 years ago

Gonebarongone wrote:
Blue Man wrote:
rodfromcranston wrote: You can win in the A-10, but you aren't going to do shit in the NCAAs with a 6'7" center,
Let's worry about winning the A10 first. Crawl before you walk, walk before you run - and for us it's been experimental surgery to get our paraplegic program back to being out of a wheelchair.

Let's go win the conference before we worry about our NCAA tournament needs.
NCAA runs are more important than conference titles. You think Duke or Michigan State would trade their FF for the league title? Sure, I'd take both but give me the big time postseason run. You could probably win the A10 without adding a big. It's not a size heavy league anyway and, with a few bounces, URI could have won it this year. But, no way do they make a postseason run with the current roster. Mostly because these "small" teams you see making the occasional run shoot lights out and don't turn the ball over. I am sure I will get killed for this but even a guy like Rokas Gustys would be enough. Rebound, play defense, make the occasional layup/dunk, and don't even think about taking a three pointer.

To be fair to Blue Man, I kind of took his remarks to mean "let's win the A-10 conference and thus be in the NCAA tournament, before we worry about Final Four performance." Like I don't care if URI starts five 6'1" guys and loses by 20 in the NCAA Tournament next year, as long as they make it. Barring a significant injury, I think the goal for 2015-16 will be a tournament berth, with something like "maintaining presence in the Top 25 and making the Sweet 16" a goal for 2016-17.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Since the 1966 debacle,we have never played a first round game to be ashamed of.
I don't see any fan not caring if we suck, and have people say
we didn't belong in the NCAAs because we stunk out the building.
Sorry, losing by 20 in an NCAA, is not a goal.

rhodylaw · Unread post by **rhodylaw** » 9 years ago

My thought is that if they don't see a big they like that will commit - wait. Don't take just anybody. If it's not there take the next best thing, a good guard to put in the rotation. Dayton proved it can be done if the guys you have are elite

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Sure, we need another guard, right?
Geez, at least suggest maybe a forward?
No more guards. It's getting ridiculous.
At this moment, we have seven guards.
Eight if you count Iverson. Eight of the 13 scholarships.
That leaves 5 for C/F. Oneykaba and Reischel are in the 5,
which means Butts, Martin and Watson remain.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

wonder when Iverson is going to realize he's going to log about 12 minutes at guard, about 550 minutes at the 4 and 100 minutes at the 5?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

A long suffering Ram fan buddy of mine always says,
"If you're 6'7" or over, you will be forced to play center at URI".
I think he may be right!

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:A long suffering Ram fan buddy of mine always says,
"If you're 6'7" or over, you will be forced to play center at URI".
I think he may be right!

I think it's in the school charter.
What a wise friend you have.

jmck · Unread post by **jmck** » 9 years ago

Yes, it is a little known codicil, akin to the double secret probation clause in the Faber University charter.

gorhody89 · Unread post by **gorhody89** » 9 years ago

As the roster is currently when hassan gets in foul trouble we are in serious trouble....

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 9 years ago

Think big we do!

This team is so close to greatness, put in a few good set plays, hope our new 3 point specialist is good and add a power big.....

No way I am happy with an NCAA bid and a blowout 1st round embarrassment!

I doubt DH would be satisfied with that either, not now....year 4 = huge leap forward time.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

Is it time to take a serious hard look at how to develop the 4/5 game? I really like our staff as constituted and I'm not one who knows the finer aspects of how they coach up the Bigs, but is it a concern for knowledgeable H.S. kids/coaches/handlers etc that our style seems to be trending towards 4 guard lines, do we have/are we getting a rep for good guard development only? Or is there some other reason that it appears as though 4's and 5's land elsewhere. Can we even dangle PT, when we play so many guard heavy line-ups? I'm neither glum nor apprehensive about the program and where we could be going, but this is a legit question in terms of completing the puzzle.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

I mean, our best player is an all-league caliber four who was also on the all-freshman team. Our staff has seemed to have done a fine job with Hass.

I think you guys overthink some of this stuff. There is no conspiracy among HS coaches to keep all guys over 6'7" away from Dan Hurley. The problem is there are not a ton of guys that size that also have the athleticism Dan wants. And the few guys that do have that combination are the most highly sought after commodity in basketball. The lack of those types of guys in our program has less to do with our program than it does with the overall lack of those guys in general. There are some out there and we will find them, but it isn't as easy as we make it sound sometimes.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

And I'm not trying to stir up shit, I'm happy where things are now, I'm just trying to understand why our recent success in landing the excellent guards is disproportionate to our recent success in landing good bigs...

