2026 roster needs

[auror]

Another major consideration for the staff is if we have everyone returning who played this year and only bring in one year transfer portal players to play next season we would have a mass exodus after next season. That's not how Hurley operates. We're going to see some movement and some multi year transfers.

Everyone might get a 5th year after next, which is an interesting wrinkle in all this.

 

[RuffRuff]

People inferred that from Hurley saying in a post game press conference that Reibe needed to be patient with his progress and playing time. People ran with that and started rumors. I think it was a huge leap to infer that but who knows.

There is no one Hurley gets more pumped for to make a great play, and award with a chest bump, than Reibe. He ain't going anywhere.

 

[superjohn]

Everyone might get a 5th year after next, which is an interesting wrinkle in all this.

It's hard to keep up with all the ridiculous changes.

 

[jibsey]

Yeah people seem to forget what he did earlier in the season. That wasn't luck.

Check out the 5 game stretch of Arizona, Bryant, Illinois, Kansas and East Texas A&M. He was damn good in those games for a freshman big early in the season. He needs to gain strength, play defense without fouling and rebound better. Hitting more free throws would help also. But show me a freshman big that does everything well and I'll show you a OAD.

Eric Reibe - Men's Basketball - University of Connecticut Athletics

Eric Reibe (12) Center - Before UConn: Originally from Germany, comes to Storrs from The Bullis School in Potomac, Md. … a 2025 McDonald’s All American…ranke...

uconnhuskies.com

We just learned something in the Michigan game. They assaulted the paint with their powerful players. Most of their field goals were 2 foot layups or fouls from them. I love the finesse offense when we make 3’s but when we don’t we have to go inside. They blocked us, and changed our shots in some cases.
Need a big who can block shots and power to the rim to go with Reibe.

 

[HW611]

Yeah people seem to forget what he did earlier in the season. That wasn't luck.

Check out the 5 game stretch of Arizona, Bryant, Illinois, Kansas and East Texas A&M. He was damn good in those games for a freshman big early in the season. He needs to gain strength, play defense without fouling and rebound better. Hitting more free throws would help also. But show me a freshman big that does everything well and I'll show you a OAD.

Eric Reibe - Men's Basketball - University of Connecticut Athletics

Eric Reibe (12) Center - Before UConn: Originally from Germany, comes to Storrs from The Bullis School in Potomac, Md. … a 2025 McDonald’s All American…ranke...

uconnhuskies.com

Those were all things he made rampant progress in as a starter.

Because that’s what happens when you play a lot. It gives you a chance to work on things and get better.

15 and 4 with 2 blocks against Arizona
8 and 7 with 2 blocks against Illinois
12 and 8 with 2 blocks and 2 steals @Kansas

I’m not sure why people don’t think we can have that player back + a jump in development.

 

[RuffRuff]

We just learned something in the Michigan game. They assaulted the paint with their powerful players. Most of their field goals were 2 foot layups or fouls from them. I love the finesse offense when we make 3’s but when we don’t we have to go inside. They blocked us, and changed our shots in some cases.
Need a big who can block shots and power to the rim to go with Reibe.

This is the whole bullet proof concept and what made 2024 so good. There was no one way you could beat them, they had an answer and a counter for everything.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I look at roster.

1. Demary
2. Ball
3. Ross
4. Stewart
5. Reibe

That is a more athletic and longer team with, obviously, less scoring.

I think Ross and Stewart have sacrificed their game for the program, and regardless if recruits both will see major minutes.

Mullins returns, it make a Ross and Stewart a powerful wing rotation.

In Portal: length/athleticism, scoring. Bones are there of a top 10 team IMO.

I like the frosh they got coming in. Could he be a double digit scorer?

 

[superjohn]

Those were all things he made rampant progress in as a starter.

Because that’s what happens when you play a lot. It gives you a chance to work on things and get better.

