2024 Portal Watch

[hhcmatt]

18 hours ago, huskercabby said:

From one old, fat guy to another, not many on this very board would be happy with a Morgan/Meah as our starting 4/5.

 

Morgan and Meah would be a rotation at the 5 with Morgan playing some 4 if we think we need to match up size.  Seems apparent by our recruiting of Xavier Amos that we're also trying to recruit to the 4.

[huskercabby]

I think my biggest concern with recruiting/transfers so far is that most of the discussion on this board is about the people we’ve added as providing good depth. I was hoping for difference makers.

 

For the record, in no way do I feel the Huskers or Fred are failing. The last two years the program has put a product on the floor that is fun to root for.

 

My disappointment in our recruiting/transfers doesn’t change my support for the team.

Edited April 29 by huskercabby

[Navin R. Johnson]

 

[AGHANSEN]

24 minutes ago, huskercabby said:

I think my biggest concern with recruiting/transfers so far is that most of the discussion on this board is about the people we’ve added as providing good depth. I was hoping for difference makers.

 

For the record, in no way do I feel the Huskers or Fred are failing. The last two years the program has put a product on the floor that is fun to root for.

 

My disappointment in our recruiting/transfers doesn’t change my support for the tea.

Assuming that Mast is back and plays, do you think the 24-25 roster as it stands right now, is better than the 23-24 roster ?

I think yes, why? Because we actually have a true PG who can defend. 

This allows Brice to play off the ball where he could thrive (potential all conference selection).

 

I do see the point you are trying to make.

However, we probably are never going to get any big name transfers/recruits. 

Instead, Fred has to recruit guys who fit our system and the culture and not star power.

[Swan88]

Sorry.  I don't get the angst--at all.

 

Would everyone feel better if we landed a five star?  Then, this guy should get us excited: "Ranked No. 30 in the country by Rivals, No. 36 by ESPN, and No. 39 by ON3," "Ranked as a five-star recruit in January of 2023," and "Tabbed as the No. 1 player in the state of Connecticut by 247 Sports."

 

Would everyone feel better if we landed someone who has already achieved highly in the B1G?  Then, this guy should get us excited: "2023 Big Ten All-Freshman team honoree … Played in all 35 games, starting the final 19 games in his debut season … Averaged 11.7 points, 2.0 3-pointers per game and 27.3 minutes per game."

 

Would everyone feel better if we landed a point guard with multiple years of Power 5 success?  Then, this guy should get us excited: "Started in all 30 games in his second year," "2.61 A/TO ratio . . . ranks 2nd in the Pac-12 and 30th overall in the NCAA," and "Averaged 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists."

 

Or, remember from last year when Allick committed . . . that was grounds for angst.  But those grounds proved false.

 

Edit addition:  The desperation NIL money that's floating around, in these late portal days, is insane.  It's not sustainable and is going to damage the teams that are doing it.

Edited April 29 by Swan88

[49r]

1 minute ago, AGHANSEN said:

Assuming that Mast is back and plays, do you think the 24-25 roster as it stands right now, is better than the 23-24 roster ?

I think yes, why? Because we actually have a true PG who can defend. 

This allows Brice to play off the ball where he could thrive (potential all conference selection).

 

I do see the point you are trying to make.

However, we probably are never going to get any big name transfers/recruits. 

Instead, Fred has to recruit guys who fit our system and the culture and not star power.

 

I don't know any people who were really very excited about getting Mast/Gary/Williams or even really Allick among many other significant contributors to this team over the last couple of years.  And now we've built our whole team around this core of guys with quite a bit of success.

 

Which is all a roundabout way of saying there just isn't any point getting too excited or disappointed with our recruiting in the portal.  I think we've all been pretty happy with the trajectory of the program over the last couple of years.

[millerhusker]

32 minutes ago, Navin R. Johnson said:

 

Their frontcourt is gonna be stout next year

[Art Vandalay]

52 minutes ago, 49r said:

 

I don't know any people who were really very excited about getting Mast/Gary/Williams or even really Allick among many other significant contributors to this team over the last couple of years.  And now we've built our whole team around this core of guys with quite a bit of success.

 

Which is all a roundabout way of saying there just isn't any point getting too excited or disappointed with our recruiting in the portal.  I think we've all been pretty happy with the trajectory of the program over the last couple of years.

I was thrilled with Brice and Mast last year and I and thrilled with Griffiths and Essegian this year. Also very happy with Nelson and Worster. 

[hhcmatt]

Looks like Uconn ended up with Aidan Maheney while Creighton ended up with Pop Isaacs 

 

 

[hhcmatt]

 

What some people are calling the ASUN Rienk Mast

[hhcmatt]

Somewhat interesting as a passing post player who spent his first year at Providence.  Would assume that Zeiger would be familiar since he's from Michigan.

 

 

[huskercabby]

3 hours ago, 49r said:

 

I don't know any people who were really very excited about getting Mast/Gary/Williams or even really Allick among many other significant contributors to this team over the last couple of years.  And now we've built our whole team around this core of guys with quite a bit of success.

 

Which is all a roundabout way of saying there just isn't any point getting too excited or disappointed with our recruiting in the portal.  I think we've all been pretty happy with the trajectory of the program over the last couple of years.

You make a good point. Williams, Mast, and Alicks were under the radar transfers. I wasn’t overly excited about them, but more than this group so far. Fred hit it out of the park with the results of that group. 
 

