RaceToTheTop

Not sure where that foul was

Interesting one -- Igor Milicic, Charlotte. 6'10" F/C with a nice outside touch. German player. Was at Virginia as a freshman where he played sparingly. Played last two seasons at Charlotte. Last year averaged 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks. Shot 49/38/82 and is a bulk three point shooter -- 60% of his shots in his career are from three. Last season made 56 of 149 three point attempts.

D.J. Davis, Butler. 6'1" guard, started all 33 games. 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists. First three years at Cal Irvine. Shot 43/35/95 this year, 41/37/89 for his career.

If nothing else, probably reading some tea leaves. Would seem very likely that Conwell transfers after a big year at Indiana State and the coach leaving.

Otega Oweh, 6'5" guard, Oklahoma. Two years of eligibility left. 11.4 points, 3.8 reb, 1.0 ast. Shot 49/38/64. Low volume three point shooter, 20 of 53 for the year. Noah Reynolds, Green Bay. 6'3" guard. Played two years at Wyoming. Hit transfer portal last year, committed to Wisconsin but decommitted a few days later after Storr committed to Wisky. At Green Bay last year averaged 20.0 pts/g, 3.7 reb, 4.5 ast. Shot 51/34/79. Mike James, Louisville, 6'5" guard. 13.6 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.5 ast. Shot 40/34/82. Alex Williams, Furman. 6'5" wing. 13.2 pts, 4.8 reb. Shot 44/40/76; bulk three point shooter (59 of 148 this year). Justin Abson, 6'9" post, Appalachian State. Rebounder/defender. 5th in D1 in blocks last season. 7.9 pts, 7.1 reb and 2.8 blocks in 24 mpg. Two years eligibity.

Had a down year after two pretty good ones at New Mexico. Can create his own shot but not sure of fit at IU.

I will say in terms of players lining up visits, nationally it's been pretty quiet overall. I think players are sharing their visit schedules less than in the past couple of years. I think the very few players that have committed are ones who went into the portal already knowing where they were going to go.

Dishon Jackson(6'11" center, Charlotte, 11.4 ppg, 6.rebounds) has committed to Iowa State. IU had contacted him; Jackson says he chose Iowa State over Xavier, Indiana, Miami and USC.

Dishon Jackson(6'11" center, Charlotte, 11.4 ppg, 6.rebounds) has committed to Iowa State. IU had contacted him; Jackson says he chose Iowa State over Xavier, Indiana, Miami and USC. New to the portal: Drake guard Atin Wright. 6'1". 14.1 ppg, 2.1 reb, 1.9 ast. 46/41/82. Made 65 threes on 160 attempts. 1 year of eligibility left. First three years at Cal State Northridge. Northern Kentucky guard Marques Warrick. 6'2". 19.9 ppg, 2.6 reb, 2.4 assists. Shot 43/30/87, although over four years he shot 35% from three. Four year starter at NKU, scored 2,246 career points -- all time leading scorer at Northern Kentucky. Lexington native so I assume Kentucky will be in contact. Two Xavier bigs -- Abou Ousmane, 6'10" post, and Sasa Ciani, 6'9" post from Slovenia. Ousmane got the most run at center, averaging 21.5 minutes. Mostly a rebound and D player, averaged 6.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. Ciani averaged 13 minutes, 2.5 points, and 2.9 rebounds but thought he was worth mentioning as the Xavier boards seemed to like his game.

My problem was with Gard ‘s treatment of Essegian with the media. Coach’s do have a responsibility to make their players better. Guard’s comments to the media about Essegian basically laid the blame all at Essegian’s feet at a time when he was trying to work his way back from injury. Should also be worth noting that Wisconsin’s defensive efficiency this year was the worst it’s been since 2018 so it’s not like the guards he had this year were killing it on the defensive end. Essegians’s freshman year they were top 20 defensively; this year they were 44th.

