2024-2025 B1G Basketball Thread

[ELA]

https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1775320751995855254?t=bKjNyhJrRoDqbm2oTUer3w&s=19

[bayareabadger]

Welp, it's offseason city. And UW has some questions, roster quirks and moves to make. Because it calms me, I'll just run through the roster and some random thoughts.

The six guys you'd really liked to have keptkeep
PG Chucky Hepburn - I've been critical of his ceiling before, but on balance,he's a very good player and you'd rather have him than not.

Wing A.J. Storr - Was a not-so-efficient high flying scorer who seemed a bit distractible on defense. He earned all-conference honors but was a mess in the tournament game. Jumped in the draft/portal and is presumed gone. 

Wing John Blackwell - Had a very nice freshman season, with a bit of tail off. Showed nice potential, and if Storr leaves, possibly/probably moves on up. Want to keep. 

SG Max Klesmit - Overall a rather nice low-usage glue guy. He's got a bit more creative zing than a lot of UW shooting guards. Some folks want to recruit over him, though honestly, seemed fine to me (and if he ends up benched for Blackwell, he'd be a top-flight backup)

C Steve Crowl - Nominally, he's a 11/7/2 guy with good shooting numbers. His rim protection leaves something to be desired and his consistency isn't super. But he's a relatively good center, and I can't imagine they move on from him unless the other option is really good.

C Nolan Winter - He had a very freshman season, but he was still a solid enough rotation player while figuring out the college game at that size. He's considered talented and I'd generally like to see what his year two is.


The freshmen (Notable since these are pretty unlikely to transfer)

PG Daniel Freitag - Athletic recruit who has a lot of fans excited. Saw his ranking drop, but also had a nice senior season. If all goes well, he's the backup PG and can pair with Chucky. 

SF Jack Robison - Seems like a potentially nice all-around forward. Might be a wait-and-see type with the wing situation. Unless he can help as a small stretch 4, which would be nice, but also a big ask. 

The rest of the roster

SG Connor Essegian - He went from intriguing true freshman starter to barely in the rotation because of defense and a few other factors. Already in the portal. Wish him well.

PG Kamari McGee - Was a nice enough backup. Wasn't the most consistent this season, but had a higher ceiling than I expected. Now he'll have to decide if he wants to compete with Freitag or move elsewhere to play more than 9 minute per game. I'd wish him well with either choice.

PF Markus Ilver - A stretch 4 who has never been good enough to get a real rotation spot. Had one for a second this year, then kind of lost it. He's been around for 3 years. Maybe he wants to come back and compete for backup minutes. If he doesn't, it happens. 

PF Carter Gilmore - He's bene a sturdy defensive role player whose offensive limitations had fans perpetually wishing for him to fall out of the rotation. If he loves being a role guy, I assume he'd be welcomed back. If he wants more, he's given the program more in four seasons than you'd expect from a walk-on. 

C Chris Hodges - Actually played a few minutes in the Purdue win, but this is a guy who was almost pushed out last year. I guess it just depends if they get enough newcomers that he doesn't have a spot. (He's going into Year 4)

PF Gus Yalden - Took a RS that seemed linked to unseriousness. Had a high, HIGH chance of transfer and is gone.

A few questions

-What does the portal bring? UW seems to be targeting scoring wings, often bigger ones to replace Storr and stretch 4 types to replace Wahl. Need to see how this falls, but getting a 3 who could play backup 4 and reduce reliance on Ilver/Gilmore would be great. They're also talking to some defensive/rim-running centers. I don't see how they fit, but if they want to come, have at.


-How impactful is Freitag? He's a high-ceiling athlete who I presume will be in the rotation. But is he just a nice guy in there, or closer to a Koenig or Trice type guy?

-Where's the improvement? At worst, your starting lineup is probably Hepburn-Klesmit-Blackwell-transfer-Crowl. Can those four returners be better/more impactful. Chucky shows moments. Gard thinks Crowl has all-conference ability. Blackwell showed a lot of promise. Can some of them step up and be more of guys that are needed?

