Quinton said:

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Okay, It's a weird situation. I will say Love and Roach had really good body language on the bench in yesterday's game which is a positive. Everyone was in it yesterday.

Still maintain this team could do some damage if Roach plugs into Nunns role as secondary scorer and you have Nunn, Love, and Celestine off the bench. That's a dangerous roster if VJ and Wright continue their trajectory and Omier recovers from what feels like exhaustion.

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If we can get Roach and/or Love back in time for the WVU game on the 15th, which could be a critical couple of weeks to make the season. When I looked at the schedule this year, I started to think 12-8 will be a pretty good record in this conference. I think we have a shot at 12-8 or may a little better. We don't match up well with some teams, we are wafer thin depth-wise, lack length at the perimeter, and our defense seems to hold together with duct tape, but our guys don't quit and right now everyone knows no lead is safe against us.

davesburgerbarn said:

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I've heard that it's all mental. That he thinks that he is a pro and doesn't to play to "jeopardize" his draft status. People inside tell me all the time that he practices, shoots around, runs, jumps, etc without any setbacks.

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Reckless and untrue.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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Chucky38 said:

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Is Langston Love refusing to play? Or is his ankle hurt?

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Why in the world would you imply he is refusing to play?

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This is coming from someone with some inside knowledge I would assume. I noticed in a quote about VJ after the injury CSD made some comment to the effect that he knew VJ would play as soon as he could because he really cares about the team. I may be misquoting that a little bit...but I remember wondering when I saw that if it was a message to others.

What Baylor MBB has done short handed has been nothing short of miraculous! But what is going on with Love and Roach? Love has been cleared to play for a month and won’t. Roach is cleared to play, refuses to and is seen at bars Saturday night? Disappointing! #baylor #sicem

— Ashley Hodge (@ahsicem365) February 3, 2025

Here's the quote from CSD I was talking about above...

Scott Drew on VJ Edgecombe's health: "VJ will be back when he can be back, because he wants to win, and he cares about his team ... His intentions are always pure."

Edgecombe was on the court celebrating with the team after the game after leaving with a lower-body injury. #SicEm

— Jackson Posey, basketball school attender ✞ (@ByJacksonPosey) February 2, 2025

Yup between Drew's quote and Hodges post I'm done giving Love the benefit of the doubt. I hope Drew does right and tells him adios. Roach the same. If you're cleared to play and aren't playing…. Adios.

IowaBear said:

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Yup between Drew's quote and Hodges post I'm done giving Love the benefit of the doubt. I hope Drew does right and tells him adios. Roach the same. If you're cleared to play and aren't playing…. Adios.

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Roach's situation is a little different. If it's true that he's had two concussions this season, he's potentially gambling with his future off the basketball court by playing. I would respect that decision.

But an ankle injury that's healed isn't going to majorly affect one's quality of life down the line. If Love is healthy, he should either be playing or away from the team.

No doubt about Roachs situation being different. Concussions should never be taken lightly. That said reading between the lines here there's at minimum a disconnect between CSD and these 2. This reads as though both have been fully cleared and CSD expects/expected them to be on the court.

Never a season without some drama. I guess the people close to the program got the green light to call it out.

I wouldn't knock Roach though. Staffs in all sports have brought players back from concussions with poor outcomes. Now the other one, it's obvious frustration is reaching a peak here.

I can't find this on his twitter page. Is this legit?

ejboy4410 said:

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I can't find this on his twitter page. Is this legit?

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tweet was taken down

Drew's comment on VJ indicates that we are having trouble with somebody else not wanting to play. I mean ... why would you even bring that up as a concern?

ejboy4410 said:

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I can't find this on his twitter page. Is this legit?

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It's weird. If I go to his feed on my phone it doesn't show up...but if I use my laptop it's still there.

If these sources are legit, then someone in the media should start asking CSD some tough questions.

Disappointing, if true. Let's roll with 6 and shock the nation.

ImABearToo said:

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Disappointing, if true. Let's roll with 6 and shock the nation.

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That's not realistic, unfortunately. If we're going to be without those two (and VJ until his ankle feels better), then we need to find a way to get eight minutes out of Adegbola and five minutes out of Dubravcic.

You can't play 40 minutes with six players -- one of which is probably already being overexposed in Asemota. We're going to have to get a few minutes out of a couple of guys who aren't really ready to contribute.

