taylorswift13_ said:

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I also wonder a whole off-season would look like for Ruben Dominguez… what more could he add to his game! Maybe a little more quickness and physicality

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Improved mental toughness more than anything.

I do believe he is a defensive liability in Buckys system when he is not shooting well.

I personally am hoping for an entirely new starting 5 for next year. We badly need more talent including heights and athleticism. We ain't going too far unless Bucky figures out how to produce a much better rebounding team.

Honestly with the money A&M has in sports, the fact that we aren't able to spend 10M in NIL for men's basketball alone is rubbish. We are one of the richest universities in the world. There is no cap on spending. If we wanted, we could absolutely open up the purse an spend. But we do not. I believe the roi is way higher in MBB spend. Spend way less to get a lot.

Bucky knows what we need in terms of roster and everything basketball related. Hopefully our big $$ folks back him up. If not, he will be moving on.

Op updated, got room for 4-5 more

Do you know anything about Eemil Martinez, the 5'10" guard from Helsinki, Finland? I think he was treated as a walk-on this year. I think I read somewhere that he was very fast and good at making steals.

Too small to play sec ball

Wade Taylor IV was 6'0" which isn't much taller.

That would be a shame if walkons are locked out of even a chance.

At the very least I would send Bucky his tape. If there's a spot unfilled, who knows...

OldFox61 said:

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5'3" "Muggsy" Bogues played point guard for 14 years in the NBA. Wade Taylor IV was 6'0" which isn't much taller.

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Bogues was also a freak....and played in a different era that didn't put a premium on shooting efficiency.

Yeah, I put some of his clips together so he can send it to the coaching staff.

He was smart and signed up for Bucky's elite camp at the end of July so he could get in front of the coaches.

Link to clips if anyone is interested. Clips

zooguy96 said:

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Look at TN's roster. We need size/strength/athleticism like them.

Okpara 6'11"
Ament 6'10"
Carey 6'8"
Boswell is gone
Gillespie 6'1"

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Boswell went to Maryland ironically

OldFox61 said:

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Do you know anything about Eemil Martinez, the 5'10" guard from Helsinki, Finland? I think he was treated as a walk-on this year. I think I read somewhere that he was very fast and good at making steals.

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How are his layup line passes?

taylorswift13_ said:

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Guards: Bryson Warren, PJ Haggerty, Jalen Reece, Lukas Walls, Jeremiah Green, Neiko Munday,

Forwards: Mackenzie Mgbako, Zach Clemence, Cade Phillips, Jamie Vinson, Chris McDermott, Joshua Irving

Portal Needs:
- 6'11+ big man / rim protector
- taller guard (6'5+) that can shoot the 3 and rebound

Sweet 16 or bust

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OP updated, room for 3 more guys

Guard play should be really good next year.

Is Hill definitely gone? I know he entered the portal and I know he's trying to get an extra yr but I haven't seen anything on him committing elsewhere .

Not a great shooter but it's nice to have a slasher

His eligibility is pending. It is possible he could come back, but it is going to depend on timing and roster spots

GCP12 said:

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His eligibility is pending. It is possible he could come back, but it is going to depend on timing and roster spots

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It's not just that. Hill was #1 in minutes this season among our guards (counting Griffen as more of a swing player instead of a pure backcourt guy).

If he came back, he's probably #4 in G minutes, #3 at best. It would depend on what his other offers were, but he may not want that much of a decrease in his role and everything that comes with that.

Is A&M in the running for any big guys? I read that we were in the running for Chol Machot, but that was a couple of weeks ago.

Chase Richardson to the Ags. Bucky ain't slowing down

Bucky is the trump meme rn. I can't keep up with all this winning, ****

taylorswift13_ said:

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Guards: Bryson Warren, PJ Haggerty, Jalen Reece, Tyshawn Archie, Lukas Walls, Jeremiah Green, Neiko Munday,

Forwards: Mackenzie Mgbako, Zach Clemence, Cade Phillips, Jaylen Shelly, Jamie Vinson, Chris McDermott, Joshua Irving

Portal Needs:
- 6'11+ big man / rim protector
- taller guard (6'5+) that can shoot the 3 and rebound

Sweet 16 or bust

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updated! 14 Aggies, room for one more, who's it gonna be

Seems like it will either be a European or someone that gets eligibility if the 5 in 5 rule passed

justsomeguy said:

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Honestly with the money A&M has in sports, the fact that we aren't able to spend 10M in NIL for men's basketball alone is rubbish. We are one of the richest universities in the world. There is no cap on spending. If we wanted, we could absolutely open up the purse an spend. But we do not. I believe the roi is way higher in MBB spend. Spend way less to get a lot.

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Hey, come on. Keep it clean.

marco1510 said:

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Anyone think that they'll have walk-on tryouts this year?

My son will be a freshman next year. 6'9.5", 210lbs and working to add more. Multiple offers from D2,D3, and juco. He's wanted to go to A&M since he was little. The only offer that we considered was from Blinn since there was a chance that he would be sent there for a year but he ended up getting admitted into the college of engineering.

He can shot, plays good interior defense, doesn't get moved too much in the box. He's a PF but he's been used as a center because of his height. His team finally has another big that allows him to play more on the perimeter offensively, he's a pretty good 3pt shooter.

