SWeberCat02
Active member
Huge loss for NAU and the conference
-
Hi Guest,
We've updated the site to combine all the forums that were part of the Big Sky Fans Network into one location. This will make it easier to navigate and participate in all the discussions for each school without having to have multiple accounts, etc. We are still working out some tweaks but please let us know if you notice anything.
With the migration, in some circumstances, your username could have been merged with one of your other usernames from the other forums. If this is the case, you can request to change your username in your account details page of your profile. -
Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!
-
Guest, do want an ad free experience on BigSkyFans.com among other benefits? Upgrade your account today!
Simply click your profile name > account upgrades > BigSky Club > choose between the year long subscription (two free months) or month to month
Thanks for the continued support. Cheers!
Dewayne Russell transferring
- Thread starter SWeberCat02
- Start date
Webergrad02
Active member
Jon,
You seem to have connections that most of us don't. Any word on why he is transferring?
You seem to have connections that most of us don't. Any word on why he is transferring?
Why is he leaving? This is really sudden and a huge loss for NAU. Definite altercation between Russell and the staff. Could he have lost his starting role to another player?
NAU has lost a bunch of really good recruits lately. Before Russell they lost Douglas and Cheeks, two guards who both were three star recruits. Where is Russell headed?
NAU has lost a bunch of really good recruits lately. Before Russell they lost Douglas and Cheeks, two guards who both were three star recruits. Where is Russell headed?
ajwildcat said:
He was one of the best freshmen in the Sky last year, and after Gabe Roger's departure was destined to become the Lumberjacks team leader. He is a big time talent.
talhadfoursteals said:
According to him - “I decided [to leave] after Coach Murphy and me weren’t seeing eye to eye, we both just kind of decided it wasn’t for me anymore,” Russell said. “I thank Coach Murphy for everything he did for me while I was here, I just felt like it was time for me to go.”
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/russell-quits-nau-basketball-team/article_ed146aac-4738-11e3-baf2-001a4bcf887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Don't think there is any way he would have been losing his starting spot... the guys they are bringing in are good, but not good enough that Russell would lose his job. I guess he didn't start the exhibition game (still played enough to score 27 pts), so I am guessing him and the coaching staff were butting heads, and he just decided he didn't want to work through it, and left.
Sounds like he couldn't get his own way. Yeah, that type of garbage isn't going to fly in the majority of DI programs. Have fun playing for a DII team Dewayne! "Me and coach Murphy weren't seeing eye to eye?" Uh...really, he said that? Heavens!! What an idiot.
Midmajor??
Active member
talhadfoursteals said:
In sports just like in business, sometimes cultures clash and the fit doesn't work and you have to move on. It doesn't mean that he was a bad kid or the coach was a jerk. It just means that the relationship was not working. We have to be careful how we view these as programs and their players all have to make decisions as to what is in their best interest.
I was back East 3 years ago and the press was vilifying the decision of a player to leave Rutgers. He clearly said that he couldn't fit into the program and didn't see eye to eye with the coach. They labeled him a malcontent and as a selfish player. Last year the story came out about the abuse in the basketball program. On the flip side we see players leave as mutually agreed with the program and two weeks later you learn in the press that the player wouldn't go to class or had legal issues.
Let's not try to read into these types of departures or assign labels to the individuals involved. Larry Bird transferred from Indiana to Indiana State. I think he was at Indiana less than a month. He had an Ok career in college and the pros.
This happens, wish it wasn't days before opening of the season, but it happens.
Webergrad02
Active member
I think AAU is totally screwing these kids up and adding to the entitlement attitude that already plagues this generation.
PURPLEFORLIFE
Active member
webergrad02 said:
:thumb: :thumb:
Didn't USC originally rescind their offer to Dewayne? Isn't that how he ended up in Flagstaff originally? To me, it sounds like he is the problem.
SWWeatherCat
Active member
webergrad02 said:
:agree:
Greetings, Weber fans. When this popped up, I knew the first place I could find conversation about this would be on your board. I wish I was here under better circumstances but happy it's hoops time.
Re: Russell's transfer. The timing is a bit off. Is Russell a malcontent, homesick, looking for something bigger and flashier than NAU or is it just a disagreement in style of play with the coaches? Whatever the reason be, he isn't a Lumberjack anymore. A few of the Arizona Republic sports writers said it looks like he wants to transfer to Grand Canyon U. in Phoenix. Former NBA player (Majerle) as a coach and a shinier, nicer arena at a private school flush with athletics money just down the road from where he grew up and his family and friends are....not too much of a stretch to see the appeal.
