tianyi, not very many. It's a shame, too, since it has turned what was my most promising freshman recruit to a backup guy even if he figures out how to weave those baskets, since the freshman who isn't a short bus kid has continued to improve and is now (arguably) better.
John St. Clair has improved 9 points OVR in the last 10 games. Despite boosting study hall, I've still kept some minutes in the practice categories I deem most important for him (11 in rebounding, 11 in footwork). His rebounding (with high-high potential) has improved 2 points in 10 games (55 to 57). His shot blocking (high-high potential) has improved 2 points as well (51 to 53).
Thomas Kent, who is both stupid AND being redshirted, has improved 12 points over the last 10 games. With 7 minutes per, 12 BH, and 12 passing, he's seen gains of 2 in per, 1 in BH, 3 in passing (all high-high potentials).
So, we're 21 games in (plus 2 exhibitions) now, so ~23 practices, I think. 10 practices since ineligibility, so ~45% of the season (10/23).
St. Clair has 41 total points of improvement, 32 of which came before ineligibility. So in 55% of the season so far, he enjoyed 78% of his growth. In the ineligible 45%, he has enjoyed only 22% of his growth (though there were obviously more minutes dumped into SH).
Kent has enjoyed 35 points of improvement, 23 of which came before ineligibility. In 55% of the season, he enjoyed 65% of his growth. In the ineligible 45%, he enjoyed only 35% if his growth. In his case, I think it may all be attributable to the extra minutes being placed in SH.
Any conclusions from this?
I believe that a RS freshman may develop at the same rate, given the same practice time, regardless of whether of not he is eligible academically.
I do not have enough information to draw any conclusions about the non-RS ineligible freshman, because I do not know at what rate he would improve if he was eligible and not getting significant playing time. I can say for certain that his improvement has fallen off the table since he became ineligible, but to what degree (if any) that is tied to ineligibility and what degree it is tied to the drastically reduced (to zero) playing time isn't clear.