(03-05-2023 08:30 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 08:08 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 06:45 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 05:21 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 04:54 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  I heard from a source Bates was paid $875,000

I believe Edified has inside knowledge here that he could share.

I think Emoni already had NIL money independent from attending EMU. Endorsements deals with Nike and social media and what not. If GameAbove gave him money also, I wonder how much of it (if not all) was to compensate for loss of deals he already had. Such as the Nike endorsement that did not appreciate mixing in with Adidas. Or maybe some of it was on top of his existing endorsements. Or some combination.

So Emoni might have been paid $875,000 this year, but would have made that independent of playing at EMU. Or maybe I am wrong, and GameAbove paid out that much all themselves just so he plays at EMU. If they did, that was a total waste! They could have paid for a shot blocking rebounding machine for a fraction of that.

See the replies from the “sidelines” account.
https://mobile.twitter.com/rs_tweeter/st...7089933313

I am trying to wrap my head around this. Emoni Bates is no student athlete at all. As a paid member of the team, he is entitled to far more scrutiny than he received. So feel free folks. No more “Wrath of Fanboy” from me. If this is true, he was a highly OVERPAID and highly UNDERACHIEVING member of the EMU staff.

Of course he got NIL money to come here. But lets refresh folks memories a bit. He was rumored to go to P5 schools after leaving Memphis and they all passed. Teams like UM and Louisville for example. Stories surfaced in the press that he badmouthed Coach Hardaway at Memphis to incoming recruits. Question: what did they all see that EMU didn't?

As usual you make a cogent point.

I honestly believe that EMU basketball's record would have been better without Emoni this season. I also believe that the only reason he came here was because he had little if any other interest. He's not that good and he has baggage.

That said, WE SIMPLY HAD TO GO AFTER HIM. He created a buzz around the program. All four local TV stations covered his college choice MORE than they did our outstanding football season. He was, in my opinion, solely responsible for our attendance increase this season. He was on the cover of SI as a HS freshman and ESPN televised his game when he played for the ghost HS, Ypsi Prep. Most importantly, he was a local hero, Fred Cofield and Walt Church on steroids.

Emoni is hardly the first ultra talented but "grey area" recruit our basketball program has recruited, witness JT4 and Ray Lee. Nevertheless, in my opinion, recruiting and paying him was hardly a obvious mistake.

(03-05-2023 07:39 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 07:30 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 06:46 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  I applaud BGSU!!


Post: #21RE: Final Day of the Men's Regular Season
BGSU fired head coach Michael Huger with 2 years left on his contract.

EMU must fire Heath!

Heath has been at EMU only two years. Don't fire established coach after two years.

The only time a coach is fired after two seasons is an unproven coach who is hired and clearly over his head. Heath was the G-League coach of the year two years ago so he is hardly someone EMU got from the D-II ranks who has never coached at the higher ranks.

He's 18-44 with only 15 D1 wins in two seasons! C'mon, an experienced coach as you said at the MAC level shouldn't have results like that sorry. Look at Boals at Ohio U, Burno at N Illinois, Groce at Akron, he lost 11 players when he took over, Tod K at Toledo A decade ago, and ROB MURPHY at EMU, he won the MAC West, and went 30-36! Heath's is 26 games under .500 over 15 seasons! That tells you everything! EMU needs to find A WINNER......Maybe, Heath will do it next season, but this past year is the worst season I've witnessed, and I've been following EMU since the 80's! No excuses if he's a SEASONED/PROVEN coach.

I'm not going to defend Stan's record or performance; it has been found wanting to say the least. Please, however, do not point to the fact that Murphy won a "division championship". The MAC held on to the division format far too long, it led to coaches holding onto their jobs with mediocre results. The 9-7 record Murph achieved that season would have translated into a TIE for FIFTH PLACE in the MAC without the divisional format. Hardly noteworthy.

(03-05-2023 07:41 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  As usual you make a cogent point.

