NLI Signing Period

Bird Friend

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Technically, the 2021 signing period started yesterday, 4/14. The period has been extended to 8/1/21. So the flood of signings we'd usually see right now, could extend thru the summer. That's really not good any way you look at it from building a team standpoint, though some teams may end up with some unexpected talent or the dregs of barrel. Not to be pessimistic, but I'm pessimistic.

 

Bird Friend

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In thinking about what's possible this year I'm wondering what our best options are . . . As for transfers, if we can get immediate high-impact players, go that route as much as possible. If we can get solid transfers who'll be good role players, get a couple to stabilize the team. If we can only get mediocre or potential project transfers, skip 'em unless we're just looking for practice bodies.

As for jucos, if we can get immediate impact players, get a couple (unless we can build a formidable team of juco players that can put us in the top 3 of the Valley). If we can only get solid transfers who'll be good role players, get a couple for depth. Skip anything less even for practice bodies.

This is a year where some really, really good HS kids fall to the mid-major level. Push comes to shove, it may be a year to fill the roster with the best HS talent we can and plan for the long-term. That will almost certainly end Muller's time here since we'd probably be a Thursday nite team again, but could set up the next coach with a strong returning crew. With Horne leaving, there's a spot available for an immediate impact SG who may have his sights set on the high-majors, who could build his resume for moving up after a couple standout seasons. (Let's face it, that will be the new normal moving forward.)

What do you all think?
 

Redbird Alum 2004

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I think we have to go after transfers and juco. We have some young talent in Emon and Howard so we just need to add some more impact talent around them. Top three is a must next season. Drake and Missouri State will be very tough. Loyola will be an unknown now under new leadership.
 

Birdfriend72

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I think we have to go after transfers and juco. We have some young talent in Emon and Howard so we just need to add some more impact talent around them. Top three is a must next season. Drake and Missouri State will be very tough. Loyola will be an unknown now under new leadership.
Agree! Muller doesn’t have the time or luxury to groom them. That window has passed!
 

Adunk33

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I think we have to go after transfers and juco. We have some young talent in Emon and Howard so we just need to add some more impact talent around them. Top three is a must next season. Drake and Missouri State will be very tough. Loyola will be an unknown now under new leadership.
Loyola is still bringing in high-impact guys. A couple grad transfers, and Saint Thomas, the Nebraska player of the year. Who knows, Williamson and Krut still could come back.

As far as the Redbirds are concerned, if I'm Dan Muller- I'm (almost) exclusively looking to add proven D1 guys. Now that could mean they averaged 5-6 points a game or whatever but there is no wiggle room for the team "getting used to the speed of D1." Gotta be competitive from the first tip and show real growth. Some might say its only a band aide and a much bigger issue needs to be addressed, but for now the "quick fix" is what the team needs. They need guys who have been in D1 programs a couple of years and know the grind. You can bring in a couple Juco guys as well. As for HS players, I don't see a spot for them unless there is some scenario where they are underrecruited, even then, you have to KNOW that they will be a key part of the roster because you don't have time to develop talent.

With 1400 transfers out there, you should be able to grab solid former D1 guys and sell them on the opportunity for PT.
 

Bird Friend

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Nice to look at proven D1 talent, but will they come?
 

CaliRdBrd

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I think we have to go after transfers and juco. We have some young talent in Emon and Howard so we just need to add some more impact talent around them. Top three is a must next season. Drake and Missouri State will be very tough. Loyola will be an unknown now under new leadership.
Calm down. You all are putting too much stock in Fleming and Washington. Waaaay too much.

Wipe the entire slate clean and get some HS kids.

Maybe even take the route (ala The Battered Bastards of Baseball) where you simply put out a flyer out for open tryouts. Can’t get worse.
 

schoolsportsfan

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Serious question...and please no fire Muller replies...Have we signed anyone for next year? Aren't we in the middle of a signing period?
 

Adunk33

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Serious question...and please no fire Muller replies...Have we signed anyone for next year? Aren't we in the middle of a signing period?
No. Muller should be fired! ;)

In all seriousness, the Birds haven't gotten any commitments for next season yet. This is probably for a few reasons. One, Muller and co are sitting back understanding that new dudes are entering the portal every 10 minutes and want to be sure they are offering guys they want. Two, players are waiting to commit for the same reason. There's 1400 kids in the portal and at last check, a little earlier this week, only around 400 have committed. The signing period is also extended. This year, it started on April 14 and ends August 1. It sounds like Reeve's plan is to test the NBA waters through July and Muller mentioned to him there would be a spot for him if he decided to return. Finally, I do believe the record over the past couple of seasons has impacted players wanting to come here. You see DJ transferring out because he wants to win and doesn't see that happening here. Even three seasons ago when the team went 9-9 in the conference and ended up playing Thursday night (two half court buzzer beaters away from 11-7) the pitch could be "we win games. We just need you to help us get over the hump." Now the pitch has probably switched to "be a part of a build." When in reality, kids don't want to do that anymore. We live in a world of instant gratification and that's extended to college ball. When a team isn't winning games, players mindsets can very easily become, "Oh, we're not winning anyway so let me go out and showcase myself to move on to a winning team." It's an AAU mindset and seemingly what DJ did. If you keep an eye on AAU circuits at all, you'll see approximately 1% of the players actually care if they win the game or not - they're focused on how many points they scored.

I'm thinking more commitments happen in the end of April through the middle of May. Summer classes start sometime in Late May/Early June so they'll be plenty of time to get enrollment and everything taken care of.

It's a crazy year(s?) that I do not envy any coach trying to put a roster together.
 

Baltimore Bird

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Well said, ADunk. It is a very interesting time. On one hand, we have no new recruits. On the other hand, we have about 5 spots available and there are tons of good players out there. Can we do a Drake and go from worst to close to 1st? Most of us have now become pessimistic this staff can do that. The opportunity is there once again. Let's go Redbirds!
 

JHBird

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I'm sure Muller will find some players. I just don't see is coming out of this portal mess better than what we went in with. Remember that Star Trek movie where Transporter malfunctioned? Messy! That's what's happening to us.
 
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