Goodbye Ronald Polite

[mkaufman1]

Some of the XJ conversation has brought up a roster management issue IMO. I admittedly know little about Polite other than his measurable and stat lines. Does he have potential to garner any time at the 2 next season? XJ has solidified his position within the squad and IMO cannot effectively play the 2 quite yet at a more permanent time.

Can Polite? If XJ's shot gets better and he learns to play a little on the ball defense he could be unstoppable. What can Polite do to help right away next season? We dramatically need freshman contributors right off the bat. I love Henry and have some pessimism about Kolek so I am hoping Polite can be a day one minutes eater and contributor? Jollay? Buehler?

I see polite in two scenarios

if kier is around

he’s going to play more of a depth role, he will play the 1 at points and maybe be a 1-2 punch with XJ and hartwell.

if there isn’t kier

I can see him essentially being the backup and playing significant minutes to Hartwell and XJ, and maybe partnering with Kolek at points at the 1-2 as needed.

A player like Daddy is the ultimate wildcard because we don’t know what he will be, but he also could probably help play a few spots as well.

 

[gmujim92]

If the roster doesn’t make space for Kier to return, depth and the 2 and 3 are a big question mark next year, but especially whoever is backing up Miller, because Hartwell, Polite, XJ and even Kolek aren’t big enough to be effective at the 3 spot. That leaves Haidara as your only option out there and who knows how ready he will be next year.

I don’t have a problem having Hartwell and XJ on the floor at the same time for about 5 mpg at most, but if we want to give Greene more than 5 minutes of rest (and he shouldn’t average 35 mpg next year if we want to be good), someone else needs to step into that backup roll.

Miller is going to be even worse if Kier doesn’t get a fifth year here.

If Kier gets the waiver from the NCAA, there will be a spot on the roster for him. Period.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Some of the XJ conversation has brought up a roster management issue IMO. I admittedly know little about Polite other than his measurable and stat lines. Does he have potential to garner any time at the 2 next season? XJ has solidified his position within the squad and IMO cannot effectively play the 2 quite yet at a more permanent time.

Can Polite? If XJ's shot gets better and he learns to play a little on the ball defense he could be unstoppable. What can Polite do to help right away next season? We dramatically need freshman contributors right off the bat. I love Henry and have some pessimism about Kolek so I am hoping Polite can be a day one minutes eater and contributor? Jollay? Buehler?

I wouldn't be so pessimistic about Kolek. He looks a lot stronger this year on tape than last. Hopefully he will continue to hit the weight room and be college-ready from day 1.

Our guards under Paulsen seem to always be weak in 1 particular area (can facilitate but can't shoot, can contribute offensively but are a liability defensively, can shoot but can't create, etc.). I'm hoping Kolek can come in and show the well-rounded game that I see on tape.

 

[gmujim92]

I wouldn't be so pessimistic about Kolek. He looks a lot stronger this year on tape than last. Hopefully he will continue to hit the weight room and be college-ready from day 1.

Our guards under Paulsen seem to always be weak in 1 particular area (can facilitate but can't shoot, can contribute offensively but are a liability defensively, can shoot but can't create, etc.). I'm hoping Kolek can come in and show the well-rounded game that I see on tape.

Freshmen typically struggle to defend. It’s a huge adjustment not unique to DP. Our problem is we’ve had to rely so much on freshmen to start or play major minutes. It would help our defense if we finally could build some quality depth and the young guys could come in and give the starters a breather here and there.

 

[tblack33]

If the roster doesn’t make space for Kier to return, depth and the 2 and 3 are a big question mark next year, but especially whoever is backing up Miller, because Hartwell, Polite, XJ and even Kolek aren’t big enough to be effective at the 3 spot. That leaves Haidara as your only option out there and who knows how ready he will be next year.

I don’t have a problem having Hartwell and XJ on the floor at the same time for about 5 mpg at most, but if we want to give Greene more than 5 minutes of rest (and he shouldn’t average 35 mpg next year if we want to be good), someone else needs to step into that backup roll.

Miller is going to be even worse if Kier doesn’t get a fifth year here.

I don’t understand how we’ve managed to put together a roster that is seemingly thin both at guard and big man at the same tkme.

 

[Falco]

If the roster doesn’t make space for Kier to return, depth and the 2 and 3 are a big question mark next year, but especially whoever is backing up Miller, because Hartwell, Polite, XJ and even Kolek aren’t big enough to be effective at the 3 spot. That leaves Haidara as your only option out there and who knows how ready he will be next year.

I don’t have a problem having Hartwell and XJ on the floor at the same time for about 5 mpg at most, but if we want to give Greene more than 5 minutes of rest (and he shouldn’t average 35 mpg next year if we want to be good), someone else needs to step into that backup roll.

Miller is going to be even worse if Kier doesn’t get a fifth year here.

More roster management issues in year six.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Freshmen typically struggle to defend. It’s a huge adjustment not unique to DP. Our problem is we’ve had to rely so much on freshmen to start or play major minutes. It would help our defense if we fi kinnally could build some quality depth and the young guys could come in and give the starters a breather here and there.

Yeah, I get that. I'm not just talking about when they're freshmen either. I'm just hopeful. Polite looks like an explosive athlete. Henry too, for that matter.