May’s contract gives him an average of $3.75 million over 5 years at Michigan. I’m shocked that Louisville couldn’t beat that. Kenny Payne’s contract had an average base of $3.375 million. I wonder if May took less at Michigan than Louisville offered.

Might have been too early on my top 25...assumed Houston had it wrapped up

WAR top 25 through the first weekend of the NCAA (assuming that San Diego State beats Yale -- Aztecs are up 24 at half): Purdue 31-4 (+12.82) U Connecticutt 33-3 (+12.78) Houston 32-4 (+12.64) North Carolina 29-7 (+8.77) Illinois 28-8 (+8.23) Marquette 27-9 (+8.19) Iowa State 28-7 (+8.01) Arizona 27-8 (+7.68) Tennessee 25-8 (+7.64) Auburn 27-8 (+7.64) Creighton 25-9 (+6.89) Alabama 23-11 (+5.77) Duke 26-8 (+5.72) South Carolina 26-8 (+5.72) Baylor 23-11 (+5.65) San Diego State 24-10 (+5.06) Kansas 22-11 (+5.04) Utah State 26-7 (+4.97) Colorado 26-11 (+4.33) Indiana State 29-6 (+4.28) Dayton 25-8 (+4.27) Clemson 23-11 (+4.23) Texas Tech 23-11 (+4.15) Gonzaga 26-7 (+4.09) Florida 24-12 (+4.07) Close: Washington State 25-9 (+4.02), Nevada 25-8 (+3.97), Wisconsin 22-14 (+3.73), Kentucky 23-9 (+3.59), Oregon 24-12 (+3.38)

Yes, except quite often players transfer out with their former coach. If a few FAU players transfer to Michigan with May, the rebuild is accelerated.

Louisville just lost Dusty May to Michigan because Michigan had a stronger @$$ offer.

Davon Barnes, 6'2" guard, Sam Houston State. 13.5 points, 3.5 reb, 1.6 assists. 42/39/84.

He's more appealing to me as a guy with two years left than a guy with four years left because he's not a guy who would likely stay anywhere for four years. But guys who bounce around right now are much more the norm. And, FWIW, ANYONE we get in the portal is someone that is looking to move on from their last team. And if the possibility exists that Woodson will be done after next year, exactly how many guys will be staying on anyway?

Big one that I think gets ignored was Gard's handling of him. Gard was brutal to him in the press, early in the season saying that 'we don't have time for his struggles' and that Wisconsin was 'looking to achieve higher things this year'. Think Gard tremendously overestimated the talent on his team. Rumors are out there that A.J. Storr is looking to transfer again...if so, think that says a lot about Gard.

Assuming that MM comes back, IU is currently at: Guards: Galloway, Leal, Newton, Cupps Wings: Mgbako PF/posts: Reneau I don't see the Leal/Essegian similarities at all. Essegian averaged about 12 ppg as a freshman. Leal is really just out there to provide something steady and nothing else. I think for maximum roster flexibility you need 6 guards on the roster, especially with Newton's health being a potential issue -- and if you want a three good look at times, you need some guards. Essegian IMO has a spot if we also bring in a legit point guard and another good shooting wing. But shooters always have a spot on a team.

Ryan Petraitis, 6'7" forward, Air Force. 15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.7 apg. Shot 49/35/66. 2 years eligibility left. Voncameron Davis, 6'5" wing, Kent State. 13.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg. 49/33/75. Deuce Turner, 6'2" guard, San Diego. 15.5 ppg, 2.4 reb, 1.9 apg. 41/37/86.

IMO: he does have a chance to be this year’s Caleb Love.

I think you are. ACC tournament against NC State this year: 12 of 17, 7 of 9 from 3, 36 points. He was in a train wreck at Louisville.

Makes sense. Wish him well.

The amount of actual things that should be called fouls in a Purdue/Tennessee game would be insane.

"Thanks for the birthday party, guys. But I really didn't need a golf pocket watch."