It’s the season opener for the 2025-26 Basketball season….
- Who’s the starting five?
- Top reserves off the bench?
- Finishing lineup (end of game close out)?
KQ- So a lot of this is guesswork since we don't know how the portal shakes out.
My starting five as of today would be Sylla (or a portal center), Ndongo, Powell, portal combo guard and George.
Off the bench you would have Mustaf, Souare, Sutton, and some combination of Stores, Chatfield and/or Fleming. I think they take their time with Cole developing him similar to Souare.
The final five likely is more about matchups but will lean heavy on the starting five.
Top need for the basketball team not currently on the roster or freshmen coming in?
KQ- I still think they need an older center who can shot block and has a post-up game to compliment Ndongo. I think that is a big ask of Sylla out of the box. I also think they need a combo guard from the portal who can fill it up from outside and has at least a dribble-drive threat. Basically a healthy and more consistent version of Lance Terry. Terry has been good but inconsistent with his shot all year and has left a lot of points on the floor with his stiffness around the rim.
Do you expect any staff changes for next year?
KQ- There will always be something. I think that Greg Gard was a great hire and he has helped a lot. I wonder at what point Nate Babcock goes back to the NBA. I do think Pershin Williams is close to getting a small HC job in the near future as well.
Do you foresee the offense changing next year any or how do we avoid long scoring droughts that killed us in so many games this year?
KQ- The scoring droughts were player execution and fatigue-based mostly. It wasn't scheme.
How much would playing with a true 5 in Sylla help Bayes game?
KQ- A lot, he needs someone he can play off of and another lob threat in there that can finish around the rim. What Maluach from Duke did to GT is what Sylla's game is going to be.
What’s Souares status for the game Tuesday?
KQ- He is good to go according to Damon. We all saw him today and he was in a good mood from what I saw.
Do we recruit backup experience pg in the portal for next year.
KQ- It really depends on how Damon feels about Chatfield. Mustaf can handle the ball and yeah you probably need one more ball handler but I think that will be what I was talking about above in a combo guard like a plussed-up Lance Terry.
Why have we struggled to find a true leader of the Basketball team for years now someone good enough to draw fans.
KQ- I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking about like a player that fans rally around or the coach?
What do you think CDS learned mid season his demeanor etc did a total 360 I had a negative opinion of him but I was wrong believe players love him?
KQ- I think he was pissed at how poorly his team played out of the gate and he was not happy with how they worked going into the season. They had some chemistry issues namely D.O. who was dragging down Duncan Powell a little bit too early on. Once he checked out on the team and they were forced to adapt to the injuries to Luke O'Brien and Kowacie Reeves things improved a lot. The guys differed early on and Baye was way too passive early in the season and looked lost in the post. He probably led the country in missed layups in December and early January.
Does CDS obtain any players from the portal? If so, what positions?
KQ- See above, but I think they'll look at a veteran big man and a combo guard and maybe a corner three wing.
Your opinion - does Ndongo play at GT next year?
KQ- Yes. I think he has a solid NIL deal and he really is very happy in the situation at GT and not many places are going to do as much off the court to make him comfortable as Damon has. Damon has really worked hard to build a strong support system for his guys.
I have been a harsh critic of CDS he earned another year with the way they finished but what needs to happen next year record wise to keep his job and do you believe we have to be borderline tourney team ?
KQ- They need to be at least on the bubble and hopefully on the right side of it unless something happens that is excusable. I think year three is when J Batt wants to see something tangible that he can sell people and I think they will draw better as well if they can start better.
Wasn’t there spring practices Thursday and Saturday? Just did not see any practice reports.
KQ- Thursday yes, they canceled the media avail because Chad and I were in Charlotte for the ACCT Duke game and probably also because everyone wanted to watch the game which was going on at the exact same time as the media avail would've been. I was fine with that even though Alex was planning to go. They had a viewing period but I figured it was not worth having Alex drive down for that and he couldn't report on that part of practice. There was no practice on Saturday, it is spring break. They will start practice again on 3/25.
What is the thing we need the most in basketball next year to keep improving, aside from health that is?
KQ- You need to see guys to continue their development paths. Nait, Baye, Duncan and Jaeden all made huge strides and Ibrahim made the biggest improvement overall on the team and Darrion Sutton even came to life a little bit. Jaeden Mustaf has the potential to be a nice downhill guard, he has to improve his shot and body control. Nait has to limit his unforced turnovers on bad passes when he is frustrated. Baye has to channel what made him good down the stretch and play like that for 30+ games. Duncan also has to continue to develop his shot and cut down on forcing the ball in some circumstances.
Big deal, little deal, or no deal that we got the #1 2027 recruit on campus? If it's a big deal, is it a big deal because we may actually get him or because top prospects are at least taking a look at us? Lance McCurley put in a FutureCast last Friday for him to land at UGA. Is that just assuming a big name player from the state of GA will go to UGA or is the FC based on more concrete information?
KQ- I can ask Lance why he did that, but my assumption is he thinks they will get him and he wants to be first on a prediction on that kid. I have not heard anything about him being ready to commit and I haven't looked around but I don't think anyone else has put in projections yet. I assume Lance thinks Kirby won't lose the #1 player from South Georgia to anyone else which is a fair assumption based on the last 5-10 years.
That's the guy we are talking about.
