He’s gonna be a star here.
I too was at the game. Tough night for Trey. Missed every three he took. Didn’t totally look he had his legs. Doesn’t have a lot of help. Whatever, it’s one game.
My one positive take away was he looks physically ready to play right now. Plays through contact. Tough.
Where and how are all these dudes going to play? If all nine rotation guys come back (I know thats unlikely in todays day and age) and we are adding five scholarship freshmen who anticipate playing?
We already play Cooper & Ipsaro at point and don’t play Skaljac there at all (he’s probably the best of the three long term at PG in my opinion) and now adding Perry? Something has to give. Craft, Suder, Elmer, Byers at SG/SF–where and how does Kirby, Stowers & Waltz, Perry get any time? If Potter & Woolfolk are back where does Robbins get time and at the expense of who? I would argue there are some in rotation now that should be getting more time now, let alone next year. Maybe some of the incoming guys have been told they may be candidates to redshirt? Otherwise, may need to temper expectations of this incoming class unless about 4-5 of our current rotation transfers out (which everyone says they don’t want to see happen).
There are a lot of moving parts and things to consider at the end of the season for the rotation guys. PG: does Ipsaro want to be backup again despite outplaying Cooper all seaosn? If he starts, does Cooper accept coming off bench? Is Skaljac content being a backup SG again, or does he want to play his best position of PG? Is Craft coming back? Do his minutes get cut? Is Suder coming back or did he play his way up to a higher NIL deal in a better conference? Same with Elmer? Byers will want to be starting or playing starter minutes–but at the expense of whos minutes?? Will Potter want to be backup again at C? This is all before considering anything for the incoming players. There’s only 200 minutes of court time to divide up every game. 120 if you are not a PG or C. Thankfully I am not on the coaching staff to figure this out. I guess its a good problem to have.
You need to know two things about me before you read my reply:
- I don’t know shit from Shinola about anything in this world save for deviance and/or third rate movies no one talks about anymore.
- I know even less about hoops. But I love hoops and have learned a ton about hoops from people on this board.
Now to answer your question here goes: Some folks are gonna leave. Happens every year. And we have a tight team! But still. It is what it is. But, we have 15 scholarships available, and if you look at the current team plus additions, it’s actually not that far off. We have some walk-on’s who got scholarships this year and that’s fantastic and they deserve it because they are good dudes. But, I guarantee they were told it might be a one year thing. Shit, any money helps so I’m sure they were grateful. Finally, you’re thinking, but maybe there’s a dude who just wants to be on the team and doesn’t care if they don’t play that much. Well, I don’t know how many total players can be on a team but I can tell you that there isn’t a rule for managers per se and managers are allowed to practice every day with the team and when circumstances dictate, can be promoted to be players (injuries). I think we will always have a ton of dudes in the program as I think coach Steele likes having the bodies for practice and the camaraderie. But, remember, I don’t know shit so someone who does can either validate or crap all over my reply. I will tell you that we are going to win the MAC as this is our year. That I do know.
Haha. I too hope we can take it in Cleveland. Been an awesome year. I’ve heard Steele say in the past he didn’t like necessarily having 10+ guys on scholarship as they all want and expect to play and that leads to issues. But we shall see…
I would think everyone gets a shot during Summer and Fall and then there should be a couple of redshirts or perhaps somebody leaves. Akron actually rotated 11 this year so that might be a possibility. Injuries? This is a better problem to have than those we have faced for the last dozen years.
So many questions, so few answers…
Seriously, it’s such a brittle and fluid situation. Who says the staff won’t pick up another transfer or recruit for next year if it’s the right player? With the success of the team, the need for walk ons disappears. And of course as state tournaments unfold, will the vultures swoop in to try to flip commitals?
Bottom line, a coach will take his chances with too many players as opposed to trying to forsee exactly who will be there next October.
Haven’t all 5 of our recruits already Officially signed back in November? If so, unless there is a change in the Head Coach or we just release them from their commitment I did not think they could just leave and sign somewhere else. Or is that no longer the case. If so, what does signing the contract even mean.
Can’t we just enjoy our glorious run we’re about to go on and worry about this in a month?
Well said.
I believe the NLI program (not to be confused with NIL) has been offically nixed. So basically, signing a letter of intent is a meaningless, non-binding agreement. Not that it wasn’t before, but it formally is now.
NCAA approves elimination of national letter of intent program - ESPN
So I read this a couple of times to try to understand it. That NLI ( not to be confused with the NIL) is no more. It is replaced by a signed contract which I guess is what we have with our recruits. It is unclear what is in the contract, but I would guess it would include the details from the Alston scholarship which all men’s basketball players now receive plus any NIL deal if there is one. From that time forward I think they would be able to enter the transfer portal, but only during the open portal dates ? Contact with them by other schools is prohibited until they enter the portal? Does all this apply to guys who have yet to enter college? Nothing about this clears up the situation.
I think what it boils down to is players, no matter what stage they are at, enrolled, not enrolled, signed, unsigned, can come and go as they please, when they please, assuming the portal window is open.
One example that comes to mind was last year during the early signing period, Julian Sayin signed with Alabama, never set foot on campus, and “transferred:” to Ohio State. Not a perfect example, because there was a coaching change (not sure on the timing), but he had already technically signed with Bama.
Ultimately, whatever these kids are signing to make their destination official doesn’t really matter.
By the way, I’m fine with all of this by the way. NLI was a dumb formality to begin with.
Stowers with 21 as Peoria advances to the Elite 8!
USC is in the Sweer 16!
Robbins and USC to play Gov Mifflin.
Gov Mifflin is…
-Who Andy Dufraine wrote to seeking exoneration in Shawshank Redemption for $200?