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How Many Players Do We Actually Need?

May 11, 2024 by Backing The Pack

NCAA Basketball: N.C. State at Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe it’s time to rethink?

Basketball staffs and fans are investing a lot of energy, attention, and money on the transfer portal right now. And for the Wolfpack fanbase in particular, we’re talking a lot about scholarship #13.

ESPN recently published an article (link here) in which new Arkansas coach, John Calipari, said he’s changed his philosophy on the number of scholarship players to have at one time. “You may think I’m crazy, but I told my staff I only want to have eight or nine guys,” Calipari told Robinson, who is now executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “They’re leaving anyway, and why would I develop a kid for someone else? Why would I do that?” He adds that he has talked to other coaches who are considering doing the same.

This is primarily driven by the NCAA recently taking off most of the restrictions on transferring. You want to transfer? If you submit your request during the 45-day window of opportunity, and if you meet some academic progress standards, you can transfer and play immediately. All you have to do is text somebody on staff.

Is this idea genius, or insanity?

  • This hurts the high school players. If you’re only bringing in a few players, why waste a scholarship on anyone other than guaranteed players? Either proven studs from the transfer portal, or the very cream of the crop from high school?
  • Not only will it force HS players to mid majors and smaller schools, fewer will get scholarships at all. (fewer to go around)
  • What about practice quality? Calipari says he’ll fill out the practice squads with walk-ons and graduate assistants. Does it degrade the quality of practice? And does that matter?
  • You can’t have any development scholarship players; everyone has to deliver in the current year.
  • It’s a good use of your NIL dollars, why pay a player who doesn’t play? That makes a lot of sense for those of us with more limited budgets than Arkansas. (which is pretty much everybody) It allows us to complete financially for the better players.
  • If would be interesting to see the effect on the portal. On the one hand, there is likely to be more turnover on teams – either losing players to pro ball or annually upgrading positions. On the other hand, if you’re only going to have 8-9 players, who’s going to take all the ‘B’ & ‘C’ players in the portal? That might add pressure not to transfer if you aren’t one of the better players, or maybe need another year before you are.

Right now, it’s just an idea being talked about. Calipari may not even do it this season, TBD. But now that we have to pay for players, maybe quality rules over quantity?

Filed Under: North Carolina State

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