So how many years in a row are we to be told that this is the class to turn things around? Every year, the Hawkeye experts tell us that these recruits are great and every year we just keep getting worse.
I guess that's why I prefer to believe the people who evaluate players for a living that have this classed picked as 6th, 7th or 8th best in the Big 10. I've been fooled a few too many times by listening to people on this board try to claim that certain recruits are much better than their star ratings and year after year these players just aren't good enough.
In comparison to other Big 10 teams who recruit Top 100 talent and then beat us like a rented mule year after year. I'm glad these young men want to be Hawkeyes, but to jump up and down and celebrate a class that simply is below average just doesn't do it for me. I mean yes, this class is off the charts good for Lick, but it's still below average in the Big 10, which the last time I checked was the measuring stick we should be using.
I hope for the first time in the Lick era that the "hawkeye experts" are right and the "paid" guys are wrong, but I guess I'll have to see it to believe it.
Yep, the paid guys get it right every time. For those of you that usually don't get it, that statement is meant to be more than a bit sarcastic.
Indiana had the #1 class in the Big Ten - #11 national class last year, the #5 class in 2008 and #3 class in 2007. While I realize they went through a coaching change and that Creek went out for the year early with the injury it shows that basketball, winning isn't about rankings of players by the "experts".
The NCAA tournament and even the Final Four, i.e. - George Mason, are riddled with examples of TEAMS that have players who improve their skills while in college and grow together as a unit. Basketball is a great example of a game that epitomizes the importance of teamwork and team chemistry. I know you don't want to hear it but those are the things this coaching staff is trying to instill. It doesn't happen overnight. And it certainly doesn't happen when we lose players each year either. I believe this staff is as disappointed in players transferring out as we are, but they continue to follow their beliefs and their principles. Long term those beliefs and principles will be what serves them well.
Let's also compare how the pundits do with Hawkeye football recruiting:
2010 recruits - Everyone is clamoring over the great class coming in and it gets rated #4 in the Big Ten by the national pundits. Below is based on Scout.com ratings.
2009 class - Rated last in the Big Ten
2008 class - Rated 7th in the Big Ten
2007 class - Rated 5th in the Big Ten
2006 class - Rated 6th in the Big Ten
2005 class - Rated 3rd in the Big Ten
I'm certainly glad the pundits don't always get it right. If so this past year would have been pretty disappointed.
