KSU still has a scholarship open with offers out, so obviously that could affect the final roster options for the coming season. Based on what we know right now, though, here goes.
First off, KSU is graduating three four-year starter seniors including two first team All Big 12 players, the All Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and an Honorable Mention All Big 12 player. This team will be very different from those of the last two seasons.
KSU does return eight players including three "starters" from that team, Makol Mawien, Xavier Sneed, and Cartier Diarra. These three starters form the core around which this team will be built, so their availability is obviously a key to next season. KSU had enough talent and experience over the last two seasons to achieve some major accomplishments in spite of multiple injuries to key players both years. With the exodus of the three seniors, the depth of talent and experience is greatly reduced, so losing any of the returning starters would be a tough blow to overcome.
My starting five begins with Makol Mawien at center (duh), Xavier Sneed at the four, and Cartier Diarra as the point guard. The coaches, hampered by excess knowledge from actually seeing the players, may say otherwise -- but here is my reasoning. I am putting Xavier at the four because as far as anyone knows for sure he is the only guy on this roster ready and able to play the four right this minute. Likewise, Cartier is at the one because he is the only point guard who has actually played entire Big 12 games at the point and done well. The bottom line: start with what you know.
The next slot I will fill is Mike McGuirl starting at the two guard. He played 17 mpg last season behind a mass of talent at the 1-2-3 spots, and he has actually played some very good games for KSU (see Creighton, obviously). He is also a solid defender, so that backbone of the team would be satisfied.
The final spot is a bit more problematical, but I will assign it to Shaun Neal-Williams. Shaun averaged 7 mpg last season in spite of being buried behind three established starters, sixth starter Diarra, and Mike McGuirl at the 1-2-3 spots. I fully expect Shaun to make a big sophomore jump because he missed the summer practices last season and ended up trying to keep up with a team that was almost all returning players when he arrived in the fall. As Weber put it, he was trying to drink from a firehose. With a year of experience under his belt and a full summer at a pace he can handle, I think he will be much better prepared for the coming season. With both Shaun and Cartier starting, the debate over who is the point guard is moot in my view. Weber has often done well with as many as three point guards on the court, so label them however you like.
The Mawien, Sneed, SNW, McGuirl, Diarra starting five would be two seniors, two juniors, and a sophomore, so not too bad in the experience department. It is a small ball line-up, but with the athleticism of these five guys, I don't think many teams would be able to go over the top of them. Sneed and Diarra in particular at tough match-ups. Now for the other options.
One very nice thing about this group is the versatility of Sneed (four/three) and Diarra (three through one). Because of those two, KSU can use a player who emerges at any position with positive effects rippling throuh the line-up to help out at any weak spots. Let's begin at the four. If any combination of Stockard, Murphy, and/or Antonio Gordon can give useful minutes at the four, they can not only back up Sneed (obviously needed at least some), but also free up Sneed to move back to the three, greatly strengthening the 1-2-3 options. Having looked at their videos, I tend to think Murphy can play sooner rather than later IF he can play defense. I am keeping an open mind though for any or all of these three to contribute at the four. It would defintiely help this team.
The next issue is backing up the five. It is time for Love and Shadd to start showing what they can do. This is critical not only for this season, but Mawien will be gone next season, and recruiting a big man who is good enough to start in the Big 12 is difficult. Hopefully the KSU big men of the future will start to emerge this season. If not, something may have to be cobbled together using Stockard (who should improve, by the way) and the two freshman big men. We'll see what happens.
There are still two players available for the backcourt. I will confess a weakness for David Sloan because I really like very fast, very quick pure point guards who can score as well. The obvious caveat is that it is a big jump from JUCO play to the Big 12. That said, I think there is a chance he will be an exception on the positive side. I don't expect him to continue his average of 10 assists per game, but he may be able to provide quality minutes at the point IF he can play defense. I would not be totally shocked if he were to eventually be a starter, but that's just me.
The last guy is definitely not the least. While the skeleton of a viable team is in place, DaJuan Gordon is quite an insurance policy. I am not saying he is a magic man, but he does appear to be a darned good basketball player. Most guys who become the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year do pretty well even as freshmen, so I expect him to at least contribute quality minutes to the backcourt group.
Well, now you know what is going to happen! Remember, you heard it here first.
