Mathis Update...

[ouchmyknee]

Hey guys. I had the chance to speak with someone I trust on the Mathis situation. Anyhow, here's what I was told. From what can be gathered, Mathis is basically down to 3 schools. The general feeling is that it's a 2-horse race between UConn and RU. I was told that at this point, Montez is not leaning in any direction (though he is playing it close to the vest). He is definitely listening to RU and is "intrigued". He has an extremely close relationship with our staff, which is what's keeping us in the game. He sees RU as a program on the rise and trusts that Pike and company are going to turn it around. As for UConn, it's a storied program in his eyes with a roster of legends (Ben Gordon was mentioned). UConn has the history, the Championships, and it's being sold as an easy path to the tourney every year. He also likes that they consistently send players to the league.

My buddy thinks it comes down to whether Mathis wants to be part of the turnaround or part of a sure thing. If he is to choose it's 100% because of his relationship with the staff. This makes me feel better about the situation. Even if he chooses UConn or elsewhere, it is extremely positive news that our staff is able to forge strong relationships with this caliber of player. I know that nothing here is earth shattering news and some of the same stuff I've mentioned earlier, but I like that this is coming from another party.

Also, I was told that this staff is killer in relationship building with some pretty serious ballers. My buddy tends to think if RU shows any signs of improving on last season (which was a pretty nice improvement), they picture being painted by the staff becomes more real to the recruits and we'll see some SHU-level (or slightly above) in the next few cycles.

 

[SirScarlet]

Hey guys. I had the chance to speak with someone I trust on the Mathis situation. I'd take his knowledge of the situation over the mods here any day (with the exception of Russ). Anyhow, here's what I was told. From what can be gathered, Mathis is basically down to 3 schools. The general feeling is that it's a 2-horse race between UConn and RU. I was told that at this point, Montez is not leaning in any direction (though he is playing it close to the vest). He is definitely listening to RU and is "intrigued". He has an extremely close relationship with our staff, which is what's keeping us in the game. He sees RU as a program on the rise and trusts that Pike and company are going to turn it around. As for UConn, it's a storied program in his eyes with a roster of legends (Ben Gordon was mentioned). UConn has the history, the Championships, and it's being sold as an easy path to the tourney every year. He also likes that they consistently send players to the league.

My buddy thinks it comes down to whether Mathis wants to be part of the turnaround or part of a sure thing. If he is to choose it's 100% because of his relationship with the staff. This makes me feel better about the situation. Even if he chooses UConn or elsewhere, it is extremely positive news that our staff is able to forge strong relationships with this caliber of player. I know that nothing here is earth shattering news and some of the same stuff I've mentioned earlier, but I like that this is coming from another party.

Also, I was told that this staff is killer in relationship building with some pretty serious ballers. My buddy tends to think if RU shows any signs of improving on last season (which was a pretty nice improvement), they picture being painted by the staff becomes more real to the recruits and we'll see some SHU-level (or slightly above) in the next few cycles.

Awesome update. Thank you!!

I don't know why, but I have a good feeling about Mathis.

 

[gordel1]

This is very good news. The staff has literally pulled out all the stops and did everything they could. The ball is literally in Mathis' court and kudos to the staff to getting him to understand what can be had at RU. If he chooses UConn than it is what it is and no one should feel upset or angry knowing this information. As far as Mathis picking RU I am still skeptical as it will take more for him to be merely just "intrigued" vs. the established past of the UConn program.

 

[SkilletHead2]

Hey ouch,

Sincere thanks for the update here. I'm guessing you didn't mean it that way, but it kind of looks like you are taking a shot at the mods in your intro. Maybe an edit?

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Music to my nerves

 

[bowlgoal]

Hey ouch,

Sincere thanks for the update here. I'm guessing you didn't mean it that way, but it kind of looks like you are taking a shot at the mods in your intro. Maybe an edit?

I didn't take it way. Mods have been saying they are getting consistent reports from several reporters that all favor uconn. But this poster claims to have a different source with his own opinion. I don't think that's a knock on anyone, just more to chew on.

