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Report: Cody Zeller down to three

by in Recruiting | August 4th, 2010

According to a report by the Washington Times-Herald, 2011 Washington (IN) forward Cody Zeller has trimmed his list of schools to three.

And as expected, there are no surprises: Zeller’s final three are Indiana, Butler and North Carolina:

“It was a hard decision, but those three were in front by a lot. I have five official visits I could take, but I didn’t want to lead anyone on,” Zeller said.

“There is all the tradition at Carolina and that is special. Coach (Tom) Crean has done a great job turning things around at Indiana and Butler is such a good team year-in-and-year-out. They have one of the best young coaches in the country. All three coaches are great people,” Zeller added.

Not much to add here beyond the obvious, but despite what has been written elsewhere, IU’s chances to land Zeller are certainly as legitimate as UNC’s or Butler’s. The next step, if Zeller sticks to his original plan, will be to set up official visits in the fall before signing a National Letter of Intent in November.

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  • Outoftheloop

    Are you talking Purdue football? Or Purdue basketball? If basketball who are the “studs”, names and national rankings. If football, why are you wasting your time?

  • Outoftheloop

    I was wrong on the business school: NC ranked tied for #21 with a score of 69; IU ranked #23 with a score of 68-so dead even.

  • Outoftheloop

    I was wrong on the business school: NC ranked tied for #21 with a score of 69; IU ranked #23 with a score of 68-so dead even.

  • Outoftheloop

    I am with you on that! The Colts win the Superbowl and the next year they lose half of the players we like to other teams for more money. Cody comes to Bloomington and we have at least 4 years of aiming for the Final Four and a 6th Championship!!

  • Outoftheloop

    I am with you on that! The Colts win the Superbowl and the next year they lose half of the players we like to other teams for more money. Cody comes to Bloomington and we have at least 4 years of aiming for the Final Four and a 6th Championship!!

  • Outoftheloop

    I am with you on that! The Colts win the Superbowl and the next year they lose half of the players we like to other teams for more money. Cody comes to Bloomington and we have at least 4 years of aiming for the Final Four and a 6th Championship!!

  • Outoftheloop

    I think that we found the definition of a “HOOSIER”!!=Hardwood83.

  • Outoftheloop

    I think that we found the definition of a “HOOSIER”!!=Hardwood83.

  • Outoftheloop

    He is right on with each of those points!

  • Outoftheloop

    Not really! Hayward was not a basketball All-American! He was an NBA lottery pick. I do not remember ANY Butler All-Americans. Can you name one? And which program has more fans in the State of Indiana, Butler or IU? It is not even close, IU! So Butler competes only in point #2. Also, I don't think that S Curry actually had offers, as in “if you say yes today here is your scholarship now” from either NC or Duke. They were holding him in reserve if others turned them down. But check on this, I am not sure. I did not care anything that S Curry went to Davidson when he committed. I did like his play at Davidson, and rooted for the “little guys” just like I did for Butler last year. But Butler is a “little guy”!

  • Outoftheloop

    Did you actually watch all of the close games Butler squeaked out last year? Wright State and Detroit both matched them in talent, but Butler had the “magic” last season, and won all of the close ones. If Butler loses one game-ONE GAME- in the Horizon League then they are out of the top 20, TWO loses in conference and they do not even get in the tourney if they don't win the Horizon Tourney Championship! If IU is 5th in the Big 10 we are in the NCAA!

  • I Bleed Crimson

    I guess his comments also tell us where the IU program is now. Him not mentioning the great tradition at Indiana has the “what have you done for me lately” stigmata written all over it. I am glad to see us in another top three from a recruit. Hopefully we can finally start landing some of these guys.

  • Outoftheloop

    Yes it is called being in a VERY WEAK Conference where if you are a top 34 team you SHOULD WIN and go 18-0!

  • Outoftheloop

    Yes it is called being in a VERY WEAK Conference where if you are a top 34 team you SHOULD WIN and go 18-0!

  • Outoftheloop

    Exactly, Gonzaga is very much like Butler, only Gonzaga has multiple NBA players and Butler only one. Butler does it with their system or style of play, and good, not great talent. But each school struggles (.500 W/L) against good out of conference competition, and thrives (18-0) on the conference teams. If you throw out the NCAA Tourney, the Horizon League games, and the weak pre-season opponents like Evansville and Ball State, then last year, in the greatest season in Butler HISTORY, they beat Northwestern, UCLA, OH St without Turner, and Xavier; and they lost to MN, Clemson, Georgetown and UAB. That is 4 W and 4 L = .500! But you have to hand it to them, they did go 5-1 in the NCAA Tourney.

