(08-16-2016 01:19 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  [quote='emu steve' pid='13476831' dateline='1471369967']
Got to admit I'm with E Tough on this one.

Programs which can't recruit with their natural rivals are always running up hill.

I really hope this team wins say 4 or 5 games this year to see if recruiting improves measurably.

One of the things I REALLY like about college basketball recruiting is that it is much easier to judge and measure recruiting. Heck, in the case of EMU, most of our recruits have played collegiate ball at least at the JUCO level or more likely the D-I level. Just check the stats and we can tell fairly clearly who is recruiting well and who is not...

You hit on 2 other good points above.

Overall, I think this staff is recruiting scared/insecure/gun-shy, whatever you want to call it, and just settling for guys with a high likelihood they'll say 'yes'. I understand our poor history and all, but that makes it even more important to have an aggressive, positive, fake-it-till-you-make-it, attitude on the recruiting trail with these kids. Maybe this staff just doesn't have it in them? A third complete recruiting class will pretty much tell the story.

Agree with your competition angle as well. If you're going to target under-recruited, lower-rated kids who you think you may have a better chance to land, you might as well do it in areas where you at least know the competition is high level, and the football legit. Florida, Texas, CAli (our current juco territory) come to mind, as well as places like Detroit, and all the higher level divisions in Michigan. The Boyd kid from Cass Tech being a perfect example.

No reason EMU can't recruit at least at the mid-level of the MAC. The only 2 reasons we can't are either competence, or effort.

And if you have assistants who are just passing through EMU to their next coaching job you have to wonder out loud whether the effort is there. Sorry it needs to be said. Maybe they feel bad getting a kid to commit to EMU when they know in their hearts they won't be there, I don't know.