nustudent

That'd be my bet as well. Which makes it even easier to speculate about Nana's future/role here.

I think he is 'probably' better too. But it's certainly not a given. I'm hopeful he improves as well too. But I'd take the freshman Jordy over Sophomore Jordy. So again, not a given. Even if he does improve, it still does not mean there isn't a use or need. It's tough to say on the need for thie 10 min/game increasing. While on one hand, it's easy to say no since every one else came back. It's also fair to say that it shouldn't be hard to find someone who is a better player than Duby/Borchardt and thus that might increase it. If they got 10 minutes a game, what good a better player garner. I mentioned your point about the Roby and Copeland opportunity at the 3 earlier and I think this is why we really could use another post. This is an option for us and if we do this, we need more than just Jordy to play the 5. There's going to be your normal 8-9 man rotation. Well, we know Burke isn't going to be in it. Our open scholie (Borchardt) shouldn't be. Highly unlikely Heimann is. I personally don't think Davis will be ready. That leaves only 9 guys left. If the rumors are true about Akenten leaving or if him, Thor and Amir simply can't cut it/aren't ready, which are real possibilities, we get thin in a hurry. That's why I am all for getting a grad transfer big. Even if he is just an improved Okeke as a role player...it's ideal for us. It doesn't tie it up long term with a marginial player and it gets us another body at a spot we needed help at last year and was our biggest deficiency. I think we have a clear cut top 6: Watson/Allen/Palmer/Copeland/Roby/Jordy Amir is imo probably your 7th guy and either Thor/Nana as your 8th. We know Heimann and Burke aren't in the mix and Borchardt shouldn't be. Davis is an unknown to me and IMO is a stretch. At least for this year. There's definitely a need for another capable body in that mix. And this is assuming Copeland comes back. If he doesn't, which I still fear is the far more likely scenario, we are real real thin up front. It's partly why I think Copeland is more important than Palmer

IMO...there's more than 80 minutes available there. Roby and even Cope's athleticsm give some flexability. Remember, we all thought Roby would be playing a lot at the 3 heading into last year. Also not buying Jordy playing 20 mpg until he proves he can stay out of foul trouble. And I think we can find someone. This pickup doesn't have to be an all conference guy (though that wouldn't hurt) for it to fill the roll we need. IMO, we already have our redshirt big man in Heimann. With him and Burke redshirting that already puts us down to 10 guys without filling the spot. And that assumes no attrition and guys like Akenten and Thor develop along with Harris and Davis (who IMO won't) be ready to contribute. Some extra depth, especially in the paint, is never a bad thing. I think people forget how bad of a rebounding and interior defensive team we were at times last year. That's our biggest weakness and if we can address it, it'd go along way into getting us where we want to be.

That's my point. There is an obvious flaw to his game.

No assuming, everyone comes back. We need someone to fill post minutes alongside Jordy. He's not exactly what I'm saying. I certainly don't trust him to finish. I certainly don't trust him to stay out of foul trouble. I'm not writing him off. I'm also not betting/relying on him. Even the times where he played well...he couldn't avoid serious foul issues.

Maybe I'm more worried about adding pieces for this season than the future right now. If this year doesn't go well, the future changes pretty dramatically. We aren't far away. Id just assume make sure we have all the pieces we need for this year as opposed to holding on to a low percentage shot next year,

Personally, I hate the 'save for mid semester transfer' notion. We've done that once in 6 classes. Yes, I know we got Copeland out of it, but that's a small run of success and we may only get one season out of Copeland for it. Don't sign a guy for the sake of signing him, so if it is open then it gives some flexibility. But try your hardest to get someone now who can contribute as opposed to sacrificing it for the sake of something that has occurred 17% of the time thus far. If you can't find it and have to eat it, then fine...it gives you the mid term option. I just hate the concept of 'saving' one. Especially this far in, to a program build. We need depth and need to win now, otherwise there is no later. I think there are still definitely minutes to be found there. Borchardt and Okeke combined to get around 6.5 minutes a game. And they aren't very good. And Jordy is far from a great player. If you can find someone better than Okeke (shouldn't be hard to do) then it's not unrealistic to see that get to 6.5 minutes a game. Also not unrealistic to find someone who can either push Jordy to improve or take some of his minutes as well. Additionally, if you find someone serviceable, it lets you get more creative in using Roby and Copeland at the 3 & 4 along with a post at times.

That would jive with the comments of one scout. Essentially said he needed to get tougher mentally and learn to fight through adversity.

I'd be open to that. I'd take Leslee in a heartbeat on this team. But it also ties up a scholie for next year too. I think the guy from Colorado wouldn't be terrible. He'd be similar to Jordy and be able to give us competent minutes over Borchardt. He's not great but he's better than Okeke and/or Abraham. I think the UMASS guy would be a nice get too. Shot blocker and finisher. Not much of a shooter. That's fine. We already have scorers, we need a guy who can finish when he gets the opportunity.

Dont mind that idea. Still would like a capable post to allow Copeland and Roby to play their more natural positions

Our true posts are Jordy and Borchardt. So yeah...a role player is more than enough. Also think we have a bit more to sell this year. Usually grad transfer guys want to win. We potentially return the majority of the parts from a 22-win, 4th place Big 10 team. Our angle can easily be that we have a ton of parts that we can surround him with and that guy is the missing piece.

Personally, I like Johnson's quickness and explosiveness. Not that Amir isn't, just that I think Johnson's is elite. I'm also a little hesitant to buy in when guys have freakish measurables for their position. 6'5 point guards, 6'3" corner backs, 6'6" wide receivers.....of course thatd be great to find.....but everyone else is looking for that too.

Were not that lucky

Johnon better. This is a good fallback get. Credit to miles for closing quickly in a bad deal

It should be a grad transfer big man regardless

Liked X better but we need a PG and he has length and athleticism. If you’re going to be a subpar shooter, you better have those two things and he does. Under the circumstances it’s a solid get if he truly is 6-5 and has the handles and fluidity to play point, it’s a tough variable for a lot of college teams. Allows you to get creative with some zone looks too because of the length offensively, if his shot is as questionable as it’s made out to be, we’ll need to surround him with shooters, which has been easier said than done but he can be functional with his ability to get in the paint and work on smaller guards

All for a grad transfer big. Guard or wing, go freshmen unless he’s a lights out shooter

Nice

You're right. Was thinking he only had one year at Louisville.

I like the chemistry between Gates and Lewis, or at least the appearance of. That matters. Impressive hire considering the situation

Never said I blamed Miles. I actually agree with him on passing on him the third time around. I also wasn't the one who randomly brought Agau's name into the conversation either.

Believe Akoy was a 4th year junior last year. And I wasn't comparing careers. I was comparing seasons, which was the OP's question when bringing Agau into it.

Which is quite a bit more than Duby here and on par (slightly more points, slightly fewer rebounds) with Jordy

Depends on expectations. Far more productive than Okeke here and on par with Jordy

You can oversign by one. And I’m guessing Miles has an idea on what might shake out