2026 roster needs | Page 3 | The Boneyard

2026 roster needs

I think Stewart and Reibe are either starters next year or not on the roster.

Neither are coming back to be a backup. There was already noise from Reibe’s camp about him not having enough time with Reed. They probably won’t go for bringing in someone to take more minutes from him.

Also, Clingan is an unfair expectation to have for a center. He played well as a starter. I expect him to have a serious jump next year when this coaching staff is pushing him to step up full time.
 
until any announcements of leaving…

1. Silas / transfer
2. Ball / Mullins / County
3. Ross / Landrew / Stewart
4. transfer / transfer
5. transfer / Reibe

starters: Demary, Ball, Mullins, transfer 4, transfer 5

subject to change with any announcements
 
Ehh I'd say they were about the same. Newton maybe a bit better, certainly better at finishing at the rim. But I suspect we will hear more that Silas's ankle injury was worse than they let on.
Newton was a TO-machine and 100% the weakest link on that team (although I think he struggled with the adjustment to PG).

Demary -- despite dipping during Big East play -- was an All Big East first teamer (and he struggled a bit with not being the PG).

If it all evens out in the end, I think we are good.
 
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Hurley can coach. I'd rather get four players at $1 million each than one player for $4 million. He'll turn at least one into a major asset.
It's been clearly shown that programs that put all their NIL budget in 1 or 2 guys don't win. Definitely better to spread it around, but getting a guaranteed bucket getter has some merit too.
 
If we are rolling with Silas (hopefully) and Riebe at least getting 20 minutes. Those two need to figure out the PnR. There were times when Riebe wanted to roll, but our PGs never even entertained that option. Not sure what happened to Riebe after he exceeded expectations in the non con, but I wish we could have attacked the paint with the PNR when he was in. I think our offense would have benefited greatly. Though I do understand Samson was one dimensional, I do miss those easy dunks. Clingan had good PnR, but he had such a well rounded game you could do anything with him. So many easy buckets is what made the floor of the 2024 team better than other teams ceilings.
 
It's been clearly shown that programs that put all their NIL budget in 1 or 2 guys don't win. Definitely better to spread it around, but getting a guaranteed bucket getter has some merit too.

My hope is multiyear contracts become the norm, which is the way things were until this NIL stuff invaded college sports. I'm more than OK with players being paid. I'm not OK with free agency at the college level. Even pro sports have rules.

I'm curious as to how many of the starting five of each of the final four teams were highly sought prospects from high school.
 
until any announcements of leaving…

1. Silas / transfer
2. Ball / Mullins / County
3. Ross / Landrew / Stewart
4. transfer / transfer
5. transfer / Reibe

starters: Demary, Ball, Mullins, transfer 4, transfer 5

subject to change with any announcements
This just puts so much pressure on who they bring in at the four to be able to create their own offense. I think Ross is an ideal sixth man but a workable starter if you have a lot of shot creation around him. I just don’t love the idea that Silas/Ball/Transfer 4 is enough shot creation to not lead to very similar offensive issues next year. That lineup also has one good and one passable ball handler under pressure (assuming 4/5 don’t fill that role).
 
Definitely want a wing who can create his own shot breaking down a fldefender one on one. Size and athleticism at the wing. Really missed having an AJ or Stephon type wing these past two seasons.

Need a big. The Cincy center who entered the portal is an ideal profile.

A back up PG and a back up SG that can shoot. This year's team was way too streaky shooting the 3. Blame injuries or whatever, but bottom line is there weren't any spark plug shooters off the bench.

Depth everywhere. Not to sound pessimistic but everyone returning can be replaced. Demary is the one I want the most to return. I'm considering Mullins a OAD and not returning. If he comes back, I will be elated with a Demary and Mullins back court.
I know it won't happen but I'd love to see Solo come back and take on a veteran 6th man role.
 
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Can Jaylin Stewart start?
Can ross start? (Getting there)

Love both of these guys but sorry, they are wonderful bench pieces which are required to get to the promised land yet again. I think we saw why as well, so need creators on offense who can get points when needed. Impact 3-4 guys, especially if Braylon is out.
 
If it were me I would go for a top tier PG in the portal, a scorer, stretch 4 and an athletic big or 2. I just don't feel Ball or Demiray are legit PG's in their core.

I also wonder what happens with Ross and Stewart. I love em, but they have not quite developed into the players that I think they should be at this time. I mean as to-be Seniors, they should have carved out far more minutes than they have IMO. So the question becomes do you bet on them, or think you can go get better in the portal.

Best Options at each position:

C: I think Somto Cyril or Flory Bidunga are no brainers. Seems like Bidunga is headed to Tex Tech, but Cyril I think would be a great piece.

Scorer: Juke Harris, and I like the Finley Bizjack kid here too - he can kinda moonlight as a PG when needed too - high IQ, High efficiency.

F: JP Estrella could fit the vacancy of Karaban and offer a little more size with the same level of shooting ability. Also kinda like Sananda Fru and his game too.

