The Bluejay Underground: A Creighton Sports Message Board

LJay wrote:Nothing since December. Well, I snooped around and per Ezra's MaxPrep's page, he ended up at 13.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg both tops on his team and they say he has grown to 6'8. Solid season!

http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/tIFeXy2OK0aevk_4rC3Nbw/basketball-winter-12-13/profile-ezra-talbert.htm

Talbert put together a really nice game, benefiting some from the penetration of KC’s guard play. The 6-8 small forward put shots off the glass with great efficiency and knocked down the shot of the night with a 30 foot fade-away walk-off homer as time expired.

Talbert had a great weekend for KC Run GMC, showing off his athleticism and skill-package. Talbert is long, moves well up and down the floor and is versatile on offense. He can spot up for three’s on the outside and knock them down consistently, or he can go inside and finish around the hoops as he did often this weekend. He had a great 17-point effort in one of KC’s wins Saturday.

hilltopalum wrote:Good weekend for Ezra

Talbert put together a really nice game, benefiting some from the penetration of KC’s guard play. The 6-8 small forward put shots off the glass with great efficiency and knocked down the shot of the night with a 30 foot fade-away walk-off homer as time expired.

Talbert had a great weekend for KC Run GMC, showing off his athleticism and skill-package. Talbert is long, moves well up and down the floor and is versatile on offense. He can spot up for three’s on the outside and knock them down consistently, or he can go inside and finish around the hoops as he did often this weekend. He had a great 17-point effort in one of KC’s wins Saturday.

hilltopalum wrote:Good weekend for Ezra

Talbert put together a really nice game, benefiting some from the penetration of KC’s guard play. The 6-8 small forward put shots off the glass with great efficiency and knocked down the shot of the night with a 30 foot fade-away walk-off homer as time expired.

Talbert had a great weekend for KC Run GMC, showing off his athleticism and skill-package. Talbert is long, moves well up and down the floor and is versatile on offense. He can spot up for three’s on the outside and knock them down consistently, or he can go inside and finish around the hoops as he did often this weekend. He had a great 17-point effort in one of KC’s wins Saturday.

“Strength is very critical as you watch Big East games,” McDermott said. “The bodies are a little bigger and stronger. We have to make that jump.”

In many cases, Creighton will battle bigger, stronger and more athletic players than it faced in the Missouri Valley. That will require an even greater commitment in the weight room, although Xavier's Mack believes the notion of just working harder might be a bit simplistic.

“I don't know how much of a different approach you can take,” he said. “Our guys already work very hard in the offseason to compete for a league championship and to put themselves into a position where we can be vying for a spot in the (NCAA) tournament.

“Certainly, we have to be ready for some different challenges, but our guys are already putting in a lot of effort.”

The weight room can provide a short-term answer, but Mack, McDermott and Stevens all say they must re-evaluate their recruiting practices to address long-term concerns about athleticism.

“I think the thing that stands out when you compare the leagues is that the guards in the Big East are generally bigger and more physical,” McDermott said. “As we recruit over the next couple of years, adding bigger, stronger and more athletic guards is a need we've already identified.

“We don't want to sacrifice the skill level, the work ethic and the character of the guys we're bringing in. That has to remain a constant, but we also have to try to attract some bigger, more physical guards.”

...
One thing the new league will provide for Creighton, as well as Butler and Xavier, is something money can't buy. Playing games in Madison Square Garden... will add a dash of prestige for the three schools.

It also raises the stakes on a nightly basis.

“It's easier to beat a team that is superior athletically or stronger in a one-game deal,” McDermott said. “It's much more difficult to survive an 18-game schedule if you're inferior in those areas.

“You might be able to hide it or mask it for one game, but it's hard to do over 18 games. That will be our biggest challenge.”

gtmoBlue wrote:Never said anything negative about Talbert. He has good upside. Should have a good Senior season in HS and may move up a bit in the eyes of recruiting sites/coaches. AND he IS a KCMO area guy - I like him.

However, I wonder why it is that the coaching staff is out looking at SFs /wing players? Could it be they are looking for better talent to meet the rigors of BE play?
...”

gtmoBlue wrote:We have 2 verbal comittments for 2014.
We have 3 seniors playing in 2013. If we give the Dad to a transfer in 2013, we will only have two
available scholies for 2014 - with 2 recruits who have already verballed. The staff is recruiting a big group of 2014 players, including several top 150 guys. I'd say it has a lot to do with Talbert and the other verbal committment.

You think the coaches are just recruiting 2014 kids as a "dry run" for 2015? Wake up and smell the coffee ChicagoJay.