2024-25 Expectations for Shocker Basketball – “Summertime Edition”

[Kung Wu]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9LHi...Z1ZXl0cHFzeDRx

Damn! I wanna play for Acy!!

[WuShock Reaper]

Transfer Portal Winners: Top 55 Improved College Basketball Teams -
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/transfer-portal-winners-top-55-improved-college-basketball-teams/ss-AA1nFlmh?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=b60f02893b6543 ac95c70890f66e94d5&ei=16
Story by David Connelly
08/08/24, 9:00am cst

NON-CONFERENCE
10. Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12)
Top Acquisitions: Coleman Hawkins (Illinois), Achor Achor (Samford), Dug McDaniel (Michigan)

The Wildcats had put together a solid transfer class heading into the summer, but the late commitments of Samford's Achor Achor and Illinois's Coleman Hawkins helped put group over the top. Achor provides a proven scorer that showed his abilities on the biggest stage with a 22-point, eight-rebound performance against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Hawkins has the size, versatility, and overall experience to be a do-it-all leader for this team. And Dug McDaniel is a strong three-level scorer that will provide some dynamism out of the backcourt. Jerome Tang has done well to gather some talent in the offseason, and it's time for Kansas State to make a return to the Big Dance.

46. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ACC)
Top Acquisitions: Omaha Biliew (Iowa State), Ty-Laur Johnson (Louisville), Davin Cosby (Alabama)

Steve Forbes takes the path of "one man's trash is another man's treasure" with his incoming transfer class. All three of his top incoming transfers are players who underperformed at their previous locations despite boasting loads of talent before the collegiate ranks. Biliew, a McDonald's All-American and five-star recruit out of high school, found himself buried behind Iowa State's elite rotation and frontcourt all season long. While Johnson showed off his skillset, he was doing so with the dumpster fire that was Louisville as his backdrop. And Cosby found himself in a similar situation as Biliew, deep onto the depth chart of a Crimson Tide team that reached a Final Four. All still have three years of eligibility remaining. Can you say future?

49. Saint Louis Billikens (Atlantic 10)
Top Acquisitions: Robbie Avila (Indiana State), Isaiah Swope (Indiana State), Kobe Johnson (West Virginia)

The Billikens landed our golden goose of the transfer portal in Robbie Avila, who has chosen to follow former Indiana State head coach Josh Schertz to his new destination at Saint Louis for the upcoming season. As did Isaiah Swope, giving the team a high-low duo that already has an entire season together under their belts. Kobe Johnson also joins as a Power 6 starter from West Virginia, who provides a high-floor, low-ceiling veteran who has the experience at the next level to perhaps contribute meaningfully here.


CONFERENCE
7. Memphis Tigers (AAC)
Top Acquisitions: PJ Haggerty (Tulsa), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dain Dainja (Illinois)

It's a make-or-break season for Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway. While he has done a phenomenal job recruiting high-end talent to the program since taking the job, it's all amounted to just one NCAA Tournament win across six seasons. He's found a way to do it again this offseason through the transfer portal, bringing in a few impact pieces before we have even reached the month of May. Haggerty is one of the most underrated scorers in the country, averaging 21.2 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor in just his freshman season with Tulsa. Hunter will enter the fold as a three-time double-digit scorer in the Big 12 with over 100 games of Division I experience and a true knack for the point guard position. Dainja rounds out this grouping from Illinois, a brute big man who was squeezed out of the Illini rotation due to contrasts in playstyle. The talent here is great, but it's up to Penny to find success with these puzzle pieces and make them fight enough to succeed in what should be their title to lose in the AAC.

41. Florida Atlantic (AAC)
Top Acquisitions: KyKy Tandy (Jacksonville State), Baba Miller (Florida State), Kaleb Glenn (Louisville)

While Tandy joins FAU by way of Jacksonville State, his name will sound familiar to many from his four years at Xavier. He's got loads of experience at the higher level and should translate just fine. Miller remains raw, and his development will be crucial heading into his junior season. Add Kaleb Glenn, a top-100 high school recruit entering his sophomore season, and it's easy to see how high the ceiling is for this group.

[WstateU]

Can we check to see if Coach Q might have some eligibility left.

I really hope he likes it here and we take good care of him… I believe he and coach Mills go way back, so that’s good.

