Duane Wilson Tweet

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Wally lost both of his legs in a cannon accident.   Really, really sad.

[4everwarriors]

Y'all worry too much. Let's make MU great again, hey?

[Archies Bat]

You and me both.
To top it off the radio station I am listening to keeps running an MU add, which says something like reputation matters so you should attend an MU graduate program. Maybe we are over reacting, but I just do not see how this helps MU's reputation. I want to be loyal to my team, I want the players to be loyal to MU and I of course want the coaches to be loyal to the players. It appeared we would actually have a year where no players transferred and now we may be having a player run off to get another player just makes me mad.

Over reacting?  On this board?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It absolutely is, and I'm withholding judgment until we have a better picture of what is going down. But I would definitely take issue with using a kid as a catspaw just to land his brother.

What if Wojo recruited him both because of his brother and because he saw some athletic talent that he hoped he would be able to shape into a player who would be able to contribute on a high major team? If the second reason ended up not happening, is it fair to expect Wojo to keep Wally at the expense of the team just because of the first reason?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Reinhardt or Rowsey.  Not saying that they won't be good players, or better than Wally, but neither of those guys play a position of need on this team and I hate the idea of taking a guy that will necessitate that you Pole-axe someone else.

This type of stuff makes me laugh, and there is way too much of it in this thread. Scholarships are one years deals.  Wojo's job is make MU the best team he can.  Wally was the 13th man and would bring very little value to next years team, and MU needs a big.  Thats really all there is to it.

Who gives a crap about promises?  Its A ONE YEAR DEAL! If Wally was better at basketball, he wouldn't have been cut.  This is the big leagues of college hoops - Wojo is doing the right thing, and people saying otherwise are way too sensitive.  Ladies and gentlemen, this stuff HAPPENS IN HIGH SCHOOL EVEN!

As for recruiting, if anyone doesn't come to MU because of this, they're soft and don't have much confidence in their abilities anyways.  Probably better they go somewhere else. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wally has been sharing some details with others about this issue, so I don't mind sharing.

Wally found out on Sunday.  He's really interested in playing ball, even if it is elsewhere.  However, he does not have enough credits to graduate, and if he transfers without having graduated, he still can't play because of the six year rule.  Wally, understandably, is pretty upset with his new reality. 

This sounds correct.

[wadesworld]

I actually believe Wojo will never take MU to the NCAA tourney.

Wait...what?  Like 3 posts before this quote you were talking about Wojo not being here for the long term and looking for the easiest way to the Duke head coaching job.  Something doesn't add up...

[mu03eng]

This sounds is correct.

FIFY

[mu03eng]

Right.  So serious question eng, I suspect you and Joe try to take your journalistic responsibility seriously. You and I have discussed rumors that never made the podcast.  That's good I think.

I'm 99% sure that Merritt was going full MU82 in his story

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Depends on if Wally can get enough credits together to graduate. As a grad transfer, he could find himself with a nice starting gig at a mid major somewhere. As a traditional transfer? Nope, would probably have to drop a level. Of course he has ton of options as a track athlete.

But to answer onepost's question, no. No one would bat an eye if it was Sacar or Sandy. This is all about fear of backlash from the Ellensons. There might be some, but I think its impact would be very short lived.

I'd bat an eye. Both guys have far more of future at MU than Wally friggin' Ellenson. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Where's Sacar from?

Sacar is Prince?

[real chili 83]

One thing to keep in mind is these are kids.  Teenage kids.  Most of them do grow up, and become more of an adult thinker closer to when they graduate.  That's not a knock on them.  That was me, and all of us too when we went to MU for 4 years (or 5 or 6).

Wally, I suspect, must have missed some communication, or simply reacted once it became reality.  That's not a knock on him, just a very reasonable explanation for how this has come about.  Perhaps, the message was there, but hard for a young man to process and comprehend.

Wally's lucky in that he has very supportive, engaged parents.  I'm sure Wally, with the support of his family, will see their way though this, and view it in a more mature light in the future...that may be a day, a week, or even years from now, but it will happen.

