Diggs Leaving

[Tanker]

Unfortunately Diggs was asked not to return next year so a scholarship could be freed. This is disappointing. It will be interesting to see how this is reported in the media.

 

[Hamilton Grizzly]

Heard the same thing...Good kid, been working hard in the weight room too, packed on about 10 pounds of muscle.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Sorry to hear this. Especially after redshirting, if he wants to play this year, he will have to drop down.

Who does Tinkle have lined up to take the scholarship? The good sign is, this could mean all the incoming recruits will be eligible. I believe Woods and Hutchinson were going to be competing for rotational minutes with Digs. I am guessing Tinkle landed the kid from the MD JC. If not him,I hope he gets a rebounding and inside scoring 4 or 5.

Anyone know who got the scholarship?

 

[Mslacat]

.

Anyone know who got the scholarship?

Raason Young would be the logical choice.

Diggs was always a project. An athletic big man who wanted to play the small forward. Unfortunately in today's world of D-1 basketball there simply are not enough scholarships to develop talent like there used to be.

Good luck to the guy, from what I hear he is great kid, he took stab at D-1 ball, did not work out so he should get the chance to go D-2/NAIA or even JC. By making the tough choice now he really will work out for the best for him. He has a lot more options this way.

 

[citygriz]

quite a surprise, when banny and stockton were the names most often mentioned.

i believe there's a subtext to this move, which is that tinkle has tapped into a rich recruiting lode in the bay area. ever since the early signing period last november, montana has received tons of publicity down here thanks to will cherry, and i believe that publicity, together with cherry himself, will pay some serious dividends during the next two recruiting cycles. mslacat has already mentioned two kids that might be looking at us, one from kennedy high school and another from castlemont, and both are probably more athletic and college-ready than diggs. just a hunch.

sure seems with all going on in the basketball program, you'd see a story in the missoulian or the great falls tribune. i know this: if there were this much mystery surrounding the football program, there'd be stories every day.

 

[mtgrizrule]

quite a surprise, when banny and stockton were the names most often mentioned.

i believe there's a subtext to this move, which is that tinkle has tapped into a rich recruiting lode in the bay area. ever since the early signing period last november, montana has received tons of publicity down here thanks to will cherry, and i believe that publicity, together with cherry himself, will pay some serious dividends during the next two recruiting cycles. mslacat has already mentioned two kids that might be looking at us, one from kennedy high school and another from castlemont, and both are probably more athletic and college-ready than diggs. just a hunch.

sure seems with all going on in the basketball program, you'd see a story in the missoulian or the great falls tribune. i know this: if there were this much mystery surrounding the football program, there'd be stories every day.

I posted a few months ago, there would be no defections, when there was talk of Stockton leaving. I am very sure Stockton will be staying. As for Banny, there is no need for him to leave. He is a Senior, and from what I have heard a good chemistry guy. He and Wayne have probably talked, both are happy in whatever his role is to be. To be honest, if he improves his offense and court awareness he can be an asset for defense and rebounding off the bench. Every team needs a energy/chemistry guy or 2. It is amazing the impact they make in morale, energy, and team chemistry. The only way I see Banny leaving is if he wants more playing time and willing to drop down. If he did that, I would understand it.

I doubt if Stockton will defect. His playing time should increase drastically in 2010 after we lose AJ and Staudacher. Besides, I feel Stockton is a much better player than the naysayers think he is. In limited minutes last year, I liked what I seen as for his leadership, intangibles, toughness, and court awareness. Stockton is a solid ballhandler, great ball distributor, and very smart. Offensively, he needs to work on penetrating and willingness to shoot when challenged to do it. Defensively, he can be relied on to be where he is supposed to be, and wear down players. He is very feisty, tough, and a never let down attitude. I am sure his uncle taught him a few tricks of the trade. Defensively, for the most part, he was solid. He struggled sometimes with on the ball defense against real quick ballhandlers. With experience he will get quicker and know how to compensate in those matchups. I really do like what Stockton brings to the table.

Banny, is the only other possibility to defect this year. Unless Tinkle has another player lined up, I think Banny should stay. Personally, if I were Tinkle, I would extend an invitation to Gerald Kemp to practice. I am VERY curious what he can do on the hardwood. I would also see if Beaudin would be willing to lace them up and get a "banger" and attitude guy on the roster. It was fun watching Beaudin throw guys around like ragdolls in his few minutes on the court.

Finally, good luck to Digs. I appreciate your time and efforts as a GRIZ!

 

[mslaman56]

As for Banny, there is no need for him to leave. He is a Senior, and from what I have heard a good chemistry guy. He and Wayne have probably talked, both are happy in whatever his role is to be. To be honest, if he improves his offense and court awareness he can be an asset for defense and rebounding off the bench. Every team needs a energy/chemistry guy or 2. It is amazing the impact they make in morale, energy, and team chemistry. The only way I see Banny leaving is if he wants more playing time and willing to drop down. If he did that, I would understand it.