[medinabuckeye1]

For Ohio State, I think the biggest question mark leading into the 2024-2025 campaign is where the three point shots are going to come from.  Here are Ohio State's highest percentage three point shooters from the 2023-2024 campaign:

• 45.2% Scotty Middleton 28-62, transferring
• 43.3% Jamison Battle 91-210, exhausted eligibility
• 42.9% Bowen Hardman 9-21, transferring
• 33.3% Bruce Thornton 58-174, returning
• 29.0% Dale Bonner 27-93, returning
• 28.4% Roddy Gayle Jr. 29-102, returning
• 26.7% Taison Chatman 4-15, returning
• 25.0% Zed Key 3-12, returning
• 15.0% Devin Royal 3-20, returning
• 11.8% Evan Mahaffey 2-17, returning
• 0.0% Kalen Etzler, 0-4, returning
• 0.0% Felix Okpara, 0-6, returning

Meechie Johnson who is returning from South Carolina shot 32.1% last year for the Gamecocks at 60-187.  

Between them, Battle, Middleton, and Hardman accounted for 40% of the team's three point attempts and 50% of the team's made three pointers.  

The two freshman additions for next season include 6'6" 3* Forward Colin White who will likely contribute nothing from long range and 6'2" 4* Point Guard Juni Mobley who might.  

In the modern game I think it is a near necessity to have a couple guys who can reliably hit better than a third of their threes.  There is a non-remote possibility that some two of Thornton, Johnson, Mobley, Bonner, Gale, and Chatman could become those guys.  


The next question I'd be concerned about is depth at the 5.  For next year I think that the combination of Okpara and Key should be fine.  Okpara was the B1G's second leading shot blocker last year behind only some no-name from Purdue (LoL).  My concern here is two things:

• Depth:  If Okpara and Key both get in foul trouble, is Austin Parks a serviceable Center at this level?  
• Beyond 2024-2025:  Key will use up his eligibility this year and Okpara could play his way into the NBA so . . . Then what?  Can Parks be the starter in 2025-2026?  Even if he can, we'll need a backup for him.  

[ELA]

Detroit Mercy hires MSU assistant Mark Montgomery as their new HC

[LetsGoPeay]

Bronny James in the portal...Buckeyes?

https://x.com/BronnyJamesJr/status/1775337991440900324?s=20

[Abba]

29.0% Dale Bonner 27-93, returning

I thought he was out of eligibility?

[Abba]

From what I've heard, this is all we know for sure for the Buckeye roster:

Felix Okpara - returning
Bruce Thornton - returning
Devin Royal - returning

Meechie Johnson - transferring in

Scottie Middleton - portal
Bowen Hardman - portal

Jamison Battle - out of eligibility
Dale Bonner - out of eligibility

Still waiting for confirmation on whether the other guys are returning or portaling.  Also, some chance that portal guy may re-join the roster, but not counting on it.

[Abba]

https://x.com/BronnyJamesJr/status/1775337991440900324?s=20

Kind of a fun idea, but he barely played on a bad USC team.  Not sure he would add much beyond hype.  Buckeyes are in good shape at guard and need to add a frontcourt piece.

[medinabuckeye1]

I thought he was out of eligibility?

From what I've heard, this is all we know for sure for the Buckeye roster:
Dale Bonner - out of eligibility

Still waiting for confirmation on whether the other guys are returning or portaling.  Also, some chance that portal guy may re-join the roster, but not counting on it.

According to the Worldwide Leader he has played in four seasons:

• 1 game in 19-20
• 31 games in 21-22
• 29 games in 22-23
• 36 games in 23-24

So now I'm lost.  Does the one game played in 19-20 count as a year or do they have the same new rule as football where you can play a few games and not lose a year?  

Then there is the COVID year question because the guys who played in 20-21 get an extra year, right?  


Maybe I'm reading something wrong.  