[brewcity77]

What if Wojo recruited him both because of his brother and because he saw some athletic talent that he hoped he would be able to shape into a player who would be able to contribute on a high major team? If the second reason ended up not happening, is it fair to expect Wojo to keep Wally at the expense of the team just because of the first reason?

For 2 years now there's been the idea that Wally is only here to get Henry. The staff can't be oblivious to this and has to understand the potential backlash, both short term in the media and long term in potential negative recruiting tactics.

In the past, Marquette has failed to get out in front of stories that were pretty obvious from the get go. This would disappoint me both from the perspective of using Wally like a human bargaining chip and the perspective of not grasping the potential negative fallout of such actions.

Further, if RC's account is true (and he's the first poster I trust bringing info to the table) the staff should have realized this 9 months ago and been pushing Wally to become degree eligible. Just a failing on numerous levels.

[wadesworld]

For those "waiting to hear more," here's what you'll get.  "Wally Ellenson has decided to leave the program to pursue his professional track and field career.  We are very thankful for the contributions Wally and the Ellenson family have given to the Marquette basketball program and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

The end.

If hearing nothing means his scholarship was unexpectedly and cold heartedly pulled from him to some of you, then get ready for Hiroshima.

[Loose Cannon]

One thing to keep in mind is these are kids.  Teenage kids.  Most of them do grow up, and become more of an adult thinker closer to when they graduate.  That's not a knock on them.  That was me, and all of us too when we went to MU for 4 years (or 5 or 6).

Wally, I suspect, must have missed some communication, or simply reacted once it became reality.  That's not a knock on him, just a very reasonable explanation for how this has come about.  Perhaps, the message was there, but hard for a young man to process and comprehend.

Wally's lucky in that he has very supportive, engaged parents.  I'm sure Wally, with the support of his family, will see their way though this, and view it in a more mature light in the future...that may be a day, a week, or even years from now, but it will happen.

One of your better post's Thanks

[mu03eng]

For 2 years now there's been the idea that Wally is only here to get Henry. The staff can't be oblivious to this and has to understand the potential backlash, both short term in the media and long term in potential negative recruiting tactics.

In the past, Marquette has failed to get out in front of stories that were pretty obvious from the get go. This would disappoint me both from the perspective of using Wally like a human bargaining chip and the perspective of not grasping the potential negative fallout of such actions.

Further, if RC's account is true (and he's the first poster I trust bringing info to the table) the staff should have realized this 9 months ago and been pushing Wally to become degree eligible. Just a failing on numerous levels.

Get out ahead of what? Have Wojo hold weekly pressers about Wally's status or continually stating that they did not use Wally as bait for Henry?

At the end of the day, there were misunderstandings in one camp and an attempt to thread the needle too much on the other. It happens, and I fully believe that all parties will get past this at some point, but it's fresh pain right now and I get that. Nothing permanently damaging has been done and if we are trading Wally for Young we are getting better for next season and several seasons after that.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

So is this official? Can change the thread to "Wally has been cut. MU can now find a real PF."

[jsglow]

Isn't the timing curious?  We don't have a commitment.  Or has Kalif promised perhaps?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Isn't the timing curious?  We don't have a commitment.  Or has Kalif promised perhaps?

Need to free up a scholarship before you can hand one out, no?

[Litehouse]

Katin Reinhardt better be really effin good.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Isn't the timing curious?  We don't have a commitment.  Or has Kalif promised perhaps?

BD changed his name after the banquet.  Maybe they got a very good indication at some point.

[mu03eng]

Isn't the timing curious?  We don't have a commitment.  Or has Kalif promised perhaps?

Things are happening in the background, nothing is official, hence no announcement.....all parties have to play their part before anything is official.

[mu03eng]

Katin Reinhardt better be really effin good.

Why? He just has to be better than Wally.

[jsglow]

Need to free up a scholarship before you can hand one out, no?

Actually no. Nothing counts until August school starts if I'm not mistaken.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Katin Reinhardt better be really effin good.

I agree but for a completely different reason than you