The Love situation has been fairly well discussed internally for some time. Davesburgerbarn has been all over this for quite some time but no one wanted to believe it.

TWD 1974 said:

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Big12Fan2024 said:

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The money commitment excuse is BS. We have as much, if not more, than anyone else in the conference for basketball outside of Kansas. We simply didn't use the money wisely this year in the transfer portal, pouring it out for 2 players, one which has basically been very marginal relative to the expectations everyone had (including industry "experts" like Fran) and the other has been good but isn't dominating.

Iowa St, Tech, Houston and others figured out how not to blow their wad on two guys and how to stock an entire roster. Kansas simply had a treasure chest so that's how they kept existing players like Dickinson and brought in players. Although, as we see with them, it's an inexact science because guys Self bought from the outside to be killers for the most part have not produced at the levels they produced at prior schools.

Scott is learning his way in the new system, just like most coaches. He figured out the loophole in the old system with this redshirt strategy that led to the Natty team but that strategy was eliminated when NIL and the portal came about. However, I am confident he'll figure out the proper mix in this new age. He's a sharp dude.
But, as far as this one year, he did not do a great job of roster construction and it is showing tremendously. He's always loved a short rotation but for almost 4 seasons post Natty now consistent injuries have proven it's a faulty strategy in the new era. He's gonna have to value the #9 through #11 positions and save the charity work for positions #12 and #13.

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I would refer you to the following: NCAA Revenue Sharing Basketball Teams NCAA Revenue Sharing & NIL Estimates 2025

What's coming is the proposed revenue sharing settlement, which will allow top mbb programs to pay players directly. According to the chart--Louisville will have $6.2mm annual for players. Understand why Drew nearly left? Big 12 teams--ISU $4.2mm , Tech 3.2, KSU $2.856. Colorado and Utah will have more that $2mm rev.;
We are in an arms race and we will have to keep radically increasing the investment levels to compete.

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I don't disagree with the future. We're talking about why we are in the shape we're in THIS YEAR. I love Scott Drew. I don't want anyone else coaching here. But he and his staff and the NIL person did not do a great job this year. Hindsight is always 20/20, and Scott has always shown an ability to adapt and I have no doubt he will.

Big12Fan2024 said:

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TWD 1974 said:

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Big12Fan2024 said:

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The money commitment excuse is BS. We have as much, if not more, than anyone else in the conference for basketball outside of Kansas. We simply didn't use the money wisely this year in the transfer portal, pouring it out for 2 players, one which has basically been very marginal relative to the expectations everyone had (including industry "experts" like Fran) and the other has been good but isn't dominating.

Iowa St, Tech, Houston and others figured out how not to blow their wad on two guys and how to stock an entire roster. Kansas simply had a treasure chest so that's how they kept existing players like Dickinson and brought in players. Although, as we see with them, it's an inexact science because guys Self bought from the outside to be killers for the most part have not produced at the levels they produced at prior schools.

Scott is learning his way in the new system, just like most coaches. He figured out the loophole in the old system with this redshirt strategy that led to the Natty team but that strategy was eliminated when NIL and the portal came about. However, I am confident he'll figure out the proper mix in this new age. He's a sharp dude.
But, as far as this one year, he did not do a great job of roster construction and it is showing tremendously. He's always loved a short rotation but for almost 4 seasons post Natty now consistent injuries have proven it's a faulty strategy in the new era. He's gonna have to value the #9 through #11 positions and save the charity work for positions #12 and #13.

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I would refer you to the following: NCAA Revenue Sharing Basketball Teams NCAA Revenue Sharing & NIL Estimates 2025

What's coming is the proposed revenue sharing settlement, which will allow top mbb programs to pay players directly. According to the chart--Louisville will have $6.2mm annual for players. Understand why Drew nearly left? Big 12 teams--ISU $4.2mm , Tech 3.2, KSU $2.856. Colorado and Utah will have more that $2mm rev.;
We are in an arms race and we will have to keep radically increasing the investment levels to compete.

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I don't disagree with the future. We're talking about why we are in the shape we're in THIS YEAR. I love Scott Drew. I don't want anyone else coaching here. But he and his staff and the NIL person did not do a great job this year. Hindsight is always 20/20, and Scott has always shown an ability to adapt and I have no doubt he will.

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There are things about Scott Drew and his teams that drive me absolutely crazy. It's been that way since his early years, honestly. But the things I love about him and the way his teams compete far outweigh the negatives on the whole.

