nustudent

I wont disagree. The dilemma I was referring to was the potential departures if we let Matt A go. We're late in the game now and we won't find guys better than what we have.

I don't think he's ideal. But situationally it can work. We can start with Wilhelm at 4 and Walker at 5. Against bigger teams he can play the 4 and Keita comes in at 5. It just gives you another chess piece to use. I don't see Dawson as a 4. But that's where I am okay with keeping a guy like Edwards. He can possibly develop into an undersized stretch 4.

The recruiting dilemma is why I am fine if Matt comes back. I'm okay if he is, as long as there is more oversight and true evaluation rather than just letting him go.

Yep. If we're targeting 3 spots...one has to be a PG, another shooter and a stretch 4.

I think the biggest thing is that it gives some versatility to the lineup. And that is something that we haven't had much of, especially in the frontcourt. You could even convince me that if we can get Lat to come back with a reduced role....that we don't need a stretch 4 from the portal.

I wouldn't have a huge issue if Edwards returns. He's long and athletic enough to take a chance on. Definitely need a PG and ideally a stretch 4 again.

I don't think Walker is completely unplayable at the 4. He might not be ideal, but he situationally, he can play there. And for a team/program that is routinely devoid of talent, depth and often both at the 5, I can live with having 4 guys there.

Maybe he's not really a 4. Not too many 7-foot PFs out there. Maybe he's not ready to have an impact. Maybe they didn't expect things to go off the rails to the extent they did. I think if they expected Oleg to make a tangible difference, he probably would've been playing. No sense in pulling a guys redshirt to improve from 10 to 12 wins. If he was the difference between a NCAA bid or not, I get it...but to go from bad to less bad.....not sure that's worth it. And just because they didn't yank the redshirt off him this year doesn't mean he can't contribute in the future.

To a certain extent...I wonder about that too. But it also might be worth sitting out a year. If he didn't play on this year's team...not sure there is a great path for him playing next year either.

Could've. But do you burn the redshirt for a guy for half a year, when it's going to be a bad year regardless?

It'd be 3 opening up unless I'm missing someone. I think that'd be ideal. You aren't going to go take 5 high quality transfers. There's a decent base in that 10. You add a point guard, another shooter and a stretch 4 to it. The last thing we need is another overhaul. 1. McPherson 2. Lloyd 3. Dawson 4. Wilcher 5. Lawrence 6. Wilhelm 7. Walker 8. Keita 9. Andre 10. Oleg

Washut put out his predictions on who stays/goes this morning. Bryce: Gone Lakes: Could apply for a medical redshirt but gone regardless Edwards: Gone Tominaga: Gone Lat & Trey: Both likely gone, but wouldn't rule either 100% out Andre, Wilcher, Walker, McPherson, Oleg, Dawson: Back

That should be enough to get Indiana in.

And you saw some of the Walker/Andre combo we discussed. Great wrinkle at the right time.

To me, this is the type of player we've had and can manufacture between Dawson, Lloyd, McPherson. I wouldn't say a hard no....but I'm not sure another volume player is the type we need.

Guessing 9-21 isn't helping either.

Getting Sanogo instead of Andre I think would've changed the narrative a bit the last two years.

Generally...I'd be okay with Tominaga staying for some of the reasons you mentioned. But we're kind of in do or die time and he's just not shown anything to indicate that he'd be a consistent Big Ten player. I'm probably putting the cart before the horse too when I mention guys like Griesell and Schiereman but both have shown the ability to make open shots and contribute in multiple ways on teams that would likely beat us and ideally one or both would have a more than casual interest in seeing us succeed due to being local. Even if McPherson can slide into that Webster role as back-up guard who can play both on and off the ball while adding a defensive presence...that'd go a long way. It's probably a stretch to assume that we will get big roles from each of Lawrence, Dawson and Lloyd...but we need one to essentially play starter's minutes unless we do a very good job in the portal. Another will likely need to be in the top 8. PG: Transfer PG/McPherson SG: Wilcher/Lloyd SF: Griesell or Schiereman/Dawson PF: Wilhelm/Transfer PF C- Walker/Keita Leaving Lawrence, Oleg (assuming Andre goes) and Edwards off the bench. That's not an Elite 8 team. But I bet it wins more than 10 games.

I think/hope one of Tominaga/Edwards leave as well. I wouldn't mind keeping Edwards. The length and athletism is worth investing in. Tominaga...not so much. He's small, below average athletically, doesn't take good shots and while he's shown he can get hot...isn't the shooter he was billed as to offset everything else. Assuming one of Walker/Andre/Oleg goes as well...that gives us 3 spots. In a perfect world...I'd love to see us add a pure PG...not a pure scorer, a guy like Griesell or Schiereman (if we can back channel our way in to get them to transfer home) and another 4 to fill out the roster. Of course...a guy like McPherson is a huge variable in all of this. If he can play point at a high level, we can get by without one.

I don't think Fred and Co have managed Kobe well. Especially when Trey went down...we needed an experienced guy on the floor. I get trying to have a guy in a backup role but Webster should've been playing more early and with the starters. He and Verge can/could've played more together. Especially when the offense was struggling to move the ball. Not blaming Lat, again, but I think we expected Lat to be that stretch 4 (Niang, White) that Fred had at Iowa St. He's obviously been a huge let down and I think that plays a major part in our struggles. Having Wilhelm, who was starting to slowly come on, get hurt only compounded that. Fred needs Wilhelm to be that guy we thought he was. And/or he needs to turn Edwards into it or find another guy in the portal.

I have zero issues with Matt A coming back. But if he does, Fred can't let him run hog wild. There needs to be more oversight and dictation as to who we are recruiting moreso than just letting him do his thing.

There's definitely more to it than this...but IMO.. arguably our two best games of the year were vs. Ohio St and Penn St. I don't think it's a coincidence that those games might also be the two best games Lat has played this year. (ironically his missed free throws cost us vs OSU). Penn St was his season high in points and he helped do a very good job defensively on Liddell while adding 8 & 7 as well vs OSU. It's not his fault he plays. That's on Fred. But it also shows how much easier life can be when you have a competent 4 man in this league. We haven't had that.

I’ll say 5th year of the two. I think reality falls more in the middle. We win more than 10 and he gets fired.

Pretty much any system is going to struggle in the Big Ten without that.

Of course if those things are evident....there are probably quite a few wins that come as well.