Entering the portal - 2026

[RuffRuff]

I think the positionless basketball era is ending. It was a stupid era.

They don't shoot well enough at the college level to do it effectively. Top programs have also caught on by creating very big rosters with a strong 5, extended their defense to take away the three point line.

 

[superjohn]

I think the positionless basketball era is ending. It was a stupid era.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Umami Zen]

They don't shoot well enough at the college level to do it effectively. Top programs have also caught on by creating very big rosters with a strong 5, extended their defense to take away the three point line.

Yaxel-as hurt as he was for the NC game- was mostly on Braylon for the game. His wing- span and physicality certainly had an impact on Braylon's 4-17 night. Yaxel was definitely impacting our flow around the three point line.

 

[boog204]

I'd include Johnson also very unique - rare that you find a 6'9" with that kind of length and athletcism that can play the 4, and then the 5 as needed. Totally agree that it was a very unique collection of dudes.

Disagree in isolation. There are lots of very athletic 6-9/10 types who can play the four or five. Hell, we're probably going to be recruiting a bunch of them.

The difference, again, is that you can put a guy like that in between two extremely unique players. Now you have a frontline that has a bit of everything. I think your Michigan fanboy thing is showing with the belief that Dusty is creating the way or something. I'd bet they're back to having a "normal" sized frontline again next year. It's already rumored that the Wake SF is Michigan-bound, and he's 6-7.

May, to his credit, and utilized very effectively, caught lightning with that mix. I mean, you could say the same for Dan Hurley. You had a 7-2 monster defender, ultimate connector stretch 4, and then Castle, who could play 1-3, guard 1-4. That's a ridiculous frontline. I doubt other schools were thinking that that was some sort of blueprint. It's fantastic roster construction.

 

[RuffRuff]

Disagree in isolation. There are lots of very athletic 6-9/10 types who can play the four or five. Hell, we're probably going to be recruiting a bunch of them.

The difference, again, is that you can put a guy like that in between two extremely unique players. Now you have a frontline that has a bit of everything. I think your Michigan fanboy thing is showing with the belief that Dusty is creating the way or something. I'd bet they're back to having a "normal" sized frontline again next year. It's already rumored that the Wake SF is Michigan-bound, and he's 6-7.

May, to his credit, and utilized very effectively, caught lightning with that mix. I mean, you could say the same for Dan Hurley. You had a 7-2 monster defender, ultimate connector stretch 4, and then Castle, who could play 1-3, guard 1-4. That's a ridiculous frontline. I doubt other schools were thinking that that was some sort of blueprint. It's fantastic roster construction.

A 6'7" 3 is on the taller side - Yaxel at his height and skill was an outlier. They don't come around often. As is Mara. You're right that Johnson wasn't quite as unique, but I still think he was a different kind of player in the 4 role. There is a reason he's being mocked in the first round.

Let's. not forget that May had Wolf and Goldin last year and put together a S16 team in his first year that lost to 1 seed Auburn. They won the B10 tourney. I'd call that a success.

I am not even slightly a fan boy, simply interested in keeping up with the Jones' in some way possible. If Hurley decides to stick with his spacing 4 and top of the rest of the field goes big FC, we'll have to trust him.

 

[HW611]

I think the positionless basketball era is ending. It was a stupid era.

Only reason it happened is because centers were so bad in the 2010s it let Draymond Green get away with playing the 5. All the American 7’s were busy trying to be KD.

Now that there’s actual centers again a lot of Warrior basketball isn’t as effective.

 

[DRBackup]

One thing everyone needs to realize is Dan Hurley is not going to cast a wide net.

His standard operating procedure with the portal is:

a) assess the team's needs
b) identify players who appear to fit those needs
c) seriously pursue a narrow, focused short list of players to add to the program

Our results have been borderline exceptional using this approach.

The only thing preventing it from being an immaculate track record is the result from recruiting Mahany. Dan Hurley basically stated that prior success (Calcaterra, Spencer) had him believing that he could target anyone of that profile and the kid would overperform once he got here. Fortunately for us, Dan Hurley has been very good (since the 2022 tournament) at identifying his own misjudgements and taking steps to correct them.

100%. If there is one thing Hurley excels at, beyond coaching Xs and Os, intensity, culture, etc., it is not making the same mistake twice. He absolutely learns from his mistakes and makes significant effort to improve. I would tend to think the experiment with moving away from the euro style offensive sets in favor of transition or 1 on 1 offense (allegedly) will be another one. I mean, I saw the quotes myself, but I didn't think they ever made any sense.

 

[JVN]

 

[aceboon]

 

[bendm]

Well I hope SJU gets Diop and Flory because they can’t take/start Hines too.

 

[superjohn]

He's a good player, he's also nothing like Mara or Lendeborg and nowhere near as good as them.

 

[bendm]

This should be plan D, or off the list entirely.

He’s good enough for UM and Purdue but not us?

 

[RuffRuff]

I'd guess he's going to play him in the Wolf role. Highly doubt he's his single 5 going into next year. It's probably how he signed him so quickly.

 

[bendm]

I'd guess he's going to play him in the Wolf role. Highly doubt he's his single 5 going into next year. It's probably how he signed him so quickly.

