2019 6’8 F Tristan Enaruna (KU transfer, Iowa State commit)

[mightyskid]

BTW... don't know if you noticed... but Providence has gotten 3 in 2017 and 2018. Certainly an outlier... but they are in a talent-rich area.

But the point here is... Ed Cooley is considered one of the outstanding coaches in the BE, if not the entire country, right? Yet, they were 20-13, 21-14 and 18-16 over the past 3 years... with 2 NCAA appearances and losing in the 1st Round each time.

So, the point here is... "making the jump", even WITH Top 50 recruits isn't easy... much less having none.

While I appreciate everyone clamoring for Conference Championships and Sweet 16 and beyond... keep things in perspective. And once again, no one here is satisfied with the status quo. But the constant references to Mac's ineptitude is beyond ridiculous. Does he need to constantly be adapting and fine-tuning? Of course he does. Does he need to be working his ass off? Of course he does. But the expectations from some of you are simply WAY out of line.

I was thinking very similar things. Cooley hasn't done as much with his talent as we would want if he'd been our coach and pulling in those players. It's not an easy thing to make the jump. I do think we are pretty well positioned, though.. here's why:

1. We've continued to win with the talent we had to start in the BE and with what we could pull in at times when we were just getting bodies to fill gaps

2. While winning we went from a team that had 0 top 100 recruits to one that should have 5 (depending on how you count Marcus) next year. We're absolutely getting a lot more talent and winning more recruiting battles than we ever did in Creighton's past

3. Our off the radar kids have been VERY good for the most part, especially the local ones -- Patton got his first offer from us (and the thread for him is fun reading with people having no idea he'd changed so much from the year before), Khyri Thomas is in the NBA now, and Martin was a very little known recruit who people had a lot of questions about

4. We can sell a good brand with style of play and fan support. This can't negate the negatives we have entirely, but it can get us in the door for a lot of kids

negatives we still need to work on:

1. Making a run in the tourney. This is very important for landing more of those top recruits, but I'd rather have us build the way we have an then make a run, than make a run and not have a real recruiting base and infrastructure in place (when will Loyola ever make a run again?)

2. Dealing with our location recruiting issues -- we can't move, but we can continue to work hard in areas with opportunity -- Kansas has been great for us, for instance, and we need to continue to get the best recruits in Omaha

Oh boy, the two of you just went there didn't ya? I couldn't agree with you both any more than I already do! I've been staying REAL quiet since TE announced KU (btw, has he signed yet? just curious.) and how this thread has continued with thoughts from others........some on this board have a perspective of Creighton Bluejay basketball that makes me wonder 'what da heck'? I don't recognized the program the same way as some here.......my fandom goes back to the 60's, and I've never seen the program anything remotely close to the way SOME think or believe it's at today. I'm not the biggest Mac fan, but I know things could be a lot worse and the switch to the BE has been pretty good for the most part........just gotta keep on keeping on!! Playing with the big boys now! Let's go jays!

and this from go_jays was right on the nose........"While I appreciate everyone clamoring for Conference Championships and Sweet 16 and beyond... keep things in perspective. And once again, no one here is satisfied with the status quo. But the constant references to Mac's ineptitude is beyond ridiculous. Does he need to constantly be adapting and fine-tuning? Of course he does. Does he need to be working his ass off? Of course he does. But the expectations from some of you are simply WAY out of line."

[RxJay]

Biggest issue with recruiting is location. Omaha does not have a WOW factor on a national level. When Sellers was here he told me it was so difficult getting kids to even visit. He thought if he could get them on campus we would have a chance. East coast and West coast kids don’t even know where Omaha is. I think doing well in the tournament would certainly help a lot. Other wise it is what it is.

How can not know where Omaha is...Boystown.Henry Doorly Zoo,College World Series,Mutual of Omaha,Union Pacific headquarters,Warren Buffet,steak capital of the world,
50 miles from Nebraska football...

[gtmoBlue]

go_jays wrote:
As for recruiting Top 50 guys every year... We haven't earned the right to expect that we can do that, yet. Top 50 players want to know that we'll be in The Dance every year... Want to know that we are a consistent Top 20-40 program (at least). Want to know that we'll prepare them for The Leauge.

Problem is, we can't do that without having at least a couple of Top 50 guys on the roster each year.

Soooooo, the problem really is a "Catch 22".

Until that problem is solved, it will be hit and miss as to whether we can recruit Top 50 players. Until then, we just have to deal with it... and Grad Transfers are a possibility. But then again, that's a bit of a crap shoot too.

bluejayfan00 wrote: Plenty of programs have turned into the type of program you just described without top 50 guys every year. We need to make that jump, at some point. But like many have said, Mac is what he is.

Postby go_jays » Fri May 10, 2019 10:20 am

gtmo...

According to 247 Sports, not a single one of these teams you mentioned, besides Texas Tech is getting a Top 50 recruit in 2019.