Every time I get on this site, I read something like this and I wonder "Who the hell do you people talk to?"
Who said Banny was a good chemistry guy?? I feel like Griz fans and their maroon-colored glasses make all this stuff up.

The players on the team I know say Vassy is lazy and doesn't put in the necessary time. During individuals this past spring, they were doing a three person drill in which it is crucial that all three players go full speed for the entire drill. Each player going hard gave one of the two other players a period to rest. During this drill, Banny pretended to be sick and walked out of the gym, leaving his other two teammates out to dry as they had to finish the workout as a duo and suffer much more fatigue because of it. That doesn't sound like a chemistry guy to me.

As far as the "mystery" of guys leaving our program, its not very hard to figure out. Most of the guys who come to Montana are borderline D-1 players because we are a below average D-1 program in one of the worst conferences in the nation. Guys like Zach Graves and Diggs and Cam Rundles and Austin Swift and Gus Chase.....they are all guys who had the potential to be role players at the D-1 level, but never panned out simply because they were all borderline talents. The coaching staff knows this, so they ask players who aren't going to pan out to leave the team to open up scholarships for more kids who fit the exact same mold.

 

[Hairy Bear]

As for Banny, there is no need for him to leave. He is a Senior, and from what I have heard a good chemistry guy. He and Wayne have probably talked, both are happy in whatever his role is to be. To be honest, if he improves his offense and court awareness he can be an asset for defense and rebounding off the bench. Every team needs a energy/chemistry guy or 2. It is amazing the impact they make in morale, energy, and team chemistry. The only way I see Banny leaving is if he wants more playing time and willing to drop down. If he did that, I would understand it.

Every time I get on this site, I read something like this and I wonder "Who the hell do you people talk to?"
Who said Banny was a good chemistry guy?? I feel like Griz fans and their maroon-colored glasses make all this stuff up.

The players on the team I know say Vassy is lazy and doesn't put in the necessary time. During individuals this past spring, they were doing a three person drill in which it is crucial that all three players go full speed for the entire drill. Each player going hard gave one of the two other players a period to rest. During this drill, Banny pretended to be sick and walked out of the gym, leaving his other two teammates out to dry as they had to finish the workout as a duo and suffer much more fatigue because of it. That doesn't sound like a chemistry guy to me.

As far as the "mystery" of guys leaving our program, its not very hard to figure out. Most of the guys who come to Montana are borderline D-1 players because we are a below average D-1 program in one of the worst conferences in the nation. Guys like Zach Graves and Diggs and Cam Rundles and Austin Swift and Gus Chase.....they are all guys who had the potential to be role players at the D-1 level, but never panned out simply because they were all borderline talents. The coaching staff knows this, so they ask players who aren't going to pan out to leave the team to open up scholarships for more kids who fit the exact same mold.

You know, I hate to admit it, but you are right on the money with your assessment. I have never seen so many kids come and go into a Div.I program. I think Tinkle just recruits a bunch of marginal players, hope a couple will develop into good Div.I talent, and asks the others to move on so he can re-load with a new crop. I have never shared Ci-tay's enthusiasm for Tinkle's recruits.

 

[Mslacat]

Generally I do not get into the "I hate Tinkle" topics but I want to make the following comments regarding those who feel Tinkle can not recruit.

Zach Graves - Krystowiak recruit
Cam Rundles - Krystowiak recruit
Austin Swift - Krystowiak recruit
Gus Chase - Krystowiak recruit
Diggs - Tinkle recruit

When Tinkle recruited Diggs it was always going to be an experiment to see if he could make the transition to small forward. Diggs would have been a pretty intriguing prospect if he could have made the transition to the wing but it did not happen. Diggs is also an outstanding student and very much a character guy, Tinkle took a chance for an athlete, something that does not happen that much any more, and it did not work out but neither part is hurt that much by it.

This year Rivals.com rated Montana recruiting class as the best in the Big Sky. I have talked with a couple D-1 coaches and all think that both Wood and Cherry may be the best two freshman in the Big Sky next year, and Hutchison is an upper level Big Sky prospect.

Tinkle is a VERY good recruiter. It will be interesting to see how he does since his ace recruiter moved over to Portland State. I do have a couple other questions / concerns about a few other things such as player development, but there is not doubt in my mind he can recruit with anybody in the Big Sky.

BTW: Do not write off Cam Rundles yet. I talked to some folks in Minnesota this week end and he is playing great ball in the summer Pro-Am circuit there. He should be the starting point for Wofford this coming year.