2022-2023 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

Ohio State's 2021-2022 season is less than an hour from over so I'm ready to look ahead to next year.

I'll start with a prediction for my team:
In the 2022-2023 season the Buckeyes will finish st least three games out of the B1G Championship and their season will end before the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.

[longhorn320]

do we really need 2 threads for this subject

[bayareabadger]

do we really need 2 threads for this subject

Maybe it'll get buried faster. Hopefully.

Is Illinois losing a lot. I'm honestly not sure. 

[medinabuckeye1]

do we really need 2 threads for this subject

Did someone already start a 2022-23 thread?

[MaximumSam]

So, lot of moving pieces for the Buckeyes. 

Gone for sure:

• Kyle Young
• Jamari Wheeler
• Jimmy Sotos
• Cedric Russell
• Joey Brunk

Decision to be made:

• EJ Liddell (but Holtmann has said several times he's gone)
• Justin Ahrens (Has eligibility but went through Senior Day)
• Justice Sueing (mysterious injury)
• Seth Towns (was injured but not mysterious)

Almost certainly back

• C Zed Key
• G Meechie Johnson
• SF Eugene Brown

Six freshman incoming

• Redshirt F Kalen Etzler
• PG Bruce Thornton
• G Roddy Gayle
• G Bowen Hardman
• SF Bryce Sensabaugh
• C Felix Okpara

If I had to guess, I'd say Liddell, Branham, and Ahrens are gone, while Sueing and Towns give it another shot. That leaves a depth chart something like.

PG: Meechie Johnson, Bruce Thornton
SG: Roddy Gayle, Bowen Hardman
SF: Justice Sueing, Bryce Sensabaugh
PF: Seth Towns, Kalen Etzler
C: Zed Key, Felix Okpara

Obviously a big hole at shooting guard that would be greatly improved by Branham returning. Definitely a few spots open for transfer, the biggest being a physical guy that can play power forward. Towns and Etzler are more stretch guys and not sure they can defend big guys, plus how much can you count on Towns being healthy? May also look for yet another senior point guard. 

[ELA]

MSU was 2 scholarships short this year, and only have two incoming freshmen.  So technically everyone could use their COVID years and return.

My guess is that isn't the case.

Joey Hauser - The heavy vibe a few weeks ago, was that he was done.  He took part in Senior Day.  But it sounds like some of that has been walked back, and I think he's a true 50/50.

Gabe Brown - No info here, but my gut feeling is that he's moving on.  He could be a great 3 and D, but he seems to have no interest in the D portion of that.  I think his return does nothing but take minutes from Akins

Marcus Bingham - He would be the one of the three I want back the most, but by all reports he's done.  He was MSUs best player in November, and his COVID absence, and subsequent regression aligned pretty closely with MSUs performance, as with his rebound as he got his stamina back in March.

Max Christie - All reports from his camp, when he chose MSU, was that he liked a two year plan, and went into this with that mentality.  That he chose MSU over Kentucky and Michigan, specifically because he didn't want to be a one and done.  Some NBA Draft guys seem to think he's leaving, but I don't get that vibe.

In the end I'll guess Bingham and Brown move on.

So MSUs rotation, projects as...
PG - Hoggard (JR) - Walker (SR) - Holloway (FR)
SG - Christie (SO) - Akins (SO)
SF - Akins (SO) - Brooks (SO) - transfer
PF - Hauser (SR) - Hall (SR) - Kohler (FR)
C - Marble (JR) - Sissoko (SR)

[bayareabadger]

UW is in an intersting spot. Loses two anchors, but returns three others. Needs a boatload of development or transfers (likely transfers). Also a weird glut of pieces.

Leaving:
Johnny Davis - NBA time
Brad Davison - Bee there forever. Gave his all. Better this year than I expected. Off to ether coach or play in Europe
Chris Vogt - He was a transfer as Big Man insurance, and he did that job as well as could be expected. 

Returning possible centerpieces
Chucky Hepburn - Good true point guard, came on late in terms of scoring and creating. I expect to be a top end-of-clock option
Steven Crowl - Struggled late in the season, but he should be good. Averaged 9 PPG as a fourth option. Needs to get stronger
Tyler Wahl - Already one of the best technical posts in the league and an all-defense type player. Looked like trash today, but a nice piece to have back

Some "I don't know what to do with" guys
Jahcobi Neath - A transfer this year who was hurt early and never got right. If he's as good as they hoped, he's a three-position guy who could be you're 4th or 5th starter. This year, he was a wing you were not happy to have to play
Jordan Davis - Highly developmental guy who was better than I expected this year, but not all that good If he improves, he's a 3-and-D complimentary guy, but he ain't there yet. If he transferred down after his brother left, I wouldn't be surprised. 

