According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

BearlyBeloved said:

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According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

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If we're not in on a transfer who fits our needs, there's a good chance fit -- either system fit and culture fit -- has a lot to do with it.

Drew is really good at finding transfers who fill the roles we need and fit well within our program. And he's brought many in from places you wouldn't expect to find standout talent.

Heck yeah Baylor needs a big, but It's a waste if Drew doesn't have a scheme that utilizes their size and strength on O and D.

Timbear said:

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Heck yeah Baylor needs a big, but It's a waste if Drew doesn't have a scheme that utilizes their size and strength on O and D.

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Please go stick your face in a working blender.

Someone needs a therapist ^

Adriacus Peratuun said:

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Timbear said:

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Heck yeah Baylor needs a big, but It's a waste if Drew doesn't have a scheme that utilizes their size and strength on O and D.

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Please go stick your face in a working blender.

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This shows why we have anger management courses.

To answer the original question of this thread … hell to the YES!

Timbear said:

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Adriacus, what's your problem? Drew ain't God Almighty for goodness sake. His team was not built to win this year. I said so in November. This year, he developed ZERO dependable inside scoring, rebounding or defense. If you can't be honest and talk BB, then find a safe space so your wittle feewings won't be hurt.

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Freddie Gillespie: D3 walk on to NBA player.

Johnathon Motley: redshirt project to NBA player

JTT: 1 PPG at UNLV to B12 Defensive POY.

Cory Jefferson


You constantly make asinine comments than get butthurt when Dump Trucked.

The problem isn't everyone else.

Adriacus Peratuun said:

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Timbear said:

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Heck yeah Baylor needs a big, but It's a waste if Drew doesn't have a scheme that utilizes their size and strength on O and D.

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Please go stick your face in a working blender.

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That escalated quickly

BearlyBeloved said:

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According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

---

In all fairness, what in the stat line, beside 7-footer, sounds like we must go get this? I like the blocks but 4 rebounds and 6 points certainly doesn't have the wow factor. Jonathan and Josh should each do better than that if healthy.
I see on the prep site that Yves Missi may reclassify but wouldn't do so till this Summer. If that is the case, we are not looking for a big man, as we have our three. Unless one isn't coming back of course.

Yves Missi is "only" 6-foot-10, so I hope he's still growing.

xxx yyy said:

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BearlyBeloved said:

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According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

---

In all fairness, what in the stat line, beside 7-footer, sounds like we must go get this? I like the blocks but 4 rebounds and 6 points certainly doesn't have the wow factor. Jonathan and Josh should each do better than that if healthy.
I see on the prep site that Yves Missi may reclassify but wouldn't do so till this Summer. If that is the case, we are not looking for a big man, as we have our three. Unless one isn't coming back of course.

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That's in 15.8 minutes per game. Those numbers are pretty good in that context.

The Elite 8 said it all -- 8 teams -- 40 starters -- 1 true freshman and 1 redshirt freshman.

We already have 1 green big man -- Josh O. We don't need to bank an entire season on another. Go find a big who has actually started, played meaningful minutes and performed, whether at a high major or a really good mid-major. There are a lot of them in the portal.

bear2be2 said:

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xxx yyy said:

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BearlyBeloved said:

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According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

---

In all fairness, what in the stat line, beside 7-footer, sounds like we must go get this? I like the blocks but 4 rebounds and 6 points certainly doesn't have the wow factor. Jonathan and Josh should each do better than that if healthy.
I see on the prep site that Yves Missi may reclassify but wouldn't do so till this Summer. If that is the case, we are not looking for a big man, as we have our three. Unless one isn't coming back of course.

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That's in 15.8 minutes per game. Those numbers are pretty good in that context.

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Josh played 13.2 minutes, averaged 4.2pts and 3.5 rebounds,
Jonathan on one leg averaged 5.1 pts and 4.8 rebounds in 18 minutes.
I would expect both stat lines to improve if healthy next year. Ware wasn't getting playing time down the stretch on a mediocre Oregon team because there were two centers in front of him getting better production.

I am for getting a big that can come off the bench, but hope that the two we have will be able to get 35minutes, 12pts 11 rebounds a night. Signing a top level Center that will demand playing time will likely lose one of the bigs we have to the portal. If the transfer is the next Kareem, go for it. Otherwise...

Finally, we seem to focus on the wrong things about the last game: Creighton's 7 footer was really good, but he didn't beat us. We lost because we left a lot of open threes and Nembhard and Schierman killed us for it.

xxx yyy said:

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bear2be2 said:

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xxx yyy said:

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BearlyBeloved said:

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According to some, Oregon's 7-foot center, Kel'el Ware, who was a 5-star recruit, is the top transfer who is available.

Analyst Reveals No. 1 Transfer Player Available In College Basketball (msn.com)

"He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear," 247Sports writer Travis Branham said. "Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.

"The 7-footer averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season."

BUT Baylor is not listed among the many schools that are interested:

Oregon Basketball: Kel'el Ware is a hot commodity in transfer portal (usatoday.com)

---

In all fairness, what in the stat line, beside 7-footer, sounds like we must go get this? I like the blocks but 4 rebounds and 6 points certainly doesn't have the wow factor. Jonathan and Josh should each do better than that if healthy.
I see on the prep site that Yves Missi may reclassify but wouldn't do so till this Summer. If that is the case, we are not looking for a big man, as we have our three. Unless one isn't coming back of course.

---

That's in 15.8 minutes per game. Those numbers are pretty good in that context.

