Thursday, September 30, 2004
the case for one and two year studs
John Schuster sounds the alarm (prematurely) about the University of Arizona's recruiting. Lute Olson has put together several high-quality recruiting classes in a row and nary a year has gone by that the Wildcats have been without a star. Furthermore, last year's troubles were partly a function of having too many chefs in the kitchen, not too few.That being said, John's broader argument is quite persuasive. To succeed, today's NCAA clubs need athletic, dynamic players. But so do NBA squads, prompting talented players to leave early, after only a year or two of college. Several schools have responded to this trend by adjusting their recruiting tactics and targeting likely three and four year players. Exploring the Wildcats' past, Schuster argues downgrading is an unlikely recipe for success. In other words, stars remain a must. Which may not sound like a radical notion. Until you realize that couresty of elite programs' new recruiting philosophies a school or two has probably forgotten the basics.
