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Topic: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Topic: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 12:32:56 PM

With the announcement of Dior Conners, wanted to get folks' thoughts on where the roster stands. Here's what I have:

Guards:
Pavs
Conners
Sheldon
Elliott
Burris
Kelly

Wings:
Mosley
Fisher

Bigs:
Hadaway
Simmons
Breath
Kuany
Evans

Are both Boals and Estis back, as well? Thought I saw Estis in the portal, so maybe we have another slot?

Cats5
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 12:36:59 PM

Estis is portaling

GoCats105
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 12:42:32 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

I'd put Kelly more in the Wing category than a guard. He's going to be flying up and down the court and probably not handling the ball much.

Option 1
G - Pavs
G - E2
G - Conners
F - Hadaway
F - Simmons

Option 2 (I'm really intrigued in what this lineup could give us. Not the best shooting line, but this hopefully gives us an incredible advantage in the paint and on the boards).
G - Pavs
G - E2
F - Hadaway
F - Breath
F - Simmons

Bare minimum Pavs, E2, Simmons and Hadaway get 30 minutes a game. Breath and Conners 20+. The rest will be tougher to figure out.

shabamon
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 1:36:18 PM

I see a core rotation of six between Pav, Elliott, Conners, Hadaway, Simmons, and Breath. These are each 25+ minute guys on a normal night. The sure things are Pav and Simmons. Judging by Simmons' comments in the press about playing the 4 vs 5, if we want to do right by those wishes and retain him for senior year, then Breath is also starting.

Ultimately I view Conners as a specialist whereas Hadaway and Elliott give us the potential for a more well-rounded impact. I think I like a starting lineup of Pav, Elliott, Hadaway, Simmons, and Breath. That lineup is going to rebound, attack the rim, and at least in MAC play and against peer mid majors get to foul line. Question there is the outside shooting where Elliott and Pav have not proven to be high volume shooters at this level, Hadaway has his ups and downs, and it's not part of Simmons' and Breath's games at all.

Where it gets interesting is you probably need at least two of the Evans, Burris, Kuany, Fisher, Kelly, Mosley group to be ready to go. Maybe even three if Sheldon's shooting hasn't returned.

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 1:37:57 PM

Not sure how the lineups shake out, but it's great to have a number of different combinations to put together.

All said, I give Boals and staff an A for this portal season. Some might not like it, but our big 3 is Pavs, Simmons, and Hadaway. While different styles, the last time we ran the team through our PG, a stretch forward, and a post player we advanced to the Round of 32.

Not saying that's the projected outcome or comparing Pavs/Simmons/Hadaway to JP/BVP/DW3, but this roster build feels more like our identity and brand of basketball than the previous two seasons have. For that, I'm excited.

Last Edited: 4/21/2025 1:40:36 PM by FJC31

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 1:46:46 PM

shabamon wrote:

Where it gets interesting is you probably need at least two of the Evans, Burris, Kuany, Fisher, Kelly, Mosley group to be ready to go. Maybe even three if Sheldon's shooting hasn't returned.

Really need Sheldon's shooting to return. He and Connors would be a nice pairing and help with spacing overall.

I'd like to think odds are in favor of someone (hopefully two) emerging from that second wave and contributes meaningful minutes.

Last Edited: 4/21/2025 1:49:53 PM by FJC31

Jeff McKinney
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 3:28:22 PM

FJC31 wrote:

Agree that Ohio's staff deserves high marks for this year's portal acquisitions.

M.D.W.S.T
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 3:45:16 PM

FJC31 wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Where it gets interesting is you probably need at least two of the Evans, Burris, Kuany, Fisher, Kelly, Mosley group to be ready to go. Maybe even three if Sheldon's shooting hasn't returned.

Hopefully Burris is ready to get buckets.

His size could be lethal off the bench.

I feel like many assume he's just a practice body, but we're only a year removed from him being 1st team all-state in D1. I've got high hopes for him.

