Ash is transferring
- Thread starter lou v
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The only surprise is that he must have requested and received a medical redshirt. He definitely played in four consecutive seasons so his normal eligibility would be gone.
I'm a bit torn here. On one hand, in the anti wrassler mold, I have said he was never good enough to be a Plan A or B guy. On the other hand, he was good enough to cover a few minutes a game or short term fix after an injury to a rotation guy.
More surprising to me, is this guy has nothing in his stat sheet to entice another school. And CCC has scholarships coming out of his ears. So if Ash was available, it seems like a no-brainer - kinda like the multi-million contract for the bench warmer in the NBA.
I really hope that CCC has something lined up that even heywood doesn't know and a big announcement is coming...or me thinks I see lots and lost of smoke...
I'm a bit torn here. On one hand, in the anti wrassler mold, I have said he was never good enough to be a Plan A or B guy. On the other hand, he was good enough to cover a few minutes a game or short term fix after an injury to a rotation guy.
More surprising to me, is this guy has nothing in his stat sheet to entice another school. And CCC has scholarships coming out of his ears. So if Ash was available, it seems like a no-brainer - kinda like the multi-million contract for the bench warmer in the NBA.
I really hope that CCC has something lined up that even heywood doesn't know and a big announcement is coming...or me thinks I see lots and lost of smoke...
Ash and Falzon are like kicking the proverbial dead horse. They are always injured and can’t contribute, but they are good guys.
Would either have played this year if Lathon came to NU? Probably not - at least not much. But both were needed due to injuries, attrition, Lathon's absence and the fact that teams are expected to have five guys on the floor.
Next year is lining up to be worse. This year, we had 11 available scholarship players (Young on redshirt) and two walkons. Next year, as we sit, we have ten scholarship players and one walk on.
Maybe something will change. But how many grad transfers have we chased and lost out on? And the last thing anyone around here wants is me bitching all year about the three empty schollies. Mark my words, we will have at least two empty scholarships - or one will be given to Malanati - and there will be numerous occasions next season that another schollie player might have helped.
Is it too late? Am I crying over spilt milk? Yes. But we having been spilling a lot of milk and it's time to start looking at who we entrust to hold the glass.
I haven't read every post about Ash/Falzon transferring, but has anyone gone on record saying CC didn't ask them to come back? Isn't the simplest explanation that Ash/Falzon looked at the depth chart, realized there would be at least 9 guys ahead of them next season, and figured they already got their NU degree maybe they can find a better basketball situation for next season? Best of luck to the both of them. Yeah, next season probably will be bad for us, but the point is to build for the following season.
No. And I worry he did and they turned him down. Neither is getting drafted. NU has some pretty good and valuable grad programs. If they both turned him down, players he recruited, what does that say?
It says that neither deserved a additional scholarship year at NU. You know sometimes recruits don't turn out as predicted. Sometimes there are injuries. Names Falzon and Ash ring a bell?
Ash would have gotten about 10 mpg and would have been gone if he had not gotten injured. We would have gone into next year with Lathon, Gaines, Turner and Buie/ Greer between the 2 and 3 and been in very good shape.
I hate to pile on but this is more fodder to the theory that there is something really amiss with the basketball program in Evanston. Not sure what is going on but this many transfers in a short period of time is usually indicative of a problem. Could be coincidence, but everything seems to have fallen apart with the program after Baldwin left. This is really puzzling and disturbing.
this is not news simply because it was announced today - ash wants to play - and as everyone on this board has pointed out he is not a primary ball handler at this lever and never was. why would he stay when the experts agree? it is a no brainer for him
Sure, but how the hell is Collins going to fill this many scholarships spots with better players for next year this late in the recruiting cycle. To assume this is all part of some plan by the coaching staff is disingenuous. This is the equivalent of what Penn State and Franklin just experienced in football.
I'll repeat the statistic I heard on ESPNU radio: 40% of Division I basketball players transfer by the end of their Sophomore year. If true, then NU is not an outlier.
i don't think the staff was blind sided by the news of falzon or ash transferring
I think it's pretty clear that Collins only wants guys who can compete in a Big Ten game. I'm sure there are some undergrads who started on their HS teams and could be bodies for practice. But Collins has drawn the line and has never really compromised on this.
If he wanted to fill the roster there are unsigned kids in Chicago who he could still sign. Then he'd have them for four years. He doesn't want that.
I guess I'm in the minority and don't see a kid coming here under scholarship, playing for four years, graduating and then moving on as a bunch of smoke. We are losing two guys -- who I have consistently lauded for four years -- who haven't been reliable for more than two years because of physical issues.
