Conference USA

Obvious patronizing jingoism aside, this new league boasts a trio of monster programs from Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville as well as some up and comers in Milwaukee, Memphis and Birmingham.  All six of these programs are dance worthy but there are six more solid programs who are not your garden variety cellar dwellers.  St. Louis has a veteran team that could contend for a title and Charlotte got good in a hurry last year in their second year in D-1.  The last four are splits between Florida and the Bayou region but none look like they can compete in a league this powerful.  Tulane, from New Orleans, is just coming back to D-1 after a year self-imposed suspension of play and the boys from Hattiesburg Mississippi (the only non-major city in this league) could surprise but have not done well since jumping up from the lower levels. This conference even brought in two directional schools from Florida to get a presence in that burgeoning state.  Central Florida represents Orlando and South Florida represents Tampa as these two fledgling programs with huge potential jump into the fray after barely getting their feet wet at this level. 

There is not much familiarity between these programs except for a causal connection in the short-lived Metro conference with Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis and Southern Miss involved.  Oh, and Tulane before they took their hiatus.  No major rivalries were formed here or with any of the other programs though Louisville and Memphis and Cincinnati don’t really like each other.  All of these programs have much more hated rivals not in C-USA.  This league was built to give these programs an avenue to qualify for the only thing that really matters in college basketball, a chance to get into the Big Dance.  It has worked even better than anticipated with the Big East and all of them once independent catholic schools coming together and though the A-10 is not getting the kind of recognition (or respect) of their east coast brethren, they are getting multiple invites to the national tourney.  We shall see how these vagabond teams react to playing other programs multiple times and how the selection committee reacts to this unholy alliance. 

The Cincinnati Bearcats are indeed the King of the Gypsies.  Playing in the same state as THE team from Columbus and all their Big-10 swagger, the Bearcats have long been left out in the cold primarily due to that one-sided relationship.  The only way the Buckeyes and Bearcats will ever meet is in a post season tournament, Ohio State has made sure of that.  The Bearcats were once kings of the Missouri Valley Conference and did get a chance to knock out their rivals in the Big Dance.  Apparently, the administration could not handle the success and decided to go out on their own.  This did not work well as the Bearcats as indies are not exactly Notre Dame with their crazy national fan support and ended up joining the Metro with similar programs.  This 7 team league was just ‘too small’ and the Bearcats were not even invited to the Big Dance last year even though they have one of the best players in the country on their team.  The Big O has one more year of eligibility and the admin is not going to squander this opportunity.  Ed Jucker was in jeopardy of losing his job as the admin looked at his assistant Bob Huggins to get them back to the top of the heap.  Huggins is an incredible recruiter, not exactly Jucker’s strong suit as George Smith, the AD for the Bearcats and former coach, actually brought Robertson to the Queen City from Indianapolis.  That was quite a coup then and Smith loves Jucker’s ability to game coach but heard the fans chirping for change.  Smith and Jucker made a bold move behind the scenes as they got together with rival coach Denny Crum from Louisville to form this new league.  These two ex-metro members knew they needed to be part of a league that was bigger and broader to compete with their most hated foes from the Big Ten and SEC.  Dropping down into the south was Crum’s idea and the Bearcats wanted some of those super Indies from the Midwest coming aboard.  Memphis was already in as the third part of the mighty triumvirate and they carried the two bayou schools along for the ride as well.  They got their old rival from St. Louis fairly easily but the big gets were power programs from Chicago and Milwaukee.  Not only are DePaul and Marquette great programs but they have two of the most recognizable coaches in the county in Ray Meyer and Al McGuire running their brands.  Crum badly wanted UAB to cut into the Bama market (he does hate the SEC) and the Florida schools are not much yet but they do hit a market that is wide open and man can they grow.  The 12th team was not exactly in chronological order or geographical for that matter but getting Charlotte from right in the ACC’s kitchen was a nice touch as the 49ers are much in the same boat, albeit a bit behind historically, as the Bearcats and Cardinals.  