I'm sure everyone is going to think they are going to finish top half of the conference and be a NCAA Tourney level team, but I'd like to hear your real thoughts on your roster changes and how you view your team for next year. I'll start with WSU:

- we lose 6 guys, including most of our bigs: (Morris, Nurger, Kelly, Willis) + Brown (wing) and Frankamp (guard). That's a lot of size and experience.
- Addition by subtraction will be that Brown and Kelly were horrendous on offense and Frankamp could not defend.
- Landry's decision on the NBA could mean the difference between possible Top 3 to potentially being an NIT team.
- McDuffie should be back to form with a full offseason to get healthy and strong.
- This will be the first offseason that Reaves has not had a surgery so I expect big strides for him.
- We have Marshall's best ever recruiting class coming in and could possibly start 3 freshmen next year.
- the freshmen all seem to have talent but we know they can take time to bring along.
- Shocker fans are hoping Alex Lomax (signee) can quickly become starting PG and move Shamet to the 2, if both on the roster next year.
- Keep an eye out for guys named Eric Stevenson (shooting guard) and Morris Udeze (center). These seem to be the guys Shocker fans are most excited about.

I think we can finish 3rd with Shamet and Lomax. Without Shamet, I'd say around #5.

I would like to see Shamet stay. He can be a 20 ppg scorer. If he stays, it is his team. He can be the next great Shocker.

Ceiling for WSU next year is 3-5. Floor is 5-7.

(03-19-2018 10:59 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  I would like to see Shamet stay. He can be a 20 ppg scorer. If he stays, it is his team. He can be the next great Shocker.

I don't think we'll see a 20 ppg scorer at WSU as long as Marshall is the coach. Our offence is too balanced to allow that. In fact, in Marshall's 11 years at WSU we have had a player average more than 15 ppg just one time.

UH loses Rob Gray, Devin Davis, Nura Zanna, and Wes VanBeck.

The key players we have coming back include Corey Davis, Galen Robinson, Armoni Brooks, Fabian White, and Breaon Brady. We also redshired Texas' Mr. Basketball in Cedrick Alley who should help provide depth at the forward positions. We need Chris Harris to take strides on the offensive side of the ball now that he will be the backup C to Brady. He has the potential to be great on the defensive side of the ball.

Key players coming in include

Dejon Jarreau - Top 60 player coming out of high school. Averaged 10 and 5 as a freshman at UMASS. 6'6" guard that can really make plays with the ball in his hand. He's a bigger version of Rob Gray, but does not have a jump shot like Rob. He will be able to create shots for Corey and Armoni, however.

Nate Hinton - Top 100 player coming out of high school. Another 6'6" guard. I'm hoping that he will be able to step in and be the primary backup to Galen next season.

Brison Gresham - Top 150 player coming out of high school. 6'9" power forward. Kelvin Sampson believes that Brison will be the most athletic player on the team next season. Transferred from UMASS with Dejon. Both players will have 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Antoine Davis - Son of Mike Davis. Kelvin Sampson has said that Antoine Davis is the best shooter that he has recruited since being at UH. This is coming from a guy that already has Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis on the roster. He's a little on the smaller side, though, so not sure how much he plays as a freshman. I believe he is only 6'1" and maybe 160 pounds. Needs to probably have a year of just filling out before he sees action.

My prediction on our starting lineup and key reserves

Starting Lineup:

PG: Galen Robinson
SG: Corey Davis
SF: Dejon Jarreau
PF: Fabian White
C: Breaon Brady

Backups:

PG: Nate Hinton
SG: Armoni Brooks
SF: Cedrick Alley
PF: Brison Gresham
C: Chris Harris

We are absolutely loaded at guards and wings. My two questions marks are at backup PF and the C position. Can Breaon Brady learn to play without fouling? He also needs to get into much better shape during the offseason. As things stand today, I believe this is a top 25 team and will finish in the conference no worse than 3.

If we can somehow land a grad transfer post man to come in and start at C, this team has the potential to be a top 10 team, and will probably be the team that will win the conference.

Top scorer in the conference is back from injury for Memphis as well as many top level recruits interested in the new coach. If Penny can land just a couple of the speculated recruits to a roster that largely returns all its top players, Memphis could finish top 3 in conference. If Penny somehow strikes out on most/all the 4-5 stars, another middling top 5 finish would be the ceiling.

It’s wait and see for Memphis...home run would be to land Simons, O’Neal, Wiseman reclassifies, Harris and Lomax (not saying it’s done by any means WSU fans). This would give Memphis possibly the #1 class. Strike out, and it could go bad quick.

UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

(03-19-2018 11:15 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

This is absolutely a joke right?? Please please tell me your kidding with this lineup

(03-19-2018 11:18 AM)Doglando Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:15 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

This is absolutely a joke right?? Please please tell me your kidding with this lineup

I think he meant to start Douglas at SG over Dawkins.

(03-19-2018 11:32 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:18 AM)Doglando Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:15 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

This is absolutely a joke right?? Please please tell me your kidding with this lineup

I think he meant to start Douglas at SG over Dawkins.

Correct i also hear rokas ulvydas will start at point guard over bj

This thread....NO JUST NO...We have baseball and football season before we start chatting about the next basketball season.

Darn non football members.

If Shake comes back SMU is probably the preseason favorite. If he doesn't, then it all depends on who we manage to sign in the late signing period or graduate transfers. We also need Isiah Mike to be as good as advertised.

TBD after Coach Hardaway (man, I love typing that) does his thing on the recruiting trail

First things first, we need a head coach.

(03-19-2018 11:13 AM)Joprior23 Wrote:  UH loses Rob Gray, Devin Davis, Nura Zanna, and Wes VanBeck.

