So our best returning player looks to be Sanford.

After that, Navigato & Knapke can both fill certain roles but are also a bit limited such that neither would be expected to be all-MAC.

Fletcher is next season's Steve Taylor--a one & done who will be counted on to make immediate contributions.

Adway had some brief moments late in the season...maybe he becomes a key reserve next season?

Roberts was a true freshman and played like it most games, so it's hard to measure what impact he could have...certainly wasn't a Sanford or Navi kind of freshman outing, though, and I'm just not convinced he has a niche or specialty and becomes more than a spot player.

The Missouri transfer Jackson doesn't become eligible until the second semester, so SOMEBODY will have to play some minutes until then.

I'm not sure what to think of the red-shirt Gordon other than he looks undersized and his HS senior year stats were underwhelming--probably means he's our secret weapon! Antunez won't see the court if he stays.

Maybe next season all 3 of the incoming freshmen will play key minutes and make some contributions.

And I still think we need a big body to patrol the paint, on D in particular. TK doesn't seem to like to go the JUCO route, and it failed miserably this season, but I'd prefer that over another one-and-done, unless that's our only choice.

Know anything about the schedule? It sure would be nice to host a marquee OOC opponent, been quite some time now.

Also, what's your starting 5 look like for next season(your best guess)?

best home schedule in a while. St joes, Middle Tenn State, maybe UNC-Wilmongton

(03-10-2017 01:06 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  Also, what's your starting 5 look like for next season(your best guess)?

PG M Jackson
SG Sanford
SF Fletcher
PF Donnall (I know he is not on the roster and I have no inside information it is just too logical not to happen in my opinion)
C Knapke or Epperson (again no inside info just dreaming)

W Jackson will be 6th man with starter minutes
Navigato as well
I am optimistic that if my roster predictions come true the drought will be over.

PG Jackson
SG. Sanford
C. Knapke
SF. Fletcher
PF. Rabakov

Vladimer Rabakov, the 6'10" , 260, 23 year old Ukrainian is going to be the key. If he can put up the numbers he got in the last Olympics we should be fine.

(03-10-2017 01:06 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  Know anything about the schedule? It sure would be nice to host a marquee OOC opponent, been quite some time now.

There's a website that keeps track of the early season tournaments. As of March 7th (the last time it was updated) no mention of the Rockets for next season's tournaments.

FWIW (and assuming this info is correct), Western Michigan will be in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Ohio will be in the Gildan Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, Buffalo will be in the Cayman Islands Classic and Akron will be in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.

Hope UT gets into something. Here's a link.

http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2016/1...anksgiving

I believe Gordon's being groomed to play the 4. Between him and Fletcher, we should be alright. The thing is, if you're looking for a big-bodied pf, don't bother searching the MAC. They're either slow and flat-footed or they're undersized. Taylor is a rarity (I loved watching him play and am grateful we had him this year) and you're lucky to get a Tino Valencia. We did just fine with Tino. Sanford did excellent this year but he hit a wall. you could see it happening the last few weeks as he was just a half step slower and he was getting a little frustrated that his body wasn't doing what he knew it could. I expected that to happen given how hard he was going and this being his first season starting D1 ball. He'll be in even better condition next year plus he'll figure out how to pace himself. If Roberts continues to improve and gives us quality minutes at the 1, we're in good shape at pg. Knapke - wow! I really like his progress. If he can put on about 30 pounds without becoming musclebound, he'll be a stud. We need a backup for him. Adaway has the talent. He needs to improve his basketball IQ and spend the off-season studying the game like a scientist though. If he doesn't, he won't be getting much playing time next year. He has the ability to be a very good player, he just needs to learn how to use it. Navigato is good at the sg. If we get quality play from the new players we're in good shape. If somebody starts in front of him, we're in very good shape. I hope I'm not disappointed by the transfers because I think - and given we graduated essentially 4 Senior starters -that we will be even better next year.

(03-10-2017 07:17 AM)cnyrocketfan Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 01:06 AM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  Know anything about the schedule? It sure would be nice to host a marquee OOC opponent, been quite some time now.

There's a website that keeps track of the early season tournaments. As of March 7th (the last time it was updated) no mention of the Rockets for next season's tournaments.

