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Holy Man said:
There was once a day when that would be an automatic to us, but not necessarily anymore.
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I'm sure we have more money than those guys, but it did make me wonder...how often does a team like the Gopher staff value a guy at $500K and a "lesser" program like Richmond offers him $600K and the opportunity to be the focal point of the offense, so they pick the smaller school.

I feel good about Matas. I really like what he would add to our team. As a freshman he has so much room to grow and improve here. He brings a physicality and can drive to the hoop and finish as well as drain the 3 (I didn't see any evidence of a mid range game like our guy Cade).

Celiscar fits the mold of an athletic wing we need, and he can maybe shoot. He didn't have a high volume of 3's (24/59 last year) so you always worry that he could have a Langston Reynolds type regression on his 3PT shooting. Reynolds shot 41% from 3PT his junior year but only made 18 total shots, I remember people citing his average as evidence that he was a good shooter. He regressed to 26% this year. Celiscar's release looks a little funky to me and he shot 27% his freshman year.

It is encouraging to hear the Gopher staff has already seen him in person. I again am reminded that they seem to hold their cards close to the vest and even while people on here are worried we don't have any commits, they may be closing the deal with multiple guys.
 

eker0016 said:
Celiscar fits the mold of an athletic wing we need, and he can maybe shoot. He didn't have a high volume of 3's (24/59 last year) so you always worry that he could have a Langston Reynolds type regression on his 3PT shooting. Reynolds shot 41% from 3PT his junior year but only made 18 total shots, I remember people citing his average as evidence that he was a good shooter. He regressed to 26% this year. Celiscar's release looks a little funky to me and he shot 27% his freshman year.

It is encouraging to hear the Gopher staff has already seen him in person. I again am reminded that they seem to hold their cards close to the vest and even while people on here are worried we don't have any commits, they may be closing the deal with multiple guys.
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Celiscar is 79% from the FT line compared to Reynolds 61% prior to coming to Minnesota. I agree that the 3-point sample is small, but I think it's fair to be optimistic about his shooting ability. Plus, we already have an Isaac on the team, so the name confusion possibilities make him a great fit.
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
Celiscar is 79% from the FT line compared to Reynolds 61% prior to coming to Minnesota. I agree that the 3-point sample is small, but I think it's fair to be optimistic about his shooting ability. Plus, we already have an Isaac on the team, so the name confusion possibilities make him a great fit.
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We don't need a flamethrower for the Reynolds replacement. Someone who can keep the defense honest would be MASSIVE in preventing them from collapsing in the lane.

Love that he has two years, too!
 



Scottsdale Gopher said:
Celiscar is 79% from the FT line compared to Reynolds 61% prior to coming to Minnesota. I agree that the 3-point sample is small, but I think it's fair to be optimistic about his shooting ability. Plus, we already have an Isaac on the team, so the name confusion possibilities make him a great fit.
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I love seeing that FT%, that should translate more seamlessly than any other stat coming up a level. Also worth noting he had a 0.47 FTR. Matas Deniusas is at 0.391 FTR (and a 75% FT shooter). I like FTR as a measure of how well a guy can create his own shot or drive (particularly for non-posts).

Cade Tyson (0.558) and Langston Reynolds (0.476) were our highest FTR guys among the Iron 7. In a very small sample size, both Vaihola (2.2) and Willis (0.564) were also good.

In order to get Durkin his open looks we need guys who can create their own shots and kick it out. I like these profiles we are bringing in.
 


My two cents on a guy, take it for what it's worth because I'm not paid to evaluate how guys "transferring up" will translate moving up to a major conference:

I like Isaac Bruns (South Dakota). Saw him play quite a bit in the Summit League. Think he'd be a nice fit for the Gophers. Coming off injury, so perhaps the price will be reasonable?
 



