(02-09-2011 12:20 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  A recruiting break through?

Nate Rucker is great and all, but he's one kid. Unless I see three of four other Rucker's coming through the door I'm not going to suggest recruiting has improved greatly.

We were excited about Tyler Storm and Nixon when we recruited them too. Players don't develop under Patton at all.

I agree Armour but have we had a freshman in a long time like Rucker thats playing this many minutes and actually make an impact when he plays. I think the development will take care of itself with him. His father is all over this.

(02-09-2011 12:33 PM)huskiebbfan Wrote:  I agree Armour but have we had a freshman in a long time like Rucker thats playing this many minutes and actually make an impact when he plays. I think the development will take care of itself with him. His father is all over this.

Rucker reminds me of the type of player Kent State has built their success for so many years now.

For as doom and gloom as people made life without Kowal to be, this team really really needs an overhaul at guard. Surround these players with some capable guards and you are looking at a dramatically improved team that can be among the MAC elite. That position is not as hard to fill which is a good thing.

(02-09-2011 12:26 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:20 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  A recruiting break through?

Nate Rucker is great and all, but he's one kid. Unless I see three of four other Rucker's coming through the door I'm not going to suggest recruiting has improved greatly.

We were excited about Tyler Storm and Nixon when we recruited them too. Players don't develop under Patton at all.

That is my concern. Storm looked good as a freshmen. I was excited about him. Started many games and scored double figures on occasion. Same with Nixon last year. But they now can't produce as well? Those guys were recruited by several schools, so obviously "experts" felt they could play. Has Hall gotten better? What has happened or not happened? How do we know Bolin, Rucker and Jones won't go the same route?

(02-09-2011 12:33 PM)huskiebbfan Wrote:  I agree Armour but have we had a freshman in a long time like Rucker thats playing this many minutes and actually make an impact when he plays. I think the development will take care of itself with him. His father is all over this.

I think Rucker certainly has the potential to be a great player for NIU and he has already produced more than Nixon or Storm have in their careers. That being said, I haven't seen anything to excite me about our two verbals for next year. When I look at Patton's recruiting since he has been at NIU he hasn't done much to impress me. His CU teams weren't all that good when his players got in the system either so I just don't think you can give him the benefit of the doubt because he landed a promising recruit or two. I honestly would feel bad for Rucker if he was stuck playing under Patton for the next 4 years...which is why it wouldn't surprise me if he transferred regardless of the Patton situation.

(02-09-2011 12:41 PM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote:  How do we know Bolin, Rucker and Jones won't go the same route?

We don't. And from past experience they will either get worse, get in Patton's doghouse, or transfer.

(02-09-2011 12:41 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  For as doom and gloom as people made life without Kowal to be, this team really really needs an overhaul at guard. Surround these players with some capable guards and you are looking at a dramatically improved team that can be among the MAC elite. That position is not as hard to fill which is a good thing.

Surround players? As in plural? So far, we like Rucker, who else? Christian?

Bolin and Jones have been hurt, so hard to know what we have there...

(02-09-2011 12:48 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:41 PM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote:  How do we know Bolin, Rucker and Jones won't go the same route?

We don't. And from past experience they will either get worse, get in Patton's doghouse, or transfer.

+1

Player development has been non existent under Patton.

Also, in 4 years here in DeKalb, out of scholarships given out, 4 recruits failed to qualify and 2 left the program (Smith and Dinunno).

Don't forget to add the 3 other guys who left the program (Kowal, Anderson and Fakuade). That's almost half the players not finishing out their careers as Huskies.

Another interesting note. Almost half (5) of Patton's recruits were Juco transfers. Hard to have any continuity with the program that way.

Feel free to add or correct me if I am wrong.

(02-09-2011 01:03 PM)niuliger09 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:48 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:41 PM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote:  How do we know Bolin, Rucker and Jones won't go the same route?

We don't. And from past experience they will either get worse, get in Patton's doghouse, or transfer.

+1

Player development has been non existent under Patton.

Also, in 4 years here in DeKalb, out of scholarships given out, 4 recruits failed to qualify and 2 left the program (Smith and Dinunno).

Don't forget to add the 3 other guys who left the program (Kowal, Anderson and Fakuade). That's almost half the players not finishing out their careers as Huskies.

Another interesting note. Almost half (5) of Patton's recruits were Juco transfers. Hard to have any continuity with the program that way.