I honestly believe that EMU basketball's record would have been better without Emoni this season. I also believe that the only reason he came here was because he had little if any other interest. He's not that good and he has baggage.

That said, WE SIMPLY HAD TO GO AFTER HIM. He created a buzz around the program. All four local TV stations covered his college choice MORE than they did our outstanding football season. He was, in my opinion, solely responsible for our attendance increase this season. He was on the cover of SI as a HS freshman and ESPN televised his game when he played for the ghost HS, Ypsi Prep. Most importantly, he was a local hero, Fred Cofield and Walt Church on steroids.

Emoni is hardly the first ultra talented but "grey area" recruit our basketball program has recruited, witness JT4 and Ray Lee. Nevertheless, in my opinion, recruiting and paying him was hardly a obvious mistake.

I agree with Steve that we don’t know if GameAbove gave him NIL money and if so how much. But if they did, I think it was a brilliant move for the local hero reason aspect you suggest above. There has always been a disconnect/rift between the broader Ypsilanti community and EMU. Bringing their local hero into the fold bridges that gap.

For this reason and many others, recruiting Emoni Bates was a no-brainer. Everyone on this board (except Super ) seemed excited when he first announced. Even some of his biggest eventual detractors. In hindsight and for whatever reason, it was a catastrophic failure on the court. Regardless, I really like how you phrase it as “hardly an obvious mistake”.

Too soon? If we can get all these guys back, how much would this team benefit from such an extensive level of continuity?

2023/24 EMU Hurons Depth Chart
PG 6-2 Noah / 6-2 Lovejoy / 6-3 Luka
SG 6-4 Acuff / 6-4 Rice / RECRUIT
SF 6-6 Golson / 6-9 Pranger
PF 6-7 Legend / 6-8 Jihad
C RECRUIT / 6-8 Billingsley / 6-10 Randle

(03-05-2023 09:41 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Too soon? If we can get all these guys back, how much would this team benefit from such an extensive level of continuity?

2023/24 EMU Hurons Depth Chart
PG 6-2 Noah / 6-2 Lovejoy / 6-3 Luka
SG 6-4 Acuff / 6-4 Rice / RECRUIT
SF 6-6 Golson / 6-9 Pranger
PF 6-7 Legend / 6-8 Jihad
C RECRUIT / 6-8 Billingsley / 6-10 Randle

I am going to beat a dead horse until everyone is tired of it. I believe Sam summed it up very well by stating we need a shuffle in the assistant coaching staff. A solid coach who knows fundamentals could move the team to a few more wins. We definitely need a 6’8” 240 athletic center in the post. My first choice would be a reincarnated Grant Long, but I would settle for Nkeche Ezugwhi sp?

Just to button up a few loose threads (I'll try to be precise and accurate in my statements):

1). There are reports that Emoni got a big NIL at Memphis. Not surprising and 'no big deal.' We have a poster who is the chief cheerleader for NIL.

2). There is no reliable information as to if Emoni got any NIL at EMU and if so, from whom. We just don't know. Any statements may confuse EMU and Memphis. My suggestion: Please do not add needless speculation unless you have a source we can try to verify.

3). Once again, we need to stop and smell the roses, er dollars. NIL are NOT school dollars. They are given by someone or some organization or company to the player.

4). The next statements have a lot of "IFs." IF any money was given thru GA, it is not unrestricted EMU athletic department monies and can't be redirected. It is a logical stretch to say if GA gave money to Emoni that they should redirect that money to the athletic department for whatever other purpose. GA, just like donors here, can earmark their gifts.

5). Presumably Emoni isn't a broke college student ("went to a party last night. Woke up to the thought that I have two tests and three dollars in my pocket today."). He is free to make whatever decision he wants about staying at EMU.

6). Any discussion about Heath's fate with EMU is 100% speculation. To the best of my knowledge he has not said anything.

