Official will Larry Stay or Go Thread

If you went to the Wizards/Grizzlies exhibition game, you would have seen that Larry is no where ready for the NBA. His performance this year has validated that. Those guys were huge. They would have made two Larry Sanders. A point guard like Eric Maynor can get by for a while without putting on weight, but a forward/center in the NBA can't. Larry might have length, but his is no where near where he needs to be regarding weight. He needs to come back his senior year and put on 30 - 40 lbs. in the off season, if he can. Then he'll be ready for the NBA.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
If you went to the Wizards/Grizzlies exhibition game, you would have seen that Larry is no where ready for the NBA. His performance this year has validated that. Those guys were huge. They would have made two Larry Sanders. A point guard like Eric Maynor can get by for a while without putting on weight, but a forward/center in the NBA can't. Larry might have length, but his is no where near where he needs to be regarding weight. He needs to come back his senior year and put on 30 - 40 lbs. in the off season, if he can. Then he'll be ready for the NBA.

30-40 pounds in an offseason is neither healthy nor possible if you're going for muscle. That's why I was saying whether he leaves now or later, he likely won't be playing too much when he gets to the NBA just due to his size, which will take him at least 3-4 years to get to the right weight. He can however improve his draft status by making strides in the next offseason to put on another 10-15 pounds and develop his game where he will be the focal point of the team and get a chance to shine on a stacked team that could make a lot of noise in the NCAA's next year. That would put him in the best position to be drafted in the lottery or as high as he can possibly be.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
If you went to the Wizards/Grizzlies exhibition game, you would have seen that Larry is no where ready for the NBA. His performance this year has validated that. Those guys were huge. They would have made two Larry Sanders. A point guard like Eric Maynor can get by for a while without putting on weight, but a forward/center in the NBA can't. Larry might have length, but his is no where near where he needs to be regarding weight. He needs to come back his senior year and put on 30 - 40 lbs. in the off season, if he can. Then he'll be ready for the NBA.


Probably part of the reason Larry was trying to develop his Mid range/perimeter game
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
Regarding all the hype over two first round draft picks. What has VCU gotten in return? .

Don't know how long you've been a fan, but VCU has gotten alot of run out of Eric first and now Larry. Dramatically increased attendance, increasing donor pool with potential for a lot more, continued better talent, and better coaching. These things are what will drive VCU to the next level, athletically and socially. Some times its not as dramatic as we would like, but it is happening. I'm not advocating Larry leaving...I'm just saying some perspective on our program is in order.
 
I don't think 30 lbs. for a 6'11" player is out of the question. Right now, it doesn't all have to be muscle. He just needs more size before returning for his senior year. Have you seen his legs? They are like toothpicks. I'm not looking for another Jai Lewis, but with some more beef, he would be even more dominating in the paint. Plus, it might slow him down to thepoint he has to stay in the paint and not veture out to 3 point land. :D
 
VCU MJ said:
Wolfpack Ram said:
Regarding all the hype over two first round draft picks. What has VCU gotten in return? .

Don't know how long you've been a fan, but VCU has gotten alot of run out of Eric first and now Larry. Dramatically increased attendance, increasing donor pool with potential for a lot more, continued better talent, and better coaching. These things are what will drive VCU to the next level, athletically and socially. Some times its not as dramatic as we would like, but it is happening. I'm not advocating Larry leaving...I'm just saying some perspective on our program is in order.

I've been a fan for over 30 years and, yes, from a VCU fan standpoint the program has grown. Was it because of Eric and Larry. To some extent. I think the coaches VCU has had since Mack, style of play, winning and the athletic department creating an exciting atmosphere at teh Stu have had a bigger impact. I also think there have been many other players that have also contributed to those increases. (B.A., Jesse, Jamal, Nick, Joey, Brandon and Bradford to name a few)

Many of the successes you mentioned above are also not new to VCU. During JD Barnett's last year at VCU, attendance was at an all time high with several capacity crowds at the Richmond Coliseum. As good as attendance is for VCU right now, I'm not sure they would be drawing 11,000 if they were still playing games at the Coliseum.

