bcgruber

BIG METRO AMERICAN CONFERNECE Big MAC I think it was mentioned before

Dana Altman was looking for one final piece to the puzzle for the 2012-13 roster and if he could find one, add an impact forward. At 6-11 and 250 pounds Austin provides the Ducks another big body down low to go along with Tony Woods and Austin Kuemper It might be September but Altman got the roster addition he was looking for Wednesday night from 2012 junior college All-American Waverly Austin. Austin announced the decision over Twitter by saying, "Heading to the University of Oregon tomorrow ready to take over the pac 12 grind time!!!!!!! #goducks #Blessed." Austin was denied admission at South Florida in the summer and instead of retaking a class at Palm Beach State College in Florida he looked for a different school to attend. Two years ago Altman signed senior transfer Jay-R Strowbridge in September. Last year Tony Woods and Olu Ashaolu both decided to transfer into the program late. Now Austin is the latest and also the most highly regarded junior college recruit he's signed. As a sophomore last season the 6-foot-11 and 250 pound center averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocked shots for a Palm Beach State College team that finished with a 26-5 record. As a freshmen Austin averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds. When Austin was denied admission into USF this summer he became one of the hottest recruits regardless of class. NCAA Tournament regulars like Syracuse, Xavier, and Washington called to try and convince him to come. "Basically, everyone who was somebody was calling me," said Austin Wednesday night. "It was over 30 schools that called and recruited me." Oregon head coach Dana Altman found an important piece to the 2012-13 season in Austin. Austin formed a support group consisting of his mother, brother, and AAU coach to weed through all the new schools and in the end came out with two schools he wanted to look at. "We talked on the phone for three hours and broke it all down," says Austin. "We looked at what would be the best decision for me. Essentially it came down to just Xavier and Oregon." Austin and his support group spoke with both Dana Altman and Xavier head coach Chris Mack over the phone and broke down both programs and how he could fit in at each school.. "We compared both of them together and Oregon was the best situation for me and my future," Austin said. With fall classes starting at Oregon in only a couple of weeks Austin had time to take an official to Oregon or Xavier but said he didn't need it. "I made my choice blind," Austin added. "I've never been to Eugene or Oregon in my life, but I am excited." To make things even more crazy Austin picked his college choice Wednesday and will fly cross country to Eugene Thursday to get to Oregon as soon as possible. "I could have taken official visits but I just wanted to get this out of the way and focus on basketball. I just made the decision without having been there. It was the best decision for me." Austin says a big reason he could do that was the job Altman and his assistant coaches did in selling him on Oregon. Austin spent hours on his computer researching about Oregon's basketball program, university, and city of Eugene. "I basically did a virtual tour of everything out there; the Matthew Knight Arena, Jaqua Center, Eugene, I looked at it all," laughed Austin. The decision was nearly made about a week ago but Austin said he wanted to sit on it and pray to make sure he was making the right call. "I just had to take a couple of days. I was really upset when I was denied at USF as this was the second time it happened to me," Austin said. As a member of the 2010 high school class Austin committed to USF out of high school but was again denied admission and forced to go the junior college route. Now Austin is excited for a fresh start in a new city where he hopes to put Oregon on the map for basketball while also becoming a better player. "I don't have a real good relationship with the guys [on the Oregon roster] yet but that will change real quick," laughed Austin. Austin's already taken the first step in reaching out to his new teammates via social media to let them know he's coming and ready to work. "I don't know them per say but I've let them know I am coming and am ready to work. With me coming to Oregon, the talent coming back, and then you add the guys they signed I think we could be the best team in the Pac-12," says Austin. "I feel like I could be that last missing piece to get Oregon to the NCAA Tournament." Austin also says he has a message for his teammates and the Oregon fans. "Pac-12 championship...that is why I am coming."

I Want to be in whatever conference Duke and NC end up in. Then we know we will have stability.

No he wouldn't leave for WSU. Why would he its a lower level job. Do you leave IBM for less money at some startup? (not saying usf is IBM and WSU is a startup). But with you thinking Ben Howland or Tubby smith will take the FGCU job after their coach moves on after the tourney. I suppose FGCU is now a top job as well because they made it to the sweet 16. The top jobs are in the top conferences bottom line.

IF you talking about success I will say WSU has had more. thats not the argument. its which is a better coaching job and USF is much better then any mid major job but for maybe Gonzaga and Butler, But Butler is no longer mid major with the move to the BE

IF I believe in my abilities I would much rather take the job at any of those schools Nebraska, Alabama or whatever. Isn't that what Billy D did up in gainsville? Tubby Smith at Georgia, Billy tubbs at oklahoma, Sanderson at alabama. IF you are a good coach you can turn any program around. So the thought is if you are good you might as well do it in the best conferences not on the mid major level. you don't see high level conference coaches moving down otherwise the bruce webers and bill selfs would go back to coaching in the MVC

And what makes you say BH is better then SH? Who has more NCAA tourney victories in the last 5 years? Stan 2 Howland 1

all those programs you mentioned were high mid majors......Winthrop is a few steps below that. All those coaches were proven over many years and some even had major conference experience. Marshall had non of that and had the chance to jump into the best conference in america. He chose the safe route because he did not think he could turn it around against the BE competition. At least that is my take. WSU has always been a nice basketball program but it is not considered a high level job. Any job in the major conferences is better, in terms of desireability.

exactly and then took a lower level job at wichita st. OR do you think that is a step above USF?

Marshall was afraid of the challenge of the USF BBall program. I think Stan has done a better job then what Greg M would have but its hard to say. But because he was afraid I'll say I'm glad he isn't here

Vega is right we should be in the conversation for NCAA within the next 1-3 years. Footaball everyone make a bowl game if you are .500 so the timetable might be a push

4 bid league is my guess if L'ville is in

The reason he never scheduled a tough non conference schedule was more due to the fact that he knew he would have a very tough conference resume. The reason lower conference schools need to schedule more aggressive is that they will not have a good RPI based on their weaker conference if they don't schedule hard early. MSU is one team that still plays good teams non conference early and has the tough BiG league

good news is we have a good class coming in and winning always helps with recruiting so hopefully we can start off well in the new a-12 which in turn keeps good recruits coming our way. And eventually if we get into the ACC that would help even more

The reason the rebounding was better late in the season was more due to the fact that we started playing the other teams in the league that couldn't rebound as well (Depaul, Uconn, Cinci and SH). So it was more competition then us getting any better

USF 5 Rudd 23 LeDay 8 79%

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/pages/listgallery?gid=27145&gf=261

http://www.lohud.com/usatoday/article/1979601

is there a yellow/gold version

are we not the lower seed thus wearing a dark uniform?

with no postseason exposure that will hurt his nba stock, hope he stays

Please no more minutes for K White what a waste

1) Cincinnati 2) 4 3) Fitz - 16 4) Rudd - 9 5) 84%

I'll take the bait plus we should have won the first game at their place USF 3 Poland 16 Sr night part II Rudd 9 83

USF 6 AC 16 LeDay 9 79