2020-21 Starting Five Predictions

[TheDrake]

Roman Penn
DJ Wilkins / Noah Thomas
Jonah Jackson / Garret Sturtz
Tremell Murphy
Darnell Brodie

If Brodie doesn't get immediate eligibility then I honestly have no idea what Devries will do. Issa Samake and Nate Ferguson are the two most likely replacements but Ferguson was out all last year with back injuries and Samake is still raw from what I've heard. Maybe they'll go small and start Wilkins and Thomas. At this point nobody's starting spot is guaranteed except for Penn and Murphy.

[BEARZ77]

Word out today is that the NCAA committee is recommending not to move on the transfer issue this year, but it's still undecided. My guess is that will leave it back to the waiver process for at least this year, which if anyone can make sense of , good luck. Will be a lot of p'd off players who took bad advice about immediate eligibility and went into the portal. One thing that has happened this year is the early run and signing of jucos, with 138 of the top 150 already signed . Might be a lot of guys in the portal scrambling to find a home.

[Adunk33]

For the Redbirds, the starting five is open with the exception of two spots. Horne is going to be the starting point guard to start the season and Fisher will likely start at the 4. The other three spots are up for grabs and will likely be different come the end of the season.

This is probably how they start the season. I'm sure, like this season, there will be 10+ different starting line ups before they settle in to one.
1. Horne (soph)
2. Reeves (soph)
3. Boyd (rs Jr)
4. Fisher (Sr- Only one on the team)
5. Dusan (Jr.)

If Howard Fleming lives up to the hype, during the season he could play the 1 with Horne moving to the 2, and Reeves at the 3. My general assumption, assuming everything is on time, that the Birds won't have a consistent starting line up until December/the start of conference play.

[TreeFan]

INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES

PG TJ Howard (Grad Transfer from Towson)
G Tyreke Key (SR MVC POY Candidate)
G Cooper Neese (JR Looking for break-out season)
F Jake LaRavia (SO All-MVC Candidate)
F Trey Williams (SO Started every game as FR)

G Randy Miller Jr (Grad Transfer from NC Central, could start over Neese)

[Blers]

From the handful of times I watched the Blers last year, I'd be surprised if Kennedy didn't start. Granted, I don't know the full scope of your roster, but starting 5 seniors is a great way to win the MVC. Older players, especially in this league, win games.

I don't think Kennedy starts, but he'll definitely finish games. I think he'll continue to play starter-ish minutes (23-28mpg) a-la Aundre Jackson a few years ago. I think Porter likes being able to bring instant offense off the bench and in my opinion he could very well be our second best player next year. He's a stud.

As for the PG conversation i'm really curious who starts as well; as mentioned Norris was a stud as a starting freshman pg at Oakland; meanwhile Clemon's is a proven winner who won a JUCO championship and played his best ball in the biggest moments, he was a monster at home against UNI and was about the only player who brought intensity to Arch Madness. I could see Clemons sliding over to the 2, and Norris running point at times. I think all fans agree the only player we're okay moving to the bench would be Uguak.

[BEARZ77]

I don't think Kennedy starts, but he'll definitely finish games. I think he'll continue to play starter-ish minutes (23-28mpg) a-la Aundre Jackson a few years ago. I think Porter likes being able to bring instant offense off the bench and in my opinion he could very well be our second best player next year. He's a stud.
As for the PG conversation i'm really curious who starts as well; as mentioned Norris was a stud as a starting freshman pg at Oakland; meanwhile Clemon's is a proven winner who won a JUCO championship and played his best ball in the biggest moments, he was a monster at home against UNI and was about the only player who brought intensity to Arch Madness. I could see Clemons sliding over to the 2, and Norris running point at times. I think all fans agree the only player we're okay moving to the bench would be Uguak.

Right now I've got the Ramblers as my preseason favorite because of their veteran lineup and quality depth with guys like Norris , Kaifes, Kennedy in the backcourt and decent size behind Krutwig and along the front line with Welch/Agunane/Hutson. The one area I see them lacking is in the 6'5-6'7 athletic wings who can score. Williamson and Uguak can defend but neither has been a consistent scoring threat; Williamson still might come a round offensively and Hall can shoot, but it's the one area I wouldn't say was a strength overall.

PS: Right after writing that, Loyola gets Damezi Anderson a 6'6 transfer from Indiana ; however, will probably be a sit 1 play 2 , but exactly the type of player I said they didn't have.

