The smoke has cleared with Eli Brooks slated to return, as Mike Smith and Chaundee declare for the draft. Livers and Wagner haven't declared yet, but almost certainly will. Austin Davis may still return (I think?), but that's a minor piece in the larger scheme of things.
While I would've loved for Smith or Chaundee to come back, Eli was the most important. His ability to play the point or SG along with elite D should allow for the Freshmen/Zeb to integrate at an ideal pace. It feels like Dickinson, Johns, and Houstan are locked in at the 5, 4, and 3 respectively, so it's just a matter of sorting out the back court. While Eli isn't an elite ballhandler and is better at the 2, Juwan can run much of the offense through Dickinson and Johns that a true point is less important. That being said, the best lineup next year probably features Brooks at the 2. Assuming Houstan slots in easily as a starter, the development of Zeb, Bufkin, and Collins are likely the biggest X factors for this team's ceiling.
With Diabate, Williams, and Barnes eating up the rest of the minutes, this team should be deep by the end of the season. They might get off to a slow start because of how young some of the guys are, but Brooks, Dickinson, and Johns should keep this from being a huge issue. And while Diabate and Williams should be elite defenders, Barnes is the only one of the 3 that could be a great scorer. Bufkin also figures into the bench scoring equation as well.
I also wouldn't be surprised if Juwan looks for a transfer PG (a la Mike Smith) and/or some additional frontcourt depth (if Davis doesn't return).
All in all, lots of fun pieces and Juwan should have this team competing for another conference title.
While I would've loved for Smith or Chaundee to come back, Eli was the most important. His ability to play the point or SG along with elite D should allow for the Freshmen/Zeb to integrate at an ideal pace. It feels like Dickinson, Johns, and Houstan are locked in at the 5, 4, and 3 respectively, so it's just a matter of sorting out the back court. While Eli isn't an elite ballhandler and is better at the 2, Juwan can run much of the offense through Dickinson and Johns that a true point is less important. That being said, the best lineup next year probably features Brooks at the 2. Assuming Houstan slots in easily as a starter, the development of Zeb, Bufkin, and Collins are likely the biggest X factors for this team's ceiling.
With Diabate, Williams, and Barnes eating up the rest of the minutes, this team should be deep by the end of the season. They might get off to a slow start because of how young some of the guys are, but Brooks, Dickinson, and Johns should keep this from being a huge issue. And while Diabate and Williams should be elite defenders, Barnes is the only one of the 3 that could be a great scorer. Bufkin also figures into the bench scoring equation as well.
I also wouldn't be surprised if Juwan looks for a transfer PG (a la Mike Smith) and/or some additional frontcourt depth (if Davis doesn't return).
All in all, lots of fun pieces and Juwan should have this team competing for another conference title.