The prodigal son returns?

[ZachTheZip]

It appears that Brett MKnight has announced his return via Facebook within the last hour.

[Dr Z]

I'm very proud of you stating your source.

[Quickzips]

This certainly would be interesting. I, like most others on here, assumed we had seen the last of Brett in a Zips uniform. Hopefully Brett has used this experience as a motivator and comes out for the second half of his senior season and lights it up for the Zips. It does raise a lot of questions though. Is he in basketball shape? Will he be plugged right back into the lineup or will KD make him earn his minutes all over again? If he's back in the lineup, then who will he be taking minutes from? Will he start or come off the bench? Luckily the Zips have a nice home cupcake on the schedule for Saturday to hopefully start and answer a few of these questions before heading out to Vegas.

[ZachTheZip]

If he plays, I think he splits minutes with McClanahan. We need an instant offense guy off the bench and I thing McKnight could provide that.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It appears that Brett MKnight has announced his return via Facebook within the last hour.

Makes sense. He was suspended for the first semester. Semester's over tomorrow, so he's back.

[BirdZip]

Will he start or come off the bench?

He came off the bench before the suspension, no reason to think he would be a starter now.

[Quickzips]

Will he start or come off the bench?

He came off the bench before the suspension, no reason to think he would be a starter now.

I could see him moving him into the starting lineup in place of Nitro at some point. It will depend on his attitude and his physical condition when he comes back, but if Nitro continues to struggle like he did last night I could see it happening. He came off the bench against Milliken largely because he hadn't practiced with the team for the entire offseason. I don't think that is necessarily the role KD envisioned for him. If you recall, most on here were talking about him as the starter at SF before all the suspensions came anyways. While I agree that he is probably best served coming off the bench as an instant offense kind of guy, I can also see him getting a starting role before it is all said and done.

[BirdZip]

Will he start or come off the bench?

He came off the bench before the suspension, no reason to think he would be a starter now.

I could see him moving him into the starting lineup in place of Nitro at some point. It will depend on his attitude and his physical condition when he comes back, but if Nitro continues to struggle like he did last night I could see it happening. He came off the bench against Milliken largely because he hadn't practiced with the team for the entire offseason. I don't think that is necessarily the role KD envisioned for him. If you recall, most on here were talking about him as the starter at SF before all the suspensions came anyways. While I agree that he is probably best served coming off the bench as an instant offense kind of guy, I can also see him getting a starting role before it is all said and done.

Most on here may have been, but not the coach. I don't think Brett gives enough on Defense to get the start. He was key to our offense last year as well, but he didn't start.

[skip-zip]

More than anything else, at least we'll have a proven player who isn't afraid to make things happen offensively. And we'll have someone at SF with the physical tools to post up defenders. But, I also hope that his experience, competitiveness and leadership give this team an added boost as well.

And like everyone else, I pray that he's at least still in decent playing shape.

[Quickzips]

Will he start or come off the bench?

He came off the bench before the suspension, no reason to think he would be a starter now.

I could see him moving him into the starting lineup in place of Nitro at some point. It will depend on his attitude and his physical condition when he comes back, but if Nitro continues to struggle like he did last night I could see it happening. He came off the bench against Milliken largely because he hadn't practiced with the team for the entire offseason. I don't think that is necessarily the role KD envisioned for him. If you recall, most on here were talking about him as the starter at SF before all the suspensions came anyways. While I agree that he is probably best served coming off the bench as an instant offense kind of guy, I can also see him getting a starting role before it is all said and done.

Most on here may have been, but not the coach. I don't think Brett gives enough on Defense to get the start. He was key to our offense last year as well, but he didn't start.

Actually, Brett started 13 games last season spanning from the Texas A&M game through the first Can't State game. We were also much deeper and more experienced at the forward positions last year than we are right now with Chris McKnight, Conyers, Brett and Nikola.

As to skip's comments about the qualities Brett brings to this team. I will give you experience and competitiveness, leadership, no. Team leaders don't get themselves suspended for the first 1/3 of the season for violating team rules. Brett isn't a team leader at this point. Right now he is going to be in the same spot he was when he came in in the middle of his freshman year. The rest of these guys have been on the road together playing a tough schedule without him there. McNees, Nikola, Roberts, these are the guys that are team leaders. If Brett is going to come back and contribute here he is going to have to accept that he is a role player at this point in the season.

[Dr Z]

I'm glad to see Brett come back. I hope he is focused on winning the MAC and working hard.

I've never really been able to figure much out about who KD plays and who he doesn't. This year has made the most sense to me...so far.

One thing I have learned, it really doesn't matter if you start or not on KD's team to get minutes. Sometimes, but not always.

[skip-zip]

Will he start or come off the bench?

He came off the bench before the suspension, no reason to think he would be a starter now.

I could see him moving him into the starting lineup in place of Nitro at some point. It will depend on his attitude and his physical condition when he comes back, but if Nitro continues to struggle like he did last night I could see it happening. He came off the bench against Milliken largely because he hadn't practiced with the team for the entire offseason. I don't think that is necessarily the role KD envisioned for him. If you recall, most on here were talking about him as the starter at SF before all the suspensions came anyways. While I agree that he is probably best served coming off the bench as an instant offense kind of guy, I can also see him getting a starting role before it is all said and done.