There were rumors that the mighty Cougars from Houston were coming along but they decided to stay with their Texas compatriots in the SWC after the shocking move of Arkansas (and South Carolina) into the SEC.  The SWC is getting by on fumes with all of the movement going on as Texas (the biggest of dogs) and Oklahoma are themselves looking to form a new 12 team powerhouse league to keep up with the Jones’s and fight off those marauders from the SEC.  Football is still king for most of this conference movement but as this new league (and of course those two eastern leagues) hopes to show there is a place for basketball dominant schools.  And maybe the football will come along as these schools grow from their basketball success.  After all, you might not know this but the Bearcats, Cardinals, Tigers and some of the other schools here do have football programs as well.  The Bearcats did pull an Ohio State when they blocked the addition of in-state programs form Dayton and especially the hated Musketeers from Xavier, who share their beloved Queen City.  These two joined the A-10 instead and those games between those schools and Cincinnati should be even more heated then they have been in the past, if that is even possible.  Heck, at least they kept them on the schedule.  All of this movement save Jucker’s job and Huggins was not happy.  He got a call from his alma mater in West Virginia and bolted for Morgantown who just happens to be the newest member of the mighty Big East.  The Mountaineers were actually set to become the 12th member in this league and jump from the A-10 but when Notre Dame decided to stay Indy (that is a mighty football contract they have with a major TV network) the Big East came calling as they expanded to 12 teams themselves.  Speaking of rivalries, that game in December between the Bearcats and Mountaineers got some added fuel to the fire and Huggins is not exactly the type that does not carry a chip on his shoulder.  The former power forward for the Mountaineers did leave a few gifts back in Cincy as he had already signed a couple of blue chippers who are actually staying to play for the Bearcats.  How long these kids stay especially with the new portal is anybody’s guess but who in their right mind is going to pass up a chance to play with the legendary Big O and his last chance of finally getting a ring?  Supposedly some big guy from LA via New York was thinking of transferring here to play with his friend but he has too good of thing going with the owl-shaped glassed wearing coach in the City of Angels.  But, talk about a chip on your shoulder.  Robertson, widely regarded as the best pound for pound player in the country, wants to shut up all of the naysayers and prove he can win the big one.  After all, nobody puts up the numbers Robertson does.  He almost averaged double digits in points, boards and assists last year (I am calling this a triple double) and even though the Bearcats did not make the tourney, and even though he missed 4 games due to injury, Robertson was awarded with 2nd team All-American status.  He is unanimous 1st team preseason this year, though.  That is how respected the Big O is but he does need more support around him.  Don’t get me wrong, his fellow senior teammates have proven they can perform in big games but this group is nowhere near as talented (or big ) as some of the other teams who are in the running for the national title.  And the Bearcats truly believe they are in this group even after last year and the prognosticators, at least in the polls, agree.   Even after last year’s disaster Cincinnati is ranked 8th in the preseason rankings which is three notches behind THE boys from Columbus and one behind new conference mates DePaul, though three ahead of those Cardinals from just 100 miles down 1-71 in Louisville.  These are sister cities who not have a common goal and are in this together but should not change how much their fan bases do not like each other.  Coming back for another shot at that golden ring with Robertson will be fellow seniors Paul Hogue, Tom Thacker, Ron Bonham, Connie Dierking, George Wilson, Rick Roberson, Jim Ard, Dick Dallmer, Bob Wiesenhahn, Jim Holstein and especially Jack Twyman.  A few of these guys had a shot at declaring early but like the Big O want that shot at the title.  This group is not exactly chopped liver, either, as they did go 4-0 in the games Robertson missed including huge wins over Louisville and Dayton.  Twyman is the prototypical small forward who, if not for the presence of the Big O, could be an All-American.  This 6’6 210 pound Pittsburgh product is as tough as that city but makes his money hitting jump shots from the corner and wings on passes from the 6’5 point guard.  Twyman can also board and likes to go inside and like he says ‘bejng overshadowed by Oscar is like playing the opening bill for Elvis. You know who they are coming to see but the fans might just get to see that I can play this game a little, too.”  