SelectionSunday said:
My two cents on a guy, take it for what it's worth because I'm not paid to evaluate how guys "transferring up" will translate moving up to a major conference:

I like Isaac Bruns (South Dakota). Saw him play quite a bit in the Summit League. Think he'd be a nice fit for the Gophers. Coming off injury, so perhaps the price will be reasonable?
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Selection can be trusted.
 

SelectionSunday said:
My two cents on a guy, take it for what it's worth because I'm not paid to evaluate how guys "transferring up" will translate moving up to a major conference:

I like Isaac Bruns (South Dakota). Saw him play quite a bit in the Summit League. Think he'd be a nice fit for the Gophers. Coming off injury, so perhaps the price will be reasonable?
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concerned about guys coming off injury. didn't work so well the past season. can't afford to take up roster spots with guys who can't contribute
 





leib0039 said:

Looks like we are in need of another guard
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Sucks, because I think this guy had so much potential coming in, and I think Niko really liked him as a person and player.

That said, this is a business, and I understand why we're moving on. Unless these injured guys were willing to take huge pay cuts, this is the only way in the new era.
 



Bayfield Gopher said:
Me as well.

According to Ryan James, Niko already has his replacement. No names mention but it could be Evans.
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I'd assume Evans (he visited yesterday). Apparently Evans is on a visit to Iowa today but sounds like he is still on track to come here. I am really hoping to get some news today, but we may have to wait until tomorrow.
 


It's sad to see how fans speak of our players now, especially someone like Willis who worked extremely hard, and was a positive leader throughout the year despite the injury. In the arena he was always talking with teammates, encouraging them, hyping the crowd. He came in pretty highly respected averaging nearly 17 points and over 5 assists at previous stop in a respected mid-major conference.

Hope he does well at his next stop and wish him the best! The same for Vaihola and others.
 
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Good luck to Willis. I thought he could be a positive for us next year.

I assume Kyan Evans is a near certainty. The last gift Hubert Davis can give us after Dawson Garcia and Cade Tyson.

I have been surprised at the lack of any reported interest in big men. We have Grove and Mpoyi...and that's it. Makes me wonder if Niko liked what he saw out of JCJ at center, and wants to reprise that with Grove as the backup.

If we assume that Groves/Celiscar/Deniusas/Evans are our top targets:

Guards:
Kyan Evans
Isaac Asuma
Nolan Groves
Kai Shinholster
Cedric Tomes

Wings/Forwards:
Isaac Celiscar
Matas Deniusas
Bobby Durkin
Nolen Anderson

Post:
JCJ
Grayson Grove
Chadrack Mpoyi
 


topos said:
Sucks, because I think this guy had so much potential coming in, and I think Niko really liked him as a person and player.

That said, this is a business, and I understand why we're moving on. Unless these injured guys were willing to take huge pay cuts, this is the only way in the new era.
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It would be interesting to find out what kind of an offer that Minnesota made to Willis, if any at all. It's all transactional now, there is no loyalty either way, from the players perspective or the programs.
 

With so many players entering the portal looking to cash in or increase their playing time, to expect loyalty from coaches would be rather naive.
 

BBJones said:
With so many players entering the portal looking to cash in or increase their playing time, to expect loyalty from coaches would be rather naive.
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It is shocking... We're on what... Year 5 of this... And people are still bringing up loyalty ..
 

jovs said:
It would be interesting to find out what kind of an offer that Minnesota made to Willis, if any at all. It's all transactional now, there is no loyalty either way, from the players perspective or the programs.
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I think there could be value in keeping Willis around, but wasn't the rumor that he was one of the highest-paid players last year? If he was willing to take a cut, heck yeah, keep an older guy who now knows the ins and outs of the system. Didn't he also have two years technically?

Realistically, I'm sure he feels slighted if he gets offered a fraction of what he made last year, when in his own mind he thinks he'll be back stronger than ever. Both sides will inevitably agree to part ways.

It'll probably take a few post-injured players getting absolutely burned in the portal (situations similar to Willis, Vaihola, and Omot) before they begin considering taking the reduced offer from the current team.
 

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