Alphawalt wrote:I carefully looked up and down this list and did not see anyone predicting any top 50 player would actually sign with CU. You can target as many top 50 players as you want, but if you don’t sign any, what good is it? Just a waste of recruiting time, effort and expense. Let’s get more realistic and efficient in our recruiting.
So, it seems old Alphawait was partially correct... when one of our recruiting targets "blows up" (top 20, 30, 50), it seems CU generally stops recruiting that guy.
"Just a waste of recruiting time, effort, and expense. Let's (We) get more realistic and efficient in our recruiting."
I see the point, as other than Patton, we have consistently struck out on top 50 guys. I don't agree with that perspective as we'll never land top guys if we always quit and move on, but based on our current track record I see the coaches perspective.
With our recruiting track record combined with our current levels of coaching and spending, expectations realistically should remain low. Making the tourney should be all we expect and pray for a good matchup, along with prayers for Butleresque/Xavieresque overachievement. As the program appears to currently stand expecting a sweet 16 or better is a pipe dream, a longshot at best. It seems the goal is to become/remain a middle-of-the-pack major, no more - no less.
CU is known to be an astute staff in identifying and evaluating talent. We get in early on many kids and recruit diligently. Yes, if a guy truly blows up, we may have issues: name recognition, middling major program vs elite program, less resources, etc. But it would seem to be that at some point the staff has to draw a line...and fight for a kid they truly want for the program.
Case in point - Kerwin Walton. In on him early and diligence in our recruiting. Now he's blowing up as an elite shooter. Kerwin will become a top 50 kid during his senior year. Are we gonna cash in our chips and move on, or will the staff stay the course and fight the elites for him. He's a great fit for us and he knows the coaches/program. Will we fight to get him?
If we are content to stay where we are as a mid-pack major, then fine. Keep doing what we're doing. But if the plan is for developing and improving the program, then fighting becomes a necessity. Other schools in our group have signed top kids (W Kentucky, Tx Tech, Auburn, Cincy, Va Tech, LSU), we can join them. We already know we won't get many top recruits. Yes, it is important to pick our battles, but battle we must if the program is to grow and thrive. If we always quit there will be no growth or improvement.
"This is our time. This is our great opportunity... Standing strong - for a great, great future." - Fr Timothy Lannon, SJ
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” - Nicholas Klein (1918)