I guess I'm paranoid after how we were ripped during the end of the Briles years. Still, I don't believe the outcry would've been nearly as loud if it had been some other school rather than Baylor.

Great read! Thanks for posting. Can't imagine his journey and the adversity he has faced at such a young age.

No doubt. If this had been UConn or St John's it would have been a much softer approach.

Bearly said:

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I guess I'm paranoid after how we were ripped during the end of the Briles years. Still, I don't believe the outcry would've been nearly as loud if it had been some other school rather than Baylor.

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I think the first team that added a player taken in the NBA draft was going to feel that wrath regardless. Just the idea of an NBA draft pick playing in college basketball turns many fans' stomach -- even if that player was never actually an NBA or even G League player.

Nnaji doesn't deserve the hate he's getting. And fortunately, folks like Seth Davis have been trying to push that narrative by posting the relevant facts of the situation. But any college that took a player selected in the draft for the first time was going to become a target IMO.

I was there and was really surprised by the reaction. TCU fans typically don't follow basketball very closely and there weren't many students at the game.

Meanwhile, OSU had a great student turnout but James only received a very small amount of boos. Of course, if he had been lighting the world on fire coming into the game, it'd have been a much different story.

Kansas crowd reaction should be interesting tonight.

Great article. Is he eligible for NIL, being from Nigeria? I'd imagine the euro guys in the NCAA are making $. If the agent directed him to BU with no commission than that's a really good agent.

As opposing fan, i'd be dishing it out but would have stopped by now because it doesn't look (yet) like he is a ringer. More of a project. We will see after he learns the offense and gets completely healthy. All the physical tools are there.

This really was a win win. Could we have him for 4 years?

Fre3dombear said:

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They basically stfu after we went 0-3 after he joined the team. Ironic. Not.

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Besides our now 1-4 start in B12 play (with 2 of the Ls being blowouts) Nnaji hasn't looked like anything other than a super raw project player that is thus far getting owned by the opposition - which is another reason for all the initial hoopla, who really cares anymore at this point?

BearFan33 said:

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Great article. Is he eligible for NIL, being from Nigeria? I'd imagine the euro guys in the NCAA are making $. If the agent directed him to BU with no commission than that's a really good agent.

As opposing fan, i'd be dishing it out but would have stopped by now because it doesn't look (yet) like he is a ringer. More of a project. We will see after he learns the offense and gets completely healthy. All the physical tools are there.

This really was a win win. Could we have him for 4 years?

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I think most of us on this board knew we wasn't a ringer and wasn't going to make much of a difference - seems like a great kid - not sure what his eligibility is but for sure a couple-year project at best.

WA Jim said:

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BearFan33 said:

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Great article. Is he eligible for NIL, being from Nigeria? I'd imagine the euro guys in the NCAA are making $. If the agent directed him to BU with no commission than that's a really good agent.

As opposing fan, i'd be dishing it out but would have stopped by now because it doesn't look (yet) like he is a ringer. More of a project. We will see after he learns the offense and gets completely healthy. All the physical tools are there.

This really was a win win. Could we have him for 4 years?

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I think most of us on this board knew we wasn't a ringer and wasn't going to make much of a difference - seems like a great kid - not sure what his eligibility is but for sure a couple-year project at best.

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Yah the issue is if it's anything like the last two off seasons, he won't be on the roster to figure out if he turns out good or not

Would love to disagree but can't say I can. Williams and Nnaji would be 2 excellent pieces to build around. But I'm assuming they will be gone to the highest bidder and we will be starting over from scratch.

Makes Saturday that much more important to win!

Stefano DiMera said:

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My takeaway from that article is when he said the anger from the fans at TCU was worse than anything in Europe.. even a player was talking *****

I've said it many times.. that's the worst fanbase in the conference.

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TCU fan base goes away when their teams are not competitive. Maybe that's what you mean by "worst", but they aren't even close to the most difficult to deal with. If you think this you've never been to an away game in Lubbock or Provo. Even CU is worse as far as aggressive/mean.

WA Jim said:

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BearFan33 said:

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Great article. Is he eligible for NIL, being from Nigeria? I'd imagine the euro guys in the NCAA are making $. If the agent directed him to BU with no commission than that's a really good agent.

As opposing fan, i'd be dishing it out but would have stopped by now because it doesn't look (yet) like he is a ringer. More of a project. We will see after he learns the offense and gets completely healthy. All the physical tools are there.

This really was a win win. Could we have him for 4 years?

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I think most of us on this board knew we wasn't a ringer and wasn't going to make much of a difference - seems like a great kid - not sure what his eligibility is but for sure a couple-year project at best.

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He has elite vertical rim pressure and runs the floor like a sprinter. That alone will be enough to earn him individual coaching and minutes and at worst he's going to end up being a 15-minutes per game energy big. I don't think he's as talented as some of the comps I have seen (Willie Cauley-Stein, Clint Capela) but he's got a strong motor and will end up being an NBA guy unless he's an absolute moron or won't embrace what he is.

Unfortunately I suspect he will end up being raw and just OK in college but have a decent NBA career (DeAndre Jordan lite).

Doesn't fit the modern NBA. Guys like him with zero offensive skills have to be supremely athletic with high motor coupled with elite size. I think he has a chance for a nice career overseas.

Franklins said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

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My takeaway from that article is when he said the anger from the fans at TCU was worse than anything in Europe.. even a player was talking *****

I've said it many times.. that's the worst fanbase in the conference.

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TCU fan base goes away when their teams are not competitive. Maybe that's what you mean by "worst", but they aren't even close to the most difficult to deal with. If you think this you've never been to an away game in Lubbock or Provo. Even CU is worse as far as aggressive/mean.

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I've had an issue with fans at Amon Carter up in my face the last 3 visits to Amon Carter.. and I was just sitting there.

Trust me . They're bad . You must not have seen the video of Kaz lighting them up 15 years ago after a game up there.

I went to Boulder several times.. as a student 35 years ago and last year.. they're harmless like SMU fans

Not sure which Provo you're referring to. The one where BYU is is CONSENSUS the most polite and pleasant fanbase to visitors in the country.

I have been to TCU multiple times, football & basketball. Have never had an issue. Similar to SMU for me.

We must be about the same age because I made those same two trips to Boulder, first one also as a student. Had terrible experiences with vile drunk/stoned fans both times. Same @ BYU (football). They definitely "lost their religion" real quick and (I guess) you can't blame it on drinking either.

I believe you, but my experiences have been very different than yours.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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Doesn't fit the modern NBA. Guys like him with zero offensive skills have to be supremely athletic with high motor coupled with elite size. I think he has a chance for a nice career overseas.

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you're probably right. I'm optimistic though. We will see.

Dude didn't even play against TCU....

Bama has a pro player too:

https://notthebee.com/article/ncaa-grants-basketball-player-immediate-eligibility-to-play-for-bama-after-leaving-for-the-2023-nba-draft-playing-on-multiple-g-league-teams

The article includes a Najji reference.

This one has become puzzling now. Why did we take the unnecessary PR hit for someone who can't even get on the floor for us because his skills are so raw and he's out of shape (Drew's words)? Why didn't we just redshirt him? I never thought we were getting someone who was going to come in midyear and suddenly change the team, but I at least thought whoever we brought in would at least be able to contribute a solid 10 minutes a night.

Much a do about nothing. Guy didn't even play against TCU. He's a non-factor. Was led to believe he might be a kind of season saver especially when all the other coaches were biching and moaning after we signed him.