[Cracked Sidewalks] Portal Kombat: Choose Your Fighter

[GoldenEagles03]

What kind of quality of player do you think is going to come here strictly as a backup PG to play 8-10 MPG?

A low to mid major guy looking to make a leap and play in front of 18,000 people in an NBA arena for High Major money.

Or

A combo guard with more PG skills than Minessale, that has minutes available at the 1 and 2 off the bench.

Or

A good player off of a bad team that is looking to play for a team that has the potential to win next season.

There's more than 1 scenario, but there are good players that would want to play at Marquette.

[GoldenEagles03]

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A low to mid major guy looking to make a leap and play in front of 18,000 people in an NBA arena for High Major money.

Or

A combo guard with more PG skills than Minessale, that has minutes available at the 1 and 2 off the bench.

Or

A good player off of a bad team that is looking to play for a team that has the potential to win next season.

There's more than 1 scenario, but there are good players that would want to play at Marquette.

A combo guard makes sense.  A pure PG does not.

[GoldenEagles03]

A combo guard makes sense.  A pure PG does not.

A pure PG absolutely makes sense, a combo guard with real PG skills might be more realistic.

Having 1 true PG on a roster isn't normal though, especially with 2 open roster spots. Maybe it is a reclass, maybe it is a an older guy looking to make a leap up, but you need someone else with true PG skills aside from Nigel.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A pure PG absolutely makes sense, a combo guard with real PG skills might be more realistic.

Having 1 true PG on a roster isn't normal though, especially with 2 open roster spots. Maybe it is a reclass, maybe it is a an older guy looking to make a leap up, but you need someone else with true PG skills aside from Nigel.

I think the scenarios you laid out regarding a pure backup PG are extremely unlikely.  I don't think the quality of that hypothetical player is going to be any better than Stevens or Minessale handling the point while James gets a breather.  There is more opportunity and minutes available for another combo guard.

[GoldenEagles03]

I think the scenarios you laid out regarding a pure backup PG are extremely unlikely.  I don't think the quality of that hypothetical player is going to be any better than Stevens or Minessale handling the point while James gets a breather.  There is more opportunity and minutes available for another combo guard.

I just think not preparing for "the worst" is risky for them.

We've seen Sean lose a season to an ACL, Kolek was injured 2 seasons in a row in March, Nigel was the only real PG on the roster last year with Sean hurt again.

You need to have someone else as an option at the very least.

[MU82]

If Nigel gets hurt and misses a material number of games, we are screwed. Period. There is no guard available in the portal who would mitigate that loss.

That said, I do hope we use one of our two openings to sign a combo guard, preferably one who can make a few 3s. There is playing time available for such a player, and he would provide insurance in case any of our guards get into foul trouble and/or suffer a short-term injury.

[GoldenEagles03]

If Nigel gets hurt and misses a material number of games, we are screwed. Period. There is no guard available in the portal who would mitigate that loss.

That said, I do hope we use one of our two openings to sign a combo guard, preferably one who can make a few 3s. There is playing time available for such a player, and he would provide insurance in case any of our guards get into foul trouble and/or suffer a short-term injury.

But you can't think that way when building a roster.

There is a scenario where Nigel could miss time like Kolek in the middle of the season but be back for March, and you would need to stay afloat on that time he is out.

With 15 roster spots in the modern game there is no reason to not have another PG option. If that guy is a combo guard, fine, but you need another PG.

[MU82]

But you can't think that way when building a roster.

There is a scenario where Nigel could miss time like Kolek in the middle of the season but be back for March, and you would need to stay afloat on that time he is out.

With 15 roster spots in the modern game there is no reason to not have another PG option. If that guy is a combo guard, fine, but you need another PG.

I think we actually agree.

[BM1090]

I believe you were part of the "playing like a bubble team since winter break" crowd. So who was our backup 4 last season? Did we lose them?

If last year's team could be a top 60 team after the great winter break recalibration, despite having Josh/Caedin as the only backups at the 5 and DO being the only backup at the 4, then why wouldn't next year's team be able to be even better when, on paper, we improved at literally every position?

