Entering the portal - 2026

[Excalibur]

Jones will, just like he did at Providence when he played the 4

For the worst defensive team in the country. He was out of position. He’s a wing.

 

[caw]

Yup. Just like how Edey outplayed DC in the title game but DC is the better pro.

Hard to tell. Edey played very well when he played this year but he missed most of it with various injuries.

 

[navery12]

For the worst defensive team in the country. He was out of position. He’s a wing.

And our 4 plays as a wing, which is why I see him as a fit. He was also one of Providence's better defenders and ranked positively in defensive value despite their horrible system. He'd be viewed much differently playing for a coach who knows defense exists

 

[aceboon]

Hard to tell. Edey played very well when he played this year but he missed most of it with various injuries.

Yea I don't know how folks declaring that over, Edey has played well just can't stay healthy with his ankle injuries

 

[KingAG]

Yea I don't know how folks declaring that over, Edey has played well just can't stay healthy with his ankle injuries

I think at this moment it’s definitely true

 

[Huskyforlife]

Would be awesome if he’d split the front court spot with Reibe. Think he had struggles with conditioning last year.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

What is the sales pitch for Hines? Averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 18 mpg for a .500 team in the fifth best conference, and he was looking at starting if he returned. There will be at least 30 mid and low major bigs on the market that are better than Hines.

 

[RuffRuff]

What is the sales pitch for Hines? Averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 18 mpg for a .500 team in the fifth best conference, and he was looking at starting if he returned. There will be at least 30 mid and low major bigs on the market that are better than Hines.

No point in worrying about this stuff until after Monday. It's interesting to see who enters and what the menu looks like, but we have no idea what Hurley or players are thinking.

 

[bendm]

I honestly don't know if we'll see front courts quite like we saw at the top of the sport this year. I tend to think this was an exceptional year. Boozer, Johnson and Peat all fairly unique. Once you get past those three, there really isn't much close to that caliber of physical four anywhere.

I thought you said giant frontcourts are the new blueprint?

Jones will, just like he did at Providence when he played the 4

What’s with the attitude? It’s legit to question if a 6’6 220 guy is a PF. Which of those teams did he play this year? closest woulda been UF but Jones only played 13 mins or so. Condon was out but Haugh went for 16 and 12. chinyelu started at the 4 and went for 13-12.

 

[RuffRuff]

I thought you said giant frontcourts are the new blueprint ?

Which of those guys did he defend this year ?closest woulda been UF but Jones only played 13 mins or so. Condon was out but Haugh went for 15 and 15

I think guys like Dusty & Lloyd will try to reload, but there isn't going to be the same kind of inventory out there this year - no one at the HS level coming like Peat and Boozer. I don't see anyone like Yaxel out there this year in the portal.

I can see someone unloading NIL to made Bidunga their 4 and a more skilled center their 5, allowing Bidunga to play away from the rim a bit. It's hard to know how it all falls.

Golden is probably going to get Condon back, Haugh will leave. So he'll still have his two bigs for another year. Sampson will have Tugler and now Diane, and they had a decent looking big on their bench.

 

[Huskyforlife]

What is the sales pitch for Hines? Averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 18 mpg for a .500 team in the fifth best conference, and he was looking at starting if he returned. There will be at least 30 mid and low major bigs on the market that are better than Hines.

7-6 as a freshman off the bench in a semi high major conference on an offensive inept team with negative spacing. Very large frame, pretty sure he has a crazy wingspan. Also pretty sure he was great on defense for them. You’re not getting an NBA player to split minutes with Reibe.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I thought you said giant frontcourts are the new blueprint?

What’s with the attitude? It’s legit to question if a 6’6 220 guy is a PF. Which of those teams did he play this year? closest woulda been UF but Jones only played 13 mins or so. Condon was out but Haugh went for 16 and 12. chinyelu started at the 4 and went for 13-12.

It’s a fair question. But if Mullins goes NBA we need a 3 as well. Wouldn’t mind a little more physicality there than Mullins brings. Castle and McNeeley were both more physical. I think he’s a guy who could flex 3/4 depending on matchups. But we need a 4 with size too. Not all the big 4s are gone, Kansas has Tiller at 6’10” and he’s going to be a handful by next year.

 

[auror]

What is the sales pitch for Hines? Averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 18 mpg for a .500 team in the fifth best conference, and he was looking at starting if he returned. There will be at least 30 mid and low major bigs on the market that are better than Hines.

Almost 5 blocks per 40 as a freshman. He was 2nd in the country in block rate (16.4%, for comparison Reed is 9.1%, which was 26th in country). One of the best offensive rebounders in the country by rate.

Good chance he'll average a double-double if he can get his minutes up to 30 by his junior year.

 

[Drame]

It’s a fair question. But if Mullins goes NBA we need a 3 as well. Wouldn’t mind a little more physicality there than Mullins brings. Castle and McNeeley were both more physical. I think he’s a guy who could flex 3/4 depending on matchups. But we need a 4 with size too. Not all the big 4s are gone, Kansas has Tiller at 6’10” and he’s going to be a handful by next year.

Landrew Ross Furphy

 

[KingAG]

 

[bendm]

But if Mullins goes NBA we need a 3 as well.

My issue with jones is that I think we’re good at the 3 even if Mullins leaves with Ross and Landrew. If he stays there’ll be a logjam and a half pushing Mullins to the 2

 

[bendm]

think guys like Dusty & Lloyd will try to reload, but there isn't going to be the same kind of inventory out there this year - no one at the HS level coming like Peat and Boozer. I don't see anyone like Yaxel out there this year in the portal.

