We offer Christian Henry 6'2 from Panola Community College

[quote='emu79' pid='19539870' dateline='1711459382']
Martynov has entered the portal. Welcome to a whole new team next year.
[/quotes]

Where does a guy like Martynov expect to go anyway? He was bad at GT, came here and wasn’t much better. Is he going to go to the GLIAC? Return to Canada?

Sometimes people should be grateful for what they have.

(03-26-2024 07:32 PM)holybovine Wrote:  [quote='emu79' pid='19539870' dateline='1711459382']
Martynov has entered the portal. Welcome to a whole new team next year.
[/quotes]

Where does a guy like Martynov expect to go anyway? He was bad at GT, came here and wasn’t much better. Is he going to go to the GLIAC? Return to Canada?

Sometimes people should be grateful for what they have.

Exactly. My guess is he goes D2 or a lower level where he doesn’t have to sit out.

Martynov did seem to get better as the season went on, but he was likely looking at another season as a backup on a not-so-good team. As you and others have said, all we’ve lost from our optimal lineup (Lovejoy-Acuff-Osojnik-Legend-whichever of Billingsley and Jihad is better that day) is Acuff. It’s a big loss, but I think we can add scoring. The bigger need is that the rest of those guys stay and continue to develop. That’s the best hope in today’s transfer-heavy environment as a mid major.

Good post, Sam. I think we all agree that TyCuff will be a huge (and inevitable) loss. But you raise an interesting point about replacing his scoring as a surmountable task. Shooting guard has always been the easiest position to fill whether recruiting high school or transfers. A true point guard and solid frontcourt is what is challenging, especially for mid-majors. Conversely, I think what will be more difficult to replace is TyCuff’s leadership- that is not something you can recruit.

(03-26-2024 07:32 PM)holybovine Wrote:  [quote='emu79' pid='19539870' dateline='1711459382']
Martynov has entered the portal. Welcome to a whole new team next year.
[/quotes]

Where does a guy like Martynov expect to go anyway? He was bad at GT, came here and wasn’t much better. Is he going to go to the GLIAC? Return to Canada?

Sometimes people should be grateful for what they have.

Cyril hustled and seemed to be a good citizen. But, my goodness, he had very little basketball skills. He could not shoot, had no post footwork and had terrible hands. As for athletic ability, he exhibited all the agility and speed issues of a seven-footer, but his vertical leap might have been six inches or less. He blocked all of FOUR shots this past season and I was amazed how many of his put-back shots were rejected by much smaller players when I expected him to simply dunk the basketball. Riley or Toure, he was not.

Many college coaches are mesmerized when they see that 7'0" height as it conveys rebounding, shot blocking and post presence. Martynov, James Love and Axel Okongo obviously prove this assumption wrong.

If Cyril wants to star at basketball, he needs to find a level far more suited to his ability. I hope he does.

(03-26-2024 02:47 PM)emu79 Wrote:  We offer Christian Henry 6'2 from Panola Community College

Before the mass exodus of our frontcourt depth, I would have understood the focus on offering guards and wings. But why is this continuing? This team currently has only 3 frontcourt players- 2 of which are exhausting eligibility after next year.

(03-28-2024 11:30 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-26-2024 02:47 PM)emu79 Wrote:  We offer Christian Henry 6'2 from Panola Community College

Before the mass exodus of our frontcourt depth, I would have understood the focus on offering guards and wings. But why is this continuing? This team currently has only 3 frontcourt players- 2 of which are exhausting eligibility after next year.

There are needs at every position. A guard that can shoot needs to be high on that list.

We offer Jimmie Williams 6'5 from Wallace St CC

(03-28-2024 11:30 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-26-2024 02:47 PM)emu79 Wrote:  We offer Christian Henry 6'2 from Panola Community College

Before the mass exodus of our frontcourt depth, I would have understood the focus on offering guards and wings. But why is this continuing? This team currently has only 3 frontcourt players- 2 of which are exhausting eligibility after next year.

Good point, especially considering the fact that Stan does not seem to like up-tempo fastbreak basketball or full-court pressure defense.

