Austin Nichols transferring from Memphis

[Fullodds]

Memphis blocking the move.  He would have two years left.  Very skilled and active big. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Memphis blocking the move.  He would have two years left.  Very skilled and active big. 

Obciously I Don't know the situation but I feel that whenever a school goes and trys to block a transfer it's just in bad taste.

[lurch91]

Has he announced where he wants to transfer to?  Blocking the transfer, are they not giving him his release?

I didn't think Memphis could block a transfer unless the new school was already designated.

[brewcity77]

No, you block to prevent them from going somewhere. Like when Jarrod Uthoff announced his intent to transfer and Bo Ryan blocked the Big 10, the ACC, Florida, Marquette, and any school eligible for the NCAA Tournament in the slim chance they might play Wisconsin.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Has he announced where he wants to transfer to?  Blocking the transfer, are they not giving him his release?

I didn't think Memphis could block a transfer unless he new school was already designated.

An ESPN article said Baylor, Marquette, and Notre Dame called to check on the status of his release.  Wonder if Jajaun and Austin are pals?

[Skatastrophy]

Aki Collins landed Nichols at Memphis just one year after he moved on from his role at Marquette. Interesting tidbit.

[jsglow]

No, you block to prevent them from going somewhere. Like when Jarrod Uthoff announced his intent to transfer and Bo Ryan blocked the Big 10, the ACC, Florida, Marquette, and any school eligible for the NCAA Tournament in the slim chance they might play Wisconsin.

But Wisconsin backed down when the negative publicity began to mount.  I can envision Memphis waiting until the player meets with the coach or something and then blocking transfer within their conference but beyond that they'll never pull it off.  They'd never land another recruit.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I have seen some journalists supporting Memphis in blocking the transfer, at least temporarily. To lose this kid in July is the issue that leaves people sympathetic to Pastner.

[Tugg Speedman]

He's a Junior, so he sits a year.  But to add a 6' 9" body with this kind of skill for the season after next would be huge!

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/13217060/memphis-tigers-forward-austin-nichols-said-intends-transfer

Nichols, who averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds last season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, was expected to be a candidate for American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He informed Tigers coach Josh Pastner of his decision about a week ago, sources told ESPN.

Memphis has refused his request to transfer due to the timing. All of the high school players for this season have made their decisions, and there are few high-level transfers left as well.

"The school isn't going to release him,'' Pastner told ESPN's Andy Katz on Tuesday night. "We spoke with Austin in mid-June and everything was fine. We named him captain after the season. We don't know what has changed.''

Pastner said the entire coaching staff was caught off guard by the decision.

"He's a potential player of the year in our league. He's been nothing but great the first two years we have had him,'' said Pastner. "He's been terrific on the floor.''

Pastner said the president and athletic director support the decision not to release him. He added that the staff hasn't heard from Nichols since he made his announcement.

A source told ESPN that Baylor, Marquette and Notre Dame were among the schools which called to check on Nichols' release, but the school wouldn't grant one.

[jsglow]

I have seen some journalists supporting Memphis in blocking the transfer, at least temporarily. To lose this kid in July is the issue that leaves people sympathetic to Pastner.

Agree that the timing is awkward but ultimately Memphis has almost no choice.

[Tugg Speedman]

Agree that the timing is awkward but ultimately Memphis has almost no choice.

Agree

Can anyone name a case where a kid that says he wants to transfer was ultimately not allowed to?

All I can think of is how Bo was crucified by the national press for not allowing Utoff to transfer to Iowa.  Eventually Bucky/Bo caved and let him go to Iowa.

The national media will kill Pastner suggesting a schollie is made to look like a form of slavery.  Additionally, you don't want to hurt future recruiting by making Memphis look like a roach motel (players check-in but can never check out).

If Nichols doesn't change his mind, they will eventually let him out.

[avid1010]

not that pastner would be offered the job...but if something like the rumors out of sacramento went down, and calapari jumped to the kings.  i'm sure pastner wouldn't accept the kentucky job in july either...

[bilsu]

Agree

Can anyone name a case where a kid that says he wants to transfer was ultimately not allowed to?

All I can think of is how Bo was crucified by the national press for not allowing Utoff to transfer to Iowa.  Eventually Bucky/Bo caved and let him go to Iowa.

The national media will kill Pastner suggesting a schollie is made to look like a form of slavery.  Additionally, you don't want to hurt future recruiting by making Memphis look like a roach motel (players check-in but can never check out).

If Nichols doesn't change his mind, they will eventually let him out.

They cannot stop him from transferring. Not releasing him means he cannot get a scholarship for a year.  Bo was crucified, because he was very successful. The press will pick on a coach like that, before they will pick on a coach like Pastner. They would be all over Coach K, if he did this and Wojo would barely hit the radar, if he did this. The press is always looking to take down the big guy.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I see no way this ends well for Memphis. Either they cave to pressure from the media and let Nichols go, Nichols challenges it and Memphis is forced to let him go, or Nichols challenges it and is forced to stay. At best, Memphis gets a player who is there against their will, will transfer midseason, and will have coaches negatively recruiting against them for years. At worst, they lose the player, get blasted in the media, and still have the negative recruiting. Announcing the transfer too late to be convenient is not a good reason to deny a transfer. Their best course of action is to let him transfer as soon as possible

[Golden Avalanche]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

[jsglow]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

Great point.

[Loose Cannon]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

  Plus Tax

[jficke13]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

What kind of tampering do you think went on here? "Oh hey coaches who were interested in your services before are still interested in them... just in case..."

Also, how does that improve Pastner's position? "There's some funny business here so I'm going to respond with funny business of my own. That'll show 'em."

[brewcity77]

FWIW Nichols requested to transfer either June 25 or 26, it was just yesterday that Memphis denied the transfer. Not saying there wasn't tampering, by the request was in a couple weeks ago.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

Until coaches are prevented from listening to better offers from other schools and the NBA, I don't see public opinion being very sympathetic to complaints about tampering.  I really am surprised schools still try and pull stunts like this.   

[Dawson Rental]

None of you seem to understand that it's July. A kid doesn't ask for a release in July unless he's been tampered with and Pastner knows that. He'll stall it out as long as it's feasible through a legal/PR prism so he can figure out which program(s) are the ones doing the dirty. Nichols will then be released and those schools will be on the block list.

Bruce Pearl is a master in this type of whispering.

Well, Baylor's involved, so there's that.  But how do you undermine the commitment of a guy who who is regarded not only as his team's main guy, but his conference's likely player of the year?

[mug644]

Well, Baylor's involved, so there's that.  But how do you undermine the commitment of a guy who who is regarded not only as his team's main guy, but his conference's likely player of the year?

Since Baylor is involved it can rightly be called tampering? What should we call it since Wojo is also supposedly involved?

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Since Baylor is involved it can rightly be called tampering? What should we call it since Wojo is also supposedly involved?

I got the impression that Baylor, MU, and ND all inquired openly to Memphis within the past week.  I think the speculation is that the reason Memphis is denying the release is because it suspects that Baylor jumped the gun, as many people are suspicious that Scott Drew's methods may have become "unsound."

[PGsHeroes32]

He should just let off a few smoke bombs in some classrooms.

Get the boot from school.

[keefe]

He should just let off a few smoke bombs in some classrooms.

Get the boot from school.

Back in the day at Memphis State a player actually going to class could get him kicked off the team...