As a few others have mentioned, I’ll go with an athletic defender and rim protector purely for the sake of having something we currently don’t have. I’d like to see what Boals could do with it. I do wish, and I still think we still could with this type of addition, allow DW to move to the four spot and give BVP a break for 4 or 5 minutes a game.... I think Sears will be able to give JP a bigger break next season but for BVP.... Who fills that role?

Oh and to answer the original question. This team has plenty of offense. Where it tended to struggle (although it definitely got better at the end of the season) was on defense. With an experienced group hopefully coming back next year - I focus on the defensive side for upgrades.

With our two spots I target a long, strong, athletic, defensive minded wing. Added bonus if he's a 3 and D guy (as 3 pt shooting is critically important come tourney time). But, somebody who can guard 1-4 and actually stop dribble penetration. Something Preston, BRod and BVP struggle with mightily (and got exposed repeatedly by Creighton).

With the other spot we have to get another big to back up Wilson. Certainly a rim protector would be ideal come NCAA tourney time when we're facing P5 teams. All of our past tourney successes had one from Patrick Flomo to DeVaughn Washington to Jon Smith. We didn't have that this year. Somebody 6'9+ with hops who can alter shots in the event the guards/wings penetrate. Problem with those types is they tend to find themselves in foul trouble a lot, so it's easier to not allow the dribble penetration to begin with (thus my first want). Also have to consider that in the guard-oriented MAC - Wilson is an ideal big. We just need an alternative/backup when playing bigger teams.

I think you could probably get the first target from the incoming freshman class. The big though? I'd be looking at the portal.

I guess another variable in how to use the two scholarships is JB's mindset. If he's in the mindset of win-big and move up while the kettle is hot, then you go for a transfer/JUCO, win now, option for sure. Likewise, if you do like some professional sports GM's do when they think they have a championship team now, you mortgage the future a bit by getting a short term solution to win now. Especially for a mid-major, how often will the stars potentially align as they could this upcoming season with a veteran team? Adding a freshman whose a couple years away isn't going to help capitalize on next years opportunity.

Now if he's in it for the long haul, maybe you split it up and go development guy with one choice and "win-now" homerun swing with the other. Maybe the second one is a homerun swing/high risk-high return, type guy. But I think if I'm him, I worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. For now, I'm putting all my chips in to win next year if I think JP & the main parts of the gang are coming back. Like a baseball GM, I trade prospects who "may or may not" materialize in the 2026 season for free agents that can win in 2022 in this scenario.

Yes it has become college free agent hot stove league type deal.

I hear ya, Chicken George, and I'm in 100 percent agreement. We haven't had many chances like this. The last one was when the DJ Cooper team returned intact, but coach Groce left and our only recruit, Caris LeVert, bolted for Michigan (ouch!). We must take advantage of this situation for two reasons: one, we could be looking at a rare situation to do a lot of damage on the national stage during the season and in The Big Dance--IF we can shore up the middle and possibly add an athletic wing to play with BRod. Second, if we can do that, it will elevate the program's name to where more kids (particularly from other states) should find us an attractive landing spot.

I vote for an undergrad big and a grad scorer.

Example of grad scorer: Max Evans (Vandy) guard/small forward/wing

Best games:
(keeping in mind he was behind NBA players Lee & Nesmith and future NBA players Disu & Pippen Jr.)


29 vs. South Carolina
20 vs. @Mississippi State
20 vs. @LSU
18 vs. @Alabama

previous seasons

20 vs. South Carolina
31 vs. LSU
16 vs. @Arkansas

14 vs. @Ole Miss
13 vs. @ Auburn