There’s no chance we grab another big, is there?

[Giants1973]

Don't have enough scholarship

 

[IthacaMatt]

PF/Center is clearly our weakest point. I actually love Mcleod, and think he will exceed expectations, but if he were to go down or get in foul trouble, we really have nothing behind him. Benny or Maliq get hurt, kind of screwed at the 4 as well. Any shot we grab someone late?

Not until next year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Cuff, Patterson and Carey are my guess to see limited minutes.

Cuffe is really good. He's like "what if Stevie Thompson could actually play PG".

 

[Niastri]

Cuffe is really good. He's like "what if Stevie Thompson could actually play PG".

I worry about how much bigger he's gotten... It looks like mostly good weight, but he's going to need some time to get his explosiveness back, and to get into game shape. With so much competition for minutes at his position, I think he'll be a deep reserve this year. I'm excited to see what he can do as a redshirt soph next year, though.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I worry about how much bigger he's gotten... It looks like mostly good weight, but he's going to need some time to get his explosiveness back, and to get into game shape. With so much competition for minutes at his position, I think he'll be a deep reserve this year. I'm excited to see what he can do as a redshirt soph next year, though.

Didn't we just see him in a video from a month or so ago dunking in Rucker Park or one of those legendary pick-up parks in NYC?

 

[LAOrange]

N

No I agree, but Hima at center if Mcleod goes down is scary.

No, it's not scary. Hima did well last year. He knows how to defend, and he had a decent percentage when he took shots. He won't score a lot, but with this team, neither will McLeod.

 

[jgeorge322]

Didn't we just see him in a video from a month or so ago dunking in Rucker Park or one of those legendary pick-up parks in NYC?

He can dunk?!?!?! O-M-G

 

[CuseMan4]

I think we start McLeod at center but Brown gets a lot of those minutes behind him. I can see Brown getting starter minutes this year and averaging like 10 ppg and 7rpg which is plenty from him. I think by years end our best lineup might be

Mintz
Starling
Westry
Benny
Brown

That’s a perfect lineup for the style of play Autry wants. But Autry wants to be multiple. This roster has so much versatility. To be honest I think there are 4-5 lineups where I would be fine with but I think the lineup above is our best talent, most athletic and best offensively and defensively. And I think that line up has enough shooters. Mintz will be taking more 3’s this year and we know by the end of the year he is a decent shooter to keep teams honest. Starling was known as a good shooter coming out of high school and really shot well to begin last season before his injuries. So I think he’ll be back into form as he’ll be healthy. And Benny really stepped up last year and shot well from 3. I think that line up will win us some games. Brown is a VERY good rebounder and I’m sure will only get more rebounds when we go man. Benny is a good rebounder as well. Westry can mix it up. Mintz and Starling are decent rebounders for guards. I think what goes underrated is that Mintz, Starling and Westry are very good defenders as well.

 

[sufandu]

He had a few moments early on defensively. Major problems if we have to play him real minutes.

Why do you think there would be major problems? Are you trying to fit him into Jesse's role? If that's your expectation for what our center needs ro be you're right. I don't think that's that's the plan and I expect more offense from the other 4 positions next year. Center won't be asked to produce much more than to get put backs and get dunks off alley oops and drive and dishes.

 

[FireballPhil]

We could of we found one that wanted to walk on. Or be adopted by a coach.

 

[AZOrange]

At this point in his career, I think he’ll be fine as the 2nd or even 3rd big.

And frankly - I think he’s our 3rd center. Benny plays PF. McLeod plays C. Malik plays both. That’s your main guys down low. Hima is the 4th guy.

Yes

 

[Orangefan1]

I think we start McLeod at center but Brown gets a lot of those minutes behind him. I can see Brown getting starter minutes this year and averaging like 10 ppg and 7rpg which is plenty from him. I think by years end our best lineup might be

Mintz
Starling
Westry
Benny
Brown

That’s a perfect lineup for the style of play Autry wants. But Autry wants to be multiple. This roster has so much versatility. To be honest I think there are 4-5 lineups where I would be fine with but I think the lineup above is our best talent, most athletic and best offensively and defensively. And I think that line up has enough shooters. Mintz will be taking more 3’s this year and we know by the end of the year he is a decent shooter to keep teams honest. Starling was known as a good shooter coming out of high school and really shot well to begin last season before his injuries. So I think he’ll be back into form as he’ll be healthy. And Benny really stepped up last year and shot well from 3. I think that line up will win us some games. Brown is a VERY good rebounder and I’m sure will only get more rebounds when we go man. Benny is a good rebounder as well. Westry can mix it up. Mintz and Starling are decent rebounders for guards. I think what goes underrated is that Mintz, Starling and Westry are very good defenders as well.

I’m sorry in no way shape or form is Brown a center. I’m just not seeing it unless we want to get harassed on the boards. We are taking a chance by not upgrading defensively via portal with another talented forward. However I do like Bell and Brown as well as Williams. I know people have talked about having four guards out there at a time so we will see what Red Autry decides to do

 

[realorange]

We won the natty with craig forth... we can get by.

Don't short change Craig. He added a lot more than scoring.

 

[SmilinBob]

Red has already publicly stated he plans for some minutes for Maliq at the 5.

I mean, this is likely literally the most fouls we’ve ever had to give up at the 5 spot in program history.

Theoretically, you could have any of:
McLeod, Maliq, Hima, or
Patterson, Benny, and Carey play minutes there.
(The first 3 are by far the most likely)

But as has been asked and answered of the OP -
No, because we don’t have any schollies left.

I cannot recall the last time we had a full complement of 13 legit recruited scholarship players.

All those guys that can center? Must be Reds version of Hack and Wack...no one enters the Red Zone without pain with all those fouls to give.