Feel free to add or correct me if I am wrong.

The one thing that is hard to gage when you recruit, is the mental strength of the player. I find it hard to blame Patton for players who quit on their teammates. Thats hard to project when you recruit. There is no clear statistic that can give you an indication of a mentally weak player.

(02-09-2011 01:06 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 01:03 PM)niuliger09 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:48 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:41 PM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote:  How do we know Bolin, Rucker and Jones won't go the same route?

We don't. And from past experience they will either get worse, get in Patton's doghouse, or transfer.

+1

Player development has been non existent under Patton.

Also, in 4 years here in DeKalb, out of scholarships given out, 4 recruits failed to qualify and 2 left the program (Smith and Dinunno).

Don't forget to add the 3 other guys who left the program (Kowal, Anderson and Fakuade). That's almost half the players not finishing out their careers as Huskies.

Another interesting note. Almost half (5) of Patton's recruits were Juco transfers. Hard to have any continuity with the program that way.

Feel free to add or correct me if I am wrong.

The one thing that is hard to gage when you recruit, is the mental strength of the player. I find it hard to blame Patton for players who quit on their teammates. Thats hard to project when you recruit. There is no clear statistic that can give you an indication of a mentally weak player.

I know who you are talking about and even though I don't agree with you, you have to look at the big picture.

If Anderson was the only player to ever have had issues with Patton, you could make a case for it being the player's fault.

But when you have almost half of your program not qualify or just plain leave...how can you not say there is a troubling pattern? Patton ultimately is the one that decides which players to offer and he is the one dealing with the players once they get here.

It's not just a single case, it's a pattern.

(02-09-2011 12:22 PM)huskiebbfan Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 12:14 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I do think its fair to question the job security of Patton as he has not produced in what is now more than a non-trivial amount of time. These are some tough questions Compher will have to address at the end of the season and whether there is financial flexibility to even allow his dismissal. There are two things that give me pause for a change 1) We are starting to see athletes come into the program that are at another level that I have been used to since being a fan of NIU. Seems like recruiting is really starting to break through, and you would hate to break that momentum now that it appears to be really escalating. 2) Is there really any candidate out there who would be more desirable than Patton? Im not sure there is right now.

+1 I think getting Bolin, Jones and stealing Rucker is in the right direction. Problem Madd is that its too little to late for most fans. The next coach will have to convince those 3 to stay or he will have to start from scratch and in 4 years we will be hearing this same old song again. We got to have something left for the next coach. Will those players stay. Ask yourself a question. Would you?

Bolin? I think he can be good but from what I heard, it probably wasn't Patton who recruited him. He fell into Pattons lap. I am sure Bolin had never heard of NIU before getting an offer. He likely knew nothing about Patton. My only hope is that Patton hasn't screwed him up too much. Btw, is his leg still bothering him or something? It doesn't seem like he is getting much playing time. Oh wait, it is Patton rotation plan(PRP) where the decent players (outside of Silas) sit on the bench while the bad players play more minutes.

(02-09-2011 12:46 PM)armour248 Wrote:  I think Rucker certainly has the potential to be a great player for NIU and he has already produced more than Nixon or Storm have in their careers. That being said, I haven't seen anything to excite me about our two verbals for next year.

Not arguing that. Rucker could be a good one. My question is if he will improve or will still be just as good as a junior as he is now. He has his limits, will he improve? I hope so. Has any other player here improved much (other than Silas who reportedly leaves campus and trains with professionals in the off-season). Even look at the ones who left..... Did they improve while here? Is it physical? Mental? Or both?

Hard to tell, and it's a valid concern on the development and the younger talent leaving if Pattos is fired. That's why it's important Compher is making his plan now, knows the guys he wants and can make a new hire quickly and a new hire that brings some life to the program and can convince guys like Rucker to stay.

Bolin had a emergency Appendectomy last week. He will be out for up to 3 weeks. So his season his really done. Just things like this that has happened all year starting with Kowal

(02-09-2011 01:47 PM)huskiebbfan Wrote:  Bolin had a emergency Appendectomy last week. He will be out for up to 3 weeks. So his season his really done. Just things like this that has happened all year starting with Kowal

THanks. Didn't hear about that.

Wow, so how many guys do we have on the active roster now? Since no Bolin or Madlock? Not that Madlock had played much anyways.

Do we need to pull in more football players? Get a big lineman in there