Eli Wright - staying or going?

[Walter White.sixpack]

Yesterday after the game Howland said Eli was player of the game.

And this morning there is a CL article talking of his almost leaving nine months ago and now was possibly the difference in keeping the NCAA Tournament pursuit alive.

What are the odds that Eli Wright is on the roster this next fall? A couple of weeks ago I'd have told you he was a better total package than Stapleton because of the ticking emotional timebomb X seems to be at times. But he's had some really good games recently as well.

 

[mstateglfr]

Ill go with 50-50.

As for the changing landacape between 3 weeks ago and now, well this just helps highlight why commenting on the future based on the immediate present is absurd. A season is a long time, roles are fluid within a team, and players have up and down weeks.
Waiting until the end and taking the entire body of work into account makes more sense.


I hope Wright stays. He is incredibly athletic and he is great as backup for if/when any of the 4 main guards get injured.

 

[FreeDawg]

The juco big means we gotta process somebody. X or Eli are the 2 most likely if we’re assuming Peters is a sure thing to come back. A month ago I’d say keep X because I like his energy off the bench but lately I’m trending to preferring Eli. He’s really coming along.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

It might be Datcher that is processed

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

I’ll give it 75-25 he goes.

With Reggie perry coming in, there’s just not gonna be many minutes to be had.

 

[57stratdawg]

He gone

 

[Shmuley]

Good audition for his next team yesterday.

 

[FreeDawg]

You very well could be right but X gets minutes at 4 if we go small or struggle with foul trouble. That will not happen next year with us adding Perry and Woodard. So X’s role is shrinking regardless. If Eli continues to progress, that’s less minutes on the wing. Where are X’s minutes going to come? I wouldn’t be upset if Datcher left if X is willing to take a smaller role. Will be interesting to follow.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I'm with

you, here.

I think it could just as likely be Datcher or Feazell.

Yesterday, against a big, physical team, Datcher got 0 minutes.

He just isn't talented enough.

 

[Southern Law Dawg]

you, here.

I think it could just as likely be Datcher or Feazell.

Yesterday, against a big, physical team, Datcher got 0 minutes.

He just isn't talented enough.

This feels like the correct answer. They aren’t consistent yet, but both X and Wright have shown flashes. How many times have Feazell or Datcher come in and you didn’t immediately hold your breath and prepare for the worst. Heck, no offense against him and I know he’s recovering from an injury, but sometimes I forget Feazell is on the team.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Obviously Howland

knows better than me, but I don't understand the Feazell deal, unless he's still hurt.

In his VERY limited play, he's shown flashes on offense.

Datcher brings nothing, there.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

The rotation is prolly gonna be our current starting 5 obviously....then X, Carter, perry coming off the bench.

Jethro and Woodard will probably battle for that 9th spot.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

All of our signees are forwards or post players...I think Wright stays.... Datcher goes... Feazell could really use a redshirt year...

 

[Moe Cabelle]

If I’m with you. Datcher only brings a big body, that’s it. I’ve seen enough of Feazel to like him. I can only guess datcher gets minutes because feazel isn’t as strong? Than why not redshirt? Or did he do that last year?

The “problem” has been that we have been so young that no one graduates again for another year. That changes after next year when q & Holman leave then set us on a normal rotation so to speak.

Wright is in a numbers game, if he can accept sharing role, we have 5 solid front court guys on par with the best, but still 4 after q leaves.

Xiavier shows flashes and really is a great change of pace or matchup guy.

The only problem I see with this team is a lack of b-ball IQ or perhaps better said,”over aggressiveness at inappropriate times”. But, in many ways, thats who they are and why they make great plays at times.

If chemistry holds with these guys, they can go a ways just as they are. Future looks even better. Man it’s nice to talk relevance in b-ball again.

 

[klong-dog]

Unfortunately, if there is someone that has to go, it's got to be Datcher.

 

[Walter White.sixpack]

Unfortunately, if there is someone that has to go, it's got to be Datcher.

That seems to be the best for the team overall right now.

I'd like to see Wright stay. Especially after he stayed this year instead of transferring out...I'd hope he sees some good fruit from that decision in the coming year as a Bulldog.

