Took the roster and listed the remaining players below. I started from the highest number and worked backwards. Would the bold be the starters?

Marko Maletic 6-6 guard
Grgur Brcic 6-10 forward
André Lorentsson 6-8 forward
Sam Lewis 6-6 guard
Xavier Thomas 6-5 forward
Sonny Wilson 6-1 guard
Bryce Ford 6-2 guard
Javan Simmons 6-7 forward

That group ain’t winning 20 games, even with talented incoming freshman. Need some serious portal help

(03-30-2024 03:14 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Took the roster and listed the remaining players below. I started from the highest number and worked backwards. Would the bold be the starters?

Marko Maletic 6-6 guard
Grgur Brcic 6-10 forward
André Lorentsson 6-8 forward
Sam Lewis 6-6 guard
Xavier Thomas 6-5 forward
Sonny Wilson 6-1 guard
Bryce Ford 6-2 guard
Javan Simmons 6-7 forward

Owinga will start possibly Ode as well depending upon portal help

(03-30-2024 03:18 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  That group ain’t winning 20 games, even with talented incoming freshman. Need some serious portal help

Obviously this group ain't winning 20 games - they are 4 players short of a full roster.

And, sadly, needing serious portal help is an every year occurrence for mid-majors.

(03-30-2024 04:03 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-30-2024 03:18 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  That group ain’t winning 20 games, even with talented incoming freshman. Need some serious portal help

Obviously this group ain't winning 20 games - they are 4 players short of a full roster.

And, sadly, needing serious portal help is an every year occurrence for mid-majors.

Indictment on the sport not T.K. or UT. I agree.

(03-30-2024 04:03 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-30-2024 03:18 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  That group ain’t winning 20 games, even with talented incoming freshman. Need some serious portal help

Obviously this group ain't winning 20 games - they are 4 players short of a full roster.

And, sadly, needing serious portal help is an every year occurrence for mid-majors.

I didn’t think we would win 20 games this year with the roster we had. I’m sure we will have some additional players for the next season. Don’t bet against getting 20 wins again.

(03-30-2024 04:03 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-30-2024 03:18 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  That group ain’t winning 20 games, even with talented incoming freshman. Need some serious portal help

Obviously this group ain't winning 20 games - they are 4 players short of a full roster.

And, sadly, needing serious portal help is an every year occurrence for mid-majors.

Never know about that 20. A bunch of the MAC teams are losing plenty that wasn't that great to begin with. Have to see how challenging the OOC is. I like the core of what the Rockets have.
This team started a RS Freshman and a true Freshman- won the
regular season MAC and 20 games. Beat an Oakland team that took down a talented Kentucky team. Coach K does a nice job of
dealing with the cards he's dealt.

I've got my fingers crossed Cochran changes his mind and is back next season.

With over 800 guys in the portal I don't know as any coach has dealt with something like this.

Why would a kid go to Toledo if he wants to play in the dance and the best they can tell him is if we don't win the conference tourney the NIT no longer takes us either?

Money is in the process of ruining college basketball as we knew it.

(03-30-2024 08:26 PM)Screwball Wrote:  With over 800 guys in the portal I don't know as any coach has dealt with something like this.

Why would a kid go to Toledo if he wants to play in the dance and the best they can tell him is if we don't win the conference tourney the NIT no longer takes us either?

Money is in the process of ruining college basketball as we knew it.

Guys don't pick schools based solely on "Will I make the NCAA tournament?" Perfect example - if so, why did Dante leave Cal St Fullerton right after they made the NCAA tournament? They pick schools based on a lot of things - how much playing time they think they'll, coaching style, location, education, how does that coach develop guys for pro ball (whether NBA or overseas).

A few years ago - I believe it was Tom Izzo - was asked...what is bigger for recruiting - an NCAA Final Four/Championship, or a top 10 draft pick? His answer was a top 10 draft pick helps out more for recruiting than a Final 4/championship.

People need to stop getting hung up on the NCAAT drought and thinking it negatively effects recruiting. I would put money down that it has almost 0 negative effect on recruiting. Hell, it might be a positive effect because maybe some guys think, "I wanted to be the one to break that drought!"

Sure, some move for other reasons.

Tom Izzo's resume isn't the same as any MAC school or coach. Things are different here.

If guys wanted to break the drought, the three guys we might lose would still be here hoping K could get help for Simmons, the best power 4 in the league, while surrounded by 3 seniors who proved they can play. With guys off the bench who can play as well. Most likely picked to win the MAC next year. But then there is the tournament... One bid league.