I get frustrated on here and share my unfiltered thoughts and criticisms, but I'm very thankful that we have Scott Drew leading our program.

Not saying it means anything, but I understand Langston now wants to be referred to as "Yoko" and get partial credit for everyone else's points and rebounds.

Edgecomb said he's OK with that if it means Love plays at full speed from now on.

We still need a bass player, too.

The above was not serious, in case someone was wondering.

Oldbear83 said:

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Not saying it means anything, but I understand Langston now wants to be referred to as "Yoko" and get partial credit for everyone else's points and rebounds.

Edgecomb said he's OK with that if it means Love plays at full speed from now on.

We still need a bass player, too.

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I was once told some time ago by someone who knew her, that Yoko was totally into tarot cards: if the cards told her to do something she did it, if no, she didn't. If this is Langston, we just need to get the right card in front of him--the card that tells him to suit up...

This quote about VJ is a little different

Scott Drew on VJ Edgecombe’s ankle injury:

“It wasn’t bad…if he could go, he will go. It would be us holding him back [if he didn’t play].”

Drew said he’ll know more after today’s practice on Love, Roach and Edgecombe’s availability. #Baylor #SicEm

— Parker Rehm (@parker_rehm) February 3, 2025

Not holding my breath again. It's causing too much anxiety.

I have a hard time believing that Langston is refusing to play because he's holding out for "the pros." Some kids are delusional, but he knows he hasn't played in the better part of two seasons. He has to put something on tape to have a shot, even overseas.

Similarly, Drew runs a player-friendly program, but it's not a loose ship. If someone was truly a cancer, Coach Drew wouldn't have them around the team, sitting on the bench, joining in huddles, etc. Recall he nearly kicked Isaiah Austin off the team for a bad attitude. Love's body language has been good, he's engaged in games from the bench, and he's seemed to be a good teammate. He was the guy who helped both Celestine and Roach off the floor and to the locker room when they got hurt.

All of this to say, I'm willing to wager that Love has been medically cleared, but doesn't trust his body not to get injured again. I think he has no confidence. I don't know how you get that back, other than playing, and I'm sure that's the source of Coach Drew's frustration. You can't motivate a guy into getting over a mental block. He just has to do it.

I do think the trashing of Langston here is a bit over the top. I'd really enjoy seeing him play again, but I'm not counting on it at this point. Poor kid has been snakebit for 4 years, and that has to take a toll on you.

Ashley Hodge is as good of a source as there is. Riach was cleared to play and chose not too. He than felt the need to go party it up that night.
Can Stuart this morning on locked on Baylor mentioned that multiple sources have told him Love isn't playing due to a $$ dispute over what he's owed.
Where there's smoke there's fire. Been a huge LL supporter maybe the biggest in here. But it's impossible to defend the dude. Same with Roach. Roach is making over a million dollars to quite frankly sucked for 3/4 season so far. Its fair to question both of them at this point

Big12Bear said:

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davesburgerbarn said:

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I've heard that it's all mental. That he thinks that he is a pro and doesn't to play to "jeopardize" his draft status. People inside tell me all the time that he practices, shoots around, runs, jumps, etc without any setbacks.

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Reckless and untrue.

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You can think whatever you want to think. That's why I strongly came out early in the season informing everybody about his status, and told everyone that Love would not play much if any in the 2025 year. He hasn't touched the court since, and multiple people who are at practices daily tell me that he doesn't act or look injured.

I'm not bashing the kid. Simply letting people know what is going on.

One thing no one can argue with you at this point about is the fact he's been medically cleared for weeks now.

davesburgerbarn said:

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Big12Bear said:

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davesburgerbarn said:

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I've heard that it's all mental. That he thinks that he is a pro and doesn't to play to "jeopardize" his draft status. People inside tell me all the time that he practices, shoots around, runs, jumps, etc without any setbacks.

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Reckless and untrue.

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You can think whatever you want to think. That's why I strongly came out early in the season informing everybody about his status, and told everyone that Love would not play much if any in the 2025 year. He hasn't touched the court since, and multiple people who are at practices daily tell me that he doesn't act or look injured.

I'm not bashing the kid. Simply letting people know what is going on.

