"Keeper" rules, explained...

[These rules were published on February 11, 2009] Alright, here is a breakdown of how "keepers" will work for next year. Each team will be allowed to pick one player on their current roster to have on next year's team. You must commit to this player (if you wish to participate) by 11:59pm on March 15th - Selection Sunday. You will not be allowed to "switch your pick" or "decide you actually want to keep someone" once the clock strikes midnight.

Now we all know that players declare for the draft and leave before their eligibility expires. So how will this work? Here are the possible scenarios below using the following people as examples:

- Team Owner: Bill Self
- Potential Keeper: Luke Harangody
- Enticing potential 2009 1st round pick: Xavier Henry
- Enticing available 2009 player: DeJuan Blair

(This is assuming DeJuan Blair comes back for his junior campaign and Maria Koppen does not come back next year. Yeah, I know... I'm going out on a limb.)

1. Sometime on or before March 15th, Bill Self sends an email to the Commissioner letting him know of his choice for keeper, Luke Harangody. This information will be made available to the rest of the league.

2. If anytime between March 16th and next year's draft, Luke Harangody officially declares for the NBA Draft, Bill Self will simply start his roster from scratch and draft his team like we all did this year.

3. If Luke Harangody does not leave for the NBA and returns to South Bend, Indiana for another season...he will be "kept" until next year's draft.

4. Bill Self shows up to the 2nd Annual 2009 Fantasy College Hoops Draft and picks #5 (therefore picks #1 through #4 will not be allowed to take Luke Harangody).

5. Once it is pick #5, Bill Self will have the following options:

• Draft Luke Harangody #5 overall
• Drop Luke Harangody back into the pool of available players and select Xavier Henry, DeJuan Blair or any other available "non-keeper" #5 overall

6. If Bill Self decides to drop Luke Harangody, pick #6 will be allowed to pick Luke Harangody immediately, and drop their keeper (if they had one). This could cause a "domino effect" of keepers being dropped, but I think it will add to the excitement of the draft.

Once all of the selections have been made, I will provide some analysis on each team's keeper.

Thanks,
Ace