trueblue32

He’s pretty open about the fact that it’s kinda a crapshoot when there’s a lot of roster movement. You can play with adding transfers and removing players and the page calls it “The Sausagemaker” lol https://barttorvik.com/rostercast.php I can see a wide range of outcomes for the team with a lot of “lottery tickets” coming in. I think a median outcome is probably a middle tier MAC team below teams with more continuity like Toledo, Kent, and maybe Akron. I see a scenario where Adams regains his freshman form, Foster makes a smooth transition, and others play well and we contend for the MAC. And I see a scenario where the pieces don’t fit and the wheels fall off. I wouldn’t bet on either end

I disagree here, the jump shot is definitely part of Mading’s game and I think he has a bit of an ability to handle. If anything this signing signals to me that they view Mading as a wing. They now have Chatman/Williamson/Jack/Hardnett + Smith as “bigs”. Position designations can be weird, but that’s 5/13 scholarships already that aren’t expected to create or shoot. Obviously all won’t play but I think Mading is going to be able to do more. He’s the guy I’m most excited to see this year

Not much on him, even when he was at Chipola he was behind eventual Florida St starter Naheem McLeod. Trust that Foley knows what he had in him though. Surprised he didn’t redshirt last year as he was a fall semester addition and was on an extra 14th scholarship due to COVID rules. Still has 3 years left due to COVID Seems to fit the role of a long/athletic rim runner in the mold of Montell McRae/Raheem Johnson that we’ve been missing in recent years

6’10” forwardthat started at Chipola College under Foley. Didn’t really play at Seton Hall

I haven’t heard anything, but maybe Vick Hart the FIU transfer? I don’t know of any connection between he and Chatman but he RT’d Chatman’s announcement. Maybe they visited together? Didn’t do much at FIU but he was recruited out of JUCO by UB. Complete shot in the dark lol

Yeah I think they are locked in to Syracuse (I'd be mad if they aren't since I pre-ordered tix months ago). Rucker park is awesome though, I'd love to see them there in a future year. After Buffalo has hosted of course

Dom Welch. Funny that he was one of Oats’ first offers while he was at UB then we stopped actively recruiting him because we were so loaded (his freshman year being our top 25 year), but now Oats needs him at his SEC school lol

Looking a bit more at Arashma Parks. As a redshirt freshman at Temple he played a limited role (203 minutes). Kent State’s Justyn Hamilton played on that same team (in his junior year) and got 241 minutes. Small sample size but Parks had better on-off numbers than Hamilton and Hamilton has since went on to win 6MOY this past year at Kent State averaging 8.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG. I haven’t watched any video on Parks yet so I don’t know how he actually plays but an interesting reference point for him

Many also take classes over the summer. The hand wringing over kids’ graduation status is hilarious. Nobody has any insight into their situation at all. They’re playing pin the tail on the donkey to try to find an excuse to justify why it’s less fun for them or whatever. The past couple years have been a huge confluence of events including a pandemic + an extra year of eligibility + the new frontier of NIL + the new one-time waiver. Over the next couple of years, kids with COVID eligibility will be gone, extenuating circumstances due to the pandemic will subside (hopefully), kids will be aware of what types of NIL deals are out there before looking to transfer (or even committing as a high schooler), and coaches will have changed their roster building strategy. I don’t see anyway that this wave of transferring doesn’t significantly slow down over coming years. As in all things water finds it’s level

Former #309 recruit. Didn't do a ton in his time at Temple. Averaged 1.1 PPG and 2.7 RPG last year. 3 years of eligibility. Brother of former 'Nova star and NBA player Omari Spellman Edit: I believe he actually has 2 years of eligibility. His medical redshirt year took place in 18-19 and he’s played all 3 years since then. That would presumably leave him with a medical redshirt senior year and then a potential COVID year

Another D2 transfer. Averaged 11.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 2.4 APG. Started his career at D1 Fairfield and also played for the Egyptian U19 national team

While he was at UB he averaged 13.6 PPG and 8.2 RPG against high majors. He will be fine in the SEC. Without a doubt he looked worse this year after coming back from COVID, but if he's back in shape conditioning wise he will be fine. I've never heard motor concerns about a guy who has recorded 20 rebounds in a game before lol. I do have concerns about his game but physicality and motor are not either of them

Sounds like Mballa may be headed there too

I’d guess he redshirts. It seems like he started playing basketball later on and is still finding his fluidity on the court. Just watching his videos on YouTube you can see the improvement year over year though. Hopefully he pans out as an under the radar late bloomer

Started his career at Indiana. He’d be a solid starter for a year while our younger guys develop. A front court of him and Adams as two guys who have proven to contribute in the AAC should fare pretty well in the MAC

I'd like to see Watt but I doubt he has any connection to the younger guys. He's also a big time player in Europe, so at his age I'm not sure the extra miles are worth it for him. I'd be surprised if Graves isn't added this year though

Missed that! Given the timing just a couple hours after Foster committed maybe the plan is for Foster to run the show. I don’t have much concern about him doing it, but I always like the 2 primary creator lineups. The turnover rate is a bit concerning stepping up a level, but I also imagine having a higher talent level around him will help him out.

Schmock’s on-offs suggests he was Ohio’s best player outside their Big 3. He came off the bench because the starter is now in the SEC. He’s also 5 inches shorter and averaged 7 less PPG in D2 than Foster. I certainly think there’s a wide range of possible outcomes as there’s not a lot of data on guys coming from D2 but I’m not sure Schmock is a useful comp. On the turnovers, I still think we’re in on Shamar Givance. I think the vision is for Foster to primarily play off ball.

If a recruit has ever not picked UB because Whitesell doesn’t post enough on Twitter I’d be shocked. This just feels like trying to justify wishing that he was more active for your own enjoyment. There’s no rush in filling out the roster, how many of the recruits that we were connected to have committed anywhere not named Buffalo at this point in time? I’d agree on not many of his recruits panning out so far. I don’t really think it’s for lack of recruiting pedigree though, which may point more to issues developing the players once they’re here. Again the fact that we’re discussing this at all on a post about a recruit that committed today highlights that this poisons the discourse

I think the main point is some of this just poisons the discourse in this forum. I’ve personally soured on Whitesell over time, but I feel like I have to defend him every time I come on here because you’re wading through 8 posts of BS for every legitimate complaint. Complaining about his social media presence is a good example. I’ve mostly given up on any type of discussion and just share news now because people just wanna stir shit up otherwise

JT Shumate averaged 14.4 PPG in D2 then 11.3 PPG year one at Toledo. Granted he’s a forward, but my hypothesis with no backing evidence would be that it’s an easier transition as a guard. I’d think the physicality + athleticism gap is bigger in big men

My assumption under current roster construction is that we will be playing with 3 guards a lot more and a big wing (Adams and maybe Mading?) at the 4. It would be more of a return to form of UB’s last ~10 years. I think Whitesell’s hand was forced with most of our best players ending up being forwards the last couple years. Individually they are good players but the fit was weird, for example Fagan was not dynamic enough to play the 3 like he did last year

D2 all-American. Had 13 points on 9 shots in an exhibition against Illinois this year. Had 28 points on 20 shots in an exhibition against Elon 2 years ago. I don’t really know what to expect for this team but I think Foster and Adams have all-conference potential this year. If we get Givance who has been all-MVC we could have a solid amount of talent. Not that talent guarantees us anything lol