2023-24 roster

[Bearcat_Z]

Davenport enters the transfer portal.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Looks like someone had their temper tantrum one day too early on here

 

[sedziobs]

Davenport enters the transfer portal.

Davenport was the no-brainer to me. I didn't see much of a role for him next year. We might be able to find an upgrade for MAW, but the veteran PG role is needed.

Hensley is still the big question mark. I think he would have to sit out if he leaves. He probably doesn't have a role either, but if he doesn't want to be in college more than 5 years, he might prefer to sit on the bench here and then transfer as a graduate.

 

[sedziobs]

Nolley signed an agent. Suddenly the 3 is wide open, which gives us a lot of flexibility with who we can bring in.

 

[sedziobs]

The new collective bargaining agreement added an additional two-way contract per team (up from 2 to 3). I'm guessing that was a big factor in Nolley signing an agent before going through a pre-draft process.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Nolley signed an agent. Suddenly the 3 is wide open, which gives us a lot of flexibility with who we can bring in.

Based on early reports it seems like we've been mostly recruiting 2s in the portal, no?

Assuming we're planning on having Skillings and Newman split most of the minutes at the 3 with Reed providing injury cover and garbage time minutes.

 

[sedziobs]

Based on early reports it seems like we've been mostly recruiting 2s in the portal, no?

Assuming we're planning on having Skillings and Newman split most of the minutes at the 3 with Reed providing injury cover and garbage time minutes.

Yeah, we can bring in a guard and play Newman/Skillings at the 3, or a perimeter forward and play them at the 2. I think we can take the best available player regardless of position.

 

[Bearcat_Z]

Jamille Reynolds transfers to UC from Temple.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Jamille Reynolds transfers to UC from Temple.

Great pickup. This was Reynolds' first visit (of several that were scheduled) and the fact that Wes gained an immediate commitment shows an improved ability to close deals and that our program's profile is indeed on the rise.

Reynolds is someone who will assuredly be able to handle the physicality of the Big 12 and contribute at a high level from the moment he hits the court.

He'll obviously need to make an increased commitment to conditioning but I'm sure he and the coaching staff are on the same page about what the future will hold in that area.

I guess there's no guarantee that he'll be eligible next season with this being his second transfer, but the good news is that he has two years of eligibility remaining

 

[sedziobs]

Reynolds is a strong rebounder and efficient scorer inside. I like this pickup, though if he isn't eligible next season I think we might still need to bring in a big who is. I'm not comfortable filling 80 minutes at the 4/5 with Vik, Ody, Sage, and Hensley. The ideal situation would be if Hensley leaves and we pick up a grad transfer.

Reynolds' main weakness is a relatively high turnover rate. It would have been highest on our team other then Ezikpe. The good news is it has fallen every year, as has the foul rate. I think he'll be a solid starting 4 if those trends continue and he can shoot 60% and grab 10% of available offensive rebounds like he did last year.

 

[skyblade]

Reynolds is a strong rebounder and efficient scorer inside. I like this pickup, though if he isn't eligible next season I think we might still need to bring in a big who is. I'm not comfortable filling 80 minutes at the 4/5 with Vik, Ody, Sage, and Hensley. The ideal situation would be if Hensley leaves and we pick up a grad transfer.

Reynolds' main weakness is a relatively high turnover rate. It would have been highest on our team other then Ezikpe. The good news is it has fallen every year, as has the foul rate. I think he'll be a solid starting 4 if those trends continue and he can shoot 60% and grab 10% of available offensive rebounds like he did last year.

Reynolds' offensive game is very similar to that of Ody, in that he's not a guy you throw the ball to and tell him to score. He gets his points off rebounds and screening action.

I'd argue that his biggest weakness is movement and conditioning. He needs to lose weight and get into better shape. If he can't, his trajectory may be very similar to Ezikpe's, that he can't get on the court because his defense isn't good enough.

Sitting a year might benefit him, he can get into shape and be ready for big minutes the following year. But we need a big man now or we need either Sage or Hensley to step up big into backup minutes.