 

[RCDICK44]

Don't short change Craig. He added a lot more than scoring.

Give Hima a break. This is a year later.I'm sure he's progressed .

 

[SmilinBob]

Give Hima a break. This is a year later.I'm sure he's progressed .

I can't for the life of me not understand why guys like Hima are not in the weight room. I hope I'm wrong about his lifting habits because I agree, he has a lot of potential.

 

[kcsu]

N

No I agree, but Hima at center if Mcleod goes down is scary.

Its not that scary. I think we have two solid 5s. Rebound defend

 

[kcsu]

If Jim can play a 6 10 150 pound scare crow at the 5 anything is possible. We will be fine. Have two guys who both have excellent upside. We wont be bullied this year which is a plus.

 

[NorSyr66]

I think Hima is getting some unnecessary hate. The expectations are not for him to be a first team all american. As a backup if he can block a couple shots, alter a couple shots, get us some boards, play with some energy and get us a few put backs with authority then that helps the team. I think he showed he can do some of that and he will continue to get a little better. If we get more great. If we get less than I expect the coaches to work harder to get more from him.

Good post.....totally agree. Hima played some solid minutes, especially early last year when Jesse was still struggling with foul problems. He did exactly what he was brought in to do. It appears we have several options this year with the 5 position. Once Red determines the best mix on the floor for his style of play, everyone will have a role to play.

 

[MikeSU02]

I’m sorry in no way shape or form is Brown a center. I’m just not seeing it unless we want to get harassed on the boards. We are taking a chance by not upgrading defensively via portal with another talented forward. However I do like Bell and Brown as well as Williams. I know people have talked about having four guards out there at a time so we will see what Red Autry decides to do

There aren’t four “guards”.

We’ll have a lead in Judah. Wings that can create in JJ and Chance. JJ and Chance will get the opportunity to be the lead at times.

Re rebounding, Chance is 6’6” almost 200 pounds. Maliq and Benny are both 6’8” around 215 or so.

Benny can jump out of the gym.

We’re not going to be rebounding out of the zone.

If Red decides to play Brown at the five for a bit, think about how switchable that is. Think about how well we can hedge and recover, blitzing when we want to scare the giddy up out of the other team.

We’ll be cutting guys off before they ever get a chance to get to the rim.

 

[SUskibum]

There aren’t four “guards”.

We’ll have a lead in Judah. Wings that can create in JJ and Chance. JJ and Chance will get the opportunity to be the lead at times.

Re rebounding, Chance is 6’6” almost 200 pounds. Maliq and Benny are both 6’8” around 215 or so.

Benny can jump out of the gym.

We’re not going to be rebounding out of the zone.

If Red decides to play Brown at the five for a bit, think about how switchable that is. Think about how well we can hedge and recover, blitzing when we want to scare the giddy up out of the other team.

We’ll be cutting guys off before they ever get a chance to get to the rim.

If your trying to get me hyped…….



it’s working

 

[Orangezoo]

I’m sorry in no way shape or form is Brown a center. I’m just not seeing it unless we want to get harassed on the boards. We are taking a chance by not upgrading defensively via portal with another talented forward. However I do like Bell and Brown as well as Williams. I know people have talked about having four guards out there at a time so we will see what Red Autry decides to do

This is 2023 not 1993. True centers aren't a thing anymore nor do they need to be. Centers today must defend the high screen and roll often by switching or hedging.

There many more guys playing the modern 5 position that resemble Brown than not.

 

[althea]

There aren’t four “guards”.

We’ll have a lead in Judah. Wings that can create in JJ and Chance. JJ and Chance will get the opportunity to be the lead at times.

Re rebounding, Chance is 6’6” almost 200 pounds. Maliq and Benny are both 6’8” around 215 or so.

Benny can jump out of the gym.

We’re not going to be rebounding out of the zone.

If Red decides to play Brown at the five for a bit, think about how switchable that is. Think about how well we can hedge and recover, blitzing when we want to scare the giddy up out of the other team.

We’ll be cutting guys off before they ever get a chance to get to the rim.

I will add that Brown has shown excellent instincts as a defender. He may get bullied by bigger players but that’s when we switch.

 

[Orangezoo]

I will add that Brown has shown excellent instincts as a defender. He may get bullied by bigger players but that’s when we switch.

He's like a guard with his hands on defense poking the ball loose frequently without fouling.

 

[newmexicuse]

The OP asked about a title - is there a chance ????

There is always a chance, but a lot of things would have to go really well.

1. We would need a legitimate co-star, maybe, 2, for Judah. We have three guys w that potential IMHO - JJ, Westry, and Benny.

2. We need all guards who get major minutes to be able to hit 35%+ from trey range.

3. We need MacLeod to give us some O from the 5 spot - it could be putbacks, fast break dunks, etc.. but we probably need at least 8 PPG from him if he gets 20+ minutes, which I expect.

4. We need somebody to make a jump and earn a consistent 20+ MPG opposite Benny. Plenty of candidates for this one between Chris, Maliq, Justin, and Q. Cant have Red searching every game for the hot hand as Jimmy had to do last season.

5. I believe in Red and that he will be a very good to a great coach, but does that happen this season out of the gate ??

Now a title doesnt just have to mean a NC, in the old BE days, I would think a successful season would result in a BE Title, a BE Tourney title, and/or a FF run. And one of those happened quite often in any given season. In view of what we have seen so far, an ACC title or tournament title would be huge for the program right now.

Lastly, to win any kind of a tourney title the team has to get hot at just the right time and have some luck with matchups in the draws.

So my take, I put NC odds at 1 to 2%, and I put odds for either an ACC season or tourney title odds at 20% combined. Certainly beats the virtual 0% odds going into any of the last 5 seasons or so.