23-24 Roster (updated)

[HuskerFever]

6 hours ago, FredsSlacks said:

if we can add Sallis and another quality big guy, this would probably be fred's best team on paper.

 

This is the paper Fred wants to be on:

 

[aphilso1]

Expected 8-man rotation is starting to shape up.  If our current roster was our final roster, I see a pretty clear distinction between guys we are comfortable with being in the rotation vs guys we'd prefer to be situational.

 

Rotation:

Keisei Tominaga 

Juwan Gary

Blaise Keita

Rienk Mast 

Brice Williams

Jamarques Lawrence

Ramel Lloyd

Quaran McPherson

 

Lawrence and Lloyd give you combo guard minutes, while Keisei is a pure 2 and Q is (supposedly) a pure 1.  Brice is your starting 3 but can give you minutes at the 4 if you want to put an extra guard on the floor.  Gary is your starting 4.  Mast I would assume is your starting 5, particularly with Blaise's health concerns likely limiting his usage rate.  

 

Situational:

Eli Rice - TBD.  

CJ Wilcher - extra shooter who will get minutes when hot and sit when cold, similar to how his usage fluctuated at the end of the season

Wilhelm Breidenbach - extra big for when Keita is hurt or we get into foul trouble

 

What is interesting is who gets bumped out of the regular rotation with more signings.  An extra big does seem needed with Blaise being the new Chris Balham.  That essentially would make a 9 man rotation when Blaise is healthy and an 8 man when he's not.  But a PG signing would likely push Q to a situational role.  Two guards would bump Q and...who?  Not Keisei, obviously.  Lloyd has been hyped up to the point that it would be surprising if he isn't in the rotation.  Lawrence sure seemed more and more solid as the year progressed.  That makes an interesting problem, with a lot of good-but-not-great guards vying for the same minutes.

[hhcmatt]

32 minutes ago, aphilso1 said:

Q is (supposedly)

 

Valuing guesses over actual production isn't likely to yield accurate results. 

[aphilso1]

1 hour ago, hhcmatt said:

 

Valuing guesses over actual production isn't likely to yield accurate results. 

 

This really isn't a hot take.  It's the same info that was reported in multiple news outlets last season -- Q was supposedly our backup point guard before his injury.  I put the parenthetical clarification in to point out that it was based on intel rather than my own eyeballs.

[B-town hoopsfan]

If we bring in 2 more guards I think both Q and wilcher are gone.  No inside info to back that up but both would have few paths to playing time IMO 

[busticket]

Did Sam Hoiberg get hit by a truck? Or am I missing something?

[Silverbacked1]

3 minutes ago, busticket said:

Did Sam Hoiberg get hit by a truck? Or am I missing something?

I think only players on scholarship are listed.

[busticket]

Also, I like Quaran and want him to be like what I imagine.  Last offseason I felt like the only guy that really liked Keisei, but my eyes told me he could be a player if the team played like a team.  There were flashes there.  With Quaran, I am really high on him but have zero to base it in other than body language and demeanor.  

[busticket]

2 minutes ago, Silverbacked1 said:

I think only players on scholarship are listed.

I hear ya.  Until proven otherwise, Sam has earned his spot in the eight man rotation.  He made some insanely clutch plays for us last year.  Very much a glue guy in my book.  Dude has some serious heart.

[cornfed24-7]

12 minutes ago, busticket said:

Last offseason I felt like the only guy that really liked Keisei

Whoa whoa whoa buddy... I've been on the Tominaga Express hype train since day 1!

[busticket]

1 hour ago, cornfed24-7 said:

Whoa whoa whoa buddy... I've been on the Tominaga Express hype train since day 1!

There weren’t a lot of us at the time my man!  But that’s okay….last offseason was a pretty dark time so I get the negativity during that stretch.  
 

For me it’s not about being right or wrong about the kid.   I am just so happy that things worked out where Tominaga had an opportunity to show us what he could do (and take advantage of it).  What is great is that everyone loves Keisei now, and I hope he feels that love and it leads him to playing one more year in Lincoln.  He’s one of my all time favorites to play in Lincoln.

[cornfed24-7]

38 minutes ago, busticket said:

He’s one of my all time favorites to play in Lincoln.

