P.S. yes, we are left holding the bag at backup PG.

Time to think outside the box, e.g., someone maybe on the team playing backup PG minutes behind Toney.

Could be Bond (if we sign SFs), could be Lee...

#Thin@PG

So lets recap we let our experienced PG Alvano go (released), we fail to get one Moberly guard who signs with another MAC team that we beat 3 times last season, we fail to sign another Moberly guard who opts for Arkansas St and we apparently had no serious interest in Towns a twice All State Class B selection who happens to be in our backyard. Many commented that Towns signed with Niagara who had a RPI below us. But our backup plan is doing tryouts with Findlay and Grand Valley St mind you not offers but tryouts. Wonder what Findlay and Grand Valley St's RPI is? And our only LOI had how many other Div I offers?

Not very impressive so far.

(04-19-2016 06:05 AM)emu79 Wrote:  So lets recap we let our experienced PG Alvano go (released), we fail to get one Moberly guard who signs with another MAC team that we beat 3 times last season, we fail to sign another Moberly guard who opts for Arkansas St and we apparently had no serious interest in Towns a twice All State Class B selection who happens to be in our backyard. Many commented that Towns signed with Niagara who had a RPI below us. But our backup plan is doing tryouts with Findlay and Grand Valley St mind you not offers but tryouts. Wonder what Findlay and Grand Valley St's RPI is? And our only LOI had how many other Div I offers?

Not very impressive so far.

This is like the presidential primaries (races) this year.

What is going to happen in June or July, "I don't know"...

This one WILL take a LONG time to play out. I don't believe we got JT4 until last summer.

We might get a good PG that you've never heard off. #LotOfFishInTheSea

Remember, there are scores of grad eligible transfers who have been in college 4 years looking for a new home...

He probably saw that he wasn't gonna play major minutes at all this year. Tough to recruit a juco when you have an established starter at that position for next season. I was surprised he committed here so fast. Oh well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Murphy go with the non-graduate transfer route for one of the schollies, possibly at guard. They sit out a year, learn the zone, and be starting in 17-18 when Toney, Mangum, and Lee are gone.

I also expect a 4 year guard as well. Patience should still be exercised. Murphy has pulled plenty of guys this late in the game. There still over 400 transfers out there and tons of JUCOs. Relax.

I agree with Sam.

It USED TO BE that as April and May wore on that the talent pool got thinner and thinner, mostly Plan B recruits.

Now the opposite happens, in April the talent pool is RESTOCKED and the process begins anew.

With the financial issues, HBO special, loss of the WBB coach, etc. losing a JUCO recruit is hardly "CNN Breaking News."

As I suggested in another post, and building on what Sam posted, the PG back up position could be filled including JUCO, grad. eligible transfer, h.s. player, or other things such playing Bond some at PG and RECRUIT the SF position (instead).

E.g., a h.s. PG might play 5 minutes a game as backup to Bond who might also be a backup there.

Basketball rosters aren't like organization charts in government where each person is tied to a specific position and job description.

I just have one more thought: I wonder if Lindsey would have competed with Toney for the starting job? I don't take the view that all the starters are guaranteed starting positions next year.

E.g., could Lee start and Mangum come off the bench? IF we find a top JUCO or grad eligible SF, could Bond come off the bench at SF or PG? (remember at the 16 minute TV time out in the 1st half, there are 36 more minutes to play.)

Hell, with some recruiting luck (e.g., PG and SF), Murphy could go to a platoon system with two full sets of 5 players.

I would WELCOME a transfer sitout at a guard position. Many transfers are 'steals.'

E.g., here is a grad eligible SF transfer who is taking visits NOW to schools like Rider, Richmond, etc. 14 PPG at Florida A&M.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...lm-bernard

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/malcolm-bernard

(04-19-2016 05:18 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(04-19-2016 03:47 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(04-16-2016 08:18 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(04-16-2016 07:47 AM)emu79 Wrote:  per steve bell:

2016 Playmaker Guard Richard Talley worked out this past week for Eastern Michigan, Findlay University and Grand Valley State!