[Aargh]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9LHi...Z1ZXl0cHFzeDRx

He's got them laughing while he's teaching and literally showing them what happens if they make a nistake in execution. There's a lot to be said for practicing against a former NBA player who can still play above the rim.

Our other Q, Ballard, might be set for a breakout year. Someone posted Ballard's HS highlight videos. He was looking good shooting and making shots from out to about 10'. Somewhere along the line some coach broke his confidence. If he gets that back and can shoot from out to 10' or 12', he could be a MAJOR force on both ends of the court.Now we have coach Q spending a summer with Meeks.

Front court could be a significant asset this year.

[Kung Wu]

Someone posted Ballard's HS highlight videos. He was looking good shooting and making shots from out to about 10'. Somewhere along the line some coach broke his confidence. If he gets that back and can shoot from out to 10' or 12', he could be a MAJOR force on both ends of the court.Now we have coach Q spending a summer with Meeks.

He's already a major force that couldn't be stopped at the rim to the tune of 70%+ shooting. If the other teams can't stop him from shooting 70% gimme's why would you want him taking 50% jumpers instead? And that shooting percentage isn't a fluke -- he did the same thing as a freshman at FSU before he got injured.

The only reason he didn't average 12+ pts per game was because he had to share time with Pohto and got only 22 mpg. He would have been 1st team all conference had he not had to share with Pohto.

I just don't see why we would encourage him to take riskier, lower percentage shots when the gimmes are working.

If you want to make him ELITE, help him make free throws. LOL

[ShockTalk]

Transfer Portal Winners: Top 55 Improved College Basketball Teams -
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/transfer-portal-winners-top-55-improved-college-basketball-teams/ss-AA1nFlmh?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=b60f02893b6543 ac95c70890f66e94d5&ei=16
Story by David Connelly
08/08/24, 9:00am cst

NON-CONFERENCE
10. Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12)
Top Acquisitions: Coleman Hawkins (Illinois), Achor Achor (Samford), Dug McDaniel (Michigan)

The Wildcats had put together a solid transfer class heading into the summer, but the late commitments of Samford's Achor Achor and Illinois's Coleman Hawkins helped put group over the top. Achor provides a proven scorer that showed his abilities on the biggest stage with a 22-point, eight-rebound performance against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Hawkins has the size, versatility, and overall experience to be a do-it-all leader for this team. And Dug McDaniel is a strong three-level scorer that will provide some dynamism out of the backcourt. Jerome Tang has done well to gather some talent in the offseason, and it's time for Kansas State to make a return to the Big Dance.

46. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ACC)
Top Acquisitions: Omaha Biliew (Iowa State), Ty-Laur Johnson (Louisville), Davin Cosby (Alabama)

Steve Forbes takes the path of "one man's trash is another man's treasure" with his incoming transfer class. All three of his top incoming transfers are players who underperformed at their previous locations despite boasting loads of talent before the collegiate ranks. Biliew, a McDonald's All-American and five-star recruit out of high school, found himself buried behind Iowa State's elite rotation and frontcourt all season long. While Johnson showed off his skillset, he was doing so with the dumpster fire that was Louisville as his backdrop. And Cosby found himself in a similar situation as Biliew, deep onto the depth chart of a Crimson Tide team that reached a Final Four. All still have three years of eligibility remaining. Can you say future?

49. Saint Louis Billikens (Atlantic 10)
Top Acquisitions: Robbie Avila (Indiana State), Isaiah Swope (Indiana State), Kobe Johnson (West Virginia)

The Billikens landed our golden goose of the transfer portal in Robbie Avila, who has chosen to follow former Indiana State head coach Josh Schertz to his new destination at Saint Louis for the upcoming season. As did Isaiah Swope, giving the team a high-low duo that already has an entire season together under their belts. Kobe Johnson also joins as a Power 6 starter from West Virginia, who provides a high-floor, low-ceiling veteran who has the experience at the next level to perhaps contribute meaningfully here.