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Watch out, the thought police will come and get you,
and put +10 on posts that slam you.
Seriously, I was listening to someone who mentioned that
John Thompson always had outstanding big men.
They felt that Big John could help their game, and that he
related to them.
When Larry Farmer was here, he did great things with some so-so talent.
I thought ARD would have been perfect to add to this staff, for that reason.
Look at our staff and tell me who a big man would say, "Hey! That guy
could get me to the next level!"
We're very guard-centric. Fact.
One really good inside player, gained by a unique set of circumstances.
The jury is out on recruiting big men.
Sorry if this truth bothers some people, who see it as nit picking.
Guys like TP make it seem like there's just no athletic players over 6'7" out there.
Total idiocy. Try looking at any NCAA game.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

I get it, we don't want lumbering big guys, we don't want total projects etc., but why wouldn't guys like Gustys see the potential here for us and them?

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

Martin is awesome, but that guy gets stretched thin. If not for him our front court wouldn't compare to patriot league front courts next season. Just saying, still love RHODY RHODY RHODY, but hey what it is

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

Running Ram wrote:Martin is awesome, but that guy gets stretched thin. If not for him our front court wouldn't compare to patriot league front courts next season. Just saying, still love RHODY RHODY RHODY, but hey what it is

Yeah, we clearly need to add to what we have. Nobody thinks Martin can do an entire team's worth of big man duties alone. I'm just saying, I think his success would be a shining example to a recruit that a frontcourt player can strive in our system.

Rod, cool passive-aggressiveness. But you can come right at me if you want. You roam this board slapping down anyone that voices an opinion different than yours, calling them idiots. But if someone disagrees with something you say and tries to explain why, they are the thought police. You don't want to engage in a discussion, you want everyone to agree with you and tell you how smart you are. As you are so fond of pointing out, we don't all need to have the same opinion all the time and also [that Reagan quote you like about people who disagree with you sometimes].

URI_IEP · Unread post by **URI_IEP** » 9 years ago

Running Ram wrote:I get it, we don't want lumbering big guys, we don't want total projects etc., but why wouldn't guys like Gustys see the potential here for us and them?

If I remember correctly there wasn't room for him due to Hare "coming back"

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Great! Read your last post, TP.
You just described yourself.
The words, condescending, and arrogant, have been used
by many posters responding to YOU.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

URI_IEP wrote:
Running Ram wrote:I get it, we don't want lumbering big guys, we don't want total projects etc., but why wouldn't guys like Gustys see the potential here for us and them?
If I remember correctly there wasn't room for him due to Hare "coming back"

so are you saying he would have come here if we wanted, but we backed off in favor of _____? legit question, I don't remember the details of Gustys recruitment with acute recall. I just meant guys like him in that high end 2nd tear of forward recruits. We seem to have great success with the higher end guards 'buying in'. Also, it seems convenient to blame the _____ situation for this kind of guy getting away, but if that is true it may have influenced some in the past thinking _____ was going to get the PT.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 9 years ago

Last Spring, and counting Hare, they technically had one scholarship spot open. It went to Terrell. And, as always, specific player recruitment exists within the larger obligations and restrictions of the program, of which APR is a part.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 9 years ago

Reminders of recruiting dates:

4/2-4/9: dead period
4/10-4/12: evaluation period (certified events)
4/13-4/16: dead period
4/17-4/22: recruiting period

4/23-7/31: quiet period, except:
4/24-4/26: evaluation period (certified events)
5/21-29: dead period
7/8-7/12: evaluation period
7/15-7/19: evaluation period
7/22-7/26: evaluation period

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

Look, I've gotten into it plenty of times with True Point, mostly over the football team. My read of the situation is his name being in green just makes the things he's posting seem like they're more of an official opinion or that they're coming from a place of higher authority even when he's not claiming to post from that level. I think it's a subliminal thing on a lot of our parts. So fair or not, I can understand the elevated aggressiveness that you can feel when you're locked into an argument with TP. That said, I don't think it's fair to call him the thought police either. At least publicly I can't recall him telling people they can't say what they want. And he has the right to post on this board as a fan, he doesn't have to be just a neutral observer/cop. Him disagreeing with you doesn't mean he's trying to shut you down, it means he's part of the discussion. Frankly most people on here have voiced the opinion that the moderators might allow too much on here, pretty much the exact opposite of being the thought police.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Solid assessment, RhowdyRam02.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

There is basically no thought-policing happening on this board. I like to discuss Rhody basketball, but I've never claimed to be an authority on it, and I don't try to speak for anyone other than myself. I have my own opinions, just like everyone else.