Richard Talley is a 5'10 out of Detroit Renaissance (Turner's school) Detroit News Second Team All Detroit.

Interesting. What does this mean?

Possible walk-on? "Plan B" recruit?

Do we need another PG IF Lindsey has signed???

Or what does this mean???? :(

Earl Austin Jr., Author at Prep Hoops
http://www.prephoops.com/author/earlaustinjr/
2 days ago - Juco Recruiting Report: Rashad Lindsey. Former McCluer North standout talks about multiple offers. by: Earl Austin Jr. April 13, 2016. Facebook · Share. Javonte ...

What it means is that Rashad Lindsey changed his commitment from EMU to Arkansas State and left us holding the bag. Getting less impressed with Murphy and company.

Not a good thing when a recruit commits and then uncommits (and takes another visit) over a few day period and then commits to a school with a poor basketball program.

That is not how it should work. He did not commit to a higher rated program or school say an A-10 school or similar.

Hope all of the turmoil at EMU didn't affect his decision.

If the Arkansas State staff visited this site they found plenty of negative things about EMU athletics in the last week or so...

This sounds very much like he had a really good visit AND THEN someone got into his ear that things are not good in Ypsi and he had 2nd doubts.

Here is the original Tweet, I believe:

Mike Clark ‏@_mclark91 8h8 hours ago
Big S/O to my lil cuz on the commitment to Arkansas State!

I think you're speculating. It looks to me like the kid got an offer to go somewhere and start. Why would a juco go to EMU and be a backup?

Murphy needs to do a better job with good high schools prospects. I'm sure word is out that he prefers transfers. Same thing happened to Ramsey (I heard that first hand from the dad of a potential recruit).

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Chuck Embree ‏@MMIsports 6m6 minutes ago
Greyhounds coach Pat Smith on Monday said soph Rashad Lindsey plans to attend Arkansas St. Univ. this fall and not E. Michigan Univ.

[ as if we need more proof. :( ]

I had this information but did not post it:

"His latest visit came last weekend at Eastern Michigan.

“I thought the visit went well,” Lindsey said. “It was a great experience. I really enjoyed it.”

The quote did go on to say that Lindsey would visit Ark. State the following weekend...

Quite frankly, knowing what I know, it is still puzzling.

Sure he'd compete with Toney for minutes, but EMU is a possible Big Dance team next year. Ark State is way down.

#HeadScratcher

I'm not sure of this North Texas transfer's talents, but I have to say I like his name!

"North Texas G Carrington Ward (RS-Jr) is leaving the program. Eligible immediately."

http://verbalcommits.com/players/carrington-ward

(04-19-2016 11:14 AM)emu steve Wrote:  0 retweets 0 likes
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Chuck Embree ‏@MMIsports 6m6 minutes ago
Greyhounds coach Pat Smith on Monday said soph Rashad Lindsey plans to attend Arkansas St. Univ. this fall and not E. Michigan Univ.

[ as if we need more proof. :( ]

I had this information but did not post it:

"His latest visit came last weekend at Eastern Michigan.

“I thought the visit went well,” Lindsey said. “It was a great experience. I really enjoyed it.”

The quote did go on to say that Lindsey would visit Ark. State the following weekend...

Quite frankly, knowing what I know, it is still puzzling.

Sure he'd compete with Toney for minutes, but EMU is a possible Big Dance team next year. Ark State is way down.

#HeadScratcher

The opportunity to play and start Means more than the potential for team success. Plain and simple

#CryingOverSpiltMilk post (for me).

I really wanted Rashad Lindsey. Sounds like he would have been a perfect recruit.

http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArtic...=210899597

Article from ESPN and what an offer means (not much) and doesn't mean:

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/na...st?id=6661

E.g., I like this like little scenario:

"Conversation No. 1: It was last summer in the final week of the July evaluation period. I was standing next to a high-major college head coach, who asked me for my opinion about a player. I answered the question, but followed up with a question of my own.

