Potential 2025-26 Roster

[IthacaMatt]

Essentially, they would have to be coaches on the floor, to make up for the lack of coaching. I apologize for being so cynical, but I have zero faith in our coaches' ability to teach offense and defense.

I get what you're saying. I think the PG needs to have gravitas, real presence. And the C has to be good enough in the low block to draw a double team. Those things are essential for the rest of our offense to open up.

If we are so lucky to get Freeman back, we HAVE to play high-low double post game with him at the high post. And we'll need a starter at the 3 who is dependable, not streaky, from three. Plus the PG must be good from 3. Plus a back-up center who can swat shots. And if we lose Freeman, then we need a PF who can defend top forwards on other teams, and be a threat from 3.

That's not asking much, right? LOL

 

[IthacaMatt]

We also need to learn how to win again and expect to win every game. We‘ve lost our way.

Totally agree. We want guys who played on tournament teams for our key positional needs.

 

[Cuse1055]

That team would be as bad as this year’s

Disagree, but it really depends on who those portal PG and C are. A legit portal PG can change the outlook completely, just look at Louisville. Regardless, the team will be built around Donnie.

 

[orangefog]

I get what you're saying. I think the PG needs to have gravitas, real presence. And the C has to be good enough in the low block to draw a double team. Those things are essential for the rest of our offense to open up.

If we are so lucky to get Freeman back, we HAVE to play high-low double post game with him at the high post. And we'll need a starter at the 3 who is dependable, not streaky, from three. Plus the PG must be good from 3. Plus a back-up center who can swat shots. And if we lose Freeman, then we need a PF who can defend top forwards on other teams, and be a threat from 3.

That's not asking much, right? LOL

It would be awesome to have everything come together for a magical season, but I honestly don't think Red is a coach that can lead us to sustained success. So, I am torn. I want us to do well next year, but does that mean we put off the inevitable. But, isn't that what we are doing this year?

 

[IthacaMatt]

It would be awesome to have everything come together for a magical season, but I honestly don't think Red is a coach that can lead us to sustained success. So, I am torn. I want us to do well next year, but does that mean we put off the inevitable. But, isn't that what we are doing this year?

Well, I agree with you, but this season they are supposedly going to pull out all the stops for him. So this is it. If they want to really compete, pretty much everybody knows what we need. But everybody is shopping at the same store, and everybody is aware of the need to raise money, if they didn't fully appreciate that before.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

It would be awesome to have everything come together for a magical season, but I honestly don't think Red is a coach that can lead us to sustained success. So, I am torn. I want us to do well next year, but does that mean we put off the inevitable. But, isn't that what we are doing this year?

We won’t be successful in college basketball until we hire a legitimate coach.

 

[orangefog]

Well, I agree with you, but this season they are supposedly going to pull out all the stops for him. So this is it. If they want to really compete, pretty much everybody knows what we need. But everybody is shopping at the same store, and everybody is aware of the need to raise money, if they didn't fully appreciate that before.

This should be an entertaining offseason. Perhaps we pick up an assistant coach that can make a huge difference

 

[hoopsupstate]

If you notice with Duke and almost all the good teams, every time a pick is set the big man rolls. There’s been a ton of lob dunks off the roll. Freeman has to be taught to roll every time. He always picks and pops and never puts pressure on the defense. There can be planned opportunities to pick and pop, but the roll has to always be option number one.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

If you notice with Duke and almost all the good teams, every time a pick is set the big man rolls. There’s been a ton of lob dunks off the roll. Freeman has to be taught to roll every time. He always picks and pops and never puts pressure on the defense. There can be planned opportunities to pick and pop, but the roll has to always be option number one.

That would require coaching, something we don’t invest in.

 

[Jasoncuse]

It depends on how good the PG and C were. They have to be leaders, ready to be the stars of the team. And we'll still need more 3 point shooting.

They could be great players but with no shooting and at least two really poor defenders out there, along with some of the worst coaching around, it’s a bad team. And that doesn’t even take into account how weak the bench looks.

 

[IthacaMatt]

If you notice with Duke and almost all the good teams, every time a pick is set the big man rolls. There’s been a ton of lob dunks off the roll. Freeman has to be taught to roll every time. He always picks and pops and never puts pressure on the defense. There can be planned opportunities to pick and pop, but the roll has to always be option number one.

While he didn't do much of that, I really like him for pick & pop - that's his spot 15-18 feet from the hoop, toward the middle of the floor. He should be able to jump over his defender. And then once they come out to cover the shot, then he has an open lane to the basket to either dunk, or lay it off to the center in the low post. That's the offense I want to see, because he can make the jump shot, too. I just don't want him chucking from the wing or the corners. He doesn't really help us being out there on offense.

 

[IthacaMatt]

They could be great players but with no shooting and at least two really poor defenders out there, along with some of the worst coaching around, it’s a bad team. And that doesn’t even take into account how weak the bench looks.

