Paul declares for the draft (Maintaining Eligibility)

[RUDivision]

No - his play was impacted because he got frustrated with not being able to make anything happen as a distributor and started forcing the ball in to Cliff. It wasn’t a matter of Mag making us a better halfcourt offense - he finished in transition and cleaned up the glass to help prevent the scoring drouts that fed Paul’s frustration. He’s to blame for not keeping his composure. Nobody is saying he’s a perfect PG but when the offense doesn’t completely stall he’s certainly at least an average option at PG for stretches. You can’t just throw out all the good games he’s had in his career.

The difference with Simpson at point late season was that he could create in iso. That made him more effective late season but next year is a new year. Let’s see what the surrounding cast looks like. Paul even got some minutes at point as a frosh. That team had JY in addition to Geo and Caleb as options to play point and he still played over 18 mpg. On a deep team AS A FROSH. There was no loyalty there. He earned that time. And some of you think he should be an 8 minute reserve as a super senior. Unreal.

Ok my bad on the misunderstanding on the offense and injury. Agreed.

Paul will start at 3/4 and no not 8 min he can provide more value on that role. He is not a ball dominant create player.

It’s just given the talent we have the overall team is better with him off the ball. Portal and Freshman may change that.

If it’s a simple PG between two players then yes he should serve as a back up .

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Ok my bad on the misunderstanding on the offense and injury. Agreed.

Paul will start at 3/4 and no not 8 min he can provide more value on that role. He is not a ball dominant create player.

It’s just given the talent we have the overall team is better with him off the ball. Portal and Freshman may change that.

If it’s a simple PG between two players then yes he should serve as a back up .

Sounds about right except that at the moment he’s also probably the best returning back up for Cam at the 2. I’m sure he knows he’s not making the NBA. There are no difficult conversations for him with Pike because it’s basically a given that he’ll end up playing 28+ returning to RU spread out across 1-4. He’s done that his whole career. He’s not the type of kid that only wants to play point.

Hyatt is in a way different situation. I’m sure Pike doesn’t want him to leave but he probably can’t say with confidence that he knows he can carve out 15-20 mpg for him. It really depends what our options are at the 4 besides Mag.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

We don’t even know how strongly Paul feels about playing 30+ minutes a game. He’s never been the type of kid to sulk on the bench. For all we know, his reservations right now are about over exerting his shoulder and he’s trying to assess the pros and cons of giving it one more run. Maybe he’s testing the waters for general feedback about his options post graduation because he knows his body can only stand a few more years of playing period.

I have no knowledge on any of this - but the point is nobody knows anything except that Paul has strongly hinted he won’t play for another college. That’s it.

 

[needmorecowbell]

We don’t even know how strongly Paul feels about playing 30+ minutes a game. He’s never been the type of kid to sulk on the bench. For all we know, his reservations right now are about over exerting his shoulder and he’s trying to assess the pros and cons of giving it one more run. Maybe he’s testing the waters for general feedback about his options post graduation because he knows his body can only stand a few more years of playing period.

I have no knowledge on any of this - but the point is nobody knows anything except that Paul has strongly hinted he won’t play for another college. That’s it.

Rumors are he is strongly leaning towards coming back now. Paul has averaged over 32 mins each of the past two years. I expect that to continue unless the bench proves to be much deeper.

 

[Scangg]

Sounds about right except that at the moment he’s also probably the best returning back up for Cam at the 2. I’m sure he knows he’s not making the NBA. There are no difficult conversations for him with Pike because it’s basically a given that he’ll end up playing 28+ returning to RU spread out across 1-4. He’s done that his whole career. He’s not the type of kid that only wants to play point.

Hyatt is in a way different situation. I’m sure Pike doesn’t want him to leave but he probably can’t say with confidence that he knows he can carve out 15-20 mpg for him. It really depends what our options are at the 4 besides Mag.

