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Message: [QUOTE="pfister1, post: 2098120, member: 285"] I know this could never happen, but I would love to hear JB/Hop discuss what they are thinking with regard to the development of the roster for next season. I've played the devil's advocate a bit with regard to Washington because there is clearly something holding up the offer, but I can't say that I disagree with the sentiment that if the staff believes that he can contribute by his junior year that we should make an offer. The fact that we have no guard depth and not many obvious high school senior prospects remain makes me wonder what the staff's view of Washington is? It is possible that Washington may not have an offer due to a simple number's / timing squeeze. We are limited to 11 total schoarship players. There are three scholarships that we know today are still available and could be given to an incoming player. There are five that are definitely spoken for (Moyer, Thompson, Chuckwu, Sidibe & Brisett). There are an additional 3 that may be in a bit of a gray area, (Lydon, Battle and Howard) with each one being a different shade of gray. What JB needs with those 3 scholarships that he definitely has available is different depending on what the three gray area guys end up doing. If all 3 gray area guys return we probably need a guard that is ready to contribute immediately and we have room for one or more guys that may not be as ready. If one or more of those gray area guys leaves we have a greater need for guys that are immediately ready to contribute. JB may be caught in a position where he has to plan on using the three available scholarships for guys that are immediately ready in case one or more of gray area guys goes, but isn't ready to push anyone out if those guys all decide to stay. Not knowing for certain about Lydon, Battle and Howard causes roster uncertainty both from the perspective of what your immediate roster needs are for next season and how many spots you will have available to fill those uncertain needs next year. Unfortunately, if you are in need of immediate help and you fill your available roster slots with developmental players there is no recovery. If you take guys that can help immediately and then don't need them, it is easy enough to sit them behind a guy like Lydon or Battle that returned when you weren't sure they would. Therefore two or more of these scholarships may be earmarked for grad transfers/juco players until JB knows for certain what Lydon and/or Battle are doing. You can repeat the refrain all you want that Battle or Lydon aren't ready, but if they choose to go (whether they are ready or not) we will have to replace them or be ready for a long winter. [/QUOTE]

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