Recruiting in the SEC

[shamwowpearl]

With all the media constantly ragging on SEC basketball being down this season, and the praises of the ACC and Big East being talked about as much, do you feel this will hurt in recruitment of blue chip players to our conference? Our success and respect nationally has alot to do with how the conference as a whole is perceived.

[TNHopeful505]

Not necessarily. Memphis brings in good recruits every year, and their conference sucks. Same with Gonzaga. If we can consistently compete on a national level, it won't matter how good our conference is. Kids want to get to the tournament, and they want to win a title. They go to a school that will help them do that. I do think the SEC is down....but....I don't think that makes a difference as much as you think. The reason the SEC gets the high recruits (every now and then) is because we have teams that compete. Top recruits always go to either Tennessee, Florida, or Kentucky normally if they go SEC. I think it's just being able to be at the top regardless of how weak your conference is.

[THE WILDCATS]

Originally Posted by shamwowpearl

With all the media constantly ragging on SEC basketball being down this season, and the praises of the ACC and Big East being talked about as much, do you feel this will hurt in recruitment of blue chip players to our conference? Our success and respect nationally has alot to do with how the conference as a whole is perceived.

It will NOT hurt UK!

[Voldaddy]

Originally Posted by shamwowpearl

With all the media constantly ragging on SEC basketball being down this season, and the praises of the ACC and Big East being talked about as much, do you feel this will hurt in recruitment of blue chip players to our conference? Our success and respect nationally has alot to do with how the conference as a whole is perceived.

UF's class next year is sick. We have some great players in 2010. UK has some great ones the next years.

Duke Vitale always has his ACC bias, and his man crush on Roy Williams and Mike Kryzjhbfkbqkfbvkqkgvdkgkklsaski is sickening.

[Voldaddy]

Originally Posted by TNHopeful505

Not necessarily. Memphis brings in good recruits every year, and their conference sucks. Same with Gonzaga. If we can consistently compete on a national level, it won't matter how good our conference is. Kids want to get to the tournament, and they want to win a title. They go to a school that will help them do that. I do think the SEC is down....but....I don't think that makes a difference as much as you think. The reason the SEC gets the high recruits (every now and then) is because we have teams that compete. Top recruits always go to either Tennessee, Florida, or Kentucky normally if they go SEC. I think it's just being able to be at the top regardless of how weak your conference is.

I think you're being a little ambitious saying top recruits always go to UT.

[sportsnut624]

I think the SEC being down might actually be a two-way street. On one hand it will discourage some top talent because they want to win championships and might go to more successful programs from this year. On the other hand, the SEC being down could draw in some top recruits whose top priority is early playing time, and they might see the SEC as the perfect place to do this. Just a thought i had

[TNHopeful505]

Originally Posted by Voldaddy

I think you're being a little ambitious saying top recruits always go to UT.

Well, normally the top talents are always at least LOOKING at those schools first when they look at SEC talent. Obviously, we've gotten one 5 star in the past 4 years (actually, two, i think Ramar was a 5), but when people think SEC they don't normally think of anyone but Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and maybe occasionally Vandy or Miss. St.

[cotton]

Originally Posted by TNHopeful505

Well, normally the top talents are always at least LOOKING at those schools first when they look at SEC talent. Obviously, we've gotten one 5 star in the past 4 years (actually, two, i think Ramar was a 5), but when people think SEC they don't normally think of anyone but Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and maybe occasionally Vandy or Miss. St.

This list, and its order, shows a definite recent bias, and more than a touch of in-state optimism.

[Marc Maggard]

kids don't pay very much attention to conference strength on any given year.... as long as it's a good conference, which the SEC is.

mm

[ukvols]

Originally Posted by THE WILDCATS

It will NOT hurt UK!

There seem to be a lot of new members from KY this past week.

[Hardwood_fanatic]

Originally Posted by TNHopeful505

Not necessarily. Memphis brings in good recruits every year, and their conference sucks. Same with Gonzaga. If we can consistently compete on a national level, it won't matter how good our conference is. Kids want to get to the tournament, and they want to win a title. They go to a school that will help them do that. I do think the SEC is down....but....I don't think that makes a difference as much as you think. The reason the SEC gets the high recruits (every now and then) is because we have teams that compete. Top recruits always go to either Tennessee, Florida, or Kentucky normally if they go SEC. I think it's just being able to be at the top regardless of how weak your conference is.