“Haven’t you already offered him,” I asked.

“Aw hell, I don’t know,” he responded. “We might have.”

*********

Moral to the story: A recruiting offer is like a young man making an offer of a DATE with a young woman. It doesn't mean much. Most lead to nothing. Zero dates or maybe one or two. No matrimony. No children. No house. Nothing.

As also explained, a school might make an 'offer' to remain in the (recruiting) game, i.e., if they don't offer NOW they will be off the radar while other teams proceed to recruit the kid.

As we see clearly in college FB, schools like EMU may 'offer' 75 or 100 kids for less than 25 scholarships.

FWIW, I read that UofM is apparently hiring Jermaine Jackson (sr.). UofM has now lost two assistant coaches, one to WI-Milwaukee and now Bacari Alexander to UDM.

Jermaine Jackson jr. is a very good PG for Macomb Dakota (think that is the name of the school).

If he isn't UofM material, maybe he can land at EMU. I would expect UDM to be in there too.

This one will be tough. Jackson Sr. has connections with UDM having coached there 2015/16.

I believe (assume) Bacari Alexander will prove to be a very formidable recruiter at UDM.

He has been at UofM (and other colleges in MI and the MAC) for some years and knows his way around.

Recruiting in MI just got tougher (tough, tougher and now toughest) for EMU.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/.../83304340/

Hey, we have Murphy and his zone. :-)

Murphy is a good Juco/transfer recruiter. The funny thing is, his best players have been highschool recruits: Lee, Bond, and Thompson. We need more meaningful highschool recruits.........

(04-21-2016 08:58 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Hey, we have Murphy and his zone. :-)

Murphy is a good Juco/transfer recruiter. The funny thing is, his best players have been highschool recruits: Lee, Bond, and Thompson. We need more meaningful highschool recruits.........

Amen to that. Players that could help this program end up everywhere else but here.

So Thompson, Bond, Lee, and even Nobles aren't helping this program?

(04-21-2016 12:54 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  So Thompson, Bond, Lee, and even Nobles aren't helping this program?

I need to be clearer, I was referring to Michigan high school talent. Two Michigan high players in five years isn't impressive considering what other local mid-major schools instate have done.

I get the gripe about not recruiting enough 4-year players. I even agree with it to an extent, although I'd take 2 years of Mike Talley or Glenn Bryant over a lot of the 4-year guys I've seen in the MAC. However, I really don't care where we recruit kids from. It's by far the silliest crusade on this board. At the end of the day, these kids are representing the school...who cares where they played high school basketball? If Murphy can find kids like Bond and Thompson in distant places, then keep recruiting those distant places!

(04-21-2016 05:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  I get the gripe about not recruiting enough 4-year players. I even agree with it to an extent, although I'd take 2 years of Mike Talley or Glenn Bryant over a lot of the 4-year guys I've seen in the MAC. However, I really don't care where we recruit kids from. It's by far the silliest crusade on this board. At the end of the day, these kids are representing the school...who cares where they played high school basketball? If Murphy can find kids like Bond and Thompson in distant places, then keep recruiting those distant places!

I hear you, Sam, but I'm not sure you are understanding those who love recruiting (I've become eclectic, I don't care where they come from).

My experience with Hoopster was that is wasn't like Christmas where as a child you woke up and got presents.

Instead it is a 52 x 7 thing for them. Following the current recruiting year and next year and the year after. Living and dying on the words of Steve Bell, all-state, metro teams from Detroit News, Freep, etc.

Hoopster started following the prospects in their soph year.

Can't do that the way Murphy recruits. Things seems to firm up during winter. Anyone following EMU MBB recruiting 12 months a year is wasting a lot of time with little payoff.

Here is an article on Bacari Alexander and his relationships to Detroit PSL coaches and McDowell (mentioned as a possible asst coach).

If my thinking is right, there might as well be a 'great wall of China' around Detroit for EMU.

UDM and Oakland will own Detroit for mid-major talent. Hurts EMU and the MAC. Big for the Horizon League.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/.../83358204/