Waiting his turn
Ben Carlson - A highly-rated forward, he looked good last year before a back injury, looked terrible for big chunk of this season, but started to stabilize in the final few games. At worst, he's the backup 4, maybe a backup 5, waiting for Wahl to leave. I don't think he transfers, but wouldn't rule it out. 

Some folks we're waiting on
Carter Gilmore - Became a guy who played because he was a mobile 4, which UW likes, but the utter inability to hit shots drove him from the rotation. I think he peaks as a 7th man, and I'd bet he's more of a 9th. Considered a transfer last year before getting put on scholarship. Not Big Ten good. 
Markus Ilver - Took a functional redshirt. Is a skinny combo forward with a nice shot who showed potential in the preseason. If he becomes a viable player, would be nice. 
Matthew Mors - Thick combo forward who did't look super coming in. Redshirted. I dunno what his deal is. If he transferred, I'd be unsurprised as UW is silly deep with bodies there
Chris Hodges - Sturdy power center with a jumper. If he's a viable backup 5, takes something off the table in terms of transfer needs. 


I'm not counting on him
Lorne Bowman II - Was supposed to be a guard of the future. Has been dealing with what are probably mental health issues. I'm gonna be surprised if he's back. 

Incoming
Connor Essegian - A nice 6-4 shooting wing. I'm a little suspect on that defense, but the jumper looks pure. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a top reserve, but that's just belief that you usually don't recruit guards you don't think could be first off the bench. 

Transfer needs
Secondary ball-handler/shooting guard - The problem is gonna be, a point with dreams of big minutes isn't coming with Hepburn back. So you need someone who can be a backup point and play real minutes next to Chucky
Shooting wing - Just always need those, especially with the Davis/Neath questions
A burly center might be in there if Hodges isn't ready, though if he's not ready, he might transfer. 

UW right now in theory has one opening, assuming Davis leaves. But I'd bet on some attrition. 

[ELA]

Brad Davison - Bee there forever. Gave his all. Better this year than I expected. Off to ether coach or play in Europe

Chris Vogt - He was a transfer as Big Man insurance, and he did that job as well as could be expected.

#1 - Definitely initially read that as he may coach, he may play, but either way, definitely in Europe, and was confused.

#2 - He was the only part of Wisconsin's roster that I thought underachieved.  Granted if the expectation was what you said, then he did that. But I thought he could be a solid rotational piece, which he was not

[bayareabadger]

#1 - Definitely initially read that as he may coach, he may play, but either way, definitely in Europe, and was confused.

#2 - He was the only part of Wisconsin's roster that I thought underachieved.  Granted if the expectation was what you said, then he did that. But I thought he could be a solid rotational piece, which he was not

I wish a third-division Belgian league team just had a fifth assistant spot waiting for Brad.

And Vogt was added because they came into the year with a second-year starting center who is skinny and played 39 minutes last year. Vogt just had to be burley, and if he contributed anything else, it was kinda gravy. He ended up about that for 13 minutes a game. I would've liked him to be able to have a higher ceiling when Crowl struggled, but in the end, Crowl's struggles were more of a "you just need to play better thing."

If someone underachieved, it was the bench guys on the perimeter. None was close to Vogt as a solid rotational piece, which is saying something. 

[NickSmith4Three]

Maybe it'll get buried faster. Hopefully.

Is Illinois losing a lot. I'm honestly not sure.

Illinois will definitely lose Trent Frazier, Damonte Williams and Alfonso Plummer.  Grandison could come back.

Kofi could play his senior season but that seems pretty unlikely.  Can he earn as much from NIL as playing overseas?

Adding apparently some talented recruits and a Baylor bigman transfer.

[847badgerfan]

UW is in an intersting spot. Loses two anchors, but returns three others. Needs a boatload of development or transfers (likely transfers). Also a weird glut of pieces.

