[Sly Fox]

I am under the assumption from the coaches around me that 5-in-5 is going to be the rule for all sports. This is great news for players currently in schools. This is awful news for the 2- and 3-star players that now will likely miss out on the D1 experience unless rosters are expanded. I expect the number of walk-ons who would have been scholie athletes is going to increase in spite of the ridiculously high costs of higher ed today.

[JK37]

@Sly Fox In an interview yesterday on Pat McAfee’s show, Calipari said basically the same, that the issue now is kids who are good enough out of HS will have no scholarship. He estimated 700-1000 scholarship/level kids per year nationally might not get any scholarship offer because there just isn’t any room for them.

370 D1 schools. Times 15 schollies each = means 5400 scholarships total. And most of those will be given to someone with college experience vs. a HS senior without it.

[flamehunter]

So does that mean that D2, D3 and Juco schools become the minor leagues feeding D1?

[LU Armchair coach]

If they go to 5 years it will probably be "five in five", so no redshirts except for a possible hardship extension if a player has 2 season ending injuries.

The 'get old and stay old" philosophy is a great way to go at our level. To win at the high major level you need the kind of athletes who are going to be at least 2 or 3 years into their NBA career before they are "old".

I can’t find the post on SMedia but it was like the 80 starters in the sweet 16. 37 was with the same team last year. 34 are transfers and 9 are freshmen with Duke having 3. So I’d say even at High major it’s get old and stay old.

That's 11% of the starters. It would be interesting (and more relevant to this discussion) to know how many FR on those teams were redshirted.

The more I look at this, the more likely it seems that Ritchie's decisions re: Decker and Gibson were based on the assumption that 5 in 5 is coming as soon as this year. Up until late Jan/early Feb that seemed to be the conventional wisdom. Not so much now, but I do believe it will happen.

My inside info told me that HCRM is 100% sure that his current players will get a 5th year this summer.

[LU Armchair coach]

So does that mean that D2, D3 and Juco schools become the minor leagues feeding D1?

That is a yes. It’s just a trickle down effect. This has been happening for about 3 years and it keeps getting worse. Most of these kids are chasing money and will not have a degree. Eventually that basketball will stop bouncing. So in my not very smart mind the portal and $$$ is killing these kids. Here at LU it looks like by reading these LU Armchair coaches post I’m trying to figure out if we are truly building champions for Christ or are we becoming of the world and winning at all cost? HCRM did a fabulous job of bringing in players last year. Believe me one bad apple will destroy the program and team. Football last year!!!!

[olldflame]

I am under the assumption from the coaches around me that 5-in-5 is going to be the rule for all sports. This is great news for players currently in schools. This is awful news for the 2- and 3-star players that now will likely miss out on the D1 experience unless rosters are expanded. I expect the number of walk-ons who would have been scholie athletes is going to increase in spite of the ridiculously high costs of higher ed today.

As far as MBB scholarships are concerned, the limit goes to 15 this year. That is not quite enough to account for a 5th year of eligibility, but it closes the gap. Since the roster limit will also be 15, walk-ons are basically a thing of the past for any well funded program.

I'm sure there will be some further tweaking, and in the interim, JUCO, prep school and D2 programs will get more athletes that formerly may have had D1 scholarships. Once the "dust clears" there will be less need for this. I would not be surprised to see the scholarship limit go to 16, which would basically put us back where we were in terms of opportunity for HS players to sign with D1 schools.

Let's not forget that basically EVERY D1 player starts out in HS. The path may be less direct for a while for some, but if they have the talent, they will ultimately get there.

[olldflame]

The raising of the scholarship limit brings another question to mind. Does a D1 college basketball team actually need 15 players?

They certainly don't for games.
It's a good number to have for practice purposes, and walk-ons traditionally played a role in that. Player development for those who can't make the current rotation, but show future promise is certainly a thing.

But

there is already an issue with player frustration over lack of minutes. Expanding the number of scholarships will expand that frustration. As fans, we should be prepared for the reality that as a well run and well funded program, we will be providing education, coaching, elite strength and conditioning training, and outstanding nutrition every year to several players who will end up leaving us at the end of the season because there is not a realistic path to playing time for them here.

[jmclaughlin]

So does that mean that D2, D3 and Juco schools become the minor leagues feeding D1?

That is a yes. It’s just a trickle down effect. This has been happening for about 3 years and it keeps getting worse. Most of these kids are chasing money and will not have a degree. Eventually that basketball will stop bouncing. So in my not very smart mind the portal and $$$ is killing these kids. Here at LU it looks like by reading these LU Armchair coaches post I’m trying to figure out if we are truly building champions for Christ or are we becoming of the world and winning at all cost? HCRM did a fabulous job of bringing in players last year. Believe me one bad apple will destroy the program and team. Football last year!!!!

Credit, where credit is due. This is actually good dialogue, with one exception. Drop the "Armchair coaches" schtick in your posts and you may have a chance to be taken seriously.

[jmclaughlin]

McKay has done a tremendous job of building the basketball program up while successfully holding to a "Building Champions for Christ" standard. Unpopular opinion alert: I would be fine with a sub .500 season occasionally if we have a roster full of players that are buying into a bigger picture. The great thing is that we wont settle for that. Culture wins. We are building that now and the fruit may not be in the next 2 years but it is growing. The Collin Porter's and Kyle Rode's are legacy builders and will do far more to impact our brand and culture than a trip to the Fiesta Bowl led by a player that thwarts the Liberty culture.

[olldflame]

So, I guess I was out of the loop when the dirt on Salter came out?

[LU Armchair coach]

So does that mean that D2, D3 and Juco schools become the minor leagues feeding D1?