  • Outoftheloop

    Exactly, Gonzaga is very much like Butler, only Gonzaga has multiple NBA players and Butler only one. Butler does it with their system or style of play, and good, not great talent. But each school struggles (.500 W/L) against good out of conference competition, and thrives (18-0) on the conference teams. If you throw out the NCAA Tourney, the Horizon League games, and the weak pre-season opponents like Evansville and Ball State, then last year, in the greatest season in Butler HISTORY, they beat Northwestern, UCLA, OH St without Turner, and Xavier; and they lost to MN, Clemson, Georgetown and UAB. That is 4 W and 4 L = .500! But you have to hand it to them, they did go 5-1 in the NCAA Tourney.

  • Outoftheloop

    Exactly, Gonzaga is very much like Butler, only Gonzaga has multiple NBA players and Butler only one. Butler does it with their system or style of play, and good, not great talent. But each school struggles (.500 W/L) against good out of conference competition, and thrives (18-0) on the conference teams. If you throw out the NCAA Tourney, the Horizon League games, and the weak pre-season opponents like Evansville and Ball State, then last year, in the greatest season in Butler HISTORY, they beat Northwestern, UCLA, OH St without Turner, and Xavier; and they lost to MN, Clemson, Georgetown and UAB. That is 4 W and 4 L = .500! But you have to hand it to them, they did go 5-1 in the NCAA Tourney.

  • Outoftheloop

    Thanks that is good information.

  • Outoftheloop

    Thanks that is good information.

  • Outoftheloop

    Thanks that is good information.

  • Outoftheloop

    Thanks that is good information.

  • Anonymous

    Crackhead.

    Just kidding!

  • Anonymous

    Crackhead.

    Just kidding!

  • Trailrunner1

    I have been a Bear and Hoosier fan my whole life. I favor IU basketball more than any other team or program. But in absolutely no way does a recruit outweigh a Bear Super Bowl victory. Good grief!

  • millzy32

    Just because Butler is in Indiana and we are all kind of partial to the little guy in Indiana we shouldn't sugar coat what Butler is. They are a nice story. A Cinderella story almost if they had actually won which they didn't. They have a potentially great coach in the making and if you want to count Thad Matta which I do then you can say they are a Coaching stepping stone job.

    Lets not tiptoe around it. Butler is a stop. Butler is not a destination. NC is a destination. IU is a destination. Even Purdue is a destination.

    Could Butler become a destination? Not likely. Too few grads and or fans and or donors. Could someone like Stevens actually stay there for the duration and make something respectable out of the program for a few decades? He could but why would he hold himself back like that on purpose. He is already and will continue to be a hot item in the coaching world. What is he waiting for? Who knows but I bet it's a destination job and not a stop along the way. Look at what happened to Lickliter. He went to a stop. Sorry Iowa bball fans, all 2 of you, Iowa is a higher paying stop and a difficult one at that. Alford did a tremendous job and was rewarded by being run out of town there. They want to be a destination but there fan base of Fball and Wrestling will not allow for it.

  • Kelin Blab

    I will defend those of us who would rather have a zeller commit than a superbowl championship by the colts. My reasons are simple….

    + Haven't we had a superbowl win by the colts? Don't we know what that feels like?
    + So give me the last good, news making, recruiting, program changing, piece of news IU has had? Hear that crickets….let me give that news…Eric Gordon.
    + Cody Zeller would bring more to IU as a program than any one player could in the near future and since Eric Gordon.
    + In every way IU has been in the gutter so bad from sanctions, losing recruits, PU and Butler winning, losing more recruits, poor grades, bad hires etc………when will the tides change.

    The commitment of Cody would bump any local or state wide sports story including the Colts. Many of us have said Cody is not the savior and does not guarantee anything. We have even said BJ Young would probably have a bigger impact his frosh year, but Cody means more. As far as smoking crack, we are not and I would leave that to monkeys in Nevada.

