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Topic: Portal 2025
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Bobcat1998
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Posted: 4/7/2025 2:22 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
If we are in the business of poaching in-conference, give me Potter or Felt from BG. I think the remaining scholarship should fit one of the following profiles:

1) A 6'9''+ big who is rotation ready

2) An upperclassmen jack of all trades wing with real wing size. Sean Moore at UNCW would be a fit.
I agree with this. I would like to think that 2 of Fisher, Kelly or Mosley are ready to play next year. Fisher being the least physically gifted in terms of strength. Kelly looks like he will be ready from Day 1 as a 3-4 type of guy which would tell me we would have a lineup like this:
PG: Pavs
SG: Elliott
SF: AJB
PF: Hadaway
C: Simmons

PG: Sheldon
SG: Burris/Fisher
SF: Kelly
PF: Kuany/Mosley
C: Evans

I think Kelly and Evans will be ready to go for rotational minutes but I'd still like a 6-7 to 6-9 guy who can give us 15 minutes if need be. Vic played his heart out this year but there was no reason he should have been having to play as much as he did when AJC was out.
shabamon
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:07 PM
ANOTHER COMMITMENT

Jalen Breath
6'8'' 225 from UNC Greensboro
Averaged 6.6/7
Out of Oklahoma City
1 year of eligibility left

Name of the game - improve rebounding.
Jonesy1017
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:09 PM
According to Verbal Commits, the Bobcats have also gotten a commitment from 6'8" UNC Greensboro Forward Jalen Breath (https://www.verbalcommits.com/players/jalen-breath ).

Averaged 6.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg last season
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:10 PM
Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more
According to Verbal Commits, the Bobcats have also gotten a commitment from 6'8" UNC Greensboro Forward Jalen Breath (https://www.verbalcommits.com/players/jalen-breath ).

Averaged 6.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg last season
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! These are the exact stats we wanted. We need a guy who will be rotational and not need a ton of shots and go get the ball! Nicely done Jeff Boals--nicely done!
Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:14 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
ANOTHER COMMITMENT

Jalen Breath
6'8'' 225 from UNC Greensboro
Averaged 6.6/7
Out of Oklahoma City
1 year of eligibility left

Name of the game - improve rebounding.
Wow. This is our backup center. Rate stats of almost 14 rebounds per 40. A “Breath” of fresh air 😉

Incredible Monday for Boals and Co.
Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:22 PM
Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more
If we are in the business of poaching in-conference, give me Potter or Felt from BG. I think the remaining scholarship should fit one of the following profiles:

1) A 6'9''+ big who is rotation ready

2) An upperclassmen jack of all trades wing with real wing size. Sean Moore at UNCW would be a fit.
I agree with this. I would like to think that 2 of Fisher, Kelly or Mosley are ready to play next year. Fisher being the least physically gifted in terms of strength. Kelly looks like he will be ready from Day 1 as a 3-4 type of guy which would tell me we would have a lineup like this:
PG: Pavs
SG: Elliott
SF: AJB
PF: Hadaway
C: Simmons

PG: Sheldon
SG: Burris/Fisher
SF: Kelly
PF: Kuany/Mosley
C: Evans

I think Kelly and Evans will be ready to go for rotational minutes but I'd still like a 6-7 to 6-9 guy who can give us 15 minutes if need be. Vic played his heart out this year but there was no reason he should have been having to play as much as he did when AJC was out.
Agree mostly with this projection, but now with the addition of Breath this slides Evans to the “sparingly used” category. I would expect Breath, Sheldon, and two of the remaining wings/stretch 4s to gobble up most of the playing time.

Also, does this mean we are set for next year’s roster? At 13 schollies now and could add up to 2 more, but unclear whether Boals will do this.
GoCats105
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:25 PM
Bobcat Tattoo wrote:expand_more
ANOTHER COMMITMENT

Jalen Breath
6'8'' 225 from UNC Greensboro
Averaged 6.6/7
Out of Oklahoma City
1 year of eligibility left

Name of the game - improve rebounding.
Wow. This is our backup center. Rate stats of almost 14 rebounds per 40. A “Breath” of fresh air 😉

Incredible Monday for Boals and Co.
I actually don't know how you keep this guy on the bench.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqkVp2xilno
Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 4/7/2025 3:50 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
ANOTHER COMMITMENT

Jalen Breath
6'8'' 225 from UNC Greensboro
Averaged 6.6/7
Out of Oklahoma City
1 year of eligibility left

