It'll be interesting to see how Greg McDermott does with his second chance at coaching in a major conference. I don't think the new Big East will be as tough as the Big 12, but he's going to have to recruit like a major conference coach. On the plus side, if he can't keep up, Creighton will now be looked at as a major conference coaching job, and the potential candidates will reflect that.
I'm certainly interested to see how he works out. The question of his recruiting abilities was brought up in a chat with Pivovar yesterday and he mentioned some pretty good players he got to ISU (maybe the one with mental issues that Houston drafted, another one that ended up at Syracuse and turned out good, etc.). Apparently, among other things, there were major chemistry issues...which a coach does have responsibility for.
Recent recruits:
Toby Hegner (2013): Offers from BC, Iowa State, Marquette, Northwestern...3* rivals.
Zach Hansen (2013): Offers from ASU, Gonzaga, Missou, Nebraska, New Mexico...3* rivals.
Darien Harris (2013): No major conf. offers according to rivals...3*
Yates (2012): NU, Dayton....
Zierden (2012): No major offers according to rivals...3*
Chatman...colo, Wichita...3*
DIngman....3*...TCU and other mid majors
Groselle....3*...Colorado, NW, Iowa, S. Fla
Johnson....3*...no major conf. offers according to Rivals
So he's nabbed some 3* guys...many of which had "BCS" offers. There have been quite a few other guys that the jay message board has followed closely that CU was in really good with that ended up going to bigger conference schools. Point being he's been getting in the door, even being a mid major school...but not able to close the deal....maybe some of those deals get closed now that the conference is going to be considered more of a "major". We'll see obviously.