Recruits

[justducky0]

Oregon needs to stop going after guys that are at Creighton skill level and start going after guys who are in the Pac-10 skill level range.

[droop10]

If those guys were still available and realistically attainable at this point, I'm sure they would...

[UOducksTK1]

If those guys were still available and realistically attainable at this point, I'm sure they would...

Yep, I started a very similar thread on this subject.

But there's really not much available right now. I checked scout's 4/5 stars like a week ago, and I only found like 5 guys left. Jones being one of them. Loyd was one of the top 10 players left on their board, so picking him up was big.

we'll judge Altman in 2011 where he actually has time to recruit.

[mrpd21]

we'll judge Altman in 2011 where he actually has time to recruit.

Exactly. I can't even imagine judging him yet. If anything I would give him an A for even being able to pick up Lloyd when he should only have been able to pick up table scraps at this point.

Let's be patient and give him some time, like a full recruiting year instead of a week! The man is a coach not a wizard!

[kbmerz]

I beg to Pardon...Coach Altman has done a wonderful job so far, being that he has been able to pick up two recruits, almost three in the past month. Recruiting players that fit Creighton isnt a bad thing, you must understand that they are wanting to play for Coach Altman. Lets see what these guys can do playing in the Pac-10. With Coach A on our side, I think he can coach these kids to something special here at Oregon. But do downgrade him and judge him for the players he is recruiting is obsurd. Give him a chance and I can guarantee you (As a duck Fan) that duck nation will not be dissatisfied. These kids can play ball, its about coaching and a level of respect. Playing for dignitiy, the will to win, the want to be a leader, good academic athletes, this is who he recruits, not just creighton level players, and if so then GREAT! look at how far Creighton has gone in the last 10 years with coach A. So duck Fans, come one! lets move on with this thread and let Coach A do his job.

[duckfan22]

I beg to Pardon...Coach Altman has done a wonderful job so far, being that he has been able to pick up two recruits, almost three in the past month. Recruiting players that fit Creighton isnt a bad thing, you must understand that they are wanting to play for Coach Altman. Lets see what these guys can do playing in the Pac-10. With Coach A on our side, I think he can coach these kids to something special here at Oregon. But do downgrade him and judge him for the players he is recruiting is obsurd. Give him a chance and I can guarantee you (As a duck Fan) that duck nation will not be dissatisfied. These kids can play ball, its about coaching and a level of respect. Playing for dignitiy, the will to win, the want to be a leader, good academic athletes, this is who he recruits, not just creighton level players, and if so then GREAT! look at how far Creighton has gone in the last 10 years with coach A. So duck Fans, come one! lets move on with this thread and let Coach A do his job.

Agree on this one. i'm not going to judge his recruiting until all of
coach Kent's players are gone. When Altman has a team that are
all his recruits then that will be what should be judged upon. Remember
he won at creighton. People knock mid major programs, but there are
always ones there making noise during the tourney. Butler came within
a half court shot of winning it all. If Altman recruited lets say all of those
kids, he would be judged as under recruiting here im sure. It's coaching,
getting them to buy into your program. If these kids buy into what Altman
wants and he coaches them up i believe we will be alright.
The perception is that you have to have 4 and 5 star players to win,
maybe so, try telling that to Ralph Miller at osu years ago. He took lesser
kids from the state of oregon and they always won.
Bottom line. lets let Altman have a chance to get his recruits. If he
doesnt do the job then the AD will send pk back out looking again im
sure.

[chapelhillduck]

Creighton would have kicked out asses the last couple of years

I would gladly take guys with "Creighton" skill level if they are actually motivated to play for Altman and will work as hard as necessary

[buckmarkduck]

I'm pretty sure guys who would start at Creighton or say Montana or St. Marys or how about Portland, have proven they can play with UO.

I'll happily except a forward who can get 5-8 rebounds a game blocks a shot or two and who plays defense, that's the type of players UO has been missing. Not everyone on the team has to score, you need some guys who are willing to get dirty and not play for the headlines, but play hard and piss off the other teams.

Loyd had offers from UNLV and OU, those two schools have a lot better basketball then UO at the moment and a ton better history.

[oregontrack]

Yep, basketball is funny game. Anyone remember Shea Washington, a 6-7 forward who played for Thurston High in the late 90s/early 00s? Flat out produced in the paint, plenty of people wanted Oregon to offer but he didn't have "Pac-10 size", so he went to Montana State, then transferred to Southern Oregon to get closer to home. NAIA All American, and Southern Oregon came to Mac Court to play an exhibition game his senior year. He DESTROYED us. It's not about "mid-major talent", or "Pac-10 talent", it's getting guys who can play basketball and fit a system. For years, we recruited big men that looked a certain way, but couldn't play basketball. So we passed on big men who didn't fit our criteria, but could play some damn good basketball. A guy like Washington wouldn't have won us any recruiting star battles, but he would have won us plenty of games by adding an inside option to those later Ridnour/Jackson teams.

