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Transfer Portal Targets

And you think Rutgers will land a point guard out the portal, that's better than Willams?

We aren't looking for another PG, I believe.
Davis/Mark will be the primary PGs.
For better or worse.

We need an off ball wing who can score.
Basically the role JWill and Davis werent very good at last year next to Dylan.

If JWill were to return then Davis would go to the bench - because he isn't an off ball scoring wing either.
And we'd still be looking for an off ball wing that can score.

Basically, Davis and JWill can't play together.
So one leaving isn't a huge issue.
 
We aren't looking for another PG, I believe.
Davis/Mark will be the primary PGs.
For better or worse.

We need an off ball wing who can score.
Basically the role JWill and Davis werent very good at last year next to Dylan.

If JWill were to return then Davis would go to the bench - because he isn't an off ball scoring wing either.
And we'd still be looking for an off ball wing that can score.

Basically, Davis and JWill can't play together.
So one leaving isn't a huge issue.
I think if JWill comes back then JMike leaves. We would be trading one year for two, and JMike is better anyway.
 
I know I'm naive. I do understand the right of college age athletes to make money.

Having said that, if I were Davis, I might not be able to easily understand why RU would take JWill (whose first instinct was to run to the portal this year) back while I (Davis) remained a loyal Knight, again not looking for the nearest exit sign.

Just MHO...not sure this kind of observation even matters anymore.

Go RU!
 
We aren't looking for another PG, I believe.
Davis/Mark will be the primary PGs.
For better or worse.

We need an off ball wing who can score.
Basically the role JWill and Davis werent very good at last year next to Dylan.

If JWill were to return then Davis would go to the bench - because he isn't an off ball scoring wing either.
And we'd still be looking for an off ball wing that can score.

Basically, Davis and JWill can't play together.
So one leaving isn't a huge issue.
Incorrect, they desperately want a starting PG. Mark needs to work on his game a bit and will play limited minutes. So it's really going to be Davis and a transfer playing the bulk of the minutes.
 
Curtis Williams Jr- potential target? 6’6” shooting guard, former top 150 4Star from Detroit, paging Marlon Williamson.
Georgetown, played freshman year at Louisville
 
No way to know who will be better next year between JMike and Jwill. Very different players but lean jwill
 
Tracey played at St. Joseph's his first two seasons. He only played two games as a sophomore.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jadrian-tracey-1.html

From the Don't Believe What a Player Says Department:

In a change of heart, Oregon senior forward Jadrian Tracey has elected to enter the transfer portal and leave the Oregon men's basketball program. This comes less than a month after Tracey confirmed his intent to return to Oregon for the 2025-26 season for a third and final year of college basketball.

"I love it here. I love that I have another year, so yeah, I planned to come back," said Tracey ahead of the Ducks' first-round game in the NCAA Tournament this year.

https://247sports.com/college/orego...ey-enters-the-ncaa-transfer-portal-248161180/

 
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Yeah that's what Nebraska football fans were saying when they fired Bo Pelini because he ONLY won 9-10 games every year. In the 10 years since they've only won 9 games once and that was in year 2 after he was fired.

So while you can't be scared of change, you also need the right reasons for making the change in the first place.
Pike hasn’t ever won the equivalent of 9-10 games in basketball to even draw a comparison to that idiotic firing Nebraska did

9-10 wins to me for a power conference team is equal to 20+ and multiple tournament wins year over year
 
Juslin Bodo Bodo Center from High Point committed to Baylor today. He was a top target as we recruited out of high school. He would’ve been ideal in Pikes Defense and only a sophomore. Baylor prob paid 1.5-2 mil
 
Juslin Bodo Bodo Center from High Point committed to Baylor today. He was a top target as we recruited out of high school. He would’ve been ideal in Pikes Defense and only a sophomore. Baylor prob paid 1.5-2 mil

Hearing that we’re targeting another frosh
Has me hoping we have Bryce in the weight room. It won’t surprise me at all if he ends up playing the 5 at the rate we’re going.
 
Yes Parker Washington from California a former Minn comitt, reopened after Johnson was fired. A top 150 guy.
but we don’t need a frosh, we need a starting experienced big man. Not confident this will happen.

Dortch and Ogbole as the tandem, yikes
 
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Yes Parker Washington from California a former Minn comitt, reopened after Johnson was fired. A top 150 guy.
but we don’t need a frosh, we need a starting experienced big man. Not confident this will happen.

Dortch and Ogbole as the tandem, yikes
We can’t afford a c of any, even moderate quality in this portal. It’s EO and small ball. Dortch is NOT a center.
 
We can’t afford a c of any, even moderate quality in this portal. It’s EO and small ball. Dortch is NOT a center.
I’m hopeful that Bryce will hit the weight room. He is 6-9….

I’ll add - I’m still hoping that we go with all press. Now more than ever hearing that Francis shot 65% on transition 3s. Press system would also require more guards and suggest we’re not done…. Here’s to hoping. I know it’s a long shot but… if we were planning on that all along, the Francis pick up is less awful - more guys better. And the True center less critical.
 
I’m hopeful that Bryce will hit the weight room. He is 6-9….

I’ll add - I’m still hoping that we go with all press. Now more than ever hearing that Francis shot 65% on transition 3s. Press system would also require more guards and suggest we’re not done…. Here’s to hoping. I know it’s a long shot but… if we were planning on that all along, the Francis pick up is less awful - more guys better. And the True center less critical.
You're being delusional, Francis is a bad take this early. They need a big even if the guy is meh. That's better than Ogbole and Dortch will never be a 5 regardless of his height.
 
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I’m hopeful that Bryce will hit the weight room. He is 6-9….