As for the Mods, good, bad or indifferent; I want to know their take and it's the reason I'm a premium member for several years. I'm hoping they are wrong on this one but again, if he commits or not, our ship sails onward. The fact that we are this close tells me others will be as well. You watch the practice clips on twitter and you can see these guys are a brotherhood just like the football team. I see us beginning to win big games this year and recruiting is going to be fun when the pieces come together.

 

[e5fdny]

Wish I read this before the edit. :sunglasses:

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Hey guys. I had the chance to speak with someone I trust on the Mathis situation. Anyhow, here's what I was told. From what can be gathered, Mathis is basically down to 3 schools. The general feeling is that it's a 2-horse race between UConn and RU.
.

I've heard the third team is Missouri. Is that what you heard?

 

[NickyNewark51]

This is very good news. The staff has literally pulled out all the stops and did everything they could. The ball is literally in Mathis' court and kudos to the staff to getting him to understand what can be had at RU. If he chooses UConn than it is what it is and no one should feel upset or angry knowing this information. As far as Mathis picking RU I am still skeptical as it will take more for him to be merely just "intrigued" vs. the established past of the UConn program.

Yes but the BE and big-time is also in the past and UConn seems to be in a slow decline and G5...soon how they gonna keep paying topnotch coaches?

 

[RUChow]

This is very good news. The staff has literally pulled out all the stops and did everything they could. The ball is literally in Mathis' court and kudos to the staff to getting him to understand what can be had at RU. If he chooses UConn than it is what it is and no one should feel upset or angry knowing this information. As far as Mathis picking RU I am still skeptical as it will take more for him to be merely just "intrigued" vs. the established past of the UConn program.

Despite UCONN's past history, they are likely to head into a down trend as we trend up with Pikiel - JMO.

 

[SkilletHead2]

Thanks, ouch!

e5, just a small thing.

 

[RU85inFla]

So I guess it's somewhere between 50-50 and a uconn lean with the probability of either projection of an 18 year olds decision to be accurate at 1 in 4.

I guess I'm excited.

 

[ScarletNut]

I wonder how Pike and Hobbs handle the competition with UConn, being alumni of that school. I doubt they recruit negatively against the Huskies but am curious as to what they point out as the positives and negatives of Mathis' choice.

 

[wheezer]

it should be harder and harder for Uconn to stay a basketball power as time goes on..... being in the AAC is not going to be a good thing for them, and the glory days will be a tougher sell

if Mathis was a high school senior, lets say 5 years from now, we should be able to recruit against Uconn on a much more even basis

a shame if we lose out now.

 

[MV9000]

kids retweeting stuff like this now. lol he is a goner and slighting us also at the same time.

 

[KnightTerrors]

Just got a ton of movement on 247 crystal ball towards UCONN. Seems the insiders all know something...

 

[littlenis5]

Every other day it seems he's retweeting something leaning UCONN, then a few days laters he retweets something Rutgers. Kids want to build up any hype they're associated with - I wouldn't read into these individual things. The crystal ball will probably change again before his announcement.

 

[soundcrib]

UCONN

 

[bowlgoal]

There's no negative recruiting against the school you played for unless your maybe Greg Schiano if ever a kid suggested Rutgers over osu which if he did, probably means the osu offer was not a take.

I'm a big fan of Pikiell but if Mathis wants to go to Uconn; that's his business. It's the easier decision for a kid to be a sheep and not a shepard. Uconn has won and just a few years removed from a NC with Ollie, a solid NBA player. Rutgers is just at the very beginning of a full blown climb out of the basement.

To me, we haven't been in a recruiting battle like this in years so that's a testament to what Pikiell is doing and he just got here. Rutgers basketball is going to be a destination school for kids who want to play for a winning coach and enjoy a world class practice center and all the spoils that come with playing in a great conference.

We are looking for the new faces of this era to lead us to a big 10 title and back to the NCAA tournament. You have to want to be one of those faces and know what it takes to lead the ship, Brian Leonard, Ray Rice, Mike Teel and AD had that in them.