Jucker ha several options down low with Hoge, Roberson, Wilson, Dierking and Ard and all love to bang in the paint.  The problem is none of these guys go above 6’9 and with all of those monster seven footers dominating the game right now, the Bearcats are a bit behind the times.  Heck, even Fred Taylor from the hated Buckeyes is moving the great Jerry Lucas to the four and bringing in some seven footers to play the five.  Even the new recruits Huggins brought to town are not above 6’9 so this could be an issue.  Hogue will start at center and he had a great junior year and he is not exactly small at 6’9 240.  This Knoxville kid is not a rim protector though he will block a shot but is consistent and as physical as they come.  Roberson and Dierking are also 6’9 and strong but not quite as thick as Hogue.  The Bearcats like their big men wide to eat up space but man they could use a true shot blocker.  Ard and Wilson might not play much if the two primary new recruits up front are as good as advertised.  Playing next to Robertson in the back court will be multi-talented Thacker once again.  This 6’2 Kentucky bred kid does a bit of everything well but is not a great shooter which is exactly what Robertson needs next to him with his great ability to penetrate and dish to open teammates.  And there are always open teammates as the Big O draws a lot of attention when he goes to the hole.  Bonham is the patented super sixth man who can flat score but is not your three-point threat.  This 6’5 square headed kid played against Robertson in high school as he was at Muncie Indiana and his nickname is point a minute as he averages almost that.  ‘Bonzo’ does not have great rhythm but he can bang the heck out of the drums and his opponents with a never ending array of forays towards the hoop.  Bonham never found a shot he didn’t like taking or a solo he did not like filling but he realizes this is a team game and will play background rhythms to the masterful Robertson.  After all, he would not get all of them great looks as the basket if the master was not writing those great melodies.  Dallmer was the first star here, yes before Robertson, and got another year added after missing all of last year.  Another combo guard, he started next to Robertson for a minutes but is nowhere near as good as Thacker defensively and will play in support this, his real, final year.  Wiesenhahn is in the same boat behind Twyman but does not complain and will produce when given the chance which is not often.  The Bovine, as has been dubbed, is a 6’3 wing who can score a little but does the same things as Bonham but not as good and will be led out to pasture.  Junior Eddie Lee is a 6’4 true point guard who backs up the Big O so obviously does not get a lot of time.  He can set defend and set up teammates but is nowhere near as dynamic as Robertson but then again who is?  Fellow Juniors Pat Cummings and Derrick Dickey are in the mix up front after big JV years but might get caught in the wash.  Fellow junior Lloyd Batts has a shot in the back court as he can score and complements Robertson well but needs to get more consistent from behind the arc.  Speaking of shooting, one member from an almost wasted group of first year players last year, sophomore Roger McClendon has a real shot of some serious minutes this year.  This 6’4 high school All-American from Champaign Illinois can flat shoot the ball.  This kid was averaging 15 a game on JV when he got called up for the last 10 game and almost saved the Bearcats season.  He averaged almost ten off the bench in those last games almost entirely on threes which he shot at an incredible .462%.  Sure, it helps having the most double-teamed guy in the country kicking it to you but .462?  Come on.  This kid has got to play this year.  As you can see this is not a one man team though most would like you to think that Bearcat basketball begins and ends with a certain Capital Letter that is completely circular.  Oscar Robertson is the most complete player in the game today and his one-handed jump shots are the most emulated shots of any player in the game today including his friend’s sky hook in LA as nobody can copy that.  Jucker has his second chance of leading this team to the promised-land and one of the goals of his and Smith’s is making this new league a real player with the on the national map right alongside the Big Ten’s and SEC’s of the world.    The Bearcats most definitely have the star power to lead this league’s renaissance.  Winning the first league title would be a heck of an achievement for the great Robertson and his adopted hometown.  The question is, after all, not if the Big O is great, he is, but if he can lead this group to a title?  We shall see but it would not hurt anybody’s feelings in the Queen City if the Bearcats got a shot at those snobs from Coumbus in the Big Dance.  Beating THE Buckeyes might even be bigger here then cutting down the nets in April.  But as Robertson is adept at doing, can’t you do all three? 

