25-26 Rotation at the moment

[kywildcats4life]

1 - Lewis/Chandler
2 - Johnson/Perry
3 - Oweh/Noah
4 - Williams
5 - Garrison/Moreno

Clearly, we want Lewis to be a really solid FR backup PG off the bench. With the NIL involved, I'm not sure that they will push Johnson to a backup role by default.

Moreno will NOT be third string Center on the depth chart being MCD AA and highly ranked. $ He's coming to play and can. We might get someone who can bounce between the 4 and 5 to allow Garrison to play the 4 some and provide depth.

We obviously want a stud PG and stud PF to allow solid depth behind them. Noah and Perry will hopefully be solid pieces #10 and #11 and not higher. Williams will be a solid backup 3.

I think some people think Pope is bringing in more pieces than he is, therefore, he is being very selective to make the right picks. I'm sure Oweh will require around 2 million himself to stick around. A lot of these "contacts" are just Pope and staff checking in on fit and pricing. We will be fine. Relax.

 

[Digger-Cat]

I want to see others weigh in here, but that lineup, as is, looks like a fringe top 25 team, maybe unranked to start the season.

Bring in Yaxel, Pierre and another guard and it probably goes to a top 10 roster, maybe top 5 depending on how good Garrison and the freshmen end up being.

The other thing is, we just dealt with a lot of injuries, so with only Yaxel and Kam at the 4, if one of them gets injured, it really knocks the shine off.

Of course, most teams would take a dive if they lost one of their best players. I'm just thinking worst case, because it just seems like we're destined to always be dealing with injuries.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Need at the very least a veteran PG and PF.

Plug Pierre or Lowe in at PG and Lendeborg at PF and we are in really good shape.

Add another 4/5 backup and we are pretty much set.

 

[Bluesnky]

Need at the very least a veteran PG and PF.

Plug Pierre or Lowe in at PG and Lendeborg at PF and we are in really good shape.

Add another 4/5 backup and we are pretty much set.

To me Lendeborg is a NPOY contender. You can add him to a lot of teams and you’d have a top ten roster.

 

[bucsrule8872]

To me Lendeborg is a NPOY contender. You can add him to a lot of teams and you’d have a top ten roster.

Right now, he’s definitely the best player in the portal.

We need to back up the Brinks for him.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

Right now, he’s definitely the best player in the portal.

We need to back up the Brinks for him.

Exactly. If he doesn't pick UK it needs to be because he's staying in the draft or because he just really loves another school so much he's going there on a discount.

 

[Digger-Cat]

To me Lendeborg is a NPOY contender. You can add him to a lot of teams and you’d have a top ten roster.

In Pope's system, he would definitely be a NPOY contender.

 

[Bluegrassking]

Need at the very least a veteran PG and PF.

Plug Pierre or Lowe in at PG and Lendeborg at PF and we are in really good shape.

Add another 4/5 backup and we are pretty much set.

That will gets us solid but I'd also love to see another 4, combo forward/center, and throw me another sniper in for good measure.

 

[Fox2monk]

I want to see others weigh in here, but that lineup, as is, looks like a fringe top 25 team, maybe unranked to start the season.

Bring in Yaxel, Pierre and another guard and it probably goes to a top 10 roster, maybe top 5 depending on how good Garrison and the freshmen end up being.

The other thing is, we just dealt with a lot of injuries, so with only Yaxel and Kam at the 4, if one of them gets injured, it really knocks the shine off.

Of course, most teams would take a dive if they lost one of their best players. I'm just thinking worst case, because it just seems like we're destined to always be dealing with injuries.

Doesn’t look like a legit contender yet to me, I’d be surprised with the defense we bring back if it’s even top 25 right now. It’s gonna take awhile to get the freshman up to speed and let’s be honest, most of the guys left aren’t defensive studs. Oweh, and Chandler have potential. Maybe Moreno.

 

[fadkins82476]

9 players, 15 scholarships

 

[bucsrule8872]

That will gets us solid but I'd also love to see another 4, combo forward/center, and throw me another sniper in for good measure.

Yep.

That’s bare minimum what we need.

Get Pierre or Lowe or both and Lendeborg, then if we have any money left, grab a low budget role player or two.

Just like to see us spend some money and get a stud or two. Lendeborg is the stud. Really want to get him and I would want them to give him whatever he wants (within reason) to get him.

It is rumored we got 8-10 million in our budget.

If Lendeborg is wanting 2.5M, give it to him.

Then give Pierre, Lowe, and Folgueiras 1.5M a piece.

That still leaves us at least a mil to spend on 2-3 role players.

Heck, I’d go 3M for Lendeborg. I think he would be worth it.

 

[kywildcats4life]

Yep.

That’s bare minimum what we need.

Get Pierre or Lowe or both and Lendeborg, then if we have any money left, grab a low budget role player or two.

