Why Redshirt God's Gift

B

boo haarvey

Active member
I know several posters have discussed this subject, but I feel it deserves a separate topic.

By all accounts we have a very talented team. I think it's clear that our most glaring weakness is rebounding. While Christian Jones may at some point turn out to be a solid contributor -- at least at this point -- he is not a good rebounder. Indeed, likely because of this fact, his playing time has diminished significantly.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Sanchez and Jones play to date, why on earth would Lavin continue to redshirt Gift? I can't envision how the circumstances for Gift getting playing time would be any better next year.

I know many on this board are not big fans of his skillset, but I think nearly everyone would agree that he has a good motor and would certainly help with rebounding. I would go so far as to say that, absent Sanchez, Gift's additional rebounding ability could be the difference between an NCAA and NIT bid.

At this point in the season, it may not be fair to Gift to have him play -- he's already missed eight games and is entitled to play a full season. I just can't for the life of me understand why Lavin has continued to redshirt him.
 
Because Lavin knows next year can be special and bringing back a battle-tested Gift is more valuable than any frosh or juco recruit.
 
Gift will detract from this team whether he plays this year or next. Who would you like him to play over?

If he was good enough to be a major contributor the staff would have him in the games already - it's that simple.

Under your logic, if next year were to be the "special" season, then why not just redshirt Sanchez when he becomes eligible? But the staff would never do that - because Sanchez is pretty good supposedly, and nobody redshirts a player who can contribute right now. If Gift is on the bench it's because there isn't room in the lineup for him right now. It's really not that complicated.
 
Gift will detract from this team whether he plays this year or next. Who would you like him to play over?

If he was good enough to be a major contributor the staff would have him in the games already - it's that simple.

Under your logic, if next year were to be the "special" season, then why not just redshirt Sanchez when he becomes eligible? But the staff would never do that - because Sanchez is pretty good supposedly, and nobody redshirts a player who can contribute right now. If Gift is on the bench it's because there isn't room in the lineup for him right now. It's really not that complicated.
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Although, I wanted Gift (I believe he's serviceable) to play a couple of weeks ago, I still understand what the staff is doing. I guess they are still holding out on Sanchez (becoming eligible), and feel we'll be okay with Gift on the sidelines, regardless.
 
Can anyone name a player who played a season, then red-shirted (for non medical or transfer reasons) and then played again the following season ?

It doesn't make much sense however you slice it. College coaches play for today, not tomorrow. If he thought Gift could have helped us win don't you think Lavin would've played him against Murray State and Baylor?
I know they wanted to reserve the right to redshirt him, but push come to shove, if he was good enough - he would be playing. You don't voluntarily risk losing games to preserve someone's redshirt.
 
Whether God's Gift plays this year or next revolves around Sanchez. If Sanchez becomes available this year it makes sense to redshirt Gift because he can replace Sanchez at center next year with no viable recruit alternative at this point. However if Sanchez is ineligible this year then Gift should play because he is a good rebounder and runs the floor with the ability to score on the fast break. As MCN said we probably would have won the two games we lost this year if Gift played.. I really believe this could be a special season if Sanchez is allowed to play..There's no assurance that Sampson and Harrison will not go pro after this year which would leave a big void to fill along with the graduation of Sanchez if he is classified as a senior.








































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Because Lavin knows next year can be special and bringing back a battle-tested Gift is more valuable than any frosh or juco recruit.
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I know we have Harrison and Sampson this year. I dont know that they'll stay another year. A front line of Gift Sampson and Obepka can make this year special.
 
It's a risk. Im not sure I like the move of redshirting Gift in retrospect, but hard to say. I think Lavin thinks/thought Sanchez would be cleared. If he's not cleared, it certainly hurts us is season not having him for strength and depth at PF. The plus is having him next year alongside Obekpa, Jakarr, maybe Lawrence etc. It's certainly a risk and I don't mind if Lavin takes some. He's building something great here. A good GM of a program had got to take some risks.

I'm reminded of our "debacle" last season when we took some kids with academic risks ie. Pelle, Jakarr, Pointer, Garrett etc. Sure we had a rough season last year with Lavin's cancer anda other things. In retrospect, would we have been better just signing 5 mediocre 4-year kids who weren't academic risks? Gotta gamble a little bit for big returns. We ended up getting Garrett and Pointer cleared, moe to the nba , Jakarr here this season etc.