That is a yes. It’s just a trickle down effect. This has been happening for about 3 years and it keeps getting worse. Most of these kids are chasing money and will not have a degree. Eventually that basketball will stop bouncing. So in my not very smart mind the portal and $$$ is killing these kids. Here at LU it looks like by reading these LU Armchair coaches post I’m trying to figure out if we are truly building champions for Christ or are we becoming of the world and winning at all cost? HCRM did a fabulous job of bringing in players last year. Believe me one bad apple will destroy the program and team. Football last year!!!!

Credit, where credit is due. This is actually good dialogue, with one exception. Drop the "Armchair coaches" schtick in your posts and you may have a chance to be taken seriously.

The LU Armchair coaches dialogue is nothing more than myself reading most of these post, while thinking that the majority of the comments are uneducated guesses not because posters on here are not smart (most are much more intelligent than me) but because most are not really in the know. So I take a lot of these posts as amusing and some are just down right ignorant. That’s ok! I don’t take it personally and in a few years I will be gone and will not be reading these posts. In the meantime this LU Armchair coach will continue to read and add my 2 cents.

[LU Armchair coach]

So, I guess I was out of the loop when the dirt on Salter came out?

Let's just say some of the so-called adults knew!!!!

[olldflame]

So, I guess I was out of the loop when the dirt on Salter came out?

Let's just say some of the so-called adults knew!!!!

I'm too old to waste one ounce of my fleeting mental energy trying to figure out what you mean by that.

[LU Armchair coach]

Its ok oldflame. I have read most of the post on here for a few years now and I wouldn't have thunk any different.

[R i]

Armchair is the new INSIDER!

Feed us!

[LU Armchair coach]

Armchair is the new INSIDER!

Feed us!

I’ve been called worse. I am just trying to be a LU Armchair Coach like the rest of the posters on here.

Need a vacation R i ?

[R i]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

[olldflame]

Wooley of KSU is in the portal. That's at least 2 of the best players in CUSA we won't have to deal with next year.

[Nate-FlamesFan]

Wooley of KSU is in the portal. That's at least 2 of the best players in CUSA we won't have to deal with next year.

Hopefully they replace them with good pieces, I think a strong CUSA is better for us overall. We had a bad showing in the ncaa tourney this year but in general a tough conference with quality teams should do a lot more for us than beating depleted/weak teams.

[LU Armchair coach]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

More than likely the only! Some are just good guys but not in the know!

[olldflame]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

Forgive the sarcasm if you are trolling, but...


When basically everyone on this board knew Spell would transfer, Armchair said he was not going anywhere because he's a "LIberty lifer".
Said the same thing about Gibson because his fiance is enrolled at Liberty.

Well, those aged like fine milk.

[prototype]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

Forgive the sarcasm if you are trolling, but...


When basically everyone on this board knew Spell would transfer, Armchair said he was not going anywhere because he's a "LIberty lifer".
Said the same thing about Gibson because his fiance is enrolled at Liberty.

Well, those aged like fine milk.

But he's in the know and we all aren't....

[LU Armchair coach]

I prefer ain't in the know! Its ok, This LU Armchair coach sure is fitting in and above most of these other LÙ Armchair coaches!!!!!

[LU Armchair coach]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

Forgive the sarcasm if you are trolling, but...


When basically everyone on this board knew Spell would transfer, Armchair said he was not going anywhere because he's a "LIberty lifer".
Said the same thing about Gibson because his fiance is enrolled at Liberty.

Well, those aged like fine milk.

HCRM in several of the mysterious 1 on 1 meetings he has with his players every 2 weeks. Which this LU Armchair coach thinks is great. Spoke with Gibson about his girlfriend who is still in HS in KY about getting married next year and living in the burg next year. Spell was a shocker for the current players. Remember I said he had a meeting when team arrived from Seattle on Saturday night. This was revealed at this time. KU this one has been coming for a while. HCRM knew kid was leaving hence playing time went down.

My question is HCRM getting pressure to win @ LU or is he turning a new leaf? Ii personally believe HCRM is the finest coach/person a kid could play for.

[olldflame]

Keep stirring the pot Armchair. Let us know about all the meetings and how they are going. You’re the best Insider on the board!

Forgive the sarcasm if you are trolling, but...


When basically everyone on this board knew Spell would transfer, Armchair said he was not going anywhere because he's a "LIberty lifer".
Said the same thing about Gibson because his fiance is enrolled at Liberty.

Well, those aged like fine milk.

HCRM in several of the mysterious 1 on 1 meetings he has with his players every 2 weeks. Which this LU Armchair coach thinks is great. Spoke with Gibson about his girlfriend who is still in HS in KY about getting married next year and living in the burg next year. Spell was a shocker for the current players. Remember I said he had a meeting when team arrived from Seattle on Saturday night. This was revealed at this time. KU this one has been coming for a while. HCRM knew kid was leaving hence playing time went down.

My question is HCRM getting pressure to win @ LU or is he turning a new leaf? Ii personally believe HCRM is the finest coach/person a kid could play for.

Ritchie has never had an issue with letting a player know when they have not demonstrated that they had the ability to be an asset to the team on the court (nor should he).
The fact is, they usually take a pragmatic approach, transfer "voluntarily" and almost always end up better for it. It is usually not necessary to pull a scholarship.

I have zero inside information, but I call on Spell's departure being a "shocker" to his teammates. They would have to be incredibly naive and quite frankly stupid not to see that his hanging around another year when he has already had 4 years on the scholarship dime and zero shot at minutes would not be a positive for the team, or him either. I'm sure he loves Liberty, but he'll be much better off at Cedarville.