Outgoing Portal

[leeraymond]

They wouldn't be playing the 5 in the traditional way. We'd have four 6'6" or taller quick athletes on the floor to switch or trap on defense. And Reed could be part of that, so not relying on the freshmen so much.

I think your list of additions is most likely what we go after though.

Check out all the teams in the Final Four. They all start the traditional two big men, especially NC State. UCONN has a 4 that plays a lot on the perimeter. However, their other bigs play inside. It's funny that in the world of positionless and small-ball basketball, the teams in the 2024 Final Four play with traditional lineups.

[sedz]

Which works until you face a team with a 6'11" banger who's skilled on offense and Aziz either needs a rest or gets into foul trouble. Not saying the Tyler's can play some 5, but freshmen big men usually struggle on defense and there are going to be some matchups that they likely won't be ready for.

I know not too many teams have that sort of guy, but enough in the Big 12 do that it's a concern. I also wonder if the trend is going to change a bit, this year is kind of a "year of the big man" with three teams in the final four (and both of the top two teams) being carried by their big.

I don't think you combat skilled bigs with unskilled size. Edey and Burns are scoring over bigs who aren't good shot blockers. Look at what Burns just did to Filipowski. The only team that really dominated NC St this year was Ole Miss - they had a 7 footer play 20 minutes but the rest of the game they had a 6'8" guy at center and a 6'6" guy led in blocked shots. They held Burns to 5 points with 3 turnovers. UConn runs a lot of high sets with Clingan to get him looks on slips. You're better off having quick guys who can rotate. The only teams that Clingan has struggled against are St Johns and San Diego St. St Johns only plays two guys over 6'7" in a deep rotation and the Aztecs don't play anyone over 6'9".

If we can find another big who is as good defensively as Aziz, I'm ok with that. Or a guy who can score in the post like Burns. But I'd rather run long, quick lineups out there than have bigs whose only qualities are size and vertical, like Jamille was for us this year.

[leo from jersey]

It's also possible that Fredrick will manage to get healthy, avoid injury and have a John Newman like final year (or maybe two years if he can get another medical redshirt for this year). If Fredrick isn't ready to give up basketball I don't mind taking that chance, but we also need another CG because it is a gamble.

That would be my wish as he is a fine player and leader. It is just a hard thing considering his injury history. One wonders why X didn't recruit him last year considering the family ties. Maybe they did. I hope it works out for the team and especially for CJ. Newman only had one injury and while it was serious, he only lost 1 season and not three. I hope for a full recovery because he adds as I said leadership and great shooting.

[bearcatbret]

There is actually a better article on this on Fan ReCap but I could not find it outside of social media. Here is one take on Coach Miller. Look: Former Cincinnati Player Compares Wes Miller to UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley (si.com)

[zykarious]

Hard to get rid of a local. especially one with family connections.

It's also possible that Fredrick will manage to get healthy, avoid injury and have a John Newman like final year (or maybe two years if he can get another medical redshirt for this year). If Fredrick isn't ready to give up basketball I don't mind taking that chance, but we also need another CG because it is a gamble.

[zykarious]

They wouldn't be playing the 5 in the traditional way. We'd have four 6'6" or taller quick athletes on the floor to switch or trap on defense. And Reed could be part of that, so not relying on the freshmen so much.

I think your list of additions is most likely what we go after though.

Which works until you face a team with a 6'11" banger who's skilled on offense and Aziz either needs a rest or gets into foul trouble. Not saying the Tyler's can play some 5, but freshmen big men usually struggle on defense and there are going to be some matchups that they likely won't be ready for.

I know not too many teams have that sort of guy, but enough in the Big 12 do that it's a concern. I also wonder if the trend is going to change a bit, this year is kind of a "year of the big man" with three teams in the final four (and both of the top two teams) being carried by their big.

[GoBearcats31]

Sage still may develop. K-Martin was not all that good his first two years and was decent his junior year and was outstanding his senior year after spending the summer games under Bobby Knight. E-Hicks left the team for a while and was a bad attitude kid to begin with. If we had the transfer portal and all that is going on today, I wonder if either of these great Bearcats would have stayed around or even been allowed to stay.