The moderating that gets done here is mainly limited to merging topics and administrative things like that. For the most part, discussions are not policed and we've had maybe a handful of bannings since the site moved over here. None of them were as punishments for disagreeing with a moderator or not being supportive enough of the team.

I've openly disagreed with some things people have posted over the years I have been posting on this site, but I've never personally attacked anyone or used any moderator tools or privileges to punish someone for disagreeing with me. Sometimes I will try to engage in a debate with someone if I think they are wrong about something. It isn't ever personal.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

I take everything personal on this board.

Even when people disagree with posters I like. It's all personal!

CT Rhody · Unread post by **CT Rhody** » 9 years ago

Anybody know what front court players we are chasing for 2016? The New England prep schools are loaded with high major front court talent you have to figure we can land at least one of these kids right? Anybody heard who we are chasing out of this group and who we aren't chasing?

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.c ... ss-of-2016

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

CT Rhody wrote:Anybody know what front court players we are chasing for 2016? The New England prep schools are loaded with high major front court talent you have to figure we can land at least one of these kids right? Anybody heard who we are chasing out of this group and who we aren't chasing?

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.c ... ss-of-2016

http://verbalcommits.com/schools/rhode-island

CT Rhody · Unread post by **CT Rhody** » 9 years ago

We must be looking at more then 3 front court players in 2016, that can't be up to date. Especially not with all that talent in the NE area already.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

CT Rhody wrote:We must be looking at more then 3 front court players in 2016, that can't be up to date. Especially not with all that talent in the NE area already.

Those are just the ones that we have openly offered.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

It's not just TP and it does get aggressive. It's words such as 'angst, disgruntled', phrases like 'never satisfied' etc.

and they are not fair descriptors for many of us who are simply looking toward the future and assessing our next biggest hurdles. Find one post I've submitted that calls our coaches' ability to build a program into question. I'm neither doubter nor detractor, I'm not impatient and I'm definitely not a non-believer. When I state an opinion or reference facts about the program, I'm a person examining a product. When a descriptive of a poster is used in response it becomes personal. Please don't accuse me of feeling angst and don't equate analysis/examination with condemnation of staff. It is legit to see how far we've come and to ponder what we might look like with a full complement of post players. I'm sure we're all excited about the program, where we've come and where we're going and I for one have never lost sight of how much good work has been done to put us in that position. So, knowing how I feel, that is to say opposite of angst, I usually call foul when accused of such treachery.

rjsuperfly66 · Unread post by **rjsuperfly66** » 9 years ago

The thing to keep in mind with big men is that there are so few in comparison to guards that they are harder to get. There are some coaches who think "The tall, skilled guys, we aren't ever going to get them, so we have to find another way." I've had this conversation with more than one coach from more than one program. There are just so few that you can throw rankings out the window. Teams like PC or URI are going to struggle to compete with the Duke's and Kentucky's of the world when it comes to true big men. Even PC who has a few big prospects looks like dwarfs in comparison to the Wildcats. It's not so much about the size, but the skill. Notre Dame plays PF's at the 5 (Auguste and Beachem) and almost pulled the upset. Auguste in particular, is skilled in the post. He's the body of a 4 with the post skills of a 5. That's the model I think most teams have to follow to success. The URI team from '98 had some height, but made up for it with toughness, heart, and skill.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... than-ever/

If Billy Donovan bolts for the NBA, then what happens at Florida.
If I were Alex Murphy, (formerly #37 ranked ESPN) I would come back home and play for a potential Top 25 ranked URI team. Florida is not going to be a Top 25 team.
Hurley is building the Gonzaga of the East right here in southern RI so why not come back home and be part of this transformation?
And while we are at it let's being little brother Tomas into the mix

Great way to help to address the big man opportunity.

