Jerry, this is by no means a Wrath of Fanboy response ( ), but a genuine rebuttal or differing perspective.

Not sure Emoni Bates offense has improved over the course of the year- seems like there was always an ebb and flow but overall high. However, his overall game has certainly improved over the course of the season. Honestly I think he has become the best defender on the team (I agree 79, not saying much. Deck chair on the titanic and all). If you overlook the occasional missed run out on an open three point shooter (a problem which every player on this team has, except maybe Noah), he always keeps his man in front of him (only player on the team I can say that for). I don’t think he was like that at the beginning of the season. This is mostly an eye ball assessment, as some of you like to say. But have some stats below to verify.

Non-Conference to Conference
0.3 to 0.6 bpg
0 .5 to 1 spg
1.2 to 2 apg

From a value to Emoni Bates standpoint, I think staying one more year and continuing to improve his overall game as well as his offensive consistency almost certainly won’t make him a lottery pick still but might put him back in the first round. Or it won’t. But the late season drop off he had these last two games, is likely to really hurt his current standing with regard to the draft. So now worth it for him to stay from a risk/reward standpoint.

From a value to EMU basketball standpoint, there has always been a big schism on this board with regards to Emoni Bates. Some think it is an incredible value others an incredible distraction. Don’t think I am going to get you to see what I see and vice versa. But I do see the value of ALL these guys coming back next year now that they have had a season to both develop and gel. A big part of that is I can’t imagine anyone of value wanting to come to this program after a season like this… reshuffling the deck now might just be change for the sake of change, imho. But I understand your sentiment.