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Post by larrytitan on May 24, 2024 9:54:11 GMT -5
As Richard Dawkins would say……”Good answer”.
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Post by udballer on May 27, 2024 7:53:14 GMT -5
NCT, who is unidentified 6-1? Ummm ... he's unidentified. His build reminds me alot of a mix between Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury.
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Post by motorcitysam on May 28, 2024 13:28:54 GMT -5
This is the type of roster that would have gotten us optimistic about the future of the program about ten years ago, prior to the portal free for all and NIL madness. We are expecting three returnees, each with starting experience (Kuac, Manciel, and Hurst) as well as a 6-11 redshirt from last year who probably would have been starting had he been available (Alex T.). To that we are adding a couple of experienced, local transfers in Geeter and Lovejoy. In the freshman class, we are bringing in two 6-5 small forward/shooting guard types, one from each side of the state. Also in that class are three 6-9 players (Okoro, Mitchell, and Kalambay) who all seem to have room to grow. Ten years ago we'd be eagerly looking out to the 2026-27 season and thinking, "We'll struggle in 2024-25, but great times are ahead".
I'm still optimistic, but my optimism is tempered by the present environment. Players don't usually show patience and wait to develop; if they aren't playing a lot right away, the portal beckons. And players who perform even moderately well on this level are targeted by higher level programs. If one of our 6-9 incoming freshmen averages say, 10 and 7 as a sophomore, some Conference USA or AAC team will be looking to snatch him up.
I think the staff has done a nice job landing players in a relatively short period of time, but it's a different world. I miss the days of looking at a roster and thinking three or four seasons down the line instead of focusing primarily on what these players can do for us this coming season, when we'll be likely to still have them.
Go Titans.
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Post by calihanmole on May 29, 2024 10:07:41 GMT -5
I agree with Sam. It sucks that we can no longer have any sense of continuity with players anymore. Think about some players that have been fan favorites in the relatively recent past JUCO gems we landed like Doug Anderson and Nick Minnerath would be gone after one year with us and spend their last year of eligible with a rich P5 school. A local guy like Josh McFolley would be gone by sophomore or junior year. NCAA hoops is now like my summer baseball league when I was a kid. Every season the rosters are completely different.
The WSJ podcast recently had a good episode about players wanting to be classified as employees for those who have not been following the legal aspects of all this. Not sure where all this leads, but for the life of me I can’t see how a small school like UDM competes in an environment where you have to pay athletes a salary, offer tuition benefit, 401k match, room and board, etc. And on top of all that play the NIL game to have donors supply extra deals to land the best players. Can’t do that when you only have a few hundred people in the stands and with the landscape of higher ed changing so fast and with so many academic programs being cut. Simply can’t do it.
We are at a point now where we’d be better off if the power conferences just left the NCAA and started their own organization that handles the financial demands of the top 50-100 programs. That would leave an opportunity for the other schools to start something that more resembles the past with player continuity and guys truly playing for an education.
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Post by fan on May 29, 2024 12:46:08 GMT -5
The coming environment has be handled in the budgeting process, the school will need to run the basketball program and the whole D 1 program as a business. The school will now have to include the player cost beyond room and board and salary and benefits as part of the costs, they will need to figure out how to bring in or money to support the program, or get out of the D 1 business.
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Post by royaloakdave on May 31, 2024 9:21:43 GMT -5
I like the way the roster is coming together; the 6 players with college experience have displayed the ability to be solid contributors at the D1 level.
Hopefully my high expectations for Tchikou, Kuac, and Hurst come true!
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Post by akhorey on Jun 3, 2024 11:01:22 GMT -5
I saw legreair training with a few of the freshman and the new player development coach at the student rec today. Could just be GAing but don’t be surprised if he’s on the squad
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Post by akhorey on Jun 3, 2024 11:18:13 GMT -5
I saw legreair training with a few of the freshman and the new player development coach at the student rec today. Could just be GAing but don’t be surprised if he’s on the squad If I had to guess I’d say GA though just seems more likely the more I watched for a minute or 2
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Post by nctitan on Jun 3, 2024 14:32:46 GMT -5
He graduated. It will be interesting to see if he enrolls in the fall.
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Post by larrytitan on Jun 3, 2024 15:02:36 GMT -5
I would like to see him on the roster so that Lovejoy doesn’t have to play 40 minutes per game.
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Post by akhorey on Jun 3, 2024 16:03:08 GMT -5
I would like to see him on the roster so that Lovejoy doesn’t have to play 40 minutes per game. I would as well, even with his offensive struggles he’s such a good athlete and maybe Monty could find a way to use him differently. He actually graduated last December so if he was up for getting some kind of grad degree I could see it, especially if they need an older ball handler.
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Post by ptctitan on Jun 8, 2024 16:30:56 GMT -5
Probable Roster
Manciel
Kuac
Hurst
N. Johnson
Mitchell
Okoro
Nadeau II
Geeter
Lovejoy
Kalambay
Lary
Tchikou?
13.Unannounced Guard
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Post by Commissioner on Jun 8, 2024 17:02:38 GMT -5
With size and eligibility rank:
Manciel 6-3 RS Jr.
Kuac, 6-7 RS Sr.
Hurst, 6-3 Soph.
N. Johnson, 6-6 Fr.
Mitchell, 6-10 Fr.
Okoro, 6-9 Fr.
Nadeau II, 6-5 Fr.
Geeter, 6-8 RS Jr.
Lovejoy, 6-2 Jr.
Kalambay, 6-9 Fr.
Lary, 6-5 RS Jr.
Tchikou?, 6-11 RS Sr.
13.Unannounced Guard
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Post by Rogobob77 on Jun 19, 2024 12:37:47 GMT -5
I heard recently that Tchikou's status is still TBD. I think it might all have to do with the need to get some classes completed.
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Post by ptctitan on Jun 19, 2024 14:53:33 GMT -5
Probable RosterManciel Kuac Hurst N. Johnson Mitchell Okoro Nadeau II Geeter Lovejoy Kalambay Lary Gondrezick II Tchikou? The ? after Tchikou's name reflects his continuing uncertain status. If you read his column in the Varsity News from last February, he's likely dealing with a class credit issue due to his visa problem.
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