The collectives do have to require something - usually its appearances at events, or some charity or volunteer work - so there has to be something tied to it, not simply pay for play. But I do agree - its pretty fake. Its no different than a large donor who owns a company or has ties doing the same thing.
UR Example - If Claiborne Robins still had Robitussin and was running that business, he could have paid a player any amount he wanted to, in exchange for the use of the athlete in some promotional or advertisements. Or what many companies do now with these athletes - just have them make a post or two on their social media endorsing the product/company.

spiderman said:

what is "fake NIL money"?

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The original intent was for student athletes to earn name image & likeness money on their own. Most do not. And the schools and the schools collectives r doing all the work. Way better than the old no show jobs. It's now pay to attend a school and play basketball. Under the guise of NIL. Fake NIL.

brooklyn brownstone said:

also nice Doc Brown reference, 39 years in the making.

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I feel like u get most of the references. Playing the long game...like my future vcu fan reveal vt4700 is certain about lol.

Also, Doc Brown guaranteed & noted Spiders fan.

my only question is whether ECU plays him at the 3 or the 4. if the 4 we probably started Dusan on him? if the 3 then Tanner.

spiderman said:

not sure what the CJ Walker confusion is about. the only one we're talking about is the one on the ECU roster.

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The only confusion was when we first started discussing the scrimmage. He wasn’t on either Torvik or KenPom ECU rosters. So I Google searched, it listed multiples and none were listed as transferring to ECU.

I was doing too many things at the time to take the path of least resistance


This all started because I was checking if all 3 scorers were big guards…

{Yes, autocorrect resistance is a word and doesn’t need to be changed to distance}

spiderman said:

not sure what the CJ Walker confusion is about. the only one we're talking about is the one on the ECU roster.

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Are you sure one of the other ones didn’t sneak into the game?

not sure what the CJ Walker confusion is about. the only one we're talking about is the one on the ECU roster.

GKiller said:

we are paying college players fake NIL money.

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what is "fake NIL money"?

VT4700 said:

Thanks for sharing. Walker is listed at 6'8. As I said earlier, when u give up 90, team defense, and not just one individual or position, is usually the issue. Maybe we worked on some different stuff that is far from perfected. I'm not ready to get too concerned until I actually see us and we play some real games. I doubt anyone comes close to 75% from 2 against us in a real game.

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Thanks, I think there are 3 CJ Walkers. This seems the Oregon/UCF one.
One seemed to graduate from Ohio St, but not drafted in the NBA.

Not worried from 1 scrimmage, just something to keep an eye on.
If ODU and Mount Olive do the same then it is a serious concern.

also nice Doc Brown reference, 39 years in the making.

GK, I look forward to the nonstop Spider recruiting tweets from your @AdamSilverNBA account.

Thinking the same thing Gkiller, the rules are: THERE ARE NO RULES.

sketch yes. but a violation of what....ncaa rules? we are paying college players fake NIL money. but it would be just like the ncaa & in their wheelhouse to now go after a guys tweeter at St Bonnie. Like the old days, Kentucky breaking rules just means Morehead St. is about to go on probation.

there r no rules. where we're going we don't need rules. or roads.

wow, that seems like a violation, if he still is employed by them in any capacity. If not, am surprised they still let him use that handle, and a bit sketch for him to use it at all.

yeah, he jumped over a guy in a dunk. Crazily athletic. If skills-wise he can ramp up, we may see him this year force his way into a mix.

Long Time Spider Fan said:

I'm a Chick-fil-A person myself, but I've got nothing against McDonalds just because they let Trump have a photo op there. I'll gladly take my grandchildren there if that's where they want to go.

Detest everything Trump? I guess you are okay with his Arnold Palmer comments and his repeated statements that he will go after his political opponents.

