Big East with 2nd most Top 100 recruits for 2014

[Bill Marsh]

Of last years top 16 recruiting classes, 11 were in the top 25 again this season. Recruiting is an every year event.

Look at this about Seton Hall from ESPN recruiting....
Who they want: With the mission seemingly now accomplished with their 2014 class, Seton Hall is transitioning its focus to the class of 2015, where the Pirates will again try to make a splash by targeting the likes of local products including Isaiah Briscoe, Derrick Jones, Franklin Howard and Bryant Crawford. But their biggest need is likely to be up front with Moustapha Diagne and Jessie Govan being two of their top early targets.

Also, just looking at the rivals 150 right now, AAC already has 4 top 100 players. Do you really think it'd be good for us in November to have a possible headline that AAC out recruits the Big East? That wouldn't be good for us. Especially on the heels of this year's tournament.

Well said, but again recruiting is still the first step and that also doesn't mean you need Top 25 class or top 100 players every year to WIN. Player development of talented recruits has been the formula for the BE over the years, not simply highly ranked talent infusion like Kentucky. To me that's marketing for coaches and/or programs that aren't getting it done on the court (Willard/SHU). Creighton, Wichita st & Virginia are current examples of teams that have held a solid core together an has gotten a few good runs out of them. If your program constantly needs top 100 players then what does that say about the players you already have.

Take your team GU for example. As much as I love Peak & the rest of the recruits, I don't think anyone of them will play better than DSR next year. Even though 3 of your recruits are ranked higher than he was coming out of hs, his development will be more important than the freshmen IMO. If Seton Hall gets a couple of key contributors next year like a Brian Oliver or Patrick Auda etc I'll be happy, not disappointed because we didn't get another McD's AA (I'll gladly take 1 or 2 tho).

What Big East team has won without getting highly talented recruits? I'm not talking Kentucky/Calipari recruits because no one gets recruits of that caliber year after year.

[BillikensWin]

Recruiting is one thing...but it's what the various coaches do with them that matters to those of us who live and die with our programs. With the top kids 1 and out, it leaves room for teams to actually develop lower rated guys into outstanding teams. It looks like the Big East is bringing in highly regarded players. That's great for the league. As long as there are good coaches in the league, I think that will continue.

I don't buy ratings, and I never have. It's great to talk about as a source of pride for the school, but performance is always better than potential. Potential means you haven't done anything yet.

[Bill Marsh]

Recruiting is one thing...but it's what the various coaches do with them that matters to those of us who live and die with our programs. With the top kids 1 and out, it leaves room for teams to actually develop lower rated guys into outstanding teams. It looks like the Big East is bringing in highly regarded players. That's great for the league. As long as there are good coaches in the league, I think that will continue.

I don't buy ratings, and I never have. It's great to talk about as a source of pride for the school, but performance is always better than potential. Potential means you haven't done anything yet.

That's a fine attitude to have when you're playing in the A10 where the talent level is more modest across the board. But the Big East is a step in talent and there's a certain level of talent that is needed to compete.

There's no denying the truth of what you say. It's not that there are no good players below the 4-star level. Nor is it the case that the top 50-100 recruits are guaranteed to succeed. I see it as the odds being greater for success when ratings are higher and decrease with lower rated recruits. More of the top rated recruits will be successful and fewer LF the lower rated recruits.