re: Could Josh LeBlanc be our key to a successful season next year?

LeBlanc is barely average, hope we're not relying too much on him.

Gaines scares me.

Love him on defense but in no way should he be your starter at the 2.

Well we already know Wade likes him and had enough confidence to play him a lot as a freshman. Like you said he’s a good defender, he’s got good length and has rare speed. His offense wasn’t consistent and he wasn’t called on to do much on offense but as a prospect he reminds me physically of the way Tim Quarterman was as a freshman. If he adds weight and strength I can see him making the same kind of jump from year 1 to year 2 offensively. Here’s the comparison of he and TQ’s freshman seasons.

Quarterman
Minutes- 12.2pg
Ppg- 2.5
Rpg- 1.8
Apg- 1.5
Spg- 0.7
Fg%- 26.4%
3pt%- 20.8%
FT%- 54.8%

Gaines
Minutes- 13.4
Ppg- 2.5
Rpg- 1.4
Apg- 1.2
Spg- 1.0
Fg%- 22.2%
3pt%- 17.2%
FT%- 72.7%

Quarterman jump his Soph year
Ppg- 11.5
Rpg- 5.2
Apg- 4.0
Spg- 1.4
FG%- 42.7%
3pt%- 31.3%
FT%- 71.8%

Very similar production as freshman and with another year on campus, more opportunities and more strength Gaines can make a similar jump. He’s not as tall as TQ but has more physical tools with his speed and ball handling. I think he can be a productive slasher for us if he improves on that same curve.

How many slots do we have for transfers? You are allowed 13 total scholarships. We have for sure 7 on the roster now that will be coming back if they don't transfer. Darius Dayes might come back but it seems an unwritten thing now that none of them come back for their senior year. Bless our exception, Skyler Mays.

There are already some transfers and early admittance guys who have been practicing with the team but haven't been eligible for games. There are four of those, if I am not mistaken, which I could be.

So that would only allow two more transfers if Dayes doesn't come back and one if he does. Someone with more knowledge check me on these numbers.

I agree. Right now it looks like a real tough rebuild year and Wade's worst team ever. If he manages to move some pieces around and finds a style to fit them which turns them into a good team then all questions about his ability to coach should be gone. I think, based on his past, that at least two players who were on the current team will be moving on and some graduate transfers who can play immediately will be transferring in.