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(01-13-2023 12:27 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 11:43 AM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 10:25 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 09:00 AM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  Dan Hoard and Terry Nelson apparently were discussing the possibility of Newman sitting the rest of the year to get a medical redshirt and come back and play next season.

Assuming he’ll get that from the NCAA and come back healthy enough to play (big ifs) I’m all for it.

I heard that as well on the Bearcat Insider telecast this week. If we all believe Newman's veteran experience could fortify next year's team for the Big 12 gauntlet, I'm all in.

While I'm hopeful we see continued progress with this current team, I'm not sure the possibility of a a postseason this year would be bolstered sufficiently by his return, burning his eligibility in the final two months. With that said, I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

I am staring to wonder if having the majority of the guys that can return next come season back is way better than going in the portal again. Maybe continuity if even if the talent is lacking is better for year one the Big XII. Eventually you stop turning the roster over every season and build a culture. Clearly some guys will transfer or leave but I am not sure they number has to 6 or 7 every year.

Bolded, I've wondered the same regarding building culture vs. plug and play. James and Griffith will be talented additions next season but if we go by playing time for Skillings and Read this season as a baseline for prized recruits, there will need to be minutes filled by experienced players.

Without looking at the roster, what seniors have exhausted eligibility? Depending upon who goes, Newman could provide needed experience and maturity.

DeJulius, Ezikpe, Newman, and Phinisee are all in their last seasons (however maybe Newman and Phinisee would qualify for a medical redshirt if they don’t come back this season?).

Davenport, Oguama, Nolley, and Adams-Woods all have one more year of eligibility.

(01-13-2023 01:04 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 12:27 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 11:43 AM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 10:25 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 09:00 AM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  Dan Hoard and Terry Nelson apparently were discussing the possibility of Newman sitting the rest of the year to get a medical redshirt and come back and play next season.

Assuming he’ll get that from the NCAA and come back healthy enough to play (big ifs) I’m all for it.

I heard that as well on the Bearcat Insider telecast this week. If we all believe Newman's veteran experience could fortify next year's team for the Big 12 gauntlet, I'm all in.

While I'm hopeful we see continued progress with this current team, I'm not sure the possibility of a a postseason this year would be bolstered sufficiently by his return, burning his eligibility in the final two months. With that said, I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

I am staring to wonder if having the majority of the guys that can return next come season back is way better than going in the portal again. Maybe continuity if even if the talent is lacking is better for year one the Big XII. Eventually you stop turning the roster over every season and build a culture. Clearly some guys will transfer or leave but I am not sure they number has to 6 or 7 every year.

Bolded, I've wondered the same regarding building culture vs. plug and play. James and Griffith will be talented additions next season but if we go by playing time for Skillings and Read this season as a baseline for prized recruits, there will need to be minutes filled by experienced players.

Without looking at the roster, what seniors have exhausted eligibility? Depending upon who goes, Newman could provide needed experience and maturity.

DeJulius, Ezikpe, Newman, and Phinisee are all in their last seasons (however maybe Newman and Phinisee would qualify for a medical redshirt if they don’t come back this season?).

Davenport, Oguama, Nolley, and Adams-Woods all have one more year of eligibility.

I personally doubt Nolley comes back. This was likely a one year showcase. Losing he and DDJ could make scoring lots of fun with Davenport chucking it up 15 times a game.

(01-13-2023 05:42 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 01:04 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 12:27 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 11:43 AM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2023 10:25 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  I heard that as well on the Bearcat Insider telecast this week. If we all believe Newman's veteran experience could fortify next year's team for the Big 12 gauntlet, I'm all in.

While I'm hopeful we see continued progress with this current team, I'm not sure the possibility of a a postseason this year would be bolstered sufficiently by his return, burning his eligibility in the final two months. With that said, I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

I am staring to wonder if having the majority of the guys that can return next come season back is way better than going in the portal again. Maybe continuity if even if the talent is lacking is better for year one the Big XII. Eventually you stop turning the roster over every season and build a culture. Clearly some guys will transfer or leave but I am not sure they number has to 6 or 7 every year.

Bolded, I've wondered the same regarding building culture vs. plug and play. James and Griffith will be talented additions next season but if we go by playing time for Skillings and Read this season as a baseline for prized recruits, there will need to be minutes filled by experienced players.

Without looking at the roster, what seniors have exhausted eligibility? Depending upon who goes, Newman could provide needed experience and maturity.

DeJulius, Ezikpe, Newman, and Phinisee are all in their last seasons (however maybe Newman and Phinisee would qualify for a medical redshirt if they don’t come back this season?).

Davenport, Oguama, Nolley, and Adams-Woods all have one more year of eligibility.

I personally doubt Nolley comes back. This was likely a one year showcase. Losing he and DDJ could make scoring lots of fun with Davenport chucking it up 15 times a game.

Yeah, Nolley is showing all he can right now to NBA guys. Shooting in the 45+/40+/80+ range at 6'7" and having playmaker ability will make him draftable, and there is no guarantee he'll have those numbers next year.

Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

(01-14-2023 02:20 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

I would think Skillings. He has shown flashes of potentially being being a pretty good basketball player.

(01-14-2023 03:21 PM)chatcat Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 02:20 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

I would think Skillings. He has shown flashes of potentially being being a pretty good basketball player.

Probably a mixture of Skillings and Griffith if I had to guess. Replace him in the aggregate.

