Brian Morris v. Bamba Fall

[mavsrage311]

fellas...I never heard of us going after Brian Morris, I just wanted some confirmation and what makes you guys think that??? Is this just a rivals listing that shows he has medium interest???? I also thought we were out of spots, might this mean he will take up B-Hops open spot???

[The XtC]

It depends on what you mean by strong contribution. I expect Bamba to play his freshman year, probably about 10-15 minutes a game, and he'll probably average less than 4 points per game, but he'll definitely help us defensively. To me, thats a contribution. I dont know what you expect, or what you would consider contributing. After that, what he does will depend on how hard he works in the weight room, and on the court. I'm not going to speculate on how he will do after his freshman year, becauuse its dependant on things that havent happened yet. I think he'll develop into a good player for us. This is what I've said all along, and you can go back and read my previous posts if you like. There is only one person on this board who seems to think Bamba will be a major force his freshman year, and if you take anything Stampede says seriously, then I feel sorry for you.

I'd like to point out that some of those players who were supposed to make instant impacts have turned out to be busts, as well, and since you mentioned Tulsa they're a perfect example. Oswaldo Gonzalez was supposed to be an impact player, one of the best juco big men in the country, Rivals even said so:
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=265958
But he was ineligible his first year at Tulsa, and his 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game this season werent anything impressive. Now he's done.
This season Tulsa brought in 2 more JC big men, one with a big resume. But Yusuf Baker wound up ineligible, and from what I hear its still questionable if he will be able to play next year. Vernell Davis had an up and down year, playing in just over half their games.
Hawaii was supposed to have the best recruiting class in the WAC this year, loaded with transsfers and JC players. Several of them did start, but Hawaii bombed. 7-11 was their worst conference record in several years.
A few years ago SMU chased hard after a pair of big men, Aliou Kane, and Paulius Joneliunas. They both had lots of stars and lots of offers, and everyone was sure they'd make immediate impacts if they came here. Kane went to Minnesotta, played a grand total of 30 minutes in 2 seasons, then transferred to a junior college, where he's averaging about 5 points a game. He'll be at TCU next year. Joneliunas is still at South Carolina, where he's nailed to the end of the bench.

What I'm saying is wait until you've actually seen the guy before you try to judge wether or not he can play. You watched less than half of the ESPN game, and by your own admission you couldnt tell which player was Bamba. Get out from behind the internet for a little while and try watching a game. Jimmy Tubbs has seen a fair bit of Bamba, and Jimmy definitely thinks he can play.

[EastStang]

I'm excited about any name recruit we can get. I agree though with Stallion that we won't see any fruits from Fall or Morris until 2008 at the earliest. Skinny post players take time to develop. You guys realize that Tubbs might just red-shirt Fall. I would. Let him develop, hit the weight room, eat tons of rare red meat, and then send him out as a red-shirt freshman. Rack can play post next year and alter shots. Morris may be a freshman starter. He sounds like a Hoss who could bang around. But watch, he will have some foul trouble his freshman year until he refines his game a bit.

[Stallion]

No I knew exactly who Bamba was-down to his number-I think there are some people on this board who were confusing Bamba with other big men. My point is that in BB especially if you recruit 2 projects every year you will always be talking about 2 years down the road. There will always be 5-6 players at the end of your bench who aren't contributing. You will always have a lack of depth and little upper class leadership. College BB championships these days are generally won differently. And please you're citing all the examples of teams that weren't good. Of course, some players don't come thru but the great majority of teams which made it to the NCAA Tourney OVER SMU during the last 10 years in the WAC were helped immeasureably by JUCOs/CCsDivision 1A transfers. Just a fact. But I have no problem with Tubbs building for the future -especially if Hopkins is leaving-just feel more on this board should be honest that we are in a 2-3 year building mode if that's the way we are going. Every team needs a Morris type player and Fall is a decent PROJECT-he will be thrown around like a rag doll next year. Again my standards for recruiting are whether SMU is getting the players necessary to compete for NCAA Tourneys and conference championships. If the rest of you want to continue to live in your little fairy tale world of grading SMU's recruiting classes on the "Poor Ole SMU Grading Curve" go right ahead-you all have done it now for 16 years.