Everyone talks about taking this program to the next level. I would say we are back to where we were when JD was at VCU. He also won mutiple first round games in the NCAA's. First round draft picks are nice, but VCU needs to make it to the Sweet 16 in order to move this program to the next level. Otherwise, we will continue to just be a top 25 mid-major.
 
Wolfpack Ram][quote="Wolfpack Ram said:
I've been a fan for over 30 years and, yes, from a VCU fan standpoint the program has grown. Was it because of Eric and Larry. To some extent. I think the coaches VCU has had since Mack, style of play, winning and the athletic department creating an exciting atmosphere at teh Stu have had a bigger impact. I also think there have been many other players that have also contributed to those increases. (B.A., Jesse, Jamal, Nick, Joey, Brandon and Bradford to name a few)

Many of the successes you mentioned above are also not new to VCU. During JD Barnett's last year at VCU, attendance was at an all time high with several capacity crowds at the Richmond Coliseum. As good as attendance is for VCU right now, I'm not sure they would be drawing 11,000 if they were still playing games at the Coliseum.

Everyone talks about taking this program to the next level. I would say we are back to where we were when JD was at VCU. He also won mutiple first round games in the NCAA's. First round draft picks are nice, but VCU needs to make it to the Sweet 16 in order to move this program to the next level. Otherwise, we will continue to just be a top 25 mid-major.

No real argument with the above (except the inclusion of Mack). But I would say that the program took a serious blow after the Metro implosion, and Eric's 'dagger year' is a major reason for our revival in fan base, attendance, and donor base. Without that, most folks wouldn't even be reading this board or going to games. We can remember the JD years with fondness, but I'd rather live in the now. Or more recent now ;)
 
Not just a Sweet Sixteen, but continued NCAA appearances. I'll name a couple of mid-major Sweet Sixteen teams from the past couple of years from '06-'08: Bradley, Wichita State, Southern Illinois, George Mason, Bradley, Davidson, and Western Kentucky. No mid-majors made the Sweet Sixteen in 2009 (unless you count Memphis and Xavier as mids).

Who of those teams has really improved as a program after the Sweet Sixteen? I would argue only Mason has seen real dividends, and that's cause they went to the Final Four. The other teams were solid mids before the Sweet Sixteen, and that's all they are now. Some have even fallen off bigtime from there (ie. Davidson and Bradley). There is no magic formula (ie. get to the Sweet Sixteen and we'll reach the next level). We just have to get to the tournament consistently and rack up wins more often than not. Remain in the national consciousness so long that we're an expected NCAA participant (ie. Gonzaga, Butler, Xavier etc.).
 
districtballer said:
Not just a Sweet Sixteen, but continued NCAA appearances. I'll name a couple of mid-major Sweet Sixteen teams from the past couple of years from '06-'08: Bradley, Wichita State, Southern Illinois, George Mason, Bradley, Davidson, and Western Kentucky. No mid-majors made the Sweet Sixteen in 2009 (unless you count Memphis and Xavier as mids).

Who of those teams has really improved as a program after the Sweet Sixteen? I would argue only Mason has seen real dividends, and that's cause they went to the Final Four. The other teams were solid mids before the Sweet Sixteen, and that's all they are now. Some have even fallen off bigtime from there (ie. Davidson and Bradley). There is no magic formula (ie. get to the Sweet Sixteen and we'll reach the next level). We just have to get to the tournament consistently and rack up wins more often than not. Remain in the national consciousness so long that we're an expected NCAA participant (ie. Gonzaga, Butler, Xavier etc.).

I agree there is no formula. Being Consistant is all you can do. But it is not that easy. Not only in wins and tourney appearances but the players we get and eventually a coach with longevity. I think Mason is good because there is comfort in knowing Larranaga is not going anywhere. and because of this players see they have a coach that can get them deep into the tourney and a tradition of not following the money. Of course now the school becomes a piece of the puzzle. VCU needs to pony up for success to keep it growing. I can keep going but it would just get more convoluted and intertwined.
Bottom line....I agree there is no formula.
 
this is why I never groan when larry shoots three's, it shows the scouts he is undisciplined dropping his projection, yet we still usually win :lol:

seriously unless he is a guaranteed 1st rounder, stay
 
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