Wheeler

[paultzman]

Great to see him come back to hometown area and have a good season. Having only averaged less than 5 ppg at Purdue for three years, he is averaging about 10ppg here with solid chance of bettering that. He really looks like he could earn a nice living overseas with his athleticism and skills. 

Not to throw a negative in the mix, but assuming he continues his hot play, will he have better opportunities to secure a contract after this season than next? I would not assume he is a lock to return considering he and his family owe it to themselves to discuss his market value at age 23 and implications re returning here. Easy to hope he returns, which I do as a fan, but have to be clear headed about his options imo.

 

 

[MainMan]

Prime example to wait until BE play to cast judgment on a new player.

Most were dogging him prior to the last 3 to 4 weeks. He deserved it. He looked completely lost. But like Isaih Moore last year, he has turned it on big time in league play. 

 

[bucketshardy]

My Hope.... he and CMA+staff have a discussion highlighting how he improved in just one season under CMA, becoming, what looks like a focal point of our offense down the stretch.... imagine what will happen in year 2- when he has this role carved out from the jump. 

He does owe it to himself to potentially strike when the irons hot.

 

[beast of the east]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.

"Coach, I don't know how you keep your calm coach - you are so good with every question being negative."

Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

 

[Knight]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.

"Coach, I don't know how you keep your calm coach - you are so good with every question being negative."

Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

He bares the weight of decades of failures and “almosts.”

 

[beast of the east]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.

"Coach, I don't know how you keep your calm coach - you are so good with every question being negative."

Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

He bares the weight of decades of failures and “almosts.”

That's good reason to hate Germans, no?

 

[Section3]

Prime example to wait until BE play to cast judgment on a new player.

Most were dogging him prior to the last 3 to 4 weeks. He deserved it. He looked completely lost. But like Isaih Moore last year, he has turned it on big time in league play. 

Guilty as charged.

 

[boo haarvey]

Great to see him come back to hometown area and have a good season. Having only averaged less than 5 ppg at Purdue for three years, he is averaging about 10ppg here with solid chance of bettering that. He really looks like he could earn a nice living overseas with his athleticism and skills. 

Not to throw a negative in the mix, but assuming he continues his hot play, will he have better opportunities to secure a contract after this season than next? I would not assume he is a lock to return considering he and his family owe it to themselves to discuss his market value at age 23 and implications re returning here. Easy to hope he returns, which I do as a fan, but have to be clear headed about his options imo.

Realistic or not, it's every kid's dream to make the NBA.  Even at age 23, I would think Wheeler and his family believe he has NBA potential (right or wrong).  As one other poster mentioned, the pitch should be look how much you've improved in the last two months.  Stay here another year, continue to improve and showcase your skills and with your height and athleticism you have a chance to dramatically improve your stock.

One thing is nearly certain, if Wheeler leaves after this year he won't get a sniff in the league.  Would think he believes in himself enough to calculate that his increased numbers are not a function of luck and that another year will only improve his stock whether it be at home or abroad.
 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Boo Harvey wrote:

One thing is nearly certain, if Wheeler leaves after this year he won't get a sniff in the league.  Would think he believes in himself enough to calculate that his increased numbers are not a function of luck and that another year will only improve his stock whether it be at home or abroad.

Luck?? Basketball is not luck. As far as whether or not he decides to return or get paid to play overseas that is he and his family's decision based on their own priorities and economic circumstances and while I hope he returns (just like I hoped Justin Simon would return) I won't question his decision based on my pretty selfish interests as an SJU basketball fan. 

 

[L J S A]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.

"Coach, I don't know how you keep your calm coach - you are so good with every question being negative."

Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

He bares the weight of decades of failures and “almosts.”

You mean like nearly all other coaches?

 

[Knight]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.

"Coach, I don't know how you keep your calm coach - you are so good with every question being negative."

Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

He bares the weight of decades of failures and “almosts.”

You mean like nearly all other coaches?

What an insightful question!

 

[redmannorth]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.


Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

I am sure CMA was under 10 times the level of pressure at Arkansas that he is here at SJU. They have fantastic facilities crazy deep pockets with the Waltonnfamily behind them and expect to win big. Mediocrity is just not tolerated there. SJU Bball is an after thought in NYC with all of the other pro sports teams and everything else there is to do in NYC. CMA is under so little pressure to perform. At Arkansas he was the only game in town and in the hyper competitive SEC where winning coaches are often dismissed for not winning big enough. Here there are 50 passionate elderly men, probably the majority in Florida, who follow the team, that is it. 

