Next years Center

[The Sultan]

I'll be shocked if Zaide isn't starting next year. Not sure why Owens has looked so lost the last 6 weeks after looking so good early on - he oozes potential but he might still be another year away before being a starter.

I think the BE season was a step up in intensity that he wasn't prepared for.

[tower912]

Admittedly a long shot, but I can picture Chase, Zaide, and DO being the starting guards. 

[Elonsmusk]

I think the BE season was a step up in intensity that he wasn't prepared for.

Hard to say. He looked so smooth and comfy at Iowa State, which is a rugged defensive team - thought that would translate to BE play to but just seems he's lost some confidence.

[tower912]

I would say that DO is like a young QB who lost confidence when they took away his first read and pressured him.  He will be fine, assuming he stays healthy and doesn't miss the entire preseason.

[DoctorV]

The skills are obvious, he just needs the game to slow down for him.

In the meantime, Shaka needs to get him involved in positions where he can succeed

[Uncle Rico]

Ask me after the season.  Lot of basketball left to be played in this season.

[Shooter McGavin]

Ask me after the season.  Lot of basketball left to be played in this season.

Yep.  I think that's the answer.  I want to see who steps up the rest of the way outside of our seniors (chase I think has already done that).  Any number of combinations for next year are possible. 

This offseason tests the Shaka relationships, growth, victory model more than any other season so far.  Losing Kam, Stevie and Jop (for better or worse) will leave a huge hole in leadership and scoring punch and the team is not that good at scoring the ball now.

Will be fun to see Shaka work his magic. Hoping Brew will be writing articles this offseason like he did prior to the 2023 title season when MU was picked 11th.  If I recall he was uber optimistic and spelled out why.  I don't see it yet for next year.  Do we have a leader like Kolek on next years team that will say F' em? 

I'll enjoy the rest of this year first and hope the future leaders step up and make themselves readily apparent.

[tower912]

I see a 9 man rotation of Jones, Norman, Lowery, Owens, Parham, Ross, Gold, Clark, and Hamilton, all a year older and healthy, and I am struggling to not go overboard with my enthusiasm.   


BCHoopster, I went back through some of your posts.  Your player assessments under Buzz were pretty accurate.  Your assessments of TKo, Oso, Stevie, Kam, and Omax were quite negative and inaccurate.  What happened?   Why the praise for Crowl (Ben held him to 2 points) while the disdain for the future NBA players at MU? 
I confess your negativity toward the aforementioned MU players makes me less worried about your assessment of Gold.

[Shooter McGavin]

Tower,  love the enthusiasm for next years roster.  I truly hope you are spot on.

[tower912]

It is a year away. We know who the forwards are. Gold, Parham, Clark, Hamilton.

And the guards/point guard is significantly more worryring if you think about it for more than 20 seconds.

The guards are Ross, Lowery, Jones, Norman, with DO a wild guard(hah) and two highly rated freshmen coming in (though I do not indulge in freshman hype)   That is a nice starting point.

[BCHoopster]

I see a 9 man rotation of Jones, Norman, Lowery, Owens, Parham, Ross, Gold, Clark, and Hamilton, all a year older and healthy, and I am struggling to not go overboard with my enthusiasm.   


BCHoopster, I went back through some of your posts.  Your player assessments under Buzz were pretty accurate.  Your assessments of TKo, Oso, Stevie, Kam, and Omax were quite negative and inaccurate.  What happened?   Why the praise for Crowl (Ben held him to 2 points) while the disdain for the future NBA players at MU? 
I confess your negativity toward the aforementioned MU players makes me less worried about your assessment of Gold.

I am impressed that you went back and looked at my old posts.  I am sure I was negative towards Stevie, Oso and Omax ability to score.  All three had some weaknesses in there game. Not sure about Kam or Kolek.  Both have had a great careers at MU.  Comes to Ben, biggest issue is that he is not a center, he really is a wing.  Yes he can play some D, but is not quick off his feet. I was very happy earlier in the year as I thought he could be an 8 and 5 guy, but last four games, ouch.  Has Shaka put him in the best position to succeed, not sure about that either. Need a real center next year and I am not sure there is one on the roster right now? Not sold on Hamilton, curious to see how Clark has improved. Is Shaka willing to change the offense for him, he is a legit 7 footer! Time will tell.