I’ll add - I’m still hoping that we go with all press. Now more than ever hearing that Francis shot 65% on transition 3s. Press system would also require more guards and suggest we’re not done…. Here’s to hoping. I know it’s a long shot but… if we were planning on that all along, the Francis pick up is less awful - more guys better. And the True center less critical.
All for your paragraph two!!
 
All for your paragraph two!!
Look, realistically, even that plan is a challenge with limited resources because you need to buy quantity in addition to quality (albeit - can get away with missing certain expensive quality elements with press system but partly offset by needing more guys).

My only point is that if we do move in that direction, adding Francis would not be awful. We won’t end up with 10 other kids who can help more than him in a press no matter what we do. Shooting transition 3s well is a legit asset in a functional press system- a raw skill itself that isn’t very dependent on the ability of the D (of course - our press has to be good enough to get those opportunities to attempt 3s in transition off the dribble). But at least a plausible vision. There’s no other realistic one IMO. Francis will not be servicable as traditional BIG PG. It’s just so hard to imagine that.
 
Look, realistically, even that plan is a challenge with limited resources because you need to buy quantity in addition to quality (albeit - can get away with missing certain expensive quality elements with press system but partly offset by needing more guys).

My only point is that if we do move in that direction, adding Francis would not be awful. We won’t end up with 10 other kids who can help more than him in a press no matter what we do. Shooting transition 3s well is a legit asset in a functional press system- a raw skill itself that isn’t very dependent on the ability of the D (of course - our press has to be good enough to get those opportunities to attempt 3s in transition off the dribble). But at least a plausible vision. There’s no other realistic one IMO. Francis will not be servicable as traditional BIG PG. It’s just so hard to imagine that.
It would be comforting to know there’s a plan, it doesn’t seem there is one.
 
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It would be comforting to know there’s a plan, it doesn’t seem there is one.

Yes agreed. What’s most worrisome to me is that lack of any quotes from Pike in the announcements of adding Francis (contrast with Buchanan).

If the articles had quoted Pike saying something like - “we’re planning to get back to a defense first philosophy and will need to play a lot of guys to keep everyone fresh. We thought we had that down pretty well in 2023-24, but couldn’t capitalize in transition on the stops that we forced. We like the speed that Francis brings and he’s an excellent 3 point shooter off the dribble which we think will really help us in transition”. I’m totally making that up of course but the point is I’d be much less upset if a statement like that was made which would reassure that we’re not done recruiting a backcourt.
 
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Hey Fluox - can you back into the math? If Francis was 69 of 213 from 3 in total and 65% on 3s (either Richie or Aaron said that - can’t remember which one) off the dribble in transition - how many transition 3s did he take / make in total?
 
I’ve been reserving judgment but if we finish this portal cycle and 2025-2026 roster at C only involve those on the current roster + the highly regarded freshmen who decommitted from MN…,
we’re cooked!
Experienced true center or bust!
 
I’ve been reserving judgment but if we finish this portal cycle and 2025-2026 roster at C only involve those on the current roster + the highly regarded freshmen who decommitted from MN…,
we’re cooked!
Experienced true center or bust!
Dead Meat Deep Trouble GIF
 
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Baye Fall C from Kansas St and Arkansas, entered portal, 2023 top 30 out of high school RU was involved with. Has barely played in 2 years, so much for rankings. But obviously has size and athleticism and more experience now. Can RU get involved?

Papa Kante Pitt Center, also barely played, but ranked high out of High School. RU was involved.

If we can’t even get one of these to come, where they could potentially start and play big minutes, yes, we are cooked.
 
Yes agreed. What’s most worrisome to me is that lack of any quotes from Pike in the announcements of adding Francis (contrast with Buchanan).

If the articles had quoted Pike saying something like - “we’re planning to get back to a defense first philosophy and will need to play a lot of guys to keep everyone fresh. We thought we had that down pretty well in 2023-24, but couldn’t capitalize in transition on the stops that we forced. We like the speed that Francis brings and he’s an excellent 3 point shooter off the dribble which we think will really help us in transition”. I’m totally making that up of course but the point is I’d be much less upset if a statement like that was made which would reassure that we’re not done recruiting a backcourt.
Another way to look at this signing: Liking that he said nothing about adding Francis since Pike is thinking that he, staff and fan base want to see what Francis turns into without setting unrealistic expectations rather than being quoted “I’m really excited about adding Francis who will provide experience and will come in with the mindset of a starting PG and is expected to give us a ton of quality minutes while competing in the B10.”

Hope this makes you feel better.

GO RU
 
Hey Fluox - can you back into the math? If Francis was 69 of 213 from 3 in total and 65% on 3s (either Richie or Aaron said that - can’t remember which one) off the dribble in transition - how many transition 3s did he take / make in total?
There is not enough info there, only enough to establish bounds.

i.e. in theory the numbers could look like:
Transition 69 for 106 (65%)
Other 0 for 107 (0%)
Total 69 for 213

but they could also look like:
Transition 11 for 17 (65%)
Other 58 for 196 (30%)
Total 69 for 213

and either would be consistent with the information provided.
 
Hey Fluox - can you back into the math? If Francis was 69 of 213 from 3 in total and 65% on 3s (either Richie or Aaron said that - can’t remember which one) off the dribble in transition - how many transition 3s did he take / make in total?
Well, if that stat is accurate...

The upper bound is he could have gone 65 for 100 in transition, and only 4 for 113 (3.5%) in the halfcourt set. That seems... unlikely.

If he went 24 for 37 in transition, that's 64.8%. Then he'd have been 45 for 176 (25.6%) in the halfcourt.

If we go to a lower extreme and he was 11 for 17 in transition, then he was 58 for 196 (29.6%) in the halfcourt.

Bottom line, if that transition stat is accurate, he was NOT good in the halfcourt.
 
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