..incentive is obviously $$ in addition to winning.

We had already announced we wouldn't accept a postseason bid, so I assume no invite was extended.

Something tells me all their objections would have dissipated relatively quickly with an expense paid trip to Vegas and $$$s. Poor guys.

I think anyone who decided against playing is pretty ok with that decision.

if a player like Neo wants to focus on training for the draft and drops out of school ... does that effect VT? I know the portal players are guaranteed their scholarships through the semester and need the grades to transfer, but the players only interested in basketball probably don't want to take classes and train off campus.

Obviously his plan was to declare from the beginning. So Im betting he was enrolled in a lot of online or remote classes (or classes the staff knows doesnt require physical attendance) Secondly, athletes build up a high GPA in the summer enrolling in classes so that if their grades slip during the season they'll still be eligible. They often take the maximum classes allowed for the summer sessions. So even if he withdrew from classes he could still technically have enough credits toward his major to be eligible. Worst case scenario, he'd just retake the course (or a similar course) in the summer if he chose to come back FWIW, I think he will enter the transfer portal AND the draft. It helps force the hand of NBA teams to draft him if they know he might return to college. And doing so while in the portal means he can drive up the price with multiple schools money and not just what VT has. I ultimately think he'd stay in the draft and someone will like him enough in individual workouts to give him guarantees, so none of the above will matter...but he should be able to return to college even if he withdrew from classes