Ka'Darryl Bell Commits to BU

[lake Camelot]

As I was starting to use the search function to search for old threads. I stopped and realized I am excited to get Bell and really looking forward to seeing how things go this season. Anything else doesn't matter to me right now.

As far as a bigger recruit I wish he was at least 6'8" or 6'9" tall then I think he could play post. But a good rebounder may be just as important if we want to get up and down the court.

[Beninator]

I don't really want to get into an argument because if you want less guards, then that's your prerogative...there are a few teams here and there that go with 5 guards, but a cursory look will show that 95% of D-I programs have at least 6-7 scholarship guards...

but -- this one is a slam dunk easy case to refute...
I checked a handful of other top programs, here's what I found..

In the MVC
Wichita State - 7 scholarship guards - http://www.goshockers.com/SportSelec...00&SPSID=61183
Creighton - 7 scholarship guards - http://www.gocreighton.com/SportSele...69&SPSID=89384
Last year's NCAA representative Indiana State - 7/8 scholarship guards
UNI the year they made it to the Sweet Sixteen - 7 scholarship guards - http://www.unipanthers.com/SportSele...&Q_SEASON=2009
UNI this year - eight - http://www.unipanthers.com/SportSele...&Q_SEASON=2009

In fact, I really can't find ever that any recent MVC team had 6 or fewer guards...so if that's too many, or as you say "way too many" then why is everyone stacking up on 6, 7 or even 8 guards?

I checked a couple Big Ten schools
Illinois has eight guards (Sam, DJ, Bertrand, Paul, Head, Abrams, Henry, Langford)
Even Wisconsin - who generally stock up on the big bruisers - have Brust, Smith, Marshall, Evans, Taylor, Jackson, and Gasser...


The only rosters anywhere I can find with even six guards are programs who UNEXPECTEDLY lost players (like Michigan State) and are stuck with only six despite wanting desperately to have more.
It is actually quite hard to find someone with only 5 guards who fully seem to have planned it that way!

Ok point taken about the number of guard scholarships. However, sports is about change. What is conventional today may not be so in a year or two as a result of a team or coach with vision who wins with a different style or type of lineup. See Anderson, Forddy= continuous motion offense! Why not try the Beninator offense. 1 guard with 4 forwards!
BTW, check out UCONN's roster. 5 guards and I would love for BU to have some forwards like that roster!

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/conn-m-baskbl-mtt.html

[SFP]

Ok point taken about the number of guard scholarships. However, sports is about change. What is conventional today may not be so in a year or two as a result of a team or coach with vision who wins with a different style or type of lineup. See Anderson, Forddy= continuous motion offense! Why not try the Beninator offense. 1 guard with 4 forwards!
BTW, check out UCONN's roster. 5 guards and I would love for BU to have some forwards like that roster!

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m...askbl-mtt.html

UCONN has only 10 scholarships players (50% are guards) and yes we would love their forwards but so would 99% of the college basketball world.

[Braves4Life]

BTW, check out UCONN's roster. 5 guards and I would love for BU to have some forwards like that roster!

I love your optimism Beni! That line made me ROFLOL! My first thought was "wouldn't we all?".

[BU RICK]

Thanks for picking Bradley Ka'Darrryl.

The West Suburban Conference has produced many quality D1 athletes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Suburban_Conference

[BU RICK]

Lets pick up the Bieb too, think of the donations when he graduates....

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/style-points/201109/justin-beiber-breaks-steve-nashs-ankles

[wily coyote]

Ben, most of the time I enjoy your posts. Not sure I can say I do this one. Really confused about your thinking in regards to the guard situation. Any time a program has a chance to get a talent like Bell then that's a no brainer. Do we need bigs, yes we do but only because we may have missed the boat on several in the past 3 or 4 years. I think what Geno and his staff is bringing in is great. Keep up the good work. I'd bet as we lose a few bigs in the next 2 years ,Geno will bring in replacements that will give us more quality minutes then we have had in the last several years. Now if we can land Paul from Gurnee Warren that will be two great classes in a row.

