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Recruiting - 2016


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And to add... Baniak brought strong, two-handed rebounding to the table and was big enough and strong enough to make the bunnies. Also, I have not seen any Billiken who was better than Baniak at not only grabbing the rebound but in starting the fast break with strong and accurate outlet passes to our guards who were able to catch the ball, in full speed, nearly at the half court line. H, Claggs, Highmark and Turner would not have looked so good without his outlet passes getting a jump on the opponent.

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And to add... Baniak brought strong, two-handed rebounding to the table and was big enough and strong enough to make the bunnies. Also, I have not seen any Billiken who was better than Baniak at not only grabbing the rebound but in starting the fast break with strong and accurate outlet passes to our guards who were able to catch the ball, in full speed, nearly at the half court line. H, Claggs, Highmark and Turner would not have looked so good without his outlet passes getting a jump on the opponent.

I could be wrong but I thought Baniak came after Claggett, Highmark and Waldman.
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Clags and co graduated in 95. Banian started in the 97-98 season.

But why ruin a good story with facts?

Ha! Clock_tower probably wrote the holocaust, too. I mean, yeah, it probably all happened, but I think it was all just the result of a memo mixup between Hitler and the Gerber baby.

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Tatum gets a bad rap. It was always rumored he didn't get along with Romar. Look what tatum went through though, NCAA clearinghouse issues, losing a huge chunk of eligibilty, never gets to play with Hughes. Then since he lost all that time he's stuck behind an inferior player in Baniak most of his career. By all accounts he and Romar are on good terms, if they ever were on bad terms and Tatum is a helluva HS coach. Not sure if he is college material though. Pining for Walker, he's on staff at a big 10 school. Why would he come here?

I think he has gotten too much credit on this board, like TheChosenOne says. He was a handful at SLU, to put it mildly. Major discipline and maturity issues. Any reconciliation between him and Romar happened later, and my guess is that it had to be Justin who realized he was a punk back then.

Baniak may have been one of the most impressive, impact Freshmen who brought so much hope and optimism. While he played well and contributed for four (4) years, I certainly expected his Junior and Senior years would have been even better than they were. Maybe his mind was on medical school... maybe he simply hit a ceiling based upon his talents... but even so, you're wrong, Baniak was much better than Tatum.

Baniak dropped the pre-med thing and transferred to the business school. As a Cook School of Business alum, let me say from experience that there's no way it was academic pressure that kept Baniak from developing more as a player. I think he works in the health field these days, but on the business side of things.

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I think Clock is saying how good the Clags era teams would have been with a player like Matt B rebounding and making quick, acurate outlets to them.

All other issues aside I'd take Tatum at his best over Baniak at his best all day long

Glad to see no one suggesting Corey F

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And to add... Baniak brought strong, two-handed rebounding to the table and was big enough and strong enough to make the bunnies. Also, I have not seen any Billiken who was better than Baniak at not only grabbing the rebound but in starting the fast break with strong and accurate outlet passes to our guards who were able to catch the ball, in full speed, nearly at the half court line. H, Claggs, Highmark and Turner would not have looked so good without his outlet passes getting a jump on the opponent.

??? Clock, are you having a senior moment? Claggett, Highmark, Waldman, and Turner had been gone for two years before Baniak ever donned Billiken blue.

I could be wrong but I thought Baniak came after Claggett, Highmark and Waldman.

Clags and co graduated in 95. Banian started in the 97-98 season.

But why ruin a good story with facts?

I think Clock is saying how good the Clags era teams would have been with a player like Matt B rebounding and making quick, acurate outlets to them.

All other issues aside I'd take Tatum at his best over Baniak at his best all day long

Glad to see no one suggesting Corey F

Skip, Clock might have meant something like that, but it's sure not what he said. My reading is that Baniak was making passes to start the break for Claggett and Highmark. If it ever happened, it would have to have been during the Bonner League.

I did once see Claggett's Eagles team play against Baniak's Eagles team -- in a summer all-star type game.

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The only coach I can think of who'd take on dad would be Calamari. Hell he'd hire Satan if Rosemary's kid was a 5star.

You've done a good thing with some typing. I made some laughing noises and motions. They were not voluntary. Have a good weekend, you old bastard. Voy a las montañas.

.

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I don't think baniak was a business major. He was premed and may have dropped out of premed but I think his degree was psychology. I had several classes with him.