7). Like #6, any discussion about players leaving is 100% speculation. As we know (or should know) after the season ends the players and coach sit down and discuss the past and future. After that a player may decide that new scenery is in his best interest. We do not have good info as to which players are eligible for grad transfers.

8). As we need an immediate talent transfusion I would think the transfer portal is the way to go. We know nothing about how the portal will shake out in 2023.

(03-05-2023 08:00 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 07:39 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 07:30 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 06:46 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  I applaud BGSU!!


Post: #21RE: Final Day of the Men's Regular Season
BGSU fired head coach Michael Huger with 2 years left on his contract.

EMU must fire Heath!

Heath has been at EMU only two years. Don't fire established coach after two years.

The only time a coach is fired after two seasons is an unproven coach who is hired and clearly over his head. Heath was the G-League coach of the year two years ago so he is hardly someone EMU got from the D-II ranks who has never coached at the higher ranks.

He's 18-44 with only 15 D1 wins in two seasons! C'mon, an experienced coach as you said at the MAC level shouldn't have results like that sorry. Look at Boals at Ohio U, Burno at N Illinois, Groce at Akron, he lost 11 players when he took over, Tod K at Toledo A decade ago, and ROB MURPHY at EMU, he won the MAC West, and went 30-36! Heath's is 26 games under .500 over 15 seasons! That tells you everything! EMU needs to find A WINNER......Maybe, Heath will do it next season, but this past year is the worst season I've witnessed, and I've been following EMU since the 80's! No excuses if he's a SEASONED/PROVEN coach.

I'm not going to defend Stan's record or performance; it has been found wanting to say the least. Please, however, do not point to the fact that Murphy won a "division championship". The MAC held on to the division format far too long, it led to coaches holding onto their jobs with mediocre results. The 9-7 record Murph achieved that season would have translated into a TIE for FIFTH PLACE in the MAC without the divisional format. Hardly noteworthy.

Pretty noteworthy that Murphy took over a completely bare cupboard and put a competitive product out there immediately. Murphy’s problem was that he never grew from that. One year of massive overachieving (as you noted, we finished 5th…but were predicted to finish 12th) followed by many years of underachieving. So many frustrating losses that should’ve easily been wins over the course of a decade.

And I’d still take all of that over what I watched this year.

(03-06-2023 04:56 AM)emu steve Wrote:  4). The next statements have a lot of "IFs." IF any money was given thru GA, it is not unrestricted EMU athletic department monies and can't be redirected. It is a logical stretch to say if GA gave money to Emoni that they should redirect that money to the athletic department for whatever other purpose. GA, just like donors here, can earmark their gifts.

That is another very, very, very good point regarding NIL$$ and Emoni Bates. While we don’t know if GA gave money or not, if they did, it would be negotiated and given to Emoni Bates directly. I believe by rule it should be completely independent of the University, AD, and Coaching staff.

In the end, GA is comprised of a bunch of rich and successful alumni who have used their money to benefit the university in so many ways. I am very appreciative of all that. If Emoni Bates is worth NIL$$ or not, it is up to GA how they want to spend their money. And the coaching staff does not have to allow Emoni to even stay in the program (let alone play long minutes) regardless of any NIL deal between GA and Emoni Bates.

(03-06-2023 08:39 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 04:56 AM)emu steve Wrote:  4). The next statements have a lot of "IFs." IF any money was given thru GA, it is not unrestricted EMU athletic department monies and can't be redirected. It is a logical stretch to say if GA gave money to Emoni that they should redirect that money to the athletic department for whatever other purpose. GA, just like donors here, can earmark their gifts.

That is another very, very, very good point regarding NIL$$ and Emoni Bates. While we don’t know if GA gave money or not, if they did, it would be negotiated and given to Emoni Bates directly. I believe by rule it should be completely independent of the University, AD, and Coaching staff.