Tex. Tech
K St,
Ia St,
Oklahoma,
Ariz. St.,
Vandy,
Va Tech

So they don't fit the criteria. They are not elite programs. Texas Tech got the #31. Which supports my theory since they just played in the National Championship game and lost in OT. But I still wouldn't call them an elite program.

If you are saying we need to make the jump to these programs' level. I contend that we already have. Instead, we need to make the jump to Elite status. Like the majority of the teams below. And basically what you are asking for. Teams ranked 15-20 every year would be considered Elite... teams making Sweet 16 runs and beyond... an Elite program.

I was referring to bluejayfan00's remark that many programs have risen to top 40 status without top 50 players. my little list was schools which have generally done so. You're correct they have no top 50 players...that was the 1st point.

My final line stated where i hope our program goes... "Seems as though some of you are wishing for Creighton to rise to where we already are. I hope we rise to consistent top 15-20 status, with annual NCAA runs, and a shot at Glory."

I hope this clarifies my previous post for you go_jays

[REALITY]

How can not know where Omaha is...Boystown.Henry Doorly Zoo,College World Series,Mutual of Omaha,Union Pacific headquarters,Warren Buffet,steak capital of the world,
50 miles from Nebraska football...

I really hope this is sarcasm. Besides Buffet and the CWS, I'd bet most Americans don't know or care what these things are. Only 60% can identify Nebraska on a map per https://www.sporcle.com/games/Matt/find ... es/results
That's probably a bit low since a disproportionately large % of takers are probably school-age. 70% might be a fair estimate. But does that 70% know that Omaha's in Nebraska, probably not.
And only (some) Nebraskans and UNL students/graduates give a damn about 'Sker football. Outside of the B1G most college football fans probably don't know that UN is in Lincoln. So why would the general populace of the country put that together?

[go_jays]

go_jays wrote:
As for recruiting Top 50 guys every year... We haven't earned the right to expect that we can do that, yet. Top 50 players want to know that we'll be in The Dance every year... Want to know that we are a consistent Top 20-40 program (at least). Want to know that we'll prepare them for The Leauge.

Problem is, we can't do that without having at least a couple of Top 50 guys on the roster each year.

Soooooo, the problem really is a "Catch 22".

Until that problem is solved, it will be hit and miss as to whether we can recruit Top 50 players. Until then, we just have to deal with it... and Grad Transfers are a possibility. But then again, that's a bit of a crap shoot too.

bluejayfan00 wrote: Plenty of programs have turned into the type of program you just described without top 50 guys every year. We need to make that jump, at some point. But like many have said, Mac is what he is.

Postby go_jays » Fri May 10, 2019 10:20 am

gtmo...

According to 247 Sports, not a single one of these teams you mentioned, besides Texas Tech is getting a Top 50 recruit in 2019.

Tex. Tech
K St,
Ia St,
Oklahoma,
Ariz. St.,
Vandy,
Va Tech

So they don't fit the criteria. They are not elite programs. Texas Tech got the #31. Which supports my theory since they just played in the National Championship game and lost in OT. But I still wouldn't call them an elite program.

If you are saying we need to make the jump to these programs' level. I contend that we already have. Instead, we need to make the jump to Elite status. Like the majority of the teams below. And basically what you are asking for. Teams ranked 15-20 every year would be considered Elite... teams making Sweet 16 runs and beyond... an Elite program.

I was referring to bluejayfan00's remark that many programs have risen to top 40 status without top 50 players. my little list was schools which have generally done so. You're correct they have no top 50 players...that was the 1st point.

My final line stated where i hope our program goes... "Seems as though some of you are wishing for Creighton to rise to where we already are. I hope we rise to consistent top 15-20 status, with annual NCAA runs, and a shot at Glory."

I hope this clarifies my previous post for you go_jays

Ok, thanks for the clarification gtmo. My apologies if I misunderstood. Peace out...

[go_jays]

BTW... don't know if you noticed... but Providence has gotten 3 in 2017 and 2018. Certainly an outlier... but they are in a talent-rich area.

But the point here is... Ed Cooley is considered one of the outstanding coaches in the BE, if not the entire country, right? Yet, they were 20-13, 21-14 and 18-16 over the past 3 years... with 2 NCAA appearances and losing in the 1st Round each time.

So, the point here is... "making the jump", even WITH Top 50 recruits isn't easy... much less having none.

While I appreciate everyone clamoring for Conference Championships and Sweet 16 and beyond... keep things in perspective. And once again, no one here is satisfied with the status quo. But the constant references to Mac's ineptitude is beyond ridiculous. Does he need to constantly be adapting and fine-tuning? Of course he does. Does he need to be working his ass off? Of course he does. But the expectations from some of you are simply WAY out of line.