100%Cat
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 3:51:23 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

FJC31 wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Where it gets interesting is you probably need at least two of the Evans, Burris, Kuany, Fisher, Kelly, Mosley group to be ready to go. Maybe even three if Sheldon's shooting hasn't returned.

I've mentioned it here before, a good friend of mine (knows the game well, he tried to walk on here during the O'Shea era) saw Burris play a lot in HS. He told me he's got some real skill and he was honestly surprised Ohio was able to get him. We'll see how he translates to this level but I've heard a lot of really good things.

Last Edited: 4/21/2025 3:53:41 PM by 100%Cat

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/21/2025 3:55:32 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

FJC31 wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Where it gets interesting is you probably need at least two of the Evans, Burris, Kuany, Fisher, Kelly, Mosley group to be ready to go. Maybe even three if Sheldon's shooting hasn't returned.

I haven't seen enough of Burris, but I know you're high on him. Would be great to have a trio of 3PT shooters in the rotation.

GraffZ06
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/22/2025 7:26:13 PM

Guards:
Pavs - PG (Not a shooter)
Conners - SG
Sheldon - PG
Fisher -SG
Elliott - man without a position. Too small to be a SF ideally. Not a good enough shooter to be a SG. Stuck behind boy wonder at PG.

Wings:
Mosley - plays more like an undersized 4
Burris - SG in a SF body
Kelly - high flying uber athlete

Bigs:
Hadaway - PF
Simmons - PF
Breath - C
Kuany - PF/C
Evans - C

Ball handlers are Pavs,Sheldon and Elliott but two of those guys are likely coming off the bench.

You just can't have a backcourt of Pavs and Elliott. This isn't 1954. Those guys would combine for 30 3s on the season. Absolutely have to have somebody, anybody that can shoot.

3pt shooters are Sheldon (too small to pair with Pavs), Conners, Fisher and Burris. What one of the new guys steps up? Probably Conners initially due to his experience but my $ is on Fisher as the best pure shooter of the group.

Wings we have options. Elliott proved he could do it last year. Burris is going to surprise people. JJ Kelly could be MAC Frosh of Year if he puts it all together.

Power Forward? I have no idea how we reconcile the Hadaway/Simmons thing here. Neither can play the 3. Simmons doesn't want to play the 5. Hadaway plays better D. Simmons a better scorer and rebounder. Neither shoots the 3 well, so forget the "stretch 4" concept. Neither guy is going to appreciate coming off the bench. They could compliment each other but now you're sharing time with 2 of our top 3 players. I dunno.

Posy? Probably Breath's minutes for the taking with whomever between Kuany and Evans improves most getting backup minutes.

I see a team that traded shooting for post scorers and rebounding. I see a team that still will rely on its offense and will struggle with defense. I see a "meh" roster with a couple exceptions who could surprise and change the outcome.

Saturday night in Cleveland or bust.

Oh and if you wanted my ideal lineup that will never happen

PG - Elliott
SG - Conners/Fisher
SF - Kelly
PF - Hadaway
C - Simmons

Last Edited: 4/22/2025 7:29:10 PM by GraffZ06

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/22/2025 8:49:57 PM

GraffZ06 wrote:

You just can't have a backcourt of Pavs and Elliott. This isn't 1954. Those guys would combine for 30 3s on the season. Absolutely have to have somebody, anybody that can shoot.

3pt shooters are Sheldon (too small to pair with Pavs), Conners, Fisher and Burris. What one of the new guys steps up? Probably Conners initially due to his experience but my $ is on Fisher as the best pure shooter of the group.

Pavs is a career 37% 3 point shooter on 214 attempts. Sheldon is a career 36% 3 point shooter on 207 attempts. I think both have a pretty good chance to improve back to their pre-last season rates.

bobcatsquared
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/22/2025 9:27:01 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Pavs is a career 37% 3 point shooter on 214 attempts. Sheldon is a career 36% 3 point shooter on 207 attempts. I think both have a pretty good chance to improve back to their pre-last season rates.

And if their 3-pt shooting doesn't improve?