 

[Seinfeld]

I agree. I just don't see how a decision could be made based on size when your smaller players are making plays out there while your big man continuously provides absolutely zero value to the team. X may be streaky, but we've seen what he's capable of multiple times this year, and Wright has the potential for tremendous upside. With Datcher, I honestly think his ceiling is little more than giving you a couple rebounds a 5 fouls. Best of luck to the guy, but he really is just not a talented basketball player

 

[DAWG61]

Datcher is a way better basketball player than some of the dudes Stansbury had at the back of the bench. John Reik was absolutely atrocious. I was afraid he was going to break his legs just from running up the court. If X only has one year left let him pay his own way next year. Then gift him back the day after he leaves campus. I mean Arizona is paying 100,000 for players and we can't figure out how to pay back one guy for the cheapest scholarship cost in the country.

 

[Seinfeld]

Not that I’m trying to make an argument that Riek was anything special, but his Per 40 minute stats are better than Datcher’s, and you’d have to search for awhile to find someone worse.

Ultimately, if our options were to keep Datcher or steal a kid away from MTSU, I’d be fine staying put. His upside is severely limited, however, and I just can’t justify letting kids go that are helping this team for the sake of keeping a big body

 

[Moe Cabelle]

Unfortunately, if there is someone that has to go, it's got to be Datcher.

s

Ray Charles can see that. I feel for the guy asi don’t recall his recruitment but he’s obviously raw. Historically we’ve always got guys like that in the bench and prime them for contributing their jun/sr year. Strange to have enough talent, if only potentially, not to have space for a guy like that but this is where we are.

 

[Justin themowa reed]

Could there be a likelihood someone preferably one of our seniors pull a Jarvis Varnado and be a walk on giving their scholarship to one of the freshman so we don't have to process anyone?

 

[DAWG61]

Could there be a likelihood someone preferably one of our seniors pull a Jarvis Varnado and be a walk on giving their scholarship to one of the freshman so we don't have to process anyone?

This is exactly what I am suggesting we do.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

With the exception of this game eli has been awful. He loses his man on d and turns the ball over all day while contributing very little. Most games when he comes in for 3 mins we lose half our lead. 1 performance doesnt change that.

 

[Lettucexxxx]

you, here.

I think it could just as likely be Datcher or Feazell.

Yesterday, against a big, physical team, Datcher got 0 minutes.

He just isn't talented enough.

i agree. Sucks that anyone has to leave because we have come together nicely here at the rear of the season.....but we have some serious talent coming in.

 

[DAWG61]

Not that I’m trying to make an argument that Riek was anything special, but his Per 40 minute stats are better than Datcher’s, and you’d have to search for awhile to find someone worse.

Good lord a dead blind donkey can see Datcher is better than Reik. Reik scored 31 points total in two years. Datcher has mastered the ability to run up and down a court without anyone worrying he's about to cripple himself for life. If you're going by per 40 minute stats Nick Singleton is the greatest player to ever play at State.

 

[kired]

I’d say 50% of the roster is 50-50 at this point. It’s college basketball. Players transfer. I’d be surprised if 2 or 3 don’t leave. I’ve just accepted that it’s going to happen after every season no matter what.

 

[KurtRambis4]

50%?

Seems a little high.

I think 15% is more realistic.

 

[RocketDawg]

Why do they do that? Presumably it's because they can get more playing time somewhere else, but they'd hae to sit out a year before playing. Maybe they're losing their scholarship? Or just don't like the coaching? The grass is seldom actually greener on the other side.

 

[HotMop]

19.83% is the correct answer.

 

[Seinfeld]

Congrats on your masterful debate victory. Now that we've established that Datcher is better than a guy that played 100 total minutes for a State team 7 years ago, can we get back to the present?

Would you or would you not cut him loose from the current roster to make room for new players rather than letting Wright go?

 

[DAWG61]

Congrats on your masterful debate victory. Now that we've established that Datcher is better than a guy that played 100 total minutes for a State team 7 years ago, can we get back to the present?

Would you or would you not cut him loose from the current roster to make room for new players rather than letting Wright go?

Told you what I'd do already, I'd have Stapleton, Q or Holman pay for school next year and drop off a box of juicy jumbos worth double what a scholi is worth conveniently at the same time the enrollment fee is due or I'd just never make him pay for his enrollment and let it sit in the computer for the next 100 years. Basically I'd bend the **** outta a rule and add an extra player.