Eg McKeever

 

[RuffRuff]

Eg McKeever

Guy isn't going from 7'1" to 7'3" to 6'11" pedestrian white 5 in his system. I bet May locks up his 5 fast, maybe it is the McKeever kid. The kid from Wake at the 3, and then he rolls back McKenny and Cadeau. There's your preseason 1.

 

[MJKI]

This is such an overreaction by everyone. Estrella is a negative defensively, the worst DRTG of any regular on Tennessee, high foul rate, and limited offensively. Just because he's another big white guy going to Michigan doesn't make him May or Mara

 

[Inyatkin]

Guy isn't going from 7'1" to 7'3" to 6'11" pedestrian white 5 in his system. I bet May locks up his 5 fast, maybe it is the McKeever kid. The kid from Wake at the 3, and then he rolls back McKenny and Cadeau. There's your preseason 1.

Hot take alert

 

[bendm]

Guy isn't going from 7'1" to 7'3" to 6'11" pedestrian white 5 in his system. I bet May locks up his 5 fast, maybe it is the McKeever kid. The kid from Wake at the 3, and then he rolls back McKenny and Cadeau. There's your preseason 1.

Not if we get Hines, Merauskas and Wilkins

 

[DCKembaFan]

Estrella's last game for Tennessee was against Michigan. Wilkins's last game for Furman was against UConn. Let's start a new trend

 

[superjohn]

Guy isn't going from 7'1" to 7'3" to 6'11" pedestrian white 5 in his system. I bet May locks up his 5 fast, maybe it is the McKeever kid. The kid from Wake at the 3, and then he rolls back McKenny and Cadeau. There's your preseason 1.

That's an enormous step down from Mara, Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson.

They'll most likely be preseason #1 because they almost always make the champion from the previous year #1 in preseason but that's certainly not a championship roster. I'm sure he'll be adding more good players through the portal because they're losing a ton.

 

[RuffRuff]

That's an enormous step down from Mara, Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson.

They'll most likely be preseason #1 because they almost always make the champion from the previous year #1 in preseason but that's certainly not a championship roster. I'm sure he'll be adding more good players through the portal because they're losing a ton.

Juke, McKinney & Cadeau would be a championship level backcourt. They had no where to go but down from Mara/Johnson/Lendenborg. Those three don't exist in this portal class. Dusty stepped in s last portal season. This should rule out Bidunga to UM. He wouldn't seem a fit anywhere as he'd play the 4 and he has zero away from the rim skills.

This whole year should be a step down in quality of play. You won't have to be Michigan 2026 good to win it this upcoming year. I'm expecting Pitino to put something gnarly together. Duke should have a good team. Michigan St will be good if they can build off their core in the portal.

 

[superjohn]

Juke, McKinney & Cadeau would be a championship level backcourt. They had no where to go but down from Mara/Johnson/Lendenborg. Those three don't exist in this portal class. Dusty stepped in s last portal season. This should rule out Bidunga to UM. He wouldn't seem a fit anywhere as he'd play the 4 and he has zero away from the rim skills.

This whole year should be a step down in quality of play. You won't have to be Michigan 2026 good to win it this upcoming year. I'm expecting Pitino to put something gnarly together. Duke should have a good team. Michigan St will be good if they can build off their core in the portal.

Umm, what about UConn?

 

[RuffRuff]

Umm, what about UConn?

I have no idea what they're doing as of now. When I look at the field, it's primarily considerate of UConn as the only reason I'm looking at it is to see what we're up against. I'd expect us to be a top 5 team.

I do think Cadeau/McKinney is a better backcourt than Silas/Ball. Cadeau plays like a PG, McKenney is a stud.

 

[superjohn]

I have no idea what they're doing as of now. When I look at the field, it's primarily considerate of UConn as the only reason I'm looking at it is to see what we're up against. I'd expect us to be a top 5 team.

I do think Cadeau/McKinney is a better backcourt than Silas/Ball. Cadeau plays like a PG, McKenney is a stud.

I think Silas is significantly better than Cadeau and the talent around him made Cadeau look a lot better than he is. As for the title game he's extremely fortunate he got that ref crew and that Silas is hurt.

 

[Umami Zen]

I have no idea what they're doing as of now. When I look at the field, it's primarily considerate of UConn as the only reason I'm looking at it is to see what we're up against. I'd expect us to be a top 5 team.

I do think Cadeau/McKinney is a better backcourt than Silas/Ball. Cadeau plays like a PG, McKenney is a stud.

I would say to your last point. Depends on the health of Silas/Ball and which ref crew is calling the game.

 

[Umami Zen]

Not if we get Hines, Merauskas and Wilkins

Donny Freeman ?

 

[shizzle787]

Seton Hall needs to start spending money. If they need to cut a sport or two, do it.

 

[aceboon]

 

[RuffRuff]

I would say to your last point. Depends on the health of Silas/Ball and which ref crew is calling the game.

I don't think they're far apart, both F4 caliber - I do think McKenney is the best player and will be the best pro. I like that Cadeau plays like a true PG. I realize Ball may have been hurt, but his deficiencies aren't going away. Silas is the best defender of the bunch.

I'd expect May to put good players around Cadeau again, and he'll have another year in his system. Not that it matters, but both of their kids were top 20 coming out of HS, Cadeau was 11 and TM was 18.

 

[EBonz30]

Don’t think Estrella is that good- surprised they even made an offer to him.