CONFERENCE
7. Memphis Tigers (AAC)
Top Acquisitions: PJ Haggerty (Tulsa), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dain Dainja (Illinois)

It's a make-or-break season for Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway. While he has done a phenomenal job recruiting high-end talent to the program since taking the job, it's all amounted to just one NCAA Tournament win across six seasons. He's found a way to do it again this offseason through the transfer portal, bringing in a few impact pieces before we have even reached the month of May. Haggerty is one of the most underrated scorers in the country, averaging 21.2 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor in just his freshman season with Tulsa. Hunter will enter the fold as a three-time double-digit scorer in the Big 12 with over 100 games of Division I experience and a true knack for the point guard position. Dainja rounds out this grouping from Illinois, a brute big man who was squeezed out of the Illini rotation due to contrasts in playstyle. The talent here is great, but it's up to Penny to find success with these puzzle pieces and make them fight enough to succeed in what should be their title to lose in the AAC.

41. Florida Atlantic (AAC)
Top Acquisitions: KyKy Tandy (Jacksonville State), Baba Miller (Florida State), Kaleb Glenn (Louisville)

While Tandy joins FAU by way of Jacksonville State, his name will sound familiar to many from his four years at Xavier. He's got loads of experience at the higher level and should translate just fine. Miller remains raw, and his development will be crucial heading into his junior season. Add Kaleb Glenn, a top-100 high school recruit entering his sophomore season, and it's easy to see how high the ceiling is for this group.

Title: Transfer Portal Winners: Top 55 Improved College Basketball Teams or is it just more like the Top 55 Transfer Portal Winners?

What level of improvement from last year that I'm hoping for when compared to where we finished last year will hopefully be "greater" than a number of these schools will achieve.

[WuShock Reaper]

When the AAC Conference Parings (18-Game Schedule) are announced later this month, I am hoping we get the following:

Home & Away
Florida Atlantic
Memphis
South Florida
North Texas
Tulsa (here because of rivalry factor)
UAB

Away Only
Rice
Temple
UTSA

Home Only
Charlotte
East Carolina
Tulane

If we get the Home & Away teams as above, that will give us some positive direction on where the Conference thinks we are likely to finish for the season.

[ShockHat]

To me, this is nowhere near Memphis’s best roster and they’ve had one tourney win out of 6 years. Embarrassing. I know we got them on the game that mattered last year, but would really like to shove it up their ass this year.

[forevershockerfan]

A big write up for underachieving Memphis and no mention of Colby Rogers.

[Dan]

To me, this is nowhere near Memphis’s best roster and they’ve had one tourney win out of 6 years. Embarrassing. I know we got them on the game that mattered last year, but would really like to shove it up their ass this year.

No mention of Cisse either and he’s an elite shot blocker. They have players, but how will they play together? Haggerty likes to be the ball dominant guy but they brought in another elite PG, so not sure how that’s gonna work for everyone. Rogers will be planted in the corner, not a role he will relish, I’m sure.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

To me, this is nowhere near Memphis’s best roster and they’ve had one tourney win out of 6 years. Embarrassing. I know we got them on the game that mattered last year, but would really like to shove it up their ass this year.

I always thought the 2022 team with Duren, Williams, Quinones, Landers Nolley II, etc. was their best team, even if they lost 11 games that year. Finished the season 17th in Bart Torvik and pushed #1 seed Gonzaga to the limit in the round of 32.

[BAShocker]

If you get a chance, catch Mills’s interview on Sports Daily today. He mentioned they would be stupid (paraphrasing) if they didn’t play Pipkin. Also mentioned Williams had been out this summer with an injury.

[WstateU]

If you get a chance, catch Mills’s interview on Sports Daily today. He mentioned they would be stupid (paraphrasing) if they didn’t play Pipkin. Also mentioned Williams had been out this summer with an injury.

Guess, we’ll have to listen later…

[ShockHat]

If you get a chance, catch Mills’s interview on Sports Daily today. He mentioned they would be stupid (paraphrasing) if they didn’t play Pipkin. Also mentioned Williams had been out this summer with an injury.

Maybe Williams takes a redshirt then? But is Pipkin really supposed to be *that* good? It’s been a long time since we’ve had a freshman who could deliver much of an impact it feels like.

[Kung Wu]

Maybe Williams takes a redshirt then? But is Pipkin really supposed to be *that* good? It’s been a long time since we’ve had a freshman who could deliver much of an impact it feels like.

IMO, PGs with BBIQ are a different animal than all other positions and can make an impact by year end if given enough game time throughout the season.