I found this to be pretty interesting.

You don't think that kind of stuff really happens, do you?

I'd read an article recently suggesting Scott Drew was on the sleazy side, and now we see why.

Bruce Pearl is one of the slimiest people alive. Easy to believe he'd do that.

(03-19-2012 08:43 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Bruce Pearl is one of the slimiest people alive. Easy to believe he'd do that.

Where is Bruce these days?

NBA?????

Running for Congress?

Teaching ethics?

Waiting to get a job as Kentucky's head coach when Calipari retires.

I think this should be a bigger deal than it is. It's a major NCAA violation.

Yesterday afternoon I was listening to a college basketball show on Sirius which was co-hosted by Bruce Pearl. Who was the guest? Scott Drew. The first thing they talked about was the Cooper story. Both denied ever trying to recruit him. Drew said he had just talked to Groce and said the whole thing was a "misunderstanding" after he had praised Cooper for his play two years ago in the NCAA, and Groce understood, etc. He claims he never recruited Cooper after he signed with Ohio out of high school

Pearl said he had told Cooper after they beat Ohio U in the 2nd round in 2010 that would love to coach him because he was a great player, but that was not intended to be recruitment, just a compliment.

My take? The coaches close ranks, Cooper gets the message to go with the "misunderstanding" version of the story, and it all gets swept under the rug. Nothing will come of it.

(03-20-2012 09:43 AM)axeme Wrote:  Yesterday afternoon I was listening to a college basketball show on Sirius which was co-hosted by Bruce Pearl. Who was the guest? Scott Drew. The first thing they talked about was the Cooper story. Both denied ever trying to recruit him. Drew said he had just talked to Groce and said the whole thing was a "misunderstanding" after he had praised Cooper for his play two years ago in the NCAA, and Groce understood, etc. He claims he never recruited Cooper after he signed with Ohio out of high school

Pearl said he had told Cooper after they beat Ohio U in the 2nd round in 2010 that would love to coach him because he was a great player, but that was not intended to be recruitment, just a compliment.

My take? The coaches close ranks, Cooper gets the message to go with the "misunderstanding" version of the story, and it all gets swept under the rug. Nothing will come of it.

Just heard Drew on the Scott Van Pelt Show. Same thing, it was a "misunderstanding." I am sure it was a little of both, probably sending out feelers and making it clear he would like to coach him but not officially asking him anything that would land him in hot water. The biggest thing to me is that Cooper has little/nothing to gain from mentioning this so I don't see any motive on his part.

(03-20-2012 01:47 PM)CMUprof Wrote:  The biggest thing to me is that Cooper has little/nothing to gain from mentioning this so I don't see any motive on his part.

He has a ton to gain. Gets his name in the media, and shows people that some top coaches think he could play on their teams. That helps his chances of playing professionally for a good Euro team or maybe become the next Earl Boykins in the NBA.

(03-20-2012 01:55 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-20-2012 01:47 PM)CMUprof Wrote:  The biggest thing to me is that Cooper has little/nothing to gain from mentioning this so I don't see any motive on his part.

He has a ton to gain. Gets his name in the media, and shows people that some top coaches think he could play on their teams. That helps his chances of playing professionally for a good Euro team or maybe become the next Earl Boykins in the NBA.

His name is already in the media. CBS was interviewing him because of Ohio's tourney success, not the recruiting. That came out in the interview. His play will make him attractive to scouts, this story is a distraction.

(03-20-2012 01:55 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(03-20-2012 01:47 PM)CMUprof Wrote:  The biggest thing to me is that Cooper has little/nothing to gain from mentioning this so I don't see any motive on his part.

He has a ton to gain. Gets his name in the media, and shows people that some top coaches think he could play on their teams. That helps his chances of playing professionally for a good Euro team or maybe become the next Earl Boykins in the NBA.

This was not a new story and he didn't bring it up this time. He was asked about it in an interview. In the orginal version they didn't name any of the schools. And getting his name in the media doesn't help him one iota. Do you really think that European teams don't know who he is already?

(03-20-2012 08:51 AM)uakronkid Wrote:  I think this should be a bigger deal than it is. It's a major NCAA violation.

I agree 100%! Either they should want to investigate this to put an end to this shady tactic, or prove Cooper wrong and try to clear their name. Problem is Pearl is no longer there.