It is what it is and best of luck to them both.
On drawing the line....if you're fighting with administration on admissions for slightly more flexibility what's a stronger hand....filling the roster with a bunch of guys who might surprise but probably can't impact a game? Or, leaving the seats empty and saying, "You'd only admit 10 guys who have the ability to compete in the conference."
This is a big to do over nothing. Losing Ash and Falzon as grad transfers is not an issue as neither offered much value for next year, due to past performance, injury history, etc. All parties know this and that's why they're both leaving for places where they can better compete and contribute, likely at much lesser conferences.
If we were talking about Turner leaving as a grad transfer, which I assume was/is possible, then we'd have something to worry about with regards to the state of the program as he's a returning starter and arguably the only proven B1G caliber player on next year's roster. Yikes, that's scary to consider, next year is gonna be ROUGH. Hopefully, Kopp and Nance make giant leaps over the offseason and Beran plays up to or beyond his hype...
If we were talking about Turner leaving as a grad transfer, which I assume was/is possible, then we'd have something to worry about with regards to the state of the program as he's a returning starter and arguably the only proven B1G caliber player on next year's roster. Yikes, that's scary to consider, next year is gonna be ROUGH. Hopefully, Kopp and Nance make giant leaps over the offseason and Beran plays up to or beyond his hype...
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That may be true but it certainly is not consistent with what has transpired at NU and not a pattern I think anybody associated with NU wants to see play out going forward. Recruit and develop guys that are good fits at NU and can develop into good Big ten players.
Oddly, I could respect this position. Doubt it is the case and would probably run him out of favor fast, but it would be refreshing.
Brown, Rap, Falzon and Ash transferring over the course of twelve months. A roster for next year that has seven fairly inexperienced returning scholarship players on it. You can’t compete in the Big ten with that roster. Unless you are already giving up on next season , this “plan” is suicidal.
I would suggest that they weren’t necessarily blind sided by the transfers of Brown and Rapolas after last season, either.
True that seven fairly inexperienced scholarship players is not a plan for success in the B1G. But would NU be any better off with the four players who are transferring? I doubt it.
Much ado about nothing.
Exactly. NU will not be good next year. If you are Falzone or Ash why would you stick around to get 5-10 minutes a game. They are players and players want to play. If you are CCC how could you look them in the eye and tell them “we are short on numbers, please stick around just in case”. They stuck around for 4 years, not sure why there is angst around this, even if we only go into next year with 10 recruits. Our record would not be significantly impacted with either returning. I have no idea how the conversation with CCC went for these players, but I actually would respect and appreciate what would appear to be an honest evaluation of their role for next season.
This is quite an interesting perspective. I don’t think that having 10 scholarship players was precisely the plan but if it loosens admissions at least there’s a silver lining.
also talking about 4 kids (2 of whom are graduating) that are moving to lower/lowest level of college ball
Rap? Let’s watch the TN game. Brown? Let’s wait til next year. Falzon and Ash? Let’s see how our 200 work our next year.
Though, truth be told, probably not much solace in 10th over 14th.
Well, Rap says hi from the dance. Would love to be in that low ball tournament. Law and Pardon are hoping to play for money next year. Falzon and Ash say let’s see who’s playing next March. Wouldn’t be so cavalier there bucko with the low ball level of play we will be offering next year.
Good healthy programs don't have players making those kind of decisions. Neither of those kids is likely to make a living playing basketball. If the culture and the chemistry was right, those kids would be happy to stay with their team and contribute to the advancement of the program for one more season while getting themselves one year's worth of graduate level education from a top university in the world.
I don’t know... Haywood seems cautiously optimistic and so will I. Much like when you and GCG kept level heads during the ups and downs of football.
One thing we have to remember is that this is not a computer game. This is real life involving real lives. If CCC is recruiting either frosh or grad transfers that he hopes to be above Ash and Falzon, then its not fair to those two to not be honest about it. Now, in the computer version of this game, we'd hold onto Ash and Falzon until we make sure we get someone better, because CCC may get no one. But in real life, these kids need to know now so they can plan their lives. They can't afford to wait until the summer to market themselves.
This doesn't bother me in the least, other than it is a shame these two never reached their full potential due to injuries.
This doesn't bother me in the least, other than it is a shame these two never reached their full potential due to injuries.
You seriously believe that Ash and Falzon make NU jump 4 other B1G schools?
I didn't think so.
Why couldn’t someone with a bachelor’s degree from said top university decide to get a master’s elsewhere along with more playing time? Why isn’t that good for everyone involved?