Mack's recruiting black cloud is real

[REDFISTFURY3]

excerpts from Bozich article:

Matt Cross, the forward from Massachusetts who wears No. 33 to honor Larry Bird. His phone vibrated relentlessly after Cross put his name in the NCAA transfer portal last winter.

Cross had a string of Power 5 offers and plenty of coaches who told him Louisville would be a risky choice. Too much NCAA noise that might lead to probation and no NCAA Tournament. Too much silly stuff going on with the coaching staff. Too much this. Too much that.


Matt Cross, a transfer from Miami, should provide 3-point shooting for the Louisville basketball team. Andrew Lentz, University of Louisville photo.
“Definitely,” Cross said. “That was definitely one of the things that some of the schools were using (in recruiting).”

Things like?

“Don’t go there,” Cross said.

Why?

“They talked about (missing) the tournament,” Cross said. “They said the only reason (Louisville) had a chance at the tournament last season was because everybody had a chance (at the tournament) because of COVID. But they wouldn’t be able to go this season.

 

[PushupMan]

Just goes to show you that recruiters will try anything. But in this case, those recruiters might just be right.

So you do have to ask yourself why an elite player like Cross came here anyway…. The opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament is not always a top priority for these players. Having access to great coaching, great facilities, great medical and training staff, and an opportunity to play both with and against top competition is all more important, and should be.

 

[2330859]

The kids who have a realistic expectation to play in the NBA are not as affected by missing the tournament, as the competition in the regular ACC season provides more than ample evidence of NBA a skill.

Jordan Nora serves as a great example.

 

[CardinalDave]

Being in the ACC and having nationally televised games against UNC , Duke , FSU and uk is ample opportunity to showcase your skills If you are NBA caliber. It doesn’t necessarily offset the threat of having a postseason ban but there are plenty of opportunities to showcase your talent if you play at U of L , tournament or not

 

[ShortCreek]

Just goes to show you that recruiters will try anything. But in this case, those recruiters might just be right.

So you do have to ask yourself why an elite player like Cross came here anyway…. The opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament is not always a top priority for these players. Having access to great coaching, great facilities, great medical and training staff, and an opportunity to play both with and against top competition is all more important, and should be.

Cross is not elite. Never has been.

 

[PushupMan]

Cross is not elite. Never has been.

Different definitions of “elite” … in this case, my definition is someone who is a high major player who had multiple choices as to where he could have gone. I’m not talking about someone who is elite in the sense that he’s an NBA draft pick.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

I don't think our recruiting has been that bad tbh. We're consistently getting classes stacked with 4 star top 100 guys. Didn't we all say we didn't want to chase the 5 star guys that would leave in 1 year?

Talent-wise, this roster is is fine. A little weaker at the PG spot than I'd like, but overall I feel decent. We've hit the transfer portal pretty darn good too. We've got talent better than most every program other than Duke, sUcKs, Kansas, etc. type teams. But our talent is good enough to compete at the top. Whether Mack can do it, well that's up to him.

 

[shadow force]

I don't think our recruiting has been that bad tbh. We're consistently getting classes stacked with 4 star top 100 guys. Didn't we all say we didn't want to chase the 5 star guys that would leave in 1 year?

Talent-wise, this roster is is fine. A little weaker at the PG spot than I'd like, but overall I feel decent. We've hit the transfer portal pretty darn good too. We've got talent better than most every program other than Duke, sUcKs, Kansas, etc. type teams. But our talent is good enough to compete at the top. Whether Mack can do it, well that's up to him.

I agree Macks recruiting has been pretty darn good despite the obstacles he has to face. But the dark cloud is still hampering him. Makes me wonder what guys he could get without that holding him and the staff back. But yes no matter the talent they still have to be coached well to win consistently.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

2019
Williamson - 5 star
Nickleberry, Withers, Johnson, & Irish Hulk - 4 stars
Slazenski - 3 star

2020
Traynor, Davis, & Wiznitzer were 4 stars
Carlik was the #1 transfer guard in the portal
Scrubb was the #1 JuCo player, but he went to the draft

2021
Ellis, Wheeler, James, & Curry are all 4 stars
Cross & Locke were both 4 stars coming out of high school

13 high school commits and 12 of those have been 4 stars or better

Transfer portal includes Carlik Jones, Matt Cross, Noah Locke, Fresh Kimble, & Christian Cunningham

So as far as talent goes, he's getting it done in recruiting.

 

[2330859]

Nice documentation work Lefors!

 

[Morgantown Card]

I agree Macks recruiting has been pretty darn good despite the obstacles he has to face. But the dark cloud is still hampering him. Makes me wonder what guys he could get without that holding him and the staff back. But yes no matter the talent they still have to be coached well to win consistently.

I am not thrilled about the late game/late season collapses, but overall I too am extremely impressed that Mack has gotten this level of talent to come to Louisville given everything. I am pretty sure I posted on here that the new coach would be holding tryouts for walk-ons by year 3. His ability to ducktape a pretty good roster together every year has been incredible.

 

[Morgantown Card]

And I'm telling you, anyone yelling to FARRRRR everyone (Mack, Satterfield) is unintentionally rooting to destroy the program for years. NO I am not nominating them for the HoF or sayign they are the best coaches ever, but given the circumstances you gotta let this play out - especially in Mack's case. Look at who Indiana and Duke just hired - we should all be thanking the Good Lord that Louisville hired Chris Mack. And when Cal retarrs, it will be a step-back in talent and UK fans will want to FARRR whoever that poor sonofabeyitch ends up being. Patience, take note of the temperature in the room and realize the situation.