Bailey declares for draft

[Viper]

He's just a guy. If the team's gonna suck next year I'd rather see Oso and Lewis than watch Bailey fade in and out of games.

Im with you. Soft, inconsistent. Radio color man Tony Smith often pointed out during games that Bailey was rushed on the shot, bad footwork. Made some plays, sure. Decent game now & then, but just a guy.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Weird decision overall. I'm more clueless on this one then Blue.

If he leaves now,  he ends up in Europe.

If he leaves in two years,  he ends up in Europe but with two less years of salary.

If his goal is to make a living playing ball,  then it's not a bad plan.

[#UnleashSean]

Whatd you really expect. Sadly it was lookin like a bubble ncca at best team. Who knows when we will have a good start to.finish year again. 7 years and counting

5 years to judge is gunna turn into 10 real quick.

[4everwarriors]

Two bad Woj wasted tyme and effort heer, hey?

[Lennys Tap]

If he leaves now,  he ends up in Europe.

If he leaves in two years,  he ends up in Europe but with two less years of salary.

If his goal is to make a living playing ball,  then it's not a bad plan.

If he leaves in two years (at 25) and hasn't significantly improved, Europe (despite his family pedigree/connections) might no longer present an option.

[muhoops1]

He can always go back and finish his education I guess.  No harm in taking a shot

[#UnleashSean]

He can always go back and finish his education I guess.  No harm in taking a shot

There are very few high level d1 athletes who are in anyway concerned with education .

[Elonsmusk]

Two bad Woj wasted tyme and effort heer, hey?

\

Trust the process.  Respect the process.  Everything is going according to plan as illuminated in the Golden Power Point.  It's all about trajectory.

At any rate, Woj probably has three more years here.  Dawson, Oso, Lewis will probably determine his fate.  Brendan being gone will actually help these guys get more game reps to build for the future.  Let's hope 6 years of head coaching experience will now have Wojo up to the task.

[Earl Tatum]

Thinks he is better than he really is. His game has lots of holes in it.
Mentioned earlier--Next Man Up.

[wadesworld]

Thinks he is better than he really is. His game has lots of holes in it.
Mentioned earlier--Next Man Up.

I don't think he thinks he's better than he is.

[muguru]

Thinks he is better than he really is. His game has lots of holes in it.
Mentioned earlier--Next Man Up.

This is what's concerning...I'm not nearly confident enough in Cain taking on a larger role, and as talented as the Freshman are, they are Freshman. I had felt they were still one good piece away from being a SOLID tournament team(bubble as currently constructed with Bailey)..Now, without him, I don't see them sniffing the tourney. I hope Wojo has something figured out(probably hoping for an Etienne reclass, but if he doesn't hope he has a back up plan) or it's going to be an ugly year I think, but I'd love for them to prove me wrong.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I think this is his best move as age is a factor. Dad can probably get him somewhere overseas. Good luck Brendan

[mileskishnish72]

7 years and counting

And the beat goes on.

[MU82]

Totally understandable move. I wish he were coming back, but not stunned at all.

This also is why folks shouldn't have been worrying about us signing too many guys. ABR.

[Elonsmusk]

This is what's concerning...I'm not nearly confident enough in Cain taking on a larger role, and as talented as the Freshman are, they are Freshman. I had felt they were still one good piece away from being a SOLID tournament team(bubble as currently constructed with Bailey)..Now, without him, I don't see them sniffing the tourney. I hope Wojo has something figured out(probably hoping for an Etienne reclass, but if he doesn't hope he has a back up plan) or it's going to be an ugly year I think, but I'd love for them to prove me wrong.

Bailey wasn't any better than Cain - he just got the starting nod and a longer leash.  Hard to know how players will develop this summer with COVID and not having traditional access to training/gym, but time for Jamal to step up and seize the huge opportunity in front of him.  I think he'll be up to the task.  High character, hard-working kid with a very good athleticism and good shot.

[mug644]

Not so surprised, with his age and the freshmen coming in that play his position. He would likely start, but could ultimately see lesser minutes. He doesn't want, at his age, to lose a year to transfer. And, he dad may have connections. Seems like a decent time to move on. I wish him the best, and that he gets a degree (preferably from MU) in the future.

On another note, I hope his departure offers more playing time to the new guys than it does to Cain. I'm in the group that believes that he's already reached his ceiling...an athletic, sporadically-adequate basketball player. I still see Jamal as a small step up from Trend Blackledge.

