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Roster For Next Season

You guys with the “if we don’t raise/give enough NIL for sommerville he is gone” narrative have lost the plot.

In no way is retaining sommerville tied to an NIL disaster. Even in a dastardly NIL situation he is easily retained when it comes to dollars and cents.

Whether he wants to stay here is the bigger and only relevant factor in whether or not he is here next year.
 
You guys with the “if we don’t raise/give enough NIL for sommerville he is gone” narrative have lost the plot.

In no way is retaining sommerville tied to an NIL disaster. Even in a dastardly NIL situation he is easily retained when it comes to dollars and cents.

Whether he wants to stay here is the bigger factor in whether or not he is here next year.
If he gets a better offer, in a better situation, he’s not going to want to stay here. Serviceable Centers command $$$, which we don’t have. After this season, who would want a rerun, especially when the talent level might be worse next year. Not sure about your easily retained assertion, but hope you’re right.
 
Replacing the 38 points from Bailey and Harper is the biggest need.Next seasons team could quickly return to scoring less than 65 points a game and even lower with the usual long scoring droughts.
 
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Replacing the 38 points from Bailey and Harper is the biggest need.Next seasons team could quickly return to scoring less than 65 points a game and even lower with the usual long scoring droughts.
That would be fine if we get back to allowing only 64 points a game

After watching this year and being in the RAC for the season… we are better suited and the fans desire a rock fight more
 
If he gets a better offer, in a better situation, he’s not going to want to stay here. Serviceable Centers command $$$, which we don’t have. After this season, who would want a rerun, especially when the talent level might be worse next year. Not sure about your easily retained assertion, but hope you’re right.
He’s not a serviceable Big10 starting center and never will be. He’s a Merrimack-level center. Hopefully Derkack will transfer back and take Lathan with him.

Too slow and plays small.

Fine as a backup but it’s doubtful he wants that role, and that’s not where NIL should be spent anyway
 
I'm not all that certain deeper pocketed schools are going to be beating down doors to lure away Sommerville. Granted he's young, but any real payoff might not be for another couple years.
 
He’s not a serviceable Big10 starting center and never will be. He’s a Merrimack-level center. Hopefully Derkack will transfer back and take Lathan with him.

Too slow and plays small.

Fine as a backup but it’s doubtful he wants that role, and that’s not where NIL should be spent anyway
Complete nonsense. He’s a Freshman Center Averaging 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, playing a bigger role than he should be only due to injury.
He has exceeded most expectations.
 
If he gets a better offer, in a better situation, he’s not going to want to stay here. Serviceable Centers command $$$, which we don’t have. After this season, who would want a rerun, especially when the talent level might be worse next year. Not sure about your easily retained assertion, but hope you’re right.
The talent level "might" be worse?
 
Who could come back?
JWill
EO
Lathan
Grant
Dortch
Derkack
JMike

I feel we retain all but Lathan and JWill. Lathan seems very NIL driven. He doesn’t fit our defense first MO. I can also see Pike promising Derkack a starting gig.

The frosh are ok but none will be real impact players in their frosh year. As with Pike guys they’ll need 2-3 years.

Probably a few low to mid major adds to get to 12-13. Don’t scholarships go up to 15 next year?
 
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If he gets a better offer, in a better situation, he’s not going to want to stay here. Serviceable Centers command $$$, which we don’t have. After this season, who would want a rerun, especially when the talent level might be worse next year. Not sure about your easily retained assertion, but hope you’re right.
He will not get offered an amount we can’t afford to give him. If he wants to leave he’s going to leave.

Will Pike want to pay him an amount that we could afford but prefers not to match from elsewhere? I guess that’s possible given he didn’t want to pay the transfer big more money we could’ve afforded.
 
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Complete nonsense. He’s a Freshman Center Averaging 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, playing a bigger role than he should be only due to injury.
He has exceeded most expectations.
Hardly. His massive scoring output is due to opponents focusing on the 2 other players.

He’d average 15 if he also got 1 pt for every time he fell down and whined to the refs.

It’s indisputable that he’s unathletic and plays 6 inches shorter than he is. That doesn’t change. He hasn’t been the second best 5 in any Big10 game.

Backup 5, sure. Gets abused on D every game and experience/training doesn’t fix that. Unathletic even for a big.
 
Who could come back?
JWill
EO
Lathan
Grant
Dortch
Derkack
JMike

I feel we retain all but Lathan and JWill. Lathan seems very NIL driven. He doesn’t fit our defense first MO. I can also see Pike promising Derkack a starting gig.

The frosh are ok but none will be real impact players in their frosh year. As with Pike guys they’ll need 2-3 years.

Probably a few low to mid major adds to get to 12-13. Don’t scholarships go up to 15 next year?
Lord help us if dercack is starting and Davis is still playing the same minutes or more.
 
That would be fine if we get back to allowing only 64 points a game

After watching this year and being in the RAC for the season… we are better suited and the fans desire a rock fight more

Fans desire wins.
If we were 12-14 (5-10), I doubt fans would be very cool with it because we were losing 68-61.

See how happy everyone was last year.
 
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Can't answer that question without knowing our budget and the cost of our returning players.

If this is like a fantasy baseball auction draft and I have $250 to fill my roster of 14 I am not using more than $20 on Somerville.

The major problem it looks like is we are going to the draft with $250. Maryland coming to the draft with $350 and Michigan coming with $500
 
That would be fine if we get back to allowing only 64 points a game

After watching this year and being in the RAC for the season… we are better suited and the fans desire a rock fight more
RU was excellent defensively last year. If you want rock fights, you have to be able to throw rocks, too.
 
