Philipe Ndong to Marquette

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Yeah the seat is certainly warm.  All that matters are W's.

I don't think the seat is remotely warm as of today.

[Hards Alumni]

I don't think the seat is remotely warm as of today.

If this season tanks (it won't) they will absolutely let him go.

Missing the post season in back to back years will drive ticket sales down so far they'll be forced to make a move.

[nyg]

It's possible (but maybe unlikely) that 7 of our top 8 are all back next year.  So with 15 roster spots I don't really get the concern in this particular instance.

I agree.  Presuming one or two current players will leave based on limited playing time.
Ndong is a viable candidate to redshirt, put on some substantial weight and hone his skills. 

[MuMark]

I agree.  Presuming one or two current players will leave based on limited playing time.
Ndong is a viable candidate to redshirt, put on some substantial weight and hone his skills. 

There are no redshirts anymore

[nyg]

There are no redshirts anymore

OK, thanks.
He then is #15 at end of bench and does the things I mentioned.  Hope it works out better than Shaka's previous projects, one will eventually shine. 

[Galway Eagle]

There are no redshirts anymore

Time to pay a prep school to be where we stash our projects for a year.

[mileskishnish72]

Crowdis, Miletic, and Walker all sound like guys that probably shouldn't be playing much.

Hmmm, anti-traditional bias, Brew?

Seriously, I'm basically with you on the projects. Let's hope the development happens.

[JakeBarnes]

At this point, my expectation of NEPSAC players is that they're probably going to disappoint whatever my expectations are. What makes 3-star Ndong more promising than Itejere or Amadou were?

With Fru eligible to return (by age) that means we're one over for next year. And while the staff won't say this, they absolutely are trying to add at least two more freshmen for next year.

If that comes to pass, we're running off 3 to start with. So why bring in another project at a position we've had a 20% hit rate at so far (Gold the one success)? If you're running someone off, at least do it for a contributor, which Ndong seems 3 years away from being if it all goes well.

I feel like we should have gotten in on more Middlesex Magic players from the NEPSAC. Like JP Estrella. Or Tyler Kolek.

[NCMUFan]

No highlight web links?

[MUbiz]

The current admin messed with brew's happy, and he's kinda been like this for a year or so now.

I am with Brew here and also been "like this" for well over a year. Mubb has been basically a .500 team since Jan 1 2025.  23 wins and 20 losses if I counted correctly.

That is not acceptable. Full stop. Especially with the cash we spend.

[Hards Alumni]

I am with Brew here and also been "like this" for well over a year. Mubb has been basically a .500 team since Jan 1 2025.  23 wins and 20 losses if I counted correctly.

That is not acceptable. Full stop. Especially with the cash we spend.

Yeah we all know.  None of us like it.  But you can at least agree that meaningful steps have been made to right the ship.  Probably.

[MUbiz]

Probably.

Probably.

[Its DJOver]

Yeah we all know.  None of us like it.  But you can at least agree that meaningful steps have been made to right the ship.  Probably.

Have they? I don't have a hot dog because the marketing department stole all of them and it's physically impossible to buy anything MU related without the letters RGV on them, as you can tell from the new Championship collection. Jop just got yelled at for dribbling again, and O-Max fell down while failing to get a block. Things haven't been this bad since we were playing Derrick in front of Magic Dawson.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Keep the threes ringin'

Ring Nding Ndong! Ring a Nding Nding Nding Ndong!

Keep the threes ringin'

Ring Nding Ndong! Ring a Nding Nding Nding Ndong!

Uh yeah

[Hards Alumni]

Have they? I don't have a hot dog because the marketing department stole all of them and it's physically impossible to buy anything MU related without the letters RGV on them, as you can tell from the new Championship collection. Jop just got yelled at for dribbling again, and O-Max fell down while failing to get a block. Things haven't been this bad since we were playing Derrick in front of Magic Dawson.