FWIW, our NET continues to improve. We were #120 prior to Christmas and down to #102 at the end of the first week in January. Now we are listed at #84. Our best win thus far is #94 Tulane and our worst loss is #221 NKU. We still have some opportunities with upcoming home games games against #50 Memphis [Sunday] and #43 UCF [Feb 4]. We also have a road game against Houston sandwiched between those two games.

(01-14-2023 03:59 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:21 PM)chatcat Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 02:20 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

I would think Skillings. He has shown flashes of potentially being being a pretty good basketball player.

Probably a mixture of Skillings and Griffith if I had to guess. Replace him in the aggregate.

Long term that could be great. Next year with a B12 conference schedule it could be the slaughter of the innocent.

(01-15-2023 08:50 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:59 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:21 PM)chatcat Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 02:20 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

I would think Skillings. He has shown flashes of potentially being being a pretty good basketball player.

Probably a mixture of Skillings and Griffith if I had to guess. Replace him in the aggregate.

Long term that could be great. Next year with a B12 conference schedule it could be the slaughter of the innocent.

Skillings doesn’t look close to being ready to carry the load next year. I think he is much more of a project than an impact player. He rebounds well but doesn’t do anything else well enough to make me comfortable giving anything more than backup minutes. Cats need older players next year to compete. Either guys like Nolley and MAW are going to return or Wes will need to get some old guys. Maybe both.

(01-15-2023 08:56 PM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(01-15-2023 08:50 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:59 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:21 PM)chatcat Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 02:20 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious, if Nolley is gone next year who slides into that slot?

I would think Skillings. He has shown flashes of potentially being being a pretty good basketball player.

Probably a mixture of Skillings and Griffith if I had to guess. Replace him in the aggregate.

Long term that could be great. Next year with a B12 conference schedule it could be the slaughter of the innocent.

Skillings doesn’t look close to being ready to carry the load next year. I think he is much more of a project than an impact player. He rebounds well but doesn’t do anything else well enough to make me comfortable giving anything more than backup minutes. Cats need older players next year to compete. Either guys like Nolley and MAW are going to return or Wes will need to get some old guys. Maybe both.

it's probably transfer portal, and Nolley's production gives Wes some capital to recruit players.

i like Skilling's potential but he is very raw even as he continues to get minutes. Handle is super loose. Bites on every shot fake. He'll be a key contributor next season (hel, he's a key contributor rn). Just needs the game to slow down for him a bit.

I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

(01-16-2023 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

I had the same feeling. But maybe USF's improved profile is what Wes prefers to get these guys focused on that game. I don't imagine the "crowd" will be much of an issue but I would expect a battle on the court. It has the potential to be a decent win, on top of the fact that it builds some momentum in the conference race.

(01-16-2023 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

I sorta worry about every game with this Bearcat squad... not from the hustle or effort standpoint so much but from the effectiveness and execution standpoint. I love that they have multiple scorers, just wish they could find a way to get multiple guys to be "on" on the same night or consistently on. I like the faster pace they are playing but wish they would play as smart as they play fast. Those types of reasons keep me intrigued by this team because they are almost never out of a game but they also, unfortunately, almost never have a game locked up either.

I hope UCF gives them an opportunity for a confidence building W and provides a measuring stick for the how far they have come from Nov and where they can reach in Feb/Mar

(01-16-2023 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

They have some dudes that can cause problems. They are probably better than the rest of the bottom of the league.

Its another game where just finding a way to win and get home is the goal.

(01-16-2023 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

They lost to Wichita state at home a week ago, so UC should be able to replicate that. They are 1-4 in the AAC and were shaky during a bad non conference schedule.

This is obviously not the type of UC team that can just throw their jerseys out there and expect to win, but this should be a W

If not, that doesn't bode well for the rest of the year.

(01-16-2023 01:18 PM)Dont tase me bro Wrote:  

(01-16-2023 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm worried about Wednesday's game. I thought USF was going to be a disaster this year... and it looked like it through November. However, since December 1, Barrtorvik has them as a top 70 team. They have been much better than their record and overall numbers the last month and a half.

They lost to Wichita state at home a week ago, so UC should be able to replicate that. They are 1-4 in the AAC and were shaky during a bad non conference schedule.

This is obviously not the type of UC team that can just throw their jerseys out there and expect to win, but this should be a W

If not, that doesn't bode well for the rest of the year.

They also were in the game against Houston and Memphis until the final minute. They have some dudes and have been playing better.

Unfortunately, this UC team isn't good enough to sleepwalk on any opponent. That's not a condemnation of Wes or the guys, but simply is what it is. I'm thankful to see real improvement and a chance for this team to exceed both last season's results and this year's expectations. Beating teams down the stretch not named Houston and Memphis would do the trick.

Doom and gloom about next season is nothing more than that. With the portal, next season's team is still TBD and we may be pleasantly surprised with both inbound recruits and transfers attracted to the Big 12 for the guys wearing Red and Black next year. And I'm not talking about Texas Tech.

Would love for Lahkin to be option #1 on most every offensive set. Feed him, if open take to the hoop, if not inside-out for better 3 looks. Too many series he doesn't touch it.

Dermarr is heading to wvu as an assistant coach. Great opportunity for him.

(01-16-2023 04:56 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Dermarr is heading to wvu as an assistant coach. Great opportunity for him.

Doesn't seem to want to burn any bridges:

I didn't see it mentioned on this forum, but WVU fired Larry Harrison last week - hence the Dermarr hiring I presume. I'm guessing there's a story behind Harrison's departure, but I haven't seen it.