If the opportunity presents itself, he'll try-out. I think it would be a good idea for him to email the coaches but he thinks that it's too late for that.

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Bare minimum, maybe he can play scout team against the girls. You learn lots of offenses and defenses, and get to keep playing.

But, if he really wants to, I would say to just go hunt down Buckey. I think Bucky will shoot him straight.

He's very approachable. Find out what public events he has coming up, have him go introduce himself, firm hand shake, look him in the eye, all of that, etc.

Then just tell Bucky what he is hoping to achieve.

marco1510 said:

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Anyone think that they'll have walk-on tryouts this year?

My son will be a freshman next year. 6'9.5", 210lbs and working to add more. Multiple offers from D2,D3, and juco. He's wanted to go to A&M since he was little. The only offer that we considered was from Blinn since there was a chance that he would be sent there for a year but he ended up getting admitted into the college of engineering.

He can shot, plays good interior defense, doesn't get moved too much in the box. He's a PF but he's been used as a center because of his height. His team finally has another big that allows him to play more on the perimeter offensively, he's a pretty good 3pt shooter.

If the opportunity presents itself, he'll try-out. I think it would be a good idea for him to email the coaches but he thinks that it's too late for that.

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I didn't see any of the clips, but what has kept him from getting offers from smaller D1 schools? Does he go to a small school and didn't do AAU?

If he's a half-way decent athlete at 6'9" with even some basketball skills, and lack of exposure was what prevented him from getting offers at lower level D1 schools, then I would go Juco (if he's set on trying to become a D1 athlete). He'll get experience and exposure there. If he's already had exposure at that height and still isn't getting offers, I would just go to A&M. Everybody is different, but I would rather be a normal student at A&M than grind at the Juco level in hopes of playing basketball for Incarnate Word. But that's just me.

It looks super strong roster................

At the 1------Warren, Reese, Mundey
At the 2------Haggerty, Archie, Green
At the 3------Shelley, Walls
At the 4------Mgbako, Phillips, McDermott
At the 5------Clemence, Vinson, Irving

That's 14, leaves 1 spot for the right fit from Europe or 2 spots is Warren doesn't get approved.

Also, Luke has made it clear that Mgbako will stay at the 4. That means it will be rare to see him at the 3 or the 5 but he is flexible enough, I could see in a pinch if we needed him to play on the wing or at the 5 with another Shelley at the 4 or better fit would be Campbell at the 4, that is the only way I could see Mgbako sneak in a very few minutes at the 5.

Clemence and Phillips will regularly rotate between the 4 and the 5. Vinson will be strictly a 5 and Irving could see time at the 5 and if more than expected, it will limit the amount of time we see Clemence and Phillips at the 5.

The biggest point Luke made is the fact that we have a legit 3 if not possibly 4 guys at the 5 depending on how far Irving is when the season kicks off. And, we definitely have a legit 3 if not possibly 4 guys at the 4. So, our front court is a huge step forward from having our C Agee at only 6'6.5" playing over 26 minutes per game last season. We will have 3 guys at 6'11" and 2 at 6'9" with Campbell and Mgbako in the front court. Oh yeah, don't forget, even McDermott will see limited minutes but is another guy legit slightly taller than Agee at 6'7" and will find some limited minutes but will be a helpful piece second year under Bucky at the 4.

That is a massive improvement in the front court compared to last year and keeping a rotation meaning they stay fresher and play stronger, longer.

There is no doubt, I think I speak for most Ags that are so damn thankful for guys like Isaacs, Lane, Holloway, Hill, Dibba, Griffin and Fuego, but in all honesty, guard play is an essential for successful runs in THE DANCE and we just got a loaded, drastically improved back court. Again, no offense to those guys that gave us a great yr 1 under Bucky, but now we have guys returning familiar with Bucky Ball in McDermott, Green, Clemence, Vinson and Mgbako, not to mention the improvement with very talented HS prospects being added and will see minutes with Mundey and Irving and then look at all the upgrades we picked up through the portal.

It has me giddy. I definitely think the proper expectations should be set at S16 and very possibly E8. Possibly need a bounce or 2 to go our way, but if you get to E8 and it's just 1 game, anything can happen, so I wouldn't say very high odds, but can't completely count out F4. Can you imagine??? I am super stoked. Bucky kicks major A**, no doubt about it!!!!!

halfastros81 said:

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Totally convinced Bucky is highly driven to succeed and very smart What they did this past year was well beyond expectations and now he has upgraded the roster pretty significantly. I'm like you, I can't wait to see this group in November .

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I will be excited from game 1, no doubt. But, I really can't wait until later in November or even early December. Just saying, if they can run November undefeated, yes please but that early in the season doesn't do it for me with this many pieces trying to mesh and play this new system while trying to mesh in real games, usually takes a little time. I mean last season, we were 2-2 before November 15. Just saying it won't always click like they have been together when it's that early OOC.

Again, undefeated in OOC, hell yeah I will take it but with so many new pieces trying to mesh, get down a new system and understand their role specifically in that system along with constant turnover in rotation (running a deeper number than they are used to anywhere else they have played) and what is required in exhaustion physical in a real game and game after game, you could see early L or 2 but doesn't mean this won't be stronger as we get into the season, especially into conference and ultimately later in the season and post season. If we can stay healthy. I have expectations of at least S16