I've seen Father Jay and son Tomas at many a URI basketball game, including this year, so why not?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Donovan isn't going anywhere,
and we're not good enough for the royal Murphys, anyway.
We're only good enough to use the facilities and get freebies.

"GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida coach Billy Donovan has signed a one-year contract extension that raises his annual salary to about $4 million and keeps him under contract through the 2019-20 season.

Donovan and the Gators agreed to the deal last summer. It was signed in December, and the school released details Thursday.

The new contract paid Donovan $4.2 million in 2014-15, including a $250,000 signing bonus. His salary drops to $3.96 million for the next four years and then jumps to $4 million in the final year."

ramsman75 · Unread post by **ramsman75** » 9 years ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... ler-145354

Some pretty good company...any idea why so few offers with all the interest?

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

Not bursting my bubble, just throwing out a thought,
I have never been much of a fan of the Murphy's anyway, always felt that they made mistakes going to Duke, Florida and the like but that has been their direction. But there is a new Sheriff in town at URI and things are vastly changed since the Baron days, Vastly.
The Donovan contract has been in the works a long time, just announced the details on Thursday - that is because it is getting hot in the kitchen.
So if Donovan leaves then Murphy, incoming Florida recruits and current players on Florida become available.
Just because the Contract details were made public I don't think means the NBA talk is over - just Florida trying everything possible to keep Donovan.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Gotta be grades or SAT/ACT problems.
Plays for the top prep program in the country.
According to ESPN, offers from UConn, GTech,
Wake Forest and Tulsa.
He's from Newark, NJ. A four star. Supposedly a dominant inside player.
Geez, I'd love to see him here, but I wonder what the
deal is?

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

There is a$500,000 buyout in Donovan's contract if he goes to the NBA....I read that in one report....it clearly mentioned NBA....nothing about another college.....it seems like chump change to the NBA.....Hurley has a bigger buyout....

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

Alex Murphy? Still eligible? Not sure how much he adds to URI. He's just not very good.

Big + athletic. That's the whole of it. His mind seems to get in the way of the things he has going for him.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 9 years ago

This is the quietest recruiting cycle since Dan has been here. It's like crickets in here. Nobody knows anything?????

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 9 years ago

theblueram wrote:This is the quietest recruiting cycle since Dan has been here. It's like crickets in here. Nobody knows anything?????

Hurley in general seems to run a pretty tight ship. Like outside of the Mystery Big Man mentioned a month or so ago, it seems like we only learn of a recruit if the recruit tells a media outlet that URI has offered / is interested. There was nothing on Four McGlynn before the announcement that he committed (although he's a grad student transfer), and the first post in Thompson's thread came after he tweeted on Sept. 18 that he was taking first official to URI. He gave a verbal commitment on Sept. 21.

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Sorry to burst your bubble, but Donovan isn't going anywhere,
and we're not good enough for the royal Murphys, anyway.
We're only good enough to use the facilities and get freebies.

Shame and stupid really, the fit now is absolutely perfect.

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 9 years ago

We didn't hear that much about Four coming here, so I don't expect to hear many names linked to us until a recruit gives a verbal/ signs a LOI.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 9 years ago

I hope the 3 scholarships are going to be used wisely. But in this late stage most high ranked players are off the board. Might be wise to save them for next year. Although that would seriously deteriorate this year as far as bench is concerned. Just would hate to see a torrid recruiting cycle happen. We don't need bodies. We need players. These three scholarships are huge for the future.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Agree. We don't want CFL type end of the bench types.
I think that letting three guys go, seems to indicate a plan
in play.
You don't want six scholarships open for next year.
That unbalances the classes and forces a huge recruitment.
You see where bringing in two or three good players is
a task. Imagine six.

reckless jake · Unread post by **reckless jake** » 9 years ago

You have to believe that reaching a decision to part ways with 3 players, one of whom saw considerable playing time, means that they believe they have better talent coming in. Why else would you grant the three releases.

That said, it's a little worrisome that I haven't seen our name connected with anyone recently. Not 15's, 5th year grad transfers, regular transfers. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

In Dan Hurley ans staff we trust. Got to be something in the works.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

This staff doesn't put a lot of roster management stuff out there, especially with Preston gone. Just because you don't hear anything doesn't mean nothing is happening.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 9 years ago

Everybody relax, its the beginning of April. They don't call this a "dead period" for nothing.

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