 

[Eric]

I remember not too long ago how so many thought wheeler was trash and not big east material lol

 

[boo haarvey]

Boo Harvey wrote:

One thing is nearly certain, if Wheeler leaves after this year he won't get a sniff in the league.  Would think he believes in himself enough to calculate that his increased numbers are not a function of luck and that another year will only improve his stock whether it be at home or abroad.

Luck?? Basketball is not luck. As far as whether or not he decides to return or get paid to play overseas that is he and his family's decision based on their own priorities and economic circumstances and while I hope he returns (just like I hoped Justin Simon would return) I won't question his decision based on my pretty selfish interests as an SJU basketball fan. 

Basketball is not luck?  You’re joking right? Luck plays an enormous part in every sport (from the ball bouncing the right way to being placed in a system that allows you to succeed to being hot at the right time). Obviously skill and and hard work are essential as well but don’t discount the value of luck.

As for the rest of your post, of course it’s ultimately Wheeler’s decision what he does with his life.  But this is a fan board and I am a fan.  I make no apologies for wanting Wheeler to stay, speculating about it and even second guessing his decision. Without “selfish” fans like me, there would be no decision for Wheeler  to make because there would be no market for his services.


 

 

[room112]

This is a great comment by Wheeler, as he left the press conference, to Coach Anderson.


Players are so aware of the s**tstorm of unwarranted negativity tossed at Coach, likely never experienced to this level in his stops at Missouri and Arkansas.

I am sure CMA was under 10 times the level of pressure at Arkansas that he is here at SJU. They have fantastic facilities crazy deep pockets with the Waltonnfamily behind them and expect to win big. Mediocrity is just not tolerated there. SJU Bball is an after thought in NYC with all of the other pro sports teams and everything else there is to do in NYC. CMA is under so little pressure to perform. At Arkansas he was the only game in town and in the hyper competitive SEC where winning coaches are often dismissed for not winning big enough. Here there are 50 passionate elderly men, probably the majority in Florida, who follow the team, that is it. 

This is a classic post. Especially the last sentence lol

 

[L J S A]

I remember not too long ago how so many thought wheeler was trash and not big east material lol

All those other posters were clearly idiots/media/kunena/emoticons/cool.png . . . but In my defense, I don't think I ever called him trash. And he always was Big East material. I just thought he was bench material who wasn't using his physical gifts and was never going to improve. (CMA 1, LJSA 0)

I'll also take this time to note that when I got out ahead of the curve last night and said not to assume he's 100 percent coming back, some guys got annoyed with me./media/kunena/emoticons/grin.png

 

[Mullins Revenge]

Wheeler is not going anywhere.  He is back here next year to dominate the Big East.  Posh, Pinzon, Wheeler, Storr...... thats a real nice core.  Who knows, if we get a transfer or 2, next years team could be better then this years team was supposed to be.

 

[boo haarvey]

Wheeler is not going anywhere.  He is back here next year to dominate the Big East.  Posh, Pinzon, Wheeler, Storr...... thats a real nice core.  Who knows, if we get a transfer or 2, next years team could be better then this years team was supposed to be.

Don’t forget about Mathis, Wusu and Soriano.  The pieces for a final four contender are there!
 

 

[L J S A]

Wheeler is not going anywhere.  He is back here next year to dominate the Big East.  Posh, Pinzon, Wheeler, Storr...... thats a real nice core.  Who knows, if we get a transfer or 2, next years team could be better then this years team was supposed to be.

I'm not sure you should be the go-to guy on this since you also think Posh will be here five seasons.

 

[Ray Morgan]

There are a ton of opportunities overseas. They will be there if he waits another year. Wheeler has played well recently. Excellence comes when you do it every night. The NBA is every kid's dream, and for almost all, including players much better than Wheeler, it becomes a nightmare.

It would be nice if a college player here and there would say that the college experience is once in a lifetime and for that reason they want to stay in school another year and maybe make the tournament. But as one movie said, America is not a country, it's a business. It's nice that these kids can make a living playing basketball, but it's sad in a way that everything has to be about money, even if it's making it in Montenegro.