Redshirting is very difficult these days, and there are multiple factors to be considered. Ideally, every freshman would redshirt. I am an advocate of it being advantageous for players and programs.
As for the GRIZ program, it is frustrating when the player contributes so very little, and it shows a redshirt season would have made sense. I believe the right decision was originally made with Gfeller. Prior to conference play, Gfeller showed he belonged and was ready to be a key rotational contributor. Granted, it is expected to for Freshmen to have a rollercoaster ride. Unfortunately, when Gfeller went down, he did not progress back up. His freshman season was certainly unpredicted or expected, by coaches or himself. He went from being a sure fire contributor with instant offense, much needed 3 point shooting, and versatility to not being able to throw the ball into the ocean. I challenge anyone to recall any past GRIZ with a Freshman season that played out like his did. I cannot think of one over the last 20 years.
However Mario Dunn proved without doubt he belonged and was a huge contributor this season. Defensively he frustrated and shut down most every PG he defended. Offensively, he played well within the system. He was consistent. He also showed leadership well beyond a freshman. The GRIZ were a better team with him, and he gained valuable experience which will be paying off a lot next season. He will be a 2 or maybe 3 time all Big Sky player. I feel the likes of Cherry, Jamar, and Dunn certainly justify the decision to not redshirt them. Each of those players were rare exceptions for being ready to play as Freshmen.
Lopez most definitely should have redshirted. I don't know the reasoning behind not redshirting him. Fact is, he is a 2 (SG) or 3 (SF) with great potential, pretty good athlete, tough, and a little attitude to him. All of which are great as a player. Unfortunately, his position and skill set are where the GRIZ were loaded at. The 2013/14 GRIZ had by far the deepest and best players at PG, SG, and SF in the Big Sky Conference. Hard to fathom how much better they can get, everyone is back but Jamar. I am surprised Wayne continues to recruit and get so much interest at those positions.
Of the 3 2013/14 Freshmen, it only made sense to have redshirted 1 of 3. Let's go back to the 2012/13 season. The coaching staff, and Andy Martin all planned to redshirt him. They were all on the same page. Unfortunately they had no way of knowing paint depth would not be there with the departures that happened prior to season. Again, playing Andy Martin was needed. Fortunately for everyone, Andy stepped up and accepted being thrown into the fire. Barring the GRIZ getting more help in the paint, I doubt Andy will ever have a redshirt year. I do believe he will put on the extra 15 to 20 lbs in the offseason. It would be ideal for him to be our main Center/5 and Breunig starting at PF/4, with Breunig swinging to Center and Kemp being the back up PF/4. We shall see how that plays out. Again, playing Andy as a freshman was needed and made sense.
As for the 2014/15 season, we only have commit so far. If everything goes accordingly, I see no reason why Bryden Boehning does not redshirt. I have a feeling the GRIZ will add a versatile swing SG/SF or SF/PF, and a paint rebounder/defender. My hope is we get another paint player. I hope it is a 6'8" plus JC xfr, preferably with 3 years of eligibility left.
Some of the other factors in this are, having another year in case of injury, or if a player is not happy at a school, they lose a year if they transfer to another Div 1A program. We need to consider a lot will go through an young adult's head when they are away from home. Also family dynamics can change quickly, and often family situations dictate a player transfer schools. I've talked to families and college athletes, this is a huge factor in the redshirting decision. Unless a player and family are 100% committed to 4 or 5 years at program and school, most will choose to not redshirt as freshman. With limited basketball scholarships to go around these days, players agreeing to redshirt as freshman are the exception, not the rule.
As fans, we can complain as much as we want. Unfortunately, we will never know the real reasons why players redshirt or not. After evaluating the 2012/13 and 2013/14 basketball seasons, I cannot fault the decisions that were made. They all made sense in one way or the other. Lopez is the only player I can debate should have redshirted. Even with him, I have to consider this, his home is Australia and going to any USA university would be a huge transition.
I cannot complain about the decisions made, and completely support the decisions made. Here is to hoping to no set backs for the 2014/15 basketball season. Here is to hoping we can redshirt who needs to redshirt.
