Based on what we know / is likely so far, this is my initial thought on who Sha will want back plus the 2 freshmen:

1) Jahseem Felton
2) JaQuan Sanders
3) Malachi Brown
4) Dylan Addae-Wusu
5) Isaiah Coleman (please no portal)
6) Elijah Hutchins-Everett
7) Godswill Erheriene
8) David Tubek

Assuming NgaNga (not a fit), Ozdogan (not the right level for him), and Harris (injury) go elsewhere. My guess would be the 8 players above would cost ~$400k in NIL, with the majority of that going to Coleman and Addae-Wusu.

If we're reaching our rumored target of $1.5M, can Sha find 4 solid guys at ~$250k each? Figure last guy on bench is just someone we can take a flyer on, like Brown / Ozdogan this year.

Guards: Felton, Sanders, Brown, (Transfer starting caliber PG), (Transfer, ideally a shooter)

Wings: DAW, Coleman, (Transfer)

Bigs: EHE, Godswill, Tubek, (Transfer starting caliber big), (Transfer flyer)

Thoughts?

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Thousands of fans lined the streets of downtown Hartford on Saturday to fete the UConn men's basketball team following its second straight NCAA championship, its sixth in 25 years.

The players and coaches paraded on a double-decker bus with an open-air top and lifted the national title trophy from the state Capitol to the XL Center, the arena in which the team plays about half its home games. The procession included marching bands, cheerleaders, first responders, state politicians and other groups as fans shouted and waved UConn signs.

The celebration followed Monday's 75-60 win over Purdue, which capped one of the most dominant two-year runs in NCAA tournament history, one in which the Huskies won all 12 games they played by double digits.

Coach Dan Hurley, who has spent the week denying that he was considering leaving the program for another school, told the crowd his focus is on a third consecutive championship, as he and the players gave short speeches outside the arena.

"The champs are here today in Hartford with the best fans in the world," Hurley said. "Basketball capital of the world -- Storrs, Connecticut. Back-to-back champs. Back-to-back champs. ... Some of the greatest players to ever wear the UConn uniform are up here, and next year we go for the three-peat! Let's go!"

Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot-2 sophomore center who announced Friday that he was leaving UConn and entering the NBA draft, thanked the fans and said their support helped fuel the title run.

"I appreciate you guys," the Bristol, Connecticut, native said. "You guys have been the best fans to me for the past two years. I'll cherish those moments for the rest of my life. I'll be a Husky for life. Love you guys."

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The team also will be losing Tristen Newton, the Final Four's most outstanding player, and Cam Spencer, who both ran out of eligibility when the season ended. Along with Clingan, freshman Stephon Castle could be a lottery pick in the NBA draft this summer if he decides to leave.

"Thank you for all the support that you guys have given me the past two years and supporting the team," Newton told the crowd. "Without you guys, back-to-back wouldn't have been possible."

This was the 15th victory parade for UConn, which in addition to its six men's basketball national championships has won 11 women's basketball titles over the past 30 years.

There were joint parades in 2004 and 2014 when UConn won both the men's and women's titles in the same season -- the only Division I school to accomplish that feat.

The UConn men and women are 17-1 in NCAA basketball title games.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who this week hinted that Hurley would get a pay raise, joined the team on the double-decker bus and the podium.

"Hey America, this is what the basketball capital of America looks like. Right here," Lamont said. "Let's hear it for the Huskies. ... We are the champions, my friends."

Last month, SMU shocked the college basketball world when it fired Rob Lanier following a 20-win season. The move opened the door for Andy Enfield to leave USC and fill that opening. Then, Eric Musselman left Arkansas to replace Enfield, and John Calipari signed a gigantic deal with the Razorbacks, which got us here, to the opening at Kentucky.

The initial rumblings suggested Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart would swing for the fences. And he did.

But UConn head coach Dan Hurley, fresh off his back-to-back NCAA title runs, said no after reportedly being offered a huge salary. Then, Scott Drew decided to stay in Waco at Baylor. It was unclear if other candidates, such as Billy Donovan, were seriously approached.

Either way, it appeared Barnhart wanted to land an experienced coach with a winning pedigree.

Mark Pope was never mentioned until it appeared Kentucky had failed to attract its top candidates. Pope, who won a national title as a player at Kentucky in 1996, has a solid coaching record after stints at Utah Valley and BYU. But let's be honest here: This is a major difference from Calipari.

The expectation was Kentucky would make a splash with its next coach. Right now, there are more questions than answers about the expected hiring of Pope to be the next Wildcats head coach.

Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf attempt to answer a few of them, including what the move would mean for Pope, Kentucky and BYU.

Well, since our last NIL whatever it was called, I am now a 1st mate, I hope it helps us all..

Sanders, NgaNga, Tubek, Brown.

I’ll leave EHE out since as of now he’d be our starting 5 until a Portal option or 2 comes to fruition.

The question is who we think our keepers? Tubek seems like a definitive keep. NgaNga seems like he is lost most of the time when he is on the court; not sure if he can be developed to become a consistent contributor. Sanders showed something in the NIT that gives me hope; his confidence is the key, but doesn’t seem to be a guy who can create his own shot. Brown looked promising early in the season then never saw much time. If he’s patient, maybe can be a contributor by time he’s a junior.

Any word on Kadary or new recruits?

Duke top scorers Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain going pro​

Duke's top two scorers from last season, All-American Kyle Filipowski and ACC All-Freshman selection Jared McCain are entering the NBA draft.

"This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue it," Filipowski said in a statement posted on social media.

The sophomore led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding at 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The 7-footer increased his draft stock this season, making a case to be a lottery pick.

McCain was second on the team at 14.3 points per game in his only season in Durham.

"I've always been a dream chaser," the guard said in his statement on social media. "I've always been wanting to reach my goals, and that next one is the NBA."

Duke was a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and lost to NC State in the South regional final.

I would like to see them take this kid and show him how Luther Wright transformed himself from the big soft kid that came to SHU and worked to rebuild his body into muscle and got himself an NBA 1st round (18th pick) selection because of hard work in the gym. There has to be plenty of videos of Luther when he arrived at SHU and his last year here and plenty of material on how he did it.

Hopefully Sha reads this thread!

EHE can possibly be another Luther and a monster in the paint!

Probably the most controversial sports figure/celeb of my lifetime

Drop down to the bottom and vote


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We just got another bump from a prominent poster that does not want his name mentioned. And Robert Lenahan as well.

Our new and final total is a whopping $107,080.00

A truly amazing total thanks to Mike Walsh and our readers here. This money will allow Sha to keep a player or maybe help him to recruit a new one. Either way it is going to be critical for him to have.

Again, thank you all. You have greatly surpassed my wildest dreams.

Robert Lenahan $100

Kauai Pirate5 $5,000

Check out the site before it goes down

Baylor’s Scott Drew shuns Kentucky after John Calipari’s stunning exit​

By Matt Ehalt

Not sure he really wants be a head coach much any more but money and prestige is hard to reject.

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That would be great.

She blew off our championship along with Villanova’s in the WBIT.
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Billy Donovan takes the UK job

Arty hires Adrian Griffin to Bulls