Besides me not giving a damn about star rankings in hoops, let's also take into account this little fact: not every single player on the 13 man roster can be a star. You don't recruit every single player to be a 20 point scorer. You also recruit for depth, and someone who an provide a different look and bring different attributes to what you already have (Nared, a shot blocker who can step out and hit a jumper). You can't recruit 13 Luke Ridnours.

[duckgrad99]

If those guys were still available and realistically attainable at this point, I'm sure they would...

Yep, I started a very similar thread on this subject.

But there's really not much available right now. I checked scout's 4/5 stars like a week ago, and I only found like 5 guys left. Jones being one of them. Loyd was one of the top 10 players left on their board, so picking him up was big.

we'll judge Altman in 2011 where he actually has time to recruit.

I agree, although I can see what the original poster is saying. In the future, Altman should be more picky with recruits. He did fine this year given the circumstances and it's way too early to judge him. Yes Creighton would have probably beaten Oregon the last few years, but that doesn't mean that the majority of their players are good enough to play in the pac-10.

[greenyellow]

Yep, basketball is funny game. Anyone remember Shea Washington, a 6-7 forward who played for Thurston High in the late 90s/early 00s? Flat out produced in the paint, plenty of people wanted Oregon to offer but he didn't have "Pac-10 size", so he went to Montana State, then transferred to Southern Oregon to get closer to home. NAIA All American, and Southern Oregon came to Mac Court to play an exhibition game his senior year. He DESTROYED us. It's not about "mid-major talent", or "Pac-10 talent", it's getting guys who can play basketball and fit a system. For years, we recruited big men that looked a certain way, but couldn't play basketball. So we passed on big men who didn't fit our criteria, but could play some damn good basketball. A guy like Washington wouldn't have won us any recruiting star battles, but he would have won us plenty of games by adding an inside option to those later Ridnour/Jackson teams.

Besides me not giving a damn about star rankings in hoops, let's also take into account this little fact: not every single player on the 13 man roster can be a star. You don't recruit every single player to be a 20 point scorer. You also recruit for depth, and someone who an provide a different look and bring different attributes to what you already have (Nared, a shot blocker who can step out and hit a jumper). You can't recruit 13 Luke Ridnours.

That's what has been a problem for Oregon for the last couple of years: Kent had not filled all the roles on the team adequately and when one was getting exploited in a game, he didn't have anything to counter it with.

[dthomas=ddixon]

Agreed with just about every post above. Bball is a much different game than football. You don't need a whole roster who can go for 20 points every night. You need one or 2 guys to be your go to guys & the rest to just do their job & play their role. Thats why you always hear the term "role player" in bball. A coach purposefully finds guy like Nared because they can really solidify a team if they play their role well. Altman isn't bringing in Nared to be our star player. He's bringing him in to come off the bench, play good defense & hit some open jumpers. Remeber Robert Johnson? He was terrible in a lot of aspects of the game but he cleaned up the boards & played good defense. He did his job & let the lukes & freddy do all the scoring.

And besides, star rankings in bball are even more hit & miss than the other sports. After the top 50 or so players its a crapshoot. There are so many players out there, a lot of kids get overlooked. I trust Altman's judgment on whether a kid can contribute to the team over anyones on this board.

[greenyellow]

Agreed with just about every post above. Bball is a much different game than football. You don't need a whole roster who can go for 20 points every night. You need one or 2 guys to be your go to guys & the rest to just do their job & play their role. Thats why you always hear the term "role player" in bball. A coach purposefully finds guy like Nared because they can really solidify a team if they play their role well. Altman isn't bringing in Nared to be our star player. He's bringing him in to come off the bench, play good defense & hit some open jumpers. Remeber Robert Johnson? He was terrible in a lot of aspects of the game but he cleaned up the boards & played good defense. He did his job & let the lukes & freddy do all the scoring.

And besides, star rankings in bball are even more hit & miss than the other sports. After the top 50 or so players its a crapshoot. There are so many players out there, a lot of kids get overlooked. I trust Altman's judgment on whether a kid can contribute to the team over anyones on this board.

That's what was so wrong with Kent's last 2 teams. Everyone was so used to being the #1 scorer and none of them fit into a secondary role very well.

[ducksvb6]

Total agree with where this post started...when you're adtift in the ocean for 39 days after the ship sinks don't waste your time on some high quality flotsum to keep you afloat. Wait until the perfect boat sail up to save you. LOL

Altman is doing a fine job. Remember when we heard all the BS about Chip wasting his time chasing recruits all over the nation..look how that turned out. Time chldren...give him time, he is still living out of a suitcase. Regardless, he had those Creighton kids in how many NCCA tournament over the past 16 years? He will "coach up" the new Duck and returners.

[woundedknees]

Phil Knight at Chicago had Michael Jordan and his supporting cast... The big difference was that supporting cast included some of those former "go to guys", who had learned to be incredible secondary players.

Scottie Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, John Paxson, BJ Armstrong, Tony Kukoc, and Steve Kerr all understood they had their place in the team that won 6 championships.