No more 5/8 rule!!!!

KSCAT · Post by **KSCAT** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:27 pm

good news for college hoops:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=1785876

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:51 pm

Sweet! Okay, mslacat, you're on... explain to us exactly how many more scholarships the Cats can now offer for this upcoming season if/when this rule officially goes away? Are we to expect a bunch of additional recruits as a result?

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:52 pm

Next question... if they go to a system that allocates scholarships based on graduation rates, will Cincy be forced to turn into a club team?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:17 am

It is a matter of Math. Thirteen scholarships and these are our returning scholarships
from last year.
Frank Brown
Nick Dissly
Carson Durr
Matrell Johnson
PJ Owsley
Matt Towsley
Dennis Woodall
That's 7 leaving 6 scholarship available with, fall signie Miller receiving 1.

Now the question becomes how many should he offer. I am not getting a very good vibe
that Durham is swimming possible recruits 7 days after the signing period started. If it
was me I would be looking strongly at inside players and beef up the point guard
position, the most critical position in my opinion in the college game. I would also be
looking for some highschool type players to balance out the JC 's recruited lately.
Durham though has been concentrating his efforts - speculation based on what I here- on
JC power forwards the last 6 months. At this late point in the process what type of
athlete could he sign. Instead of filling all scholarships right away I would imagine he
would continue with his current plan of action and sign his priorities and then look for
some quality pick ups, from positions he was not recruiting previously. Then save the
remaining scholarships to go with next years class, when he has a full head of recruiting
steam behind him. Drew Arnold the 6-9 center from Ariz. might be a perfect example.
My understanding is that the Cats were debating as to whether to sign an excellent down
the road highschool kid who could take a year or two to really contribute or go for a
middle of the road JC Forward who could help immediately. Now they could sign both if
it became possible.
As far as scholarships with in the team, It was my understanding that Wes Morales was
by far the most likely to earn a scholarship. I am wondering if he reconsidering his
transfer to Rocky.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:26 am

Here is a follow up artical from ESPN.com. The rule has not been officially revolked yet. It will be voted on by the NCAA board of directors ( University Pesidents) next week where it is expected officially revolked. Coaches must abide by the 5-8 rule until then.

On the MSU side there is a feeling that the Board will move it back to the 2005 recruiting class, despite what was written. Durham though is said to be "they're trying to scour the bushes pretty thoroughly" incase they are allowed some late season pick ups.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/s ... id=1785919

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:05 am

A further thought on where some of the 6 or so scholarships might be spent, you could look towards the transfer market (for lack of a better term). Basketball transfer to Montana State are different than football because if a kid transfer in basketball they always have to sit out a year. Because of our immediate needs we never have been in a possition to go after them. Transfers ussually start to be known from now until the end of summer, as new coaches are hired and the new recruiting classes are signed, or as can now happen coaches in the bigger schools decide to clear out some marginal players.

ZifCat52 · Post by **ZifCat52** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:28 pm

There is an additional rule related to the 5-8 rule that allows a player who has been with the program for 2 years without a scholarship to be given a scholarship outside of the 5-8 rule. That player would still count against the 13 scholarship limit. This year Wes Morales and Marcus Clift were in that category, it appears that Morales was offered a scholarship under this clause. It will remain to be seen if Marcus Clift is also offered a scholarship and if he were to accept it and stay. Morales evidently decided that even if he stayed, which I think the coaches wanted him to, he likely would not get a lot of playing time, so he decided to go to Rocky, where he likely will be a main part of the lineup.

I agree with Mslacat in that Durham will likely look at JC transfers, young kids that can be developed, and potentialy transfers from other D1 programs if the 5-8 rule is repealed, maybe even without it being approved and locking a player in now who might sit out a year, not on scholarship, to be available in 2005/6, but giving him time to develop within the program until then.