2025-26 Roster

[swilsonsp4]

I asked what part, if any, did N'Dikave have in the recruitment of Miller. Nobody answered.

N'Daiye certainly had a major role in getting Thiam here. That was the staff's primary focus in hiring N'Daiye. The fact that he can coach bigs is a bonus.

[leeraymond]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

Oops! I forgot about Hicks and Maxiell. Perhaps one of the three or four best UC front lines since 1991-92. Maxiell was a first round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons. Also, let me not forget Donald Little, Jamaal Davis, and Immanuel McElroy. That was a very good defensive front line. Opposing teams scored 60.4 points a game and shot 37%. This team also included Steve Logan, who hit for 22 points a game. This was Bob Huggins' last Sweet 16 team at Cincinnati.

The University of Cincinnati basketball program has had some really good front lines since 1990. UC is at its best when it has good front line play. Take a look at all the good front line players that have come through the program.

[leo from jersey]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

I asked what part, if any, did N'Dikave have in the recruitment of Miller. Nobody answered.

[leeraymond]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

[leeraymond]

Believe it or not, based on last season's stats, Haynes was more productive than both Thiam and Miller in terms of scoring and rebounding per minute on the floor. Check out the comparisons based on last season (Points per minute / Rebounds per minute).

Miller: .377 / .23
Thiam: .362 / .22
Haynes: .546 / .26

Haynes appears to be a pretty productive player. Let's not sell Jalen Haynes short. This guy is going to get his points and rebounds. He may actually be a better player in the paint than both Thiam and Miller. Haynes may be able to use his physicality and weight to gain advantage in the paint against Thiam and Miller in practice.

If Haynes can reduce his turnovers and fouls, he is going to steal some minutes from Thiam and Miller. Given that everyone stays healthy, next year's team should be able to play in a number of different styles. I like this roster better than last year's roster. It is more diverse and flexible. Will that convert into wins? I hope so. With this roster, can UC play well enough to get to the upper division of the BIG XII?

[Rufus]

His turnover rate is concerning especially considering that he did this in a conference that is less physical on average than the B12. But hopefully our "coaches" can get this corrected.

[sedz]

Haynes should be a major upgrade over Page as a backup 5. Worst case is he turns the ball over way too much and replicates what Page gave us. Best case is he repeats the 4.0 BPM he put up in 9 games against top 100 competition last year. He's a good rebounder, efficient high usage scorer with good passing for a big, and was good defensively last year (2.0 DBPM). His 20% turnover rate is high though (even higher than Page), and that will limit his playing time if it doesn't improve.

[Rufus]

I'm expecting Haynes to be the stereotypical "thug" bearcat that we got spoiled by but haven't had in Clifton for awhile. We need guys like B. Brannen, Eric Hicks, Conner Barwin and D. Fortson who the opponent would have to all but tackle to keep from putting up missed / second shots. Wes Miller, the monster factory and the staff needs to be putting together some rebounding exercises in practice because getting only one shot per possession is getting very difficult to watch. Being 7 foot, nor having two such players on the floor together does not automatically guarantee rebounds. One has to want to obtain rebounds and hopefully Haynes does.

[zykarious]

Nobody really talks about Jalen Haynes. I was curious about what he did last year per game at George Mason. So, I looked him up. Here is what I found per game: 14 pts., 6.9 reb., .554 ave, .176 (3 ave), .604 FT, and 2.5 TO. Haynes' scoring is better than both Thiam and Miller, and his rebounding is second to Miller at 7g. There is a problem though. Haynes turns the ball over about 2.5 times a game. Higher than both Thiam and Miller.

There is another thing to mention. Because Haynes is not really a three-point shooter and cannot stretch the floor the way that Thiam and Miler can, along with his turnover problem, may restrict him of becoming a starter. However, you never know how these things will work themselves out. Nevertheless, Haynes, I believe, is going to be one of those players that knows how to play HIS game. Haynes will be a productive player.

It will be interesting to see how Haynes fits into Coach Miller's action plans. Good luck to Jalen Haynes.

Most likely to restrict Haynes is his defense and his tendency to foul. His foul rate was 4.5 per 40 minutes compared to Thiam 3.8 per 40 and Baba 3.3 per 40 (though Baba's foul rate was 4.9 per 40 minutes as a SO at FSU, hopefully it dropped due to him gaining experience and not a drop in competition level).

If he's going to start, he needs to reduce the fouls, while moving up a level in competition and playing a position that he doesn't have much experience with. His fouling was largely because he was handsy with smaller, faster guys on the perimeter. Exactly what he's going to be expected to do more of if he plays the 4.

Either that or he has to beat out Thiam for minutes at center, which seems incredibly unlikely.

My expectation/hope for Haynes is 10-15 minute per game guy who can positively contribute when he plays.

[red_n_black_attack]

Nobody really talks about Jalen Haynes. I was curious about what he did last year per game at George Mason. So, I looked him up. Here is what I found per game: 14 pts., 6.9 reb., .554 ave, .176 (3 ave), .604 FT, and 2.5 TO. Haynes' scoring is better than both Thiam and Miller, and his rebounding is second to Miller at 7g. There is a problem though. Haynes turns the ball over about 2.5 times a game. Higher than both Thiam and Miller.

There is another thing to mention. Because Haynes is not really a three-point shooter and cannot stretch the floor the way that Thiam and Miler can, along with his turnover problem, may restrict him of becoming a starter. However, you never know how these things will work themselves out. Nevertheless, Haynes, I believe, is going to be one of those players that knows how to play HIS game. Haynes will be a productive player.

It will be interesting to see how Haynes fits into Coach Miller's action plans. Good luck to Jalen Haynes.

Haynes will do the little things that Ody started doing better his senior year. Big body, banger to get offensive and defensive rebounds, but I don't suspect he will have a huge role, 10 minutes or less. A lot of his use will depend on foul trouble and how the other team is playing us, my one cent.

[D.A.H.]

Nobody really talks about Jalen Haynes. I was curious about what he did last year per game at George Mason. So, I looked him up. Here is what I found per game: 14 pts., 6.9 reb., .554 ave, .176 (3 ave), .604 FT, and 2.5 TO. Haynes' scoring is better than both Thiam and Miller, and his rebounding is second to Miller at 7g. There is a problem though. Haynes turns the ball over about 2.5 times a game. Higher than both Thiam and Miller.

There is another thing to mention. Because Haynes is not really a three-point shooter and cannot stretch the floor the way that Thiam and Miler can, along with his turnover problem, may restrict him of becoming a starter. However, you never know how these things will work themselves out. Nevertheless, Haynes, I believe, is going to be one of those players that knows how to play HIS game. Haynes will be a productive player.

It will be interesting to see how Haynes fits into Coach Miller's action plans. Good luck to Jalen Haynes.

i have no mumbo jumbo stats for this, but i really feel like, esp. in a league like the B12, this team, or any team, needs an inside "presence" - a bruiser who can take up space / get and hold position / clog the lane, and maybe even hit a shot (that's not a lob) every once in a while. two years ago, we had that guy - he left - last year, we didn't. i think mr. haynes could be a large (pun intended) part of uc's success this year.

[leeraymond]

Nobody really talks about Jalen Haynes. I was curious about what he did last year per game at George Mason. So, I looked him up. Here is what I found per game: 14 pts., 6.9 reb., .554 ave, .176 (3 ave), .604 FT, and 2.5 TO. Haynes' scoring is better than both Thiam and Miller, and his rebounding is second to Miller at 7g. There is a problem though. Haynes turns the ball over about 2.5 times a game. Higher than both Thiam and Miller.

There is another thing to mention. Because Haynes is not really a three-point shooter and cannot stretch the floor the way that Thiam and Miler can, along with his turnover problem, may restrict him of becoming a starter. However, you never know how these things will work themselves out. Nevertheless, Haynes, I believe, is going to be one of those players that knows how to play HIS game. Haynes will be a productive player.

It will be interesting to see how Haynes fits into Coach Miller's action plans. Good luck to Jalen Haynes.

[leo from jersey]

I am in agreement with you. After watching some footage on Tillery, he may be a little more developed than freshmen normally are at the point guard point position. He is only one of two guys that will be able to get the ball to the rim consistently. Thomas is the other guy. Tillery can also pull up and take the three. If Tillery is as good on defense as the scouting report suggests, he will steal some minutes away from somebody.

Basketball purists like to say that it is not who starts that really matters, but who finishes. It would not surprise me if Tillery is in the game when the game is on the line or at the end of games. If Tillery can handle the ball with very few turnovers and play without fouling, I like his chances to get significant minutes.

Watch out for Tillery.

It would be groovy to have confidence with the player having the ball at the last possession of a tight game. It makes the other 4 better players too.

[bearcatlifer]

Let's not forget that we had great preseason buzz with last year's team. Then something hapened ( or didn't happen).It is coachMiller's job to figure that out. Anything close to a repeat and he should be gone.

[leeraymond]

Based on the scouting, Tillery is a true floor general, he may have a leg up on getting playing time at PG. Only Kerr and DayDay are true PGs, and neither are excellent passers. I think Tillery takes 12-15 minutes at PG with Kerr or DayDay sliding over to SG when Jizzle takes a break. I'd really like two excellent ball handlers and passers on the floor together with the wing/Bigs coming in. I know that really doesn't fit Wes' offensive scheme, but man the possibilities are high.

I am in agreement with you. After watching some footage on Tillery, he may be a little more developed than freshmen normally are at the point guard point position. He is only one of two guys that will be able to get the ball to the rim consistently. Thomas is the other guy. Tillery can also pull up and take the three. If Tillery is as good on defense as the scouting report suggests, he will steal some minutes away from somebody.

Basketball purists like to say that it is not who starts that really matters, but who finishes. It would not surprise me if Tillery is in the game when the game is on the line or at the end of games. If Tillery can handle the ball with very few turnovers and play without fouling, I like his chances to get significant minutes.

Watch out for Tillery.