I overlook the right fit narrative sometimes. I probably should put more trust in our staff. They’ve found the formula that works and they’re sticking with it.

 

It can’t be overstated how important player leadership is to the success of the program. The last two years we have rocked with that. Griesel and Walker in 23 and Mast and Alicks in 24. That’s why I hope Mast returns., Worster and Mast in 25.

[hhcmatt]

 

 

[millerhusker]

5 minutes ago, huskercabby said:

You make a good point. Williams, Mast, and Alicks were under the radar transfers. I wasn’t overly excited about them, but more than this group so far. Fred hit it out of the park with the results of that group. 
 

I overlook the right fit narrative sometimes. I probably should put more trust in our staff. They’ve found the formula that works and they’re sticking with it.

 

It can’t be overstated how important player leadership is to the success of the program. The last two years we have rocked with that. Griesel and Walker in 23 and Mast and Alicks in 24. That’s why I hope Mast returns., Worster and Mast in 25.

No harm no foul, but Josiah's last name is spelled Allick. Just a pet peeve of mine. 

[hhcmatt]

Sophomore who started half the games for SDSU at the 4. Took over 100 3s

 

 

[huskercabby]

53 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

No harm no foul, but Josiah's last name is spelled Allick. Just a pet peeve of mine. 

Thanks! I knew it was wrong, but too lazy to look it up.

[thrasher31]

1 hour ago, hhcmatt said:

 

 

I think this guy, or saunders would be top of my list at this point. Santos has a gap over saunders though. Really like him. 

 

We'll see what guys emerge over the week. I think there's quality still out there, but just role guys at this level. Which isn't the worst thing, but need to set expectations to that. Meah I do think has upside. He's a prototypical rim runner/protector at the next level. Ft motion needs work though, he shoots with one hand basically lol

[HuskerPower #nato73]

I think Meah would be a great pick up.  Something we have not had in a while.  Interesting where this site has him ranked:

 

Braxton Meah - NBA Draft Room

 

Scroll down on the right.  A rim protector that plays above the rim.  They don't grow on trees.  Average 8-10 points with 8-10 rebounds, 1-2 blocks and several altered shots.  Maybe even defend without requiring a post double all of the time.  Let's get him!

[hhcmatt]

Like old times again with us losing PFs to Wisconsin

 

 

[jayschool]

1 minute ago, hhcmatt said:

Like old times again with us losing PFs to Wisconsin

 

 

Hasn't he heard!??!?!? gReg GArD iS a MoNstER!!!!!!!

 

[hhcmatt]

7 minutes ago, jayschool said:

Hasn't he heard!??!?!? gReg GArD iS a MoNstER!!!!!!!

 

 

It's not so funny when Wisconsin has Chucky money available in the NIL budget

[thrasher31]

Just now, hhcmatt said:

 

It's not so funny when Wisconsin has Chucky money available in the NIL budget

And AJ storr. And Tyler Wahls. And Connor essegian. That's 4 rotation level guys that they have available from the NIL budget

[Chuck Taylor]

5 hours ago, 49r said:

 

I don't know any people who were really very excited about getting Mast/Gary/Williams or even really Allick among many other significant contributors to this team over the last couple of years.  And now we've built our whole team around this core of guys with quite a bit of success.

 

Which is all a roundabout way of saying there just isn't any point getting too excited or disappointed with our recruiting in the portal.  I think we've all been pretty happy with the trajectory of the program over the last couple of years.

A snapshot of how the board viewed last year's additions to the roster:

 

48% in the poll agreed with: "Yeah, we nailed it. We kept the best players who still had eligibility. We found more than suitable replacements for the guys who graduated. We've upgraded the overall talent level and added some important depth. This is looking like an NCAA-caliber roster. 20-21 wins". 

34% in the poll agreed with: "Y'know, I'm not elated but I'm satisfied. We kept our best players who didn't graduate. We added suitable replacements for the guys who did graduate. And we upgraded the overall talent. This is looking like an NIT team. 18 or 19 wins."

 

The lowest response was "we did ok, but only ok." 

Nobody responded negatively to the roster.

The board was pretty optimistic, not to mention prescient.

[cipsucks]

16 minutes ago, Chuck Taylor said:

The board was pretty optimistic, not to mention prescient.

 

Prescient and few pretty much tells the tale of this board.  

 

 

[49r]

3 hours ago, Chuck Taylor said:

A snapshot of how the board viewed last year's additions to the roster:

 

48% in the poll agreed with: "Yeah, we nailed it. We kept the best players who still had eligibility. We found more than suitable replacements for the guys who graduated. We've upgraded the overall talent level and added some important depth. This is looking like an NCAA-caliber roster. 20-21 wins". 

34% in the poll agreed with: "Y'know, I'm not elated but I'm satisfied. We kept our best players who didn't graduate. We added suitable replacements for the guys who did graduate. And we upgraded the overall talent. This is looking like an NIT team. 18 or 19 wins."

 

The lowest response was "we did ok, but only ok." 

Nobody responded negatively to the roster.

The board was pretty optimistic, not to mention prescient.

 

Yeah but Norm started that thread in October, after we'd had a long chance to digest things and that time of year people are always hyper optimistic and anxious for the season to start anyway.

 

At the time of commitments back in the spring (and even into the summer) I think a lot of the guys were seen as plan B types at best and there were a lot of folks that were upset we couldn't land our top target.

 

I'm just saying that now is not the time to unilaterally declare our recruiting in the portal a total bust is all.