Usually I like my favorite teams to collect talented backcourt players, especially ones that can create shots off the dribble or who are 3 pt sharpshooter.

That said, our Cats will have a whole lotta bigs on the roster next season. I didn't expect that but color me intrigued.

Thoughts?

Good take....hopefully we'll see the development out of Foster. Springs we won't however as he's in the portal.

If Dwight Wilson has to sit out a season and Springs is gonna transfer, I totally expect us to sign another big, most likely a grad transfer. I can't see coach Boals resting his hopes going into next season with Rifen Miguel and Nolan Foster. We have no idea if Miguel is for the MAC level play out of the gate, and who knows about Foster? Maybe he can take the next pretty sizable step to playing significant minutes. Or maybe he'd be better off redshirting. With Preston and Vander Plas entering their junior seasons, I do believe coach Boals is going to fortify the pivot position further.

With Springs out and Wilson sitting, I count 12 for 20-21 season, unless I'm mistaken.

https://www.bobcatattack.com/messageboard/topic.asp?FromP...

Sr (1): Murrell
Jr (3): Miguel, Vander Plas, Preston
So (5): Foster, McMurray, Roderick, McDay, Brown
Fr (3): Granger, Towns, White

So I think we could actually get one more - though it sounds like we may not pursue it (for now) since we're hoping/waiting for the NCAA decision in May on whether Wilson can play this year or not. If he can, we're full at 13.

Wilson still counts toward our 13 scholarships this year if he has to sit out.

We have a host of above average height guys, but I don't readily see a guy who can do two of match up evenly with an opposing true center, rebound, or block shots. A week ago when we still had Springs and thought Wilson would be immediately eligible, we were a whole lot bigger. We have a bunch of tall guys, but do we have BIGMANZ?

If you play with pace, you can overcome that. Our best team of the last 40 years started a 6'7'' 190 pound center, after all. Furthermore, I don't see one decent 6-10+ player in the entire MAC next year.

Obviously, I agree with this, because I've always been the proponent of having players that can play versus having players that are big, but maybe not as good. That said, assuming everyone is healthy, there are plenty of options to choose from, and I think plenty of talent to put together a nice rotation of 8-9 guys out of the 12 that look to be available for the upcoming season.

The bigger need to me all along has been to replace the reliable perimeter shooting, and the ability to make 3's in bunches that Dartis provided. Without knowing what the frosh can do, that will fall on McDay, or Roderick, or Preston. Assuming the jump from freshman year to sophomore year holds true, I'm comfortable that will happen. Those three plus BVP are an exciting group. Fill in a little depth behind them...(I'm grinning at the thought).

But there are still unknowns - specifically, what will the coaches get out of Granger, White, Towns, and Miguel? Obviously, they'll need noticeable contributions from 2 of the 4 to have quality depth.

Lastly, the only big that could cause problems might be Mballa at UB. Otherwise, I can't think of anyone returning or arriving that is a big threat.

If Wilson is eligible for this season you just have to love the thought of him and Miguel sharing the minutes and Foster red-shirting.

I agree with FearLeon. If Wilson is immediately eligible there are almost zero minutes available for Foster unless he makes a huge jump in strength & quickness which is made more difficult in these times. That assumes Miguel transitions well from JUCO but I think we have to make that assumption or Boals wouldn't have brought him in. If disaster strikes you insert him of course but I don't see any value of him averaging a couple minutes a game his sophomore year when he could develop into a major contributor down the road.

If Nolan Foster is ready to play significant minutes, great! If not, it does no harm to let him sit and get stronger, with three years left to play. When I stated that I truly believe coach Boals will bring in another big, most likely a grad student who can really help us, I was aware we were out of scholarships. It will work itself out. It usually does.

If Wilson and Miguel are both playing, I think you have the mindset that Foster will redshirt...but obviously he's an insurance policy if one of these guys goes down and you take the redshirt off. I just don't see the benefit of burning Foster's redshirt to play minimum minutes his sophomore year.

Just my personal opinion, but given the propensity for players to transfer, you redshirt someone who is healthy as a sophomore, there's at best a 50/50 chance he stays in Athens.

Because some seem to think that redshirting him is a forgone conclusion if Wilson is eligible, and that he's not going to be capable of meaningful minutes. If he's capable, and you redshirt him, you lose a guy you put two years into.

Of course all of this is one big assumption. Who knows, maybe he proves to be better than the two transfers? Ya never know.