Disappointing, but not surprising, I guess. He had some really nice games in November/December, but his minutes really dwindled. Excluding the Indiana State debacle, I think he played less than 40 minutes in February.

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MBB Scholarship Chart

Good move for Pipkins. I feel bad for him because I feel like he was brought in to the program to be a contributor, and for whatever reasons, he never got a full opportunity to show what he could contribute. I think Porter had something in mind for how he wanted to use him, and it just didn’t work out that he fit in did the direction Porter decided to go during the season. It’s a shame because he already had to transfer once so I don’t like to say that he hast to make another move, and presumably sit out another year. I hope that he lands someplace where he gets to play and contribute.

If we were going to lose anyone, I think this was the player we figured. Now the question is, how does this impact us? Does Hudson automatically get the scholarship? Do we not redshirt him? Do we now have the ability to go after another player for next season?

I feel really bad for Jalon Pipkins. He was a good soldier for us. I'm not super privy to what happens behind the scenes, but he didn't seem to pout about his lack of playing time. He'll probably have to either go D2 to play next year or sit out at a D1 school. Moreover, he's going to be unfortunately very lightly recruited. He doesn't have a ton of stats or game tape from his time here, and given the recruiting dead period, that's probably all coaches have to go on.

As for the last scholarship, just give it to Hutson and let him redshirt. If something crazy happens, like a season-ending injury for Krutwig, then obviously we burn it and have him play as Agunnane's backup. That said, as evidenced by Jalon's usage, Porter is incapable of playing a rotation of larger than 8 maybe 9 guys tops. Anybody past that gets lost on the bench. The team is super deep next year, so Hutson or any other transfer/freshman we add will get virtually no minutes anyways.

Good luck to Jalon at his new destination.

As for what we will do with the open scholarship, I doubt it will go to Hudson, given how active we've seemed to be recruiting 2020 high school, juco and transfer prospects.

True. I could see us go after the Simeon kid Williams, although I'd prefer we redshirt him too. I could also see us bringing in a transfer who sits out a year. I think the big thing is we don't really need another contributor to come in because we add Norris, Hebb, and in effect Kaifes to a core of Krut, Williamson, Hall, Uguak, Kennedy, Clemens, and Big Frank. Not to mention Welch and Wojcik, although it'll probably be hard for them to find playing time behind those 10 players.

As for Jacob Hutson, it'd be a nice gesture to give him the open scholarship rather than recruit around him. I think he's clearly expecting one down the road.

I wouldn't have a problem giving it to Hutson either. He agreed to a 4 for 5 (or is it 5 for 4) deal, and hopefully the situation we're in now was addressed when he committed, so that there's no hard feelings if we give the scholarship to somebody else.

I’ve heard Porter say during interviews that he doesn’t like the grad transfer route. But, given the potential of this team next year, if there’s a big name out there that you could sell on this team’s potential, the Chicago market, etc, i wouldn’t be shocked to see that. I have no idea who it would be, but I just remember the brief buzz that swirled around us when that kid from Stanford was a grad transfer a couple years ago.

Hopefully we can get a transfer wing to sit out a year.

As has been said, our roster for next year is very solid. And as far as guards and bigs, I think we are set for the followings year as well with all of our young guards and the combo of Frank/Hutson/ Welch(?).

But outside of Welch, once Aher/Tate (and even Lucas to a degree) graduate, our wing forwards are going to be a little lacking. And even Welch to date hasn’t shown some of the ball handling skills that Porter usually wants out of our wings. Not a lot of “mismatch” guys he always talks about on the roster after next year

Right, I agree. If what's been reported here is accurate, why would it make a difference whether Pipkins or someone else has that scholarship? And why use it on him if he is willing to redshirt and pay his own way?

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MBB Scholarship Chart