This. Love how he plays the game! 

[Norm Peterson]

On 3/18/2023 at 2:03 PM, Norm Peterson said:

* I'm listing Juwan and CJ as being in the same class because they've played the same number of seasons and both have a transfer.

** Wilhelm getting a medical redshirt seems like a foregone conclusion so I'm listing him as a So. If someone can explain why that's wrong, I can move him to the junior class.

*** Obviously, this is scholarship players only. We don't have to keep track of the number of walk-ons.

**** Underlined means new to the roster; lined-through means they entered the portal.

 

To answer the question from @busticket about Sam Hoiberg not being listed.

[Norm Peterson]

Updated to reflect Q departure. Somewhat satisfying that the only players were guys at the bottom of my list.

[Norm Peterson]

On 3/18/2023 at 2:03 PM, Norm Peterson said:

Sr. Keisei Tominaga (?)

Jr. Juwan Gary

Jr. Blaise Keita

Jr. CJ Wilcher

Jr. Rienk Mast 

Jr. Brice Williams

So. Wilhelm Breidenbach

So. Denim Dawson

So. Oleg Kojenets

So. Jamarques Lawrence

So. Quaran McPherson

Fr. Ramel Lloyd

Fr. Eli Rice

 

Just to kind of have a visual. I'll keep this updated as changes occur.

 

* I'm listing Juwan and CJ as being in the same class because they've played the same number of seasons and both have a transfer.

** Wilhelm getting a medical redshirt seems like a foregone conclusion so I'm listing him as a So. If someone can explain why that's wrong, I can move him to the junior class.

*** Obviously, this is scholarship players only. We don't have to keep track of the number of walk-ons.

**** Underlined means new to the roster; lined-through means they entered the portal.

 

We've dropped three to graduation. We've dropped three to the portal. We've added two from the portal and we've added a HS recruit.

 

So, by my math, we still have 3 spots left at this point.

 

What do we need to get with the remaining spots to turn this into an NCAA tourney caliber roster? Is it there already?

 

Thoughts?

[aphilso1]

I don't know.  On one hand it looks like we are more talented than we were at this point last season.  But the guys we are losing were the main culture guys, so without them it's possible that things go to hell in a handbasket.  I do think we are covered (on paper anyway) at the 2-5 with quality players.  PG is the big question mark.  Well, that and whether Keita can play a full season without getting injured again.

[49r]

37 minutes ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

We've dropped three to graduation. We've dropped three to the portal. We've added two from the portal and we've added a HS recruit.

 

So, by my math, we still have 3 spots left at this point.

 

What do we need to get with the remaining spots to turn this into an NCAA tourney caliber roster? Is it there already?

 

Thoughts?

 

Maybe put Sam on scholarship?  Then we would only be 2 short.

[No Place Like the Vault]

No, he doesn't need a scholarship.  His dad can cover the bill easily.

[Huskerpapa]

I would twist this a tiny bit and remove positional needs.  I keep hearing that we are position-less, so let's start from there.  

Are we going to have a 13-man rotation?  No.  I am going to guess that an 8 - or 9-man rotation is likely.  Let's go with a 9-man rotation for the sake of argument.  We will then have 1 or 2 possible redshirts.  If it is 1, then with a 13 man roster, you will have 3 players who may play a bit...but are more or less bench eye-candy.  Also, we have two walk-ons that may vie for playing time...both Hoiberg and Jacobson very well could earn their way into that 9 man rotation.  Currently (and further assuming that Keisei is back) I believe our 9 man rotation is:

Keisei 

Lawrence

Lloyd

Blaise

Wilhelm

Mast

Gary

CJ

Williams

Shoot, what about Rice?  What about Sam? What about Jacobson?

Hmm.  Interesting development.  

So, do you perhaps bring in three studs, who will push three of the above out of the rotation, or force the rotation to expand? Do you bring in players that are projects and would be willing to sit for one or two years to earn their chance?  Do you hold an open spot or two and shop for a mid-year transfer or early enrollees?  

I will make one additional argument.   We have not been over .500 for, what seems like, eons.  We have only dipped our toes into the NCAA tournament pond with nary a win.  So looking at that nine man roster, should we not blow it up again in order to upgrade our chances for nirvana?  Probably not at this point, but it is something to consider.