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Josh played 13.2 minutes, averaged 4.2pts and 3.5 rebounds,
Jonathan on one leg averaged 5.1 pts and 4.8 rebounds in 18 minutes.
I would expect both stat lines to improve if healthy next year. Ware wasn't getting playing time down the stretch on a mediocre Oregon team because there were two centers in front of him getting better production.

I am for getting a big that can come off the bench, but hope that the two we have will be able to get 35minutes, 12pts 11 rebounds a night. Signing a top level Center that will demand playing time will likely lose one of the bigs we have to the portal. If the transfer is the next Kareem, go for it. Otherwise...

Finally, we seem to focus on the wrong things about the last game: Creighton's 7 footer was really good, but he didn't beat us. We lost because we left a lot of open threes and Nembhard and Schierman killed us for it.

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The 2022-23 Baylor team had more than one problem. And post production on both ends was a fairly large one.

Perimeter defense was another huge one. But both lost us games.

DanaDane said:

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The Elite 8 said it all -- 8 teams -- 40 starters -- 1 true freshman and 1 redshirt freshman.

We already have 1 green big man -- Josh O. We don't need to bank an entire season on another. Go find a big who has actually started, played meaningful minutes and performed, whether at a high major or a really good mid-major. There are a lot of them in the portal.

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No one wants to hear this.

You and I have lost this fight, I'm afraid.

bear2be2 said:

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DanaDane said:

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The Elite 8 said it all -- 8 teams -- 40 starters -- 1 true freshman and 1 redshirt freshman.

We already have 1 green big man -- Josh O. We don't need to bank an entire season on another. Go find a big who has actually started, played meaningful minutes and performed, whether at a high major or a really good mid-major. There are a lot of them in the portal.

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No one wants to hear this.

You and I have lost this fight, I'm afraid.

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For those who think our answer is a center transfer, Hunter Dickinson, Michigan, just entered the portal. Graduate Transfer, so only one year. 18.5 pt 9 rebounds. Seems like we got a pretty good Michigan transfer a few years back...

If I'm Drew I go all out for him. He's a stud! He's also an excellent passer. Would be a wonderful addition to this team

I'm not sure a volume scorer would be willing to come play in our system and see their offensive numbers drop. The best fit in our system are players like Vital and EJ pre-injury, pick-and-roll bigs who set screens and don't demand offensive touches. Who are mobile on the defensive end, can switch and defend the perimeter. A big we get from the portal might be someone more under the radar, whose numbers don't jump out at you but who fits our system.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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I'm not sure a volume scorer would be willing to come play in our system and see their offensive numbers drop. The best fit in our system are players like Vital and EJ pre-injury, pick-and-roll bigs who set screens and don't demand offensive touches. Who are mobile on the defensive end, can switch and defend the perimeter. A big we get from the portal might be someone more under the radar, whose numbers don't jump out at you but who fits our system.

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I'd rather see is us stop switching and get a rim protector. We haven't had one in a long time.

With the right personnel in place, that defensive system won us a Natty.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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With the right personnel in place, that defensive system won us a Natty.

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It did. But I think that was a perfect storm.

Defensive players like Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Mark Vital and Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchua don't grow on trees.

And lesser defenders just look lost trying to switch everything ... as we saw this past season.

"Lesser defenders" is an understatement. To put it mildly, we looked lost no matter what we tried....switching, not switching, pressing, not pressing, zone, it didn't matter. Next year we get an excellent defensive guard with positional size (Walter) which by himself will do wonders for our porous perimeter D. If we can get a defensive-minded big and combo forward from the portal our team will be completely transformed on the defensive end. Would love to get a offensive stud like Dickinson, but the players willing to come in with that defensive mindset might not be the bigger names from the portal. He probably would want to go somewhere he can be the offensive focal point, and our offensive system is guard-oriented not designed to funnel paint touches.

I agree roster construction for defense will be a lot better. I also think the defensive system needs to be modified.

The no middle hasn't necessarily run it's course but I think they need to run a more straight up man. It is schemed for now and the rotations are just too much without the perfect roster and years in the defense to get comfortable. You can still keep some of the basic concepts without as extreme recoveries built in. Playing for charges will also probably be less effective over time.

The staff knows all this and wouldn't be surprised if it's modified

Good analysis, per usual.

And let me clarify, XX. I'm a not against Yves Missi relcassifying and joining this year. I don't doubt that he will enter a much higher skill level than what Josh O. arrived with and I am excited to see him in a Bears uni. But I still think we need a seasoned big, whether at the 5 or a true PF 4. In short, I think we have a good nucleus of young, skilled players. What we don't have and need (IMO) are a couple of grown ass men who have started and played. Hope what I'm trying to say makes sense?

ScottS said:

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Adriacus Peratuun said:

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Timbear said:

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Heck yeah Baylor needs a big, but It's a waste if Drew doesn't have a scheme that utilizes their size and strength on O and D.

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Please go stick your face in a working blender.

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That's a bit harsh, no?

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Almost grounds for banning.

IowaBear said:

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Bingo, and banking on John to be his former self is a huge risk.

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True, but if anyone can do it Everyday Jon can. The man is a workhorse & an inspiration.

How about a Gathers or Vital.

historian said:

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IowaBear said:

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Bingo, and banking on John to be his former self is a huge risk.

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True, but if anyone can do it Everyday Jon can. The man is a workhorse & an inspiration.

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I think it's more the nature of the injury than Jon's efforts. His recovery just to get back on the floor this year was dang near miraculous.

But when you start talking about nerve damage, you're generally not ever going to get back all that you lost.

Good point. I hope EJ gets another miracle! It all depends on what God has planned for him.