[siudawgs]

I hope the non-conference season happens because I’d like to see what some of these squads can do; Loyola, UNI and Bradley all look pretty salty on paper. That Loyola backcourt is just stacked. The league’s depth seems pretty solid, too, albeit damaged by some of the high-profile, outgoing transfers in recent weeks.

[Birdfan2018]

For the Redbirds, the starting five is open with the exception of two spots. Horne is going to be the starting point guard to start the season and Fisher will likely start at the 4. The other three spots are up for grabs and will likely be different come the end of the season.

This is probably how they start the season. I'm sure, like this season, there will be 10+ different starting line ups before they settle in to one.
1. Horne (soph)
2. Reeves (soph)
3. Boyd (rs Jr)
4. Fisher (Sr- Only one on the team)
5. Dusan (Jr.)

If Howard Fleming lives up to the hype, during the season he could play the 1 with Horne moving to the 2, and Reeves at the 3. My general assumption, assuming everything is on time, that the Birds won't have a consistent starting line up until December/the start of conference play.

How would you feel about a starting lineup of: (against teams without a dominating big center)

Horne (So)
Fleming (Fr)
Reeves (So)
Washington (Fr)
Fisher (Sr)

[Adunk33]

For the Redbirds, the starting five is open with the exception of two spots. Horne is going to be the starting point guard to start the season and Fisher will likely start at the 4. The other three spots are up for grabs and will likely be different come the end of the season.

This is probably how they start the season. I'm sure, like this season, there will be 10+ different starting line ups before they settle in to one.
1. Horne (soph)
2. Reeves (soph)
3. Boyd (rs Jr)
4. Fisher (Sr- Only one on the team)
5. Dusan (Jr.)

If Howard Fleming lives up to the hype, during the season he could play the 1 with Horne moving to the 2, and Reeves at the 3. My general assumption, assuming everything is on time, that the Birds won't have a consistent starting line up until December/the start of conference play.

How would you feel about a starting lineup of: (against teams without a dominating big center)

Horne (So)
Fleming (Fr)
Reeves (So)
Washington (Fr)
Fisher (Sr)

That's a really small lineup. The game plan would have to be get out in transition and run. Even if a team doesn't have a "dominating big center" most teams we play will have at least 2 6'8+ guys in the line up. I've seen Washington listed everywhere from 6'5 to 6'7, but either way, it's a small lineup. I don't think Muller would even consider starting the season with this line up. He typically makes freshmen earn their starting roles with in-game action. Remember, Horne didn't start his first regular season game until @TCU, 7 games into the regular season. I'd imagine we don't see any starting freshmen until December at the earliest. Hope I'm wrong though, I'm excited to see what Fleming can do at this level.

[Birdfan2018]

For the Redbirds, the starting five is open with the exception of two spots. Horne is going to be the starting point guard to start the season and Fisher will likely start at the 4. The other three spots are up for grabs and will likely be different come the end of the season.

This is probably how they start the season. I'm sure, like this season, there will be 10+ different starting line ups before they settle in to one.
1. Horne (soph)
2. Reeves (soph)
3. Boyd (rs Jr)
4. Fisher (Sr- Only one on the team)
5. Dusan (Jr.)

If Howard Fleming lives up to the hype, during the season he could play the 1 with Horne moving to the 2, and Reeves at the 3. My general assumption, assuming everything is on time, that the Birds won't have a consistent starting line up until December/the start of conference play.

How would you feel about a starting lineup of: (against teams without a dominating big center)

Horne (So)
Fleming (Fr)
Reeves (So)
Washington (Fr)
Fisher (Sr)

That's a really small lineup. The game plan would have to be get out in transition and run. Even if a team doesn't have a "dominating big center" most teams we play will have at least 2 6'8+ guys in the line up. I've seen Washington listed everywhere from 6'5 to 6'7, but either way, it's a small lineup. I don't think Muller would even consider starting the season with this line up. He typically makes freshmen earn their starting roles with in-game action. Remember, Horne didn't start his first regular season game until @TCU, 7 games into the regular season. I'd imagine we don't see any starting freshmen until December at the earliest. Hope I'm wrong though, I'm excited to see what Fleming can do at this level.

Was actually referring to later on after they’ve had some games, kinda like when DJ started last season.