Those Louisville Cardinals might be the most successful ‘alternative’ program ever.  With humble beginnings under the tutelage of Peck Hickman the Cardinals won both the NAIA and NIT tourneys within a few years of each other.  They, like their ‘friends’ from Cincinnati who they have btw played more than any other program, moved into the MVC with much success.  With Heckman aging the Cardinals looked outside their region for a coach and found a coaching savant from California.  John Wooden’s assistant and big time recruiter realized that the great coach was not leaving and went out on his own.  Denny Crum left his alma mater for this burgeoning program in the Midwest and hasn’t looked back.  Well, unless this human dynamo is recruiting as he has taken this program national and has a bit of a connection to the west coast prepsters. This program primarily recruited Kentucky and specifically Louisville players under Heckman but Crum understands that to get the best players you have to go anywhere to find them.  He immediately pushed for the development of the Metro Conference with that in mind knowing that playing regularly in all of these big cities would help his recruiting long-term.  And it has.  The Cardinals have become a national brand and are as respected as any non-power five team in the country.  But not in their own state.  If you think Ohio State casts a shadow over Cincinnati then you should walk in Crum’s shoes.  No matter how successful he is and how good the Cardinals are he will never live up to the utter worship in these parts of the Baron.  Adolph Rupp is Kentucky basketball and his success in Lexington has not been equaled by man or foe.  Crum understands this but also understands that Rupp is not a God and has weaknesses like all men.  Foremost of these is the fact the Wildcats could (or did not) recruit African-American students for far too long.  Rupp did try as he went after two local legends in Wes Unseld and Butch Beard.  They spurned his offer and went with their hometown Cardinals and Hickman.  Those two have become the vanguards of this culture and are as important to this program’s recent success as anyone, including Crum.  Unseld is a 6’7 bull of man who doesn’t just play in the paint, he dominates.  He is listed at 245 but he is bigger and broader than that and sets the best screens on the planet.  Unseld only goes 6’7 (some say much smaller) but guards other team’s big men on a nightly basis and usually gets the better end of the deal.  This is for sure those seven footers who come up against Westley know they have been in a game and almost assuredly will have a welt or two from him boxing them out of the key.  Unseld does not score a lot but does not have to and he makes his impact every other way and is truly the most valuable player on this or possibly any other team in this new Conference.  Yep, I said it.  Unseld is more valuable than either the Big O or George Mikan.  Beard is the smooth operator who runs the show for the Cardinals.  A 6’3 point guard who is terrific defensively and knows how to run a team does not get the recognition of his sidekick in crime but is Crum’s pulse on the court.  These Cardinals are an up and down team that relies on their fastbreak to score large quantity of points and that fastbreak is dependent on Unseld rebounding and hitting Beard with the best outlet this side of Crum’s former pupil Mr. Walton and Butch hitting one of the great wings for an incredible finish which usually means a ridiculous dunk.  And that win is more often than not Darrell Griffith.  Griffith has a reported 48 inch vertical jump and loves to show it off with a slam off the break.  When Dr. Dunkenstein is in the house, he will finish the operation.  This junior stud with the notorious small hands can also shoot and is now taking his game out to beyond the three-point line as he attempts to bring his game to the next level.  Most of your superior athletes on the wing are a bit behind on their shooting primarily because they can dominate in the preps and lower levels with their pure athleticism.  Playing D-1 basketball is an entirely different ballgame.  Griffith is no exception to this rule but he is getting there.  Quick!  Senior Charlie Tyra and sophomore Pervis Ellison will rotate next to Unseld on the post.  Crum usually does not like to play freshman but Ellison was too good last year and brings rim protecting to the lineup, something that Unseld does not excel at.  This kid has ice flowing through his veins as he played better the bigger the game.  And especially down the stretch.   Tyra is more like Unseld and will bang but is nowhere near the talent of the Never Nervous kid.  The three spot is up for grabs with a whole slew of gifted players competing for the job.  Junior Junior Bridgeman and sophomores Derek Smith, Billy Thompson and Rodney McCray are the primary competitors though seniors Chuck Noble (more of a combo guard) and Jack Coleman (really a 4) have throw their ring into the hat.   Thompson was highly recruited and is the favorite but McCray brings a defensive presence Crum loves.  Bridgeman and Smith are just plain scoring machines so all four will contribute but how much depends on what direction Crum wants to go.  Crum also has great depth to choose from at the other positions including juniors Jim Price (he will push Beard for the starting PG spot and is similar to his style of play) and Ricky Gallon who brings some real size to the roster.  Gallon is the first seven footer on campus and is one of those so-called ‘projects’ but Crum knows you can’t teach size and this Tampa kid has plenty of that.  Senior Phil Rollins and junior Ricky Wilson will try to throw themselves into the PG battle but will likely end up on the wrong end of the bench as will former stalwarts up front in seniors Bud Olsen and Jack Turner.  Crum has also recruited another stellar group of incoming freshmen (he like mentor in Westwood does not believe in the Juco route) but those kids will probably have to wait as Crum goes after the golden goose which is that third national title in three different levels, something no other program has accomplished.  Oh, and Crum wouldn’t mind getting a shot at the Baron and his boys and has a plan in place to accomplish this.  Rupp has made a point of not giving any of the program’s in Kentucky a shot at playing his Wildcats for fear of giving them cred.  Crum knows how much that Rupp wants a shot at Wooden and his team so made a call to his friend and set up the most anticipated preseason tourney of the year.  Crum got Wooden to agree to come back to Indiana (he is from Purdue) to play in this four team tip-off tourney in Indianapolis.  The 4th team and host of this ballyhooed kick off is none other than the Indiana Hoosiers and their legendary coach Bobby Knight.  Knight was not going to pass up this opportunity.  The only problem with this scenario is that Rupp had to play UCLA in the opening game to make sure he played which means the Cardinals will play Indiana.  It also means that for Crum to get his shot the Cardinals must beat the Hoosiers basically at home.  They will not know until after they have played the Hoosiers as after all the showdown between the top 2 programs in the country will be the night cap.  There is a scenario that if the Cardinals lose and the Wildcats win, the boys from Louisville do not get their long awaited game.  But that isn’t the only bad scenario.  What if the Cardinals win and the Wildcats lose?  All of this work to get this game with the hated in state rivals and then end up playing UCLA?  And your former mentor with the Harry Potter glasses.  Well, I guess, worse things can happen! 

