Nikita Mescheriakov to transfer

[tashoya]

Finally, all this talk is about how JTIII can't keep guys in the program and how kids might not want to play for him. I think its interesting how he has been able to keep two guys, Roy and Greg, who, had they not wanted to play for JTIII could easily have gone pro.

Cough... Greg Monroe... Cough.

Good luck Nikita. Who's psyched for the extra roster spot?

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

I think our transfer numbers are on par with other big programs and looking at Duke, they have lost more marquee recruit/players then we have. Cyzk, King, Williams.....to our Macklin.

It would be nice to have a deeper bench but Nikita and Omar didn't extend that bench. We just need a few developing interior players and a kid like Benimon is a great fit. Maybe the coaches are aware of these things and have already adjusted?

[strummer8526]

Dec 22, 2009 16:21:20 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

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

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)

I do apologize for my use of un-parliamentary language here on the board. Most un-parliamentary, indeed.

Dec 22, 2009 19:22:17 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

Hurts the graduation rate?

Again, I ask what you care about -- the players' education or the school's academic rep. The only Thompson player I know of who hasn't graduated from some school that should have by now is Jeff, and he's going back to school. Egerson graduated, and I'm pretty sure Thorton and Spann are seniors now and on track (though I admit I have no real info here).

So again, do you care about people's education or merely PR?

I'm willing to say that, on balance, I care more about the school's academic reputation. That reputation affects thousands of current students and alums. One kid's education—especially a kid that we were happy to give a free education here for 2.5 years—is much lower on my scale.

[harwoodhoya]

This is a college basketball trend. It happens in high school and a lot in college. Every program deals with it. Look at Duke and Florida.

[Bando]

Dec 22, 2009 19:58:33 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Dec 22, 2009 17:27:41 GMT -5 Bando said:

Is there any subject you're unprepared to bring racial ressentiment into?

Look, I have no information saying this is a problem but it is a fact that most of our non-African American players have chosen to depart. What's wrong with asking the question whether it was ONE of their considerations, especially since one of our recruits for next year is not African American.

Another fact is that Georgetown, over the years, has been criticized for not recruiting non-African Americans. Now most of those actually recruited are leaving. Why are some questions off-limits?

As has been pointed out upthread, half the players you mention aren't white, so there's that. As for Georgetown's historical lack of white players, this all came from JTII's decision to make up for a lack of money by recruiting in under-recruited areas, namely the inner city. It was literally the only way he could gain a comparative advantage, especially as a black coach. Then the hip-hop community embraced Georgetown, leading to a furthering of a perception that Georgetown was a black, urban team. These perceptions perpetuate themselves, and soon enough Georgetown became a black team no matter the actual practices, meaning black kids wanted to play here and white kids did not.

If JTII or JTIII were presented with a talented white kid that wanted to go here, I seriously doubt either would turn him down. My point is that perceptions, fair or not, have influenced who wants to go here in the first place.

[kchoya]

Dec 23, 2009 12:39:50 GMT -5 Bando said:

Dec 22, 2009 19:58:33 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

If JTII or JTIII were presented with a talented white kid that wanted to go here, I seriously doubt either would turn him down.

*cough* Nate Lubick *cough*

[the_way]

Dec 23, 2009 12:39:50 GMT -5 Bando said:

Dec 22, 2009 19:58:33 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Look, I have no information saying this is a problem but it is a fact that most of our non-African American players have chosen to depart. What's wrong with asking the question whether it was ONE of their considerations, especially since one of our recruits for next year is not African American.

Another fact is that Georgetown, over the years, has been criticized for not recruiting non-African Americans. Now most of those actually recruited are leaving. Why are some questions off-limits?

As has been pointed out upthread, half the players you mention aren't white, so there's that. As for Georgetown's historical lack of white players, this all came from JTII's decision to make up for a lack of money by recruiting in under-recruited areas, namely the inner city. It was literally the only way he could gain a comparative advantage, especially as a black coach. Then the hip-hop community embraced Georgetown, leading to a furthering of a perception that Georgetown was a black, urban team. These perceptions perpetuate themselves, and soon enough Georgetown became a black team no matter the actual practices, meaning black kids wanted to play here and white kids did not.

If JTII or JTIII were presented with a talented white kid that wanted to go here, I seriously doubt either would turn him down. My point is that perceptions, fair or not, have influenced who wants to go here in the first place.

JT2 recruited the best players he could find. The school was located in D.C. JT2 had been a high school coach in D.C. some of the best talent in the country was in D.C., which was majority black. I don't understand where the "make up for a lack of money" comment comes from.

Another thing, the hip-hop community having a love for G-town had nothing to do with the perception of G-town being perceived as a black school. Folks outside of hip-hop thought the same thing. The hip-hop community also embraced teams like St. John's and Syracuse too.

