Nikita Mescheriakov to transfer

[mrsixer123]

Dec 22, 2009 15:22:19 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:06:03 GMT -5 gojeffgoroyunder7 said:

STOP HATING. We have a great coach.

Yes we do. But facts are facts--you can call this on JT III or Burke or Broadus, whomever--of late, Georgetown is either not recruiting the right reserve players, or not providing a framework for them to grow and succeed. There is a pattern here:

Class of 2009
Marc Egerson- transfer
Jessie Sapp - Graduated
Octavius Spann - transfer
Josh Thornton - transfer

Class of 2010
Vernon Macklin - transfer
Jeremiah Rivers - transfer
Dajuan Summers - early entry

Class of 2011
Austin Freeman
Nikita Mescheriakov - transfer
Omar Wattad - transfer
Chris Wright

+1. Sadly, I think one more transfer is going to happen. Per the rules, I will leave it at that

[CAHoya07]

Dec 22, 2009 15:25:20 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:13:42 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

A question: Causey, Guibunda, Omar and Nikita. What do they have in common? Is it possible that ONE consideration in their decisions was not feeling at home among the rest of the team?

HIGHLY unlikely. How can a caucasian NOT feel at home at Georgetown University??

Guibunda is African.

[mrsixer123]

Dec 22, 2009 15:09:58 GMT -5 hobokenhoya said:

Good riddance. Guy absolutely stinks. The only thing JTIII did wrong was let him play as much as he did last year. Guy's feet are stuck to the floor. Talk about a non-story.

lol. no matter what you think of his bball ability, he was one of us, so it is a story.

[BubbleVisionBiff]

Guibunda was not caucasian; neither was Omar, so unclear what Ed's point is.

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2009 15:29:41 GMT -5 CAHoya07 said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:25:20 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

HIGHLY unlikely. How can a caucasian NOT feel at home at Georgetown University??

Guibunda is African.

Yeah...and Omar is Egyptian-American. Not exactly your classic white guy profile. In fact, throw in Nikita's being from Belarus, and you actually have 4 very different demographics there.

[krukster201]

SMH at the chaos.. wish the young man well and keep it moving ... I'm worried about HARVARD VS. The HOYAS ... Nikita will be fine .. so will our HOYAS.

[Cambridge]

I'm tired of the snide comments and general snark directed at Nikita. I think it's probably a better reflection on those who perpetuate it than on Nikita himself. Personally, I respect Nikita's decision to move on. Good luck to him wherever he ends up. Nobody can say he didn't work hard and give everything he's got to the program. Our team was in a tough spot last year and he really stepped up when the team suffered a serious lack of depth. Would I have wanted more? Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't respect him or his talent. It simply didn't work out here at Georgetown and I wish him the best.

[Cambridge]

Dec 22, 2009 11:57:34 GMT -5 gtowndynasty said:

Our problem is a unique issue. Coach doesnt play a ton of guys. Some people might see it as he doesnt play a lot of guys because there is not a ton of talent to be played. But that kind of reasoning is circuitous. When we had deep teams with guys that could clearly compete at this level, we didnt play them significantly (see Macklin and Rivers for example). When you go to a school like UNC or Texas, and take Jordan Hamilton for example, a top ten recruit that doesnt start. Well it is easy to sell him on signing b/c you know Coach Barnes is gonna play 9 or 10 guys and not for spot minutes. He gets like 20+mpg.

Bottom line is there is a belief that one doesnt crack JT3's top 7, maybe 8, you arent gonna play. 4 guys on our squad get over 32 mpg. That is just not seen at other schools. In order to attract players and keep players, 3 is gonna have to play more guys. I mean seriously. When we are up big he still wont allow a guy like Vee who is very capable to get minutes. Now I dont believe in subbing all 5 guys in at a time like UNC does b/c we are just not talented enough for that, but a guy sprinkled in amongst our other top guys for 5-7 minute spurts wont kill us. I mean seriously we have schollie players like Vee riding pine against Tulane or Sav St when the outcome of the game has been determined already.

My one gripe with Coach is that. To me the most interesting question with this extra schollie, us presumably at the top of the list for Roscoe, and having our full roster back (presumably) next year is how in the world coach is gonna manage pt! Markel will not be ok playing Vee minutes and that may mean Vee will be pushed further to the bench. Also, Roscoe has to come in and warrant big time minutes. But with Chris, Jason, Austin still here Hollis will likely be coming off the bench as will Roscoe. Thus, IF we do land Roscoe and use Nikita's schollie to bring in a/n, it will be VERY interesting to see how these minutes shake out. One thing's for certain, we will be too talented and deep for 4 guys to be playing 32+ mpg.