While school may not have hindered his bball career I do wonder if basketball kept him out of premed.

I think he has gotten too much credit on this board, like TheChosenOne says. He was a handful at SLU, to put it mildly. Major discipline and maturity issues. Any reconciliation between him and Romar happened later, and my guess is that it had to be Justin who realized he was a punk back then.

Baniak dropped the pre-med thing and transferred to the business school. As a Cook School of Business alum, let me say from experience that there's no way it was academic pressure that kept Baniak from developing more as a player. I think he works in the health field these days, but on the business side of things.

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And to add... Baniak brought strong, two-handed rebounding to the table and was big enough and strong enough to make the bunnies. Also, I have not seen any Billiken who was better than Baniak at not only grabbing the rebound but in starting the fast break with strong and accurate outlet passes to our guards who were able to catch the ball, in full speed, nearly at the half court line. H, Claggs, Highmark and Turner would not have looked so good without his outlet passes getting a jump on the opponent.

Clock this is laughable. Are you a Desmet grad? Baniak had a pretty good freshman season. He regressed from then on. Heinrich surpassed him by jr year. If Tatum had been a little disciplined and didn't have eligibility problems Baniak never would have started.

Baniak was a soft big man, rebounded poorly, and couldn't defend. Tatum on defense and the boards killed Baniak. Tatum did TO the ball but was a better passer. Baniak was a good shooter, but refused to push himself offensively. Shooting was the only thing Baniak did better than Tatum.

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Clock this is laughable. Are you a Desmet grad? Baniak had a pretty good freshman season. He regressed from then on. Heinrich surpassed him by jr year. If Tatum had been a little disciplined and didn't have eligibility problems Baniak never would have started.

Baniak was a soft big man, rebounded poorly, and couldn't defend. Tatum on defense and the boards killed Baniak. Tatum did TO the ball but was a better passer. Baniak was a good shooter, but refused to push himself offensively. Shooting was the only thing Baniak did better than Tatum.

Back in town.... and agree to disagree. First, it's been too long to recall exactly my thoughts prior to my post about Baniak's outlet passes to Claggett, etc. You guys are certainly correctly - wrong set of guards!! Believe I had been thinking how much better Claggs, Highmark, H Walman, etc. would have been with Baniak starting the outlet pass (possibly Baniak's greatest strength) in that they were already possibly the best Billiken team at counter-attacking and fast-breaking (as Skip suggests). Baniak was taller and better outlet passer than David Robinson, Donnie Campbell, etc. Either way, I stand corrected. Most likely 2 different thoughts...

In comparison of Baniak and Tatum, there is a reason that Romar played Baniak more. Baniak was a very good defensive rebounder/started the fast break with his 2 handed rebounds and then 2 handed outlet pass to mid-court. Torch, this skill/contribution does not suggest he did not have other weaknesses in game - such as to the his offensive game. IMO, Baniak played softer and did not reach the potential I had hoped for (after his Frosh year) more on offense than defense. Still, IMO, Baniak was consistent, solid and steady at the 4 during all 4 of his years at SLU (Heinrich played the 5 and were usually on the floor at the same time so Heinrich simply developed and became productive mostly for just his Junior/Senior year) with his rebounding, shooting and FTs. Tatum was strong and showed really great upside with his offensive moves and strength (both offensively and defensively) but his poorer shooting and FT's often negated this along with turnovers while sitting out his Freshman year (never played with Larry) and then missed his Senior year playing elsewhere. IMO, both Baniak and Tatum played the 4 and the number of games played, minutes played, contributions, etc. are clearly in Matt's favor.

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Back in town.... and agree to disagree. First, it's been too long to recall exactly my thoughts prior to my post about Baniak's outlet passes to Claggett, etc. You guys are certainly correctly - wrong set of guards!! Believe I had been thinking how much better Claggs, Highmark, H Walman, etc. would have been with Baniak starting the outlet pass (possibly Baniak's greatest strength) in that they were already possibly the best Billiken team at counter-attacking and fast-breaking (as Skip suggests). Baniak was taller and better outlet passer than David Robinson, Donnie Campbell, etc. Either way, I stand corrected. Most likely 2 different thoughts...

