I know our staff is going hard after Ricardo, and it sounds like we're not out of it; but it's going to be difficult to beat out UK and Duke if they have actually offered Gathers. In a year or two that might not be the case, but right now I think we're just too much of an unknown commodity when compared to those programs. We're inticing for sure, and have some definite pluses, but it would take a leap of faith for a recruit to choose us over them.
That's just being realistic.
Now - if Lavin comes back 100% healthy, the Big East stabilizes (or we form our own conference), the team has a winning BE record this year, signs another recruit or two, and Moe becomes a lotto pick in 2013 - we'll then in the years that follow it wouldn't be such a stretch. But right now it's asking a lot I think for Gathers to come back if UK is offering him a chance to start next year.
And if the moon is in the 7th house and Jupiter aligns with Mars...still think we have good shot at Gather regardless of Duke Kentucky interest.
Yes we have a chance, but IMO to do so, Lavin needs to come back pretty soon. We have to compete with the big boys if we want to land the big boys. Our roster we have now with a few more guys like gathers etc and we are competing with the big boys. We destroyed Duke last season and eventual NC Uconn. Lavin is putting together the roster to compete with those teams consistently. We need guys like Gathers to buy in like Mo, D'Angelo and others have. He gets to walk in here and be starting PF. He won't get that guarantee at UK nor Duke. Duke is a bad style choice for gathers. Uk is a factory, but SJU would prepare him just well and he can be part of a team not just a factory.
Duke is a bad style choice, I agree. But it's hard to argue with any HS basketball player who says he's going to UK. 9 guys drafted in the last two years if you count Kanter. And they have at least 3 guys who will be first round picks this year, maybe 5 draft picks in total if they all come out. That's just ridiculous. Call it a factory, say it's impersonal - that all may be true, but if you define "success" as getting drafted, and preferably in the first round; and that's how these kids look at it; then there is no better route than to go through UK under Calipari right now.
If you want an all around experience, it's certainly debatable. If you want to win a National Championship, it can be said that you may be better off somewhere else. BUT, if you want to shake Stern's hand, it's hard to say no to UK right now IMHO.
Those kids uk is landing are the top kids in the country and would shake Stern's hand no matter what. Duke is not the best choice for wannabe pros because their style doesn't seem to translate well for some reason. Kids are better off choosing schools where they get PT, exposure and the style suits their game.
IMO, gathers abilities to create underneath and in transition would be stunted in Duke's system. Can't argue with UK except that at UK, he could actually be a guy that is relegated to bench play because of the sheer overall talent level there. Uk is the type of team that will have at minimum 3-4 guys who are as or more highly ranked and competition.
You think Mo Harkless is better off setting records here at SJU or having to work his way into the roster like a guy like D'andre Daniels at UConn? Bottom line is that IMHO Garhers can't do any better than stepping into the starting PF spot here at sju next season, playing at MSG every game next to Harkless and a team that is going to run all day long. Once again, just my opinion, but sju under Lavin with 5 or 6 open ships is as perfect as it gets for a top PF and/or center who wants exposure and tons of PT.
I have no idea what Gathers will do but he should listen to his gut as well as the logistics like PT, style etc.and not the dopes feeding him this stuff.