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Post by yoteforever on May 10, 2011 7:48:16 GMT -6
I was really sorry to hear Jake Thomas is indeed leaving the Coyote mens basketball team. I am not sure of the reasons, but I will wish Jake the best in his new endeavor. Certainly a loss for the Coyotes.
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Post by GoYotes on May 10, 2011 8:07:38 GMT -6
Also hate to see Jake go and wish him the best. Good news is that Westbrook is coming back and along with Louis and the new recruits we should be sitting OK at the guard positions.
Hopefully we can land one more big.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on May 10, 2011 13:01:36 GMT -6
Tough loss, wish him well. I can't wait to watch Nimrod play tho.
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Post by GoYotes on Jun 2, 2011 17:23:21 GMT -6
From WisSports.net article per Marquette message board ...
By Mark Miller
WisSports.net
A chance to return home and play college basketball at the highest level intrigued former Racine St. Catherine’s star Jake Thomas.
After checking into a couple of different options, Thomas decided this week he will transfer from the University of South Dakota to Marquette University and join the Golden Eagles basketball program as a walkon.
Thomas will have two years of eligibility at Marquette, but must sit out the 2011-12 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
A 6-foot-4, 195-pound shooting guard, Thomas might be just the type of player Marquette needs because of his ability to stretch defenses with his outstanding long-distance shooting ability.
In two seasons at South Dakota, a NCAA Division I school, Thomas made a whopping 175 three-point baskets. He finished with a career-high 40 points and set a school record with 10 three pointers in a 105-73 rout of Chicago State last season.
“It’s definitely a big step up in competition,” Thomas said. “In talking to the Marquette coaches, they know I can shoot. It’s just a matter of improving every other aspect of my game.
“But give me a year to get a lot better, and I think I can play at this level. I’m going to Marquette as a walkon the first year, but there is always a chance to earn a scholarship. I’d definitely have to go out and prove myself and that is understandable.”
Thomas, who led St. Catherine’s to the WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2009 when he scored a total of 44 points in two games, averaged 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds at South Dakota as a sophomore, helping the Coyotes to an 18-15 record while playing an independent schedule.
Thomas shot 83 percent from the foul line and 35 percent from three-point range while averaging 32.9 minutes per game.
As a freshman at South Dakota, Thomas averaged 13.3 points and shot 44 percent from three-point range while playing 32.6 minutes per contest.
“I’ll be enrolled at Marquette in July and start with the workouts and lifting,” said Thomas, who plans to major in exercise science. “Improving my strength will be my No. 1 goal. I will also work on my defense, my shooting, my passing … just every aspect of my game.
“A lot of my friends from St. Catherine’s go to Marquette. I know I’ll get a great education and have the chance to play basketball.”
Thomas follows a long line of St. Catherine’s stars to play at Marquette, including Jim Poulsen (1962, 1963, 1964), Rocke Calvelli (1963, 1964, 1965), Jim Chones (1971, 1972), Jim McIlvaine (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and Marcus West (1997, 1998).
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Jun 4, 2011 10:57:00 GMT -6
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Jun 4, 2011 13:24:34 GMT -6
I wonder if playing defense is a risk he is ever going to take, too....
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coachk
Freshman Member
Posts: 22
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Post by coachk on Jun 5, 2011 19:06:59 GMT -6
Admin brother, Before you go & question the kids play, let remember the coach lost an entire recruiting class (2009) to transfer. This was the first year of full D1 eligible players & all 4 of them left.
Perhaps some question's should be asked of the coaching staff and their evaluation process. Back to back Great West championship games counts for something, but building a long term D1 program is another issue.
The make up of the current staff, and the process they use to evaluate talent should be questioned. Not to mention the lack of funding for the assistant coaches and support staff that is needed to build a mid major program.
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Post by jman1985 on Jun 5, 2011 19:12:54 GMT -6
Thomas, Conrad Krutwig, Dustin Tetzlaff and Cliff Warner all transferred from that 2009 class. I don't know the ins & outs of what goes on behind the scenes, but isn't it possible that each kid had different reasons for leaving? Playing time, closer to home, change of scenery, etc.
Completely agree with you, in order for USD to be successful in the Summit League (and presumably at the NCAA Tournament), it will need to step up to the plate financially. Can't expect decent coaches to stay around for peanuts. I would imagine a new arena would help areas such as recruiting, but yeah, you raise a good point.....salary for assistants.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Jun 5, 2011 22:06:53 GMT -6
Are you trying for a pay raise CoachK?
While nobody besides staff and players know the real reasons, I'm not sure you can totally blame Boots for these four guys leaving. Thomas left to be closer to home, and because of a girl I heard. Krutwig and Warner probably because of playing time. You can blame that on Boots, or the kids not doing what a coach expects. Warner never did play did he, I don't remember him actually playing. Krutwig had his moments, I guess, but it seams guys aren't cut out for Boots' style and they transfer. We've been having that for years. Guys like Jake Crane, Kolby F., Adam Burnison, and about 5 other guys that transferred to DWU over the years. Some could play, Crane became Jacob Jacks and started at Iowa, but didn't fit into Boots style or more so Boots' expected off the court actions. Tetzlaff was another example of that. Boots has a doghouse, ask anyone who has ever been close to the program. Get in it, and it's tough to get out. But I admire his expectations off the court as much as his expectations on the court.
Boots may or may not be cut out for D1, but I'll defend him because he's earned that respect as far as I'm concerned. Thomas is a loss, but none of the other three IMO.
Also, keep in mind Boots said at a lunch one time that there is a high national average of D1 BB players transferring from their original school they started at to another school. I thought I remember him saying something like 40%. It was really high I remember that.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Jun 6, 2011 0:59:13 GMT -6
I don't know if you can question Boots' evaluation of Thomas when he is going to a higher level school as a walk-on....and Warner was a walk-on.
In terms of Krutwig and Tetzlaff, yes, i do agree with you there. Those are both scholarship players that the coaching staff missed on.
But Boots hit on Roman Gentry, Charlie Westbrook, Steve Tecker and Trever Gruis. Coaches aren't always going to nail every recruiting class at this level. They just aren't, and if they do, they usually don't stick around that long unless their name is Brad Stevens haha.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Jun 6, 2011 1:01:06 GMT -6
Also, I will question Jake Thomas' defense, because it was awful, just awful plain and simple.
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Post by notkiotees on Jun 6, 2011 20:49:57 GMT -6
I foresee another transfer in Jake's future.
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Post by jman1985 on Jul 7, 2011 20:01:08 GMT -6
Didn't want to start a new topic.....
But add KC Rodenburg to the list of players not returning. Saw an update from Jeremy with Yankton P & D that KC transferred to Fort Hays State
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