The key players we have coming back include Corey Davis, Galen Robinson, Armoni Brooks, Fabian White, and Breaon Brady. We also redshired Texas' Mr. Basketball in Cedrick Alley who should help provide depth at the forward positions. We need Chris Harris to take strides on the offensive side of the ball now that he will be the backup C to Brady. He has the potential to be great on the defensive side of the ball.

Key players coming in include

Dejon Jarreau - Top 60 player coming out of high school. Averaged 10 and 5 as a freshman at UMASS. 6'6" guard that can really make plays with the ball in his hand. He's a bigger version of Rob Gray, but does not have a jump shot like Rob. He will be able to create shots for Corey and Armoni, however.

Nate Hinton - Top 100 player coming out of high school. Another 6'6" guard. I'm hoping that he will be able to step in and be the primary backup to Galen next season.

Brison Gresham - Top 150 player coming out of high school. 6'9" power forward. Kelvin Sampson believes that Brison will be the most athletic player on the team next season. Transferred from UMASS with Dejon. Both players will have 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Antoine Davis - Son of Mike Davis. Kelvin Sampson has said that Antoine Davis is the best shooter that he has recruited since being at UH. This is coming from a guy that already has Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis on the roster. He's a little on the smaller side, though, so not sure how much he plays as a freshman. I believe he is only 6'1" and maybe 160 pounds. Needs to probably have a year of just filling out before he sees action.

My prediction on our starting lineup and key reserves

Starting Lineup:

PG: Galen Robinson
SG: Corey Davis
SF: Dejon Jarreau
PF: Fabian White
C: Breaon Brady

Backups:

PG: Nate Hinton
SG: Armoni Brooks
SF: Cedrick Alley
PF: Brison Gresham
C: Chris Harris

We are absolutely loaded at guards and wings. My two questions marks are at backup PF and the C position. Can Breaon Brady learn to play without fouling? He also needs to get into much better shape during the offseason. As things stand today, I believe this is a top 25 team and will finish in the conference no worse than 3.

If we can somehow land a grad transfer post man to come in and start at C, this team has the potential to be a top 10 team, and will probably be the team that will win the conference.

The next two years are gong be very interesting.

(03-19-2018 11:37 AM)mustangxc Wrote:  If Shake comes back SMU is probably the preseason favorite. If he doesn't, then it all depends on who we manage to sign in the late signing period or graduate transfers. We also need Isiah Mike to be as good as advertised.

I agree with this. SMU is going to be really, really good if Shake comes back.

What are the chances that he is coming back? Slim to none, 50-50?

(03-19-2018 11:32 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:18 AM)Doglando Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:15 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

This is absolutely a joke right?? Please please tell me your kidding with this lineup

I think he meant to start Douglas at SG over Dawkins.

If healthy, I don't see Dawkins coming off of the bench. He can be a damn lethal weapon for UCF. Then again, his old man might actually want the offense he brings coming off the bench so we'll see.

At this time, I think that this is a pretty good idea of the SLU; pending Johnny Dawkins decision at PF.

The good thing is that UCF has a good amount of flexibility here. Myles Douglass, Terrell Allen, Ceasar DeJesus, Dayon Griffin, and Chance McSpadden all provide great depth and they can all play the 2/3.

(03-19-2018 11:46 AM)Joprior23 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:37 AM)mustangxc Wrote:  If Shake comes back SMU is probably the preseason favorite. If he doesn't, then it all depends on who we manage to sign in the late signing period or graduate transfers. We also need Isiah Mike to be as good as advertised.

I agree with this. SMU is going to be really, really good if Shake comes back.

What are the chances that he is coming back? Slim to none, 50-50?

slim to none

but smu is heavily recruiting the #1 juco in america wendell mitchell who could be as productive as milton...likely ata 30-35% chance of landing him

(03-19-2018 11:34 AM)Doglando Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:32 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:18 AM)Doglando Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 11:15 AM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  UCF brings everyone back except AJ Davis and brings in a big man transfer from George Washington.

C: Tacko Fall
PF: Collin Smith
PF: Chad Brown
PG: BJ Taylor
SG: Aubrey Dawkins

Good lineup if they can stay healthy.

This is absolutely a joke right?? Please please tell me your kidding with this lineup

I think he meant to start Douglas at SG over Dawkins.

Correct i also hear rokas ulvydas will start at point guard over bj

Rokas Ulvydas is a 6-11 PF/C. He will NOT be the starting PG and yet you try to try to call me out ?

Geez. I know you like to try to start stuff with me but you know what ?

It isn't working anymore, friend and to be frankly honest, I don't need people like you trying to rile me up. Not worth it. I'll just put you on ignore and we'll go our separate ways. I actually quite like the back and forth banter here but when you begin to stalk and harass someone only for a reaction, then I've had my fill.

UC should be a tournament team regardless, but the strength of the team hinges on if Jacob Evans goes pro or not. Assuming he stays, below is what you are probably looking at. Mick will likely go 4 guards (3 being 6'5" or better) surrounding 1 true center. Tre Scott may start pending on the match up.

G Cane Broome - PG/Slasher/3pt
G Keith Williams - Slasher
G Jarron Cumberland - Beast
G Jacob Evans - Beast
C Nysier Brooks - Is there for the boards

With the following bench:

G Justin Jennifer - Backup PG
G Trevor Moore - 3 and D
F Tre Scott - Defensive Specialist
C Eliel Nsoseme - Backup Center

I would expect this group to be a top 25 team, and their fate in March will be decided by how hot Evans and Cumberland are. I don't count on any of the incoming Freshman to do anything, but both commits look really solid.