How SMU rattled UK, MSU and KU

[SMU 86]

We had them going into full panic mode.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-go ... ost?id=930

[leopold]

Not a member

[SMU 86]

Not a member

Me either but just reading the 3 paragraphs were cool enough.

[blackoutpony]

Here ya go guys

While Larry Brown celebrated moments after Emmanuel Mudiay gave his SMU Mustangs a verbal commitment Saturday night on national television, Tom Izzo likely went into full-fledged panic mode.

He wasn’t alone, either.

Brown and the Mustangs -- with the help of assistant coach Ulric Maligi and Prime Prep’s Ray Forsett (the coach of the Dallas-area school that Mudiay calls home) -- jolted the college basketball world when Mudiay chose SMU over Kentucky, Kansas, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Sure, there were signs that the Mustangs weren’t just thrown on the list as a favor (as was the case for the Harrison twins, Andrew and Aaron, a year ago), but few gave them much of a chance until 24 hours prior to the announcement.

Certainly this gives Brown and the Mustangs instant credibility, especially within the borders of Texas. We all know Brown can coach, but let’s not forget that he can recruit as well. He was also the same guy who, to help lure Danny Manning to Kansas, hired Manning's father Ed, so it’s no surprise he and Maligi came up with the genius plan to give Mudiay’s brother, Jean Micheal Mudiay -- a fringe Division I player in the junior college ranks -- a scholarship in order to secure one of the nation’s top players.

Mudiay is a stud point guard. He’s big, strong and athletic. He can distribute and also get into the lane and score. His perimeter shot needs more consistency, but there’s a reason why John Calipari had pegged him as his next great point guard.

Mudiay’s pledge will help SMU in a variety of ways, both on and off the court. It already has with credibility, as one of the elite big men in the nation, Myles Turner, told me that he’s now considering SMU -- and may even use one of his five official visits on the Mustangs.

SMU could trot out a starting lineup a season from now of Mudiay, top-50 freshman Keith Frazier, Illinois State transfer Nic Moore, talented 6-foot-10 big man Yanick Moreira and Villanova transfer Markus Kennedy (if SMU doesn’t land another big man such as Turner in the Class of 2014). That’s certainly enough to make noise in an American Athletic Conference that will no longer boast Louisville.

However, the Mudiay commitment now means that three elite schools -- Kentucky, Michigan State and Kansas -- are all on the verge of desperation mode, scrambling in search of an impact point guard. It becomes even more critical because the Class of 2015 is lackluster with players at the position.

It was believed that Izzo and the Spartans, after being cut from the list of Tyus Jones, were a near-lock to land diminutive Chicago point guard Tyler Ulis (his cousin is also former Sparty guard Travis Walton), but now Michigan State won’t just have to beat out Iowa for his services. It will also have to fight Calipari and the Wildcats. Ulis told me he’s heading on his first official visit to Iowa this weekend and then will trip to both Michigan State and Kentucky on Labor Day weekend.

“I know a lot of people think I’m going to Kentucky now,” Ulis said on Sunday. “But I don’t pay much attention to it. I’m going to take my three visits and then figure it out as soon as possible.”

Calipari and Kansas coach Bill Self are both still in the equation for Jones, who many have as the top-rated floor leader in the country. However, most recruiting experts -- and even coaches -- feel as though he’s a strong lean to play at Duke next season.

North Carolina has already locked up ESPN’s third-ranked point guard, Joel Berry, and JaQuan Lyle, ranked fifth at the position, committed to Louisville just prior to the July period. Gonzaga scored Josh Perkins over the weekend and guys like Chris Chiozza (Florida), Kaleb Joseph (Syracuse), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (Arizona), Dominique Collier (Colorado), Ja’Quan Newton (Miami), Larry Austin (Tennessee) and Shelton Mitchell (Wake Forest) -- each ranked in the top 15 at the position -- are all off the board.

That leaves just four uncommitted point guards in the Class of 2014: Jones, Jordan McLaughlin, recently de-committed Quentin Snider and Ulis. McLaughin appears destined to remain on the West Coast, so that leaves Snider and Ulis.

Izzo offered Snider -- who has already set official visits to UCLA, Memphis and UConn -- a scholarship over the weekend. He also has offered underrated long and talented combo guard Darrell Davis, an in-state kid who had been recruited primarily by Atlantic-10-level schools.

The Spartans need a replacement for Keith Appling at the point guard spot. Travis Trice is a nice backup, he’s not a starter for a Final Four-caliber team. Not even Izzo can pull off that magic trick.

Kentucky needs someone to replace Andrew Harrison, who likely is one-and-done in Lexington due to his physical gifts. Ulis isn’t the typical Calipari point guard, standing at just 5-foot-8, but as you can see, the options are limited. There are benefits for the Wildcats to bring in Ulis, a likely four-year player. He could give consistency at the position, but would also almost certainly be recruited over in subsequent seasons by Calipari and his staff.

That leaves Kansas, which still has a shot at landing the package deal of Jones and big man Jahlil Okafor. There are many who believe Okafor isn’t nearly as excited about playing at Duke as Jones, and that the duo could wind up in Lawrence. However, with Mudiay off the board, the Jayhawks don’t have another elite point guard in their sights and could wind up going with the duo of Naadir Tharpe and Frank Mason for the next two seasons.

Brown was able to breathe easy this weekend, having arguably the best point guard in the nation on board at SMU.

The same cannot be said for three future Hall of Famers who have been pressed into scramble mode: Izzo, Calipari and Self.

[Pony ^]

wow. pretty amazing what one player can do.

[LA_Mustang]

wow. pretty amazing what one player can do.

Pretty amazing what one hire can do.

[Pony ^]

wow. pretty amazing what one player can do.

Pretty amazing what one hire can do.

+1000

[GiddyUp]

Cool Insider, thanks. I think i am still amazed

[Mustangsabu]

I don't think people are ready for how good we are going to be.

[smusic 00]

Just read the Rivals UK board. Wow, they are not used to losing.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

A very interesting read. Calipari might be in a tough spot. He is always reloading on one-and-done guys. That's great as long as you get your pick of the litter every year. But when you hit a bump in the road (like Mudiay going to SMU), you're scrambling. Calipari likely loses Harrison after one year and could suddenly find himself with a huge hole at point guard. It didn't even occur to me the knock-on effect that could have on Izzo, Self, Coach K, and others.

[S....M....U]

love seeing headlines like this. very excited for where the team is headed

[The PonyGrad]

A very interesting read. Calipari might be in a tough spot. He is always reloading on one-and-done guys. That's great as long as you get your pick of the litter every year. But when you hit a bump in the road (like Mudiay going to SMU), you're scrambling. Calipari likely loses Harrison after one year and could suddenly find himself with a huge hole at point guard. It didn't even occur to me the knock-on effect that could have on Izzo, Self, Coach K, and others.

Yes, it is like musical chairs and one just got pulled out.