There is no loyalty today. Other than a couple of games this year were never really manhandled, sans maybe the Vermont game, but they never missed a shot after they got off the bus. They played Indiana State to a 2 or 3 point loss. The brutal scheduled K booked didn't help one bit, not even a NIT bid. Transfer to a multiple bid league and the odds go up you get in the dance. Why not? Especially when it's this easy now and money is involved.

Money ruins everything and this is a good example, or will be.

Marko Maletic 6-6 guard
Grgur Brcic 6-10 forward
André Lorentsson 6-8 forward
Sam Lewis 6-6 guard
Xavier Thomas 6-5 forward
Sonny Wilson 6-1 guard
Bryce Ford 6-2 guard
Javan Simmons 6-7 forward
Jaylen Ouwinga 6-8 forward (some list him at 6-9)
Tyler Ode 6-6 guard
???Tyler Cochran??? all positions
>>portal<<
>>portal<<
maybe a JUCO or another FR, does anyone else transfer out? is TC back?

I think with the 10 we currently have on the roster, we need 2 more good experienced players. if Cochran decides to return, maybe just one. but the squad as is needs a couple more high level MAC players to be good. Simmons is one. Lewis, Wilson or Ford has shown the potential to get there. My guess is one or two that trio breakout next season. Can Lorentsson continue his rapid improvement? Ode will play and be a factor. He's a high level MAC recruit. I don't know if he'll be comfortable scoring as a freshman but he has the ability to help in a lot of ways and is physically ready. Ouwinga is another good catch. he's a good but thin MAC big man, so we'll see how that goes as a freshman.

TK knows we need guys and should get some. I like that we brought in the Ariz St fr guard tr with Detroit roots. haven't heard any rumors about Neal following him but that would be interesting. also like that we brought in the sandusky kid Canisius guard Jr tr. Curious to see if the 6-6 Walsh PG grad tr is visiting as we were in contact. imagine it will take 2 or 3 weeks for this first big wave of portal moves to sort out.

(03-31-2024 01:16 AM)pono Wrote:  Marko Maletic 6-6 guard
Grgur Brcic 6-10 forward
André Lorentsson 6-8 forward
Sam Lewis 6-6 guard
Xavier Thomas 6-5 forward
Sonny Wilson 6-1 guard
Bryce Ford 6-2 guard
Javan Simmons 6-7 forward
Jaylen Ouwinga 6-8 forward (some list him at 6-9)
Tyler Ode 6-6 guard
???Tyler Cochran??? all positions
>>portal<<
>>portal<<
maybe a JUCO or another FR, does anyone else transfer out? is TC back?

I think with the 10 we currently have on the roster, we need 2 more good experienced players. if Cochran decides to return, maybe just one. but the squad as is needs a couple more high level MAC players to be good. Simmons is one. Lewis, Wilson or Ford has shown the potential to get there. My guess is one or two that trio breakout next season. Can Lorentsson continue his rapid improvement? Ode will play and be a factor. He's a high level MAC recruit. I don't know if he'll be comfortable scoring as a freshman but he has the ability to help in a lot of ways and is physically ready. Ouwinga is another good catch. he's a good but thin MAC big man, so we'll see how that goes as a freshman.

TK knows we need guys and should get some. I like that we brought in the Ariz St fr guard tr with Detroit roots. haven't heard any rumors about Neal following him but that would be interesting. also like that we brought in the sandusky kid Canisius guard Jr tr. Curious to see if the 6-6 Walsh PG grad tr is visiting as we were in contact. imagine it will take 2 or 3 weeks for this first big wave of portal moves to sort out.

Need that 2 impact players.

(03-30-2024 03:23 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  

(03-30-2024 03:14 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Took the roster and listed the remaining players below. I started from the highest number and worked backwards. Would the bold be the starters?

Marko Maletic 6-6 guard
Grgur Brcic 6-10 forward
André Lorentsson 6-8 forward
Sam Lewis 6-6 guard
Xavier Thomas 6-5 forward
Sonny Wilson 6-1 guard
Bryce Ford 6-2 guard
Javan Simmons 6-7 forward

Owinga will start possibly Ode as well depending upon portal help

TK has said previously that while Owinga has unlimited potential, he will need to dedicate himself to the weight room big time before he will make an impact. As for Ode, a lot will depend on who they bring in from The Portal on whether they will need him to provide a lot of minutes right out of the gate next season. With never knowing for sure if Freshmen are ready to play right away, even the good ones like Owinga and Ode, TK is looking to the Portal for immediate help supplementing the losses of Moss, Maddox, Wight, and possibly Cochran.