In comparison of Baniak and Tatum, there is a reason that Romar played Baniak more. Baniak was a very good defensive rebounder/started the fast break with his 2 handed rebounds and then 2 handed outlet pass to mid-court. Torch, this skill/contribution does not suggest he did not have other weaknesses in game - such as to the his offensive game. IMO, Baniak played softer and did not reach the potential I had hoped for (after his Frosh year) more on offense than defense. Still, IMO, Baniak was consistent, solid and steady at the 4 during all 4 of his years at SLU (Heinrich played the 5 and were usually on the floor at the same time so Heinrich simply developed and became productive mostly for just his Junior/Senior year) with his rebounding, shooting and FTs. Tatum was strong and showed really great upside with his offensive moves and strength (both offensively and defensively) but his poorer shooting and FT's often negated this along with turnovers while sitting out his Freshman year (never played with Larry) and then missed his Senior year playing elsewhere. IMO, both Baniak and Tatum played the 4 and the number of games played, minutes played, contributions, etc. are clearly in Matt's favor.

I understand its been a while but at least take a glance at their career stats before posting. I did and they jibe with exactly what I remember.

97-98 Baniak started at the 5. Our starting lineup was Walker, Hughes, Cobbin, Luck, & Baniak. Heinrich backed up Baniak, except for one game where he started in his place. Baniak did have a better than average freshman year. Averaged 23 minutes a game, but he'd play 11 minutes 1 game and 30 the next.

98-99 Baniak once again starts at the 5. Our starting lineup was usually Cobbin, Luck, Baniak/Heinrich, Love & Fergerson. Luck started every game. Heinrich started 15, Baniak 16. Tatum was eligible after 10 games. After Tatum went into the lineup, mind you he hadn't played ball in a year and half, Baniak and Heinrich's minutes were cut. Essentially Luck was a 30 minute man and Heinrich, Baniak, & Tatum split the rest with Tatum getting the most minutes. Baniak was supposed to be the center when he came to SLU. By this time they started figuring out he wasn't cut out to hold down the pivot.

99-00 Now Baniak is the 4. Heinrich has supplanted him as the starting center and starts all the games. Baniak splits starting duty with Tatum. Tatum plays 24 min a game, Baniak 19. Baniak scores in double figures 3 times and has no double digit rebounding games. Tatum scores in double figures 14 times, with 5 rebounding games at 10 or over. Tatum was clearly in the doghouse by years end. Yet still continued to put up better stats than Baniak.

00-01 Similar story. Heinrich continues to hold down the 5. Baniak starts 19 games to Tatum's 12. Still Tatum plays 5 minutes more per game. You also have Braun added in as a solid backup at both the 4 and 5. Baniak plays slightly better than his abysmal Jr year and Tatum is not as good as he was the year before. Still Tatum turns in the better season.

So no, despite being disliked by Romar Tatum received the most minutes and played better over the course of his career. Baniak was nothing more than a decent big man, a role player who was extremely inconsistent. Check his minutes by game his soph, jr and sr year. Up and down every game. Tatum's minutes were much more steady. He played when Baniak had a good game, and when baniak played poor he got a lot of minutes. Tatum while never a star, turned in many more games where he was obviously the 2nd or 3rd option on offense, while being the best rebounder and shotblocker on the team. Baniak well not so much.

Now if you remember Baniak because of his "two handed rebounding" and his Unseld like outlet passes I don't know what to tell you. The player I remember Baniak being and the player he was in the boxscore are the same. No question Tatum was a better player. Baniak was closer to Chris Braun level than Tatum.

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I understand its been a while but at least take a glance at their career stats before posting. I did and they jibe with exactly what I remember.

97-98 Baniak started at the 5. Our starting lineup was Walker, Hughes, Cobbin, Luck, & Baniak. Heinrich backed up Baniak, except for one game where he started in his place. Baniak did have a better than average freshman year. Averaged 23 minutes a game, but he'd play 11 minutes 1 game and 30 the next.

98-99 Baniak once again starts at the 5. Our starting lineup was usually Cobbin, Luck, Baniak/Heinrich, Love & Fergerson. Luck started every game. Heinrich started 15, Baniak 16. Tatum was eligible after 10 games. After Tatum went into the lineup, mind you he hadn't played ball in a year and half, Baniak and Heinrich's minutes were cut. Essentially Luck was a 30 minute man and Heinrich, Baniak, & Tatum split the rest with Tatum getting the most minutes. Baniak was supposed to be the center when he came to SLU. By this time they started figuring out he wasn't cut out to hold down the pivot.