I was thinking very similar things. Cooley hasn't done as much with his talent as we would want if he'd been our coach and pulling in those players. It's not an easy thing to make the jump. I do think we are pretty well positioned, though.. here's why:

1. We've continued to win with the talent we had to start in the BE and with what we could pull in at times when we were just getting bodies to fill gaps

2. While winning we went from a team that had 0 top 100 recruits to one that should have 5 (depending on how you count Marcus) next year. We're absolutely getting a lot more talent and winning more recruiting battles than we ever did in Creighton's past

3. Our off the radar kids have been VERY good for the most part, especially the local ones -- Patton got his first offer from us (and the thread for him is fun reading with people having no idea he'd changed so much from the year before), Khyri Thomas is in the NBA now, and Martin was a very little known recruit who people had a lot of questions about

4. We can sell a good brand with style of play and fan support. This can't negate the negatives we have entirely, but it can get us in the door for a lot of kids

negatives we still need to work on:

1. Making a run in the tourney. This is very important for landing more of those top recruits, but I'd rather have us build the way we have an then make a run, than make a run and not have a real recruiting base and infrastructure in place (when will Loyola ever make a run again?)

2. Dealing with our location recruiting issues -- we can't move, but we can continue to work hard in areas with opportunity -- Kansas has been great for us, for instance, and we need to continue to get the best recruits in Omaha

Yep.. agree with everything... especially about knocking on the door, being on the doorstep etc... of making that jump. I don't have the facts and figures in front of me and have already spent more time than I should have in getting the research for my previous post... but it seems to me that when we've been after these Top 50 recruits, we've been battling some serious Elite/Blue Blood programs. So that has to be a positive... and yes, we need to actually get some more... but getting the at bats is better than sitting on the pine... would you agree?

[bluejayb13]

I think part of the issue with Creighton not making the second weekend jump, and in turn getting the recruits that come with success, is this attitude that it is unreasonable for Creighton fans to expect going to the second weekend. I don't think anyone is expecting constant conference championships and Sweet 16s, Elite 8s, and Final Fours every year. It is absolutely fair to expect this program to reach the second weekend however, Addressing the comment about fan expectations being "WAY out of line"....Creighton has made the NCAA tournament 5 out of the past 9 years. In Altman's last 9 years, they also made the tournament 5 times. But Creighton has been awarded so many more advantages since then. Now they have top 10 attendance, a power conference, 95% of games are nationally televised, and upgraded facilities. Creighton was doing exactly what they are doing now back when home games were locally broadcast on KMTV and they had one ESPN bracket buster game a year. I know a decent amount of this has to do with technological advances, but they are no longer a hidden program a majority of coastal kids have never heard of. To expect Creighton to become a blueblood is not reasonable. But I think the feeling that this coaching staff should get unlimited time to try and break through this glass ceiling to the second weekend as long as we don't slip to a status of constantly missing the tournament is also misguided. Obviously the staff works their ass off, there would be a huge issue if they didn't do just that, but hard work doesn't put you above criticism or make expectations out of line.

[gtmoBlue]

Great post bluejayb13. Most coaches get 5 or 6 year contracts to do their business. The nature of the business is if you can't get it done in 5 years, you're probably not going to get it done - time to change. I agree that it is misguided logic to give a coaching regime unlimited time to reach reasonable goals: win a conference championship, a conf tourney, reach an NCAA SS. Six years gives an accurate picture of what a school has in its coaching staff. Don't meet program goals in 5-6 years, "You're outta here!"

In some recent cases we've seen coaches were canned after 3-4 years. (Alford made 3 SS runs and had 20 win seasons and was canned cause he didn't meet program goals. - watch how they jump on this one).

It is unreasonable to think the administration and AD have given Mac such a long leash. Seems Rass may have had a little desperation in his actions to give an unheard of 10 year contract, but times were different in an 2010 MVC. Given the time leash Coach has shown us what he is capable of...and it's not the next level. Upgrading coaching regimes is a good thing, if the university is serious about reaching and competing at the next level. Seems that go_jays, ChicagoJay and the majority are content to rest on our 20-13 average record for the foreseeable next 9 years. How much time does Mac NEED to win a BE championship, make a SS?? How much more time is Fr Hendrickson and Rass willing to give him, 2025?, 2030?

Cooley! What an example! He would be on his way out the door with Murphy...highly unlikely he would've been hired at CU in the first place. Not a good fit for CU Athletic Dept criteria.

[Altman's Advisor]

Seems that go_jays, ChicagoJay and the majority are content to rest on our 20-13 average record for the foreseeable next 9 years. How much time does Mac NEED to win a BE championship, make a SS?? How much more time is Fr Hendrickson and Rass willing to give him, 2025?, 2030?

Creighton's average record under Mac is 23-12 and 21-13 since CU put their big boy pants on and joined the Big East.

Cooley! What an example! He would be on his way out the door with Murphy...highly unlikely he would've been hired at CU in the first place. Not a good fit for CU Athletic Dept criteria.

Please explain this comment.