15 and 4 with 2 blocks against Arizona
8 and 7 with 2 blocks against Illinois
12 and 8 with 2 blocks and 2 steals @Kansas

I’m not sure why people don’t think we can have that player back + a jump in development.

We can but he has to share the center position with a big physical athletic center.

 

[Colin G]

One of the biggest predictors of roster success in the modern era are still continuity and experience, particularly deep tournament experience.

Hot take: I think we are underrating the value of running it back to the fullest extent we are able to.

The Reibe slander needs to die. When he played a lot of minutes he was very solid to fantastic. It was clear he just needs a summer in the weight room.

Silas
Solo
Jayden
Jaylin
Reibe

Gives us an experienced core with a team led by a group of dudes who have all played many tournament games TOGETHER. This is a very underrated defensive group. I think the key is to go after younger transfers who realize that even if some of these guys start it might be like how Samson Johnson started, but tarris played more minutes some games.

Top picks to fill out the roster

Sayon Keita C (2027 but hearing rumblings of a reclass, could be a lotto pick)
Alex Wilkins - 6th man type role helps him better/ more successfully transition to high major basketball with plenty of minutes to spare.
Isaac Celiscar - transfer from Yale 57% fg 40% 3 (low volume) 6 boards 3.2 assists, big guard or 3 man, perfect connective piece, year gives him plenty of minutes but doesn’t over rely on him
Landrew and County (duh) - additional playmaking/offensive ability and plenty of talent - Landrew more closely fits a team need and has a clearer path to more minutes next year.

Furphy- who knows but I’d love to see him play a lot, think he solves the “playmaker” problem if he’s able to play minutes

 

[HuskyHawk]

Spoken for.

Yes, but by whom? Not us.

 

[Horatio]

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

Based on Hurleys loyalty to Hassan and Samson, I could see Ross starting. But that’s only if Mullins leaves. And I don’t see him being loyal enough to start Stew and Ross.

 

[FlexOnEm]

One of the biggest predictors of roster success in the modern era are still continuity and experience, particularly deep tournament experience.

Hot take: I think we are underrating the value of running it back to the fullest extent we are able to.

The Reibe slander needs to die. When he played a lot of minutes he was very solid to fantastic. It was clear he just needs a summer in the weight room.

Silas
Solo
Jayden
Jaylin
Reibe

Gives us an experienced core with a team led by a group of dudes who have all played many tournament games TOGETHER. This is a very underrated defensive group. I think the key is to go after younger transfers who realize that even if some of these guys start it might be like how Samson Johnson started, but tarris played more minutes some games.

Top picks to fill out the roster

Sayon Keita C (2027 but hearing rumblings of a reclass, could be a lotto pick)
Alex Wilkins - 6th man type role helps him better/ more successfully transition to high major basketball with plenty of minutes to spare.
Isaac Celiscar - transfer from Yale 57% fg 40% 3 (low volume) 6 boards 3.2 assists, big guard or 3 man, perfect connective piece, year gives him plenty of minutes but doesn’t over rely on him
Landrew and County (duh) - additional playmaking/offensive ability and plenty of talent - Landrew more closely fits a team need and has a clearer path to more minutes next year.

Furphy- who knows but I’d love to see him play a lot, think he solves the “playmaker” problem if he’s able to play minutes

If we start Demary, Ball, Ross, Stewart, and Reibe next season, that team will be objectively worse 3 through 5 than this year’s team.

If we’re interested in guys like Alex Wilkins that means we’re recruiting for an open spot in the starting lineup. Wilkins can go wherever he wants and will come with a hefty price tag. He’s not coming here to come off the bench and we wouldn’t offer the $ required to land him to play a 6th man role.

 

[uconnfan68]

Those were all things he made rampant progress in as a starter.

Because that’s what happens when you play a lot. It gives you a chance to work on things and get better.