It's a hit but if he wasn't happy and he isn't able or willing to work with/listen to the coaching staff then it's best he leave.
His comment about "not seeing eye to eye" certainly sounds like a case of entitlement but I have no insight or proof. I live 3 hours away from Flagstaff and am way out of the loop.
AAU culture blows goats. One of my former students here in Arizona (I teach high school) should be playing @ a lower level Pac 12 or high end WCC/MWC/Big Sky school right now. He had that kind of talent. But he was gone all the damned time traveling with his AAU team and said to me that his grades would work themselves out (they didn't) and his main goal was basketball. Absolutely killed me to see the kid drop his senior year when basketball season ended but this crappy attitude regarding the necessary academics to play hoops at the level he wanted to was being reinforced elsewhere. He has since gone to one of those basketball prep "finishing" schools and enrolled in a junior college so it sounds like he's getting straightened out but this certainly isn't where he thought he'd be by this point. Frustrating because the kid was truly a kind, friendly and intelligent kid who stayed out of trouble and worked his tail off on the court but just couldn't (no... wouldn't) get his shiznit together in the classroom.
Same this happened with Cheeks and Douglas, it seems. Douglas was/is @ Cal Fullerton but didn't put up as huge numbers last year as he did at NAU. No word on what became of Cheeks. Adras was definitely hard on his players and it doesn't seem like Murphy is allowing the lunatics to run the asylum either. Call me nuts but I'd rather have this than a bunch of Derrick Character prima donnas bringing their AAU douchebaggery to my beloved alma mater.
Cheers,
MTJack
Re: Russell's transfer. The timing is a bit off. Is Russell a malcontent, homesick, looking for something bigger and flashier than NAU or is it just a disagreement in style of play with the coaches? Whatever the reason be, he isn't a Lumberjack anymore. A few of the Arizona Republic sports writers said it looks like he wants to transfer to Grand Canyon U. in Phoenix. Former NBA player (Majerle) as a coach and a shinier, nicer arena at a private school flush with athletics money just down the road from where he grew up and his family and friends are....not too much of a stretch to see the appeal.
It's a hit but if he wasn't happy and he isn't able or willing to work with/listen to the coaching staff then it's best he leave.
His comment about "not seeing eye to eye" certainly sounds like a case of entitlement but I have no insight or proof. I live 3 hours away from Flagstaff and am way out of the loop.
AAU culture blows goats. One of my former students here in Arizona (I teach high school) should be playing @ a lower level Pac 12 or high end WCC/MWC/Big Sky school right now. He had that kind of talent. But he was gone all the damned time traveling with his AAU team and said to me that his grades would work themselves out (they didn't) and his main goal was basketball. Absolutely killed me to see the kid drop his senior year when basketball season ended but this crappy attitude regarding the necessary academics to play hoops at the level he wanted to was being reinforced elsewhere. He has since gone to one of those basketball prep "finishing" schools and enrolled in a junior college so it sounds like he's getting straightened out but this certainly isn't where he thought he'd be by this point. Frustrating because the kid was truly a kind, friendly and intelligent kid who stayed out of trouble and worked his tail off on the court but just couldn't (no... wouldn't) get his shiznit together in the classroom.
Same this happened with Cheeks and Douglas, it seems. Douglas was/is @ Cal Fullerton but didn't put up as huge numbers last year as he did at NAU. No word on what became of Cheeks. Adras was definitely hard on his players and it doesn't seem like Murphy is allowing the lunatics to run the asylum either. Call me nuts but I'd rather have this than a bunch of Derrick Character prima donnas bringing their AAU douchebaggery to my beloved alma mater.
Cheers,
MTJack
SWeberCat02
Active member
Transferring to Grand Canyon
SWeberCat02 said:
Not a done deal yet. This could get interesting. Read the "update" portion at the top.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24375480/report-highscoring-dewayne-russell-transferring-to-grand-canyon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
oldrunner
Active member
I'm not sure how binding those release agreements really are. He wouldn't be eligible to play for Grand Canyon until late December or January of that season any way. If he chooses GCC there isn't a lot NAU could do about it. Besides, NAU wouldn't want to be seen as blocking him from pursuing his education. 
