If we go back to the portal, I'd imagine we'd go for a big man with multiple years left, is comfortable coming off the bench, and isn't going to break the bank. Some possibilities I see:

Luke Bamgboye
Musa Sagnia
Ben Defty
Austin Maurer
Julius Halaifounua
Anton Bonke
Devin Williams
Chol Machot

Some more names might be announced in the next few days, but as of this moment, I think this would be the pool. A lot of teams are still looking for big men, so they will be at a premium and other teams may be able to promise starting minutes. Might have to get creative.

To give people an idea of the competition. Anton Bonke has visits set up with Michigan State and Kansas. His freshman year, he couldn't get off the bench for a bad Providence team. He was better with Charlotte last year...but he's towards the bottom of my list of available transfer bigs.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 21, 2026, 04:04:15 PMA lot will have to go wrong for Hamilton to be the first off the bench for Fru.

So, has a lot gone wrong yet?

Quote from: jfp61 on April 21, 2026, 08:44:29 PMWe're people thinking 18 year old Sheek was our backup big?

This...exactly.  I mean, maybe Pearson would be the rare Freshman big to make an all-conference team.  But more likely, no.

Quote from: Pakuni on April 21, 2026, 11:07:34 PMIf the theory is that Sheek got a better offer, then did carrying (read: paying) multiple players who won't play affect MU's ability to match?

No.

True.  Hmm.

https://247sports.com/season/2026-basketball/transferportal/?institutionkey=24315

(I don't understand why some people think everything needs to be in one long thread)

Quote from: Small Orange Soda on April 21, 2026, 10:08:05 PMGlad you're starting to get it. You, Vander, Sultan, 82, etc. all said it's fine, we got Sheek. Well, now he's gone. So now what? Maybe Shaka should've tried to improve those roster spots?

Wut?

Quote from: jfp61 on April 21, 2026, 11:12:08 PMHe is fine. He'll be good in 2-3 years. Like most 18 year bigs. But those dudes ain't typically gonna play quickly. He might be 200-205 pounds.

Not much of an advertisement for RGV if, after a year in the program, a top 50 recruit is still an additional 2-3 years from being good.

Quote from: Pakuni on Today at 12:02:58 AMIn a matter of hours tonight, Sheek went from a solid power-conference backup big man with major long-term upside to a risky gamble.

I'm speculating a team paid big money for a redshirt 18 year old who hasn't played a second of college basketball as if he's a proven stud. Tough to believe he transfered for slightly higher offer.

Quote from: Zog from Margo on April 21, 2026, 11:35:06 PMNot really. I believe he's the highest ranked recruit Shaka brought to MU and he's had a year of D-1 conditioning. My guess is he'll be a nice player for someone. For MU, he's just a recruiting miss.

In a matter of hours tonight, Sheek went from a solid power-conference backup big man with major long-term upside to a risky gamble.

Quote from: Johnny B on April 21, 2026, 11:19:34 PMits possible i guess. ive heard people on here MU pay is based on class not just performance. Still..... hard to belive 18 is getting paid so much that it would prevent MU from paying a bit more to keep sheek. Whomever is dropping a bag to get sheek is taking quite a gamble.

Not really. I believe he's the highest ranked recruit Shaka brought to MU and he's had a year of D-1 conditioning. My guess is he'll be a nice player for someone. For MU, he's just a recruiting miss.

Quote from: Pakuni on April 21, 2026, 11:07:34 PMIf the theory is that Sheek got a better offer, then did carrying (read: paying) multiple players who won't play affect MU's ability to match?

its possible i guess. ive heard people on here MU pay is based on class not just performance. Still..... hard to belive 18 is getting paid so much that it would prevent MU from paying a bit more to keep sheek. Whomever is dropping a bag to get sheek is taking quite a gamble.