SR35

Gomab, I can appreciate TBirds frustration, but of course you would expect that from me. You say that recruitment is a combination of AAU and High School, but am I wrong to say that you short change the high school end of it? It just seems that your emphasis is on AAU. (I am not necessarily criticising that, only asking if that is not the case.) I know that Jake Skogen never played AAU and High School seemed to do him just fine without it. TBird doesn't know all the local talent, and that is my difficulty. Living in Chattanooga, I see Jeff Smith and others, as well as seeing Bailey play and the distance you put between Caleb and those two, just to name a couple, is so great that it really damages your assessment. I am not saying that if your opinion is that they are better you are crazy, I would disagree, because I don't think they are better, but that is just opinion. The problem is in the gap you have between them, that is what I think makes people who know Chattanooga bb and have seen Bailey play, wonder. One last thing, I would appreciate your response to my comments under the thread regarding 2006 Mr. Basketball, Seth Skogen Sophmore. I know you have already written on that, but I made a post that does concern you and if you could give it a glance, I would appreciate it. Let me add on more last thing, I know that Temple fans, me included give you a hard time, but I want you to know that your comments are about the only thing on here that are even worth responding to, I mean that as a compliment, what would a good discussion be if there were no respect between the participants? Thanks.

Grace has a really good team this year and they can make it back to state, but I'm sure it will be a hard time bacaue they lost some of their key players, and their bench isn't as deep

Nobody get upset, that is not the purpose of this, but allow me just a couple of points on this and I will not bring it up again. First, gomab does have two kids listed from single A relatively high THIS YEAR, but last? No, the year before, No. (Jake Skogen was the highest at #14, and I have great respect for anyone, in this case Gomab who will admit he made a mistake, it would go along ways if others on here would do the same...a wonderful quality to have and one that is sorely missing today...sorry for the cultural commentary, but my respect for Gomab just went up a notch) The comment, I beleive was taking a few years into consideration and was made in general. Gomab's comment regarding this year is akin to saying, "I'm not prejudice against Mexicans, my best friend is a Mexican." Second, Love it, the point is that Gomab saw whoever you were referring to play once and people listen to his opinion and that kid gets bad press. Me and my buddies went to the all state game, east vs. west and they pass out in the program a listing of the top players in the state, do you want to guess whose listing they passed out? Gomabs top 50...My point is only that if you haven't seen a kid and you are taking it upon yourself to rank the best, the maybe you should see the kid before you put him somewhere or don't put him somewhere because it MIGHT effect his future. I have talked to many college coaches and they actually look at this kind of stuff. Third, Gomab has over the years spoken to Temple as a team and been complimentary. (Just a question however: Gomab you pulled for Temple vs. Ezell, Temple was a huge underdog in that one. Now, do you pull for teams vs. Temple because Temple is often times the favorite? Are you one of those guys who loves the underdog, just wondering?) It is my opinion that he has not scored their individual talent very high. Jake made #14 I don't think Ryan Wadley was even on the list. Last year, top four, no one on the list. This year, well it began with no one on the list, but Gomab has made some changes, I just don't know where to look to see them. Fourth, After reading Gomab's post I truly want to apologize if my words were a source of frustration, that was not my intent and no one knows Gomab's mind but him. I have little trouble divorcing my emotions from my opinions, I don't take things personally, and sometimes I may irratate folks, again, my apologies. Ok, I'm done with this. Again, didn't mean to upset anyone.

Volsbigd, listen carefully: You don't have to respect someone for that someone to get your attention. Let's say Mr. Smooth steals your girlfriend, you know he is a jerk, you listen to his disrespect for women in the locker room and his boasting about how he gets who he wants and uses them for himself...you have no respect for him because you are a fine young fellow and recognize a snake when you see and hear one. But his charms have taken away your girl...she is enamored with him. Does he have your attention? Do you respect him? I am not implying that Gomab is a snake, just an analogy to make a point. Does Gomab have "our attention"? Sure he does, he speaks as one with authority and for some reason people act as though he HAS authority, even outside of the Coach T Boards. Does that imply respect? Not necessarily. Of course it doesn't imply a lack of respect either for that determination more information would be needed. As for your point about who cares, just let your game speak for you, in that I concur completely.