I like what Pav provided for the team outside of what we saw from outside the arc last year. Sheldon? Not so much.

OUs LONG Driver
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/22/2025 9:32:28 PM

GraffZ06 wrote:

I'm not sure why you want to continue repeating the idea that Pavs can't shoot. Since your preferred shooter is Ajay here's the career stat comparisons.

Career From 3...
JP 80/214 - 37.4%. Has 2 years over 39.3%
AS 74/207 - 35.7%. Has 2 years under 30.4%

Career overall FG
JP 367/746 - 49.2%
AS 121/293 - 41.3%

Career FT
JP 237/296 for 80.1%
AS 40/66 for 60.6%

I'm sure Elliott and the staff are working on his outside shooting this Summer. His percentage is actually quite good, he just needs the confidence to take more. I expect him to take that big jump next year.

Hadaway made roughly 1/3 of his 3's each of the last two years. That's OK, and enough to bring guys out. He's not a knockdown shooter and doesn't need to be, just enough of a threat to keep the D honest.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 8:22:44 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

Why is EE being dismissed as a non-shooter? I think he could develop into a lethal outside shooter. He was 39% his freshman year, and better towards the end of the season. He did not shoot it much in this offense but with no Clayton & Brown, I think that changes. I am cautiously optimistic EE will be a key shooter for us.

And Pav will continue to pick his spots.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 8:33:37 AM

bobcatsquared wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Pavs is a career 37% 3 point shooter on 214 attempts. Sheldon is a career 36% 3 point shooter on 207 attempts. I think both have a pretty good chance to improve back to their pre-last season rates.

And if their 3-pt shooting doesn't improve?

I like what Pav provided for the team outside of what we saw from outside the arc last year. Sheldon? Not so much.

I suspect this is why Connors was added into the mix.

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 8:49:18 AM

I'm surprised there's a concern over 3PT shooting serving as our potential downfall next season. We were 75th and 93rd in 3PT% over the last two years with nothing to show for it as a team, while completely bottoming out this past season.

Our biggest issue (size) has been resolved in the form of an offensive big and well-rounded big to pair with Hadaway. I can't be the only one who's excited to not get pummeled inside and grossly outrebounded.

Breath had the best defensive rating last season in the SoCon while being a rebounding machine who can score if needed. I feel like he's being undervalued.

Are we sure Elliot can't develop into a shooter? Small sample size at only 28 attempts, but he hit 39% of those. Between Connors, potential bounce backs from Pavs/Sheldon, Burris, and our incoming guards/wings, on an organically trigger happy team from 3, I feel like this will sort itself out.

More importantly, we no longer have to live and die by the 3 because we actually have an inside game for the first time in 3 years.

GraffZ06
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 9:50:21 AM

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

GraffZ06 wrote:

Those are the career stats. Then look at Pavs stats since transferring from Wofford.

He's made 34 3's in 65 games.

The percentages aren't horrible (34-97 for 35.0%) but they aren't great either. And it took him making a handful late in the season last year to crawl above 30%.

It's just not his game. Since he's undersized and shoots an almost set shot with a slow release, that's okay. Know your limitations.

Sheldon on the other hand has tremendous form. Gets his shot off quick. He also struggles with being undersized and I think that's why sometimes he fades on his shots and that's when he starts missing (saw it a ton last year). But when he's on hes deadly.

Which guy shows up next year? The 46% shooter from his Soph year that was tops in MAC and country or the 28% guy from last year? If the former he's our best shooter. If the latter he's not getting minutes.

Last Edited: 4/23/2025 9:52:02 AM by GraffZ06

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:19:16 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

His 3PA rate at both Wofford and Iowa State are pretty high, actually. In fact, a higher percentage of his shots were threes at Iowa State than at Wofford (38% vs. 34%). He just played a lot less.

It wasn't until this past year that the rate declined, but that may well have been because he was in a shooting slump. He adapted his game and was the best player on the team finishing at the rim.

