2025-26 Roster

[dmoney70]

Honestly putting price tags on guys just feels icky to me and I'm not sure I care to root for any of this going on in college basketball. This is the MLB. Cincinnati will never be able to fight for a Big 12 title or any title. Neither will 90% of othe programs. This is the lowest level of excitement I've ever had for UC sports.

[GoBearcats31]

At the moment, does this look like a team that could compete for a Big 12 Title? I know the first thought is, we're not done yet! If Wes does not land a couple heavy hitters, on paper we look worse IMO.

We're not done yet...

Way too early here, and things have been quiet this week for most programs as the dead period is preventing visits. Let things play out.

[sedz]

Headlines often are intended to be SHOCKING. In this case, Jizzle's return isn't shocking. Chad Brendel has said recently that he expected, but couldn't guarantee, Jizzle's return.

I'm pretty sure all those FanRecap "articles" are just AI regurgitations. Lots of generic phrasing and nonsense analysis.

"His shooting stats—40% from the field, 29% from beyond the arc, and a solid 77% from the charity stripe—highlight his all-around offensive capabilities. Standing tall at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 205 pounds, James has proven he can deliver when it counts."
Yeah, ok.

[sedz]

Chad suggested last night that we wouldn't fill all 15 spots (except maybe with types that would formerly be walk-ons), each spot cost money and the money is better spent on the top of the roster. Lots of info on the podcast for those interested in listening. Chad's guesstimate is the current roster (9 spots counting Hickman - if he gets a waiver) costs us around 4 million, which means we have around 2 million left to fill out the rest. Doesn't seem promising to me that we'll get high quality bigs at that price, seeing as we need to split our money among at least 2/3 guys and top bigs currently are going for over 2 million.

Corey Evans was also on the podcast talking about the type of players we are looking for in the portal. He has a lot of optimism that we can turn things around, which is promising given his background.

My takeaways from that are we have almost no chance to bring Mitchell back, and we have overpaid for the current roster. I think Mitchell alone gets over 2 million somewhere. Day Day and Hickman are the only guys on our team who have put up a BPM over 3.3 in their entire careers. So I'd hope most of that 4 million is going to high school recruits and not paying guys like Jizzle or Kriisa over a million. But we're not Duke. We're not getting the kind of freshmen who are going to carry us to the tournament by themselves. They're likely to leave after a year or two anyway, so we're paying them for the opportunity to develop, not necessarily produce right now. We can't afford that with our budget. We have to find value at every position. We have to pay for production this year.

[BearKatz]

So we could possibly lose the following players:

Subtractions:
1) Dan Skillings, G/F, Sr
2) Rayvon Griffith, G/F, RS-So
3) Josh Reed, G/F, Sr
4) Tyler Betsey, F, So
5) Arrinten Page, C, Jr
6) Dillon Mitchell, F, Sr

and so far the Cats answer is Harris who's not a big scorer, more known for defense. Kriisa who has potential but is often hurt etc... Sounds a little like Fredricks who we landed from UK.

Additions:
1) Kerr Kriisa, G, Sr +
2) Sencire Harris, G, Jr


At the moment, does this look like a team that could compete for a Big 12 Title? I know the first thought is, we're not done yet! If Wes does not land a couple heavy hitters, on paper we look worse IMO.

[swilsonsp4]

Bearcats Star Announces SHOCKING Return | Fan Recap

Headlines often are intended to be SHOCKING. In this case, Jizzle's return isn't shocking. Chad Brendel has said recently that he expected, but couldn't guarantee, Jizzle's return.

[Rufus]

I see a couple Conner Barwins to round out the roster. Until things change the big money blue bloods are going to buy their championships. Sad sad sad.

[BearKatz]

Chad suggested last night that we wouldn't fill all 15 spots (except maybe with types that would formerly be walk-ons), each spot cost money and the money is better spent on the top of the roster. Lots of info on the podcast for those interested in listening. Chad's guesstimate is the current roster (9 spots counting Hickman - if he gets a waiver) costs us around 4 million, which means we have around 2 million left to fill out the rest. Doesn't seem promising to me that we'll get high quality bigs at that price, seeing as we need to split our money among at least 2/3 guys and top bigs currently are going for over 2 million.

Corey Evans was also on the podcast talking about the type of players we are looking for in the portal. He has a lot of optimism that we can turn things around, which is promising given his background.

Does not sound very promising to me!

[BearKatz]

Bearcats Star Announces SHOCKING Return | Fan Recap

We're at the point, where it's shocking someone actually wants to play for the program.

[bearcatbret]

Jizzle James is back, per his Instagram post

Bearcats Star Announces SHOCKING Return | Fan Recap

[zykarious]

A roster can have up to 15 players now. I expect CWM to add some more players to the roster.

Chad suggested last night that we wouldn't fill all 15 spots (except maybe with types that would formerly be walk-ons), each spot cost money and the money is better spent on the top of the roster. Lots of info on the podcast for those interested in listening. Chad's guesstimate is the current roster (9 spots counting Hickman - if he gets a waiver) costs us around 4 million, which means we have around 2 million left to fill out the rest. Doesn't seem promising to me that we'll get high quality bigs at that price, seeing as we need to split our money among at least 2/3 guys and top bigs currently are going for over 2 million.

Corey Evans was also on the podcast talking about the type of players we are looking for in the portal. He has a lot of optimism that we can turn things around, which is promising given his background.

[London 'Cat]

Well, if that’s the roster, at this point my starters are Jizzle, Day Day, Abeav, McKinley, Harris, but all 8 get major minutes. It’s obvious we need more quality depth.

A roster can have up to 15 players now. I expect CWM to add some more players to the roster.

[red_n_black_attack]

8 spots accounted for, not counting Hickman and 4 are not guards. Honestly 6 guards, 6 wing/forward, and 3 "big men" make sense in bulding a roster with 15 scholarships. Counting McKinley and Abeav as wings, and Halvine the only big man, I'm still okay with Wes recruiting guards, especially 6'4" or taller. While we are really short on the wing/center front, we are not at all done with guards.

[longtimefan]

Well, if that’s the roster, at this point my starters are Jizzle, Day Day, Abeav, McKinley, Harris, but all 8 get major minutes. It’s obvious we need more quality depth.

[leeraymond]

As of now

Jizzle James
Tyler McKinley
Keyshaun Tillery
Shon Abeav
Halvine Dzellat
Day Day Thomas
Sencire Harris
Kerr Kriisa

This assumes Hickman is done. 7 spots still available.

If UC can add another big wing (6'6", 6'7", or 6'8") or two and two more big men (6'10 or taller) that can play in the paint, where one can also play on the perimeter, UC might be alright going into next season. Maybe.

Of the listed guys, what five could possibly start next season?