Kat Tudor Update

Thanks to beaverwbb fan for the link. The uncertainty of when Tudor may return to the line-up and the possibility that she may sit out the entire '19-'20 season underscores the need for Simmons to be mentally and physically ready to contribute beginning on November 9.

Tudor possesses skills that will allow her to play at the professional level somewhere when healthy, so I understand her desire to ensure that she is not brought back to action prematurely. Selfishly, I want to be able to see her play for the Beavs in '19-'20 because her outside shooting ability is elite and her ability to space the floor even when she doesn't shoot makes the offense easier for Slocum and Pivec. However, if the medical redshirt exception is not granted for Tudor, then I understand the rationale to wait, recover more fully, and come back to play her fourth and final season in '20-'21.

This scenario was a possibility that I speculated, in a post, some time ago, based on commons sense in respect to what would be in her best interest. She has always had a desire to play professionally so her last season is very important in that respect. She not only needs to be the best version of herself that last season, but also it is important to perceived as such by those who will decide her value. In Women's professional basketball, perception is often more important than reality. She needs a full healthy season to check all the necessary boxes. That along with still developing and honing certain necessary skill sets. Due to her history, she still has potential ceilings remaining in various areas. There are many very good players who got labeled early on, which kept them from getting the opportunity to play at their ceiling levels. The idea is to keep that from happening to her. 

She will play professionally. The question remains at what level she will be given the opportunity to do so. Opportunity and entry-level is paramount and due to limited spots. At what level a player might rise is dictated mainly by their first year and that first professional year is uncharacteristically dictated by perception. With respect to that, getting an extra year is her best-case scenario. Being denied that option, redshirting this year probably would be her best plan B. Many of you might not recognize that her skill set is one that can translate easily to the highest professional level, but she needs to have a good showing her last season to make that happen. Especially on the defensive end. Stats and play, at one level, will not always reflect a player's ceiling at the next.

This is and has been purely my own opinion and not something I have heard from any horse's mouth. Rather it's just common sense, which I know that she and her family possess in spades, that would lead me to surmise the most logical conclusions.

Would it be possible for her to play the last 29% or so of this season and still retain eligibility for next season?

I can tell you what it is IMO.  She's an elite 3 pt shooter with the fastest release I've ever seen in a women's player.  The 3 is the most valuable weapon in today's game, and she does it as well as anyone. 

The 3 pt shot isn't that at all in the WNBA... elite guards have multifaceted games and are super quick with great handle. Unfortunately Kat has neither at that level of play. She is very one dimensional when it comes to taking highest level of professional play.

She needs to do what she needs to do, but missing all of this year would be a sign of other issues. As that would be an extremely long rehabilitation. If she's not getting another year why not return for later Jan/early Feb?

We're missing part of the story here...

What we're all hoping for now is that she receives a Medical Redshirt, plays most of this season, AND plays another season in 20/21.....
Her Medical Redshirt decision carries even greater weight now that HVL will not be coming in to fill one of the guard positions....
GO BEAVS !!!

bBosh15 pretty much answered that question. I would like to add a bit more in respect to what another season would add to her level of play. She will play at the next level, the question is where. That is why having that extra season will be paramount. 

She needs a really excellent last season to get as much exposure as possible in order to be drafted by some WNBA team. She is a far better wing shooter than many players already on some teams. But perceptions is better than reality when it comes to making a WNBA roster. An example is Pivec. The fact that she got exposure on the national team elevated her draft position so that she is now projected to go in the top ten. This greatly increases her chance of making a roster. 

The training camp and preseason is very short- almost non existent in the WNBA. The odds of a player making a roster purely on a good showing are very slim. You have to be a high pick or at least have a skill at a position of need. 

While being an elite shooter is much in demand, it is not a guarantee that it will get you a roster spot. If you can play defense is also important. Seattle has carried KML, as a shooter even though she can't guard anyone, primarily because she was a hyped and overdrafted high number 3 pick. A perfect example of hype over substance. 

Kat can certainly improve her chances since her history has not allowed her to develop her potential in certain aspects of her game yet. She still has a much higher ceiling in those area's left. Throughout her high school and now college career, her value and unmatched threat as a wing shooter has kept her there. It has literally kept "Baby in the corner". 

She played on one of the best high school teams ever. Every one of the 14 players on her team got a scholarship. Ten of them to D1 programs. They were loaded with ball handling guards. The same was true of her AAU team. Sabrina, Moore, Westbrook, etc. While she can certainly attack the basket on direct drives she could use some work and experience in respect to her in place and change of direction handles. She was a late physical bloomer not getting her speed until her JR year in high school. Her defense is actually excellent because of her quick feet, but lateral movement is the last to return in the type of injury she had. 

That extra year should help her show she can play defense and perhaps play at the two guard position when necessary. That should help her considerable in getting a better shot by a team that needs a shooter. Because of her injury that last season is very important to her, so she needs to be health and at her best. The college seasons are very important because the short training camp and preseason provides little opportunity.