15 and 4 with 2 blocks against Arizona
8 and 7 with 2 blocks against Illinois
12 and 8 with 2 blocks and 2 steals @Kansas

I’m not sure why people don’t think we can have that player back + a jump in development.

We waited all year to see it again... and didn't.

 

[Inyatkin]

We waited all year to see it again... and didn't.

The guy in front of him was playing like an all-world center

What's important about Reibe is what's important about Solo's shooting. We've seen it. We know it's there. It's not hypothetical

 

[HW611]

We waited all year to see it again... and didn't.

That’s not true. He had other good games sprinkled in.

Our fanbase is largely going off this tourney run where he was playing behind a top 3 player in the tourney for 5 minutes a game. It’s silly.

Reibe is going to be just fine for us. This worrying about a 5* McD AA Sophomore is wild.

 

[BlueWolf25]

 

[HooperScooper]

I'm reading this thread and thinking I don't know how coaches manage a roster these days. Especially if you want to continue to recruit high school players, develop them, and also win right away. The current system is a complete mess for that. I'm sure Hurley will need to have frank discussions with some of the players. I won't be surprised by anything that happens with the roster.

 

[Inyatkin]

I'm reading this thread and thinking I don't know how coaches manage a roster these days. Especially if you want to continue to recruit high school players, develop them, and also win right away. The current system is a complete mess for that. I'm sure Hurley will need to have some frank discussions with some of the players. I won't be surprised by anything that happens with the roster.

I don't know how coaches do it, either, but I've already gotten tired of the overheated "we need to be scared of x team" that is rampant at a time when no one knows anything

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm reading this thread and thinking I don't know how coaches manage a roster these days. Especially if you want to continue to recruit high school players, develop them, and also win right away. The current system is a complete mess for that. I'm sure Hurley will need to have some frank discussions with some of the players. I won't be surprised by anything that happens with the roster.

It's an entirely different world from just half a decade ago, and the more time passes the more I understand Jay Wright walking away when he did.

Jay's model depended heavily on having a number of players being a few years in the system. It would take a massive amount of ego massaging and a ton of NIL money to keep enough players in the system long enough to pay benefits on the court at the level Jay experienced his last roughly 15 years at Villanova.

 

[DCKembaFan]

It's an entirely different world from just half a decade ago, and the more time passes the more I understand Jay Wright walking away when he did.

Jay's model depended heavily on having a number of players being a few years in the system. It would take a massive amount of ego massaging and a ton of NIL money to keep enough players in the system long enough to pay benefits on the court at the level Jay experienced his last roughly 15 years at Villanova.

To be fair, it helped that Scotty Reynolds was on the team for all 15 years

 

[Umami Zen]

Dan's comments on tampering(quoted above)-which I don't doubt goes on-triggered a question I have had during our Tournament run. What is or isn't ok leading up to the portal being open. My question is -using Tom Moore our Program GM as an example- Can he field calls/take calls from intermediaries/scouts/agents/family members for players considering a change at all ? Can that communication happen? Or is it simply a matter of no communication with any staff member until the portal open date?

I mention Tom only as an example as being a GM for a Program rather than as a coach for the Program. I consider him to be one of the classiest guys in CBB and am only using him as an example of a non-coach (GM) that might receive an unsolicited call from a third party.

 

[HW611]

I'm reading this thread and thinking I don't know how coaches manage a roster these days. Especially if you want to continue to recruit high school players, develop them, and also win right away. The current system is a complete mess for that. I'm sure Hurley will need to have some frank discussions with some of the players. I won't be surprised by anything that happens with the roster.

I think Hurley has been doing a mostly great job of managing year over year.

2027 I’m not sure how he maintains this continuity as it stands. Right now his fab 5 class will be graduating seniors next year and his other remaining high school recruits that have played also plan on getting drafted.

The roster outside of those guys are:

County
Landrew
Furphy
The Euros

It’s kind of another reason getting County ready next year may be essential. Him and Landrew seem like really talented 3-4 year players that we can expect to build around, hopefully.