In the end, GA is comprised of a bunch of rich and successful alumni who have used their money to benefit the university in so many ways. I am very appreciative of all that. If Emoni Bates is worth NIL$$ or not, it is up to GA how they want to spend their money. And the coaching staff does not have to allow Emoni to even stay in the program (let alone play long minutes) regardless of any NIL deal between GA and Emoni Bates.

Agree with your statements.

We should NEVER put Emoni, GA, EMU athletics, Heath, etc. in the same sentence.

I am going to walk a tight rope here between: honoring Steve’s suggested decorum of integrity to facts, and also acknowledging Jerry’s suggestion that nothing of what we say here has any bearing on anything. So…

TOTALLY SPECULATING HERE:
Emoni Bates has already decided to enter the NBA draft. My reasoning is as follows. “the Vanzee” and “SideLines- Eastern Michigan” are pretty reasonably informed (or at least are on top of a lot of stuff) as non-traditional journalists. They both suggested that GA was willing to endorse (ie, pay) Emoni Bates to stay another year. And did so after the year was over. I think these were deliberate “leaks”. Probably did not want to say it while Emoni Bates was still playing here. But now that he isn’t coming back, GA wanted other potential recruits to know that there are some deep pockets related to EMU. And may even have exaggerated how much they endorsed Emoni Bates as kind of an advertisement of such. I don’t think GA is out there trying to buy a basketball team , but rather are putting themselves in a position to act if another opportunity presents itself. (Emoni Bates was rare in that he was an available talent, open to EMU, and most importantly a bridge to the Ypsi community. Not many are going to possess those factors)

Just my thoughts. I enjoyed having Emoni Bates on the team, despite the lack of results (I never fully blamed him for that- it was a group effort). But if my logic here is correct, Super can rest assured that Emoni Bates is leaving EMU next year.

Bates has the best chance of being drafted now vs next year. The biggest asset to him getting a shot in the NBA is that he is viewed as a project with upside. The more he shows he deficiencies in college (defending, ability to drive, rebounding, shot selection) the less appealing he becomes. The longer he goes showing either a inability or willingness to value those parts of his game, his stock falls. The NBA has for many years valued drafting young unpolished players with high ceilings and has shied away from older players.

This shows how his weaknesses thru stats.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/emoni-bates

I like the last two posts DESPITE they are 'contradictory' in the sense they portray different mutually exclusive outcomes.

Taking EagleKing's post first. I agree with his post. NBA's theory, "we'd rather have him a year with us than another year in college."

I totally hope Ramy is right that there are other options. The key is Emoni saying "I'm coming back and I want the best players on our team." How many connections does Emoni have with players who may be joining the portal?

It should be fascinating to see how this plays out. The worst outcome would be for Emoni to do the NBA evaluation and stay after all of the transfers have decided on their new homes.

im concerned acuff may leave.

(03-06-2023 12:40 PM)dansplaining Wrote:  im concerned acuff may leave.

Maybe he sits a year and goes to UofD. Kampe wouldn’t take him because Oakland plays O and D

(03-06-2023 12:03 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  Bates has the best chance of being drafted now vs next year. The biggest asset to him getting a shot in the NBA is that he is viewed as a project with upside. The more he shows he deficiencies in college (defending, ability to drive, rebounding, shot selection) the less appealing he becomes. The longer he goes showing either a inability or willingness to value those parts of his game, his stock falls. The NBA has for many years valued drafting young unpolished players with high ceilings and has shied away from older players.

This shows how his weaknesses thru stats.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/emoni-bates

EagleKing: 100% agree. It has already become clearly apparent he will never become the level of player he was once pegged as. I like Splaining’s previous suggestion that his potential at this point is to hopefully become someone’s valued “6th man offensive spurt” type. Will that revised projection even pan out? It is better to figure this out as an NBA player then as a college player.

