RamblerNation wrote:
An Embarrassment of Riches!
This line-up, this depth and the once-in-a-lifetime gift of having four talented, game-changing returning seniors is beyond unprecedented. It borders on the impossible. Or, at least, on the unbelievable.
But this overflowing cup presents some serious problems as well. What do we do with players like Hebb and Welch? Given the desperate condition of the transfer portal, there is no guarantee that once they are in it that they will end up on any team, let alone a D1 team. But, if they stay at Loyola, they will end up scraping for minutes at the bottom of the pecking order. None of this is there fault. If fact, much of it might be blamed on the continued and growing success of the program. The other big challenge is what do we do with our scholarship freshman? I can't help but think that one or more players will end up redshirting. Partially for development but also to give them the best chance of success in college and possibly as a post-college professional player. Imagine this: Saint Thomas and Schweiger (and maybe two other scholarship players) redshirt their freshman year. They learn all the plays, get bigger/faster/stronger and next year with Tate, Keith, Lucas & Aher are in Europe, these guys are lit, ready and hungry.
And speaking of our freshman, there is also the challenge of the remaining scholarships to consider. If we have them (and I assume the school has given the athletic department the green light to use them...) Who do we sign? From a depth standpoint, we don't really need to get bodies who can impact the game immediately. (You might say we already have too many quality players...). Do we look for kids that have big upside but need a year of development and immediately redshirt them? Or do we look for grad transfers that will be here a year, bring some wisdom and experience and then graduate so we have two fresh scholarships next year?
This is truly a crazy, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think it offers a huge upside to a program that can clearly see if for its short-term and long-term benefits. But, on the other hand, the challenges it presents are significant and if it is poorly managed, it can have some unwelcome consequences.
Unless they're going to go out and get some additional big man depth, it honestly might not be the worst idea just to keep the two scholarships open. You could find a guy who's looking to transfer mid-season, give him the extra time to adapt to the team/plays/culture, then use him the following season.