I am not so sure that Sean is a better defender, Ryan was awfully good. AND, I could be wrong but I think Sean might end up with more assists as a Senior than did Ryan. Ryan had the big games, set the record of 15 in a game, but Sean has more double digit assist games than Ryan, at least that would be my guess. Caleb's speed and ability to get everyone else on the floor into the game might be the big difference. I remember a game were Jake and Ryan had 50 of the 52 points scored in a Sub-state contest. This years team is more balanced, more potential 20 point guys, but I think it all stems from Sean and Caleb, defending, scoring and then getting the ball to the right guys who finish well. But if they don't win it, which is by no means going to be an easy task, then this discussion will be meaningless.

Newballer, that is a good point and you may be right. We Temple fans do think that Gomab shafts our kids and at times even our team, so that might inform our thoughts and feelings about his evaluations. Gomab never sees us play, can't follow us due to where he lives etc. So what should we expect? Maybe only thta he doesn't speak so definitively about players whom he hasn't been able to evaluate properly??? Whatever, Temple needs to stop worrying about Gomab not giving them any love and just concentrate on winning. Gomab seems to speak highly of certain single A players IF they have played for him, ie-Joseph Bailey, but other than that it is really hard to find one in the top 20 of any class for the last four years. I am not saying they are not there, but I sure can't remember who it would be, especially at the beginning of season when he lists his top 55 or whatever. Sometimes as the season goes on a single A guy can crack the top 25 but not often. For crying out loud he did not even have Caleb Skogen in his top 55 when the season started! But there I go again holding up Temple...sorry about that.

I watched Holwerda and Jake Skogen clowning around this summer on the court and they are exactly the same height, and I know that Skogen is 6'5" exactly. So there you go newballer.

newballer, you are right about the younger skogen, he may be the smallest of the lot, he is VERY aggressive and has the advantage of great games on the hoop in his driveway, but time will tell. I would respectfully disagree about your defense of Gomab and single A ball. For years the single A guys get the shaft from him. For instance, when jake Skogen was a Senior he was AP first team all state, top five all classes. Gomab had him in the 20's and 30's most of the year and then, in what he implied was a concession to all our griping moved him to #14 at the end. I could give you more. Jeff Smith from Tyner ranked where he is while there are a bunch of single A guys better than Jeff, no where close to where smith is. It goes on and on. Again, everyone is bias, but lets at least admit our bias at least then it is respectable.

To whoever said Pucket is a better college prospect...where did he sign, or where is he looking to sign? I have never heard what schools he is looking at. I know that Skogen has signed with Mercer, mid major D-1 and a great fit for him plus he gets to play with his older brother. He had opportunities with Furman and others, but liked the idea of playing with Jake. What about PUcket?

newballer, you are right to say everyone is bias, I have no problem with that, I have said it myself, the problem is that Gomab does not, to my knowledge, admit that. I think my comments at least made sense, whether or not you agree with them, but that is the maddening thing on these boards, is that logic is irrelevant, and most folks, I am not insinuating that this is true of you, make comments that are just plain stupid, in the truest definition of the word. Gomab's comments deserved a rebuke and it is my guess that he will do just fine with it.

Seth is just barely over 1000 and so probably won't get 2000 until his Senior year, but you never know, his brother jake had over 1000 points his senior year alone. Temple always finds a way to reload from losing good players, Caleb being gone will hurt, but Dee will step up as will others, they always do.

SP is a joke. They play no one, have the second to last hardest schedule, they got beat by 21st Century and they are not very good, ( I am being nice). Robinson is waaaay over hyped. Just wait and see what happens...I can't even beleive I wasted time responding to this.

Gomabs post was not good, it was a bunch of biased crap. Gomab if you read what I said you wouldn't have embarrassed yourself. I said, IF THE POSTS ON HERE ARE TRUE, then I think he should be out of the running. I admitted not having seen him nor the incident, but if what was reported about his attitude etc, is accurate, then I stand behind my conclusion. Gomab, this is another good example of your extreme bias toward certain players. You have a great fan base on these boards and I fully expect to get ripped for saying this, but my ripping will be filled with insults based on nothing. You favor certain kids, period. I have been following these boards for a number of years now, and this is pure and simply the facts. Maybe everything you say about this boy being a good kid is true, maybe he just lost his head...maybe all the other people who say that he holds himself less that admirably at times, is wrong, fine...but at least learn how to read and draw conclusions from what is said and not your bias. Please note, I have at times on here complimented you when you deserved a compliment. But your comments about my post deserve a rebuke, I hope you will receive it in the spirit offered.

I agree with the last post. I don't know what he did to get tossed, someone clue me in on that. But it it were me, this would remove him from consideration. Highly visible awards represent more than just basketball ability. This might be a great lesson for him as he prepares for a great college career. We definately have enough egos and arrogance at the next level, it would be nice to see some of these guys take on a different approach. (I am not saying anything about Doaks, I have never seen him, I am only commenting on what the posts have said, they may be accurate and they may not. If they ARE, then my opinion stands...)