Name of the game - improve rebounding.
Wow. This is our backup center. Rate stats of almost 14 rebounds per 40. A “Breath” of fresh air 😉

Incredible Monday for Boals and Co.
I actually don't know how you keep this guy on the bench.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqkVp2xilno
He has all the earmarks of a starter for sure, and will probably play 20 minutes a game. I just don’t know who doesn’t start out of Pav, Elliott, AJB, Hadaway, and Simmons. Great problem to have!
FJC31
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:01 PM
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:22 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
Cat in NH
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:23 PM
Both of these guys should be good fits. Whether they start together or not, the potential to move Hadaway to the 3 with these two guys playing gives us so much more flexibility. It will be nice to not feel perpetually undersized against most opponents.
Class of 1994 & 1996
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shabamon
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:30 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
All it means is we didn't want to rely on an underclassmen who scored 80% of his points on garbage time dunks and went a stretch of games without a rebound. And even then, we will make room for Evans if he makes himself usable. It's a big offseason for him. With Hadaway and Breath gone after this year, he'll have another shot to start in 26-27 perhaps alongside Simmons. I really think just getting 20 pounds stronger will do wonders for his production.
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:42 PM
Bobcat Tattoo wrote:expand_more
I just don’t know who doesn’t start out of Pav, Elliott, AJB, Hadaway, and Simmons. Great problem to have!
bring hedaway's energy off the bench. better fit
Last Edited: 4/7/2025 4:43:19 PM by cc-cat
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:46 PM
I'm not sure Boals can have Simmons and Breath on the court at the same time. From watching Simmons the last 2 years and then the youtube highlights of Breath, it looks like they have the same offensive strengths, which is playing around the rim.

On a side note, I like how Breath can go with either hand around the rim.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/7/2025 4:56 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
I could be wrong. I think I'd just be surprised if Breath, a proven starter at a superior conference, would agree to come off the bench (although money talks) in his final season.

But I agree it's exciting to have the ability to play bigger and I'm sure we'll see lineup variations that spread the floor more.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 4/7/2025 9:12 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
Or he saw his two big guys go down and the season fall apart, its CYA time.

I love a line-up moving Hadaway to 3. He doesn't have to (and wont) play 30 minutes there. Most nights I'm sure AJB will slide to 3 and Elliott at the 2, but to have 10-15 mins a night where we go 6'8" across the front is something I thought I'd only see in my dreams.

Evans coming in off the bench - thats 4 guys who can legitimately play the 4 or 5, instead of making 6'3" AJ Brown or Elliott play there.

We just upgraded in a massive way.

We have about 17 shooters and more on the way. Now we have two new guys who REBOUND. Next year should be entirely unrecognizable. And that's great.
oubobcatjohn
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Posted: 4/7/2025 10:20 PM
I see Boals using the trio of Hadaway, Simmons and Breath at the 4/5 spots splitting up 30 30 and 20 minutes. Plenty of minutes for all three inside. The guards spots are likely going to be Pavs 30, AJB 30, Elliott 25, Sheldon 20 and 15 for everybody else. Boals likes to have 7/8 rotation. Expect Sheldon to bounce back and have a key senior season. Being a rotation player for a couple seasons should help Sheldon with a lot more game experience and filling a key backup guard role.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 4/7/2025 10:22 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
I'm not sure Boals can have Simmons and Breath on the court at the same time. From watching Simmons the last 2 years and then the youtube highlights of Breath, it looks like they have the same offensive strengths, which is playing around the rim.

On a side note, I like how Breath can go with either hand around the rim.
I don't know about that. Watching both Florida and Houston and it looks like each has two that do nothing but bang--good passers will find these guys down low when they get open. Let Pavs and ABJ hoist the long balls.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 4/8/2025 9:07 AM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
I'm not sure Boals can have Simmons and Breath on the court at the same time. From watching Simmons the last 2 years and then the youtube highlights of Breath, it looks like they have the same offensive strengths, which is playing around the rim.

On a side note, I like how Breath can go with either hand around the rim.
I don't know about that. Watching both Florida and Houston and it looks like each has two that do nothing but bang--good passers will find these guys down low when they get open. Let Pavs and ABJ hoist the long balls.
And lets not forget, Simmons averages as many assists per game as Reef.