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With all due respect, I'll take Coach Drew at his word when he pretty recently said that Love will 100% play again this year. And I thought there was some bashing of him by you previously in another thread (your right to do so)

IowaBear said:

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Ashley Hodge is as good of a source as there is. Riach was cleared to play and chose not too. He than felt the need to go party it up that night.
Can Stuart this morning on locked on Baylor mentioned that multiple sources have told him Love isn't playing due to a $$ dispute over what he's owed.
Where there's smoke there's fire. Been a huge LL supporter maybe the biggest in here. But it's impossible to defend the dude. Same with Roach. Roach is making over a million dollars to quite frankly sucked for 3/4 season so far. Its fair to question both of them at this point

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Ashley was simply relaying what Drew wanted him to relay, directly or indirectly. Anyone who has worked in the media for any time knows this how coaches use those media guys close to their programs to get out information. Even the media guys like Trilly, Goodman, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander were joking about it, which is why I assume Ashley took it down. Coach K did it. Izzo does it. Calipari does it. Few does it. Hurley definitely does it. Every coach of every major program uses the media closest to them and who they can trust to get out a message from time to time without the coach ever having to say it publicly.

Those who don't believe by now are simply sticking their heads in the ground.

Big12Fan2024 said:

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IowaBear said:

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Ashley Hodge is as good of a source as there is. Riach was cleared to play and chose not too. He than felt the need to go party it up that night.
Can Stuart this morning on locked on Baylor mentioned that multiple sources have told him Love isn't playing due to a $$ dispute over what he's owed.
Where there's smoke there's fire. Been a huge LL supporter maybe the biggest in here. But it's impossible to defend the dude. Same with Roach. Roach is making over a million dollars to quite frankly sucked for 3/4 season so far. Its fair to question both of them at this point

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Ashley was simply relaying what Drew wanted him to relay, directly or indirectly. Anyone who has worked in the media for any time knows this how coaches use those media guys close to their programs to get out information. Even the media guys like Trilly, Goodman, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander were joking about it, which is why I assume Ashley took it down. Coach K did it. Izzo does it. Calipari does it. Few does it. Hurley definitely does it. Every coach of every major program uses the media closest to them and who they can trust to get out a message from time to time without the coach ever having to say it publicly.

Those who don't believe by now are simply sticking their heads in the ground.

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I respect Ashley, but his message set a land speed record for deletion, which suggest to me either he was incorrect in something he said, or Coaches or Administrators asked him to take it down. I don't see another conclusion from that. The fact hopefully is, that no one messaging anywhere has been privy to the medical reports: folks in the know may want to review HIPAA restrictions before messaging.

I was never an athlete, but I was making my way through HS football (about 100 years ago) when I got hurt. Trainer and Team Doc blew it. Said I was fine, good to go. I was a dumb kid but my entire body was screaming at me that something was wrong, despite the fact no one else could figure it out. I tried playing through it, but there were things I just couldn't do on the field. My position Coach treated me with contempt, said I was dogging it. My folks finally took action, sent me to get a second opinion. Coaches were a bit sheepish about it after they found out. When a player who clearly wants to play is feeling pain, he needs to be comfortable with knowing the pain is something he can play through and not risk further injury. If there is doubt in his mind, perhaps caused by confusing things being said to him, he is not going to get to that place.

Respect your thoughts/opinions across the board. But I disagree here. We've got multiple tight lipped Baylor insiders bringing this to light. This info came from someone deep inside the bball program. There's wayyyyy too much smoke between Drew's comments, Ashley's post, and Cams Locked on BU segment this AM. Hodge and Cam Stuart are two tight lipped guys unlike Drake Toll was as an example. If there mentioning this stuff it's reasonable to put stock in it.
Drew mentioned prior to KU both were cleared (Love for multiple weeks) Stuart said this AM that Drew told them all Friday that Roach was a go. That all the sudden changes and he sits out Saturday evenings game. Drew's a good dude. No way he would play any kid who's not 100% in the clear. When he comes out an says he expects them to play I gotta believe he's been fully vetted.

I will admit that Love has been very frustrating to me since he stepped foot at Baylor. Like Charles Barkley calls AD "street clothes", that is what Love is. It's very upsetting that people see him dunking, jumping, running, acting normal, yet misses game in and game out.

I feel bad for Drew because if he knew that this was going to play out like it has, he could have looked into the transfer portal and offered someone the minutes that he thought Love would occupy. We have zero depth at this moment.

Matt Mosley...who is an insider you can trust...tweeted last weekend that Feb 8th ...UCF...was the target date for Love's return..