    All I am saying is my current sports priorities are:

    1. Cody Zeller Commit
    2. Winning season by IU
    3. BJ Young Commit
    4. Colts Superbowl win
    5. Healthy Mo Creek and Bob Sanders
    6. Perea, Jurkin, Yogi, Patterson, and DSR or Harris committing to IU.
    7. The new IHSAA commish putting on the fall election ballot to do away with class basketball in the state of Indiana.

  • thecoon

    well how do you know he wants to major in business?

  • thecoon

    well how do you know he wants to major in business?

  • Bleeding Crimson

    A few comments:
    Zeller…a few things that have not been mentioned. The fact that maybe all the brothers may want to play at different schools, and for Cody being a leader not a follower. Secondly, think of the travel time to UNC and a Indiana school for the parents and family. They had to split it up before and they would only get one year for both at one school (UNC) and Zeller won't get the minutes at UNC.

    One a different note, not getting Zeller wouldn't be that much of a loss. I throughly impressed with CTC's ability to get the attention of so many Bigs as of late. Look at who we have on their list of schools, Perea, Hammons, Jurkin and the recent visits from Aget Jurkin, Perea, Goff. If we land 1/2 of these kids including Zeller we will be overstocked at the Center/PF position. That is why I say it won't be that big of a deal if we don't land Zeller.
    Don't get me wrong, I would love to have him for all of the reasons that have been stated on this Blog. Plus the fact it does take pressure off on 2012 class for a big.
    Just some added thoughts.
    BC
    BC

  • walton

    AT LEAST I HOPE SO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hoosierfan85

    i dont want to see him go anywhere other than IU but the truth is that if u look at the things he said from a unc fan's perspective it is the exact same position we are in. both have top 20 business schools and he has a friend going ot IU and a brother and UNC. I defintiely want to see him playing in Assembly Hall but its a toss up between UNC and IU

  • eph521

    I wonder why… I seem to recall back in 1996 the undergraduate Business program was as high #3 in some publications.

  • IULineman

    IU 33.3%
    NC 33.3%
    Butler 33.3%

    Based on current facts

  • eph521

    Ok, you got me. That's probably the best way to think about it, as everything is just speculation.

    However, given it's just speculation and we all know that, it's more fun to throw some of your own thinking in there… I still give IU the edge.

  • Diesel

    Who's in for a parade in downtown Indy if Zeller commits to IU? I'm driving the float boys.

  • trailrunner

    Ask yourself. What arenas would you rather play in; Assembly Hall, Rupp, Breslin, Mackey, Cameron, Madison Square Garden, or Wright State? The energy and thrill of playing in front of 15 to 20 thousand fans every game will be a deciding factor. The coach and teammates will be the final factor. It will be IU.

  • Hardwood83

    No argument from me- in fact I am thoroughly convinced by all the reasons mentioned here that IU is the only option….now let's hope CZ gets the memo. Seriously though as others have said- UNC I can at least understand. They are arrogant and a long way from home, but being objective it's understandable why a kid would play ball there, especially with the family connection. Butler? Come on. Butler is for over-achievers, late bloomers, and 'fundamentally sound' players that don't quite make the cut elsewhere. Can't deny the accomplishments but don't confuse a good run with a paradigm change. Butler is the homely girl with nice teeth that managed to get elected prom Queen because a couple of the hot cheerleaders split the vote. Treasure the memory Butler, but don't expect a modeling contract out of it.

  • Hardwood83

    No argument from me- in fact I am thoroughly convinced by all the reasons mentioned here that IU is the only option….now let's hope CZ gets the memo. Seriously though as others have said- UNC I can at least understand. They are arrogant and a long way from home, but being objective it's understandable why a kid would play ball there, especially with the family connection. Butler? Come on. Butler is for over-achievers, late bloomers, and 'fundamentally sound' players that don't quite make the cut elsewhere. Can't deny the accomplishments but don't confuse a good run with a paradigm change. Butler is the homely girl with nice teeth that managed to get elected prom Queen because a couple of the hot cheerleaders split the vote. Treasure the memory Butler, but don't expect a modeling contract out of it.

  • MileHighHoosier

    This is kinda crazy. I love IU and am more die hard for the Hoosiers than the Colts, but a championship means so much more than any one player.

  • eph521

    I'm all for Cody coming to IU… but I cringe when we dog Butler to make the point that IU would be his best destination. There's plenty of room for IU and Butler to both be great institutions… and we would be better served to take the higher ground and promote IU without tearing other schools down.

