Looking Forward

[06panther10]

AJ has not made any sort of decision and anybody assuming anything is wrong. The season isn’t even over.

Phyfe will be back if he can breathe next year, its really that simple.

Don’t know why Noah would consider a transfer now after opting back in last year. He is now likely going to be the leading scorer on the team if AJ is gone and can be a 3 year starter, All Conf player here.

[SteinPizza]

Don’t know why Noah would consider a transfer now after opting back in last year. He is now likely going to be the leading scorer on the team if AJ is gone and can be a 3 year starter, All Conf player here.

The problem with Noah and others is you never know who’s having side conversations with the player, player’s family, AAU coach, etc., within the rules or otherwise. The portal is now nothing more than a free agent market.

It also could have big impacts on other teams in the Valley, and there are several really talented guys coming back who will look really good to P6 schools. The MVC needs all those guys back, since one of the things that’s killed this league the last few years is a lack of quality non conference wins. A team or two from this league has to figure out a way to beat ranked P6 opponents during their pre-season tourney games. You do that, and it lifts everyone’s schedule strength and potentially quads.

[CincyPanther88]

The thing everyone forgets about the players coming back is that they would have to be students. This is no knock on their intelligence as we know AJ is all-academic team and I think Phyfe is pretty bright too. But do they want to be 23-24 year olds still taking classes or do they want to get on with their lives and get paid? Unfortunately, I don't think AJ is NBA material but I certainly think he could play overseas. But with war going on in eastern Europe, that could factor into his decision. As for Phyfe, what are the effects of long Covid going to be on him? Is he going to be the player he was before that or is he still going to be struggling to play 16 minutes a game? If it's the latter, maybe it would be best for everyone if he got on with his life's work and the younger guys would get the minutes to develop.

[06panther10]

The problem with Noah and others is you never know who’s having side conversations with the player, player’s family, AAU coach, etc., within the rules or otherwise. The portal is now nothing more than a free agent market.

It also could have big impacts on other teams in the Valley, and there are several really talented guys coming back who will look really good to P6 schools. The MVC needs all those guys back, since one of the things that’s killed this league the last few years is a lack of quality non conference wins. A team or two from this league has to figure out a way to beat ranked P6 opponents during their pre-season tourney games. You do that, and it lifts everyone’s schedule strength and potentially quads.

My point is that there is nowhere he could go and be featured as a player on a good team better than he is and will be going forward than at UNI.

[UNIAlum95]

The thing everyone forgets about the players coming back is that they would have to be students. This is no knock on their intelligence as we know AJ is all-academic team and I think Phyfe is pretty bright too. But do they want to be 23-24 year olds still taking classes or do they want to get on with their lives and get paid? Unfortunately, I don't think AJ is NBA material but I certainly think he could play overseas. But with war going on in eastern Europe, that could factor into his decision. As for Phyfe, what are the effects of long Covid going to be on him? Is he going to be the player he was before that or is he still going to be struggling to play 16 minutes a game? If it's the latter, maybe it would be best for everyone if he got on with his life's work and the younger guys would get the minutes to develop.

Phyfe will have his masters in December. I'm sure he could limp through some spring classes to keep current as a student after he finishes his second degree. That will set him up well to move into an administration role down the road in education.

[DownGoesKansas]

With no inside info, I think AJ is 50/50.

He's not getting drafted so then it is really what he wants to do after that. Maybe he wants to play 4 full years. IDK

Tytan's development will be huge. As I mentioned before, really excited to see Duax in action

[UNIAlum95]

With no inside info, I think AJ is 50/50.

He's not getting drafted so then it is really what he wants to do after that. Maybe he wants to play 4 full years. IDK

Tytan's development will be huge. As I mentioned before, really excited to see Duax in action

Tytan certainly fills the defensive void and once he gets his arms and legs to work together he could be a nice addition in the post. Is Duax just a slightly taller Heise? I'm not seeing a game changer here. That's not running down either Nate or Michael but I'm looking at what needs to happen to toughen up this team.

[BCPanther]

Tytan certainly fills the defensive void and once he gets his arms and legs to work together he could be a nice addition in the post. Is Duax just a slightly taller Heise? I'm not seeing a game changer here. That's not running down either Nate or Michael but I'm looking at what needs to happen to toughen up this team.

Duax is much more athletic than Heise and a slasher that can get his own offensively.

[DownGoesKansas]

Tytan certainly fills the defensive void and once he gets his arms and legs to work together he could be a nice addition in the post. Is Duax just a slightly taller Heise? I'm not seeing a game changer here. That's not running down either Nate or Michael but I'm looking at what needs to happen to toughen up this team.

I think a lot including myself expected Duax to play this year. I think of Duax as more a wing where I see Heise as a SG. Havent seen them side by side but I think Duax is a little bigger. Hopefully just a good all around wing.

[Khan4Cats]

Tytan certainly fills the defensive void and once he gets his arms and legs to work together he could be a nice addition in the post. Is Duax just a slightly taller Heise? I'm not seeing a game changer here. That's not running down either Nate or Michael but I'm looking at what needs to happen to toughen up this team.

Tytan steps into Pickford's role almost immediately. Pretty much the same in terms of offensive production-don't expect much from outside shooting but cutting to the basket and offensive rebound, put-back baskets a plenty. If he can develop an outside shot, he starts to move into Isaiah Brown as a senior territory pretty quickly.

Heise is a greatly underrated player. Led the team in steals, 2nd in blocks and rebounds, shot the same % from 3 as AJ and Trae essentially but finished over 50% from the field. Only player to start all 30 games. If Duax can replicate that, I'll be very happy with it.

[SteinPizza]

My point is that there is nowhere he could go and be featured as a player on a good team better than he is and will be going forward than at UNI.

Agreed. There's logic in that.
I

[BCPanther]

My point is that there is nowhere he could go and be featured as a player on a good team better than he is and will be going forward than at UNI.

He'd be a nice player at Wartburg.

--r&b and Mudra

[run&blade]

He'd be a nice player at Wartburg.

--r&b and Mudra

Maybe he wants to play in the ncaa tournament ?

Jacobsen can’t get there with a borderline all American and multiple seniors.

or maybe he wants to play at a place with a scoreboard hanging over the court.

he doesn’t need to leave uni to play DIII, hell they play a couple of them every year.

[SteinPizza]

That's not running down either Nate or Michael but I'm looking at what needs to happen to toughen up this team.

I don't doubt the players are "tough", but look at the lack of size and strength we have on the floor most of the time. Carter is a great player, but there's no way he has the inside presence to be our lone physical player and hang with the bigger, athletic guys against a team like Loyola. Phyfe could obviously be that guy, but with his issues he couldn't do enough. For whatever reason, there was no Henry and no Betz. Like others have said, this Loyola team is just a bad match up for us. Drake matches up much better, because they have guys like Murphy and Hemphill who combine some size , strength, and speed, along with Brodie who's a wide body down low. Even Sturtz is a mix it inside type player to some extent.

The other guy who saw some minutes who could end up being a good combo of height, strength , and speed is Anderson. Here's hoping he continues to develop. I really liked what I saw of him when he got minutes.

[BCPanther]

Heise is 6-4. Duax is 6-5. Anderson is 6-6. Campbell is 6-4. Wolf is 6-5.

We're literally longer and more athletic than we've ever been. We're 28-8 in the league in the last two real years. I don't, in any way, see how there's any resembling underachieving or a need for any kind of overhaul.