This doesn't solve a ton of problems for this coming season, we will be very young, BUT it takes a tremendous amount of pressure off of the younger players that will be playing their first competition of B1G basketball. Sanders will not be asked to lead everything by himself on and off the court, Freeman can help become a focal point and not having Etou around perhaps solves some potential resentment of an existing talented player thinking he will be that person, when you can have Freeman and Sanders and others all go through the process together.
Having Lewis and Freeman as a bridge of what hard work it will take is important, just a matter of making sure when competition for minutes is there (and it is now with this many newcomers) that everyone is pulling in the same direction. It's a very tricky situation, but if given a choice of having this happen, I'd rather it happen with Nigel Johnson, Freeman and Laurent (all are high quality kids) along with Goode etc., vs a piece or two thinking because they and have the answers.
There is a cut-throat mentality that an improving program can push the envelope with and that's not giving up on Ellison....there isn't room technically, but he's a talented kid that can play....there are creative ways to make room without asking anyone to depart right away. Ellison isn't as much as a "must have", now that Freeman has agreed to join RU, but it would be interesting to see what RU and staff has up their sleeves with Ellison. I don't think this was an "either Freeman or Ellison", situation.