UConn's Big East Rival Will Be ............

[nadav]

I think it was Howie that took his verbal and when King wanted to come Calhoun told Croshere that UConn does not take verbals from players who had not visited the school. Apparently he called Barnes and basically handed Croshere to PC. It’s an interesting story I think.

Yeah, that sounds right. Croshere was a miss.

We were also trying to get a visit from a kid from Dalzell, SC at the time. That one worked out.

 

[Waquoit]

Yeah, that sounds right. Croshere was a miss.
We were also trying to get a visit from a kid from Dalzell, SC at the time. That one worked out.

Along those lines, does anyone remember the story with Bob Sura? Wasn't there mutual interest but it just didn't work out?

 

[ucawn]

Every message board everywhere are filled with losers. If you post on these boards and don't accept that then you might be the Grand Puba of losers. Yes, the young ones, that's my point. They have seen the trophy case and that's about it.

PeeCee is a perennial NIT team. And it won’t change so long as UConn has a breathing basketball program. Players would chose UConn over PeeCee 999/1000 given that; A: Kevin Ollie is not the basketball coach, and B: UConn actually wants the player.

 

[FriarJ]

Yeah, that sounds right. Croshere was a miss.

We were also trying to get a visit from a kid from Dalzell, SC at the time. That one worked out.

So many of PC’s best players ever have either been from the state of CT. Or could have easily ended up at UConn. Honestly it’s possible that if we put all CT. Teams together PC’s would be better.

 

[nadav]

Along those lines, does anyone remember the story with Bob Sura? Wasn't there mutual interest but it just didn't work out?

Good one. Sura wanted to go to Uconn, actually any major D-1 would have done, because he didn’t get much attention. Leitao pushed for him, but we already had offered and gotten a commitment from Richie Ashmeade. Who was a full blown disaster!

 

[nadav]

So many of PC’s best players ever have either been from the state of CT. Or could have easily ended up at UConn. Honestly it’s possible that if we put all CT. Teams together PC’s would be better.

Well I’ve got nothing to do! Let’s do it.

 

[FriarJ]

PeeCee is a perennial NIT team. And it won’t change so long as UConn has a breathing basketball program. Players would chose UConn over PeeCee 999/1000 given that; A: Kevin Ollie is not the basketball coach, and B: UConn actually wants the player.

Thank goodness the BE gave you a ventilator.

 

[superjohn]

Good one. Sura wanted to go to Uconn, actually any major D-1 would have done, because he didn’t get much attention. Leitao pushed for him, but we already had offered and gotten a commitment from Richie Ashmeade. Who was a full blown disaster!

Wow, never knew this. What a bummer, Sura is one of my all-time favorite college players. He'll now go right up there with Camby on the "what if" UConn guys list.

 

[nadav]

Wow, never knew this. What a bummer, Sura is one of my all-time favorite college players. He'll now go right up there with Camby on the "what if" UConn guys list.

True. But we couldn’t afford Marcus!

 

[FriarJ]

Wow, never knew this. What a bummer, Sura is one of my all-time favorite college players. He'll now go right up there with Camby on the "what if" UConn guys list.

PC has the worst. Tim Duncan wanted to come and the President at the time who was not a sports fan said Barnes could not offer him a scholarship even though he had kids transferring out until they actually left the school. Barnes got angry left to go to Clemson and Jason Williams and Greg Buckner were released from their LOI. They would have joined Croshere, Eric Williams and Troy Brown. All six of these guys played in the NBA.

We could have been a contender.

 

[FriarJ]

Well I’ve got nothing to do! Let’s do it.

OK, I need to phone a friend. Be back shortly with the list.

 

[the Q]

PC has the worst. Tim Duncan wanted to come and the President at the time who was not a sports fan said Barnes could not offer him a scholarship even though he had kids transferring out until they actually left the school. Barnes got angry left to go to Clemson and Jason Williams and Greg Buckner were released from their LOI. They would have joined Croshere, Eric Williams and Troy Brown. All six of these guys played in the NBA.

We could have been a contender.

And of the 3 he only got Buckner to follow him.

 

[superjohn]

True. But we couldn’t afford Marcus!

I know but Camby and Ray Allen playing together for 3 years would've been insane. It would have been an all-time college basketball team and UConn would have another national championship or 2.

 

[FriarJ]

And of the 3 he only got Buckner to follow him.

Duncan had already committed to Wake but I always wondered why Williams went to Marshall instead

 

[the Q]

Duncan had already committed to Wake but I always wondered why Williams went to Marshall instead

didn’t he start out at Florida?

 

[FriarJ]

@nadav

All the players in the 1st group were All-Americans other than Billy Eason who I threw in there because I loved him. He did a tour in the USCG out of HS then went to PC.