[wadesworld]

I hope for the best with Ndong and would love to see him thrive here and outperform the expectations Adam Finkelstein and myself have for him.

That said, I just don't get this. Recruiting is changing. Taking a project when you could redshirt them and transfers had to sit out, making the move less appealing, made sense in 2017. But now it's 2027.

Every assessment of this guy indicates he's a project. As good as Jaxson Hayes was for Shaka at Texas and as good as Oso turned out to be after barely playing his freshmen year, we've seen 5 project bigs (Keeyan, Amadou, Gold, Hamilton, Clark) and the only one to develop to even the rotation player level was Gold.

High major programs are moving away from high school players. If you can get a top-50 kid, great. But otherwise, it makes more sense to dedicate roster spots to players with a proof of concept. Everyone always asks "oh yeah, who would willingly take a bench role?" How about Fred King at Creighton, Wilson Jacques at DePaul, NJ Benson at Georgetown, Samson Aletan at Providence, and Nikolaus Chitikoudis at Xavier? All of them are more proven big bodies that are D1 ready.

Some services have Ndong top-100. That's fine for him, but I'm of the opinion that the lowest level of high school players we should target are in the Egbuonu range. This just feels like we're trying to build rosters the same way we always did. It garnered mixed results before and seems likely to only push is further back if we stick with it going forward.

The fact you're comparing him to Oso, Hayes, Clark, Hamilton, Keeyan, and Amadou tells me you watched even less than the 2 minute highlight film I figured you watched. He's not a 5. He's a wing whose biggest strength is his shooting. He plays like Michael Philips played.

Finkelstien also had great things to say about Tre Norman. Not super concerned with what he has to say about someone he's seen maybe a game of.

And if we're out on guys ranked in the 90s, Nigel James isn't good enough to join our program until a couple years at Iona.

I'm not saying I think this kid is a sure fire star in the making. But with 15 roster spots, not every player you bring in is going to be a rotational player year one in the program.

[BCHoopster]

Most of the team is back next year, there really is not much playing time unless Fru leaves, add a center Porter leaves, Pemberton would play. Both those recruits will not play much.

[brewcity77]

The fact you're comparing him to Oso, Hayes, Clark, Hamilton, Keeyan, and Amadou tells me you watched even less than the 2 minute highlight film I figured you watched. He's not a 5. He's a wing whose biggest strength is his shooting. He plays like Michael Philips played.

Finkelstien also had great things to say about Tre Norman. Not super concerned with what he has to say about someone he's seen maybe a game of.

And if we're out on guys ranked in the 90s, Nigel James isn't good enough to join our program until a couple years at Iona.

I'm not saying I think this kid is a sure fire star in the making. But with 15 roster spots, not every player you bring in is going to be a rotational player year one in the program.

I'm old enough to remember the revelation that was Juan Anderson's mix tape and I'm old enough to remember people telling me earlier this summer that Crowdis was going to play based on his highlights.

The problem is twofold. First, we already have 6-7 players on the roster that likely won't be rotation players this year. We don't need more of that.

Second, the only 2026-27 players that won't be coming back in 2027-28 are ones that go to the Draft, fifth years whose eligibility is still in doubt, and a few Euros born before August 1, 2003. 99% of next year's players can come back, so I think it's a poor use of resources to dedicate spots when, if things go according to plan, we need to make 3 cuts next year before looking at the portal (+1 now, looking to add PG & Nyok).

If we're comfortable running 6 players off so we can make the additions we still need and have room to work what will likely be the best portal class ever, then this is fine. But this program clearly isn't comfortable running guys off even when it's clear they aren't HM players. I've seen enough of how Shaka operates to know that we shouldn't be taking anyone who doesn't have a clear, defined role going forward.

[wadesworld]

I'm old enough to remember the revelation that was Juan Anderson's mix tape and I'm old enough to remember people telling me earlier this summer that Crowdis was going to play based on his highlights.

