So I had a glass or two of wine last night, and I was lying awake at 4 AM, thinking that I definitely won't have a glass or two of wine tonight (knowing full-well that probably won't happen). Then I started thinking about upcoming recruiting for my Mississippi team (equally as depressing since they're not very good and have 6 scholarships open.

Suddenly I had an idea, which now, several hours later, still seems pretty good. To me, anyway.

What if the top 20 recruits at each position were automatically promised 15 minutes? If you sign one of these duders, and don't give him 15 minutes, then he bolts after the season. That way, the teams that can sign anybody they want whenever they want can't just get all the top-ranked players and keep them on their bench. (Since I've never been one of these teams, I'm not sure how often it happens, but I do know that all the players that are taken away from me late in recruiting, just when I'm satisfied and bragging to my wife about how good my class will be and see, wasn't it worth me not mowing the lawn to get a bunch of good recruits - all those players go to really good teams and never play.)

If I was a top-20 recruit and had a chance to go pro, I sure wouldn't sign with a team that had no intention of playing me. And I don't think you would either.

read this article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1051749-power-ranking-the-freshmen-performances-of-the-24-2011-mcdonalds-all-americans

They all average 8+ mpg and none were redshirted.  Even the guy who transferred averaged 10 mpg. 

So maybe the top 20 shouldn't get 15 mpg promises, but the premise isn't bad.

marshall plumlee (duke) was rs'ed.

The number could be tweaked, but I thought the idea wasn't bad.

Not a bad idea, I'd prefer that starts and promised carried more weight in recruiting than a forced minute promise though.

Posted by jtt8355 on 6/13/2012 1:49:00 PM (view original):
marshall plumlee (duke) was rs'ed.

Right.  OK, so 1 one redshirted.  And keep in mind that that list is the McDonald's AAs, not top-24 players.

Plumlee was ranked outside the top 30 in at least one source, and I believe he was in multiple.

Regardless, the top guys on that list got significant playing time and those players really shouldn't be redshirted or hidden at the end of the bench when they are better than the guys playing in front of them.  Personally, I think chances of top-rated players transferring should increase significantly.

Interesting idea, it will never fly. Anything that weakens the power hold of the Big 6 is generally shot down pretty quickly

Why Larry Hisle?  Brewer fan?  I played baseball against Larry Hisle Jr in high school.

He was the first baseball card I ever owned. 1978 Topps. Great picture - he had huge sideburns and looked about 50!

Posted by jtt8355 on 6/13/2012 1:49:00 PM (view original):
marshall plumlee (duke) was rs'ed.

That is the exception that provides the rule:  had Marshall demanded PT, the minutes would have been taken away from one or both of his older brothers.   So, even had he been inclined to demand minutes, it would have made thanksgiving (and every other minute of his life) more than a little awkward.   

I stand by my opinion that the top players should be demanding promises of minutes and starts as part of the game.  I expect that recruits that are being told they could be drafted immediately, if eligible, would go somewhere else if Kansas, Duke or Kentucky told them they'd be coming off the bench for the one season they intend to spend not going to classes.

I think this is a reasonable idea. 

The top guys shouldn't all demand to start, but they should all play.