I know its like the nfl draft. They all sound great on paper but you have to like what coach is saying, especially about Steele and Ellis

With Steele and Mike Hughes it at least gives us two post guys to work in and out during a game.  After the injuries last season we really had one post man the rest of the season.  Our backup was 6’. 5” Marcus Weathers and that was asking a lot of him.  The team is better already with Steele.  Any contributions from Ellis and Rotroff will be a nice bonus.  It will be a big jump for Ellis; so I agree that we don’t have unrealistic expectations.

Feel free to rant & call me Debbie Downer for what I am about to write.

The first thing I thought of when I read KD's comments on Ellis is that there is about a 50/50 chance that in 8 months we will see a second article using the same language to explain how things just didn't work out with James & the parties are moving on amicably. 

I think KD does a good job of tempering expectations & staying ahead of the narrative for those he feels might not make it for whatever reason. I think Verhoeven's, MLewis's, Swingle's, EW's, & Bizeau's departures were all foreshadowed by innocuous public statements of the same ilk.

This is 0% criticism & 100% a personal observation. I think KD is damn good at getting his message out, his way to the media, fans, opponents, & folks inside the program.

I'm glad to read that about Ellis, I am trying to keep on the glass half full side, and ability is a great thing, esp when he hasnt played one second of college ball, what else can he really have at this point?  Steele and Hughes should be the main men down low, but we all know fouls and injuries occur, so Ellis will get his chances to shine, and I think he will.   Would be real nice to get Rotroff back for most of the season too.   We shouldnt get out rebounded like last year.   Also nice to read Rotroff and Kelly are putting in work adding muscle, they both needed to, glad its happening.

president wrote:

Doe anyone know if James Ellis has 4 full years of NCAA eligibility since he was academically ineligible last year? Is this the same as a developmental redshirt or are their different criteria covering this situation? Seems that I read that the possibility exists that James would have only 3 years. Hope that is not the case!

Well, at least if he only has 3 years, we won't have to worry about him doing a grad transfer if he becomes a stud.