BRYCE WEBSTER ALERT!

Hey folks, just wanted to drop a quick note that CS-Fullerton plays UCLA on ESPN starting at 11pm tonight, and Fullerton is where Bryce Webster finally ended up after transferring out of Minnesota (there was something about Utah State in there somewhere, but he is at Fullerton).

I don't have the time nor the inclination to rehash his time with the Gophers and what has happened since, but Bryce is starting for the Titans, and scored 8 points and grabbed 5 boards in the team's season opening win over Hope International, which apparently was a real game and not an exhibition.  He played just 21 minutes, which likely had a bit to do with the lopsided 93-57 score. 

The Bruins have most of the players back after a bunch of preseason injuries, but this is a young team without a lot of practice team as a complete unit.  Can Bryce lead the Titans to the upset?  Probably not, but you should watch anyway because basketball is awesome.

Transfer News

In news that I was completely unaware of, Bryce Webster is now going to play at Cal State Fullerton starting next season.

After transferring from the Gophers, he had agreed to play at Utah State and that was the last news I had heard. I stumbled across the linked article, which says that the assistant coach who Webster wanted to play for at Utah State left to coach at Santa Clara, and Webster backed out of his commitment and has been playing at Irvine Valley Community College. He will sign his official letter of intent in the fall signing period (November) and begin play for the UC-F Titans in 2009-2010.

In other transfer news that I wasn't aware of, it appears Brandon Smith will not be playing for TCU this season. Based on the timing of his transfer last year, he should be eligible, but is not listed on their roster, either on their own site or ESPN or anywhere, and is not mentioned in TCU's own season preview. I can't find any mention of what may have happened anywhere, and there is no listing for him with another team out there. There is no news on him even on TCU's website. The only thing I could find was from this thread on a TCU message board. Not a ton of info, but this "Heard he was coming back but no one has seen him on campus" is the closest thing I found to any actual information. Anyone know anything?

Since we're on transfers and I'm sure you're wondering, Limar Wilson has used up his eligibility after playing last season at Tarleton State University. He averaged 6 points and 3 assists per game, starting 26 of their 31 contests. He still couldn't shoot, hitting 25% from three and 40% overall. I think Engen Nurumbi is still at Grand Canyon State. I don't really know because their website won't work. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Adios and Good Luck

It's official, Bryce Webster will transfer from the University of Minnesota.

Eh. No big deal. He may have ended up developing into a decent Big Ten player, but he certainly looked overmatched last season. This now frees up an extra scholarship for Tubby to fill with one of his guys (Ralph Sampson?)

Webster continues the fine tradition Dan Monson started of recruiting players who can't hang on the D-I level and end up transferring out. At least he's known for something.

Good luck to Bryce wherever he lands. Seemed like a good kid, just not Big Ten caliber.

ALSO: Freakin' Purdue has now added one of the top JUCO transfers in the nation in PF Nemanja Calasan. I'm already sick of Purdue.

Two Quick Updates

Both from St. Paul Pioneer Press's Charley Walters:

The first, is that Marquette recruit and Minnesota boy Trevor Mbakwe is now all set academically to enroll and play at Marquette next season. It had been reported, and I mentioned it here that he may have been in a bit of academic trouble. It appears everything is good to go now, however.

The second update is that according to Walters, Bryce Webster is very likely to leave the team to concentrate on academics, although nothing is official. Wait and see.

Bryce Considering Leaving?

This might be the first time Charley Walters has broken a story, but according to him in today's Pioneer Press, Bryce Webster is considering leaving the team to concentrate on academics.

Actually a pretty good move. He clearly doesn't have a future in the NBA or anything, so if he needs to concentrate on his grades he certainly should. With Coleman, Tollackson, and Williams taking up the front court minutes, Webster wouldn't get a whole lot of playing time. He didn't get a whole lot last year either, even though he looked ok at times.

The more scholarships available for Tubby to get his guys instead of being stuck with Monson's, the better.

Since Walters wrote this, it's most likely either completely made up, or at best is third or fourth-hand knowledge, so who knows, but it's out there.