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According to a lot of news outlets, Omari Spellman will have to sit out the season due to an academic infraction. A couple months ago our writer Clay Sauertieg wrote about Omari and his potential impact for the upcoming season.
The 6’9 275lbs power forward was supposed to give Villanova a reliable big man in the paint, something they’re lacking with the departure of Daniel Ochefu. Now they’ll have to rely on Darryl Reynolds to carry the weight.
Getting a 5-star freshman a redshirt of any kind, in a system run by Jay Wright, can’t possibly be a bad thing. The hangover that comes with winning a national title may carry through to next year - let’s not kid ourselves, it isn’t like the Wildcats had the depth or the wherewithal to win another national championship, plus Wildcats aren’t greedy like that.
This way, Spellman will have a year on campus without the stresses of hoops getting in his way of ‘finding himself.’ To be a college student and a guy who occasionally plays pickup basketball with his peers will be a blessing in disguise for a young man like Omari Spellman. To be in your late teens-early twenties in a beautiful town like Villanova, Pennsylvania will breathe a sense of ease into a young man’s heart; the atmosphere of a genuine pseudo-ivy league college ushering in an osmotic rush of intellect. O! The things he will learn! The things he will read! The things he shall see! The beauty of the journey, laying right in front of young Mr. Spellman’s feet, awaiting his first step! How delightful.
Before I leave you I just want to plug Clay’s piece one more time and give you some tweets.
Omari Spellman ruled an academic redshirt for 2016-17 https://t.co/pj2i90iDuN pic.twitter.com/pdWBmGxOZH
— VU Hoops (@VUhoops) September 23, 2016
Villanova doesn't have the same level of talent without Omari Spellman, but Cats are still clear favorites in Big East. Eight strong pieces.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 23, 2016
I don't view Villanova as a threat to Georgetown's Big East supremacy this season anyway, so the Omari Spellman news doesn't change a thing.
— Casual Hoya (@CasualHoya) September 23, 2016
I really hate hearing that Villanova won't have Omari Spellman this year. Still have to imagine Wildcats are prohibitive Big East favorites.
— HolyLandofHoops (@HolyLandofHoops) September 23, 2016
Wow big news about Omari Spellman. Nova still a top 5-10 team, but this is a huge blow to their frontcourt. Reynolds step into open spot.
— Three Man Weave (@_3MW_) September 23, 2016
#Villanova five-star freshman Omari Spellman ruled ineligible by NCAA for 2016-17 season https://t.co/dXUqth2Lg0
— CSN Philly (@CSNPhilly) September 23, 2016