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Message: [QUOTE="Subob1, post: 1736715, member: 464"] Well, this is actually gotten more attention than I expected. You are spot on that SU has a lot going for it. You make the point that in his last hurrah and with all the good mojo (two final 4s), JB should take a good shot, a real shot at a couple of "Bigs". I am making the point that I feel that in his last go around JB should stay well within his comfort zone. You say, "Not so, go for it", build on our national brand. I say the transition is so critical, burdened by recruiting restrictions, play only to your strengths and focus on the top players in the region. We can agree to disagree. I'll stand by my statement JB always focused regionally. But always focused regionally doesn't translate into ""only. It doesn't mean that when elite recruits reached out or were brought to his attention he didn't react. I thought I was clear on that. Getting onto Derick Coleman. My recollection is that Dave Bing brought Derrick to JBs attention and SU was also actively recruiting Terry Mills also from Michigan so travel for both recruits in a similar geography. Some pundits had Mills as the number 1 recruit in the nation. Both recruits met the test I mentioned above and JB publicly said "I'll take the first one that commits". We got the better end of the deal. JB worked his butt off for Marquis Walker I believe from Illinois. Number 1 recruit in the nation at the time. Came close but he was reportedly steered away from SU because of geography. Lots of other examples. SU was active in the midwest and Michigan particularly when Bing was a highly visible symbol in the area as one of the NBAs and SUs greatest. But time passes and memories fade. So "yes" I agree with you JB recruited outside of his region when the situation was "right". We disagree on whether this is the right time. You say yes, I say no, unless JB is certain the interest of one of these "Bigs" would be mutual. As to the roster of Duke. Put me down as failing in my reference to Calipari to mention Duke as a selector school. Best combination of academics and quality basketball in all of college basketball in my opinion. My oversight. I didn't intend my reference to Calipari to be definitive but just an example. None of this changes the dominate nature of regional players on this years roster of the three teams I mentioned. Nor does it diminish my implied point you can field a final four team and win the whole enchilada with a regional base of players. Even Oklahoma is heavily regional except for Buddy. A big except. Some programs do recruit best nationally, you mentioned UCONN. I agree about UCONN but what does their recruiting strategy have to do with what JB should do. Wooden won 10 NCAAs and selected nationally. Same deal. But this is about JB, not UCONN. It's about what JB should do to assure the best transition possible in his final recruiting season. I say, "Do what you do, do best". [/QUOTE]

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