(11-11-2017 11:59 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(11-11-2017 10:45 AM)emu steve Wrote:  BTW, I'm make this parenthetical comment about pre-season conference predictions.

I give them all NO credibility concerning EMU (and possibly a number of other teams).

Did any of those writers know that we had Minnie, possibly all-MAC PF, sitting out. And a possible big surprise in Groce. And a PG, Jackson, and SG, Harris?

Did they know how much JT4 has improved his body?

IF Murphy wanted he could start 4 new starters, Jackson, Harris, Groce, and Minnie. ALL of whom sat out last season.

In this respect, EMU becomes the 'unknown' team of 2017/8 much like the 1994/5 (I think) team was mostly different than the year before. That was the team with Boykins, Dial, Head, Nink, Zajac, etc.

I think you raise some good points and a good analogy. Though I think that team had some more significant returnees in Torrey Mills, Theron Wilson, Kareem Carpenter (believe went pro in the NFL as TE), and of course the greatest player in EMU history BRIAN TOLBERT. But the current team has a couple big returnees in their own right in as well in Bond and particularly Thompson, so not exact scenario but similar. This is why I have this team as 21-10 and will be Murphy's best year.

I also agree with those treating Minnie as an unknown unnecessarily- I think some on this board (ie myself and Steve) have gotten too excited about new players in the past . But in Minnie's case this is different. He was the central player on a solid Robert Morris team- rather than someone under performing at previous school looking for change of environment. He is a different kind of transfer.

Statistically speaking from the first game (I did not watch), Groce is a COMPLETE surprise. But also some of the other newcomers. Still early though as these lower division games can be misleading.

Ramy, for me it's probably Tolbert, Grant Long, or Boykins. Boykins could break ankles and make spectacular plays! Tolbert was just a phenomenal leader, silky smooth and a very consistent scorer! I'm sure everyone who watched that era can remember the crowd chanting TOL-BERT, TOL-BERT.....when Brian took over the end of the games scoring very consistently. Just a phenomenal all around player.

I watched Grant Long just dominate and out work his opponents. Those were the days!!

Fred Cofield and The Iceman were players I never got to watch.

Why did they schedule the Sunday game at the same time as a Lions game? I'm sure it would have been low attendance anyway, but that just seals the deal.

i'll go with 10-8 in conference. 18-13 overall (but i have no idea how good a lot of our opponents are).

Thompson is great in all the ways we know. Bond is excellent at what he does. i feel confident that Minnie will at least be a good scorer (10-11 pts/game) and possibly a great scorer (16-17 pts/game). Groce was very exciting yesterday, but i want to see more from him before counting on him to contribute a lot this year. Nobles looked the same as last year in his limited minutes. Harris only shot threes but shot them well. Jackson and the other young guards didn't show me enough for me to have a solid idea of their games. that's what i'm going off of in these predictions.

Emdypo, regarding your question, it's really hard to know someone's motivations, and impossible when you're an outsider like i assume we all are. recruiting is a two-sided relationship - people can opt out on both sides. the coaching staff has never revealed who they are recruiting, so we have no idea what players they try to bring in. we only know the players that actually make it in. and i think there's more nuance to the race & ethnicity of both current and former players than you mention in your original message.

i hear Block E not wanting to have this conversation. conversations about politics and social issues devolve quickly when it's limited to typing a few trite sentences on a keyboard. but i also think that, if people share ideas like reasonable adults, they're normally better off. hopefully that's the case here.

(11-11-2017 08:53 AM)emdypo Wrote:  I'm gonna ask an uncomfortable question, and while I realize I'm opening myself up to personal attacks and judgement, I'm going to ask anyway. Does Rob Murphy intentionally not recruit white players. I just saw the team photo, and realized we don't have a very diverse team (all African American). So i looked back at previous seasons team photos, in 2011 When Murphy began his tenure we had Matt Balkema, Kamil Janton and Austin Harper already in the program, since that time over six recruiting classes and only two white players, Brandon Nazione, and Baylee Steele.

So just for some perspective I looked at CMU, WMU and Toledo's rosters, and all three teams are about much more diverse (about 50/50 white and black) If this was a one season phenomenon I would dismiss it as just luck of who signed, but it seems to me that over six season, numerous transfers, recruiting classes etc.. only two white players seems intentional. Anyone have any information on why our team seems to be not recruiting white players?

For what it's worth, Ty Groce's mother is white.

Lets see how the team jells against D1teams

(11-11-2017 05:33 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-11-2017 07:40 AM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  19-12, no and no. Murphy misses out on his automatic year extension by 1 win and we get a new coach next year.


