In yesterday’s press conference (embedded below), Texas Tech head basketball coach Chris Beard said that the team is waiting on a reconsideration process with forward Joel Ntambwe (6-8/220) who transferred from UNLV and the NCAA originally ruled him ineligible for this year, having to sit out a year because of the transfer. Ntambwe averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last year for the Runnin’ Rebels.

Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams was at yesterday’s presser, and Beard said that Ntambwe deserves to play and that they are working with him to keep him ready in case the NCAA reverses field and declares him eligible:

A player certain to redshirt, for example, might spend more time in the weight room without regard to being conditioned to play in a game the next day, Beard said.

“We’ve tried to keep him engaged more, probably, with this team and this next game,” Beard said, “and what we’re doing today than we maybe do in some other developmental redshirt guys. It’s been a challenge.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll get the good news that he can play college basketball which, in my opinion, I think he deserves to play and his reason to transfer was out of his power in a lot of ways. It’s just our case. That’s what I believe.”

It should be mentioned that Tennessee had a player become eligible immediately after being initially denied eligibility when he transferred from Arizona State. UNLV had a coaching change, which is why Ntambwe left UNLV, but there was not a coaching change at Arizona State. If Ntambwe were to become eligible, it would a game-changer for Texas Tech as Texas Tech could use another frontcourt option as the only player at 6’8″ who receives regular playing time is T.J. Holyfield. Ntambwe’s range and ability to score would most likely open up some things inside as well.