Blue sky 25-26 predictions

[Southport Cat]

‘Cats add a rim protector and a sharpshooter in the portal, go 25-7 and earn a 4 seed.

Martinelli scores 24.6 ppg, leads the nation in scoring… and js named 2nd team all BIG again.

Windham makes “the leap” and is also 2nd team all BIG.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Gonna be a rough year. Lots of growing pains with such a young team. Defense will suffer with so much inexperience.

But there will be moments and stretches where this group shines. A few wild ass predictions:

KJ will have a 30 point game.

Gelo will become a very good defender

Singleton will play a lot

Hunger will transfer

 

[GeorgiaCat]

Gonna be a rough year. Lots of growing pains with such a young team. Defense will suffer with so much inexperience.

But there will be moments and stretches where this group shines. A few wild ass predictions:

KJ will have a 30 point game.

Gelo will become a very good defender

Singleton will play a lot

Hunger will transfer

Hunger and Blake Smith. Book it. And no surprise, but Clayton still likely to go.

Could be two big guys and sharpshooter as grad transfers. And one second year player a la Audige and Mullins.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Hunger and Blake Smith. Book it. And no surprise, but Clayton still likely to go.

Could be two big guys and sharpshooter as grad transfers. And one second year player a la Audige and Mullins.

Obviously Martinelli is our best player but concerned that Windham would transfer which would be awful. A guy that looks like he will a tremendous player with three years remaining. I have no idea how NIL deals work, we need to keep that guy.

 

[DaCat]

Hunger and Blake Smith. Book it. And no surprise, but Clayton still likely to go.

No.

You guys aren't paying attention. Collins has built a culture where guys buy into the family thing. Clayton has a bright future as a Cat. He earned his playing time, and if Collins wants him to stay, he will stay. I think Hunger stays if Collins wants him. No one is going to shell out big NIL for him. Don't know about Barkley.

 

[prez77]

I see two guys, Mart and KJ, who will develop into players good enough to start on a Tourney team. To get to .500 in the Big10 next year, we will need to bring in a strong defensive center, a serious wing and a scoring guard. We get that, we're good. If we don't, I see 5 or 6 wins in conference because I think the balance of our existing group are back-up-level players, and while I think 2 of our freshmen will play, I think they will be part-timers in their first year. All of this assumes starters stay healthy, which hasn't been a good bet recently.I

Re the portal, I think Mart is home here and I think Windham's pay-day is the year after next. Others may or may not leave to play more elsewhere and that's OK for me.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I see us loading up in the portal. Can't find more than 2-3 losses on the schedule, to be honest.

See you in *checks notes* goddamnit the 26 final four is in ****ing INDIANAPOLIS

 

[DaCat]

I see two guys, Mart and KJ, who will develop into players good enough to start on a Tourney team. To get to .500 in the Big10 next year, we will need to bring in a strong defensive center, a serious wing and a scoring guard. We get that, we're good. If we don't, I see 5 or 6 wins in conference because I think the balance of our existing group are back-up-level players, and while I think 2 of our freshmen will play, I think they will be part-timers in their first year. All of this assumes starters stay healthy, which hasn't been a good bet recently.I

Re the portal, I think Mart is home here and I think Windham's pay-day is the year after next. Others may or may not leave to play more elsewhere and that's OK for me.

What are you talking about? Martinelli is already a proven commodity, with two NCAA tournaments under his belt and a B1G scoring crown as a junior. He should’ve been first team All B1G. He doesn’t need to “develop” into a tournament player, he already is. He’s a baller and he puts in the work.

The core is there.

KJ, Mullins, Clayton all showed good improvement. I would be comfortable with KJ as the shooting guard and Clayton as primary ball handler. Angelo will continue to improve, I expect a huge jump next year.

The first years are an unknown but definitely the potential is exciting. Singleton, Bennerman, Kropp all have size. West is the sleeper, he could be very good. Gill might need a year or two.

From the portal add one big and one 3-point gunner, we should be set.

 

[EagerFan]

I see KJ as the primary ball handler next year. Clayton still has to turn his back and guard the ball a bit too much, and he's not as quick laterally. Likely they'll share the role, along with Nick, like the end of this year.

The big mystery is the mystery big imho.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Hunger and Blake Smith. Book it. And no surprise, but Clayton still likely to go.

Could be two big guys and sharpshooter as grad transfers. And one second year player a la Audige and Mullins.

Both Hunger and Smith likely will graduate this year, so It’s probably better for both to seek a program where they have a bigger role. Barkley doesn’t look like he’ll ever be in the rotation, so it depends on how much he values the parchment. A lower level academic could be in his future. Clayton made good strides and it seems odd that he would leave after giving up the redshirt. Of course, I have zero insight and this is merely speculation.

 

[DaCat]

Both Hunger and Smith likely will graduate this year, so It’s probably better for both to seek a program where they have a bigger role. Barkley doesn’t look like he’ll ever be in the rotation, so it depends on how much he values the parchment. A lower level academic could be in his future. Clayton made good strides and it seems odd that he would leave after giving up the redshirt. Of course, I have zero insight and this is merely speculation.

We'll have to see what Collins tells Hunger about his future at Northwestern. He had similar conversations with Ryan Young and Barrett Benson, and Miller Kopp too. All those guys seemingly were told they weren't guaranteed any increased playing time, and all three left. If Collins has the same message for Hunger, then it's bye-bye.

 

[Hkjb]

Most improved player - as prognosticated by CCC in the pre-season press conference - was Martinelli. That was true. Next year, I'm guessing Mullins. He matured so much this year, has a very high basketball IQ, and is a great athlete. Curious to hear other views on "most improved" for next year.

 

[julescat]

Most improved for next year -- Ciaravino

 

[prez77]

What are you talking about? Martinelli is already a proven commodity, with two NCAA tournaments under his belt and a B1G scoring crown as a junior. He should’ve been first team All B1G. He doesn’t need to “develop” into a tournament player, he already is. He’s a baller and he puts in the work.

The core is there.

KJ, Mullins, Clayton all showed good improvement. I would be comfortable with KJ as the shooting guard and Clayton as primary ball handler. Angelo will continue to improve, I expect a huge jump next year.

The first years are an unknown but definitely the potential is exciting. Singleton, Bennerman, Kropp all have size. West is the sleeper, he could be very good. Gill might need a year or two.

From the portal add one big and one 3-point gunner, we should be set.

Typing too fast to awkward sentence construction. Yes, Mart is more than there. KJ is less of a sure thing.