Murph
Masters Student
Posts: 626
Age: 63
Reg: 09-13-11
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Tape
01-22-20 07:20 AM - Post#297186
In response to hoopsfan
So one possible explanation, based on the Instagram photo, is that Tape may have had some kind of lingering foot injury. He attempted to play through the injury and practice with the team in preseason, but the injury did not improve. So instead of entering the season with an injured foot, and possibly wasting a year of eligibility, he decided to sit out a year, let his foot fully heal, graduate, and play his last year of eligibility as a grad school transfer. And the reason he did not make the injury public is because he didn't want to jeopardize his desirability as a grad transfer. That explanation is as plausible as any other.
But regardless, Columbia fans need to take the high road and wish Tape the best. He played well when he was here, and there is no reason to think that he acted dishonorably. Furthermore, these are not pro athletes, nor are they even playing at a high D1 level. Columbia fans need to keep this in perspective and not personalize Tape's decision by thinking that he let them down.
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rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3059
Reg: 10-20-14
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02-12-20 11:53 AM - Post#299669
In response to Murph
Some update info on Tape in Jeff Borzello's ESPN article on Ivy Grad Transfers.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketba ll/story...
- Could we get to the point where college coaches are conducting campus visits with active Ivy League players in the middle of the season? That has been the case for Tape, who is sitting out this season while finishing up his undergraduate degree at Columbia. He tore a ligament in his toe over the summer and then aggravated the injury before the season began. Tape realized he could probably try to return after a few games, but he preferred to play a full season -- even if it wasn't in the Ivy League. Instead, Tape left the team.
It seems to be working out so far: The 6-foot-10 big man has already toured Syracuse and has visits set up with Maryland, Ohio State and USC.
"I think a lot of Ivy League players are looking to get the best of both worlds," Tape said.
As players like Smith and Tape ponder their next moves, it will be up to Ivy League coaches to decide whether to push for reform, or risk having their talented rosters be potentially undermined by the rule. -
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2974
Reg: 03-02-08
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02-12-20 12:52 PM - Post#299680
In response to rbg
I have to agree, based upon new information, that Tape may have had a reasonable basis for concluding that his toe injury would have made it difficult for him to play this season. The IL is not going to change its rules on post-grad eligibility because a few of the schools do not have the type of graduate program infrastructure which would lend itself to a fifth year.
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