Need Thiam and a 5th yr guard and let's call it a day for 2016-2017

[Scarlet Shack]

Assuming we get Thiam to a LOI....like to see us sign a 5th year guard and then call it a day and focus on the Class of 2017 and Class of 2018

The guard minutes clearly are mostly going to be eaten up by Sanders (good for 30 a game for sure), Johnson (high 20s) and Williams (at least low 20s and more likely high 20s with some 3 guard)....so a 4th guard that is 5th year just gives us some depth for 5-10 minutes a game.

If we get everyone healthy...we have two centers (doorson/Diallo)...a power forward (Freeman)....a PF/C (Sa)....a combo forward (Thiam) and a small forward (Lauent)...plus Bullock as a type that fits a lot of places...

Point is I think we have a heavy junior/soph team that will be together for two years...

Sr...none (hopefully a 5 yr guard)
JR...Freeman/Johnson/Sa/Williams
SO...Sanders/Laurent/Diallo/Doorson
Fr.....Bullock and Thiam (3)

Love to keep Class of 2017 to have 3 ships and Class of 2018 for 4 ships...and let this new staff show they can take the existing roster and make it win at a reasonable level (how about a NIT in year two if we have no transfers?) in the next two years and adding the pieces to back fill to go higher later...

That's how I see it....Develop these guys while recruiting to back fill to eventually replace

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Agree 100%. A class consisting of Bullock, Sa & Thiam is a very solid class.

 

[RBNY87]

Assuming we get Thiam to a LOI....like to see us sign a 5th year guard and then call it a day and focus on the Class of 2017 and Class of 2018

The guard minutes clearly are mostly going to be eaten up by Sanders (good for 30 a game for sure), Johnson (high 20s) and Williams (at least low 20s and more likely high 20s with some 3 guard)....so a 4th guard that is 5th year just gives us some depth for 5-10 minutes a game.

If we get everyone healthy...we have two centers (doorson/Diallo)...a power forward (Freeman)....a PF/C (Sa)....a combo forward (Thiam) and a small forward (Lauent)...plus Bullock as a type that fits a lot of places...

Point is I think we have a heavy junior/soph team that will be together for two years...

Sr...none (hopefully a 5 yr guard)
JR...Freeman/Johnson/Sa/Williams
SO...Sanders/Laurent/Diallo/Doorson
Fr.....Bullock and Thiam (3)

Love to keep Class of 2017 to have 3 ships and Class of 2018 for 4 ships...and let this new staff show they can take the existing roster and make it win at a reasonable level (how about a NIT in year two if we have no transfers?) in the next two years and adding the pieces to back fill to go higher later...

That's how I see it....Develop these guys while recruiting to back fill to eventually replace

Sandes 30 plus high 20's say 27 and low 20's 23 leaves zero. A fifth year senior is looking to increase his workload. Might be a spot for freshman. Good guards can fall through the cracks. I know you don't want reach but let's see who might be out there.

 

[PatrickRU92]

I don't disagree but the assumption that Thiam is coming is a leap of faith that I'm not quite ready to make

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Patrick...

It is an assumption....no doubt...and I hope we get sorted out pretty soon. Its May 1st...I would think we would know soon...one way or the other.

If Thiam isn't coming...then we also need to add another 5th guy up front...even just to have 11 to practice...

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

I don't disagree but the assumption that Thiam is coming is a leap of faith that I'm not quite ready to make

It's not as much of a leap of faith as you think. Should be sorted out soon.

 

[seels2662]

Great post shack I was thinking posting this myself. The perfect fifth year player would be a tall guard that we can slip to the 3 if any forward or center gets injured. A big man injury moves Thiam down more which in turn gives Laurent way too many minutes at the three in my opinion.

 

[ejgonz]

I would take as many 5th year guys we could and not hold any schollies. Even if 1-2 were depth/practice guys.

 

[TDIrish27]

I agree----why not ?

 

[PatrickRU92]

It's not as much of a leap of faith as you think. Should be sorted out soon.

This is welcome news, and hope you are correct.

 

[Richie O]

This is welcome news, and hope you are correct.

Check out our update on Issa on the Round Table here.

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

If we land Issa, does that mean we can't take the Twins?