1: SO Nigel > FR Nigel
2: SO Adrien > FR Adrien
3: Nolan >/= Chase
4: JR Royce > SO Royce
5: Fru >>> Ben
Backup 1 Nash ? Tre (Can't be much worse)
Backup 2/3 SO Phillips/Miletic > FR Phillips
Backup 3/4 JR Damarius/Egbuono > SO Damarius
Backup 5: JR Caedin/SO Clark / SO Caedin/FR Clark

I think they could be better and I'm sure we'll see improvement from the guys you mentioned. But I also think they're a proven backup 4/5 away from having a really good rotation, plus whatever surprises you get from the younger guys.

They went out and spent and got Fru and Minnesale. Not bringing in another transfer to replace Sheek and leaving that spot as a question mark seems really short sighted. Caedin and Josh have proven they can't be counted on for quality minutes. Could they improve? of course. But banking on that when you're a piece away from having a good top 8 seems dumb.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I just think not preparing for "the worst" is risky for them.

We've seen Sean lose a season to an ACL, Kolek was injured 2 seasons in a row in March, Nigel was the only real PG on the roster last year with Sean hurt again.

You need to have someone else as an option at the very least.

When you're building a roster, you don't make decisions based on the unlikely scenario of a season-ending injury.

Tyler was extremely durable.  When he was hurt, Kam (not a pure point) played well in his absence. Sean had poor injury luck but you don't add a lesser player because you're worried that might happen again.

If Nigel misses significant time, this team is probably f*cked anyway.  If you have a choice right now between a combo guard and a pure PG and the combo is the better player, that's who you take 100 out of 100 times. 

And the reality is the better player is much more likely to be a combo guard because of the opportunity available.

[Jay Bee]

You know your stats so I'm honestly curious,  do you not buy into BartTorvik or is it being misapplied? To me underlying efficiency is more predictive than W/L record.

Oh, no -- I was more so pulling the W-L for affect. However, I'm also not wildly impressed by the post-xmas break adjusted efficiency numbers either and don't think our actual W-L is an awful proxy for our efficiency figures.

For example, we can look at the teams immediately above and below us for the same time period.. we were #57 in Torvik from 12/30/25 on... #56 is Minnesota, who went 7-13 (puke).. #58 Ole Miss was 7-15.

Early on in the year, our staff made criminally insane personnel choices. It got better, but in the latter half of the year it wasn't close to optimal either.

Our offense still stunk post-xmas... #90 in the nation. Really bad, tbh. The defense was much better and #34 is fine... but I do think luck played a part of getting us to that mark (e.g., opponents shooting just 31.4% from 3 against us). Our defensive rebounding ranked #361 in the country post-xmas and looking ahead, it's Shaka so it's not going to be good.. but further, Fru wasn't quite as good as Gold... Royce ain't a guy who's going to be be even mediocre on the d-boards without a significant transformation...

If we can maintain our defense, maybe get a slight improvement.. and we can improve our offense -- which MUST INCLUDE IMPROVED 3FG% -- we can get back to the tourney.. but I look at the post-xmas performance as a whole last year, and see a team that still was troubled and still a couple of cuts away from being a bubble team even when not looking at actual win-loss performance.

PS - I love the guys, but I'm a tad bit afraid that Nigel and Adrien were able to benefit from coming into the college (1) as guards and (2) physically ahead of some other frosh in college bball. That is, I'm hesitant to expect big jumps from them as sophomores. #COLE

OK.. one positive glimmer of hope.. I do think we could* show marked improvement in getting to the line next season, which would also help our putrid offense regardless of the % we shoot when we get there (#FTsNoMatta).

[brewcity77]

A combo guard makes sense.  A pure PG does not.

A combo is ideal, but this is 2026. Plenty of teams run extended minutes with dual PG sets. A pure PG could play alongside NJ & Stevens, Stevens & Minessale, or NJ & Minessale. Creative roster management could find 15-25 mpg for even a pure PG on this roster, especially if they have the length to defend 2s & 3s.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A combo is ideal, but this is 2026. Plenty of teams run extended minutes with dual PG sets. A pure PG could play alongside NJ & Stevens, Stevens & Minessale, or NJ & Minessale. Creative roster management could find 15-25 mpg for even a pure PG on this roster, especially if they have the length to defend 2s & 3s.

