mtgrizrule
Well-known member
Being another thread has sort of touched on a possible departure for the men's team, I thought it would be best to start a new thread. Please don't blow this out of proportion, and let time take it's course and hear something more official later. Here it goes.
We will all see who is or is not part of the team, I hope sooner than later. If, you think a scholarship will be freed up for any player asked not to return, think again. As of June any scholarship player who was still on the team, the scholarship has to be honored by the University, unless the player willingly leaves the school. I can tell you during cage camp, I spoke to Andy, at that time he was busting ass for the upcoming season, and pretty excited.
Since then, if things have changed (which I am not confirming or denying, I cannot say more), which we will all hear something official in time, that scholarship still has to be honored. Regardless of the player or players involved, think about this. What would you do if you were a player, parent or family, and/or coaches in this situation?
New coach replaces a very successful, respected, and loved coach. The new coach is hired too late in the process to allocate who is or is not on scholarship. The coach and his staff evaluate the returning players as soon as they are able to. That is not an easy task during summer break when many players are away visiting family, and taking care of their personal needs.
Finally the staff gets to evaluate the players in workouts, open gyms, interviews, etc. During the process they decide what kind of style they want to play. They determine who fits that style/game plan, etc. They break the news to the player(s) and family(s) after there has been a mutual agreement between the player and university to honor a scholarship. At that point, that scholarship cannot be pulled by University, unless the player leaves willingly, or by some miracle gets a scholarship offer to another program and transfers.
The player has been told too late to find another fit for his talents and educational needs. The player tells the coach he will work on his game more, dedicate himself more, and wants to be part of the team. For one reason or the other, the coach does not permit that opportunity for the player to prove himself. The player did his part to make this relationship work, but the coach refuses. I feel the player and his family is entirely in the right for expecting and demanding the school to honor that scholarship due to the bad late timing. I would be furious as the player, family, and friend of the family.
Regardless of what the truth is and who is impacted, I hope the player and family can find a better fit and opportunity. I also hope the university and coach learns a valuable lesson. This is exactly why schools should not sit on a new hire too long. Had the University brought a new coach into the fold even a week or 2 earlier, that would have been enough time for the new coach to do a quick program and player evaluation. It would have also given the opportunity to the player and his family to find a new basketball home on scholarship.
A situation like this is a nightmare for everyone involved. Granted, I understand these decisions come with the territory. Unfortunately, it kind of gives the new coach a little bit of black mark on how he handled the situation. Sorry, I don't care who the player is, and the player has been a model citizen and student, that coach has very badly handled the situation. Yet on the other hand, it is common for coaches to put their stamp on the program Why not give the player an opportunity to improve, if a scholarship is already committed to the player?
Depth is hard to come by in college basketball, even more so at a position of need. My hope is, all the players will be suited up come basketball season. If not, don't be surprised to see a tall student on scholarship.
When something official comes out, we will know the circumstances. Regardless of how things play out, I am not a fan of how the situation was created by the University. The situation put many people in a very difficult hard position, where feelings were likely hurt.
When we all know more details, I really do hope nobody is ripping the young player(s) impacted by this mess. Seriously, what would you do as a player or family if faced with this situation? Where does the accountability come into play for whatever the actions are? What would you do as a coach if faced with this situation? For me it is hard to blame the new coach. Yet, I have much more understanding, empathy, and commitment toward the player and his family. Here is to hoping, if and when we have to hire another coach we can do it in a much more expedient manner. These kind of things should be avoided by an University as much as possible.
We will all see who is or is not part of the team, I hope sooner than later. If, you think a scholarship will be freed up for any player asked not to return, think again. As of June any scholarship player who was still on the team, the scholarship has to be honored by the University, unless the player willingly leaves the school. I can tell you during cage camp, I spoke to Andy, at that time he was busting ass for the upcoming season, and pretty excited.
Since then, if things have changed (which I am not confirming or denying, I cannot say more), which we will all hear something official in time, that scholarship still has to be honored. Regardless of the player or players involved, think about this. What would you do if you were a player, parent or family, and/or coaches in this situation?
New coach replaces a very successful, respected, and loved coach. The new coach is hired too late in the process to allocate who is or is not on scholarship. The coach and his staff evaluate the returning players as soon as they are able to. That is not an easy task during summer break when many players are away visiting family, and taking care of their personal needs.
Finally the staff gets to evaluate the players in workouts, open gyms, interviews, etc. During the process they decide what kind of style they want to play. They determine who fits that style/game plan, etc. They break the news to the player(s) and family(s) after there has been a mutual agreement between the player and university to honor a scholarship. At that point, that scholarship cannot be pulled by University, unless the player leaves willingly, or by some miracle gets a scholarship offer to another program and transfers.
The player has been told too late to find another fit for his talents and educational needs. The player tells the coach he will work on his game more, dedicate himself more, and wants to be part of the team. For one reason or the other, the coach does not permit that opportunity for the player to prove himself. The player did his part to make this relationship work, but the coach refuses. I feel the player and his family is entirely in the right for expecting and demanding the school to honor that scholarship due to the bad late timing. I would be furious as the player, family, and friend of the family.
Regardless of what the truth is and who is impacted, I hope the player and family can find a better fit and opportunity. I also hope the university and coach learns a valuable lesson. This is exactly why schools should not sit on a new hire too long. Had the University brought a new coach into the fold even a week or 2 earlier, that would have been enough time for the new coach to do a quick program and player evaluation. It would have also given the opportunity to the player and his family to find a new basketball home on scholarship.
A situation like this is a nightmare for everyone involved. Granted, I understand these decisions come with the territory. Unfortunately, it kind of gives the new coach a little bit of black mark on how he handled the situation. Sorry, I don't care who the player is, and the player has been a model citizen and student, that coach has very badly handled the situation. Yet on the other hand, it is common for coaches to put their stamp on the program Why not give the player an opportunity to improve, if a scholarship is already committed to the player?
Depth is hard to come by in college basketball, even more so at a position of need. My hope is, all the players will be suited up come basketball season. If not, don't be surprised to see a tall student on scholarship.
When something official comes out, we will know the circumstances. Regardless of how things play out, I am not a fan of how the situation was created by the University. The situation put many people in a very difficult hard position, where feelings were likely hurt.
When we all know more details, I really do hope nobody is ripping the young player(s) impacted by this mess. Seriously, what would you do as a player or family if faced with this situation? Where does the accountability come into play for whatever the actions are? What would you do as a coach if faced with this situation? For me it is hard to blame the new coach. Yet, I have much more understanding, empathy, and commitment toward the player and his family. Here is to hoping, if and when we have to hire another coach we can do it in a much more expedient manner. These kind of things should be avoided by an University as much as possible.
