Reeves in transfer portal, Birds need to get busy.

[DaveBird10]

I would guess there is a 0% chance he goes to UNI. Were I to place bets on his future location, I would say Wisky or Bama, with a potential darkhorse in Oklahoma.

I thought Arkansas as well because Musselman does a great job with transfers. Ohio State I don't think so buts its intriguing to me where as were there conversations on what could help him and what not between Reeves, Pedon and Holtman.

 

[DWRedbird]

I thought Arkansas as well because Musselman does a great job with transfers. Ohio State I don't think so buts its intriguing to me where as were there conversations on what could help him and what not between Reeves, Pedon and Holtman.

I think Importer can make it work, but I think he would have more competition there for a starting spot than at Wisky or Bama right now. But Arkansas fits the bill of not being too geographically far and getting plenty of TV time.

 

[Bird Friend]

I’m not his advisor but I might just tell him to stay away from Arkansas. They just signed the number 22 overall ranked high school senior in the country. He is joining what was ranked as the number 2 recruiting class in the country. Then again what do I know; I think I have the lowest IQ around here.

Player ranking just isn’t as predictive as one would hope. I mean . . . Frodo Baggins (er Elijah Wood) was a 4-star recruit who ended up at Eastern Illinois and barely saw the floor. He’s in the portal.

 

[Adunk33]

Murray has a new coach and has lost 9 players to the portal.

It's weird to me that the Birds have only had 3 enter so far... We all assume many more are coming but what are they waiting for? Maybe Pedon sees something in the guys in the locker room and much of the current roster is ready to try something different? Maybe Muller was right about how close of a group they are and they want to stick together.

Most folks said all season, they see talent in the group, but couldn't get much out of it because they were put in a bad situation. Recruiting is really going to ramp up in the next 2 weeks. Pedon's got to know how many scholarships he has to fill. I think the hope would be to have the roster set by end of April/Early May.

Technically, with the twins still on board, the Birds only have one available scholarship.

 

[DaveBird10]

Murray has a new coach and has lost 9 players to the portal.

It's weird to me that the Birds have only had 3 enter so far... We all assume many more are coming but what are they waiting for? Maybe Pedon sees something in the guys in the locker room and much of the current roster is ready to try something different? Maybe Muller was right about how close of a group they are and they want to stick together.

Most folks said all season, they see talent in the group, but couldn't get much out of it because they were put in a bad situation. Recruiting is really going to ramp up in the next 2 weeks. Pedon's got to know how many scholarships he has to fill. I think the hope would be to have the roster set by end of April/Early May.

Technically, with the twins still on board, the Birds only have one available scholarship.

There a few things that stick out. I remember Dan saying how much a year in the weight room would benefit them and make them stronger. That could play out this off-season.

There's also this from Pedon in the Pantagraph Q and A where he's talking about buy in and commitment from the guys in the locker room and that it was his belief that you can do far more with far less as long you have strong commitment and buy-in from the guys in the locker room.

 

[jwa123]

Player ranking just isn’t as predictive as one would hope. I mean . . . Frodo Baggins (er Elijah Wood) was a 4-star recruit who ended up at Eastern Illinois and barely saw the floor. He’s in the portal.

Oh I agree completely. As more of a Chicago Bears fan than anything else and even at that level it’s interesting with professional scouts and front offices how many highly rated draft picks are busts. However, I think we can agree a top 5 rated recruiting class coupled with just signing a top 25 nationwide player is going to be a good class. Unlike the EIU player you mention which is a single player the Arkansas class is now 6 players. With what they have coming back along with this incoming recruiting class I still believe Antonio would be better served elsewhere, if he ultimately decides to transfer.

 

[Redbird222]

Murray has a new coach and has lost 9 players to the portal.

It's weird to me that the Birds have only had 3 enter so far... We all assume many more are coming but what are they waiting for? Maybe Pedon sees something in the guys in the locker room and much of the current roster is ready to try something different? Maybe Muller was right about how close of a group they are and they want to stick together.

Most folks said all season, they see talent in the group, but couldn't get much out of it because they were put in a bad situation. Recruiting is really going to ramp up in the next 2 weeks. Pedon's got to know how many scholarships he has to fill. I think the hope would be to have the roster set by end of April/Early May.