 

 

Edited April 29, 2023 by Huskerpapa

[cornfed24-7]

5 minutes ago, Huskerpapa said:

I would twist this a tiny bit and remove positional needs.  I keep hearing that we are possionaless, so let's start from there.  

Are we going to have a 13-man rotation?  No.  I am going to guess that an 8 - or 9-man rotation is likely.  Let's go with a 9-man rotation for the sake of argument.  We will then have 1 or 2 possible redshirts.  If it is 1, then with a 13 man roster, you will have 3 players who may play a bit...but are more or less bench eye-candy.  Also, we have two walk-ons that may vie for playing time...both Hoiberg and Jacobson very well could earn their way into that 9 man rotation.  Currently (and further assuming that Keisei is back) I believe our 9 man rotation is:

Keisei 

Lawrence

Lloyd

Blaise

Wilhelm

Mast

Gary

CJ

Williams

Shoot, what about Rice?  What about Sam? What about Jacobson?

Hmm.  Interesting development.  

So, do you perhaps bring in three studs, who will push three of the above out of the rotation, or force the rotation to expand? Do you bring in players that are projects and would be willing to sit for one or two years to earn their chance?  Do you hold an open spot or two and shop for a mid-year transfer or early enrollees?  

I will make one additional argument.   We have not been over .500 for, what seems like, eons.  We have only dipped our toes into the NCAA tournament pond with nary a win.  So looking at that nine man roster, should we not blow it up again in order to upgrade our chances for nirvana?  Probably not at this point, but it is something to consider.

 

 

I like that 9 man rotation. I feel good about it. Only thing I think it needs is a guy that can play time at the 5 in case Blaise can't stay healthy. 

[BugeaterZ]

14 hours ago, Huskerpapa said:

I would twist this a tiny bit and remove positional needs.  I keep hearing that we are position-less, so let's start from there.  

Are we going to have a 13-man rotation?  No.  I am going to guess that an 8 - or 9-man rotation is likely.  Let's go with a 9-man rotation for the sake of argument.  We will then have 1 or 2 possible redshirts.  If it is 1, then with a 13 man roster, you will have 3 players who may play a bit...but are more or less bench eye-candy.  Also, we have two walk-ons that may vie for playing time...both Hoiberg and Jacobson very well could earn their way into that 9 man rotation.  Currently (and further assuming that Keisei is back) I believe our 9 man rotation is:

Keisei 

Lawrence

Lloyd

Blaise

Wilhelm

Mast

Gary

CJ

Williams

Shoot, what about Rice?  What about Sam? What about Jacobson?

Hmm.  Interesting development.  

So, do you perhaps bring in three studs, who will push three of the above out of the rotation, or force the rotation to expand? Do you bring in players that are projects and would be willing to sit for one or two years to earn their chance?  Do you hold an open spot or two and shop for a mid-year transfer or early enrollees?  

I will make one additional argument.   We have not been over .500 for, what seems like, eons.  We have only dipped our toes into the NCAA tournament pond with nary a win.  So looking at that nine man roster, should we not blow it up again in order to upgrade our chances for nirvana?  Probably not at this point, but it is something to consider.

 

 

I think if Wilcher is one of the 9 then you make every effort to make that untrue. Not that he can't contribute to a good team, but the consistency hasn't been there.

[Chuck Taylor]

15 hours ago, Huskerpapa said:

Keisei 

Lawrence

Lloyd

Blaise

Wilhelm

Mast

Gary

CJ

Williams

So looking at that nine man roster, should we not blow it up again in order to upgrade our chances for nirvana?  Probably not at this point, but it is something to consider.

 

 

That is not an NCAA tournament team's rotation. We need at least 2 high-level transfers.

[No Place Like the Vault]

My starters right now would be

Lloyd

Keisei

Williams

Gary

Mast

 

We could use another PG or combo guard with decent size

[cornfed24-7]

1 hour ago, Chuck Taylor said:

That is not an NCAA tournament team's rotation. We need at least 2 high-level transfers.

I'm not sure about that. Would still love two high level transfers

[Milk]

My starters right now

Hoiberg

Lawrence

Tominaga

Gary

Mast