I understand where you're coming from. Even if we get 5 or 6 guys who are perfect fits, and at least 3 of whom are really good players, who says Autry can get a team to play like a team before the season is 2 months old? That seems to be the question.

That can't happen again, or the season is over before it starts, given the state of the ACC. That's why this is do or die, all or nothing. Everybody loves this guy, so give him everything he needs to have his best chance for success this year.

 

[Red2003]

I disagree

I think most people can't get out of their heads that the portal adds will be the caliber they've been. I don't blame them either and they should be negative until we see some money being spent on great players. Also I get why people don't like JJ, I don't really like him as a player either but I think you try to keep him if there's a hometown discount and change his role.

This lineup is the most likely and can live with it IF we nail the portal.

 

[Scooch]

1: Portal/Aussie
2: JJ/KA
3: Donnie/Milwaukee
4: White/Petar
5: Portal/Portal

Unless that portal PG is an assassin from three, that lineup would realllllly struggle to score I suspect. Teams would have zero respect for our outside shooting and would pack the paint.

Unless Freeman were to improve from a low volume 33% 3-point shooter to a higher volume 38% shooter, we'd be in trouble.

 

[Red2003]

We also need to learn how to win again and expect to win every game. We‘ve lost our way.

I go back to this alot. The non-con got off to such a nightmarish start that last year's team never even saw a good win. Then they collapsed on themselves more when JJ went down.

Autry's gotta be faster and ready to go with his guys early November. There is no value in the early cupcake games rotating 10-12 guys so they can all figure themselves out on the court.

The starting 5-7 and this staff need to learn how to knock out teams.

 

[Red2003]

If you notice with Duke and almost all the good teams, every time a pick is set the big man rolls. There’s been a ton of lob dunks off the roll. Freeman has to be taught to roll every time. He always picks and pops and never puts pressure on the defense. There can be planned opportunities to pick and pop, but the roll has to always be option number one.

Here's my thing with this. Who's getting those lobs there for him? Duke has 5 elite Guards all 6'5-6'7. I still don't believe Carlos was 6 feet and JJ was not going to look to make those passes, Cuffe 6'2...We need some length in our backcourt. At least all our freshman coming in are over 6'5

 

[Hopkins16]

After year 1 of Red, I had hopes of him becoming a better coach. It seems so long ago, but year 1 wasn’t so bad and there were some good wins. Could a competent point guard cover up his lackluster coaching in year 2? Is the not ready for prime time mid-major transfers to be blamed? Is it possible for Red to make a leap in year 3? The following is from an article regarding the greatest college coach of all time: Coach K's first Blue Devils team posted a 17-13 mark in 1980-81 and lost in the NIT to Purdue. It was the first of what would prove to be three consecutive seasons in which Duke finished sixth or worse in the ACC and did not reach the NCAA tournament.

Just trying to find some hope or positivity in another year of Red leading this team.

 

[Scooch]

After year 1 of Red, I had hopes of him becoming a better coach. It seems so long ago, but year 1 wasn’t so bad and there were some good wins. Could a competent point guard cover up his lackluster coaching in year 2? Is the not ready for prime time mid-major transfers to be blamed? Is it possible for Red to make a leap in year 3? The following is from an article regarding the greatest college coach of all time: Coach K's first Blue Devils team posted a 17-13 mark in 1980-81 and lost in the NIT to Purdue. It was the first of what would prove to be three consecutive seasons in which Duke finished sixth or worse in the ACC and did not reach the NCAA tournament.

Just trying to find some hope or positivity in another year of Red leading this team.

Comparing 2025 to the early 80s is fruitless. The landscapes aren't just different, they're literally unrecognizable.

However, premium talent can always cover up a lot of coaching ills. The must-do first step is to bring in several premium players. If we don't nail step one then everything else hardly matters.

 

[Red2003]

After year 1 of Red, I had hopes of him becoming a better coach. It seems so long ago, but year 1 wasn’t so bad and there were some good wins. Could a competent point guard cover up his lackluster coaching in year 2? Is the not ready for prime time mid-major transfers to be blamed? Is it possible for Red to make a leap in year 3? The following is from an article regarding the greatest college coach of all time: Coach K's first Blue Devils team posted a 17-13 mark in 1980-81 and lost in the NIT to Purdue. It was the first of what would prove to be three consecutive seasons in which Duke finished sixth or worse in the ACC and did not reach the NCAA tournament.

Just trying to find some hope or positivity in another year of Red leading this team.

If you’re looking for positivity it’s prob not going to be on the staff front. They should be scrutinized until a winning product is back on the court.

There’s positives for how we get there beyond the coaching tho.

Where can Melo jump in to support, the NIL tourney in Vegas, the TBT tourney bringing some big alumni back into the mix, the new GM, more NIL money, and even a winning football program all are important. None of these things existed at all last year at this time.