Kenyon recorded a triple double as a sophomore and averaged about 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Sage has a total of 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block over two seasons.

[sedz]

It's a lot to ask of the Tyler's to come in and play significant minutes at the 5. I generally don't like relying on freshmen anyway, much less when they are undersized, out of position and at center, the toughest position in basketball for freshmen to play.

If the assumption of who is leaving is correct, have to think we look to add one 5 (who maybe can play some 4), a bigger wing (who can play some 5 ideally) and a combo guard (can keep Fredrick, but can't count on on him).

They wouldn't be playing the 5 in the traditional way. We'd have four 6'6" or taller quick athletes on the floor to switch or trap on defense. And Reed could be part of that, so not relying on the freshmen so much.

I think your list of additions is most likely what we go after though.

[bearcatbret]

Sage still may develop. K-Martin was not all that good his first two years and was decent his junior year and was outstanding his senior year after spending the summer games under Bobby Knight. E-Hicks left the team for a while and was a bad attitude kid to begin with. If we had the transfer portal and all that is going on today, I wonder if either of these great Bearcats would have stayed around or even been allowed to stay.

[Rufus]

Not saying if they're being pushed out or not. And definitely not pointing any fingers but unfortunately with the leniency afforded to the "student athlete" to leave a program at his whim, I think it's only fair the coach has his say so in the yearly rebuilding of a roster. If a player is not developing as expected, not as productive as he should be, or is not putting forth the real effort to help the team win, I think it fair to ask a player to go find a more suitable place for himself. Us older fans are used to seeing shady coach's dumping players in order to offer scholarships to "better" players, but in the environment today asking some players to move has to be looked at as necessary to get the best players your money can get. JMHO


P.S. I just wonder how long it will take before it won't be required for the players to even take classes. One poster earlier mentioned graduation rates, or the lack of. How inappropriate it now is for institutions of higher learning to even publish these rates. Again JMHO

[longtimefan]

it’s just as possible, in this era, that these kids are being pushed out for newcomers.

I hope not. I just hope that CWM is honest with his guys, telling them exactly where they stand. At that point, I hope the option to stay is still available, and anybody who leaves does so by their own choice. I know that in many cases loyalty isn’t both ways, but kids who come to play here should never be forced out.

[leo from jersey]

it’s just as possible, in this era, that these kids are being pushed out for newcomers.

I think that is the plan for a couple.

[bobestes]

It looks like, and nothing is in written in stone, that we will have 3 guys hitting the portal on Tuesday. All in the front court. The reason I'm not saying who is the same reason you don't ruin a commitment announcement for a kid. I'm going to let them make their own announcements on the subject. I'm not trying to tease you all. If it plays out the way I've been told, most of you will be not all that disappointed in the outcome.

it’s just as possible, in this era, that these kids are being pushed out for newcomers.

[leo from jersey]

It's a lot to ask of the Tyler's to come in and play significant minutes at the 5. I generally don't like relying on freshmen anyway, much less when they are undersized, out of position and at center, the toughest position in basketball for freshmen to play.

If the assumption of who is leaving is correct, have to think we look to add one 5 (who maybe can play some 4), a bigger wing (who can play some 5 ideally) and a combo guard (can keep Fredrick, but can't count on on him).

Hard to get rid of a local. especially one with family connections.

[zykarious]

I think we already have several guys who can be serviceable at the 5, even if they don't have traditional size, rim protection, or post scoring. It's useful to have a couple big bodies when needed, but I don't want to reload with slow bigs.

My wishlist is wings, wings, and more wings.

It's a lot to ask of the Tyler's to come in and play significant minutes at the 5. I generally don't like relying on freshmen anyway, much less when they are undersized, out of position and at center, the toughest position in basketball for freshmen to play.

If the assumption of who is leaving is correct, have to think we look to add one 5 (who maybe can play some 4), a bigger wing (who can play some 5 ideally) and a combo guard (can keep Fredrick, but can't count on on him).