Reynolds is not a clearly superior player to Ody, Ody played more minutes on a better team. I don't think Reynolds is a clear starter next year if he does get a waiver. It may be a by committee approach, with Ody starting against teams who start smaller 4's and Reynold starting when we need a strong interior presence.

 

[sedziobs]

Reynolds usage rate was way higher than Ody (25 to 14). He had more field goal attempts and free throws despite Ody playing over 50% more minutes. I think he's much better at creating his own offense and better at holding ground in the post. I'm not going to pretend he's mobile or that he's suddenly going to improve conditioning. I'm looking for 20 solid minutes.

 

[skyblade]

Reynolds usage rate was way higher than Ody (25 to 14). He had more field goal attempts and free throws despite Ody playing over 50% more minutes. I think he's much better at creating his own offense and better at holding ground in the post. I'm not going to pretend he's mobile or that he's suddenly going to improve conditioning. I'm looking for 20 solid minutes.

Defense gets players on the court (or keeps them off it). Ezikpe was the better offensive player, but Ody beat him out for minutes. Reynolds needs to be able to move, hedge screens and protect the rim. Otherwise Vik at C and Ody at PF will generally make more sense and Reynolds will mainly be relegated to competing with Sage for the backup C role. There is no way Reynolds can play the 4 in his current condition.

That assumes that Reynolds gets a waiver at all, which I'm not sure I like the odds of. The plan may be for him to sit for a year, work on his movement and conditioning and have him ready to provide two high quality years down the line.

I do like a lot about Reynolds, but he needs to get in better shape. We need a guy like him who can bang inside, but we also need him to be able to move well enough to help on screens and drives as well.

 

[sedziobs]

I don't buy that defense exclusively gets players on the floor with Miller. Davenport is Exhibit A. DDJ isn't far behind. Nolley wasn't great either.

Ezikpe had a lower ORtg than Ody, mostly because he was a turnover machine. His turnover rate was 40% higher than Ody's. Ezikpe didn't see the floor because he was clearly worse than Vik and Ody as an all around 5, and was nowhere near quick enough to play 4.

Even on defense, Reynolds has a much higher block rate than Ody, and we saw Ody get pushed around near the block. I don't see them competing for minutes if Reynolds is eligible. I see him as a pure 5, allowing Vik to play some 4 along with Ody. Something like

PF: Ody 25 / Vik 15
C: Vik 15 / Reynolds 20 / Sage 5

 

[sedziobs]

Reynolds usage rate was 25, which would have matched DDJ for highest on our team. This is a guy who has proven he can score in limited minutes. His numbers are similar to Ezikpe's junior season at ODU, but against much better competition (Temple played the 64th best defensive strength of schedule last year, ODU was #135 in 2021).

 

[Queens_NYC]

Chad hinted on Youtube last night that we will likely have another roster opening soon. He said one spot will go to a "scoring guard" and the other will go towards "a big wing that can shoot it like Nolley".

Maybe Newman leaves?

 

[Bearcat_Z]

Chad hinted on Youtube last night that we will likely have another roster opening soon. He said one spot will go to a "scoring guard" and the other will go towards "a big wing that can shoot it like Nolley".

Maybe Newman leaves?

Or Hensley?

 

[Queens_NYC]

Or Hensley?

It's possible. Chad's comments could be interpreted a number of ways. We'll see soon I suppose.

 

[TheRealMick]

It's possible. Chad's comments could be interpreted a number of ways. We'll see soon I suppose.

A guard and wing suggests MAW. I'll keep Newman and Hensley. We need size.

 

[skyblade]

A guard and wing suggests MAW. I'll keep Newman and Hensley. We need size.

We've been linked to Moussa Cisse and Russel Tchewa - both centers - post commitment of Reynolds.

Is Wes afraid Reynolds won't get a waiver (Cisse may have them same issue though). Or is it a sign that the anticipated last transfer may be coming from a surprise player (Sage)? If we sign 2 centers who can both play immediately, I'd take it as a very strong signal that Sage is not ready to play any minutes.