I would love to know what you cpa folks think about this as well. However it seems kind of hard seeing how the two play totallyl different positions and therefore have totally different games. I aint seen Pucket play, so here are my questions. Does he make his teammates better? what is his leadership like? Is the game about him or about the team? Skogen scores as high as can be on things like that and that is why we at temple think he should be asked to mr. basketball ceremony.

well put ducky

I don't think you will have enything to worry about, temple's baseball is the worst in tennessee. Although they won't e that bad if jonathan baxter plays.

Boyshums, at least argue logically...the ability to think or lack thereof on these boards is frightening. You made a statement about the last three years the tourny being moved to the high school gym. Ducks proves you wrong, because you are wrong, and you come up with that response? What you need to say is, sorry i was wrong because I am a jealous idiot. You tell me that you wouldn't take home court advantage if given to you? Of course you would, so Temple is to be ridiculed for doing what every single one of us would do if we had the chance?

I think it will be well fought game. Valley will come out with a lot of intensity after all, they are supposed to lose. Valley doesn't have any pressure, they are playing the number one team and will come out with nothing to lose and everything to win. I think temple will min but it will be a well fought game

Temple picked its times to press. they always had someone shadowing the man bringing the ball up and then every once in a while would turn it up and this seemed to be very effective, almost as if to catch them off guard a bit.

I will say this, even as a Temple fan, the foul called on the guy from Ooltewah who was setting a pick, just standing there and knocked Cudd into next week, was not a foul. The ref said that he extended his arms and knocked him over...well, he saw something that I sure didn't see. It really looked like he was punishing the Owls at that point because of their fans. However, that changed nothing in the game, Cudd missed the free throws, (sorry Stephen, I don't mean to rub salt in the wound, but it is true you know), and the game was over by then. Other than that, the refs did a pretty fair job, I have seen a lot worse this year! They missed some on both ends but I just don't think they had any say in the outcome of this game. Temple did not play great but hung around and made the plays when they needed to and that is why they won, not cuz of the refs.

Look here, Temple knows that every year when they go to Valley it is a war. Valley will be inspired, it is senior night and they are on their home floor. Temple can't look past them, and won't, they know better than that. This year when Valley beat Grace they were unstopable...so the 'saders best be prepared.

Oldtimeballer's stats are wrong. If you add up the stats in the paper they don't add up correctly, so here you go? Caleb 21, Seth 21, Sean 17 Zack 11. Seth had 12 boards and Zach had 11, Caleb finished with 9 assists.

Bobcat, you are simply wrong about Bailey being in foul trouble at Temple, go get a tape and see for yourself. He played almost the whole game, ask Ducks he guarded him the entire time. Newballer, I think you are right about your comments regarding Gomab and Caleb etc. Some people think that Gomab has a lot of influence in these matters and he might, I have no idea. But like you said, Caleb has his college paid for, he is playing well, having fun and his team is in a good position to acheive their goals. That is more "success" than most kids are blessed to acheive. The comments people make on here trying to slam you only show that they have nothing of substance to say and when you have nothing to say it is easy to resort to insults. But this tells you much more about them than it does you. (And thanks for the info about how to get my own screen name on this site, I still haven't done it as I am using this one that about 20 people know the password to, but I will, it does sound easy even for computer-phobic people like me.)

Gomab, thanks for the quick reply...but I sure hope that wasn't your attempt at pumping Skogen! Yes Seth had 39 but why? I think Seth said something like, because my brother is incredible. CPA was so worried about his the older one, running two guys at him, trying to keep the ball out of his hands and he goes for (unofficially) 17 assists! it was pretty impressive and the best thing is that he was pumped to do it. He couldn't care less that he didn't score 40! So, do those three have to carry the team as you suggest, or is it that Caleb makes others on his team better. I think you are probably right...Caleb won't win it, and he might not even be a finalist...we will wait and see. But you have never really seen him play. You defend, and rightly so, Bailey's performance in Chattanooga, (even great players have off nights) but you SEEM, (emphasis) to have made up your mind that Skogen isn't even close to as good and you saw him play once at State last year. You are getting ready to move Bailey into yoru top 20 if I read it right, and Skogen wasn't even in your top 55! EVen if you think Bailey is better, although their head to head meeting wouldn't have concluded that, he is THAT much better???