How do all of the new pieces fit together?

[tower912]

That is dependent on 3 unknowns.   1.   Mayo.   2.  Otule   3.   Does Buzz break the streak of having players transfer?      If 1 and 2 both leave, the tetris is pretty simple.   McKay join Taylor, Wilson, and Anderson manning the 4-5.    Lots of athleticism there.      With Lockett and Junior gone, there will be a whole bunch of minutes available at the 1, 2, and 3.     I think that Buzz hands the keys to Duane Wilson, a la DJames a few years ago.  Dawson and DerWilson providing stability and depth.    JJJ and Deonte compete for minutes at the 2-3.    I fear that NEXT year will be the return of team bubble watch as the young guys figure it out.   

[Dawson Rental]

That is dependent on 3 unknowns.   1.   Mayo.   2.  Otule   3.   Does Buzz break the streak of having players transfer?      If 1 and 2 both leave, the tetris is pretty simple.   McKay join Taylor, Wilson, and Anderson manning the 4-5.    Lots of athleticism there.      With Lockett and Junior gone, there will be a whole bunch of minutes available at the 1, 2, and 3.     I think that Buzz hands the keys to Duane Wilson, a la DJames a few years ago.  Dawson and DerWilson providing stability and depth.    JJJ and Deonte compete for minutes at the 2-3.    I fear that NEXT year will be the return of team bubble watch as the young guys figure it out.  

Davante?  I expect that he will still have an impact.

[tower912]

Doh!

[nyg]

McKay = Instant Starter at PF.

I don't believe Otule returns, so Gardner gets center, with McKay moving in when Gardner out.

Wilson will start at point.  Duane that is.  Tower is right, I think Buzz gives him the keys.

My guess:

McKay    PF
J. Wilson SF
Gardner   C
Blue or Mayo SG
Du. Wilson     PG

Anderson, Taylor, Burton, De.Wilson and JJJ off bench. Thomas, Dawson and Ferguson to fight for additional.

If Mayo returns next year, I don't think they will be a bubble team, but actually better than this year's team. 

[unforgiven]

Next year is problematic. The future of these 5 is 3-4 years off. That will be their time. I expect great things.

[brewcity77]

My guess for next year:

5: Davante and Otule again split minutes

4: McKay starts, Taylor his primary backup

3: Jamil Wilson starts, Anderson the primary backup, with Burton getting some time

2: Vander starts, Mayo, Johnson, and Ferguson get backup minutes

1: Derrick Starts, Duane backs him up

That leaves one scholarship guy unmentioned, Dawson, who I think gets a few minutes here and there but won't have a significant impact until his sophomore year. It also ignores Jake Thomas, who I think will get a few minutes at the 2/3 positions.

Finally, my prediction here has us one scholarship over, so one of these guys won't be here. Unless we sign a surprise center in spring, I feel confident Otule will be back. Contrary to popular belief, I think this one will come from a bit higher up on the depth chart than most might expect.

[bilsu]

Mayo will not be here. Otule will, if he plays this season without a serious injury.

[GGGG]

I will really, really surprised if Derrick Wilson isn't starting at PG next year.  Now he might lose minutes to Duane as the season rolls along, but I think people here are discounting what two years of experience mean at this level. 

[Hards Alumni]

I will really, really surprised if Derrick Wilson isn't starting at PG next year.  Now he might lose minutes to Duane as the season rolls along, but I think people here are discounting what two years of experience mean at this level. 

I agree.  Plus I think Thomas might play some more point.

Wilson is so active that it would be hard to not play him.

[GGGG]

I don't think Jake Thomas can be a point guard in Buzz's system.  He wants points that penetrate and get into the lane.  I would think that Blue runs the point if either Duane or Dawson isn't immediately capable.

[Dawson Rental]

Next year is problematic. The future of these 5 is 3-4 years off. That will be their time. I expect great things.

Hopefully, McKay's future is a little sooner than that.

[Goose]

Future for the new guys starts on Day One. Burton and McKay should be major contributors from the start.

[GGGG]

Future for the new guys starts on Day One. Burton and McKay should be major contributors from the start.

The only problem with Burton is that there will be a ton of bodies in front of him.  Wilson, Anderson, Taylor, Blue, McKay...all play wing positions.  I think Johnson is the one that can make the most immediate impact.

[Goose]

You might be right Sultan but a talent like Burton does not come around very often. IMO he will be the best newcomer since DWade and we have had some nice recruits since then. He is ready to play physically and have big expectations of him.

[Dawson Rental]

The only problem with Burton is that there will be a ton of bodies in front of him.  Wilson, Anderson, Taylor, Blue, McKay...all play wing positions.  I think Johnson is the one that can make the most immediate impact.

I assume that you say JJJ will have the most immediate impact because of his outside shooting.  Burton will be the most ready physically for Division I ball, everyone else will be needing weight training.  McKay won't get much time for it being a junior.

[GGGG]

These are good problems to have!!!

[LAZER]

I will really, really surprised if Derrick Wilson isn't starting at PG next year.  Now he might lose minutes to Duane as the season rolls along, but I think people here are discounting what two years of experience mean at this level. 

I think Derrick will have to become some sort of threat to score in order to keep the starting PG role.  I think he already looks more comfortable on the floor this year and his D will get him major minutes regardless, but he needs to start scoring a little.

[Hards Alumni]

I think Derrick will have to become some sort of threat to score in order to keep the starting PG role.  I think he already looks more comfortable on the floor this year and his D will get him major minutes regardless, but he needs to start scoring a little.

You'd think that, but JC still starts.

[brewcity77]

You'd think that, but JC still starts.

JC will be out of eligibility. This is talking about once the new recruits arrive next year.

[GGGG]

JC will be out of eligibility. This is talking about once the new recruits arrive next year.

I think he was countering the point that our PG needs to be a scoring threat by pointing out that JC starts right now.

[Hards Alumni]

I think he was countering the point that our PG needs to be a scoring threat by pointing out that JC starts right now.

yup.

[brewcity77]

I think he was countering the point that our PG needs to be a scoring threat by pointing out that JC starts right now.

Ah...well noted

To expand, I don't think we have to worry about scoring threats for next year. Yes, right now it's a work in progress, but I have a feeling by the end of this year, we'll have somewhere between 8 and 10 different players lead us in scoring this season. It wouldn't surprise me to see 10-11 different guys win stud of the game. Returning that experience will be huge next season, and the last thing we'll worry about is who will score. Everyone will.

[martyconlonontherun]

So in a two-year period, we go from Wilson being our center to him being our main SF with no minutes at C (assuming Otule, McKay and Gardner eat them all up)? This team will be big.