Hegarty to Return

Jim Besada reports that John Hegarty will (is expected to) return to the team next week.

His recap of the SU game for The O:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2009/01/pilots_seal_ninth_win_at_foul.html

It's cool that he'll be back for league play. He'll have to work on learning the system and work his way into the rotation though...

Great news that he will be back; I hope he got everything worked out personally. I'm curious what kind of shape he will be in, though... has he been playing/hitting the gym the past couple months? Another body down low is a good thing...

I welcome him back

Realistically, though, you have to ask if his level of fitness and integration with the team screams redshirt. At best, he might be ready to play 5-6 minutes for the first half of conference. Would it be wise to burn a year of eligibility for that? He was clearly a project before he left. It would be best for him and the team if things stayed that way for the rest of the year.

I definitely agree that if there isn't any help of him being effective this season a readshirt would def be appropriate, that said just based off stat lines I'm pretty sure he could come in right away and put up the same stats as Hannibal. (Not that stats are the best way of judging Jasonn at this stage) Anytime you can add a 7 footer mid season I would definitely list it as an upgrade to the roster, I just wish the first GU game was a few weeks off, Big John's height and size could be nice to go against the Zag front court. I hope John was able to take care of himself and is ready to re-dedicate himself to his studies and the team. I can't wait for his first step off the bench when opposing teams scratch their heads and say "who the hell is that guy??"

Very glad to hear he'll be back and has worked out whatever he needed to work out.

Honestly, unless he arrives in terrible shape, I would expect him to contribute. I love the kid, but Jasonn has been a disappointment this year - I thought he started off the season well but has progressively lost confidence in his play. He has really struggled in his last few games especially. And with Kramer being out, what generally seems like a strength (post depth) has suddenly looked like a big weakness with Jasonn not being ready to contribute more. I still believe that he can turn into a good contributer, but at this very moment... no. I know Hegarty was looking pretty good in pre-season workouts, so if he has kept himself in OK shape (a big if, I know), I don't think we'll redshirt him.

I don't know about his Personal problems. But, I think if he followed Robin and Kramer around to study hall,practice,etc...some of his problems might clear up. But jeez, you never know it could have just been a major adjustment from East Coast, or family problems,etc....

I just read an article about James Laurengtis (Ohio State All-American Linebacker). He mentioned when he was a freshman he followed A.J. Hawk (Green Bay Packers) around campus etc.....This, he said helped him with his growth as a student/athlete. It probably wouldn't hurt on the grades for Hegarty to follow Robin and Kramer either as both players are WCC-Academic notables too.

Didn't he lose like 45 pounds with our trainers last Summer? I wouldn't consider it a huge risk to give him some decent minutes. I mean this is a recruit who could have chosen to go to a lot of places instead of University of Portland. We're 9-6; it's not like we're UNC or something.

For me personally, I'm not a huge fan of redshirting in sports unless that's what that's what Hegarty wants to do. My impression is that we're lucky that he came back from the New England area at all if the personal reasons for leaving were serious. To me a student athlete is always a student first. I'm more for redshirting for academic reasons as well as athletic ones...and Hegarty should definitely be involved in the decision. It's his life. Plus, the WCC is just starting; it's not like the season is over.

I just wish him well.I am sure everybody will recall from this fall that skill set isn't the problem,being able to move 300+ pounds up the court and back was a major issue. Not saying he's anything of his caliber but John Bryant who has always had major weight and conditioning problems to go with his skill set before he finally pulled it together this yr in regards to weight/wind issues....I have faith that REV in conjunction with our strength and conditioning coach can whip him into shape whether it be immediately or next fall. Don't forget this guy's the same age if not older than Jared,Kramer,Luke or BJ. He signed a LOI with Rhode Island in Fall of 2005. Were not dealing with some 17 year old child. He spent one year in prep school like the backup pt guard did.
I believe he should play. What are we trying to have 26 yr old men who should be working for a living (like the Zaggeetes) playing on the Pilot college bb team? Let him play himself into shape, the future is now. Lets win now, that attracts other young talented student/athletes who can play the post 5 yrs. from now.I'm thinkin maybe I'll try out for the team, wait ,oh my 6 yr elgibility limit was up in 87', it's all a little to much for me ,i give up .

Seriously,why don't we just take the whole team on a Religious mission (Like BYU) for the next 2 yrs? Or we could Red-Shirt every freshman player except one like that school from the tiny town to the north. These guys are STUDENT/athletes I don't see many Kolby's, Nash's, Lebron's out there in the WCC this year. Let's not stoop to The Zaggete level where were sweatin guys about Red Shirt years, I alway's thought UP was above that.


By the way while were on the topic of red/shirt years, what the heck is BJ Porter? Is he a Freshman, a Sophomore? A FROSNMORE? Lets have a big debate on that one, I'm getting mixed message's (literally) on that subject from you guy's. It could be an interesting subject with the Brandon Johnson(SAN DIEGO-guard) injury and possible med. r/s this year for him.


GO PILOTS,,,,,CRUSH THE ZAGS, RAVIO SCORES 40...STOHL HITS 34 FOOT GAMEWINNER AT THE BUZZER .



8 weeks till the attendance is 1000 at the Chiles Center (instead of 999).


MesaPilot1













IMHO don't take it personal if you don't agree. , I could think of a few player's I'd like to cut about now,but I'll just mumble them to myself

Look at what the conditioning program did to the rest of the team. I think Hegarty will get caught up sooner rather than later.

Well with as fast as they move the ball upcourt most of the time he'll have no problem getting set for offense, he might have to hustle going the other way!