If Jwill stays in school, doubt he'd leave here. Derkack, gotta think he's staying. Grant has ties to Smoke right? Don't see him leaving. Ogbole ain't going anywhere. Lathan - never thought he'd be here more than a year. Jmike - who knows.

I'd prefer these pieces stay. Try to find 2 upperclassmen in the portal who can score, handle the ball, and plays defense. Some wishful thinking on a Center somehow. I wouldn't hate this roster.

Portal C
Upperclassmen Portal combo guard
Upperclassmen Portal combo guard
Jwill
Grant
Dercack
Nuwuil
 Mark
Ogbole
Ware
Dortch
Powers
 
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Pikes way of building a roster is a thing of the past. There is no reason to pay a player based on potential whether its short term or long.
There is too much visibility and volatility in basketball roster construction now with the limited number of positions available.
I expect Sommerville to leave and get over paid because of the position he plays and because of a few moments where he showed some talent this year. That's how it works, show something as a young player and then market yourself even though you have not even measurably helped your program up to that point. The smart guys know this, only pay for proven talent and possibly fill in with athletic freshman.
 
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Pikes way of building a roster is a thing of the past. There is no reason to pay a player based on potential whether its short term or long.
There is too much visibility and volatility in basketball roster construction now with the limited number of positions available.
I expect Sommerville to leave and get over paid because of the position he plays and because of a few moments where he showed some talent this year. That's how it works, show something as a young player and then market yourself even though you have not even measurably helped your program up to that point. The smart guys know this, only pay for proven talent and possibly fill in with athletic freshman.
So we have to go shopping for an island of misfit toys. Ones that most others don’t want but fit our rock fight, defense first, long and athletic profile. So with the right misfit toys there’s a chance we get to the ncaas
 
So we have to go shopping for an island of misfit toys. Ones that most others don’t want but fit our rock fight, defense first, long and athletic profile. So with the right misfit toys there’s a chance we get to the ncaas

To be honest, I think we’re ok with the portal next year - we’ll be shopping for 2-3 players to complement a returning core of grown men that’s on year 2 or 3 in Pikes D. And the 2-3 will likely be guards who can double as slightly undersized forwards.
 
Grant -- Hopefully we can hold on to

Dortch -- No idea. Stays or transfers down?

Lathan -- Feel like we'll see a mutual (to some extent) parting ways. Part of me thinks Pike would rather go back to what he's comfortable with at the 5...a solid defensive minded rim protector. Even if Pike does want him, I think Lathan will get NIL from someone and bounce.

JMike -- For a couple of kids who grew up together, it feels like him and Ace aren't really that close?? I had him penciled in as leaving after this season with Ace, but now I'm not so sure. Also don't think his NIL value is that high. Hopefully he stays, if nothing else for some continuity

Derkack -- Stays as a guy off the bench. Or Pike gets him to stop with the "it's Jordan Derkack time" nonsense.

JWill -- Think he feels at home here and is still loyal to Pike for taking a chance on him.

Ogbole -- Stays. Who is paying a raw guy who can't stay healthy?

So that means what, 2-3 portal additions?
 
To be honest, I think we’re ok with the portal next year - we’ll be shopping for 2-3 players to complement a returning core of grown men that’s on year 2 or 3 in Pikes D. And the 2-3 will likely be guards who can double as slightly undersized forwards.
I hope you’re right and most return. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t an insult. I like misfit toys, have a chip on their shoulder.
 
Can’t wait to see who goes in the portal. Speculate who we all are excited about. Get excited. And then be let down when it’s a low major poor fit at needed positions.
 
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My Roster Prediction
PG-Jamichael Davis
SG-Kaden Powers
SF-Dylan Grant
PF-Transfer
C-Transfer
Bench
Derkack
Chris Nwulli
Lino Mark
Ogbole
Transfer
Bryce Dortch
Gevonte Ware
Is the Powers prediction based on anything? Not much tape on him but doesn’t seem like an explosive athlete and strikes me as a guy who will take some time on defense. If that’s our starting backcourt I think we can pencil in 18th in the conference next season
 
Grant -- Hopefully we can hold on to

Dortch -- No idea. Stays or transfers down?

Lathan -- Feel like we'll see a mutual (to some extent) parting ways. Part of me thinks Pike would rather go back to what he's comfortable with at the 5...a solid defensive minded rim protector. Even if Pike does want him, I think Lathan will get NIL from someone and bounce.

JMike -- For a couple of kids who grew up together, it feels like him and Ace aren't really that close?? I had him penciled in as leaving after this season with Ace, but now I'm not so sure. Also don't think his NIL value is that high. Hopefully he stays, if nothing else for some continuity

Derkack -- Stays as a guy off the bench. Or Pike gets him to stop with the "it's Jordan Derkack time" nonsense.

JWill -- Think he feels at home here and is still loyal to Pike for taking a chance on him.

Ogbole -- Stays. Who is paying a raw guy who can't stay healthy?

So that means what, 2-3 portal additions?
Grant - Hope he stays

Dortch- hasn’t shown anything to care

Lathan - I’m indifferent, but I agree that he leaves

JMike- hope he leaves

JWill - really hope he leaves

Derkack - Were stuck with him. Wouldn’t mind it if he was about our 8th man next year, but he’ll probably start and that’s not good.

Ogbole - I’m indifferent but if he’s going to start, I hope he leaves
 
Next years team doesn’t have a Big ten caliber player. You can argue Jwill as a bench player on another team and possibly Grant and Sommerville in 2-3 years .

It’s a terrible situation:
 
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