Montez Mathis

[Hugo]

i would love to know what in him not deciding today leads you to believe it's bad news for us.

With the sudden surge of crystal balls to Rutgers and considering that they were neck and neck with us or as some said we had a 50/50 shot, I don't consider this bad news at all. Hopefully with a little extra time, logic will prevail and he will commit to the good guys.

 

[bazz&boujee]

speculation isn't real life

 

[Burnsbros23]

Sounds like we will have time to get back above Rutgers. If we lose a recruit to Rutgers that be tough.

 

[navery12]

So he isn't deciding today anymore? That can't be good news for us.

All depends how you view the information that's come out. If what's been reported is true and he wants UConn and parents want Rutgers I'd think that's good news he's holding off. Then again it's just as easy to make the argument more time makes it more likely his parents change his mind than the other way around

 

[Guapo]

The sun will rise, the sun will set and UConn will still be better than Buttgers, regardless of whether or not Mathis commits here or there

 

[champs99and04]

I am impressed.

With absolutely no actual insight save the odd quote from a recruiting article, we've built an entire narrative around this kid's recruitment.

Spoilers...the narrative is probably crap.

The 'narrative' has little to do with this recruitment. If anything, it's a matter of people forecasting rain after 40 consecutive days of rain, especially when yesterday's recruitment rings to an eerie beat that could be prophetic of tomorrow's.

Notes are taken on the ground, but pictures are sometimes snapped from a blimp. Regardless of how this one plays out, there are precious acres of job security at stake here, and if nobody can predict the result then it's still worth parsing the info that is available.

 

[champs99and04]

All depends how you view the information that's come out. If what's been reported is true and he wants UConn and parents want Rutgers I'd think that's good news he's holding off. Then again it's just as easy to make the argument more time makes it more likely his parents change his mind than the other way around

This is the way it went in my head, which is not a good source:

Kid wakes up pumped to announce he's going to UConn. He follows every player from 1965 to now.

Family is resistant and asks him to postpone the announcement. He sighs and agrees out of respect, giving them plenty of time to cue up the Rutgers pep band.

Ollie is in the background with the NLOI (and I know they can't sign them yet, but he brings one anyways) already in his hands, shrieking in horror.

Every hour that passes proceeds to be a bad hour for us.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

All this....and he hasn't announced yet?

 

[UCweCONN]

The conference (and family, I'm sure) played a key role in getting Wilson to St. Johns, as well.

What? We family and we didn't get Wilson. You must mean his actual family.......

 

[BUConn10]

i would love to know what in him not deciding today leads you to believe it's bad news for us.

I just don't see how delaying an already announced decision benefits the larger, established power. He and everyone who watches college basketball knows what we bring to the table, what's their to think about if that's the route you are destined to take? You delay your decision to think about an option that is perceived as "riskier", the underdog choice benefits from the "let's sleep on it". All this only a couple days after a huge string of twitter follows. Like I said it's my interpretation of the events as we are all discussing, you have no obligation to "believe" it's anything.

 

[pj]

I just don't see how delaying an already announced decision benefits the larger, established power. He and everyone who watches college basketball knows what we bring to the table, what's their to think about if that's the route you are destined to take? You delay your decision to think about an option that is perceived as "riskier", the underdog choice benefits from the "let's sleep on it". All this only a couple days after a huge string of twitter follows. Like I said it's my interpretation of the events as we are all discussing, you have no obligation to "believe" it's anything.

Maybe so, but from another perspective, lots of kids would be reluctant to defy their parents directly but may stubbornly refuse to obey a directive they don't believe in. That leads to stalemate -- for a while. The longer the delay, the older and more mature & independent Montez is, and the more parents are likely to give in.

Regardless, the UConn coaches have to stay on this kid and keep selling. We're in the top two and we're the objectively better choice. If we persist and continue to build rapport and trust, with parents and coaches as well as Montez, there's every reason to be optimistic.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The problem with the American is as much about geography as it is USF, Tulane, ECU, and Tulsa's programs and RPI dragging everything down. It can't be easy to sit in the house of a recruit and tell his parents I know these schools are in the middle of nowhere but we are on TV.

What? The AAC geography has problems, but being in the middle of nowhere isn't one of them. Providence is a lot more "nowhere" than New Orleans, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, Memphis and Orlando. It's spread out and the schools mostly have crappy name recognition. That's the issue.

 

[upstater]

If you think the American, a conference that didn't exist when these kids were growing up, isn't an issue, you do not know what you're talking about and should probably stop as soon as humanly possible.

The American is a big issue.

In this case though the Friar boys stated Rutgers is going to have great exposure while UConn isn't.

If he goes to RU, he won't be on TV, and OOC, it'll be like he plays on Mars.

Again, if this were a half decent team that UConn was up against, you can make a case that UConn games would have less juice. But Rutgers and the 34 fans at the RAC? I dont think so.

 

[uconn34]

The insanity continues

 

[upstater]

The problem with the American is as much about geography as it is USF, Tulane, ECU, and Tulsa's programs and RPI dragging everything down. It can't be easy to sit in the house of a recruit and tell his parents I know these schools are in the middle of nowhere but we are on TV.

They're not in the middle of nowhere. They're in big cities.

But if it's travel you're concerned with, where do you think Omaha is located? Milwaukee. Indiana. Chicago. Nowhere near Providence, that's for sure.

The Big10 too--Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana. No one is driving out there.

It is all TV.

 

[Fishy]

Stop mentioning cities and start mentioning schools.

Going to Orlando is nice. Going to New Orleans is nice. Going there to play UCF and Tulane is not a selling point for any kid.

Schools are the problem, not the cities. There isn't one school other than UConn in the American that can be used as a 'destination' opponent.

 

[upstater]

Stop mentioning cities and start mentioning schools.

Going to Orlando is nice. Going to New Orleans is nice. Going there to play UCF and Tulane is not a selling point for any kid.

Schools are the problem, not the cities. There isn't one school other than UConn in the American that can be used as a 'destination' opponent.

Still, though. Rutgers.

How is every Rutgers game not like an East Carolina game?

Heck, the scheduled Rutgers v. East Carolina game will have people gouging their eyes out.

Think I'd rather watch a MAC game.

 

[Chief00]

Bunkey can't take mommy out clubbing or could he?

 

[GemParty]

"Honey, let's give Steve's team a try. Your Daddy & I saw them play in that March tournament thingy back in the 90's, before you were born"

 

[Matt1010]

Let the BY meltdown begin

 

[6xChamps]

Mathis to Rutgers.

 

[Candyman]

He just committed to Rutgers. Meltdown in 3 2 1

 

[TRest]

I don't know what to say. Glen Miller was the man all along.

 

[TRest]

Still, though. Rutgers.

How is every Rutgers game not like an East Carolina game?

Heck, the scheduled Rutgers v. East Carolina game will have people gouging their eyes out.

Think I'd rather watch a MAC game.

Everyone here better get used to the taste of humble pie. The glory days are over.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Cool

 

[Kemba429]

The real question is... How do rutgers fans think that they are New Yorks team?

 

[upstater]

Everyone here better get used to the taste of humble pie. The glory days are over.

Yup. I mean, those quotes about his Mom. I read those and said--he's going to Rutgers. Still think Rutgers is horrifically horrid.

 

[reddevilhusky]

Ugh we suck at this right now

 

[CL82]

Everyone here better get used to the taste of humble pie. The glory days are over.

 

[Candyman]

Trying not to get down about this but it's hard not to.

Everyone laughed at Rutgers promo last year but now their winning recruiting battles against us for a 80th ranked player.