Steve: You completely misread my post above. I am saying GA already is expecting Emoni Bates leaves EMU for the NBA this year. Which is why they feel free to “leak” their now past NIL$$ dealings with Emoni Bates. My post is not at all contradictory to EagleKing’s post, it is actually complementary.

(03-06-2023 02:19 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 12:03 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  Bates has the best chance of being drafted now vs next year. The biggest asset to him getting a shot in the NBA is that he is viewed as a project with upside. The more he shows he deficiencies in college (defending, ability to drive, rebounding, shot selection) the less appealing he becomes. The longer he goes showing either a inability or willingness to value those parts of his game, his stock falls. The NBA has for many years valued drafting young unpolished players with high ceilings and has shied away from older players.

This shows how his weaknesses thru stats.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/emoni-bates

EagleKing: 100% agree. It has already become clearly apparent he will never become the level of player he was once pegged as. I like Splaining’s previous suggestion that his potential at this point is to hopefully become someone’s valued “6th man offensive spurt” type. Will that revised projection even pan out? It is better to figure this out as an NBA player then as a college player.

Steve: You completely misread my post above. I am saying GA already is expecting Emoni Bates leaves EMU for the NBA this year. Which is why they feel free to “leak” their now past NIL$$ dealings with Emoni Bates. My post is not at all contradictory to EagleKing’s post, it is actually complementary.

Taking your sentences... This is the one I focused on because you were referencing a couple good Twitter posters:

"They both suggested that GA was willing to endorse (ie, pay) Emoni Bates to stay another year. And did so after the year was over. I think these were deliberate “leaks”. Probably did not want to say it while Emoni Bates was still playing here."

(03-06-2023 02:56 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 02:19 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 12:03 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  Bates has the best chance of being drafted now vs next year. The biggest asset to him getting a shot in the NBA is that he is viewed as a project with upside. The more he shows he deficiencies in college (defending, ability to drive, rebounding, shot selection) the less appealing he becomes. The longer he goes showing either a inability or willingness to value those parts of his game, his stock falls. The NBA has for many years valued drafting young unpolished players with high ceilings and has shied away from older players.

This shows how his weaknesses thru stats.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/emoni-bates

EagleKing: 100% agree. It has already become clearly apparent he will never become the level of player he was once pegged as. I like Splaining’s previous suggestion that his potential at this point is to hopefully become someone’s valued “6th man offensive spurt” type. Will that revised projection even pan out? It is better to figure this out as an NBA player then as a college player.

Steve: You completely misread my post above. I am saying GA already is expecting Emoni Bates leaves EMU for the NBA this year. Which is why they feel free to “leak” their now past NIL$$ dealings with Emoni Bates. My post is not at all contradictory to EagleKing’s post, it is actually complementary.

Taking your sentences... This is the one I focused on because you were referencing a couple good Twitter posters:

"They both suggested that GA was willing to endorse (ie, pay) Emoni Bates to stay another year. And did so after the year was over. I think these were deliberate “leaks”. Probably did not want to say it while Emoni Bates was still playing here."

I was implying that the way GA was “saying” was by “leaking” to our Twitter journos. GA is never going to directly make announcements on such matters. They couldn’t “leak” they are “paying” Emoni if he was on the team or coming back. Since he is not, GA is now free to “leak” the affair. Again, just speculation.

(03-06-2023 01:12 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 12:40 PM)dansplaining Wrote:  im concerned acuff may leave.

Maybe he sits a year and goes to UofD. Kampe wouldn’t take him because Oakland plays O and D

Splaining: I commented on this in Steve’s player movement thread if you are interested.

Luckey: is TyCuff a D2 player? Why are you so hard on him for a couple missed plays? … You have just been “Wrathed by FanBoy”

(03-06-2023 12:40 PM)dansplaining Wrote:  im concerned acuff may leave.

Everyone who can leave will leave. Including those who have already transferred once.

Georgia State had 6 players go in the portal today.

https://247sports.com/Season/2023-Basket...ferPortal/