Sporting News Pre Season All Americans

[Aargh]

Got a nice chuckle out of this bit from the Bob Lutz article about omitting Perry Ellis:

"The only KU player to receive recognition was junior forward Wayne Selden, last seen in a college basketball game scoring no points, handing out no assists and grabbing one rebound during a 23-minute impression of a mannequin during a 78-65 loss in the NCAA Tournament in Omaha last March"

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/spt-col...#storylink=cpy

That's pretty cold. Lutz could have made it even colder if he would have speculated on what Ellis could have done if he had chosen to play for WSU. Imagine a Sr class of Ellis, VanVleet, Baker, and Wessel.

Lutz is correct that Ellis is too nice a guy to complain and the type of guy who would congratulate his teammate and ignore hos own snub. That appears to be Ellis' on-court persona as well. Perry Ellis is a very good basketball player. Carl Hall was an absolute beast. Ellis could learn a few things from Hall.

[AZ Shocker]

Perry is a kind soul that fell for a little bit of vanity.

[ShockdaWorld]

Perry is a kind soul that fell for a little bit of vanity.

I think Perry is a lot like Garrett was. He's extremely nice, the kind of young man we would all want our young sons to look up to and aspire to be like. The difference is that Garrett chose to come to WSU where he was pushed hard and well coached and became a much improved basketball player and an even better person. Perry chose the "dream school", where he has enjoyed much success and is still a good basketball player, whose value has been pushed down based on his coach's unsuccessful attempts to become a one and done NBA factory the likes of Kentucky. Perry is still a great kid and would never admit it, but I am sure there are times that he wonders what if...

[shock-it-to-me]

I'm

I think Perry is a lot like Garrett was. He's extremely nice, the kind of young man we would all want our young sons to look up to and aspire to be like. The difference is that Garrett chose to come to WSU where he was pushed hard and well coached and became a much improved basketball player and an even better person. Perry chose the "dream school", where he has enjoyed much success and is still a good basketball player, whose value has been pushed down based on his coach's unsuccessful attempts to become a one and done NBA factory the likes of Kentucky. Perry is still a great kid and would never admit it, but I am sure there are times that he wonders what if...

The other thing to remember is that when Perry was deciding what school to go to, no one knew the heights to which Baker and VanVleet would lead us. Things were definitely turning around, but I'm sure he never thought he'd be missing out on undefeated seasons and final fours

[Ricardo del Rio]

Re: Ron Baker

"He must bring his effort on a more consistent basis and find ways to impact the game even if defenses are completely stacked against him."

Hmmm. Is there another Ron Baker?

Whoever wrote the quote, knows zero about Ron Baker.

[wusphlash]

The part about effort is off base. I agree with the part that Ron needs to step up and take control sometimes. I think he has such a team mindset that it's hard for him to realize that occasionally a "me" approach is what's best for the team. I think Fred understands this which is why we saw him sometimes take control last year. Ron needs to do the same thing when required.

[ShockdaWorld]

The other thing to remember is that when Perry was deciding what school to go to, no one knew the heights to which Baker and VanVleet would lead us. Things were definitely turning around, but I'm sure he never thought he'd be missing out on undefeated seasons and final fours

I completely agree. Also, who really knows what all would be different if he had come to WSU? We may have never picked up Cle from the JuCo rank. Without Cle, we may or may not (probably not) have achieved either of those accomplishments, and wouldn't have been able to recruit as well as we have to run with Ron and Fred this year and to lead this team beyond this year. I hope Perry got/is getting everything he wants and needs from his college experience both athletically and academically, but because of what we have been able to achieve without him, I wouldn't change a thing (other than about 2 minutes each of games against 2 teams from Kentucky).

[Bluzrover]

I think the most improvement this year in terms of helping the shooters and spreading the floor is the addition of Grady, the improvement of Bush, and a healthy and older Shaq. I expect Bush and Shaq to make people go Whoa! Similar to improvement in year to year Chadrack had, and adding Coleby to that lineup.

Not to mention the addition of McDuffie and his size and intangibles on a wing helping shooters. Like adding a taller Cle (POSSIBLY!) how he helped spread the floor. Landry and Taylor can hopefully provide better back up minutes from new guys than last year with Rian. And like you said, the silky smooth net snapper Conner is going to make an impact early December. A little less weight on a hustling Evan Wessel with offseason work on the 3... Oh man.

Pretty much tl;dr - I'm pumped up for this year!

I think this is one of the reasons I'm not as immersed in this year's recruiting efforts. I mean, I'm definitely following Trop's updates, but I am so focused on this particular squad and what I think they're going to do this year that the recruiting thing just hasn't taken over my off-season like years past. Plus, I think I've learned to trust 3G and his recruiting acumen in such a way that I don't worry about not getting those four and five star burger boys like I used to. What a special season this is shaping up to be.

[Heinro]

I think this is one of the reasons I'm not as immersed in this year's recruiting efforts. I mean, I'm definitely following Trop's updates, but I am so focused on this particular squad and what I think they're going to do this year that the recruiting thing just hasn't taken over my off-season like years past. Plus, I think I've learned to trust 3G and his recruiting acumen in such a way that I don't worry about not getting those four and five star burger boys like I used to. What a special season this is shaping up to be.

I will agree with you on this one. Typically most of my off season Shocker watch is spent on new recruits. However, this off season, essentially since I saw Ron was the best player on the USA Pan Am team, has been spent day dreaming about this team. We may never have a better chance to win a national title.

[tropicalshox]

Has Sporting News' list of power conferences been discussed? ACC, AAC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Pac 12. SEC and West Coast. I like it.

[RoyalShock]

Has Sporting News' list of power conferences been discussed? ACC, AAC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Pac 12. SEC and West Coast. I like it.

In my issue, the "power conference" teams each got full or half-page write-ups. The MVC did not receive that much coverage. So even if they say those are all power conferences, they did not give each of those conferences similar treatment.

[shockmonster]

In my issue, the "power conference" teams each got full or half-page write-ups. The MVC did not receive that much coverage. So even if they say those are all power conferences, they did not give each of those conferences similar treatment.

That is a negative way to look at it. The positive way is that we are not considered equal to the Big Sky, Sun Belt, MAC, etc.

[SHOCKvalue]

That is a negative way to look at it. The positive way is that we are not considered equal to the Big Sky, Sun Belt, MAC, etc.

Well... sort of:

Has Sporting News' list of power conferences been discussed? ACC, AAC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Pac 12. SEC and West Coast. I like it.

[shockmonster]

MAC overlooked.

[SHOCKvalue]

MAC overlooked.

They should be overlooked, actually, in the Sporting News list.