Just like to see us spend some money and get a stud or two. Lendeborg is the stud. Really want to get him and I would want them to give him whatever he wants (within reason) to get him.

It is rumored we got 8-10 million in our budget.

If Lendeborg is wanting 2.5M, give it to him.

Then give Pierre, Lowe, and Folgueiras 1.5M a piece.

That still leaves us at least a mil to spend on 2-3 role players.

Heck, I’d go 3M for Lendeborg. I think he would be worth it.

Don't forget to calculate the guys we already have in that budget... Oweh has to be 2 m himself. Johnson was rumored close to 1 m etc.

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

I like my team 😍😎

Chandler comes back much improved.

I think Oweh works on his game, handle, shot and improves.

I look for the game to slow down for Perry & Noah. They both seem like gym rats. They will put in the work and be improved.

Garrison should be ready for increased minutes.

Now, we need Jasper to be as advertised. We need Kam to be ready to play (at least put up the same kind of production as an Almanor type. Not saying he’s the same player at all, just need same level of production minimally).

I don’t know what to expect from Acaden Lewis.

We need a PG, stud PF, and one more (SF or C).

 

[Digger-Cat]

Yep.

That’s bare minimum what we need.

Get Pierre or Lowe or both and Lendeborg, then if we have any money left, grab a low budget role player or two.

Just like to see us spend some money and get a stud or two. Lendeborg is the stud. Really want to get him and I would want them to give him whatever he wants (within reason) to get him.

It is rumored we got 8-10 million in our budget.

If Lendeborg is wanting 2.5M, give it to him.

Then give Pierre, Lowe, and Folgueiras 1.5M a piece.

That still leaves us at least a mil to spend on 2-3 role players.

Heck, I’d go 3M for Lendeborg. I think he would be worth it.

Do we have to pay Oweh and the other guys we have on the roster out if that 10 million too?

 

[bucsrule8872]

Don't forget to calculate the guys we already have in that budget... Oweh has to be 2 m himself. Johnson was rumored close to 1 m etc.

I thought that number was the budget for new players?

 

[BlueSince92]

I know people got off on trashing Perry playing point. I know he did have problems defending pgs at times and also that he was playing out of position. But Chandler had more turnovers than assists just trying to play the three. He’s not the answer there. We need him shooting and slashing anyway. And we need Kam Williams filling Jaxson Robinson’s role or we’ll get ate up in the SEC. Sure, have him try some bouncy stretch four situationally on occasion but if it’s full time we’re scrod. Garrison is better suited to the four in our system and I hope that’s how Pope uses him this year.

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

Yep.

That’s bare minimum what we need.

Get Pierre or Lowe or both and Lendeborg, then if we have any money left, grab a low budget role player or two.

Just like to see us spend some money and get a stud or two. Lendeborg is the stud. Really want to get him and I would want them to give him whatever he wants (within reason) to get him.

It is rumored we got 8-10 million in our budget.

If Lendeborg is wanting 2.5M, give it to him.

Then give Pierre, Lowe, and Folgueiras 1.5M a piece.

That still leaves us at least a mil to spend on 2-3 role players.

Heck, I’d go 3M for Lendeborg. I think he would be worth it.

Lendeborg is gonna be 4M to even have a convo leaving the draft.

 

[Old_Head]

Right now I have starting:

Jasper
Oweh
Williams
Garrison
Moreno


We need a PG, a 3 and D wing and 2 guys who are interchangeable at the 4-5.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I know people got off on trashing Perry playing point. I know he did have problems defending pgs at times and also that he was playing out of position. But Chandler had more turnovers than assists just trying to play the three. He’s not the answer there. We need him shooting and slashing anyway. And we need Kam Williams filling Jaxson Robinson’s role or we’ll get ate up in the SEC. Sure, have him try some bouncy stretch four situationally on occasion but if it’s full time we’re scrod. Garrison is better suited to the four in our system and I hope that’s how Pope uses him this year.

I tend to agree about BG.

If we add Lendeborg and Folgueiras, they can play the 5 some (more of the Williams role) and allow Garrison to play the 4 (Carr role).

I’m hoping Garrison continues to grow and improve, he is a pretty versatile piece to have and with the right other pieces, could be a big time contributor for us.

Lendeborg, Folgueiras, Garrison, and Moreno is one heck of a frontcourt. Pope could play a variety of combinations with those guys. All have size, strength, and versatility.

Man, I would love to see that combo as our frontcourt.

 

[BlueSince92]

I tend to agree about BG.

If we add Lendeborg and Folgueiras, they can play the 5 some (more of the Williams role) and allow Garrison to play the 4 (Carr role).

I’m hoping Garrison continues to grow and improve, he is a pretty versatile piece to have and with the right other pieces, could be a big time contributor for us.