Leaving:
Johnny Davis - NBA time
Brad Davison - Bee there forever. Gave his all. Better this year than I expected. Off to ether coach or play in Europe
Chris Vogt - He was a transfer as Big Man insurance, and he did that job as well as could be expected.

Returning possible centerpieces
Chucky Hepburn - Good true point guard, came on late in terms of scoring and creating. I expect to be a top end-of-clock option
Steven Crowl - Struggled late in the season, but he should be good. Averaged 9 PPG as a fourth option. Needs to get stronger
Tyler Wahl - Already one of the best technical posts in the league and an all-defense type player. Looked like trash today, but a nice piece to have back

Some "I don't know what to do with" guys
Jahcobi Neath - A transfer this year who was hurt early and never got right. If he's as good as they hoped, he's a three-position guy who could be you're 4th or 5th starter. This year, he was a wing you were not happy to have to play
Jordan Davis - Highly developmental guy who was better than I expected this year, but not all that good If he improves, he's a 3-and-D complimentary guy, but he ain't there yet. If he transferred down after his brother left, I wouldn't be surprised.

Waiting his turn
Ben Carlson - A highly-rated forward, he looked good last year before a back injury, looked terrible for big chunk of this season, but started to stabilize in the final few games. At worst, he's the backup 4, maybe a backup 5, waiting for Wahl to leave. I don't think he transfers, but wouldn't rule it out.

Some folks we're waiting on
Carter Gilmore - Became a guy who played because he was a mobile 4, which UW likes, but the utter inability to hit shots drove him from the rotation. I think he peaks as a 7th man, and I'd bet he's more of a 9th. Considered a transfer last year before getting put on scholarship. Not Big Ten good.
Markus Ilver - Took a functional redshirt. Is a skinny combo forward with a nice shot who showed potential in the preseason. If he becomes a viable player, would be nice.
Matthew Mors - Thick combo forward who did't look super coming in. Redshirted. I dunno what his deal is. If he transferred, I'd be unsurprised as UW is silly deep with bodies there
Chris Hodges - Sturdy power center with a jumper. If he's a viable backup 5, takes something off the table in terms of transfer needs.


I'm not counting on him
Lorne Bowman II - Was supposed to be a guard of the future. Has been dealing with what are probably mental health issues. I'm gonna be surprised if he's back.

Incoming
Connor Essegian - A nice 6-4 shooting wing. I'm a little suspect on that defense, but the jumper looks pure. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a top reserve, but that's just belief that you usually don't recruit guards you don't think could be first off the bench.

Transfer needs
Secondary ball-handler/shooting guard - The problem is gonna be, a point with dreams of big minutes isn't coming with Hepburn back. So you need someone who can be a backup point and play real minutes next to Chucky
Shooting wing - Just always need those, especially with the Davis/Neath questions
A burly center might be in there if Hodges isn't ready, though if he's not ready, he might transfer.

UW right now in theory has one opening, assuming Davis leaves. But I'd bet on some attrition.

Coach is optimistic on Lorne bowman coming back.



I'm optimistic with Jordan Davis. Saw some signs this year, including yesterday.

Johnny is gone. Hopefully he can get healthy now, with that ankle, so he shows out for workouts.

I've read some good things on Mors and Ilver. Both have added weight and good muscle.

Gilmore needs to go play at UWGB or something. He's not a power league player.

[847badgerfan]

[bayareabadger]

Coach is optimistic on Lorne bowman coming back.



I'm optimistic with Jordan Davis. Saw some signs this year, including yesterday.

Johnny is gone. Hopefully he can get healthy now, with that ankle, so he shows out for workouts.

I've read some good things on Mors and Ilver. Both have added weight and good muscle.

Gilmore needs to go play at UWGB or something. He's not a power league player.

It's good he's in a good place. 

Until he's playing consistent rotation minutes and thriving at UW, I'm counting him as the same as Gilmore. Anything he provides above nothing is a bonus. 

Right now, they just need to hit the portal for some guards. I hope Davis can lock in some consistency. They'll try to recruit over him, but he could also raise his level to make that moot. 

[bayareabadger]

Wisconsin loses a transfer, Matt More. 

Thick power forward type who seemed to maybe have small forward mobility. Took a redshirt, was reportedly homesick. Badgers are committed at that power forward spot (though the quality behind the starter is suspect).

UW also needs another guard and 1-2 functional wings, at least, so this won't be the last portal action for them this season.