GraffZ06 wrote:

Sheldon on the other hand has tremendous form. Gets his shot off quick. He also struggles with being undersized and I think that's why sometimes he fades on his shots and that's when he starts missing (saw it a ton last year). But when he's on hes deadly.

Sheldon's legs are an absolute mess. His form last year was noticeably bad. I don't think you'll find a ton of shooting coaches out there that are telling people to kick their legs forward on release.

GoCats105
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:26:25 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

Oh and if you wanted my ideal lineup that will never happen

PG - Elliott
SG - Conners/Fisher
SF - Kelly
PF - Hadaway
C - Simmons

I'm surprised 31 and BLSS glossed over this part, but LMAO. You're willingness to start not one, but possibly two freshman ahead of Pavs is absolutely hilarious. It's trolling at this point, right? You can't be that shortsighted.

FJC31
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:27:50 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

GraffZ06 wrote:

Collectively, we shot just under 36% from 3 in each of the last two seasons. I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say we've traded shooting for rebounding/inside scoring.

Especially when looking at the career numbers of Sheldon and Pavs, in addition to Connors incoming. The latter would have been in line with Reef for highest % this past season with double the makes and attempts.

OUs LONG Driver
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:28:52 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

GraffZ06 wrote:

I think the difference is what he was asked to do, rather than his ability to do it. He took and made a ton of 3's at Wofford and they use 10' rims there too. His percentage was the same at Iowa St as Wofford, on far less attempts/minutes so to me that's proving he's consistent. A down year last year to 32.3% but saying he crawled over the mark late also isn't accurate from what I see. I haven't seen the game by game evolution of his % but he had a 3/3 game in March and also one in December. The rest of the year is a lot of 0-1, 1-2, 0-2. Fair to say that's disappointing and hope for better next year.

Sheldon had an incredible year his sophomore year but struggled his Freshman year in limited minutes and last year was abysmal. The ability is clearly there, but appeared mental more than anything (see Roderick from 3, Baltic from Line). I'd love to see less leg flailing and leaning though. I'd bet he has a 35-40% year next year. We need that.

Anyways, I'm rooting for both to be great in the coming season.

MonroeClassmate
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:30:36 AM

GraffZ06:"You just can't have a backcourt of Pavs and Elliott. This isn't 1954. Those guys would combine for 30 3s on the season. Absolutely have to have somebody, anybody that can shoot."

The Spartans of Michigan State did pretty well in 2025 with their top 3 point shooter in volume at 58-198 for 29%. They did have another at 47 of 114 for 41% but overall the team shot 31% from downtown.

Adding two new big bangers to the roster and a healthy Hadaway could transform the Bobcat offense into a MAC powerhouse in the paint. Pavs once again shooting 32% from the three and Elliott and Conners hitting at their career percentages should be enough to keep teams from plugging the paint.

The key to 2025-26 is two-fold, top notch defense/rebounding AND passes to bigs. No need to be a juggernaut from beyond the arc.

GraffZ06
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:32:15 AM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

He adapted his game and was the best player on the team finishing at the rim.

One of these days when I have a couple free hours to dive into the data I'd love to debunk this statement. Alas, until then I'll let it stand :).

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

I don't think you'll find a ton of shooting coaches out there that are telling people to kick their legs forward on release.

Hah nope, definitely not. His top half is fine though. It's definitely his legs that give him problems.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2025 - 2026 Roster & Rotation

Posted: 4/23/2025 10:35:39 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

He adapted his game and was the best player on the team finishing at the rim.

One of these days when I have a couple free hours to dive into the data I'd love to debunk this statement. Alas, until then I'll let it stand :).

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

I don't think you'll find a ton of shooting coaches out there that are telling people to kick their legs forward on release.

Hah nope, definitely not. His top half is fine though. It's definitely his legs that give him problems.

I don't think you're gonna be able to debunk the data, man. I already shared the shot chart data and compared it to the entire team when you stated prior that Pavs never got to the rim and scored mostly from mid-range.

The numbers just don't match your observations about his game in a lot of ways.

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