Not sure Mathis is that guy but if he's not, Pikiell will find him. We pulled out all the stops.

 

[ecojew]

I just don't see UConn as being the UConn of old, except in women's bball. The poor payout in the AAC is going to take it's toll if it hasn't already. While the AAC has some decent teams (Temple, Cincy, SMU), it's nothing like the B1G so if he wants to play against the best, he won't get to do that at UConn. Their attendance is in a slow but steady decline in all three of the major sports, especially in football. That just adds to the financial woes of being trapped in the AAC.

Also, I haven't followed it closely but hasn't UConn men's bball had a real rough off-season? Lots of transfers or others leaving the program including many of their best players? They could possibly sink into the middle of the pack in the AAC which would really dampen the enthusiasm in Storrs.

I really hope that we get Mathis. He will be a difference maker here.

 

[knights1212]

At U Conn he will probably not start as a frosh. He will be behind a few guys. At RU he will become an immediate starter and he will play against much tougher teams. U Conn is not like the U Conn when Calhoun was the coach.I watched a lot of their games last year and they were not anything like the old U Conn. They lost a lot of guys to a transfer after last season. All is not good in Storrs.

 

[gordel1]

This is turning into a social media warfare. He has been retweeting both schools but still feels like a foregone conclusion he is going to Yukon.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

I just saw a quote from Mathis about his Final 3................I think he listens to and takes his Mom's feelings into consideration. :rolleyes:

It would help to get an assist from Adidas (AAU sponsors ) and his AAU Coach.

He may pick uconn, but, I think all the predictions about uconn are out there because no one thinks Rutgers could ever beat mighty uconn head to head in a recruit battle.

IMO, They are just taking the safe bet to make themselves look knowledgeable and smart because History is on the side of uconn.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Calhoun and all the NBA guys are ghosts. History fades as they continue their precipitous decline..Mathis ?.Sign on the dotted line young man.

 

[RUTGERZ_R00LZ]

UCONN - what once was.
RU - what could be.

 

[Duff366]

The AAC just added Wichita State, so there are about 5 quality programs in the league. This may make it easier or harder to make the tournament (less chances for quality wins)

As far as great traditional programs, rabid fanbases and just tremendous excitement and school spirit, I can't imagine any conference topping the B1G. Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State, Maryland vs. East Carolina, Tulsa, Tulane and South Florida, it's no contest. The RAC would be off the chain when RU turns it around.

Wish him well wherever he chooses.

 

[cyrock3]

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kids retweeting stuff like this now. lol he is a goner and slighting us also at the same time.

That entire tweet thread in a nutshell sums up our fan base's problems. We have low BB IQ. One of our fans just up and challenged their head coach by saying he had nothing to do with a national championship he won as a head coach. That's a bad move which just makes us look uninformed, ignorant and "football school".

 

[SJScarlet]

That entire tweet thread in a nutshell sums up our fan base's problems. We have low BB IQ. One of our fans just up and challenged their head coach by saying he had nothing to do with a national championship he won as a head coach. That's a bad move which just makes us look uninformed, ignorant and "football school".

Yes, one idiot represents all the fans, for sure

 

[cyrock3]

Yes, one idiot represents all the fans, for sure

Our fanbase has problems when a lot of posters here view being in the Big 10 in basketball as being similar to being in the Big 10 in football. That we should automatically recruit better than an AAC school as a result. That there's no way A10 schools should be recruiting better than us. That the Big East is going downhill.

That's just one example.

Another example: They don't play defense in the NBA.

That's a fairly absurd premise. The 8 teams with the worst defensive rating in the NBA all didn't make the playoffs.

 

[SJScarlet]

Our fanbase has problems when a lot of posters here view being in the Big 10 in basketball as being similar to being in the Big 10 in football. That we should automatically recruit better than an AAC school as a result. That there's no way A10 schools should be recruiting better than us. That the Big East is going downhill.

That's just one example.

Another example: They don't play defense in the NBA.

