2025-26 Roster

[zykarious]

Rodriguez looks like a Stephan Curry wannabe. Crazy three pointers, only unlike many high schoolers' highlight reels, many of these shots were made with defense all over him.

I think a guy like that could definitely spread the floor in a positive way and give us an inside outside threat. He's got good size. A bit of a handle.

I just don't know what his defense is like and if he can work within a system or needs the ball always.

Looking at his stats from last year at the pro-level, if definitely appears he's willing to fit within a system. While older highlight videos have him handling the ball some and taking crazy threes (and some crazy twos) last year it appears he almost exclusively shot 3's and they were mainly spot up. Seems like a guy who's willing to stick to the role he's been given.

Defensively, he appears to have the athleticism and length to be at least an average to above-average defender at the 3, but it's hard to know how quickly he'll figure out our defense and how much defense he was actually expected to play previously.

[Rufus]

Why hasn't anyone i.e. the university or JJ's camp made a statement about what his intentions are. Or this a ploy to force CWM into guaranteeing more pt, a lock on a staring position, or even more NIL money since it has been months that JJ has participated in any team activities and it obvious that he's absent.

[swilsonsp4]

Current Roster:
1 Day Day Thomas, 6'1 G
2 Jizzle James, 6'3 G
3 Jalen Haynes, 6'8 F
5 Sencire Harris, 6'4 G
7 Keyshuan Tillery, 6'0 G
10 Shon Abaev, 6'8 G/F
11 Kerr Kriisa, 6'3 G
17 Jordi Rodriguez, 6'6 G/F
18 Baba Miller, 6'11 F
24 Tyler McKinley, 6'9 F
32 Jalen Celestine, 6'7 F
52 Moustapha Thiam, 7'2 C
65 Halvine Dzellat, 6'10 C

Also:
0 Bryson Buckingham, 6'2 G
13 Grant Darbyshire, 6'2 G

Definitely a sign of the times. Of the 13 non-practice players (Buckingham/Darbyshire), 7 are from other countries. The Bearcats are starting to resemble St. Mary's.

[GoBearcats31]

Current Roster:
1 Day Day Thomas, 6'1 G
2 Jizzle James, 6'3 G
3 Jalen Haynes, 6'8 F
5 Sencire Harris, 6'4 G
7 Keyshuan Tillery, 6'0 G
10 Shon Abaev, 6'8 G/F
11 Kerr Kriisa, 6'3 G
17 Jordi Rodriguez, 6'6 G/F
18 Baba Miller, 6'11 F
24 Tyler McKinley, 6'9 F
32 Jalen Celestine, 6'7 F
52 Moustapha Thiam, 7'2 C
65 Halvine Dzellat, 6'10 C

Also:
0 Bryson Buckingham, 6'2 G
13 Grant Darbyshire, 6'2 G

[GoBearcats31]

It's clear Jizzle is not with the team. We don't need any more photo evidence (or videos from UC where he's not included). Whether or not he comes back or could come back is a different question.

If he doesn't return ... does anyone else have this feeling that Kerr Kriisa could have a solid year? Feel like he hasn't been talked about a ton and it was assumed that Jizzle and Day Day would be the starting guards. But he's got a lot of experience and definitely elements to his game that make me think he could be a strong contributor.

[John P]

The MBB account posted a team activity pic from Wes' house(?) With some pictures. Jizzle is not in the pic. Make of that what you will.

https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1953195523000643785

That's a shame...I was hoping he would stay but if his heart isn't in it, then it's best he moves on. Either way, I wish him well.

[Lobot]

The MBB account posted a team activity pic from Wes' house(?) With some pictures. Jizzle is not in the pic. Make of that what you will.

https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1953195523000643785

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Rodriguez looks like a Stephan Curry wannabe. Crazy three pointers, only unlike many high schoolers' highlight reels, many of these shots were made with defense all over him.

I think a guy like that could definitely spread the floor in a positive way and give us an inside outside threat. He's got good size. A bit of a handle.

I just don't know what his defense is like and if he can work within a system or needs the ball always.

Pretty much what my impression was too.

[sirthought]

Rodriguez looks like a Stephan Curry wannabe. Crazy three pointers, only unlike many high schoolers' highlight reels, many of these shots were made with defense all over him.

I think a guy like that could definitely spread the floor in a positive way and give us an inside outside threat. He's got good size. A bit of a handle.

I just don't know what his defense is like and if he can work within a system or needs the ball always.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

So, where does everyone think Rodriguez will fit in? From the video I saw on the Enquirer, he looks like a really good shooter, and a good player.

[Rufus]

In my opinion it is these two situations that we are dealing with here.

[leo from jersey]

Also, you have to view these situations totally different. In the past you'd say, hey, it's just a kid (benefitting from a free ride). Now you're dealing with highly compensated individuals.

and their agents and in some cases parents -- well parents have often been a problem, but !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GoBearcats31]

Back to the JJ situation. It seems that since the advent of the Nil and the transfer portal, the threat from a player to bail for just any reason becomes more and more real. And I'm not suggesting that that's the case here with JJ, but it's just a matter of time when coach 's and AD's begin to protect themselves in contracts and legal verbiage in order to curtail any knee jerk responses from immature people

Also, you have to view these situations totally different. In the past you'd say, hey, it's just a kid (benefitting from a free ride). Now you're dealing with highly compensated individuals.

[Rufus]

Back to the JJ situation. It seems that since the advent of the Nil and the transfer portal, the threat from a player to bail for just any reason becomes more and more real. And I'm not suggesting that that's the case here with JJ, but it's just a matter of time when coach 's and AD's begin to protect themselves in contracts and legal verbiage in order to curtail any knee jerk responses from immature people

[zykarious]

Seems the Jizzle discussion has veered into the selfish / must be unhappy with playing time realm. I could be wrong but it seemed to go beyond that and there is clearly some personal stuff going on "off the court" -- which isn't to say they are entirely separate or that he didn't seem to suggest he was unhappy here/potentially bailing. Just saying.

Go Cats!

I do wonder how the massive roster turnover affects guys nowadays. I know that many people have the attitude of "they are pro's now, they have to figure it out". But how many pro teams are turning over 90% of their roster in a year? College basketball at the current time likely has the highest average roster turnover per year of perhaps any sport in recent history, regardless of level of play.

Jizzle is in the unique position of not really needing the money he's being paid, sure it's nice for him, but unlike most guys who have never seen that much money in their life, Jizzle may be making chump change compared to what his dad has. It's possible that Jizzle wasn't gelling well with the new roster, missing the friends he had on last years team and that negatively impacted his mental health and happiness. Not needing the money makes it easier for him to just up and leave than it would be for most guys.

Though I do expect that playing time is likely at least part of the equation for him as well. Wes has always walked the knifes edge of recruiting more guys than minutes available and still keeping everyone happy. Seems like this may be the year the knife cuts him. But as long as he can keep everyone but Jizzle happy, we should still be okay.