I'm not 100% sold on redshirting Gift, but I'm guessing that Lavin has a better handle on the situation than we do. He knows better who is likely staying, leaving etc. We have a deep team this season regardless of Sanchez and Gift. I agree that Sanchez could probably make this team special this season, but that is regardless of what we do with Gift. It will be apparent later on whether it was a good idea or bad one based on what happens with Sanchez and what this team does down the stretch.
 
Because Lavin knows next year can be special and bringing back a battle-tested Gift is more valuable than any frosh or juco recruit.
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I know we have Harrison and Sampson this year. I dont know that they'll stay another year. A front line of Gift Sampson and Obepka can make this year special.
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+1 -- I think Sampson and Harrison both need at least another year to refine their skills (for the record -- I think Harkless could have used one or two more years as well), but if past is prologue, at least one of the two will likely not return.

I do not see the logic in redshirting a player who would undeniably contribute to the team this year b/c next year "can be special." We should suit up our best squad now. It may already be too late to play Gift now as it would arguably be unfair to use up his remaining eligibility to play a partial season, but I don't understand the logic in holding him out given the uncertainty surrounding Sanchez. Gift is far from a star, but he is a servicable player.

Even were Sanchez to become eligible, Lavin could certainly find a few minutes for Gift. These minutes would likely come at Jones' expense. At this point in time, Jones has not demonstrated anything to me suggesting that it would be a mistake, no less a travesty, to play Gift instead of him. Gift is taller and provides more of a rebounding presence, something we desperately need. If Jones plays better in practice then give him Gift's minutes -- let them fight it out. But why tie your hands by redshirting someone their senior year when they are needed?

Will Sanchez be declared eligible? If so, will he be given one or two years of eligibility? There are just too many variables to justify committing to sit Gift out the entire year.

The team is crying out for a 6'8 big man who can rebound and while not a superstar, Gift can most certainly contribute.
 
Can anyone name a player who played a season, then red-shirted (for non medical or transfer reasons) and then played again the following season ?

It doesn't make much sense however you slice it. College coaches play for today, not tomorrow. If he thought Gift could have helped us win don't you think Lavin would've played him against Murray State and Baylor?
I know they wanted to reserve the right to redshirt him, but push come to shove, if he was good enough - he would be playing. You don't voluntarily risk losing games to preserve someone's redshirt.
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It just doesn't make sense to me. If Lavin believed that Gift was not good enough to contribute (this year or next), then why redshirt him? Why not just play him sparingly and allow his eligibility to expire?

Unless of course Lavin is thinking that Gift will transfer next year (my understanding is that a grad student who transfers does not have to sit out a year). That might work out best for Gift, but it certaintly does not work to our advantage. I would rather have Gift for a few minutes a game (and eligible in case somebody goes down) than simply allowing him to transfer.
 
I know you know this MCNPA, but Pointer was not held out or needed to qualify icw academics into the season last year. Was Pelle, Jakarr and Amir. You were just typing too fast, I'm sure.

It's a risk. Im not sure I like the move of redshirting Gift in retrospect, but hard to say. I think Lavin thinks/thought Sanchez would be cleared. If he's not cleared, it certainly hurts us is season not having him for strength and depth at PF. The plus is having him next year alongside Obekpa, Jakarr, maybe Lawrence etc. It's certainly a risk and I don't mind if Lavin takes some. He's building something great here. A good GM of a program had got to take some risks.

I'm reminded of our "debacle" last season when we took some kids with academic risks ie. Pelle, Jakarr, Pointer, Garrett etc. Sure we had a rough season last year with Lavin's cancer anda other things. In retrospect, would we have been better just signing 5 mediocre 4-year kids who weren't academic risks? Gotta gamble a little bit for big returns. We ended up getting Garrett and Pointer cleared, moe to the nba , Jakarr here this season etc.

I'm not 100% sold on redshirting Gift, but I'm guessing that Lavin has a better handle on the situation than we do. He knows better who is likely staying, leaving etc. We have a deep team this season regardless of Sanchez and Gift. I agree that Sanchez could probably make this team special this season, but that is regardless of what we do with Gift. It will be apparent later on whether it was a good idea or bad one based on what happens with Sanchez and what this team does down the stretch.
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Can anyone name a player who played a season, then red-shirted (for non medical or transfer reasons) and then played again the following season ?

It doesn't make much sense however you slice it. College coaches play for today, not tomorrow. If he thought Gift could have helped us win don't you think Lavin would've played him against Murray State and Baylor?
I know they wanted to reserve the right to redshirt him, but push come to shove, if he was good enough - he would be playing. You don't voluntarily risk losing games to preserve someone's redshirt.
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I'm sure its happened. Just with a JUCO it might seem a little weird.
 