[HutchwasClutch]

Im with you. Soft, inconsistent. Radio color man Tony Smith often pointed out during games that Bailey was rushed on the shot, bad footwork. Made some plays, sure. Decent game now & then, but just a guy.

Agree with this analysis.  He had a golden opportunity with Hauser's both leaving and was a major disappointment.  Hurts depth next year, but nothing other than that.

[BCHoopster]

Not so surprised, with his age and the freshmen coming in that play his position. He would likely start, but could ultimately see lesser minutes. He doesn't want, at his age, to lose a year to transfer. And, he dad may have connections. Seems like a decent time to move on. I wish him the best, and that he gets a degree (preferably from MU) in the future.

On another note, I hope his departure offers more playing time to the new guys than it does to Cain. I'm in the group that believes that he's already reached his ceiling...an athletic, sporadically-adequate basketball player. I still see Jamal as a small step up from Trend Blackledge.

If Carton plays then Cain can be an asset as he is a good wing shooter, better than Bailey.  Just has not figured out how to put the ball on the floor without turning it
over.  Carton can penetrate and dish.  Cain has been through the Big East and is a senior.  He might surprise.  I can see Akanno getting some minutes now at the 3, or playing
3 guards.  Koby, Carton, Akanno, Garcia and Theo.   Now if Lewis is ready, Garcia could play the 3.  Lots of moving parts.

[Markusquette]

Agree with this analysis.  He had a golden opportunity with Hauser's both leaving and was a major disappointment.  Hurts depth next year, but nothing other than that.

I would not describe his performance as a major disappointment. Just lacking consistency. He never became a guy that could get the numbers we needed from him on a game-by-game basis. I like Dawson starting at the 4 and Cain at 3 right now.

[bilsu]

I'm sure I will be in the minority here, but I don't think this will hurt us that much. We are stacked at his position with the new players, and let's be honest, he has a ton of potential but he was clearly worse than Jamal last year.

I'm excited to see Jamal finally get extended minutes.

Also does anyone think this opens the door to another grad transfer like that guy from Indiana? Maybe we'll see the program connected with more transfers starting ASAP

Cain had a couple of games last year when he was hitting his three point shot, but he was no where near as good as Bailey.

[94Warrior]

If he leaves now,  he ends up in Europe.

If he leaves in two years,  he ends up in Europe but with two less years of salary.

If his goal is to make a living playing ball,  then it's not a bad plan.

Exactly.  I don't like it, but that's reality.

[bilsu]

Earlier in the season, I was wondering if Cain was as good or better than Bailey. However, when they both started in the game that Markus missed it became very obvious to me that Bailey was the better player. Seeing them on the floor together showed that Bailey was the better. Of course Cain was playing small forward, but to me it was not even  close.

I am sorry to see Bailey leave, but it gives more time to the freshmen. I like Cain, but he is not the future.

[LoudMouth]

Now, without him, I don't see them sniffing the tourney. I hope Wojo has something figured out(probably hoping for an Etienne reclass, but if he doesn't hope he has a back up plan) or it's going to be an ugly year I think, but I'd love for them to prove me wrong.

Not trying to start a tangent here, just genuinely curious, what would it take to "prove you wrong"? Bubble team? 9 seed? Ranked? I guess what is your definition of ugly year?

[WarriorFan]

Bailey can certainly make money somewhere.  Why not make some money playing a game while you're young if you can?  I would.  If he develops, he certainly has the size and stroke to make it at higher levels.  Could be a Jamil or Juan situation where he fills a slot on a bad team for a while in 2-3 years.

[muguru]

Not trying to start a tangent here, just genuinely curious, what would it take to "prove you wrong"? Bubble team? 9 seed? Ranked? I guess what is your definition of ugly year?

Comfortably in the tournament(with a good enough seed to not be in Dayton)..By comfortably I mean a lock come Selection Sunday. No bubble conversation. Unfortunately, with this years group I'm seeing a team that doesn't even sniff the tournament. Again, thought they were a bubble team once they landed Carton and thought they still lacked one more really good piece(to be a comfortable tournament team). Now without Bailey(who granted was nothing special, but still a starter), unless something with the roster(that's impactful) changes between now and tip off, I think they might be around a .500 team.