[Future Walk-On]

If anyone wonders why we deleted a few posts, please read our posting rules. We will not allow posters to hijack threads, and we will not allow attacks and unjustified criticism of players or coaches. Those have always been our rules. Posters are welcome to take personal attacks elsewhere.

totally get that the hijack rule was broken.....

attacks and unjustified criticism of players?

[tornado]

Thanks for picking Bradley Ka'Darrryl.

The West Suburban Conference has produced many quality D1 athletes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Suburban_Conference

wow - I am impressed - Oak Park HS has a number of fine alums...

Ernest Hemingway, Ray Kroc, Paul Harvey, Governor Otto Kerner, Iman Shumpert, and ..Kethy Griffin..although the story on Ray Kroc is interesting, he was a drop-out - quitting school to enlist in the army in WWI

[AZ BU Fan]

Ben, most of the time I enjoy your posts. Not sure I can say I do this one. Really confused about your thinking in regards to the guard situation. Any time a program has a chance to get a talent like Bell then that's a no brainer. Do we need bigs, yes we do but only because we may have missed the boat on several in the past 3 or 4 years. I think what Geno and his staff is bringing in is great. Keep up the good work. I'd bet as we lose a few bigs in the next 2 years ,Geno will bring in replacements that will give us more quality minutes then we have had in the last several years. Now if we can land Paul from Gurnee Warren that will be two great classes in a row.

+1

PS The best thing Geno and BU can do to lure/land quality bigs in the future is to make sure they have lots of high quality smalls and mediums on the team roster

Why would a quality big go to a program that doesn't have the other pieces to be uber successful like the big would have going BCS

[LittleBrave]

Looks like a real solid pick up for BU!

Look forward to see your game blossom in Peoria, Ka'Darryl!

[Chico]

wow - I am impressed - Oak Park HS has a number of fine alums...

Ernest Hemingway, Ray Kroc, Paul Harvey, Governor Otto Kerner, Iman Shumpert, and ..Kethy Griffin..although the story on Ray Kroc is interesting, he was a drop-out - quitting school to enlist in the army in WWI

The first 3 anyway.

[Beninator]

Ben, most of the time I enjoy your posts. Not sure I can say I do this one. Really confused about your thinking in regards to the guard situation. Any time a program has a chance to get a talent like Bell then that's a no brainer. Do we need bigs, yes we do but only because we may have missed the boat on several in the past 3 or 4 years. I think what Geno and his staff is bringing in is great. Keep up the good work. I'd bet as we lose a few bigs in the next 2 years ,Geno will bring in replacements that will give us more quality minutes then we have had in the last several years. Now if we can land Paul from Gurnee Warren that will be two great classes in a row.

We can agree to disagree on things and all will be well. I believe that our roster has one more guard than where we should be for next year. While I don't follow HS basketball, just how good is Bell? I think that guards are fairly easy to recruit. I did some research on Bell and while there are some good articles out there on Bell, I found this one interesting as it goes in depth about what the author perceives as Bell's strengths and weaknesses.

http://illinoishsbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/05/you-dont-know-em-but-you-better-start_16.html

"Overall, Bell is not an overwhelming player that has crazy potential. He is quick and has good point guard size and is a good, at best, passer. One handed passes or behind the back passes would be rarities from Bell, he??™s just an old fashioned two handed passer that gets the ball to the open player. I would like to see him get a better shot and make up for his lack of inside game. His shooting stroke doesn??™t look that bad so he should be able to improve his shot if he works hard enough."

That seems to describe a lot of our guards on the current roster. Don't get me wrong, I hope Bell is a player who will smoke by Daniel Ruffin and is tougher than Maniscalco. Until I see him, I am not going to get too excited. I am excited to see what we have in Shayock and Hodges.

[tornado]

Ben -- I don't know who that blogger is as he chooses not to identify himself - but he calls Dre Henley the best player in the state and his opinion on Bell was written several months ago before the summer AAU season and our coaches actually saw him several times over the summer -- we don't know if this blogger even saw him at all.

Again -- when Sammy went out last December Bradley fans should have certainly realized then if not already before that how important DEPTH at point guard is...

[shaunguth]

Welcome to BU, Ka'Darryl.....looking forward to watching you play!