I still think this could go either way, but the longer things are quiet the better it is for ECU. If ECU can make it into the first week of April, roughly 3 weeks from now without losing any of the core players they should be pretty safe. This next week is probably the one ECU is most at danger.
With ECU connected to transfers like Mack (post player), Lane (Wing), Williams (point guard) then you have to feel like ECU will probably lose a couple. Either that or the staff is preparing as if they might because ECU had no other scholarships to give until today. Sunderland entered the portal, and that's the key if ECU can move on from players at the end of the bench rather than the core. Adding some help via transfer would be an upgrade and they seem far more willing to entertain that option.
It certainly seems like there may have been a mutual understanding about Sunderland's playing time and I think ECU can upgrade. ECU needs to upgrade at multiple positions because there was no depth after Small went down and several of the players became unplayable in AAC play. I think LaCount, Pinedo, and Bayela need to have some conversations with the staff as well. Opening up 4 scholarships would be the right number and give ECU a lot of flexibility to upgrade.
Stay tuned.
Edit: .....2 hours later
That quiet I was talking about in the original post didn't last long. The good news is on my draft board, Small would have only been the 3rd most important player for ECU to bring back behind Johsnon and Ausar (in that order). I think you can make the case Felton is even equally as important as Smalls at this point but for me a tier below Johnson.
Do I hate losing Small, yes? Do I think Small was overrated even by myself at one point in the season based on the hot start? Yes. At one point I was talking about factually how he was a top 50 player in the nation statistically. Playing the 350 SOS helps. After 5 games of AAC play he wasn't even the best player on ECU's team statistically. That's how quick he cratered under AAC pressure. Even a down AAC.
I think he would have continued to cool off in AAC play and essentially finished around a 15 or 16 PER type player similar to Felton. It's a loss but one that ECU can overcome IMO. The proof of that is how Walker filled his shoes at the end of the season and given that I think ECU is still in decent shape if they keep the core and actually show a willingness go into the portal now and forget this freshman crap.
Losing BJ or Ausar would be crippling losses for this program and the plan Schwartz is trying to run. I've said from day one that I thought it's an obviously flawed plan to me but we'll see if he can keep them even the next week after this fallout, much less all 4 years.
This is the reality of Farm Team U and all before Transfer-free and getting paid started.....
As for Small. He probably should go get the NIL money while it's there. If he looked as bad as he did in the AAC next year and someone took his role it wouldn't be there. I understand his case for moving on but I could also see him going somewhere and riding pine if the hard shot-making goes away like it did in AAC play. There was a reason to be skeptical of as many long 2's as he made with hands in his face vs some bad team IMO. If he's moving up he'll see quicker close outs and longer arms.
AAC numbers reminder: 19-64 (29%) and 19 turnovers vs 24 assists in 5 games.
Let's hope there is no more portal combat on our territory, but I will update it here.