The problem is twofold. First, we already have 6-7 players on the roster that likely won't be rotation players this year. We don't need more of that.

Second, the only 2026-27 players that won't be coming back in 2027-28 are ones that go to the Draft, fifth years whose eligibility is still in doubt, and a few Euros born before August 1, 2003. 99% of next year's players can come back, so I think it's a poor use of resources to dedicate spots when, if things go according to plan, we need to make 3 cuts next year before looking at the portal (+1 now, looking to add PG & Nyok).

If we're comfortable running 6 players off so we can make the additions we still need and have room to work what will likely be the best portal class ever, then this is fine. But this program clearly isn't comfortable running guys off even when it's clear they aren't HM players. I've seen enough of how Shaka operates to know that we shouldn't be taking anyone who doesn't have a clear, defined role going forward.

With 15 roster spots, every single player brought in should have a "clear, defined role?!" So, just have an 8-9 player roster?

Shaka should not ditch recruiting high school players. That'd be awful. He also should continue hitting the portal. Which means most of the freshman he recruits will not be coming in with a spot in the rotation. Players retained and added in the portal will make up a large majority of the rotation. Freshman should hopefully develop into those retained players who fit into the rotation in future years.

[Shooter McGavin]

At this point, my expectation of NEPSAC players is that they're probably going to disappoint whatever my expectations are. What makes 3-star Ndong more promising than Itejere or Amadou were?

With Fru eligible to return (by age) that means we're one over for next year. And while the staff won't say this, they absolutely are trying to add at least two more freshmen for next year.

If that comes to pass, we're running off 3 to start with. So why bring in another project at a position we've had a 20% hit rate at so far (Gold the one success)? If you're running someone off, at least do it for a contributor, which Ndong seems 3 years away from being if it all goes well.

Three years away you say.  Lord I hope that is not the case.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm old enough to remember the revelation that was Juan Anderson's mix tape and I'm old enough to remember people telling me earlier this summer that Crowdis was going to play based on his highlights.

The problem is twofold. First, we already have 6-7 players on the roster that likely won't be rotation players this year. We don't need more of that.

Second, the only 2026-27 players that won't be coming back in 2027-28 are ones that go to the Draft, fifth years whose eligibility is still in doubt, and a few Euros born before August 1, 2003. 99% of next year's players can come back, so I think it's a poor use of resources to dedicate spots when, if things go according to plan, we need to make 3 cuts next year before looking at the portal (+1 now, looking to add PG & Nyok).

If we're comfortable running 6 players off so we can make the additions we still need and have room to work what will likely be the best portal class ever, then this is fine. But this program clearly isn't comfortable running guys off even when it's clear they aren't HM players. I've seen enough of how Shaka operates to know that we shouldn't be taking anyone who doesn't have a clear, defined role going forward.

So if our starting 5 plus Phillips and Owens and maybe Egbuonu and Johnston all decide to come back after this season, why would there be any need to run 6 players off?

There's a good chance that's a top10-15 team right there. I'm not seeing the need to open up roster spots for a big portal haul in this scenario.

[pbiflyer]

Will his nickname be the Donger?

Well, he is kinda skinny, so:

[brewcity77]

With 15 roster spots, every single player brought in should have a "clear, defined role?!" So, just have an 8-9 player roster?

Yes, when roster spots 11-15 are already essentially dead spots.

So if our starting 5 plus Phillips and Owens and maybe Egbuonu and Johnston all decide to come back after this season, why would there be any need to run 6 players off?

There's a good chance that's a top10-15 team right there. I'm not seeing the need to open up roster spots for a big portal haul in this scenario.

Every program in the country can bring everyone back. Retention is far less a superpower when virtually no one will have to leave through graduation.

[willie warrior]

Will his nickname be the Donger?

Maybe. And we all know that he will always be taking it to the hole with a massive jam exploding to the rack.