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Christmas wish coming early?

It kinda is. I mean I would obviously take him getting 20+ if that means we win the MAC and go dancing, but I don’t know if that type of success could ever be sustained with his scheme and our recruiting ability.


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Let me respond to Block E, and a couple others. First, why do I need to start another thread, are you so incapable of concentrating on two things at the same time that you have to read posts in a specific thread or your head explodes? Second, I brought up a controversial topic in a respectful manner, there is no need to call it stupid. I have on several occasions over the years watched this forum devolve into personal attacks and a comedy of immature behavior. I've read stories over the years in numerous publications, where race and recruiting at certain schools were called into question. Wisconsin, for instance was questioned for having a majority white roster for a number of years, John Thompson while at Georgetown was accused of only recruiting, and playing black players. I merely asked if anyone had any incite on our current coach, and what over a six tenure seems like a preference for recruiting black players. I didn't insinuate that Murphy is a racist, or say anything disrespectful about him. I know that several of his coaches and staff members are white. And last but not least, as I've said before in this forum, try not to say something on the internet that you wouldn't say in person, internet tough guys are the worst kind of coward.

Quick pivot, toward the topic:

Kent State is a few minutes from finishing a MAC sweep today. Only one game was against a non-D-1 opponent.

Think the MAC will be something like 10 - 1 on the season. The one loss, by one point, was BSU to Dayton. (NIU hasn't played yet, I don't believe).

I didn't think the MAC would be tough this year, but it is off to a good start.

Guess the EMU schedule will have a lot of challenging games, both OOC and conference.

(11-11-2017 06:38 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(11-11-2017 08:53 AM)emdypo Wrote:  I'm gonna ask an uncomfortable question, and while I realize I'm opening myself up to personal attacks and judgement, I'm going to ask anyway. Does Rob Murphy intentionally not recruit white players. I just saw the team photo, and realized we don't have a very diverse team (all African American). So i looked back at previous seasons team photos, in 2011 When Murphy began his tenure we had Matt Balkema, Kamil Janton and Austin Harper already in the program, since that time over six recruiting classes and only two white players, Brandon Nazione, and Baylee Steele.

So just for some perspective I looked at CMU, WMU and Toledo's rosters, and all three teams are about much more diverse (about 50/50 white and black) If this was a one season phenomenon I would dismiss it as just luck of who signed, but it seems to me that over six season, numerous transfers, recruiting classes etc.. only two white players seems intentional. Anyone have any information on why our team seems to be not recruiting white players?

For what it's worth, Ty Groce's mother is white.

The same can beside about the women's since suzy left. I don't really care as long as we win home games. I also think our graduation rate has gone up.

(11-11-2017 08:27 PM)emdypo Wrote:  Let me respond to Block E, and a couple others. First, why do I need to start another thread, are you so incapable of concentrating on two things at the same time that you have to read posts in a specific thread or your head explodes? Second, I brought up a controversial topic in a respectful manner, there is no need to call it stupid. I have on several occasions over the years watched this forum devolve into personal attacks and a comedy of immature behavior. I've read stories over the years in numerous publications, where race and recruiting at certain schools were called into question. Wisconsin, for instance was questioned for having a majority white roster for a number of years, John Thompson while at Georgetown was accused of only recruiting, and playing black players. I merely asked if anyone had any incite on our current coach, and what over a six tenure seems like a preference for recruiting black players. I didn't insinuate that Murphy is a racist, or say anything disrespectful about him. I know that several of his coaches and staff members are white. And last but not least, as I've said before in this forum, try not to say something on the internet that you wouldn't say in person, internet tough guys are the worst kind of coward.

Since you've now derailed the thread and called me a coward, here goes.

You admit this is a controversial topic and still maintain that you're not saying anything, just asking? Uh huh. I think you know damn well what you're suggesting, that's why you're trying to get at it through the side door.

Next time you see Murphy, why don't you ask him this question. That's what I thought.

Since the thread was high jacked I'll comment on the uncomfortable topic.

I'm white but in no way do I feel Murphy recruits one race over another based on what I've seen the past 6 seasons. I do believe he takes the best players he can get period! It's a credit to Murphy for the talent he has brought in and also for the high graduation rate!!! He had white assitant coaches and some white players. Furthermore, at no time did I ever feel that white players sat on the bench while a lesser player played in front of him. Baylee Steel and Nazzione were studs and got the minutes accordingly. Is it easier for a black player to relate to a black coach or a white player for a white coach? I believe players go where they think they have the best opportunity to 1) play and 2) to win. With all of that said, Murphy needs to win big to keep his job after 6 mediocre seasons - go Murphy! :-)

Now let's get back to talking about sports!!!