I haven't done a ton of research, but just simply looked at one team - UConn. They feature five players who average over 30 mins a game. The next highest? 16 mpg. After that? 10. Then you get into single digits.

[RusskyHoya]

Dec 22, 2009 15:22:19 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:06:03 GMT -5 gojeffgoroyunder7 said:

STOP HATING. We have a great coach.

Yes we do. But facts are facts--you can call this on JT III or Burke or Broadus, whomever--of late, Georgetown is either not recruiting the right reserve players, or not providing a framework for them to grow and succeed. There is a pattern here:

Class of 2009
Marc Egerson- transfer
Jessie Sapp - Graduated
Octavius Spann - transfer
Josh Thornton - transfer

Class of 2010
Vernon Macklin - transfer
Jeremiah Rivers - transfer
Dajuan Summers - early entry

Class of 2011
Austin Freeman
Nikita Mescheriakov - transfer
Omar Wattad - transfer
Chris Wright

Class of '09 - 25% non-transfer rate
Class of '10 - 33% non-transfer rate
Class of '11 - 50% non-transfer rate

We're moving in the right direction!

[gtowndynasty]

Agreed Cambridge. It is not his fault he is not good enough for some posters. I mean he tried his damndest but as we can all see it didnt work out. WIsh him luck as with every guy who leaves. You cant blame a guy for wanting to leave and go to a place where he can play and be happy.

But for guys who who criticize him and put forth personal attacks need to get a life, for real.

[strummer8526]

Dec 22, 2009 15:28:46 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:22:19 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Yes we do. But facts are facts--you can call this on JT III or Burke or Broadus, whomever--of late, Georgetown is either not recruiting the right reserve players, or not providing a framework for them to grow and succeed. There is a pattern here:

Class of 2009
Marc Egerson- transfer
Jessie Sapp - Graduated
Octavius Spann - transfer
Josh Thornton - transfer

Class of 2010
Vernon Macklin - transfer
Jeremiah Rivers - transfer
Dajuan Summers - early entry

Class of 2011
Austin Freeman
Nikita Mescheriakov - transfer
Omar Wattad - transfer
Chris Wright

+1. Sadly, I think one more transfer is going to happen. Per the rules, I will leave it at that

In violation of the board rules, I will call you an ass-hat. Now get back to checking that cellphone. You might be missing a text.

[NCHoya]

This thread is getting little absurd.

First, we have people on here who see it fit to take personal shots at a guy who decided to transfer but never gave anything less than max effort when he was in a Hoya uniform. I appreciate what Nikita did the last 2.5 years and wish him well. Not sure what is wrong with some of you guys. It is a little sad to be ripping on a kid who is trying to live his life better and get to play a game he obviously enjoys.

Second, it is interesting no one should bring up the fact JT3 has an awful graduation rate without getting told we are haters. I support JT3 and think he is a great coach, but I am not just going to hide my head in the sand and ignore this HUGE red flag. He has a terrible history so far of graduating players and at Georgetown he needs to be held accountable for it. All some of us are saying is something needs to change in his approach to recruiting because these results are unacceptable.

[RockawayHoya]

I certainly won't hold a grudge against Nikita for transferring. He worked his butt off for us, played hard when he was on the floor and from all accounts, was a good teammate. If he wants to go somewhere else for PT so he can develop his game and turn pro some day, that's fine too. Best of luck to him.

But on the other side of the coin: Nikita had for than a fair shot at PT during his career at GU. I, along with many others, felt a lot of his PT last year was unwarranted. Save the first SU game last year maybe one other, he was mediocre at best in his other appearances. Just look at the numbers: 34.4% FG, 26.2% from 3, 57.1% FT, and a below average defender (as evidenced by the ridiculous high rate of fouls he committed).

For whatever reason, Coach thought he was our best option last year and stuck with him. Now, it's obvious he thinks others (Benimon, Sims, Sanford) are better options, and are going with them instead. For the most part, JTIII doesn't pull any punches and play any favorites (although again, you could strongly argue the whole Sapp/Nikita starting lineup fiasco last year). He plays the guys who he thinks gives us the best chance to win. As an example, I'm sure Hollis wasn't promised minutes for this year, but he has flat out earned them and deserves to play. Nikita didn't. He was a liability nearly every time he stepped out on the floor for us (regardless of opponent), and we just couldn't continue to have that. Bottom line is this: you have to earn your minutes here, and if you don't, you're going to sit. If you don't like sitting and you want to play, feel free to go somewhere else.

