CJ Wilcher's departure a blow to Nebraska basketball nation
- CJ Wilcher is the fourth Nebraska basketball player in the last three days to enter the portal.
- He also has the most playing time of the four by a large margin.
- Some think they know where he's headed.
Depending on who you are, the departure of CJ Wilcher from the Nebraska basketball team was either a foregone conclusion, or a complete shock. Judging from the comments on social media, there really isn't any in between.
What is clear is that Wilcher is the fourth Nebraska basketball player to enter the transfer portal in the three days since it's been open. All four guys depart less than a week after they lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas A&M.
What's also clear is that Wilcher is the one who leaves with the most playing experience of the quartet. By far.
Eli Rice and Ramel Lloyd Jr were big losses because they were expected to be contributors in 2024-25. Blaise Keita was thought to be someone who could get more playing time, but probably not ever a contender for a starting spot.
Wilcher would absolutely have had a chance to contend for a starting spot. He showed a great deal of growth this past season. However it appears the guarantee of starting and perhaps being closer to home appears to have been more attractive to Wilcher.
After news broke of the guard entering the portal, social media had some things to say about it.
CJ Wilcher's departure a gut punch to Nebraska basketball
Instead of trying to figure out why the Nebraska basketball star left, some fans just pointed out what he was taking with him.
It's the nature of the game but it's never easy seeing someone as well regarded as CJ Wilcher moving on.
— Husker Hoops Central (@HuskerHC) March 27, 2024
His 144 career 3pt makes at Nebraska were 12th most all-time, 1 behind Ty Lue.#Nebrasketball https://t.co/t3sWLmQboV
Others just wanted to remember what he meant to the program. Especially considering the era he played in.
CJ Wilcher’s career at Nebraska perfectly lined up with the change in culture and trending upward trajectory of Fred Hoiberg’s program.
— Jacob Bigelow (@JacobABigelow) March 27, 2024
That dude saw it all in his 3 seasons in Lincoln and he played a part in the program being in a much better spot than it was when he arrived.
Some Twitter users believe that the biggest reason he's entering the portal now is because he can finally go back to the area of the country he grew up in. In fact, he might even join his brother.
CJ Wilcher is from New Jersey. His brother plays at St Johns in New York. It's not a surprise he's in the portal and where he will end up for his final season. He helped Nebraska win a lot of games the last two years for coach Hoiberg. Wish him well. #Huskers
— DBurritt (@CghFarm) March 27, 2024
CJ Wilcher you are a Scarlet Knight https://t.co/2conx5Wa8Y
— Fence the Garden NJ🪓⚔️ (@PutOnForJersey) March 27, 2024
What we do know now that he has left is that Nebraska basketball now has a whopping five open scholarships, assuming none of these guys can be convinced to come back.
That's a lot of room to play with. The Huskers next season are going to look very different.