- I do think you’re understating the concern level that existed, his age was a big differentiator Archived Message
Posted by OB25
on March 28, 2025, 10:28:01, in reply to "minor risk at best *"
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By waiting a year more than his brother, he was a 21 year old “freshman” who had played 3 years professionally in Europe. If it was even 3-4 years ago I think there’s almost no chance he’d have been eligible, the NCAA having lost its will to fight anything was the main reason for optimism. There seemed to always the expectation that it would likely get sorted out but there were definitely updates in the weeks leading up to it that there was some concern as the waiting game dragged out.  Previous MessagePrevious Messageand we had no viable backup plan besides a true freshmen (Morez) playing 40 minutes per game if that ruling hadn’t gone our way. Because we used that roster/NIL spot on a guy that couldn’t physically play the 5 spot even if he had been the player that Underwood hoped he’d be. I always thought a more experienced 4/5 made a lot more sense for that spot, even if he was nothing but a big body like the galoot from Longwood that Izzo starts. Previous MessageHe was a guy who needed development not immediate impact like tomi. Also not sure how the NCAA taking a year away from tomi is "lucky"? He's unlikely to be around more than 2 years anyway so pretty much a moot point. Previous MessageJust never made a ton of sense based on what we needed, would have been disastrous if we didn’t get lucky with the Ivisic NCAA ruling. Previous Messagehttps://x.com/247HSHoops/status/1905423080664801614 Previous MessageOwen Freeman and Dollar Store Braden (aka Brock Harding) kick us off. |
- IlliniSax05 May 1, 2025, 7:01:56