[BostonCard]

Well, with all the attrition, we are getting neither a good basketball program nor the ability to take the "high road" to say that our players are committed for four years and are motivated by their degree.  If you are going to play the same game everyone else plays, then you at least hop to play it for more than 112 wins in 7 seasons (16 wins per season).

I don't want to judge Haase on any single player transfering; Silva has his reasons and they may be unrelated to basketball.  However, a pattern of transfers out of the program is not a good look in my opinion.  I recognize that some people believe that it's ok, or even that we should be more ruthless about encouraging non-contributors to move on, but I disagree.  Given that the overall admission rate for Stanford is under 5%, and recruited athletes are advantaged compared to the average student, I think it is to be responsible with those athletic admissions, and that we use them for student athletes that will value the admission that they get.  I get it, some student-athletes are inevitably going to transfer (as do regular students), so I understand it.  However, as a matter of principle, I don't think our coaches should be cavalier about it, and they certainly shouldn't encourage it.  I realize that there may be a trade-off with how competitive we can be under those circumstances, but, especially, if we are going to suck anyways, is it really buying us much?  And even if it made a difference in our success, is departing from the underlying mission of the university worth it?

BC

[BostonCard]

Well, with all the attrition, we are getting neither a good basketball program nor the ability to take the "high road" to say that our players are committed for four years and are motivated by their degree.  If you are going to play the same game everyone else plays, then you at least hop to play it for more than 112 wins in 7 seasons (16 wins per season).

I don't want to judge Haase on any single player transfering; Silva has his reasons and they may be unrelated to basketball.  However, a pattern of transfers out of the program is not a good look in my opinion.  I recognize that some people believe that it's ok, or even that we should be more ruthless about encouraging non-contributors to move on, but I disagree.  Given that the overall admission rate for Stanford is under 5%, and recruited athletes are advantaged compared to the average student, I think it is to be responsible with those athletic admissions, and that we use them for student athletes that will value the admission that they get.  I get it, some student-athletes are inevitably going to transfer (as do regular students), so I understand it.  However, as a matter of principle, I don't think our coaches should be cavalier about it, and they certainly shouldn't encourage it.  I realize that there may be a trade-off with how competitive we can be under those circumstances, but, especially, if we are going to suck anyways, is it really buying us much?  And even if it made a difference in our success, is departing from the underlying mission of the university worth it?

BC