[HoyaNyr320]

Dec 22, 2009 16:01:24 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

Dec 22, 2009 15:28:46 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

+1. Sadly, I think one more transfer is going to happen. Per the rules, I will leave it at that

In violation of the board rules, I will call you an ass-hat. Now get back to checking that cellphone. You might be missing a text.

First of all - amen strummer85. Your post reminds me of this gem: (not safe for work)

Secondly - Hmm... I wonder which player mrsixer is inferring through his violation of board rules. I have a "source" right here.... hoyatalk2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=20836&page=2

BTW.... there's plenty of offense and PT to go around for all players in the system if they play smart and shoot the ball well. Just ask Jon Wallace, Jeff Green, PE, Jr., Julian Vaughn and even Nikita and Omar at times last year.

[grokamok]

Dec 22, 2009 14:20:57 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

Could perks also be those of the Tennessee Pride, Lane Kiffin version? Gtown isn't as strong in that category for die hard groupie hotties.

It's not booster- or program-organized, but it's been here and available in a far more genuine (if we want to call it that) way. I just don't think that "Who wants to sex Nikita?" has the right ring to it (though I somehow remember it as: "Who wants to climb Mt. Mutombo?" -- perhaps this was just a variation he used).

Best of luck to him. Aside from the graduation rate hit and the sadness of losing any Hoya, this could be considered win-win if he does relatively well elsewhere and we are able to effectively use the scholarship slot. I agree that we should be rotating more, but that requires players who can effectively contribute; despite his hustle, Nikita had not really developed out of being a quickness liability on defense and a turnover liability on offense, though I don't think his teammates regularly gave him timely opportunities, often hitting him with a pass much later than was available (looking elsewhere first) and than would be required to ensure an open shot or an uncontested drive.

[hoyaclap]

While none of these transfers in a vacuum are particularly alarming, it's clear to me that these transfers erode at the leadership and maturity necessary for success. I did some quick calculations over JTIII's time, which solidify a general feeling, but they are interesting nonetheless.

Average Varsity Experience at Beginning of Season (Results)

04-05: 1.29 years (19-13, 8-8 BE 8th Place, NIT 3rd Round)

05-06: 1.60 years (23-10, 10-6 BE 5th Place, NCAA Sweet 16)

06-07: 1.54 Years (30-7, 13-3 BE Reg Season Champs, BET Champ, NCAA Final Four

07-08: 1.54 Years (28-6, 15-3 BE Reg Season Champs BET Runner Up, NCAA 2nd Round)

08-09: 1.09 Years (16-14, 7-11 BE 11th Place, NIT 1st Round)

09-10: 1.04 Years (TBD)



I'm not a stats guys, and there are clearly other variables that factor in here, like quality of talent, game experience, etc.

In most cases we may have upgraded talent/potential during transfers, but rather than fortifying our future with "players that want to be here" it feels more like our program is a shiny balloon with a slow leak.

[FrazierFanatic]

Dec 22, 2009 14:35:48 GMT -5 casualhoya said:

I am supremely confident that Nikita transferred due to the pounding he was taking on The Blog.

You're welcome.

Casually.

Seeing that your blog cannot perform at a major college blog level, basically sucks, and has no place on the roster of Hoya blogs,I feel we would all be better off if you decided to blog for another school

[damnhoya]

Beyond ignorant.

Nikita wasn't playing this year (and when he played, he wasn't playing defense and he wasn't even hitting his shots like last year). The reality is that Nikita got minutes last year and hoped he would be getting the same (or more) this year. He isn't for good reasons. Good luck to him wherever he goes.

I hope with the extra schollie, JTIII goes hard after another big (either in 2010 or 2011). Would have been nice to have another body at practice, but this team will be just fine (even though I still haven't gotten over how poorly we played against ODU).

[FromTheBeginning]

Guys - the bench playing late in a game feeling would be fine if our top 7-8 were still not turning the ball over 18-20 times a game - they need all the floor time they can get right now.

[damnhoya]

And the "beyond ignorant" is in reference to those making racial overtures/comments.