[tower912]

You called them all soft and/or dumb at some point.   Is there something about Shaka's players in general that you don't like them like you did Buzz players?

[JakeBarnes]

Nope.  Until two weeks ago when he started hobbling, I was more convinced than ever he was going to the league.   

Same. He looks like hell out there. Have we confirmed any shin splints or other injury? Hes been limping a lot

[tower912]

Raftery said shin splints during SJU game.  Shaka says a bunch of guys are banged up.  Stevie with achilles tendinitis, Kam and Chase wrists have all been referenced by Shaka.

So, confirmed?  No.  Mentioned by an outside, independent source during a broadcast?  Yes.

Of course, Raftery was talking g about how close Sean was in November. 

[jfp61]

The guards are Ross, Lowery, Jones, Norman, with DO a wild guard(hah) and two highly rated freshmen coming in (though I do not indulge in freshman hype)   That is a nice starting point.

Outside of Ross. Every player you said is worse than Gold and Parham.

[tower912]

Relationships, growth, victory.  I am looking forward to watching the development.

[BCHoopster]

You called them all soft and/or dumb at some point.  Is there something about Shaka's players in general that you don't like them like you did Buzz players?

Dumb is not my vocabulary, soft for sure.
Shaka's recruiting is interesting, his best 2 recruits were transfers, and now all he says is that he does not take transfers. Get with the times? You can fix weaknesses with adding one player here or there. The transfer portal. Picking up kids that are barely recruited  and redshirting them is a unique philosophy but does it work, not sure, two of his classes are average at best. Big recruiting year coming up, needs kids who can step in right away. Buzz recruited JC, tough kids, different philosophy. Shaka was fortunate to have 3 really good players from Wojo. We all want MU to succeed, it will be interesting next year.

[tower912]

Forgive me.  I equated questioning basketball IQ as calling a player dumb.   Mea culpa.

[Viper]

It'll be Ben Gold, who has been the starter for a Top 25 team for the entirety of this season as well as contributed to a Sweet 16 and 2 Big East Titles.

things change. Gold shouldn't start tomorrow night, based on his play of late.

[tower912]

I agree next year will be interesting.  I see a highly regarded recruiting class that may not play much, as the returnees are all one offseason of work better.
  As far as projects, yes, Shaka has made a habit of recruiting long, athletic, under the radar bigs. I put Ben in that category.  To my eyes, his progress, along with that of Oso, has been proof of concept.  Yes, it requires patience.  But clearly, based on the players in the 2025 recruiting class, Shaka and his staff think they have enough talented size going forward.

It is clear you are not sold.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Sean Jones is not a spot player. He will be one of the best PGs in the league.

Stop it.

Agree with you. Sean is a terrific athlete. We could have used him this year.

[FairWeatherEagle]

I still like the idea of Hamilton making big strides in the off-season. We could use his muscle.

Admittedly, there is MUCH work to be done. But I'm hopeful.

I was thinking the exact same thing. I'm not sure of Hamilton's intangibles like work ethic or drive. Haven't seen enough of him. But what I have seen is passable potential. He doesn't seem afraid of his moments. Will take the three and hit it as well as lean on guys in the post. He's not that starter quality now for sure...but big upside.

[Jay Bee]

Just go into the portal and buy a big-necked aircraft carrier and we'll be NC with ease.

Can we hire Wojo as a recruiting assistant?

[GoldenEagles03]

things change. Gold shouldn't start tomorrow night, based on his play of late.

As mentioned, he's dealing with shin problems, so if he's hurt, sure. If he's available he's the starter and that won't change.

Should he be OUT at any point due to injury, the defense would take a noticable hit. He's very impactful defensively and his presence alone helps this team regardless of the numbers he's accumulating.

[mileskishnish72]

As mentioned, he's dealing with shin problems, so if he's hurt, sure. If he's available he's the starter and that won't change.

The only thing that really works for shin splints is rest. DePaul & SHU at home with the weekend bye looks like the perfect time for some recovery.