nustudent

I’m not optimistic But if we’re coached well, we have more than enough talent to go 4-4 or 5-3. If we win 3 or less, there’s some very big concerns.

I think there is still a question on pure shooters on this roster, but I'm not really all that worried about it. Lat supposedly can hit. Teddy is a scorer. I think guys like McGowans, Webster and Banton are at worst decent shooters. Stevenson was known as a guy who can hit from the outside. Thor proved to be a very good shooter last year. The added length and ability is going to create more space for a lot of these guys.

We technically had NFL talent in our front 7 last year and it didn't matter. Bottom line is...with Frost's system, we're going to win with offense. We have the pieces in place to improve dramatically there. There other aspect is attention to detail in other phases. Simply being competent in special teams, which is as much coaching and focus as anything, can pay huge dividends

I think you're looking at a rotation of G- McGowans/Webster G-Banton SF-Allen/Thor PF-Lat/Stevenson C-Ouedraogo/Walker The top 5 seems to be Trey, Delano, Allen, Lat and Yvan. I think we have 4 pretty solid reserves that will see quite a bit of time in Webster, Thor, Stevenson and Walker. There's alot of versatility and flexibility in the lineup with some of those guys. I think Arop can carve out a role too as the 10th guy in certain minutes. Andre, to me, will play as well, but more match-up specific and foul trouble related. I don't see Wood playing much at all this year and of course Lakes is sitting out. Think it was mentioned that we went from easily being the shortest team in the league last year to the second tallest (in terms of average height) this year. And it's not just at the 4 or 5. We got bigger all over. It's a new roster and we're coming off the worst season in program history and the Big 10 is a monster.....but there's some very valid reasons for hope.

Is he even going to be playing the 5. Washut seems to think he'll be playing a lot at the 4 with Yvan at 5.

No issue with being 14th after last year id also be surprised if we finish there

The time to complain about the schedule was 6 years ago when it was formed. Not now.

1. Even though the roster was turned over again the guys that were added this year were more handpicked as opposed to a last-minute fire sale type situation last spring. You have multiple guys that redshirted together so there will be more cohesion. You also have multiple guys coming in with plenty of division one power five level experience. Those things weren’t evident last year. On top of that you have a much more complete and well rounded roster. you’re longer, you’re taller, you’re more skilled, you’re more experienced. 2. How much better is up in the air. I think a lot of that depends on what type of season you have. Obviously with the virus that puts the non-con schedule in jeopardy. We need that to build cohesiveness amongst the new players. Jumping right in to conference play is not a good thing for a brand new team even if it is significantly more talented. With that being said assuming a full schedule is played, I fully expect an NIT type team. I’m not gonna come out and say we’re gonna win 25 games and go to the NCAA tournament. But I do think we will be significantly better. That means 2 to 3 more wins in the nonconference as well as the fact we will have more confidence heading into the difficult parts off conference play,to the extent that we won’t give up and quit when things start trending the wrong direction. That is assuming of course that Mcgowans is eligible. 3. As far as filling a Hoiberg roster I think we’re seeing it. You’re seeing a mix of high school, transfers and jucos. I think inevitably high school players will become more prevailant, but in the meantime while he’s building his roster transfers will have a heavier impact early on to achieve success and build a culture. 4. The biggest question I have Right now is our ability to shoot from the outside consistently. I think we will be significantly better in the paint through experience and added bodies. I think we have natural scores in Benton and Allen. But I don’t see a pure shooter from the outside yet. I think we have good shooters and guys who can make shots but not sure we have a pure shooter on the roster currently. Or at least one that is eligible.

McGowens/Webster Allen/King Banton/Thor Stevenson/Mayang Sanogo/Walker/Ouedraogo With Lakes and Arop redshirting sounds pretty good to me.

Yep. Washut has also told the story about one of the transfers mentioning that we had a Top 50 Big man committed too. I think Sanogo is in pretty soon. As you mentioned, Washut has been out in front.

Thor exceeded my expectations last year. But it's also fair to acknowledge that a big reason he had a chance to do so was because of the team he was on. There just wasn't anyone there to take minutes or shots from him. There will be this year. I think we showed enough as a shooter that there will be a role for him but I'd be shocked if his minutes stayed the same.

If you asked me to paint a picture of what comes to mind when I think of a BYU player....I'd paint a picture of Harms

He wasn't a bad player. We've had plenty that had little to offer over the years that were at the end of the bench and he's not one of those types. So I wouldn't have minded him sticking around. But I don't see where he plays more than 10 minutes a game (if that) moving forward.

Agree on having a foundation. But those guys weren’t it.

For me the improvement stems from the fact that we will be more experienced, more complete of a team. The guys that are being added have been added over time and vetted rather than thrown together in a month. Furthermore, we’re adding guys who have not only excelled at JUCO but have legit p5 experience and success.

Yes

I think not having Stevenson was easily a 4-5 game swing.

I think your last sentence is one of the biggest reasons for optimism next year. There was so very little we could do personnel wise this year (even before the attrition happened at the end of the year). You could pretty realistically come up with 30 or so different lineup combinations. And there are a lot more players who aren't penciled into one role.

Think King gets the waiver. I'd be both highly surprised and highly disappointed if Easley is in the top 9 again. That's about the only thing I am sure of. I really want to see what happens with the final roster spot and if Cross/Arop return. Might only be one more addition and no more attrition but even those singular variables can change the lookup of the rotation quite a bit IMO.

Yeah...I don't anyone expected 7-24. But I also don't think it's much of anything. I thought we'd be an 11-12 win team in the preseason. Then we lose Stevenson, eventually Curtis, Kavas and intermittent suspensions for Mack. I had accepted this as a rebuilding year before we ever fired Miles. It was just going to be. There wasn't a lot of talent coming back (never believed for a second that Roby was returning regardless of the coach) whoever the coach was going to be. I'm glad Hoiberg ripped the band aid off by being up front with guys like Harris (think he could've been decent role player) Heiman, Davis, etc and start getting some of his guys in rather than delaying the inevitable. At the end of the day....7 wins or 12 really don't make a lot of difference for me. Either situation it's a rebuilding/foundational year. I have no less confidence in Hoiberg now than I did 12 months ago to do something here. It may take one extra year than I was expecting....but I still fully believe he's going to get it done.

Hoiberg has signed/kept 4 high school players. He’s recruiting more. Just cuz a high school kid gets butt hurt because he won’t be the man in year 1 doesn’t mean we are ignoring high school players

Not inserting them into the lineup just yet. But just saying it goes against the theory that we don’t recruit high school players. Curtis, Cross, Arop and Yvan would pry agree too

Fred’s history makes me believe it. I’ve seen Stevenson play. He’s legit. Fair on the other two. But it’s not exactly far fetched to say they would be steps up over what we have. allen and king we know can compete at high levels in p5 play.

If it was Clouse I’d buy that. Washut is pretty good

You know anyone who coached ball in the Midwest and went to 4 straight tournaments using transfers?