Cincinnati and Louisville might be the programs who put this whole league together but neither are ranked as high as the incoming Indy boys from Chicago.  Of course, neither one of those programs have George Mikan.  Mikan is back for one more shot at that elusive title and this time he has a lot more support.  For Mikan’s first few years with the DePaul Blue Demons the big man was carrying the torch by himself.  And he did a damn good job of it.  Sure, the BD’s never got over the hump but he did get his team to the NIT finals and he did earn a few All-American honors including and player of the year.  This 6’10 245 man amongst men from Joliet might wear the most recognizable glasses in Illinois and has become as much of a part of the Windy City’s culture as Rush Street.  He was the first big man who dominated the paint, so much that they actually widened the key.  He also had a huge part of the powers that be putting in goaltending rules and the advent of the shot clock.  He was Mr. Basketball before anyone ever heard of Wilt Chamberlain or Lew Alcindor and his legend continues.  But he needs that ring.  Coach Ray Meyer is doing everything in his power to get his big man the ring and moving into this conference is part of that package.  He also has recruited some of the best players in the country the last few years including one of the best group of freshmen in the country.  The Blue Demons front line might now be the best in the country.  Sophomores Mark Aguirre and Terry Cummings are from the Windy City and their play last year took this city by storm.  Aguirre was a school boy legend here and was heavily recruited but stayed home.  Good choice.  This 6’6 235 pound (with the derriere to match) kid might be the best low post scorer in the country under 6’8.  Then again he might be the 2nd best three in the Chicago greater area as Adrian Dantley roams the court for the Fightin Irish.  Cummings is much bigger at 6’9 but only goes 220 and is the workmanlike power forward that fits perfectly in between the two superstars.  Cummings does not score as much as his compadres but he is terrific on the boards and is a solid defensive presence.  Nowhere near the shot blocker as Mikan by any means but they form a pretty potent wall down low. BTW there is incredible depth up front as junior Dave Corzine backs up Mikan and seriously is almost as good.  Fellow juniors Bill Robinzine and Curtis Watkins are not Cummings and Aguirre but would start for most programs.  Sophomores Dallas Comegys and Tyrone Corbin tore up JV ball last year but might have to spend another season down there with all of this talent in front of them.   If the season was decided by the front line the Blue Demons would be in serious contention for the title but alas you got to have somebody get them the ball and play some defense.  Oh, and perhaps hit a few three pointers as with those three around the perimeter is usually wide open.  At least one of the two spots is in good hands as second year point guard Rod Strickland comes back to lead the team.  Strickland does not get the recognition of his two sophomore classmates but is more important to this team’s success.  Strickland is 6’3 and cat quick and averaged almost 7 assists a game and that is after not even starting the first half of the year.  After all incumbent Emmette Bryant was not exactly chopped liver but as good as he is he does not have the game this street ball legend has.  This Bronx Kid can shoot too but his range only goes to about 18 feet so far so that needs to improve but no sophomore not named Thomas in the Midwest is as good at getting to the hoop as Strickland.  Now for the big question?  Can this team find some players to hit some threes and guard some athletic wings?  Seniors Dick Triptow and Ron Sobie will get the first shot.  This duo is not bad but been there, done that rings through Meyer’s head as though these two can play, they are not going to get this team to the next level.  Junior Gary Garland is more athletic and came on strong but he is not a long-range bomber either.  He and sophomore point guard Clyde Bradshaw were a heck of a combo on JV but unless Garland figures out a way to shoot the three ball more consistently (and gets away from his cousin during his summers in Jersey) he will not be the answer for the Blue Demons.  This team is build to win it all this year and if Meyer does have a rabbit in his hat who can guard wings and shoot threes, this team could actually get that ring for Mikan.  And Meyer.  And themselves. 