Most on here may have been, but not the coach. I don't think Brett gives enough on Defense to get the start. He was key to our offense last year as well, but he didn't start.

Actually, Brett started 13 games last season spanning from the Texas A&M game through the first Can't State game. We were also much deeper and more experienced at the forward positions last year than we are right now with Chris McKnight, Conyers, Brett and Nikola.

As to skip's comments about the qualities Brett brings to this team. I will give you experience and competitiveness, leadership, no. Team leaders don't get themselves suspended for the first 1/3 of the season for violating team rules. Brett isn't a team leader at this point. Right now he is going to be in the same spot he was when he came in in the middle of his freshman year. The rest of these guys have been on the road together playing a tough schedule without him there. McNees, Nikola, Roberts, these are the guys that are team leaders. If Brett is going to come back and contribute here he is going to have to accept that he is a role player at this point in the season.

If you've been paying attention the last couple of years, you would clearly see that Brett doesn't perform on the floor like a guy who is just "filling a role". I sure hope he'll be able to deliver far more than that.

[RACER]

hopefully he can get back in b-ball shape over the next few games.we really need him to step up in mac play.

nobody in the mac right now is playing good.it's hard to tell how good the teams are since some play really difficult schedules. if brett can play to his potential the zips can win the mac.if not i think the mac is wide open and we will struggle

agains the east.i still the mac west is not very good.until they start beating the east teams on a regular basis any team

in the east would win the west.it's hard to win when you have to play freshman alott of pt.hopefully that will chnage now.

[Dave in Green]

KD says Brett won't play Saturday.

Ohio.com Link

Hopefully this reinstatement will produce an immediate gain in team competitiveness. The flip side is that it will slow the development of the new forwards.

[UAZip0510]

The Facebook status itself is interesting:

"Wen you fight for yourself n you know u didnt do wrong and u come out on top thats tha greatest feeling you can ever have....all i got to say is AM BACK!!!!!!! HAHA"

[ZachTheZip]

KD says Brett won't play Saturday.

Ohio.com Link

Hopefully this reinstatement will produce an immediate gain in team competitiveness. The flip side is that it will slow the development of the new forwards.

I suspect this is because he hasn't been allowed to practice with the team until today. I'm sure he played lots of pick-up ball with his teammates in the Rec, though. This is probably getting my hopes up too much, but I would have liked to see him use the spare time freed up by not practicing to work with the greyshirt (who I believe also aren't allowed to practice with the team) players to get them better prepared for Dambrot's system.

[ZipRoo]

The Facebook status itself is interesting:

"Wen you fight for yourself n you know u didnt do wrong and u come out on top thats tha greatest feeling you can ever have....all i got to say is AM BACK!!!!!!! HAHA"

Ah, denial. And an utter lack of humility or responsibility. Now, (tap, tap, tapping my chin)...how much credibility does this guy have?

[RootforRoo44]

The Facebook status itself is interesting:

"Wen you fight for yourself n you know u didnt do wrong and u come out on top thats tha greatest feeling you can ever have....all i got to say is AM BACK!!!!!!! HAHA"

Ah, denial. And an utter lack of humility or responsibility. Now, (tap, tap, tapping my chin)...how much credibility does this guy have?

Well if what i've heard is true and that Dambrot really defended him and that he was suspended by Athletics and not KD. Then maybe this time he really wasn't at fault.

Now I wont deny that he hasn't been trouble before.

[Quickzips]

If there is one area that I hope Brett can come in and contribute to right away it would be helping our rebounding issues. He's shown the ability at times in his career to be a solid rebounder, and the Zips have been woefully bad on the glass all year. If he can come in and by the time we get to MAC play be able to give us 15-20 minutes a night off the bench and score 8-12 points with solid rebounding it will go a long way towards getting the Zips to a more successful season. More than anything I hope that Brett has his head on straight and is ready to work hard and accept whatever role this team needs him to be in. We're in a bit of a fragile place right now as a team, and adding a guy to the mix whose head isn't in the right place could make for a long season.

[Dr Z]

The Facebook status itself is interesting: "Wen you fight for yourself n you know u didnt do wrong and u come out on top thats tha greatest feeling you can ever have....all i got to say is AM BACK!!!!!!! HAHA"

Ah, denial. And an utter lack of humility or responsibility. Now, (tap, tap, tapping my chin)...how much credibility does this guy have?

It could also go the other way. He could play with a chip on his shoulder and go nuts on the stat sheet. Time will tell.

[ZachTheZip]

Dambrot appears to have softened his stance. McKnight won't start, but he might see some minutes if the situation is right.

[Dr Z]

Dambrot appears to have softened his stance. McKnight won't start, but he might see some minutes if the situation is right.

Per what source?

[Hilltopper]

Dambrot appears to have softened his stance. McKnight won't start, but he might see some minutes if the situation is right.

Per what source?

ABJ

[zippy_ua_00]

Dambrot appears to have softened his stance. McKnight won't start, but he might see some minutes if the situation is right.

Per what source?

ABJ

im just glad we can get him back in the lineup. will help us tremendously

[ZachTheZip]

In just 10 minutes, Brett went 3-4 for 6 points, 2 rebounds, and a steal. But more importantly, as soon as he came in the game changed and we went on a run to tie the game after being down 14 when he first came in.