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Add Kentucky, Kansas, Xavier, and consider throwing a bone to Duke.

Almost every player on those foundational Gonzaga teams of the late 1990s was from the state of Washington. Most of the players from those Brad Stevens Butler teams were from Indiana. And that makes sense. If you don't have a national reputation for winning (Majerus), it's hard to convince good players from across the country to come to a mid-major school when you're building a program. You have to start somewhere. Being a hero in your hometown is an appealing sales pitch to a lot of kids. After you've built something that is nationally respected, then getting good players from outside the region becomes a lot easier.

Need Yuri to be a credible threat to hit from 3. He does that they can't sag off covering him on D it opens passing lanes. Seemed like he took a few more at the end of the season. He does that with his feel for passing he becomes real dangerous and our offense will click better.

As a pass first PG, I see Yuri as better than average PG now. As far as numbers, would like to see him average 8 to 10 points a game next year, no more than 2 turnovers, 7 or 8 assists and plays good defense. This assumes Ford brings in another established scorer, Okoro is equal to French and a couple of our young players make a jump in production. Yuri does NOT have to be a scorer to be a top-notch player. Everybody does not have to be a scorer on a TEAM for the TEAM to be outstanding.

The reality is that most people think their opinions are the truth!

I think the Kelvin Sampson experiment at IU will cause them to not consider Pitino.

I'm for going Independent. We'll have to turn down games with a couple of top 20 teams though, as I don't think it makes sense for us to play more than say 15 of the top 20. Any more than that and we're just risking someone having a hot game and upsetting us.

This a message board. It’s designed for exactly that...this thread is example A.

If I’m beard, I’m staying imo. Give it 2 more years and TT is currently a better program with less pressure than UT.

Frank is great. Passionate sportscaster about local teams and the only on air/radio who gives a damn about basketball.

Problem with Texas is they have become Big Man U. Their guards are always second rate. They have tons of Center and PF talent but you can't win in the NCAAs with big men. Jarrett Allen is going to take you to the final four? C'mon, he's a shot blocking, rim runner who can't handle or shoot. How does that win you games in the tournament. Shaka's Havoc would never play at a big time school. The top level personnel would get in the way. He can go to marquette and recruit top 150 guys who will play his system and win vs top 50 guys who he has to cater to. I'd take Smart over Ford in a heartbeat.

My family were Thom Mcan people.

Never thought I’d ever say it, but the SEC is a better basketball conference than the Big XII. KU and Texas were usually the best. Oklahoma also was really good. Then Mizzou and K-State had their turn. In contrast, Kentucky dominated the SEC - except for some Florida teams. Not anymore. LSU, UT, Auburnn, Arkansas, Mizzou and now Alabama have stepped up. Why would Oats leave Bama for Texas and the Big XII? Answer: he wouldn’t

Hoping Frank said Verge because the coaches know something we don't know. The Arizona paper said he's likely going to play pro somewhere this year. Why anyone wouldn't want him here is a head scratcher, but then again this is a message board where everyone is entitled to their opinion. Where he comes from is immaterial, only one Billiken this year had a higher scoring average than he did, and he played against better competition. Also, I think Cook and McKissick would be great adds to this team as well, and they would help greatly with perimeter defense, this team's biggest weakness this season. The fact they are local players is a plus, but not a requirement.

Ah yes. Brian, the Yuri Train police officer checking in to approve my word choices only about him.