99-00 Now Baniak is the 4. Heinrich has supplanted him as the starting center and starts all the games. Baniak splits starting duty with Tatum. Tatum plays 24 min a game, Baniak 19. Baniak scores in double figures 3 times and has no double digit rebounding games. Tatum scores in double figures 14 times, with 5 rebounding games at 10 or over. Tatum was clearly in the doghouse by years end. Yet still continued to put up better stats than Baniak.

00-01 Similar story. Heinrich continues to hold down the 5. Baniak starts 19 games to Tatum's 12. Still Tatum plays 5 minutes more per game. You also have Braun added in as a solid backup at both the 4 and 5. Baniak plays slightly better than his abysmal Jr year and Tatum is not as good as he was the year before. Still Tatum turns in the better season.

So no, despite being disliked by Romar Tatum received the most minutes and played better over the course of his career. Baniak was nothing more than a decent big man, a role player who was extremely inconsistent. Check his minutes by game his soph, jr and sr year. Up and down every game. Tatum's minutes were much more steady. He played when Baniak had a good game, and when baniak played poor he got a lot of minutes. Tatum while never a star, turned in many more games where he was obviously the 2nd or 3rd option on offense, while being the best rebounder and shotblocker on the team. Baniak well not so much.

Now if you remember Baniak because of his "two handed rebounding" and his Unseld like outlet passes I don't know what to tell you. The player I remember Baniak being and the player he was in the boxscore are the same. No question Tatum was a better player. Baniak was closer to Chris Braun level than Tatum.

You remember the same Baniak that I do.

I think the reason some remember Tatum as less than he was is because he didn't turn out to be as good as we thought he could be.

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I remember Baniak being highly touted and because of he and the Legend multiple dance invites were soon to follow. Legend leaves after one, Baniak pretty much fades into the background. Some good games here and there, but not close to what was expected of him.

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I have to laugh at comparing who was better Baniak or Tatum. The comparison should be the who was the biggest underachiever. Both had a boatload of talent.

Tatum drove both Spoon and Romer up the wall. I recall watching a practice at the old West Pine Gym just prior to the Kansas win in 98 and watching Tatum get kicked out of practice by Spoon.

Baniak, after his freshman year (who wouldn't look good playing with the Larry) he just didn't seem into it. Recall his senior year, it was close to the end season and he threw in around 30 against South FL and saying to myself, now you show up.

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Tatum certainly had his faults. He wasn't a highly touted recruit though, he just played with Larry. Getting jerked around by the NCAAs didn't help his disposition.

Baniak was a highly touted recruit. Top 25 big man in his class. He never developed. Was he Sekue? No he was serviceable but Tatum was better there is no question.

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Tatum certainly had his faults. He wasn't a highly touted recruit though, he just played with Larry. Getting jerked around by the NCAAs didn't help his disposition.

Baniak was a highly touted recruit. Top 25 big man in his class. He never developed. Was he Sekue? No he was serviceable but Tatum was better there is no question.

Unmentioned in this thread is that Baniak was a great student and was pre-med his first couple of years, and the studies were impacting his basketball practice time and energy. Eventually he decided that he wanted to play after college and it was goodbye med school.

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Tatum just received offers from Izzo and Matta per Alex Kline. Guess we're done.

I can only assume you are joking.

At the end of the day, tatum can go to any school he wants. What gives us a chance is we are the local school and his dad and godfather played there. And he can make the nba as easily from slu as he could any other school. Our chances won't be affected by the other top 10 offers he accumulates...

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Tatum just received offers from Izzo and Matta per Alex Kline. Guess we're done.

I'm still confident in our chances, will be better if we can make final 4 this season along with a BEast invite and then keep on winning.

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I don't think we will land Tatum. Solely based on probability and precedent. That said I think we have a better shot than both the schools that offered him today and I agree with fordalove that we will be in his top five.

Better shot than Beal, Suggs and some other locals that have gone elsewhere.

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I don't think we will land Tatum. Solely based on probability and precedent. That said I think we have a better shot than both the schools that offered him today and I agree with fordalove that we will be in his top five.

Better shot than Beal, Suggs and some other locals that have gone elsewhere.

He can only go to one school, however. So if we're 2-5, what difference does that make? There are no moral victories on the recruiting trail.

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