If you wanted to go get a PG there are a couple good options out there but it seems Hurley prefers guards with size---- but Isaiah Johnson from Colorado and Markus Burton are interesting options. Also got some in-conference options in Acaden Lewis and Vaaks along with Bizjack. Bizjack gives me Cam Spencer vibes.
Just as an aside. JP Estrella was Solo Ball's roommate at Brewster so there is that connection. His mom was a BC Eagle women's player who is good friends with Shea Ralph (rehabbed injuries together).
 
This just puts so much pressure on who they bring in at the four to be able to create their own offense. I think Ross is an ideal sixth man but a workable starter if you have a lot of shot creation around him. I just don’t love the idea that Silas/Ball/Transfer 4 is enough shot creation to not lead to very similar offensive issues next year. That lineup also has one good and one passable ball handler under pressure (assuming 4/5 don’t fill that role).
You are missing Mullins that post (because he is listed as a 2). But the Mullins uncertainty almost guarantees the Ross/offensive-4 at 3 or 4 until the ultimate outcome of Mullins is determined (if the Mullins outcome isn't known with 90% certainty going in).
 
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Dribble penetrators and three point scorers —- players that can do either or both more consistently than what we saw this year
 
I think Stewart and Reibe are either starters next year or not on the roster.

Neither are coming back to be a backup. There was already noise from Reibe’s camp about him not having enough time with Reed. They probably won’t go for bringing in someone to take more minutes from him.

Also, Clingan is an unfair expectation to have for a center. He played well as a starter. I expect him to have a serious jump next year when this coaching staff is pushing him to step up full time.
We've always really gone about 20/20 with previous center pairings and it was always based on foul trouble.
 
We've always really gone about 20/20 with previous center pairings and it was always based on foul trouble.
If the plan is to bring in a reliable backup so Reibe can get 22-25 mins as a starter and the backup gets the rest. I can see Reibe being fine with that.

But people are talking about bringing in a starter because we can’t depend on him. I don’t think he’d be fine with that.
 
You got $4 million in spare change lying around?
You think he's a 4mil player then ... ? I do see your point after weighing some more info and looking at "possible" current costs. Haven't even looked at UConn's current cost vs. cap.
 
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My hope is multiyear contracts become the norm, which is the way things were until this NIL stuff invaded college sports. I'm more than OK with players being paid. I'm not OK with free agency at the college level. Even pro sports have rules.

I'm curious as to how many of the starting five of each of the final four teams were highly sought prospects from high school.
Absolutely. I've been advocating on social media for 4-year contracts (or as many years of eligibility transfers have left). If players go pro or transfer, they must pay back the unrealized years (transfers would pay a penalty, but probably not charge players who get drafted a penalty). There needs to be accountability. If schools decide they don't want to honor the contracts, there should be a process for that too, maybe buyouts.
 
I think Stewart and Reibe are either starters next year or not on the roster.

Neither are coming back to be a backup. There was already noise from Reibe’s camp about him not having enough time with Reed. They probably won’t go for bringing in someone to take more minutes from him.

Also, Clingan is an unfair expectation to have for a center. He played well as a starter. I expect him to have a serious jump next year when this coaching staff is pushing him to step up full time.
If Reibe’s camp was actually mad about minutes allocation this year then they’re delusional. Reibe plateaued after the non-conference. He is going to need a big jump in development to be the starter next year. And he needs to add like 25lbs of beef. I think he’s still a backup next year, but a much better version of himself
 
until any announcements of leaving…

1. Silas / transfer
2. Ball / Mullins / County
3. Ross / Landrew / Stewart
4. transfer / transfer
5. transfer / Reibe

starters: Demary, Ball, Mullins, transfer 4, transfer 5

subject to change with any announcements
Cmon man, you don’t even have Mullins listed as a starter?? Stew is also the backup PF just like he was last night. third stringing him so We we have to bring in three bigs doesn’t make any sense
 
If Reibe’s camp was actually mad about minutes allocation this year then they’re delusional. Reibe plateaued after the non-conference. He is going to need a big jump in development to be the starter next year. And he needs to add like 25lbs of beef. I think he’s still a backup next year, but a much better version of himself
Yeah I think it’s nuts for them to expect more minutes with one of the best centers in the country playing the same position.

Think he plateaued though because the lack of minutes and not everyone is Clingan. He needs to be a starter to have a big jump in development just like we saw him improve game by game as a starter this year.

Guys can’t make big leaps without proper responsibility and minutes to play through and learn from mistakes. When he was a starter, he was in position for the staff to teach him what he needed to do and able to go out and do that more. You can’t get that same development in 5-10 minutes a game.
 
If the plan is to bring in a reliable backup so Reibe can get 22-25 mins as a starter and the backup gets the rest. I can see Reibe being fine with that.

But people are talking about bringing in a starter because we can’t depend on him. I don’t think he’d be fine with that.
Bigs like Reibe, who may become a reliable shooter, have to know that this is an NBA offense built specifically for players like him.

There are a few others out there, but this one is for him.

Is he going to Michigan? Florida? Duke?
 
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