Duke has a 6’11 5* replacing boozer. Condon and Morez could both be back. That could be 3 of the final 4 next year and our starting PF would be 6’6

 

[WhereistheDove?]

My issue with jones is that I think we’re good at the 3 even if Mullins leaves with Ross and Landrew. If he stays there’ll be a logjam and a half pushing Mullins to the 2

He would play the 4 here like he did at PC.

 

[husky429]

Duke has a 6’11 5* replacing boozer.

Williams? He's 195lbs. I'd put a guy like Ross or Stewart on him for the mismatch even if we do recruiting a 6'8 240lb forward.

 

[bendm]

Okay… he would play the 4 in our system. Is that better?

Matter of fact Declarations are never ideal really. I don’t doubt jones could play the 4 offensively in our system my concern is on D. Alex was a good shot blocker averaging a block per game for his career. Jones averaged .3 bpg. Our incoming SF is the same height as jones and 15 lbs heavier.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Matter of fact Declarations are never ideal really

I’m vey confused by this exchange. You said he’d play the 3 (a position he hasn’t started at or played really). I pointed out there wouldn’t be an issue because he’d play the 4 (a position he has played), but my pointing that out is bad?

 

[bendm]

I’m vey confused by this exchange. You said he’d play the 3 (a position he hasn’t started at or played really). I pointed out there wouldn’t be an issue because he’d play the 4 (a position he has played), but my pointing that out is bad?

I responded to that point by saying I don’t care what PC was doing…you can respond to the entirety of my last post if you’d like though. I know Alex plays as a wing on O but he’s also 6’8 235 not 6’6 220. Landrew is the same height and 15 lbs heavier. What about jones averaging 4.5 rpg and .3 bpg proves he’s an ideal PF?

 

[RuffRuff]

Maaaaybe 1 lottery guy there? Steinbach probably more of a PF in the NBA, too. Not all those guys are a lock to leave, either.

How many 5s go in any given draft class?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I responded to that point by saying I don’t care what PC was doing…you can respond to the entirety of my last post if you’d like though. I know Alex plays as a wing on O but he’s also 6’8 235 not 6’6 220. Landrew is the same height and 15 lbs heavier. What about jones averaging 4.5 rpg and .3 bpg proves he’s an ideal PF?

I don’t think he’s an ideal PF and I think the size is something the coaching staff would have to seriously consider in whether they want to recruit him. The positives are that he’s a huge mismatch on offense for opposing fours and was still a good defender at the 4 in a terrible defensive system at his height. Obviously rebounding and the guys that will present a really big size mismatch are concerns. TBH he’s not my cup of tea for those reasons, I’m just pointing out why he hypothetically wouldn’t cause a logjam.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I’m in for whatever the majority thinks. Plus Vaaks.

 

[navery12]

What’s with the attitude? It’s legit to question if a 6’6 220 guy is a PF. Which of those teams did he play this year? closest woulda been UF but Jones only played 13 mins or so. Condon was out but Haugh went for 16 and 12. chinyelu started at the 4 and went for 13-12.

Wasn't trying to have an attitude. Just not really sure why we're questioning whether a guy who started at the 4 as a freshman in the Big East could play the 4 here. He'd be about an inch shorter than Karaban and 10 pounds bigger than freshman Karaban

 

[bendm]

Wasn't trying to have an attitude. Just not really sure why we're questioning whether a guy who started at the 4 as a freshman in the Big East could play the 4 here. He'd be about an inch shorter than Karaban and 10 pounds bigger than freshman Karaban

im just hoping for a lot better justification than "he played the 4 at peecee" and that's been the first line of defense with him. as a frosh Karaban averaged more than double the bpg that jones did.

 

[RuffRuff]

Wasn't trying to have an attitude. Just not really sure why we're questioning whether a guy who started at the 4 as a freshman in the Big East could play the 4 here. He'd be about an inch shorter than Karaban and 10 pounds bigger than freshman Karaban

And a lot stronger - he plays like a 4. I doubt he's a Uconn target. Until I see Hurley take a BE transfer, I'm assuming he's against doing it.

 

[navery12]

I don’t think he’s an ideal PF and I think the size is something the coaching staff would have to seriously consider in whether they want to recruit him. The positives are that he’s a huge mismatch on offense for opposing fours and was still a good defender at the 4 in a terrible defensive system at his height. Obviously rebounding and the guys that will present a really big size mismatch are concerns. TBH he’s not my cup of tea for those reasons, I’m just pointing out why he hypothetically wouldn’t cause a logjam.

I'm not even sure the rebounding would be a concern, at least not relative to what we've had for 4 years with Karaban. Jones was at 5.9%, 13.1%, 9.7% this year, for reference here's Karaban

Reibe is not a great rebounder though, so I guess there's a case to want something better than Karaban at the 4 in terms of rebounding though

 

[navery12]

im just hoping for a lot better justification than "he played the 4 at peecee" and that's been the first line of defense with him. as a frosh Karaban averaged more than double the bpg that jones did.

I haven't really gotten into any pro or anti Jamier Jones takes, though I absolutely do want him. My post above this about the rebounding is a start though. I think the size and rebounding difference is being a bit overstated.

If you want more rebounding or a rim protector that's a perfectly valid opinion. My only point has been Jones is a 4 even if he's not going to be the 4 at UConn