Kolek arguably had the best offer sheet of the 3 though. So I'm just saying that I wouldn't sleep on him contributing next year.

 

[gmujim92]

Yeah, I get that. I'm not just talking about when they're freshmen either. I'm just hopeful. Polite looks like an explosive athlete. Henry too, for that matter.

Kolek arguably had the best offer sheet of the 3 though. So I'm just saying that I wouldn't sleep on him contributing next year.

I will be extremely disappointed if all three don’t contribute. All of them can really play. Polite is so underrated in the DMV it’s crazy — he’s a team player and gets everyone involved, but if he wanted to he could score 40 every night without breaking a sweat.

 

[KAOriginal]

Odds are Kier will not get a waiver......

 

[sleeperpick]

Odds are Kier will not get a waiver......

this a guess or some inside knowledge? he is right on the cusp so I get the pessimism but the NCAA has allowed way more egregious waiver claims in the past

 

[tblack33]

this a guess or some inside knowledge? he is right on the cusp so I get the pessimism but the NCAA has allowed way more egregious waiver claims in the past

Honestly looking at others who have been in similar situations I’d say it’s probably 60/40 he gets a redshirt. One thing going against him is he was hurt to start the season so his game clock didn’t start till a few games in which will make his request seem like he was available for more games than he was. Gotta hope the NCAA reviewer looking at his case is competent and not having a bad day, there’s been guys with more clear cut cases get denied in similar situations.

 

[Pablo]

Odds are Kier will not get a waiver......

Here are the facts: Kier played in a total of 9 games this season. The last game that he played was the 16th game of the season.

Here is the rule to earn a waiver for a medical hardship: A D-1 basketball player cannot play in more than 30% of the scheduled regular season games; and cannot play in any game after the halfway point in the regular season (based on the number of games rather than a particular date).

Clearly, Kier did not play in more than 30% of the scheduled games in the regular season. So, the issue is whether the 16th game of the season occurred after the halfway point in the regular season. IMO, Mason has 32 scheduled games in the regular season including one A10 tourney game. If my opinion is correct, then Kier did not play in any game after the halfway point in the regular season. If the A10 tourney game is not counted, then he did play in a game after the halfway point in the regular season.

 

[GMUgemini]

More roster management issues in year six.

I get the sentiment, but he’s not the only one who doesn’t have depth at every position in the A10.

It would be nice to finally field a strong starting 5. We haven’t gotten that since year 2. And even year 2 was missing a 4.

 

[FreeGunston12]

Honestly looking at others who have been in similar situations I’d say it’s probably 60/40 he gets a redshirt. One thing going against him is he was hurt to start the season so his game clock didn’t start till a few games in which will make his request seem like he was available for more games than he was. Gotta hope the NCAA reviewer looking at his case is competent and not having a bad day, there’s been guys with more clear cut cases get denied in similar situations.

Here are the facts: Kier played in a total of 9 games this season. The last game that he played was the 16th game of the season.

Here is the rule to earn a waiver for a medical hardship: A D-1 basketball player cannot play in more than 30% of the scheduled regular season games; and cannot play in any game after the halfway point in the regular season (based on the number of games rather than a particular date).

Clearly, Kier did not play in more than 30% of the scheduled games in the regular season. So, the issue is whether the 16th game of the season occurred after the halfway point in the regular season. IMO, Mason has 32 scheduled games in the regular season including one A10 tourney game. If my opinion is correct, than Kier did not play in any game after the halfway point in the regular season. If the A10 tourney game is not counted, then he did play in a game after the halfway point in the regular season.

I think I know whose desk this will eventually cross. If it's a matter of interpretation, I see no reason why they wouldn't give him the waiver. If it's a matter of black & white rules / precedent, then he won't get the waiver. Digging into the precedent would be our biggest clue.

 

[By George.]

I will be extremely disappointed if all three don’t contribute. All of them can really play. Polite is so underrated in the DMV it’s crazy — he’s a team player and gets everyone involved, but if he wanted to he could score 40 every night without breaking a sweat.

....in public school. I like the kid too, has impressive explosion, but often these kids get overlooked. It’s not crazy, this area is just filled with talent.

 

[Pablo]

https://twitter.com/CapitolHoops/status/1228213072961003520

 

[GMUgemini]

....in public school. I like the kid too, has impressive explosion, but often these kids get overlooked. It’s not crazy, this area is just filled with talent.

Lamar Butler went to Oxon Hill.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Lamar Butler went to Oxon Hill.

And before that T Nixon

 

[p8triotfan4life]

And before that T Nixon

T Nixon was a fun player to watch. He gave his all despite only being 6'6"

Question for @Pablo, was T Nixon the last Prop 48 kid we had on the roster?

 

[patriot2000]

T Nixon was a fun player to watch. He gave his all despite only being 6'6"

Question for @Pablo, was T Nixon the last Prop 48 kid we had on the roster?

Forgive my ignorance of terminology, and if this was already mentioned elsewhere that I missed, but what is a Prop 48 kid? I know Proposition 48 is the regulation about minimum high school grades but not sure what a "Prop 48 kid" would be