I know you know this MCNPA, but Pointer was not held out or needed to qualify icw academics into the season last year. Was Pelle, Jakarr and Amir. You were just typing too fast, I'm sure.

It's a risk. Im not sure I like the move of redshirting Gift in retrospect, but hard to say. I think Lavin thinks/thought Sanchez would be cleared. If he's not cleared, it certainly hurts us is season not having him for strength and depth at PF. The plus is having him next year alongside Obekpa, Jakarr, maybe Lawrence etc. It's certainly a risk and I don't mind if Lavin takes some. He's building something great here. A good GM of a program had got to take some risks.

I'm reminded of our "debacle" last season when we took some kids with academic risks ie. Pelle, Jakarr, Pointer, Garrett etc. Sure we had a rough season last year with Lavin's cancer anda other things. In retrospect, would we have been better just signing 5 mediocre 4-year kids who weren't academic risks? Gotta gamble a little bit for big returns. We ended up getting Garrett and Pointer cleared, moe to the nba , Jakarr here this season etc.

I'm not 100% sold on redshirting Gift, but I'm guessing that Lavin has a better handle on the situation than we do. He knows better who is likely staying, leaving etc. We have a deep team this season regardless of Sanchez and Gift. I agree that Sanchez could probably make this team special this season, but that is regardless of what we do with Gift. It will be apparent later on whether it was a good idea or bad one based on what happens with Sanchez and what this team does down the stretch.
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Understand WRT Pointer. He certainly was an academic risk and QEA was under investigation if you remember. It certainly was a risk.
 
If everyone returns and we get Lawrence, Gift will play less next year than he would've this year.
Don't understand the redshirt at all.
 
Because Lavin knows next year can be special and bringing back a battle-tested Gift is more valuable than any frosh or juco recruit.
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I know we have Harrison and Sampson this year. I dont know that they'll stay another year. A front line of Gift Sampson and Obepka can make this year
special.
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2 centers on the floor at the same time?
never.
 
I think the original logic was - hey this Jones kid is surprisingly good and ready to play ahead of schedule. This in conjunction with Sanchez being arguably the most polished player in the lineup and it made more sense to redshirt Gift. With Sanchez potentially leaving the team altogether due to the NCAA cherry picking and maybe the staff overlooked Jone's spectator approach to rebounding in light of his other talents and skills, and it makes redshirting Gift looks like a mistake.

I actually like what Gift brings but he is NOT a Big East center and will always be a disappointment in that role. IMHO Gift is a tweener player with an unusual mix of size and skills. He looked like a weaker player than he is on an undermanned team. With a complement of bigger players and an overall expanded rotation, he can shine and cause matchup problems instead of being a matchup problem for us.
 
For a guy who most of our fans think nothing of its pretty tiring to still hear all the hubbub about Gift redshirting.
 
The minutes won't be there.

Look at the last game against NJIT, a game where Jones was a DNP:

Sampson 36 minutes
Harrison 35 minutes
Pointer 30 minutes
Garrett 26 minutes
Obepka 26 minutes
Greene 25 minutes
Balamou 19 minutes
Bourgault 3 minutes

Where are the minutes going to be for Branch, Gift AND Sanchez in Big East play? Find 60 minutes there (25 for Branch, 25 for Sanchez and 10 for Gift). The staff took a gamble, it hasn't paid off. But why waste a year of Gift that might be needed next year.
 
No body says Gift is a world beater, but he can give us a valuable 10 min per game and help w rebounding, muscle and help rest Sampson and CO., I would not have redshirted him w the uncertainty of Sanchez. Like a said previously,hes not going to be a difference maker next year and we could have replaced him w a JUCO transfer. We really dont know what next year will bring, but we could have Lawrence,CO, SampsonSanchez and an improved Jones. When will he get minutes w that lineup? But Maybe Lavin knows Sanchez will be eligible by BE play.
 
The minutes won't be there.

Look at the last game against NJIT, a game where Jones was a DNP:

Sampson 36 minutes
Harrison 35 minutes
Pointer 30 minutes
Garrett 26 minutes
Obepka 26 minutes
Greene 25 minutes
Balamou 19 minutes
Bourgault 3 minutes


Where are the minutes going to be for Branch, Gift AND Sanchez in Big East play? Find 60 minutes there (25 for Branch, 25 for Sanchez and 10 for Gift). The staff took a gamble, it hasn't paid off. But why waste a year of Gift that might be needed next year.
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Based on the above, he'll play less next year if we get Lawrence, which seems like a pretty good proposition right now.
We're an Obekpa tweeked ankle away from wishing he suited up.
 
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