Technically, with the twins still on board, the Birds only have one available scholarship.

I would have thought Alex Kotov would have been in the portal for sure.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Not sure where I’m supposed to post this- the recruiting board scares me with all the different sub-forums and I don’t want to get in trouble for putting in the wrong spot

You’re among friends. Be strong and confident in your posting ability

 

[DaveBird10]

I would have thought Alex Kotov would have been in the portal for sure.

I've thought Kotov and Sissoko were obvious transfers. My thought is there might not be a better opportunity available for them then what they have at ISU.

 

[Adunk33]

I've thought Kotov and Sissoko were obvious transfers. My thought is there might not be a better opportunity available for them then what they have at ISU.

It depends what you mean about opportunity. If it's playing in games, both could start at most D2s.

It sounded to me like Pedon really values physicality. I think if nothing else, he could throw Sissoko out there for 5 fouls per game. Kotov is in an interesting situation since he RS this year. He hasn't played meaningful basketball in a LONG time. Isn't it like 3 years? Who knows, maybe he and Pedon connected.

 

[DaveBird10]

It depends what you mean about opportunity. If it's playing in games, both could start at most D2s.

It sounded to me like Pedon really values physicality. I think if nothing else, he could throw Sissoko out there for 5 fouls per game. Kotov is in an interesting situation since he RS this year. He hasn't played meaningful basketball in a LONG time. Isn't it like 3 years? Who knows, maybe he and Pedon connected.

I've thought of Kotov and Sissoko as projects that were last scholarships type guys. Pedon does like physical presence in the paint but also plays in the paint on offense. They fine defense and rebounding but not sure can play thru them in the paint on offense. Hopefully system fits them better.

Kotov played sparingly on defense during the covid year. 12 games, 1 start. 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 7.9 minutes per game.

 

[SgtHulka]

Sissoko came in a physical specimen. Would be great to see a Senior Dinma season out of him. he played so sparingly I wonder if he can develop in that mold. If he hitches a ride on the portal I would assume Pedon doesn't see the worth in trying.

Kotov I have no feel for anything but he's tall.

 

[DWRedbird]

Sissoko came in a physical specimen. Would be great to see a Senior Dinma season out of him. he played so sparingly I wonder if he can develop in that mold. If he hitches a ride on the portal I would assume Pedon doesn't see the worth in trying.

Kotov I have no feel for anything but he's tall.

I think for Sissoko it depends on what position he/we want him to play. He seems he wants to play the 3 on the wing, but he is built for and we previously wanted him to play more of a 4/stretch 4. Were I him, I'd lean into the 4 model and utilize his physicality quite a bit, but if he keeps leaning into trying to be a 3, I don't know that he'll have as much success.

I agree with you on Kotov, I don't know his game at all.

 

[cardinal]

Kotov is really talented offensively I heard that he plays well in practice. The problem would be that he hasn't gained much if any muscle since he came on campus 2 years ago so he is a huge liability on defense.

 

[cardinal]

Wonder what kind of interest Mahročić is picking up since being dismissed from Utah. He's still friends with some of the players from his time here. Wonder if he would be interested in coming back or if Pedon would even want him

 

[isuquinndog]

Do we know why he was dimissed?

 

[cardinal]

Do we know why he was dimissed?

Violation of team rules. I did some digging on some Utah blogs around the time and gathered that he he was just being an a-hole to his teammates and coaches.

 

[DaveBird10]

Violation of team rules. I did some digging on some Utah blogs around the time and gathered that he he was just being an a-hole to his teammates and coaches.

I'm not saying I would or wouldn't want him back but he's another guy that's been with 4 schools in 4 years and next year will be 5 in 5. Just not sure you can get a winning program with guys like that.

 

[Bird Friend]

Wonder what kind of interest Mahročić is picking up since being dismissed from Utah. He's still friends with some of the players from his time here. Wonder if he would be interested in coming back or if Pedon would even want him

No, thanks, tho.

 

[Total Red]

Violation of team rules. I did some digging on some Utah blogs around the time and gathered that he he was just being an a-hole to his teammates and coaches.

As I recall Coach Pedon was asked about this at his opening press conference and he said he would only take an a-hole if he could defend the paint.