Sure, if there is a 6'3 pure PG with a nice wingspan out there that can defend other positions sign me up.  I just think that type of player is probably scarce.

[Tha Hound]

Seems like most everyone agrees that adding guard/center depth would be beneficial. But comparing an injury-riddled season to having two open scholarships and choosing not to fill them doesn't make sense to me. One is bad luck, the other is a deliberate staff decision.

I expect we'll bring in at least one more contributor through the portal or 5-by-5 and I think failing to do so would be a mistake. Not knocking next year's team, I think we'll be solid even if the roster is already set. But adding some meaningful depth would really help and I haven't seen any good reason to leave spots open.

[brewcity77]

Sure, if there is a 6'3 pure PG with a nice wingspan out there that can defend other positions sign me up.  I just think that type of player is probably scarce.

This is why you have a GM scouring the portal for potential adds. And why hard working programs are finding answers to these questions. West Virginia just added Martin Somerville, who fits this description perfectly and isn't expected to start. Same with Joel Foxwell at Arizona State.

There are players out there that fit profiles that would suit us, whether pure PGs or CGs. You just have to proactively get out there and pursue them.

[noblewarrior]

MU was linked with Kennard Davis Jr. (https://247sports.com/player/kennard-davis-jr-46117943/college-345590/) in the early stages of Portal Kombat.  Has there been any news one way or another regarding MU interest sine these early rumblings, or did that ship sale with Minessale?  Internet seems quiet regarding KDJ, a would-be senior and a one-yr. rental that I would welcome... could fill in at multiple positions on the wing and front court.  Sophomore numbers show he can score but some scrub freshman joined his squad at BYU last year and his Junior numbers dropped as a result...

Edit:  He's from St. Louis... so a SLU lock!  NM.

Second edit:.. as of April 13th... still MU interest:  https://lawlessrepublic.com/byu-kennard-davis-has-an-impressive-list-of-landing-spots-in-transfer-portal

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

They went out and spent and got Fru and Minnesale. Not bringing in another transfer to replace Sheek and leaving that spot as a question mark seems really short sighted. Caedin and Josh have proven they can't be counted on for quality minutes. Could they improve? of course. But banking on that when you're a piece away from having a good top 8 seems dumb.

Do you have any names? Cause I've combed through the portal...and at least of D1 bigs, the pickings are really slim. Maybe there's some D2 transfers or JUCOs, but most of the D1 transfer that are left are 200 lb sticks from low majors. They put up better numbers than Caedin, but I'm not sure they could replicate them against high major bigs.

[muwarrior69]

Do you have any names? Cause I've combed through the portal...and at least of D1 bigs, the pickings are really slim. Maybe there's some D2 transfers or JUCOs, but most of the D1 transfer that are left are 200 lb sticks from low majors. They put up better numbers than Caedin, but I'm not sure they could replicate them against high major bigs.

So there are "pickings". Do you mean talent wise or the "good ones" that are left are asking too much in compensation? Also if 5 in 5 is allowed this off season what seniors  ( not necessarily a " big") look like possibilities?

[MarquetteMike1977]

If Nigel misses significant time, this team is probably f*cked anyway.  If you have a choice right now between a combo guard and a pure PG and the combo is the better player, that's who you take.

Agree. And like Kevin used to say. If Tony Miller goes down this season is probably f*cked anyway.

[Scoop Snoop]

if 5 in 5 is allowed this off season

It's not.

[tower912]

It has been made pretty clear that when 5 for 5 is implemented, it will not be retroactive.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

It has been made pretty clear that when 5 for 5 is implemented, it will not be retroactive.

I bet the NCAA gets sued.

https://x.com/i/status/2048875208254345232

[tower912]

They get sued for lots of things.

[MU82]

So there are "pickings". Do you mean talent wise or the "good ones" that are left are asking too much in compensation?

Just re-read TAMU's post.