They're gonna be able to move the ball in and out. Truly a threat inside to score or kick. And I love AJC. Love the kid. But he was less than 0 threat inside, if he was even down on the block. There will be nights when we miss his 3 ball, but we should have more than enough to compensate out there. We improved GREATLY inside yesterday.
Last Edited: 4/8/2025 9:11:59 AM by M.D.W.S.T
greencat
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Posted: 4/8/2025 9:25 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
And lets not forget, Simmons averages as many assists per game as Reef.

They're gonna be able to move the ball in and out. Truly a threat inside to score or kick. And I love AJC. Love the kid. But he was less than 0 threat inside, if he was even down on the block. There will be nights when we miss his 3 ball, but we should have more than enough to compensate out there. We improved GREATLY inside yesterday.
+1 (what HE said ^ ^)
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 4/8/2025 10:02 AM
oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more
I see Boals using the trio of Hadaway, Simmons and Breath at the 4/5 spots splitting up 30 30 and 20 minutes. Plenty of minutes for all three inside. The guards spots are likely going to be Pavs 30, AJB 30, Elliott 25, Sheldon 20 and 15 for everybody else. Boals likes to have 7/8 rotation. Expect Sheldon to bounce back and have a key senior season. Being a rotation player for a couple seasons should help Sheldon with a lot more game experience and filling a key backup guard role.
I think JJ Kelly is college-ready. His size and athleticism will be hard to keep off the court.
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 4/8/2025 10:30 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
I could be wrong. I think I'd just be surprised if Breath, a proven starter at a superior conference, would agree to come off the bench (although money talks) in his final season.

But I agree it's exciting to have the ability to play bigger and I'm sure we'll see lineup variations that spread the floor more.
If you look at a guy like Seth Hubbard at Western or Bowen Hardman at Akron--two guys from the portal who agreed to come off the bench--it can be done. Breath may want to expand his game and shoot more 3's which Boals has shown he will let his big men do. Maybe he wants to be in the MAC--either way, it is up to Boals to keep everyone happy with their roles. Breath, Sheldon and Kelly coming off the bench is going to be awesome (if that's how it shakes out. Who knows who else leaves us).
FJC31
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Posted: 4/8/2025 10:39 AM
Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more
Easily the best portal coup by Boals. I don't know how Breath comes off the bench after starting 60 games the last two seasons and this is a kid who had 16 points and 10 rebounds against High Point. Some massive rebounding games too with 17 and 14.

If he's ok with that, then what a team player. To Shabamon's point in the other thread, the SoCon is higher in NET rankings than the MAC.

I really do think we'll see Hadaway slide to the 3 and start alongside Simmons, Breath, AJB, and Pavs.

Regardless, mission accomplished this portal season.
Not wild about what that does to our spacing -- Simmons only had 6 3PA last season and Breath had 0. Hadaway's a below average three point shooter, too.

But honestly, it's exciting to actually have the option to play big and there are plenty of minutes to go around for a 3 man big rotation.

Think these two additions do make it pretty clear that Boals doesn't expect much from Evans this year.
I could be wrong. I think I'd just be surprised if Breath, a proven starter at a superior conference, would agree to come off the bench (although money talks) in his final season.

But I agree it's exciting to have the ability to play bigger and I'm sure we'll see lineup variations that spread the floor more.
If you look at a guy like Seth Hubbard at Western or Bowen Hardman at Akron--two guys from the portal who agreed to come off the bench--it can be done. Breath may want to expand his game and shoot more 3's which Boals has shown he will let his big men do. Maybe he wants to be in the MAC--either way, it is up to Boals to keep everyone happy with their roles. Breath, Sheldon and Kelly coming off the bench is going to be awesome (if that's how it shakes out. Who knows who else leaves us).
Hardman isn't a good comp. He only played in 25 total games in two season at OSU with zero starts. Valid point on Hubbard, however. It'll shake out the way its supposed to, I'm just glad to have actual rebounders on the team and the ability to play bigger if that's what the lineup calls for. Breath has also yet to take a 3PA in his college career, so I'd be surprised to see that next season.
Last Edited: 4/8/2025 10:51:45 AM by FJC31
GoCats105
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Posted: 4/8/2025 6:38 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Brandon Noel of Wright State in the portal. Man what a miss by MAC schools on that kid. Mostly D2 offers out of high school, goes to Wright State and is a starter and double-double machine from day one.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandon-noel...
Committed to Ohio State.
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Posted: 4/8/2025 6:42 PM
Former Ohio recruit Zane Meeks is in the portal. It will be four schools in six years if he finds another landing spot.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/zane-meeks-1...
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