FWIW (and assuming this info is correct), Western Michigan will be in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Ohio will be in the Gildan Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, Buffalo will be in the Cayman Islands Classic and Akron will be in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.

Hope UT gets into something. Here's a link.

http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2016/1...anksgiving

At the end of 2015 word was that UT would face Syracuse at the Carrier Dome and would face Kansas in 2017-18. I don't know if this was ever confirmed or if anything's changed.

http://csnbbs.com/thread-762958.html

(03-10-2017 07:35 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  I believe Gordon's being groomed to play the 4. Between him and Fletcher, we should be alright. The thing is, if you're looking for a big-bodied pf, don't bother searching the MAC. They're either slow and flat-footed or they're undersized. Taylor is a rarity (I loved watching him play and am grateful we had him this year) and you're lucky to get a Tino Valencia. We did just fine with Tino. Sanford did excellent this year but he hit a wall. you could see it happening the last few weeks as he was just a half step slower and he was getting a little frustrated that his body wasn't doing what he knew it could. I expected that to happen given how hard he was going and this being his first season starting D1 ball. He'll be in even better condition next year plus he'll figure out how to pace himself. If Roberts continues to improve and gives us quality minutes at the 1, we're in good shape at pg. Knapke - wow! I really like his progress. If he can put on about 30 pounds without becoming musclebound, he'll be a stud. We need a backup for him. Adaway has the talent. He needs to improve his basketball IQ and spend the off-season studying the game like a scientist though. If he doesn't, he won't be getting much playing time next year. He has the ability to be a very good player, he just needs to learn how to use it. Navigato is good at the sg. If we get quality play from the new players we're in good shape. If somebody starts in front of him, we're in very good shape. I hope I'm not disappointed by the transfers because I think - and given we graduated essentially 4 Senior starters -that we will be even better next year.

Can't see Gordon playing power forward at 6-5 unless he had a totally different body type.

(03-10-2017 07:35 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Sanford did excellent this year but he hit a wall. you could see it happening the last few weeks as he was just a half step slower and he was getting a little frustrated that his body wasn't doing what he knew it could. I expected that to happen given how hard he was going and this being his first season starting D1 ball.

This is Sanford's second year as a starter, no?

(03-10-2017 08:55 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 07:35 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Sanford did excellent this year but he hit a wall. you could see it happening the last few weeks as he was just a half step slower and he was getting a little frustrated that his body wasn't doing what he knew it could. I expected that to happen given how hard he was going and this being his first season starting D1 ball.

This is Sanford's second year as a starter, no?

He's a Sophomore, but I honestly don't remember him being our starting pg last year.

(03-10-2017 09:37 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 08:55 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 07:35 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Sanford did excellent this year but he hit a wall. you could see it happening the last few weeks as he was just a half step slower and he was getting a little frustrated that his body wasn't doing what he knew it could. I expected that to happen given how hard he was going and this being his first season starting D1 ball.

This is Sanford's second year as a starter, no?

He's a Sophomore, but I honestly don't remember him being our starting pg last year.

Mosley played point, Sanford SG and switched to point to relieve Mosley some.

The future is bright. I'm already looking forward to next year!

(03-10-2017 07:06 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  PG Jackson
SG. Sanford
C. Knapke
SF. Fletcher
PF. Rabakov

Vladimer Rabakov, the 6'10" , 260, 23 year old Ukrainian is going to be the key. If he can put up the numbers he got in the last Olympics we should be fine.

I say combine the trip to Kansas with a visit at UMKC or something similar.

This is the first time of hearing about Vladimer Rabakov. Has he made a verbal commitment?

I could see us playing at Kansas and Roberts never seeing the floor with the TK substitution patterns

PG M. Jackson, Sanford, Roberts, Antunez(????????????????????)
2G Sanford, Rose
WF Navigato, W. Jackson, Hill, Fletcher, Gordon, Adway
PF ?, Fletcher, Hill, Adway
C Knapke, ?

? for possible PF/C recruit

(03-10-2017 10:22 AM)reg_Tol41 Wrote:  This is the first time of hearing about Vladimer Rabakov. Has he made a verbal commitment?

I just made him up. If Paul can have his Epperson fantasies, I can have mine!