@whvalpo I totally am not OK with this. Powell needs to bag some of the underperformers and those not fully committed for program success. This team in 23-24 was green but the talent level was well below par. Valpo needs a serious talent upgrade.
@whvalpo I totally am not OK with this. Powell needs to bag some of the underperformers and those not fully committed for program success. This team in 23-24 was green but the talent level was well below par. Valpo needs a serious talent upgrade.
I got the impression from Powell's comments throughout the season that there will be players asked to transfer at the end of the season. I don't feel like looking for the quote but even before the season started I remember him saying something along the lines of "these guys have to prove themselves and if they can't prove it then we'll have to go a different direction and bring in guys that will prove themselves". I would have to imagine this applies to a few guys this season. It was in the context of him saying he only got a short time to recruit so he had to scramble to get guys on the roster.
Either way, we will enter the year with the reigning conference Freshman of the Year, Stafford-a 15ppg scorer who hopefully will be able to play a more complimentary role, and a freshman in Justus McNair who will likely be considered a pre-season contender for conference Freshman of the Year. We will also be "adding" Lual Manyang, a top 30 center recruit 2 years ago and Lucas Scroggins, who Powell himself has said he's very high on. So before adding a transfer, we already have "added" three very talented players next year. Granted, they will all essentially be freshmen. That is why it is still important to add a scoring guard or two and maybe a center (depending on their confidence in Manyang's health).
Great shooter, started most games for Wisconsin last year, his freshman year, do not know why he didn't get more p t this year also I believe he was hurt for a spell. good size for a shooting guard...I think about 6'4''
It is still fairly early in the portal as well. Most guys do not typically sign until after MM is over. With how Powell played out as the recruiter for the Zags. I am confident he will get us a few pieces. Next is is "our year" as there is a major turnover in the valley going on. A lot of Valley personell could also be waiting for Shertz's decision and try to snag a few pieces from ISU in the fallout
We know we have at least 2 scholarships available for transfers, and so far we have made 1 offer. That tells me Powell might be targeting some guys that maybe have not yet entered the transfer portal that he knows will enter when their season is over. Not only is the NCAAT still happening, but so is the NIT, CBI etc
Assuming Tucker Devries moves on with the coach, the Drake exodus includes all their top scorers. Wright and Overton have announced for the portal. Brodie and Gibson graduate. These five players averaged a total of 62 points this year.
It would seem that Roger has had ample time to hold 1-on-1 discussions with this year’s players, yet no one has entered the portal to my knowledge. With 3 scholarship players leaving and 1 new freshman coming in, that would leave 2 vacancies. I’m good with that. Adding multiple players out of the portal is an annual crapshoot that doesn’t add much value and can’t be sustained from 1 year to the next. Building from the bottom up and adding where necessary is the only way to a stable program.
If, based on the above, Powell brings in a guard...as offered...and some other player even if it is the aforementioned big, we need to start wondering about Coach Powell. This can't be the plan.
You can’t bring in first and second year teenagers and run them off after 1 season because they didn’t instantly produce. That’s a formula for recruiting disaster, especially with a coach that preaches love and family. He has 2 open scholarships. If he can find a couple of MVC-ready contributors along with our older, more experienced core, we could make a move to the middle of the pack. Rinse and repeat in year 3, and we might become a serious contender, which would be an amazing rise from the ashes.
Okay, who had Charles Small entering the portal? 
It would seem that Roger has had ample time to hold 1-on-1 discussions with this year’s players, yet no one has entered the portal to my knowledge. With 3 scholarship players leaving and 1 new freshman coming in, that would leave 2 vacancies. I’m good with that. Adding multiple players out of the portal is an annual crapshoot that doesn’t add much value and can’t be sustained from 1 year to the next. Building from the bottom up and adding where necessary is the only way to a stable program.
If, based on the above, Powell brings in a guard...as offered...and some other player even if it is the aforementioned big, we need to start wondering about Coach Powell. This can't be the plan.
You can’t bring in first and second year teenagers and run them off after 1 season because they didn’t instantly produce. That’s a formula for recruiting disaster, especially with a coach that preaches love and family. He has 2 open scholarships. If he can find a couple of MVC-ready contributors along with our older, more experienced core, we could make a move to the middle of the pack. Rinse and repeat in year 3, and we might become a serious contender, which would be an amazing rise from the ashes.
He also can't hang on to dead weight and expect much improvement. The roster had 4 players on it last year. Opening up a further spot or two to bring in a player or two with some balls underneath isn't going to set the program back at all. In fact it would probably help overall.
Assuming Tucker Devries moves on with the coach, the Drake exodus includes all their top scorers. Wright and Overton have announced for the portal. Brodie and Gibson graduate. These five players averaged a total of 62 points this year.
Add Conor Enright: that makes an average of 69 points gone along with the head coach..
The off season roster construction is more exciting than our last season.
Oh wow, Cade Tyson (Belmont) is also now in the portal
It is beginning to look like most programs in the conference are going to get familiar with the red button Valpo pressed last year:
