TRN

I guess it’s been too long for most to remember how Majerus built his rosters. Everyone is enamored with what a kid is ranked at 17 and not what he projects to do in a system.

No we don’t. Mitchell, McCall, and Jett were all combo guards and we were just fine back then. We will be fine now running the 5 out system.

Exactly. He knows his system and what is needed. Very similar to Majerus in constructing a roster to make the sum of the parts work together.

People thought that 3 were likely. Kent visited Texas and went there. It’s free agency, that’s how things work. We got the prize of the 5, and a very solid guard. Time to move on and see who else comes.

FIFY.

It looks like Robbie got a ride in a SLU golf cart. I wonder if it was from the old Biondi fleet. Talk about a clinching move to get him here.

Avila and Swope are visiting until Saturday. Commitment announcements are usually released after the visit is done. Enjoy your Friday night and Saturday, it’s likely a matter of waiting like with the Schertz hire.

I always thought Conwell would end up at a P5 school and Larry would go elsewhere. Avila, Swope, and Kent were the ones I figured were in play for SLU. Once Kent visited Austin with Larry it was apparent we’d likely get 2 from ISU. That’s fine, Avila is the prize and having Swope will help implement the system. Schertz will find plenty of suitable replacements for the other 3, with Gibby being a huge piece.

He’s eating well.

It definitely will be challenged. That’s why I say just give them 5 years and no exceptions. The NCAA can say they are expanding it from 4 to 5 years to account for all redshirts and hardship situations. After the 5 year clock is over you are done. They can make a caveat for people that do missions and other similar breaks in school attendance. But, they need to be stringent on allowing no exceptions, it’s becoming a joke.

The rising NIL costs aren’t sustainable and that’s why you see university presidents and ADs asking for the NCAA and Congress to figure it out. Pretty much everything the NCAA rules on these days is overturned by a court. So, it’s on the federal government and/or Congress to act. There needs to be some type of special employee class defined for student athletes to make the system manageable. If it ever will be addressed is a big question. It seems like low hanging fruit during an election year where all sides can come out looking good. But, I digress…

The NLI signing period is through 5/15, but players can still commit past then. They just agree and sign the financial aid agreement. It’s basically the NLI but not binding. Kids get out of NLIs all the time now.

Calipari brought up a good point at his Arkansas press conference - “why are there 26 year olds playing college basketball?” Of course the quick answer was COVID years, but he brought up the NCAA’s willingness to hand out extra eligibility years without much pushback. And most importantly, a 23-26 year old would much rather stick around college playing basketball than having a post-grad job making less. The extra years awarded has taken away opportunities from high school players. I think the NCAA needs to just make a blanket ruling awarding all athletes 5 years and do away with the redshirt rules. Schools can be held on the hook to honor scholarships for 4 years, although that won’t be much of an issue anymore with the portal.

Because the President is a lame duck and won’t make a change? May will be “retiring” soon enough, and will take his victory lap.

I have high confidence that Schertz will find players to fit his system and coach them. It’s good these kids are getting paid because of the results from his system. It will make others want to be part of it. And, once former players go to Texas and play for a lesser coach and their stats drop, it will show how good Schertz is.