The more I think about it, the more excited I get about what next year's team could look like. I know, right now, its likely we'll take a step back in terms of wins/losses, NCAA seeding, etc...
But I've been dying for a new style of play since half way through last season. Unless we end up getting someone, or a couple of players, similar to TJD and Race, in the portal...I can't imagine we won't look quite a lot different next year stylistically.
X and Trey will be mainstays in the backcourt. Malik will be the focal point at the 5.
Its the other two positions that should dramatically change what we look like, and how we play next year. I would be surprised if we don't get a starter level guy, maybe even two in the portal. So whoever that player, or players, end up being, will heavily influence all this.
But lets say Tamar and Kaleb take over the starting spots that Miller and Race left.
That team is A LOT quicker and more athletic than the one we started the 2nd half of the season.
X is a big part of that.
But replacing Miller and Race, both slower players laterally, and one of them just not being athletic in general...it should completely change how we look offensively and defensively.
I also have a feeling Jakai Newton is going to surprise some people, and be a main rotation guy for us next year. He's flying under the radar because of his injury this past year. But in the few games I watched of him, including the game that was on ESPN, he sure looked like a guy that has that "dog" mentality. He had the highlight block on the other teams stud. But beyond that, he was the only one that was able to stand that guy up defensively. And he did it multiple times. I've got a feeling he's gonna push for a starter level role.