Thanks to TJ, Murph and Jimmy for this season.

So I fully expect NU to finish in the Top 4 next year. But the key to next season ...

Red HAS to stay healthy!

He's the PG next year, but he has to stay on the floor. He's shown us samples of how big he can be making some clutch shots (UConn and NC State last year).

Red takes care of the ball and from what I have seen he can control the offense.

GUARDS

That said, we're going to have some logjam in the back court.

Red, Begley, Occeus, Brace, Transfer Vasa Pusica and Freshman Myles Franklin and Derrick Cook.

Do we go with a 3-guard starting lineup? Red and Begley are clearly starters. Pusica is probably chomping at the bit and has worked on his game.

Bo came on really strong down the stretch and could also start. Occeus has started just about the whole season.

Are the two freshmen good enough to crack the starting lineup? Doubt it.

FORWARDS

Max, Juice, Sajon, and Freshmen Tomas Murphy and Jason Cook.

Every few years, Coen has had his top incoming freshman be a starter. From Janning, to Chase Allen, Q, Reggie Spencer, David Walker and Juice.

My gut feeling is Tomas starts for us. If so, is Tomas and Juice the front court in a 3-guard lineup?

Max and certainly Green could start in my mind too.

How about Red, Begley, Tomas, Max and Juice ( or Green)?

There are a lot of combos that can be used. It will be interesting to see what the coaching staff does.

I have a feeling Pusica will add a lot to this team. Just my gut. I think Franklin and Cook are "X" factors.

Once we figure it out, I think we'll be really dangerous.

Wiz...hard to disagree with anything in your post. So much depth will be a nice problem to have....especially after this year and a three guard offense seems like the way to go. My preference for the third would be Brace. He helps solve our rebounding problem and I love his shooters mentality. With all our guard depth I'd love to see a "sixty minutes of hell" pressing defense.
At the forward spot it's hard to look into the future until the freshmen actually arrive and show what they've got. I was hoping that the Murphy exchange would be seamless but their games aren't identical. Tomas isn't the outside threat that Alex was. He only took 15 3's this year and made only two of them.
Next year should be a lot more fun. Top four should be the goal.

Agree with everything. Have to question if we will see a transfer out this summer. Thought the leading candidate might've been Begley last year but no way he'll leave now. I could see Ford leaving, hard to imagine others leaving at this point, and hopefully we don't see any departures.

Looking forward to next year!

Looking at the rosters around the league, a lot of schools bring back 4 or 5 starters. Going to be tough to make progress next season in a league that will probably be better than this year.

Charleston and Towson basically bring back everyone, so they'll be the top 2 most likely in the coaches poll. UNCW and Elon will probably be the other in the top 4. After that, not sure what to think. I like our mix of players, especially hopefully having a healthy Gresham and Miller, but we'll see. W&M are losing a bunch, though Hofstra and Delaware will likely be better. JMU might be terrible and Drexel still has a ways to go, but should be competitive.

Our goal should be top 4 and hopefully have a good weekend in Charleston, but top 6 wouldn't be anything to sneeze at. We lose our top 2 scorers including the POY. Hoping newcomers Murphy and Pusica will provide some sparks, and looking forward to everyone getting better. I'm really interested in how Begley and Green will do next season.

(03-19-2017 05:45 PM)SomebodyToLove Wrote:  Charleston and Towson basically bring back everyone.

CofC does, but Towson loses William Adala Moto and John Davis.

Those are big losses.

Mike Morsell is the best player they have returning.

They'll take a hit. They're not a top 4 lock at all.

(03-19-2017 06:00 PM)geewizNU Wrote:  

(03-19-2017 05:45 PM)SomebodyToLove Wrote:  Charleston and Towson basically bring back everyone.

CofC does, but Towson loses William Adala Moto and John Davis.

Those are big losses.

Mike Morsell is the best player they have returning.

They'll take a hit. They're not a top 4 lock at all.

You're right, I missed that.

I'm excited to see what we can do. This season felt like a lost opportunity with the injuries. Hoping to see someone make a TJ type leap in terms of production.

UNCW loses three starters accounting for almost forty ppg.and their head coach.