[Hoop Fan]

dont know who you mean, but you speculated this before and its insulting a second time. With Tivo, its not hard to watch and rewatch parts of games. Even if I'm an idiot, I'm pretty sure I was able to discern the action Fall was involved in.

And I wouldn't sit around waiting for Fall to become Shaq. I doubt his body type will ever put on a lot of weight and still be effective. He is always going to be relatively skinny I think. Save the Sean Bradley jokes, I think he sucks as an NBA player too, but he was the #2 overall pick in the draft by being tall and relatively agile. If he got thrown around like a rag doll in college, well he must have made up for it by blocking shots. Fall will have to hold his own, but even if he gets backed down, guys are going to have a tougher time finishing over him than theyve had against SMU in the past. He looks a legit 7'0 and his arms are extremely long. But the key to Fall contributing on defense early is not just his height, Stallion, please give us your evaluation on how he covers grounds and moves his feet defensively.

[LA_Mustang]

I'm excited about any name recruit we can get. I agree though with Stallion that we won't see any fruits from Fall or Morris until 2008 at the earliest. Skinny post players take time to develop.

Did you really mean to include Morris in that sentence?? Because he ain’t skinny and if he does sign with SMU, he will start next season. There will be no waiting until 2008, he will produce as a freshman or we’ll be in a world of hurt....from what I've read, he should be ready.

[Stallion]

God I hope Morris is ready to play-now here's a guy with the body to at least stand his ground as a freshman.

[Stampede]

XTC, I actually am not looking for or need a vote of confidence from you or anyone. I know you disagree with my view from time to time and that is quite allright. But, exactly what did I say about Bamba that would provoke your venom. I happen to think you know basketball ...but, I too, know the game. Especially, when the subject is SMU athletics.

Coach Tubbs needs to have the luxury of forming his own team without assuming players from a former regime taht will be forever buried on the end of the bench. XTC, you and most of the civilized B-ball world know who I am talking about. Nice guys but if they want to actually play in many college games, they will need to get to a level which provides that opportunity. SMU is not that level.

[The XtC]

It wasnt venom, it was a reference to a post you made 2 weeks ago, where you referred to Bamba as "A force in the paint," and other such comments. You're the only one who has used that kind of over-the-top language in describing Bamba. Well, you and Stallion, when he's being a sarcastic SOB.

I think its just as big a mistake to inflate a players expectations, as it is to denigrate someone who hasnt even arrived yet. Thats my point.

[Stampede]

agree. I do think a player who measures 7'1" as a high school senior is a formidable presence in the paint ...simply by being in the paint. Howver, as I have been told and have personally witnessed, Bamba can move, can run the floor and can play defense. I, too, refuse to let anyone denigrate a player before he foes to his/her first class.

[Stallion]

OK I will agree that from everything I've seen AND heard Bamba does have very nice agility, a quick first step and covers a lot of ground-I just don't think he will be ready to play for awhile because of his build and raw offensive skills. My point-is that SMU has some nice talent coming back next year-assuming Hopkins returns-I think that nucleus(Hopkins, Willingham, Roberts, Pearson, could actually be pretty darn formidable if a decision was made to add some mature, quality inside players. Perhaps SMU tried but just didn't get it done-perhaps SMU decided to go young instead. What I'm saying is that Championships have been won ALMOST every year in the WAC in the last 10 years by schools taking a nucleus no better than there is at SMU and mixing in some talented , mature inside players. I think that's exactly what should have happened in the Sasser/Davis et al days and arguably this year.

[EastStang]

Simpson and Castro were mature and relatively talented this year. We didn't have a consistent outside game to go with them. Next year we may have a better outside game, but no mature inside game. Maybe in our lifetime it will all come together.