No Marvin Jean after all...

In case you missed it, Tony Jones broke news late Tuesday about one of those moments that just kinda makes you sit back in your chair and think, "Well, shit...."

Marvin Jean is a no go because of some academic qualifying issues. As it is, he could technically redshirt while he finishes whatever junior college courses he needs to finish, but I doubt anyone is counting on that happening. As it was, Jean had an uphill battle for minutes in front of him. With Spencer Butterfield, Danny Berger and Jean all competing for minutes at small forward, as well as any rare times when Pre-Med comes off the floor, there was very little to go around. Couple that with the fact that Jean's largely unimpressive JUCO numbers aren't much encouraging to pit against a returning starter and California JUCO co-Player of the Year.

Still, Jean looked like a solid player in the making. JUCO statistics aside, watching him on video he looked like a player who was willing to play within a controlled and structured system. With his athleticism that might have been the best any of this year's wings had to offer, Jean could definitely brought plenty to the table.

In the bigger picture, the team will probably be fine. Either one of Riley Bradshaw or Quincy Bair just became a lot less likely to redshirt this season. And while neither is likely to have the immediate impact that Jean would have had, Stew Morrill's teams never really go beyond three-deep on the wings. Medlin, Berger and Butterfield will hold things down quite nicely.

My personal take? Stick to redshirting Bradshaw and Bair. There are so many minutes to be had for these guys down the road and a redshirt year does wonders for anyone. Why waste this season on what would be sparse minutes anyway? If dire situation comes up where a fourth wing is needed, Kyisean Reed can and should be that guy. 

With a scholarship opening up for next year, chalk this guy up as a supporter of offering Tanner Lancona right freaking now! Obviously the coaching staff will do what they gotta do here, and it'll probably end up being the right choice, but it seems like one more freshman big man could set the program's future up nicely in the front court with Jalen Moore and Carson Shanks coming in next year.