Mitchell Wilbekin's Suspension Reduced to Three Games

On Saturday, Wake Forest University announced that the NCAA had suspended Mitchell Wilbekin for six games due to an NCAA violation. Wake Forest Athletic Director Ron Wellman announced, "We believe in Mitchell Wilbekin. We do not agree with the length of the penalty or the violation, and we will be appealing the suspension with the NCAA."

Wake Forest's appeal worked because Wilbekin's suspension was reduced to "just" three games, and he will be eligible to return on December 31st against Princeton. Wilbekin was initially slated to miss that game in addition to Wake Forest's ACC home games against Louisville and Duke. The Deacs have little chance against those teams with Wilbekin (12% and 9%, respectively according to Ken Pom), but they would have had almost no chance without his three point shooting ability and ball handling. Wake had just .95 points per possession last night against a Bucknell team who allows 1.02 points per possession. The Deacs also had a dreadful .71 points per possession on Saturday against Florida.

I'll avoid bashing the NCAA too much, but it seems absurd that the NCAA can make this initial ruling, only for it to be dramatically reduced just a few days later. #FreeMitch