Agree with this post. As someone once said, Let Carolina/UCLA/Duke have theirs, because you can do nothing about it. And the REST of us can fight it out for the remaining recruits. This is unforunately sad but true.

[TNHopeful505]

Originally Posted by Hardwood_fanatic

Agree with this post. As someone once said, Let Carolina/UCLA/Duke have theirs, because you can do nothing about it. And the REST of us can fight it out for the remaining recruits. This is unforunately sad but true.

It really is....we've built a history and a legacy on the gridiron, but not on the hardwood. NC/Duke/UCLA have the legacies that let people know they're going to win....we're still working on that, even after 100 years. But we're heading in the right direction.

[Hardwood_fanatic]

Originally Posted by TNHopeful505

It really is....we've built a history and a legacy on the gridiron, but not on the hardwood. NC/Duke/UCLA have the legacies that let people know they're going to win....we're still working on that, even after 100 years. But we're heading in the right direction.

Most definately you are. Brucey has had the leg up on UK for the last few years now, on the recruiting trail. Now that BCG is here that seems as though it will even out, because all the guy does is eat, sleep and breath basketball, in between scotch. lol

I do think since they reduced the number of scholarship players on a team several years ago, that the talent is so dispersed and spread out these days its hard to build a big-time class. The three schools I mentioned above can do it, everyone else goes for 1 or 2 big prospects and basically some good/talented role players.

Main point, I do not see recruiting falling off in the SEC, for any of the Big 3. (UK, UT, UF).

[TNHopeful505]

Originally Posted by Hardwood_fanatic

Most definately you are. Brucey has had the leg up on UK for the last few years now, on the recruiting trail. Now that BCG is here that seems as though it will even out, because all the guy does is eat, sleep and breath basketball, in between scotch. lol

I do think since they reduced the number of scholarship players on a team several years ago, that the talent is so dispersed and spread out these days its hard to build a big-time class. The three schools I mentioned above can do it, everyone else goes for 1 or 2 big prospects and basically some good/talented role players.

Main point, I do not see recruiting falling off in the SEC, for any of the Big 3. (UK, UT, UF).

Agreed. I think the fans have a lot to do with that. I mean, if a recruit wanted to know just how he'd be treated....just look on a fan board on here. you're a king...we spend our nights talking about you, wanting you to come here, talking about how we can't wait to see you in the orange (or in your case Hardwood, blue), I mean...you're loved before you've even suited up. You go to a place where the entire area centers around you and your school. In the case like UT or KY, you pretty much ARE the school of the entire state (Louisville and Memphis like to compete, but the majority of the state's fans are UT and UK fans)

I mean....obviously, other schools have to offer....but when it comes to basketball AND football....gotta go SEC....unfortunately...the ACC has got some pretty dang hardcore bball fans. Looking forward to being at the Tennessee-Memphis game Saturday. Oh man.

[Marc Maggard]

Originally Posted by TNHopeful505

Agreed. I think the fans have a lot to do with that. I mean, if a recruit wanted to know just how he'd be treated....just look on a fan board on here. you're a king...we spend our nights talking about you, wanting you to come here, talking about how we can't wait to see you in the orange (or in your case Hardwood, blue), I mean...you're loved before you've even suited up. You go to a place where the entire area centers around you and your school. In the case like UT or KY, you pretty much ARE the school of the entire state (Louisville and Memphis like to compete, but the majority of the state's fans are UT and UK fans)

I mean....obviously, other schools have to offer....but when it comes to basketball AND football....gotta go SEC....unfortunately...the ACC has got some pretty dang hardcore bball fans. Looking forward to being at the Tennessee-Memphis game Saturday. Oh man.

message boards are a double edged sword in recruiting. You could have 100 people singing your praises, but you'll be more moved by the one guy who runs around saying you suck. Every UK board (cept mine cause I ban those who do it) has a few posters who complain about every recruit, no matter how good he is.

mm