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

If we land Issa, does that mean we can't take the Twins?

Currently, six spots are open. Bullock, Sa and Issa. We can still get the Martin Twins and a 5th Year Grad student. That's 13 on scholarship and 11 active on the roster.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Currently, six spots are open. Bullock, Sa and Issa. We can still get the Martin Twins and a 5th Year Grad student. That's 13 on scholarship and 11 active on the roster.

Correct, but the point that Shack is trying to make is to keep open the remaining 2 schollies (instead of twins) so we can make a run at some very nice 2017 pieces. Now, in thinking about it, I am torn between taking the twins or holding open the ships.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

The twins can help us, but it may only be one year if they graduate and become a duo capable of helping in Year 5. Question is you might spend two years of ships for just one year or play.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

The twins can help us, but it may only be one year if they graduate and become a duo capable of helping in Year 5. Question is you might spend two years of ships for just one year or play.

IMO, I think that's a stretch....sit a year at Rutgers, play a year at Rutgers and then transfer "again" to play at another school. That's playing in 3 different systems in 5 years.

 

[PhilaPhans]

Sanders + Bullock + Williams + Johnson will absolutely fill the 40 minutes per game at the 1 and 2. Don't have to worry about finding somebody to handle the ball. Don't have to worry much about shooters.

BUT ...

Any one of them gets hurt? We're screwed. And you don't want to put yourself in that situation. Find another 2016 shooter! No offense, Jake and Khalil!

 

[soundcrib]

Sanders + Bullock + Williams + Johnson will absolutely fill the 40 minutes per game at the 1 and 2. Don't have to worry about finding somebody to handle the ball. Don't have to worry much about shooters.

BUT ...

Any one of them gets hurt? We're screwed. And you don't want to put yourself in that situation. Find another 2016 shooter! No offense, Jake and Khalil!

We still need shooters.

 

[TDIrish27]

agreed

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Hawk

I would think if you did your due diligence that you would know if the personality of the kids and if they were the types to jump ship after year four to go elsewhere

But a legit point and a definite risk

 

[knights1212]

I would like to have these kids too but I hate the thought of having to tie up the ships for 3 years. They both play the same position as Laurent and Thiam if he comes as well as possibly Bullock or if we go to 3 guards for a while. I want to get some really good incoming freshmen in the 2017 class.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

If all of our stars align with Sanders Freeman and recruits I truly believe that we will.....???????.

 

[MadRU]

Reports are saying Corey was not invited to the NBA draft combine, so I expect him to be back.

 

[SJScarlet]

He needs to try to get 12 scholarship players on the roster for next year. Going with 11 is asking for trouble. Not fair to the kids on the team to not give them enough teammates to compete effectively. If we get Thiam, we still need two more. 5th year who can shoot and handle the ball a bit, and a high school player at position of need.

 

[RU MAN]

Assuming we get Thiam to a LOI....like to see us sign a 5th year guard and then call it a day and focus on the Class of 2017 and Class of 2018

The guard minutes clearly are mostly going to be eaten up by Sanders (good for 30 a game for sure), Johnson (high 20s) and Williams (at least low 20s and more likely high 20s with some 3 guard)....so a 4th guard that is 5th year just gives us some depth for 5-10 minutes a game.

If we get everyone healthy...we have two centers (doorson/Diallo)...a power forward (Freeman)....a PF/C (Sa)....a combo forward (Thiam) and a small forward (Lauent)...plus Bullock as a type that fits a lot of places...

Point is I think we have a heavy junior/soph team that will be together for two years...

Sr...none (hopefully a 5 yr guard)
JR...Freeman/Johnson/Sa/Williams
SO...Sanders/Laurent/Diallo/Doorson
Fr.....Bullock and Thiam (3)

Love to keep Class of 2017 to have 3 ships and Class of 2018 for 4 ships...and let this new staff show they can take the existing roster and make it win at a reasonable level (how about a NIT in year two if we have no transfers?) in the next two years and adding the pieces to back fill to go higher later...

That's how I see it....Develop these guys while recruiting to back fill to eventually replace

All good points. We will need another top guard as you say after next season, because Sanders will be gone. I also see the need for good shooting forwards who can run the floor well.