It's more than just Mickey Dee players

[Quazzum69]

It's about the quality of the entire roster, or at the very least, the top 3-5 players that really determine how successful a team is. Let's compare Boeheim's "top-half" talent with the best recruiter, John Calipari, and the top recruiters in the ACC - Coach K and Roy Williams.

Since the 2003 recruiting class, Calipari (Memphis and Kentucky) has had 40 Rivals Top 150 players with an average ranking of 30, Coach K has had 33 with an average rank of 39, Roy with 35 with an average rank of 42 and Boeheim has had 27 with an average rank of 57.

When considering the number and rank of each player, Boeheim's best harvest was in 2003 when he recruited four Top 150 players with an average rank of 42 (24, 30, 47 and 67). Compare this with Calipari's best class, 2013, with seven Top 150 players with an average rank of 24 (2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 19 and 115)! Coach K's best class was probably 2011 with five with an average of 40. Roy's best: 2006 with six with an average of 40.

To break it down even further:

Pay Pal Cal :
14 players - top 10
10 players - 11 to 25
8 players - 26 to 50
6 players - 51 to 100
2 players - 101 to 150

K:

7 players - top 10
7 players - 11 to 25
10 players - 26 to 50
6 players - 51 to 100
3 players - 101 to 150

Roy:

9 players - top 10
4 players - 11 to 25
9 players - 26 to 50
11 players - 51 to 100
2 players - 101 to 150

Boeheim:

1 player - top 10
5 players - 11 to 25
10 players - 26 to 50
5 players - 51 to 100
6 players - 101 to 150

 

[OttoinGrotto]

So 26 to 50 is our bread and butter, and we build depth via 50 on, and sprinkle in a handful of higher rated stars.

That'll win some ball games.

 

[stuckinbig11]

Rankings are less critical than the coach having a good eye to see the intangibles in prospective players.

 

[sufandu]

It's about the quality of the entire roster, or at the very least, the top 3-5 players that really determine how successful a team is. Let's compare Boeheim's "top-half" talent with the best recruiter, John Calipari, and the top recruiters in the ACC - Coach K and Roy Williams.

Since the 2003 recruiting class, Calipari (Memphis and Kentucky) has had 40 Rivals Top 150 players with an average ranking of 30, Coach K has had 33 with an average rank of 39, Roy with 35 with an average rank of 42 and Boeheim has had 27 with an average rank of 57.

When considering the number and rank of each player, Boeheim's best harvest was in 2003 when he recruited four Top 150 players with an average rank of 42 (24, 30, 47 and 67). Compare this with Calipari's best class, 2013, with seven Top 150 players with an average rank of 24 (2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 19 and 115)! Coach K's best class was probably 2011 with five with an average of 40. Roy's best: 2006 with six with an average of 40.

To break it down even further:

Pay Pal Cal :
14 players - top 10
10 players - 11 to 25
8 players - 26 to 50
6 players - 51 to 100
2 players - 101 to 150

K:

7 players - top 10
7 players - 11 to 25
10 players - 26 to 50
6 players - 51 to 100
3 players - 101 to 150

Roy:

9 players - top 10
4 players - 11 to 25
9 players - 26 to 50
11 players - 51 to 100
2 players - 101 to 150

Boeheim:

1 player - top 10
5 players - 11 to 25
10 players - 26 to 50
5 players - 51 to 100
6 players - 101 to 150

I think the bold print is argument enough as to why we can't use recruiting ranking by themselves. That may have been JB's most balanced class top to bottom, and it was one of his most underachieving when compared to where they ranked, both as a class and individually. The only player that came close to expectations was D Nic.

 

[VaBeachOrFan]

So 26 to 50 is our bread and butter, and we build depth via 50 on, and sprinkle in a handful of higher rated stars.

That'll win some ball games.

Yep. Get the rankings too high and they all book after one. Get them too low and you won't make the Final Four with any regularity. SU is just now (since the 2009-10 team) getting the mix and balance it needs to stay "loaded" from year to year. Need some top-50 "stars," but the 50-100 guys will stick around for a few years and become your seasoned leaders that each team needs to have, especially if you redshirt a "project" from time to time. JB and staff are doing a wonderful recruiting and juggling job just as they increase the team's visibility in the ACC. Way to go.-VBOF