It does, however, reflect a trend that I see all over college athletics. EMU and OSU football got caught without a QB last season and now both are locked and perhaps too loaded. Heath had to play Acuff and Lovejoy far too many minutes because he had a dearth of guards and now is overcompensating like Creighton and Ryan Day.

There is no historical template for recruiting success in this age of the portal. Like Creighton said, "you have to prepare to rebuild your team every six months" as that it is the world today. With Serven, Randle and Martynov recently entering the portal, Stan has his chance to change direction as well. Every 6 months....

(03-29-2024 04:54 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-28-2024 11:30 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-26-2024 02:47 PM)emu79 Wrote:  We offer Christian Henry 6'2 from Panola Community College

Before the mass exodus of our frontcourt depth, I would have understood the focus on offering guards and wings. But why is this continuing? This team currently has only 3 frontcourt players- 2 of which are exhausting eligibility after next year.

Good point, especially considering the fact that Stan does not seem to like up-tempo fastbreak basketball or full-court pressure defense.

It does, however, reflect a trend that I see all over college athletics. EMU and OSU football got caught without a QB last season and now both are locked and perhaps too loaded. Heath had to play Acuff and Lovejoy far too many minutes because he had a dearth of guards and now is overcompensating like Creighton and Ryan Day.

There is no historical template for recruiting success in this age of the portal. Like Creighton said, "you have to prepare to rebuild your team every six months" as that it is the world today. With Serven, Randle and Martynov recently entering the portal, Stan has his chance to change direction as well. Every 6 months....

I doubt EMU had enough depth to run, run, run...

EMU potential target Eli Rice 6’7” forward Nebraska transfer from Detroit

Freshman Braeden Green Pg Iowa State Transfer From Ypsilanti

(03-30-2024 08:42 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  EMU potential target Eli Rice 6’7” forward Nebraska transfer from Detroit

I checked his bio and it looks like he's from Tennessee.

(03-30-2024 09:01 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Freshman Braeden Green Pg Iowa State Transfer From Ypsilanti

Get Green and Simon Wheeler from Ashland and that would be a good backcourt. They played together at Lincoln.

(03-19-2024 11:24 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 11:01 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 10:04 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 09:56 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Connor Servern is in the Portal. So much for getting everyone back. Yeesh.

Sam reported in another thread that TyCuff is in the portal too.

He just transferred last year. Did he graduate?

He played 3 years at Illinois before coming to EMU. So this would be his fourth year and therefore reasonable he graduates.

I am kind of annoyed with this transfer. He took minutes away from Jihad for his own development and now transferring. Many on this board questioned why he was playing over others in the first place. He had some nice games for sure, but also had some complete goose eggs.

Disappointing as it seemed that the program was finally developing some chemistry as the end of the season. Now there are 5 open spots to fill.

You know I never thought that much about chemistry until I watched what NC State has done this season. 14 freaking losses and one game-winning shot away from maybe getting an NIT invitation, now is in the Final Four and looking rather formidable. I see them beating Purdue.

A total bunch of transfers, many Covid seniors, have eventually gelled to a very impressive team. The one and done approach of Kentucky and Duke has proven to be unsuccessful recently, despite getting superb talent. EMU's recruitment of Emoni Bates was hardly remarkable in terms of program performance. Any coach who ignores the transfer portal has been an abject failure.

Tough job, being an NCAA coach today.

Pranger to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

(04-02-2024 03:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Pranger to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Is this D2?

(04-02-2024 02:24 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 03:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Pranger to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Is this D2?

Yes.

(04-02-2024 04:09 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 02:24 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 03:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Pranger to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Is this D2?

Yes.

Thx Woody - nice fit for him.

(04-02-2024 06:16 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 04:09 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 02:24 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(04-02-2024 03:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Pranger to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Is this D2?

Yes.

Thx Woody - nice fit for him.

For sure! He seemed to be a nice kid and was a "band favorite" when he entered a game, but clearly was a fish out of water in the MAC. I saw him play in the exhibition against Wayne St two seasons ago and simply could not figure how Stan actually offered him a scholarship. He got the "shirt", however, and his performance this past season only reinforced my previous assessment. Two years of free college, EMU did this kid right.