If Mag's recovery goes slower than expected and Ndongo struggles to adjust, Hyatt or a portal replacement has a big role at least to start the season

If Mag's recovery goes well and he's ready for the season and Ndongo is ready from the start, Hyatt could really end up being a big loser in the playing time battle especially as the season goes on and Mag gets healthier and Ndongo more adjusted to college ball

The second scenario is the one I expect will be closer to reality in the end

 

[MiloTalon13]

If Mag's recovery goes slower than expected and Ndongo struggles to adjust, Hyatt or a portal replacement has a big role at least to start the season

If Mag's recovery goes well and he's ready for the season and Ndongo is ready from the start, Hyatt could really end up being a big loser in the playing time battle especially as the season goes on and Mag gets healthier and Ndongo more adjusted to college ball

The second scenario is the one I expect will be closer to reality in the end

Totally agree. It's gotta be a tough sell to a portal guy. Also still won't be surprised if Hyatt is not back. 6th year in college and maybe end up with few minutes? 9-6-17 were minutes played for Hyatt in the last 3 games.

 

[needmorecowbell]

If Mag's recovery goes slower than expected and Ndongo struggles to adjust, Hyatt or a portal replacement has a big role at least to start the season

If Mag's recovery goes well and he's ready for the season and Ndongo is ready from the start, Hyatt could really end up being a big loser in the playing time battle especially as the season goes on and Mag gets healthier and Ndongo more adjusted to college ball

The second scenario is the one I expect will be closer to reality in the end

The skill level for the bench should significantly increase next year. Multiple players have the chance to break through can steal minutes. On the flip side, Coaches like Pike put a premium on experience so those young guys would really need to wow him to make that happen. Either way, one injury shouldn’t derail the season like it did last year.

 

[Scangg]

The skill level for the bench should significantly increase next year. Multiple players have the chance to break through can steal minutes. On the flip side, Coaches like Pike put a premium on experience so those young guys would really need to wow him to make that happen. Either way, one injury shouldn’t derail the season like it did last year.

Dean's minutes --> 🐺 improved 2nd year

Miller's minutes --> transfer PG / Davis

Oskar's minutes --> Ndongo

If starting 5 is transfer PG, Cam, Paul, Mag, Cliff

Simpson - obviously improved spark plug who can penetrate and score

Griffiths - legit sniper with length, athleticism, and a polished all around game

Ndongo - tall long athlete who will be an immediate rebounder rim protector and can score at all 3 levels

Then you have Hyatt, Chol, Davis, maybe another transfer option. Next year's bench will be more talented for sure

 

[Caliknight]

If Mag's recovery goes slower than expected and Ndongo struggles to adjust, Hyatt or a portal replacement has a big role at least to start the season

If Mag's recovery goes well and he's ready for the season and Ndongo is ready from the start, Hyatt could really end up being a big loser in the playing time battle especially as the season goes on and Mag gets healthier and Ndongo more adjusted to college ball

The second scenario is the one I expect will be closer to reality in the end

Those knee surgeries and recoveries are so much better than they used to be but he's still not going to be a go until at least half way through the year. And that's best case scenario

 

[Scangg]

Those knee surgeries and recoveries are so much better than they used to be but he's still not going to be a go until at least half way through the year. And that's best case scenario

Lol that is definitely not best case scenario. Most sources say 9 months is most common

A Stanford study of NBA players since 1980 had average time to return at 9.8 months

Since 1980.... technology has obviously improved since then. Mag is younger and more likely to heal faster

No reason to say a full year is best case scenario. That's clearly inaccurate. If you want to say Mag is a slow healer and will take a full year, that's your opinion and certainly possible... but it's unlikely and clearly not anywhere near a best case scenario

In a best case scenario, he is ready game 1

 

[Caliknight]

I'm talking full recovery. He may be a go in 9 months, but it's rare those guys are what they were. I've seen this play out a lot.

Possible, but unlikely.

 

[RUsojo]

I'm talking full recovery. He may be a go in 9 months, but it's rare those guys are what they were. I've seen this play out a lot.

Possible, but unlikely.

It’s actually likely nowadays

 

[Caliknight]

We will see. Hope you are right.