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Speaking of going after political opponents, what was lawfare? None of these cases will ultimately end in conviction. And no, I did not vote for Trump...nor the vacuous Harris. Denying defeat coupled with Jan 6 was a bridge too far for me....so is lawfare, states trying to bar a party nominee access to ballot, etc, etc, etc. Pox on both.

totally agree with pad & 23.

recruiting-wise, we typically cast a wide net and take the best players we can land. then we develop them. we usually focus on skills. but rarely do we get a group of plus defenders. somehow we ended up with a cluster of them in last year's graduating class. not sure it was by design but it worked. Dji, Bigs and Harris were long and athletic. Robinson seems to be in the same mold. maybe McGlothin too, though I think offense is his calling card.

urfan ... after that 1st look at Robinson's highlights when we landed him, nothing he does will be a surprise to me. that guy looked like an SEC level athlete. I'm with 23 hoping he forces his way into the rotation early. ton of upside there. it's tough earning time as a freshman in the portal days, though, when teams keep bringing in talented upperclass transfers.

32counter said:

Jaylen Robinson - Men's Basketball - University of Richmond Athletics

Jaylen Robinson (24) Forward - HIGH SCHOOL • Graduated from DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla. • Played at Providence School through his junior year • Led Providence

richmondspiders.com

From the 5thQ on Saturday,this kid is a real player.

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I agree he has been a pleasant surprise

Woj is still using an "ESPN" handle? interesting.

Good analysis Kneepad. My analysis is much more obtuse, but you laid out my concerns here in more detail. Having 2 of 3 of Dji, Harris and Bigs on the court provided a lot of versatility and switchability. Of the three current players you mentioned, I am most hopeful that Glou can be that guy, but have no idea if he has the footspeed to do so. Hopeful he does.
Robinson anyone? Again, expecting him to be a bit raw on offense, but thinking if he can be a plus defender, he will get hoops by attacking the rim. Like Section9, I am hopeful he can force his way into the rotation.
I do think as Brooklyn has pointed out on a few occasions, we may very well be able to make up what we lose a bit by being even better on offense. But I am a defense first guy, and loved how last year's team could set the tone and no easy baskets from the jump. I am fearful the "let's outscore them" mentality can prevail otherwise. Would love to hear Boyden's take on the D for the scrimmage.

32counter said:

Bryant’s got some size throughout their roster.

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Yes 32 that was first thing I noticed. Yet they have poor rushing stats and avg pass is short yardage. Niles is
a pro size LB like Dick Butkus.

So, the reason we were good defensively last year is because Bigelow, Harris, Dji were interchangeable and so picks and screens really didn't have much effect on us. They could all switch onto a guard or wing, and in emergency onto a big, and stay in front of them on the perimeter and not get bullied anywhere, and they were also experienced and aware of how and when to pick up the roller, or rotate to the roller from an off-ball position, etc.. While they might start a possession guarding a "wing", after picks and screens they were often guarding someone else. I have a lot of concern that we will lose that ability this year. Tyne and Hunt are gonna get screened basically immediately, and unless we play a defense where we basically don't switch at all and require them to fight through screens, we'll need our other guys to be able to adequately guard a ball-handler on the perimeter. Boyden can help scheme around it a little w/ drilling on rotations, but ultimately, guys are gonna have to stay in front of people after getting switched. Dji, Harris, and Bigs were great. It remains to be seen if Dusan, Glou, Tanner, and crew can do it. But I have doubts.

It's a scrimmage. It doesn't matter.

urmite said:

6’3” Felton 6 of 9
6’4” Riley 5 of 7 from Temple
CJ Walker 10 of 12 (not sure which one)

Just not sure of the heights since I think 2 are transfers…

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Thanks for sharing. Walker is listed at 6'8. As I said earlier, when u give up 90, team defense, and not just one individual or position, is usually the issue. Maybe we worked on some different stuff that is far from perfected. I'm not ready to get too concerned until I actually see us and we play some real games. I doubt anyone comes close to 75% from 2 against us in a real game.

Bryant’s got some size throughout their roster.