[Abba]

I haven't really tried to understand the COVID eligibility rules.  I just knew he had 1 year remaining at the start of the year.  Just googling around, it looks like he and Battle are the only ones that are out of eligibility.

[bayareabadger]

According to the Worldwide Leader he has played in four seasons:

• 1 game in 19-20
• 31 games in 21-22
• 29 games in 22-23
• 36 games in 23-24

So now I'm lost.  Does the one game played in 19-20 count as a year or do they have the same new rule as football where you can play a few games and not lose a year? 

Then there is the COVID year question because the guys who played in 20-21 get an extra year, right? 


Maybe I'm reading something wrong. 

I think you are. He was a D-II transfer.

So he’s been in college six years, played five. He is definitely out of eligibility.

[medinabuckeye1]

I think you are. He was a D-II transfer.

So he’s been in college six years, played five. He is definitely out of eligibility.

That is it.  I forgot about the D-II.  Otherwise he's been in college five years and played four which ordinarily would be the end but I *THINK* the COVID year would give him one more. 

[medinabuckeye1]

For Ohio State, I think the biggest question mark leading into the 2024-2025 campaign is where the three point shots are going to come from.  Here are Ohio State's highest percentage three point shooters from the 2023-2024 campaign:

• 45.2% Scotty Middleton 28-62, transferring
• 43.3% Jamison Battle 91-210, exhausted eligibility
• 42.9% Bowen Hardman 9-21, transferring
• 33.3% Bruce Thornton 58-174, returning
• 29.0% Dale Bonner 27-93, exhausted eligibility
• 28.4% Roddy Gayle Jr. 29-102, returning
• 26.7% Taison Chatman 4-15, returning
• 25.0% Zed Key 3-12, returning
• 15.0% Devin Royal 3-20, returning
• 11.8% Evan Mahaffey 2-17, returning
• 0.0% Kalen Etzler, 0-4, returning
• 0.0% Felix Okpara, 0-6, returning

Meechie Johnson who is returning from South Carolina shot 32.1% last year for the Gamecocks at 60-187. 

The four above in bold are not returning.  Between them, Battle, Middleton, Bonner, and Hardman accounted for more than half of the team's three point attempts and more than three out of five of the team's made three pointers.  That, to me, is the biggest hit to the roster.  

The two freshman additions for next season include 6'6" 3* Forward Colin White who will likely contribute nothing from long range and 6'2" 4* Point Guard Juni Mobley who might. 

In the modern game I think it is a near necessity to have a couple guys who can reliably hit better than a third of their threes.  There is a non-remote possibility that some two of Thornton, Johnson, Mobley, Gale, and Chatman could become those guys. 


The next question I'd be concerned about is depth at the 5.  For next year I think that the combination of Okpara and Key should be fine.  Okpara was the B1G's second leading shot blocker last year behind only some no-name from Purdue (LoL).  My concern here is two things:

• Depth:  If Okpara and Key both get in foul trouble, is Austin Parks a serviceable Center at this level? 
• Beyond 2024-2025:  Key will use up his eligibility this year and Okpara could play his way into the NBA so . . . Then what?  Can Parks be the starter in 2025-2026?  Even if he can, we'll need a backup for him. 

Reposted with edits to reflect that Bonner is out of eligibility.  

[medinabuckeye1]

This is how I analyze it.  Here are Ohio State's definite losses and their statistical contributions as a percentage of Ohio State's totals for 2023-2024:


The three point shooting stands out to me.  Looking across the table, the four guys tOSU is losing represented:

• About one tenth of Blocks.  
• About one fifth of Assists.  
• About a quarter of Free Throws, Made Free Throws, Rebounds, Turnovers, and Steals.  
• A little under one third of Minutes, Shots, Makes, and Points.  
• About half of Three Point Shots.  
• About three in five Made Three Point Shots.  

As I see it, four more-or-less average (for this level) guys can pretty readily replace everything lost except the Three Point shooting.  That represents a hole that needs to be filled either by substantial improvement from existing guys or by additions who can shoot.