LJ Owens, who averaged 7 ppg this year and was a starter, has put his name in the transfer portal...

He says he is still considering going back, but is exploring his options.

http://twitter.com/ljowens_11/status/110...0549739520

Not unexpected. Make the right hire and much will right itself.

At this point, I'm not surprised.

https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/...1581264896

Jeff Goodman - "Athletic director Samantha Huge has set this program back years with the decision to fire Tony Shaver."

I greatly disagreed with the decision to fire Tony, but am now praying that there has to be some huge plan in place here. You can't just replace half the squad and expect to be functional next year, especially with how tough it is to get grad transfers into here.

Regardless of what we here think on the board, no one can deny that this decision is getting absolutely destroyed by any and all local and national media. While they're not the be all and end all, they do set the narratives. Recruits follow these networks' big name recruiting guys and they have a ton of connections around the country, hard to believe that word of the blow-up here isn't making it's rounds in those recruiting circles.

edit: I should clarify that my hope here is that we pull this together and have a slam-dunk coach hired to keep us together, as I want nothing more than a Tribe tourney run secured in DC (imagine W&M fans selling out that new arena!), and believe that we finally have the pieces to make some noise (ignoring win shares -- which doesn't include the impact of AVV anyways; this team has a stronger defensive backbone with Nate, which is what really should help us over the edge. While we all talk about Omar's missed free throws and Marcus' missed step-back, we did give up a ton of points in that final minute, most of them on drives/at the bucket)

I’ve lost all confidence. Obvious that these kids have loyalty to the former staff. Just shows that William and Mary the College isn’t reason enough to stay. That’s a reality check.


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(03-23-2019 11:40 AM)Tribe32 Wrote:  I’ve lost all confidence. Obvious that these kids have loyalty to the former staff. Just shows that William and Mary the College isn’t reason enough to stay. That’s a reality check.


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Sad, but obviously true.

(03-23-2019 11:40 AM)Tribe32 Wrote:  I’ve lost all confidence. Obvious that these kids have loyalty to the former staff. Just shows that William and Mary the College isn’t reason enough to stay. That’s a reality check.


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I would argue that the obvious thing is that these kids are keeping their options open in case the next coach can't keep it together. Smart move by smart kids.

At this point, I'm more surprised anyone is staying.

Every day the players are in limbo about this, our chances at holding onto them decreases. To not have whoever the planned new hire was in the building 15 minutes after the firing announcement, prepared to reassure everyone, was malpractice on top of the original malpractice.

It's depressing to think that Knight is in the same boat as the rest but is functionally held hostage by the fact that he can't afford to sit out a year while the pro scouts are zeroed in on him. If it does indeed all go to hell he might be better off just going to straight to the G-League/overseas and start getting in some pro coaching and games against grown men. It sounds better than being the last guy on a sunken ship, playing with a bunch of castoffs and second-tier guys all learning a new system, trying to score 30 every night against constant double-teams en route to 8-22. I want him to get his degree but even moreso I don't want him thinking what-if for the rest of his life (any more than the what-ifs already raised by the firing).

(03-23-2019 12:05 PM)FauqDawg10 Wrote:  At this point, I'm more surprised anyone is staying.

Every day the players are in limbo about this, our chances at holding onto them decreases. To not have whoever the planned new hire was in the building 15 minutes after the firing announcement, prepared to reassure everyone, was malpractice on top of the original malpractice.

It's depressing to think that Knight is in the same boat as the rest but is functionally held hostage by the fact that he can't afford to sit out a year while the pro scouts are zeroed in on him. If it does indeed all go to hell he might be better off just going to straight to the G-League/overseas and start getting in some pro coaching and games against grown men. It sounds better than being the last guy on a sunken ship, playing with a bunch of castoffs and second-tier guys all learning a new system, trying to score 30 every night against constant double-teams en route to 8-22. I want him to get his degree but even moreso I don't want him thinking what-if for the rest of his life (any more than the what-ifs already raised by the firing).

