I just took over Missouri, in Naismith, after coaching Colgate my first 4 seasons at D1. My situation is this...5 strong starters, all Sr.'s, and 2 good back-ups, both Jr. post players. After my top 7 it's 5 soph., all Sim recruited and little talent.
My questions are:
1. Will I have any $ for recruiting?
2. If I do have a few $'s from teams making the tourney, etc., should I drop 1 or more of the Sim recruited players and try to find better talent?

For 2 - you could always drop them and take a walk on, then next season have the money. I'd get rid of junk sophmores without thinking twice about it if they will just ride my bench the last few seasons.

what if they could be decent backups as seniors to your junior starters? Still cut them and try for greatness?

Absolutely, I would drop any really crappy rising sophomore. Wouldn't hesitate for a second. Guys like Leonard and Steinmetz can not compete in the Big 12, you absolutely don't want to saddle yourself with them for three more seasons. You will be very sorry if those guys are on the team three years into the rebuilding effort.

I would drop both. If you want to be conservative, you can drop one early on in recruiting and see how recruiting is going before dropping the second before signings. You could always drop the other during the next season. Would start with Leonard and then Steinmetz. The 2 post players are not completely awful.

If you have no open scholarships, then you get 100% carryover for next season.  Not sure how it works if you cut guys.

If you cut the guys and don't sign anyone, then you will have the 15K per open scholarship the following year, so you might as well just cut one or two and open up the money for the following season.

I would cut 2 SOs and sign the best player you can find for whatever tourney money you might have and take 1 walkon since you can only get 6 scholarships next year anyway.  If you don't have enough tournament money, just cut 1

Posted by waha on 9/17/2010 3:22:00 PM (view original):
I would cut 2 SOs and sign the best player you can find for whatever tourney money you might have and take 1 walkon since you can only get 6 scholarships next year anyway.  If you don't have enough tournament money, just cut 1

You can actually have more than 6 scholarships in any given season, just can't sign more than 6 to a class (cue the JuCo/transfer signings).  I'm in agreement with the others though, I wouldn't think twice about cutting some of the deadwood Sim recruits.........

Posted by dcy0827 on 9/17/2010 3:27:00 PM (view original):

Posted by waha on 9/17/2010 3:22:00 PM (view original):
I would cut 2 SOs and sign the best player you can find for whatever tourney money you might have and take 1 walkon since you can only get 6 scholarships next year anyway.  If you don't have enough tournament money, just cut 1

You can actually have more than 6 scholarships in any given season, just can't sign more than 6 to a class (cue the JuCo/transfer signings).  I'm in agreement with the others though, I wouldn't think twice about cutting some of the deadwood Sim recruits.........

Yeah, but you don't get the money for them.  At least that was my understanding.

Posted by waha on 9/17/2010 3:43:00 PM (view original):

Posted by dcy0827 on 9/17/2010 3:27:00 PM (view original):

Posted by waha on 9/17/2010 3:22:00 PM (view original):
I would cut 2 SOs and sign the best player you can find for whatever tourney money you might have and take 1 walkon since you can only get 6 scholarships next year anyway.  If you don't have enough tournament money, just cut 1

You can actually have more than 6 scholarships in any given season, just can't sign more than 6 to a class (cue the JuCo/transfer signings).  I'm in agreement with the others though, I wouldn't think twice about cutting some of the deadwood Sim recruits.........

Yeah, but you don't get the money for them.  At least that was my understanding.

That's correct, you only get money for 6 schollies maximum.  Just didn't want a newer coach to think that it wasn't possible to sign more than six in a season.  Sorry if I confused anyone with my earlier post.

I would take a different position than those who posted (Keep in mind I have Kansas on his side of the conference in Naismith); Our conference won't give you many breaks in terms of recruiting and unless you target pretty crappy players (which is what you already are stuck with) you arent going to sign anyone with one open spot; when both Kansas (A+ prestige), Kansas St. and Iowa St. (3 or four time National Championship coach) not to mention Illinois, the MVC and some other nonconference guys who typically recruit our area, recruiting right next to you (not sure about the others but I know I have 7 open spots and pretty sure K. St. messed up last season and has a ton of spots as well).  Your prestige if I recall if a B- and also if I recall you should have enough top talent to make a post season run to the NT.  Personally, I would take the carry over money; hope to make the NT and get a prestige bump; know that barring a disaster Kansas (me) wont have any open scholarships next season and make a big run are some talent next year.  I know its not the common thinking but just some outside the box thinking.

Ok I actually looked since I was curious; In your side of the conference - 1) Kansas - 7 openings 2) Kansas St. - 6 openings 3) Iowa St. - 6 openings.  I really believe you put yourself in a better position carrying over the money having 5 openings (and even 6 if you choose to someone) next year with little to no competition recruiting.

bd - one thing none of us can answer, how do you want your class distro to be?

with two cuts, you create a 5-2-3-2 structure, which allows you to recruit a few average players each season, with one big class every 4.

with no cuts, you create a 5-2-5-0 structure, which allows you to go for two homeruns every four years, and largely sit out 2 out of each 4.  But,  with no cuts, you might have 2 pretty bad seasons in a row until your big recruiting class next season grows up.

Some of this is dependent on how much confidence you have in getting two mid level 500 players with almost no money who can help you already next season and start as juniors?

I would cut, as I like balanced classes, but that is just me.

One little thing to think about, your "little talent" Sophomores are under the new recruit generation.  You may be hard pressed to recruit better with so many of the "big" teams around you recruiting heavy classes this year.  Are you going to be able to replace them with better players?  As I see it, that, along with your class distribution are really the two big questions.