  • BaseballBuc

    I DON'T CARE IF HE IS A LEAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT FROM THE SECOND HE STEPS OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AT IU ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT, THERE BETTER BE PEOPLE LINING THE STREETS, CHANTING HIS NAME, AND FOLLOWING HIM EVERYWHERE. HE IS A MUST GET. I WILL BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

    I kind of sounded like Dan Gilbert with the all caps message going on.

  • jgongora86

    I'm moving to Bloomington for a couple of years. If you built it baseballbuc, I will come.

  • BaseballBuc

    I'm going to be there. Kelin will be the first to tell you that this kind of thing works with recruits. Same thing as chanting their name when they come to an IU game. It shows that we really want that person and that hoosier nation loves them.

  • Diesel

    You guys have to check out VJ3, The Situation, Jordy, and Elston meeting with the media:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oylijEiyWWQ&feat…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2VDkio7dUc&feat…

    Best part has to be Verdell and Derek doing impersonations of Guy. The boys are definitely popping the guns, especially Verdell who has gained 14 lbs and Derek looks big too. Bobby is sporting the nipple shirt, but Jordy kind of needs a booster seat, can't really see his guns. Good stuff, makes me really look forward to the season ahead.

  • BaseballBuc

    As I watched those earlier, I was thinking the same thing. Verdell looks big and so does Derek. What great guys, and you can really tell that they are not only smart basketball players but just really smart young men. Same with the new guys, they all seem very knowledgeable. Great interviews, had me entertained throughout.

  • BaseballBuc

    As I watched those earlier, I was thinking the same thing. Verdell looks big and so does Derek. What great guys, and you can really tell that they are not only smart basketball players but just really smart young men. Same with the new guys, they all seem very knowledgeable. Great interviews, had me entertained throughout.

  • IUMIKE1

    Since we are looking at this thing from every which angle there is, and I will probably get tied to a post and die a slow agonizing death from cream and crimson colored rocks being angerly heaved at me by some of you, but here goes.

    First a quick disclaimer: I really really hope CZ commits to IU and think he will be a very big asset to IU bball when and if he comes.

    Now hear me out before you start stockpiling those cream and crimson rocks. (save those rocks for the hated pUKe people)

    If he comes and turns out to be more like his oldest brother and less like the program changer and / or IU bball savior that a lot of people think he will be will their be a loud outcry from a lot of the IU faithfull for CTC to be replaced ?

    Will the, Tom Crean can't develop a big man whispers, (and for what it is worth I think that is total BS) start to become louder on the recruiting trail and with more bigs starting to believe it ?

    If there is not an immediate and noticable improvement in IU bball after he starts playing for IU will it start to become counter productive in some ways ?

    I know that these are chances that most if not all IU fans, as well as myself, are more than willing to risk but like I said, as long as we are looking at this thing from all angles, I thought this was an angle that had not really been brought up.

  • ArtistFormerlyKnownAs_Aceman07

    I was referring to your “lightning in a bottle” theory. If Butler is Gonzaga then they will return to the Sweet 16 over and over again, be ranked all year long, continue to schedule tough non-conference opponents on national TV, and steal recruits like Morrison, Turiaf, and Pargo. I don't know if you watched those guys but they were all NBA talent. What I'm saying is simply claiming that Butler is “done” or “over” as the reason for a player like CZ to avoid them is stupid.

    What's more prominent in this decision is probably taking the chance on being forgotten during the conference schedule or more likely “the guy who couldn't win at the mid-major” which is a dangerous thing to chance. He goes down to Butler, has four pretty good seasons, and doesn't win anything then he'll be forgotten. If he chooses UNC then he's just another Indiana kid who bolted and didn't have the guts to handle the pressure of being “the guy”. If he chooses IU then he is automatically a household name (potentially even nationally) for being the “go to” guy in the rebuilding process and if he just has four decent seasons he is still important and relevant.

  • hoostheman

    My buddy is the CEO of chickenlimo.com… I'll see about hooking up a good rate.

  • Hardwood83

    Sorry I'm not intending to 'dog' Butler as much as look at it realistically. Butler has been a MUCH better program then IU….for the last 2 seasons. That doesn't make them an established national power. If Indiana manages 8 wins this season in football and Michigan struggles again does that make IU the better football school? There is ebb & flow but it is very unlikely Butler will remain nationally relevant for the long haul. Not hateful, simply true.

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