I would think there's a good chance Knight will declare and go through the NBA draft process (no reason for him not to - as long as he doesn't hire an agent it doesn't commit him to anything), but those announcements typically don't come until after the tourney is over hence why we haven't heard anything from him. But I would be surprised if in a few weeks he doesn't throw his name in.

(03-23-2019 12:14 PM)Tribe2011 Wrote:  I would think there's a good chance Knight will declare and go through the NBA draft process (no reason for him not to - as long as he doesn't hire an agent it doesn't commit him to anything), but those announcements typically don't come until after the tourney is over hence why we haven't heard anything from him. But I would be surprised if in a few weeks he doesn't throw his name in.

Yeah at a minimum he tests the waters like JWF last season

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When a player enters the transfer portal does he forfeit his scholarship spot at his current school?

Knight wants very much to graduate and get his degree. He enjoys the College and enjoys living here (it is his residence)...he rarely goes back to Syracuse. Unless he's an NBA high draft choice I find it difficult to believe he will leave.

As for the others, the tale of their staying or departing will depend on their new coach.

(03-23-2019 12:31 PM)WillaMary08 Wrote:  When a player enters the transfer portal does he forfeit his scholarship spot at his current school?

I believe that happens after the player has officially left the school. The portal is allowing other schools to recruit you, but at this point all are still enrolled at W&M

If Nate can be a first round pick, he would be out of his mind to come back to this dumpster fire. He can finish his degree over time. Making it in the NBA could change his life forever. Transferring would be a bad move because he will be two years older and the NBA wants younger players who can be developed.


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(03-23-2019 12:02 PM)TribeInTheBurg Wrote:  

(03-23-2019 11:40 AM)Tribe32 Wrote:  I’ve lost all confidence. Obvious that these kids have loyalty to the former staff. Just shows that William and Mary the College isn’t reason enough to stay. That’s a reality check.


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I would argue that the obvious thing is that these kids are keeping their options open in case the next coach can't keep it together. Smart move by smart kids.

This is accurate. Huge jumped the broom, she took an ill-advised decision, the players are spooked and want options, and now Huge is scrambling to find a way out of the nightmare. She does not hold the cards...she is hoping against hope that something will turn in a favorable direction but make no mistake, we are rudderless and that's the horizon at our 12 o'clock.

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Perhaps we’ll draw an inside straight and all will work out. It is not a strategy I employ playing poker, but occasionally it works. Stay tuned.


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I think she had a replacement lined up — or at least thought she did. Hopefully whoever it was is still on the hook, or this could get ugly. (OK, ugliER).

(03-23-2019 02:03 PM)Blow Gym rat Wrote:  I think she had a replacement lined up — or at least thought she did. Hopefully whoever it was is still on the hook, or this could get ugly. (OK, ugliER).

I have often wondered what Samantha would have done, if the entire team had revolted and walked out of the meeting a d told her " no Shaver we are all gone".

(03-23-2019 01:52 PM)LeadBolt Wrote:  Perhaps we’ll draw an inside straight and all will work out. It is not a strategy I employ playing poker, but occasionally it works. Stay tuned.


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Can she wiggle/wrinkle her nose and make it allright?

Hopefully right now Huge is doing what she should be doing, which is effectively leading an Athletic Dept through a serious period of mourning. Through Monday night, that’s all I want her thinking about. But on Tuesday morning, I’d expect her to pull out the rabbit, if she has one.

I still find it nearly impossible to imagine this decision was made, at this time, without someone lined up. Strongest team returning in many years. And Shaver/staff just showing us last year that they can pull in a dynamite recruiting class (Audige, Owens, Harvey has/had potential to be the best trio recruited in the same class in a very long time, along with Blair and Scott, who I still think could be solid starters by their last 2 years). So I’m just sitting here continuing to dream that the rabbit is a man who inspires the full team to return, retains Brown’s commitment, pulls in 1 extra star recruit to join Brown, and takes us to the Dance next year.

If anyone knows that rabbit, please let the rest of us know!


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