But 2027 either looks Iike a year we’re building more than half of our roster through the transfer portal or we’ll be super young.

Unless we somehow find the balance of bringing in talented guys who don’t mind coming off the bench this year/recruit over players we currently have.

 

[3rdbass]

I think Hurley has been doing a mostly great job of managing year over year.

2027 I’m not sure how he maintains this continuity as it stands. Right now his fab 5 class will be graduating seniors next year and his other remaining high school recruits that have played also plan on getting drafted.

The roster outside of those guys are:

County
Landrew
Furphy
The Euros

It’s kind of another reason getting County ready next year may be essential. Him and Landrew seem like really talented 3-4 year players that we can expect to build around hopefully.

But 2027 either looks Iike a year we’re building more than half of our roster through the transfer portal or we’ll be super young.

Unless we somehow find the balance of bringing in talented guys who don’t mind coming off the bench this year/recruit over players we currently have.

I doubt Landrew is 3-4 year player based on what I have seen snd his ranking being in the top 25. I think more likely he is a 2 year player at most. County seems more developmental as he doesn't have the physical traits or skills that Landrew possesses.

 

[HW611]

I doubt Landrew is 3-4 year player based on what I have seen snd his ranking being in the top 25. I think more likely he is a 2 year player at most. County seems more developmental as he doesn't have the physical traits or skills that Landrew possesses.

I’m not sold on Landrew being a 2 year player yet. I don’t see NBA physical tools or skillset that stands out.

But I can be wrong and will know more when he actually touches the floor for us. Will he be our #1 option and go to player as a sophomore?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Another major consideration for the staff is if we have everyone returning who played this year and only bring in one year transfer portal players to play next season we would have a mass exodus after next season. That's not how Hurley operates. We're going to see some movement and some multi year transfers.

This is a good point. I don't think Hurley wants one year players in core/starting roles. The continuity in the system matters too much. It's fine for backups like Malachi, Koroma and Millender. And with Ross, Stewart, Demary and Ball all out of eligibility we will need some stability.

Here's another question. Are any of those late 2025 Internationals in a position to break out and actually play? We talk about Furphy as an unknown, but we've got 7'2" Rrezon Elezaj and 6'3" guard Uroš Paunovic stashed on the roster. So far, they have not hit the portal. I'm not counting on anything, but it's not impossible that one of them makes a leap.

 

[ZenConn]

Interesting. So he knows where he wants to go.

I've been reading that it's St. John's.

 

[HW611]

This is a good point. I don't think Hurley wants one year players in core/starting roles. The continuity in the system matters too much. It's fine for backups like Malachi, Koroma and Millender. And with Ross, Stewart, Demary and Ball all out of eligibility we will need some stability.

Here's another question. Are any of those late 2025 Internationals in a position to break out and actually play? We talk about Furphy as an unknown, but we've got 7'2" Rrezon Elezaj and 6'3" guard Uroš Paunovic stashed on the roster. So far, they have not hit the portal. I'm not counting on anything, but it's not impossible that one of them makes a leap.

I personally like Uros game. Don’t know if he wasn’t good enough to see playing time this year or if arriving in the fall left little time for him to learn the offense the way he needed to.

 

[TheShot1990]

We had a monster at the 5 and won 2 titles. UM had a monster at the 5 and won.
I want a monster. When our guards get blown by, the monster is there to protect the rim.
#MONSTER

 

[Irvine]

FYI - Hurley said he expects around 5 players back on the Dan Patrick show. Guess that would mean about 6 or 7 from the portal then.

 

[HooperScooper]

FYI - Hurley said he expects around 5 players back on the Dan Patrick show. Guess that would mean about 6 or 7 from the portal then.

Yeah I was preparing for a mass exodus. Just the way it is these days. Between the portal and the 2 recruits incoming I'm confident we'll get what we need.