(11-10-2017 09:34 AM)Block_E Wrote:  Take a guess people. WHAT WILL EMU's REGULAR SEASON RECORD BE?

There's 31 games this season (and I'm including Spring Arbor, UM-Dearborn and Rochester)

BONUS: Will EMU have a five game win streak, and when?
NEGATIVE POINTS: Will EMU have a five game losing streak, and when?

-----------------
MY ANSWER:

18-13
No
No

Lest I be wrong one of these predictions is up for grabs Friday in Bloomington, IN.

Did anyone pick EMU to have a 5-game win streak?

(11-13-2017 10:12 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Since the thread was high jacked I'll comment on the uncomfortable topic.

I'm white but in no way do I feel Murphy recruits one race over another based on what I've seen the past 6 seasons. I do believe he takes the best players he can get period! It's a credit to Murphy for the talent he has brought in and also for the high graduation rate!!! He had white assitant coaches and some white players. Furthermore, at no time did I ever feel that white players sat on the bench while a lesser player played in front of him. Baylee Steel and Nazzione were studs and got the minutes accordingly. Is it easier for a black player to relate to a black coach or a white player for a white coach? I believe players go where they think they have the best opportunity to 1) play and 2) to win. With all of that said, Murphy needs to win big to keep his job after 6 mediocre seasons - go Murphy! :-)

Now let's get back to talking about sports!!!

(11-21-2017 10:03 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Did anyone pick EMU to have a 5-game win streak?

Ken Barna did. I think one other adjusted to say we would beat Indiana, which would mean a 5 game streak.

I reallly liked this thread as a great gauge of where everyone is at with the team.

(11-22-2017 09:46 AM)Block_E Wrote:  

(11-21-2017 10:03 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Did anyone pick EMU to have a 5-game win streak?

Ken Barna did. I think one other adjusted to say we would beat Indiana, which would mean a 5 game streak.

I reallly liked this thread as a great gauge of where everyone is at with the team.

O/T, but I picked EMU FB to go 5 - 7 with a very tough schedule, green OL, etc. (the line got better as the schedule got better, i.e., softer this season).

I'll play Nate Silver and say we have a 31.8% chance to beat IU Friday. Unlike Nate I did not calculate the win probabilities other than teams which are say 7 - 10 point underdogs have 25 - 33% chances of winning.

(11-11-2017 08:53 AM)emdypo Wrote:  I'm gonna ask an uncomfortable question, and while I realize I'm opening myself up to personal attacks and judgement, I'm going to ask anyway. Does Rob Murphy intentionally not recruit white players. I just saw the team photo, and realized we don't have a very diverse team (all African American). So i looked back at previous seasons team photos, in 2011 When Murphy began his tenure we had Matt Balkema, Kamil Janton and Austin Harper already in the program, since that time over six recruiting classes and only two white players, Brandon Nazione, and Baylee Steele.

So just for some perspective I looked at CMU, WMU and Toledo's rosters, and all three teams are about much more diverse (about 50/50 white and black) If this was a one season phenomenon I would dismiss it as just luck of who signed, but it seems to me that over six season, numerous transfers, recruiting classes etc.. only two white players seems intentional. Anyone have any information on why our team seems to be not recruiting white players?

Any/every reasonable person has wondered the same thing. The beautiful thing about the college experience is to live and learn through diversity. That is why no matter one's major, just having a college degree gives you extremely valuable real life experience. I could not stand Georgetown's stubborn refusal to recruit white players back in the John Thompson days and I am not a fan of Murphy's inability or reluctance to recruit a more diverse group of players. I consider myself a very progressive person and there really is no excuse for this statistical anomaly, especially at the mid-major level.

As for the prediction, probably a typical Murph team: right around .500, a game or two in either direction, per usual. I am only watching this year to see James Thompson play, he is a bonafide NBA prospect.

18 and. 13 yes and yes odds are they will lose 80% of their away games and win 90% of their home games. Going 9 and 9 in conference.

Did you guys/gals see this cyber ticket deal - 5 games for $20

http://emueagles.com/news/2017/11/21/men...or-20.aspx

I would now think 9 OOC and 11 MAC would be a good (at least my) guess...

I can see N. Fl, Oakland (at home), Central State, and Rochester. Could add one of the rest (e.g., @Oakland, @LBSU).

Last night Ball State crushed N. FLORIDA 79-65.

The game at Oakland will determine whether or not we're Pretenders or Contenders.