That's a fairly absurd premise. The 8 teams with the worst defensive rating in the NBA all didn't make the playoffs.

Internet commentary, sports or otherwise, is mostly stupid. You are just focusing on the stupidity coming from the Rutgers sports corner of the internet. And while I'm not seeing what's on social media or how it's being stated, I would say that Rutgers bb in 2017 should be out recruiting the A10, and that there are reasons to pick RU in 2017 over Uconn. Big East hasn't gone down hill yet, but we'll see moving forward.

 

[jrh51]

Another article with a recent interview with Montez. Still *reads* like a UConn lean - but we have time. Show the kid some love on Twitter, and don't get into any negative banter putting UConn down. Let's bring Montez on the banks while we still can!!!

https://connecticut.247sports.com/A...Mathis-Talks-His-3-Finalists-UC-105665961/Amp

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

This is on all 3 of the finalists 247 sites.....RU, UConn and Virginia Tech

 

[LC-88]

jrh51, thanks for posting the article link. Good summary.

Mathis said Mom, Dad, brothers, and AAU coaches involved in his decision. No Uncles. We have a shot.

Good luck to him wherever he ends up.

 

[MV9000]

hopefully the mom has his ear full force. Geo Doucoure and Mathis .... the things that could be and the snowball effect that class would have.

Seems consensus with the kids/those following the New England area Geo is a stud. Very excited for him.

 

[RUsojo]

hopefully the mom has his ear full force. Geo Doucoure and Mathis .... the things that could be and the snowball effect that class would have.

Seems consensus with the kids/those following the New England area Geo is a stud. Very excited for him.

Mom is not only in Rutgers corner

 

[RUJMM78]

What is more important to top tier recruits,ie,prior winning at a high level or feeling very comfortable with a coaching staff from a program in a rebuilding mode?Mathis will answer that question and it will be a reality check for fans that have strong opinions on both sides.

 

[soundcrib]

That entire tweet thread in a nutshell sums up our fan base's problems. We have low BB IQ. One of our fans just up and challenged their head coach by saying he had nothing to do with a national championship he won as a head coach. That's a bad move which just makes us look uninformed, ignorant and "football school".

"Football school"?

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

What is more important to top tier recruits,ie,prior winning at a high level or feeling very comfortable with a coaching staff from a program in a rebuilding mode?Mathis will answer that question and it will be a reality check for fans that have strong opinions on both sides.

Wrong again.....he may be one player but there are other players beyond this one....and if that was the case, RU would not have made the final list for the player....it's the always moving goalposts for some fans...I guess the goal is ultimately the national title for some fans, vs reality check for others that aren't expecting to compete with national programs for players during a rebuild....

Some kids play a year at a program like UConn and then transfer out of the "winning" program....are those same players that left UConn last year and this past spring a "reality check", because they left a "winning program" for places that were not as good as UConn...?

The reality check is that RU is competing for a national/regional recruit with a multiple national champ, yet people continue to whine as if they are entitled to beat out a National Program that really shouldn't be fighting tooth and nail for a recruit with RU....if anyone can remember RU in recent years competing with UConn for a recruit, can let me know, which is more of a signal of a larger shift....

They (UConn) really should be competing for other higher ranked recruits going to Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, Cuse, UCLA and landing those recruits against those schools. The fact that RU is in the mix against improving programs like Virginia Tech (Buzz Williams) and UConn and made the final 3 list over other very good programs like Xavier etc, should signal "progress", but some still consider it a failure.........too bad fans are missing out on the enjoyment of watching RU growing into a better program and wants the microwave deal of instant success.....

If it was easy to get to 20+ wins every year, every program would be there...the fact is it's extremely competitive to do so and it will take more than one recruit to get there...if not Mathis, I'm certain the overall class will improve the roster more than last year.

 

[knights1212]

Hawk, once again in the man of reason. I trust in Steve Pikiell and our entire staff. Naturally I hope we can land Montez but I also realize we might not. Our team is improving each and every day.

 

[zebnatto]

You think another pick up by RU tips Mathis our way?