Marquette might not be getting the same preseason hype as their partners from down the Lake Michigan Coast but don’t sleep on them.  The Warriors are coming out to play this year as Coach Al McGuire feels this is the team he has worked for years to put together.  The glib New York City product has built a heck of a program in Milwaukee and thinks the culmination will come to fruition this year.  He may not have a Big O or a Mr. Basketball on his roster but he has a great nucleus of a symmetrically formed team.  McGuire is also quick to point out how close his team’s have been to the golden apple and thinks he has recruited a couple of athletic wings that are the missing slices of this team and is sure that they will jibe well with the core of his team.  The core of this team begins with the tough duo manning the post.  Juniors Maurice Lucas and Jim Chones complement each other well and though they are not as heralded as the Blue Demons up front, might be every bit as good.  You see both of these guys are not only tough but are two-way players.  Luke and Chones are as good on the defensive end as they are on the offense and nobody goes near the Warrior paint without consequences.  Chones does not block a bunch of shots but this 6’11 rim protector will make sure you know he is around.  Lucas is the prototypical power forward who loves to band with his opponents on the blocks.  He backs down from no one and is not afraid to lay down some fists if need be.  Ask big Benoit Benjamin about that.  Their showdown last year was epic and though it cost Lucas a few games it showed the world that this cool hand means business and knows how to use hands.  McGuire has given the keys to his car to another junior Butch Lee and he has shown that he is an adept driver who could easily compete in the 500 in May.  Lee is only 6’0 tall but this Puerta Rican product (via the Bronx) is tough as nails and can score and dish with the best of them.  He might not be Magic or Isaiah but he is as good as any other point guard in the Midwest.  And he is a natural leader.  He has battled Dean ‘the Dream’ Meminger for three years now in practice and it has made both better.  Meminger is a combo guard who has had some big time hype especially after the Warriors run two years ago to an NIT final game.  He averaged 17 and 7 in that run and was named all-tourney but was not as good last year playing the two.  Meminger should start next to Lee this year but McGuire has made it clear that he wants somebody more athletic at the two to be able to guard some of the high-flying studs coming into college basketball.  Either that or a three point shooter and neither Lee nor Meminger is either of these.  The fifth started will be undersized Senior Don Kojis at the three.  Kojis only goes 6’3 but he can shoot, at least from the corners.  Kojis made his reputation on his ability to rebound and play in the paint with his kangaroo legs but, like Meminger, has been overmatched by bigger wings.  Fellow senior George Thompson will push for his starting role back at the two after he missed the first part of last year and Deano took over.  Thompson was huge as the sixth man last year averaging almost 10 a game in less than 21 minutes so you know where his bread is buttered.  Thompson is not much bigger than Meminger, 6’2 to 6’0, so neither is going to fill McGuire’s desire to get bigger on the wings.  Sophomores Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers, Michael Wilson and Tony Smith are a bit bigger at 6’4, 6’4 and 6’3 but all three are more point guards than wings.  As McGuire has said you can never have enough point guards.  As a matter of fact junior Lloyd Walton was a one year JC transfer who flat dominated the JV last year and will push for minutes at the point.  That is if there are any left with so many talented pg’s on the roster.  The only player on the returning roster that fits the bill of the type of wing McGuire wants is junior Earl ‘Goose’ Tatum.  McGuire went back to his roots to find this kid and he has proved he can play.  A 6’5 stud who loves to get into the paint and draw fouls or hit runners, Tatum can also go outside up to about 17 feet.  If he had a three point shot he would be starting and a national star.  That and if he could stay out of the training room.  Tatum was off to a hot start last year and then got hurt and missed way too many games.  He never got back to form and McGuire had to go different.