Bruce Soup Campbell, Wilbur Cross
Kris Dunn, New London
Bill Eason, St. Thomas More
Johnny Egan, Weaver
Ryan Gomes, Wilby

Others
Donnie Lewis, Cromwell
Kendrick Moore, Hartford
Marvin Saddler, St. Joseph's
Rob Sanders, St. Thomas More

 

[FriarJ]

didn’t he start out at Florida?

Yep, I think you are right, either way he was expected to go to Clemson with Barnes but didn't. Buckner was a stud as well.

 

[superjohn]

PC has the worst. Tim Duncan wanted to come and the President at the time who was not a sports fan said Barnes could not offer him a scholarship even though he had kids transferring out until they actually left the school. Barnes got angry left to go to Clemson and Jason Williams and Greg Buckner were released from their LOI. They would have joined Croshere, Eric Williams and Troy Brown. All six of these guys played in the NBA.

We could have been a contender.

Oh yes, I knew about Duncan and Williams being Providence bound. I remember hearing Jason Williams came up for a weekend at PC and got caught with weed in the dorm. No idea if it's true but I don't think he ever would've lasted at Providence, he hated school too much and loved weed too much. It's insane the school wouldn't allow Barnes to make room for Duncan. That ended it for Duncan and Barnes at PC and set you guys back so much as a program despite making that run in '97.

It should have been Camby, Ray Allen, and Duncan all playing right next to each other in New England.

 

[superjohn]

Duncan had already committed to Wake but I always wondered why Williams went to Marshall instead

Williams went to Marshall because of Billy Donovan.

 

[FriarJ]

Oh yes, I knew about Duncan and Williams being Providence bound. I remember hearing Jason Williams came up for a weekend at PC and got caught with weed in the dorm. No idea if it's true but I don't think he ever would've lasted at Providence, he hated school too much and loved weed too much. It's insane the school wouldn't allow Barnes to make room for Duncan. That ended it for Duncan and Barnes at PC and set you guys back so much as a program despite making that run in '97.

It should have been Camby, Ray Allen, and Duncan all playing right next to each other in New England.

Shows you how important leadership is. One positive from the episode is the board learned how important sports were to the school. This priest (I say this with pure contempt) is the one that ditched an excellent baseball program as well for Title IX even though donors stepped up to fund another women's sport. He has the art center on campus named after him. Father Friggin Smith, ruined the athletics there for over a decade and he was why we couldn't keep coaches. PC now of course has had 15 years of Father Shanley who is as good as we could have ever gotten. His father's firm designed the BE logo and he is a PC graduate. He has restored respect and I love the man.

 

[nadav]

@nadav

All the players in the 1st group were All-Americans other than Billy Eason who I through in there because I loved him. He did a tour in the USCG out of HS then went to PC.

Bruce Soup Campbell, Wilbur Cross
Kris Dunn, New London
Bill Eason, St. Thomas More
Johnny Egan, Weaver
Ryan Gomes, Wilby

Others
Donnie Lewis, Cromwell
Kendrick Moore, Hartford
Marvin Saddler, St. Joseph's
Rob Sanders, St. Thomas More

Quite a list. Amazing.

Donnie Lewis a legend from my hometown. He played on our Class S (smallest schools) squads with Al Weston, they won a bit.

 

[superjohn]

Shows you how important leadership is. One positive from the episode is the board learned how important sports were to the school. This priest (I say this with pure contempt) is the one that ditched an excellent baseball program as well for Title IX even though donors stepped up to fund another women's sport. He has the art center on campus named after him. Father Friggin Smith, ruined the athletics there for over a decade and he was why we couldn't keep coaches. PC now of course has had 15 years of Father Shanley who is as good as we could have ever gotten. His father's firm designed the BE logo and he is a PC graduate. He has restored respect and I love the man.

Yep. It seems like the last conference realignment really changed things for the Catholic schools, I know it did with Providence and Seton Hall. They now know how important basketball is to the lifeblood of the school and have focused and spent the money necessary to make them good again, where for a long time things had grown stagnant and the will wasn't there. It certainly helps that all the additions take basketball so seriously.

 

[FriarJ]

Yep. It seems like the last conference realignment really changed things for the Catholic schools, I know it did with Providence and Seton Hall. They now know how important basketball is to the lifeblood of the school and have focused and spent the money necessary to make them good again, where for a long time things had grown stagnant and the will wasn't there. It certainly helps that all the additions take basketball so seriously.

I know you know this but you are going to love this league.

 

[superjohn]

I know you know this but you are going to love this league.

It's been my favorite league without UConn in it. I love everything about it, stoked for next season.

 

[FriarJ]

It's been my favorite league without UConn in it. I love everything about it, stoked for next season.

You just happen to live in the one city where you can get great seats for a road game as well. Plus another one 1 1/2 hours north. I bet you are stoked.