Nigel - ??
Stevens - ??/Zaide
?? - Phillips
Royce - Egbuonu
?? - Sheek/Clark

I'd feel good about the above lineup next year.  The ??'s are where I'd add a legit, experienced transfer.

Quote from: Mu8891 on December 11, 2025, 11:42:08 AMOk.  So Gold is in the top 3. But ...
If SS does not go to the portal
( and I don't think that he will ), then how is this team not just as bad or
Worse next year ?

And guess what... James will have lots of suitors after the season. $hit, he probably has people sniffing around already. So, if he likes V better than the RG, then... uhh ...

That is the problem with this down of a season.  No one anticipated lower mid major badness.  Things could fall apart like a RGV house of cards but I really hope Shaka has forged enough of a good relationship with his best players that they stay.  Obviously the money will have to match.  Shaka definitely made it harder on himself by missing on his talent evaluations in the sophomore and junior classes.  I have faith he will learn from his mistakes and get the team out of this mess.

Quote from: Hards Alumni on December 11, 2025, 02:00:09 PMWe're going to get a lot more out of Sheek Pearson than people think, as well.

This.  Sheek was a top 60ish recruit for a reason.  Completely different than the late fliers at the 5 Shaka signed in previous classes.  He was awesome in the EYBL, not massive box score numbers but he makes so many winning plays.

Quote from: jfp61 on December 11, 2025, 02:30:33 PMPerfectly fine with them leaving. Josh, Ian, Sheek, Adrien, Michael, Zaide.

To me, this is ludicrous.

Quote from: panda on December 11, 2025, 02:17:57 PMThe outlook for next year looks bleak as well, with no significant transfers coming in.

In what world does one of the worst high major teams one year turn into a good team the following year by adding a couple of freshmen?

This is moving the goalposts.  I don't think anyone has said a couple of significant transfers aren't needed. 

The point is that a complete annihilation of the current roster isn't necessary if there are a couple of nice additions through the portal. 

For example:

-Starting center (portal)
-Starting wing (portal)
-Zaide
-Adrien
-Nigel
-Royce
-Sheek
-Egbuonu
-Phillips

I can see such a hypothetical 9-man group being a tourney team

Quote from: MU82 on December 11, 2025, 11:38:27 AMOnce you open the door on a salary cap, there is no going back. If the owners insist on the players protecting the owners from themselves, there will be a long lockout that would damage the game significantly more than not having a salary cap ever would.

And then they'd end up settling after the long lockout - and they still won't have a salary cap. Because I'm confident saying it just won't happen.

I have no doubt the cap will NOT happen in MLB, but the players have ended up with the same results as NBA and NFL. Competitive balance would be the benefit to the sport, but there seems to be no material benefit for all the players to not have the cap.

The NFL & NBA & NHL did not end up with caps/floors because the players are getting poor advice and representation. They valued competitive balance and a guaranteed floor on salaries. Both systems seem to work and result in the same outcome.

Quote from: MU82 on December 11, 2025, 02:04:06 PMSeriously, how many players do you think "have to go"? Which ones are you suggesting Shaka cut after the season?

For me personally. If I was a basketball czar. Or if I were a new coach.

I would group the team like this.

Show the door- Caedin, Damarius, Tre, Sean.
Perfectly fine with them leaving. Josh, Ian, Sheek, Adrien, Michael, Zaide.
Mildly fine with them leaving. Royce and Nigel.


This roster has players that will be good and start some day, they just should be juniors or seniors when that happens.

My hope is that 1-2 guys flash late. But I have my doubts that they will.

Quote from: panda on December 11, 2025, 02:25:46 PMCare to entertain an answer to my question or will you sarcastically dismiss it with no substance?

It's December 11th.  Let the season play out, and then let the offseason as well.

Unless you're very sure of everything that will happen before October 2026.

Quote from: Hards Alumni on December 11, 2025, 02:20:21 PMyawn

Care to entertain an answer to my question or will you sarcastically dismiss it with no substance?

Quote from: jfp61 on December 11, 2025, 02:20:45 PMRutgers were so good with Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey

How many top 5 picks do we have coming into the program next year?