Back in the portal for his sixth season. Not his fault but he's a prime example of what's wrong with college sports. 4 schools (Ohio State twice) in 5 years.
Meechie
- Thread starter Viennacock
- Start date
Until they change the system, and I hope they do, it is what it is. For now, come back Meechie!! Looks like we will be better next year if we keep this up!
Meechie stretching out his career. Got paid to go back to OSU. Quit on team. Will get paid to go somewhere else, possibly here.
I agree as long as you are not looking at him as the lead guard. Put him at the 2 and let him look to be aggressive to score. It's not our problem that the system sucks. Get the best players available.
Oh, we’ll definitely take him. He wasn’t a “quitter” here. He would be a welcomed addition. Sure, this new reality of college basketball sucks but we are not the only ones having to live with it. It’s most teams in the country. If taking him backs helps, and it will, then do it.
Yeah, I always worry about all those lost credits that don't transfer from one school to another. But, apparently, I'm the only one who worries about such trivialities.
As bad as we were, if Meechie wants to come back for his final season…you have to let him. Paris’ job is on the line. We know he’s he’s inconsistent, but he’d really help this team.
Didn’t realize he played for anyone but Ohio State and us??
But I feel it’s like going back to an ex. Most of the time, even if some things change, the thought of it is much better than the reality of it.
He found that out with the Buckeyes and feel it would be similar here too.
He needs to think of life after basketball and forge a new path somewhere and start fresh.
Yeah, I got a little bit ahead of myself. You're right, only two teams so far, but transferring _somewhere_ every year isn't going to yield good results.
He is thinking life after basketball. Dude just got paid to play in November and December, leaves team, and will get paid another year. He’s playing the system. Can’t blame him to be honest.
I wouldn’t chalk it up to much more than that. It doesn’t have anything to do with a better reality. It’s all about the $$. He just Juiced Ohio State. Now he’ll play out his final year somewhere else, and very possibly here. He’s simply maximizing his eligibility by maximizing every year he’s eligible. It’s going to be the norm for guys who aren’t likely NBA / NFL bound. Make as much as you can while you can.
Doty and Meechie can start some kind of club. The old Toys R Us theme song comes to mind…”I don’t wanna grow up…”
I’m not sure why people object to the use of the term “quitting”. When a player leaves one team to transfer to another, it is by every definition quitting. Now, some may feel players are justified in quitting and entitled to quit if/when they want, but it is quitting. If I leave my job to take another job somewhere else, I am well within my rights to do so, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was quitting.
Please see my subsequent post where I conceded that the current sad state of affairs for our basketball team is such that we are not in a position to be choosy about who we take. Given the shambles our team is in, I am ok with taking Meechie back. Good teams can be selective. We cannot be.
Considering he is using mental health, I would say a better reality has much to do with it.
And what do you think a guy like Meechie “commands”??
I don’t think it’s as much as you are insinuating.
There were mitigating circumstances for Johnson. He wasn't playing the system. He had a family situation, from what I understand, that also included his grandfather dying.
Getting Meechie back won’t move the needle much. It gives you a streaky combo guard who could completely disappear at times. In its current state, this roster is pretty bad. Assuming you land Meechie, you still have to find a starting pg because as much as fans won’t like hearing it, relying on Ellis isn’t wise. You still need a starting Pf and C. Essandoko looks to me like a complete head scratcher take. At SF you have Eaglestaff, but Stute isn’t someone fans should be excited to see come back other than to see him healthy again. Life after CMB is going to be rough with no proven commodity at PF. I’ll be honest and just say it… I fully expect next season to conclude the Lamont Paris era.
Think the use of the term quitting when it comes to Meechie is a little off. He completed the season, two in fact. Coming to a school doesn't guarantee you to be here for 4 years. There have been times where a coach sort of pushes a player out and there have been times where a player decides to leave at the end of the season. I get the dissatisfaction with allowing what amounts to unrestricted free agency every year, but Meechie fulfilled what is required of today's player. He finished the season out to the end with us.
He was good for us when he was here but he’s a one year player. And not a one-and-done one year player. I don’t see him being a difference maker in that context.
Meechie played 2 years here and averaged 12.7 and 14.1 pts per game and finished his Gamecock career with 24 pts in the NCAA Tourney game, before transferring, after reviewing our next year team, I have no issue Coach accepting him back.
Its always easy to complain, but what is the alternative, who better exactly are going to get instead?
He knows the system, works well with Coach Paris, had success here, will not need an adjustment period, seems like a good pick back up to me!
Its always easy to complain, but what is the alternative, who better exactly are going to get instead?
He knows the system, works well with Coach Paris, had success here, will not need an adjustment period, seems like a good pick back up to me!
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I have zero problem with Meechie leaving for the reasons he did and I’m glad to get him back. Good news in my view; beats the hades of what we took in this past season.
Agreed. NCAA is similar to professional sports when it comes to free agency. NCAA is even worse because you have to have senority to be a FA in professional sports (assuming you are good enough to stick with a team).
Some of you take issue with players leaving at the end of a season. I'm good with them leaving for greener pastures. The players aren't the problem. The lack of governance is clearly the issue.
He was good, but let’s be real… there were some moments that were mindblowingly confusing his last season here… 7 conference games where he scored 6 points or less including 2 goose eggs in that span. One and done is all that really matters in the context of basketball these days. Basically every season there is going to be 1/3 of the roster entering the portal. Lamont needs to address some major concerns at PG and in the post for this team to even sniff success next season.
I was never a big Meechie fan. He had some very good games and a bunch of stinkers. He loves the ball in his hands as does Eli. It will be an interesting season for sure.
I'd like the think that not losing more credits played into his decision to return - but I doubt it.
If you think the fact he could quit OSU and get another year of $$ didn’t play a part of it then I got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell.
There are hundreds of factors that play a part in these decision. But to completely dismiss the $ would be ridiculous. Meechie got paid well to play 1-1/2 seasons…he’s no fool.
Those who don’t think Meechie will move the needle need to go watch our team from 2 years ago. He’s definitely a little streaky, but he’s more on than off. Our team went as he went in many ways. That’s moving the needle.
now, we need more. But Meechie would’ve helped our team a ton this past season. Are we making the tournament? Got a long way to go. But you have to take the guy back. He’s a proven guard at this level.
now, we need more. But Meechie would’ve helped our team a ton this past season. Are we making the tournament? Got a long way to go. But you have to take the guy back. He’s a proven guard at this level.
You are right, but I can almost guarantee you that we weren't the highest bidder. If it were all about money, he would be elsewhere. He likely would have received more $$'s to stay home.
Really? A guy that has proven himself already at this level has nothing to do with the present? Good grief…
You’re right…let’s go get another Jamarii Thomas and roll the dice.
Yes really… he will be surrounded by a completely different cast of players. He will not have the same level of players that he played with 2 years ago. He’s also basically sat out for a year of basketball. There are more important factors than, “look what he did 2 years ago.”
nice straw man at the end there