Lendeborg, Folgueiras, Garrison, and Moreno is one heck of a frontcourt. Pope could play a variety of combinations with those guys. All have size, strength, and versatility.

Man, I would love to see that combo as our frontcourt.

Me too, here’s hoping!

 

[Tubbyfan78]

It won't be our team but that rotation would be lucky to make the tournament. We need 3-4 starters still.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Lendeborg is gonna be 4M to even have a convo leaving the draft.

Then pay him.

That still leaves 4-6 million for a PG (Pierre or Lowe) a backup PF(Folgueiras), and a wing (Riley or Pierre if we get Lowe at PG or whoever).

Give Lendeborg whatever it takes. Don’t let another school outbid us.

We get him and we really just need a starting PG. Get some bargain basement dudes for the 12th-15th spots.

Put Lendeborg and Pierre out there with Oweh, Garrison, and Johnson. That’s an excellent starting five.

Lewis, Chandler, Noah, Williams, Moreno, and Perry would be a solid bench.

Grab a guy like Max Green on the cheap for more depth. Maybe the Freeman (D2) kid.

Starter level guys are going to cost you a lot and superstars like Lendeborg are going to
Cost even more.

Pay the man. It’s only money and our boosters are loaded. Don’t tell me they aren’t. Many of them blow more money in a weekend at the track than I’ll make in my lifetime.

 

[bucsrule8872]

It won't be our team but that rotation would be lucky to make the tournament. We need 3-4 starters still.

Agreed. We have two starters (Oweh and Garrison) and need three more. Two minimum, if Johnson turns out to be elite.

Add Lendeborg and Pierre, bare minimum. We could be competitive with those two added to what we already have coming back and coming in.

 

[BleedBlue13]

I can’t identify anyone on the team or in the portal that’s gonna come be players 13-15 except maybe Perry. Noah is too good for that heck Max Green is too good for that.

 

[Digger-Cat]

I can’t identify anyone on the team or in the portal that’s gonna come be players 13-15 except maybe Perry. Noah is too good for that heck Max Green is too good for that.

That kid Pope is recruiting out in San Francisco fits that description.

 

[kywildcats4life]

4/5 Update

1 - Lowe/Lewis
2 - Johnson/Chandler/Perry
3 - Oweh/Noah
4 - Williams
5 - Garrison/Moreno

We are now at 10 deep. We have to get two 4 spots. Is there room for another guard? Pope has prioritized having steady ball handlers and trying to avoid the likes of J. Robinson playing PG again.

 

[catben]

4/5 Update

1 - Lowe/Lewis
2 - Johnson/Chandler/Perry
3 - Oweh/Noah
4 - Williams
5 - Garrison/Moreno

We are now at 10 deep. We have to get two 4 spots. Is there room for another guard? Pope has prioritized having steady ball handlers and trying to avoid the likes of J. Robinson playing PG again.

Williams is NOT a traditional stretch 4. He is more of a Wing that can play the 4 because he's long. But we REALLY need a GREAT PF to top off this years team. We have PLENTY of perimeter players now.

Would LOVE to get the kid from Robert Morris or another that can Post up AND shoot the 3.

Also wouldn't mind getting a BANGER at the C position that can block shots, rebound and DUNK it when he gets it down low.

 

[chasingwildcat]

4/5 Update

1 - Lowe/Lewis
2 - Johnson/Chandler/Perry
3 - Oweh/Noah
4 - Williams
5 - Garrison/Moreno

We are now at 10 deep. We have to get two 4 spots. Is there room for another guard? Pope has prioritized having steady ball handlers and trying to avoid the likes of J. Robinson playing PG again.

We need 2 frontcourt first, then another wing (sg/sf) is bonus

 

[kywildcats4life]

Williams is NOT a traditional stretch 4. He is more of a Wing that can play the 4 because he's long. But we REALLY need a GREAT PF to top off this years team. We have PLENTY of perimeter players now.

Would LOVE to get the kid from Robert Morris or another that can Post up AND shoot the 3.

Also wouldn't mind getting a BANGER at the C position that can block shots, rebound and DUNK it when he gets it down low.

I'm fine with that but I can see the possibilities.

 

[kywildcats4life]

How about...?

1 - Lowe/Lewis
2 - Johnson/Chandler/Perry
3 - Oweh/Williams/Noah
4 - Alvaro?/Dioubate or Mgbako?
5 - Garrison/Moreno

Noah and Perry are now #11 and #12. Nice looking roster. Williams and Noah can play the small ball 4 to stretch the floor.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

We have a round of 32 team right now. No low post efficiency. At least three starters who can't shoot. A potential overreliance on young players.

I guess I'm starting to come to terms with it if it means we get Williams, Lowe, Johnson, Lewis, Moreno, Noah, Perry, and Chandler back as a core.

Getting all of those guys back will also soften the blow of getting absolutely embarrassed in the portal for the elite players again.