So what led to the perception then? The teams were mostly black, and you had an outspoken black man as a coach. The underlying impression is that it must be a black school because most majority white schools would not have a black man as a coach speak the way Coach Thompson did.

The funny thing is, most teams in basketball were and still today majority black. Coach Thompson even made a point about the recent Olympic team being all-black but Coach K was viewed as a saint, but Coach Thompson is a racist.

[vcjack]

It wasn't too hard to see this one coming. I don't hold any bad will against Nikita. The staff took a chance with Tay Spann's scholarship on a tall "local" kid with point guard experience, someone who if he developed could have been a good fit for the system. He more or less didn't pan out so he made the right decision to leave, he'll be fine and we'll be fine.

[theexorcist]

If he transfers, he transfers.

[strummer8526]

This thread is the most play Nikita has gotten in two years without fouling out.

[prhoya]

I wish Nikita "The Practice Legend" Mesh the best. I'm sure he'll move on and improve his 26% career 3PT FG% with more PT.

[DrumsGoBang]

The problem is our team isn't dirty enough. Kids want to leave for programs where the classes are a little easier (or don't really exist) and get a few more dollars under the table. We have to be dirtier to keep up. SUVs for everyone!!!!

[rosslynhoya]

Dec 24, 2009 9:46:21 GMT -5 DrumsGoBang said:

The problem is our team isn't dirty enough. Kids want to leave for programs where the classes are a little easier (or don't really exist) and get a few more dollars under the table. We have to be dirtier to keep up. SUVs for everyone!!!!

We don't need to go dirty. We just need the GU admissions committee to start demanding full body shots from female applicants. Head shots are a nice start, but they obviously aren't getting us to the level of Gainesville, Bloomington, or Chattanooga and it's hurting our ability to retain quality bench players.

[DrumsGoBang]

SUV's and women. Then maybe we can join the SEC. BOOM!

[OldHoyafan]

Transfers are expected in D1 basketball but certain players with minimum talents transfering for lack of playing time is surprising. I don't believe JT3 is promicing these young men that they will be starters or that they will be guaranteed an amount of playing time. These young men are making a conscious decision, based on his system, that they will be able to get a certain amount of playing time. Nikita coming into the program was said to be a 6'8-9" wing player with decent ballhandling skills and a very good 3pt shooting touch. Now, that skill set matches "The Princeton Offense" of Pete Carril, but the JT3 hybrid of that offense has the ability to play at a faster pace and the switching man-to-man defense imployed by JT3 requires abilities that Nikita just does not have. JT3 tried to make use of Nikita's projected 3pt shooting ability last year by making him a starter over Sapp. For whatever reason for half a season last year and to this point his ability to hit the wide open 3pt shot with D1 profficientcy just did not materialize. If you can't run on the wings as a small forward and you are a defensive liability, then you must be profficient at being a zone busting 3pt shooter to earn a niche on this team. For all of us who wanted to upgrade the preconference schedule, we realize that the tougher compitition means less garbage time , if any, in these types of games for the Nikitas, Benimoms or Sims to get extended runs. The players have to realize this also.

[SFHoya99]

Counterpoint to Nikita being a defensive liability, from CO: LINK

Nikita wasn't a great on ball defender, but when he was in, the team gave up less points. Mainly, I think, because while Nikita didn't grab a lot of boards, he crashed the boards a ton.

Of course, he also committed a lot of turnovers and missed a lot of shots.

[Dhall]

JTIII is about winning. Which is a good thing, because I wouldn't be paying $1000 per seat along with others in the lower bowl to watch a team of players that aren't good enough to play in the Big East.

It's a problem when good players transfer or when JTIII can't recruit good players. Recruiting seems fine. Egerson was a personal issue that maybe could have been anticipated given his background, but he was a real talent and was worth a shot. Rivers would be a bench player still in his senior year. Macklin would be maybe starting now, but he would have been a bench player last year. So there's been 1, maybe two, players of note to transfer since JTIII got here. Same or better than everywhere else that wants to be competitive for league and national championships.

[hoyaclap]

Dec 24, 2009 15:01:43 GMT -5 Dhall said:

Egerson was a personal issue that maybe could have been anticipated given his background, but he was a real talent and was worth a shot.

anticipated how/why?

[strummer8526]

Dec 24, 2009 19:02:57 GMT -5 hoyaclap said:

Dec 24, 2009 15:01:43 GMT -5 Dhall said:

Egerson was a personal issue that maybe could have been anticipated given his background, but he was a real talent and was worth a shot.

anticipated how/why?

Oh, come on.

[hoyainspirit]

I'm with hoyaclap. How? Why? Enlighten me, please.