Is this a ridiculous question to ask in April with three still-empty roster spots? Of course it is, that's why it's fun. It's really a dart board for me, but I'll throw out Mitrovic, Indrusaitis, Wilkins, Yeanay and Ali just to get things rolling. Updated roster is here:
https://bearinsider.com/forums/3/topics/133861/replies/2674218

barsad said:

---

Is this a ridiculous question to ask in April with three still-empty roster spots? Of course it is, that's why it's fun. It's really a dart board for me, but I'll throw out Mitrovic, Indrusaitis, Wilkins, Yeanay and Ali just to get things rolling. Updated roster is here:
https://bearinsider.com/forums/3/topics/133861/replies/2674218

---

I will say that I think the starting 5 will be:
PG: Jordan Ross
SG: Michael Cooper
SF: Jake Wilkins
PF: unknown maybe Mitrovic
C: Dort
First two players off the bench will be Indrusaitis and Ali. They will bring energy, defense and scoring off the bench.

Cal Still needs a PG. I would love to sign HS Josiah Johnson. He is 6'3" 185LBs. He is a scoring first PG and needs to continue to work on his all around game. He seeks out his shot first and dominates the ball too much. He is 58th ranked in the top 100. He will cost too much, and we have no shot at. One can dream.
Realistically, I'm not sure who it will be.

I would have liked a big man better than Dut and the other player. It will be interesting to see who Cal gets to commit to them for the last three spots.

Word on the street is that Johnson hasn't signed yet because his faith observes Sabbath on Saturdays (which isn't exactly compatible with college basketball scheduling) so teams have backed off.

I lived once near a small 7th Day Adventist community in the Pacific NW and the town grocery store was indeed closed every Sat but their small college sports teams would play on Saturdays so idk.

Also I think PF is our biggest question mark currently & I wouldn't be surprised to see Mitrovic get significant minutes out of need despite being young due to reclassifying.

Ali looks very like a wing to me and I think Wilkins would be more likely to slide into minutes at the 4 than him.

As the roster stands, there's a bit of a logjam at the 2/3 (Cooper, Ruff, Wilkins, Nojus, Ali, Bakare) so guys may shift out of position a bit or won't get as many minutes as they expect.

northbay said:

---

Word on the street is that Johnson hasn't signed yet because his faith observes Sabbath on Saturdays (which isn't exactly compatible with college basketball scheduling) so teams have backed off.

I lived once near a small 7th Day Adventist community in the Pacific NW and the town grocery store was indeed closed every Sat but their small college sports teams would play on Saturdays so idk.

Also I think PF is our biggest question mark currently & I wouldn't be surprised to see Mitrovic get significant minutes out of need despite being young due to reclassifying.

Ali looks very like a wing to me and I think Wilkins would be more likely to slide into minutes at the 4 than him.

As the roster stands, there's a bit of a logjam at the 2/3 (Cooper, Ruff, Wilkins, Nojus, Ali, Bakare) so guys may shift out of position a bit or won't get as many minutes as they expect.

---

You are right, Wilkens at 6-9 and a long defender is more the PF, Ali at 6-8 and a "scorer at all levels" is more the SF, to the extent they are on the court at the same time.

As of right now, I would think having both Ross and Cooper starting wouldn't make much sense since they appear to be our only point guards. Also I agree with calumnus, Ali seems to be the one frontcourt player that we can get scoring and outside shooting from. And yes, we need to bring in another point guard.

BC Calfan said:

---

My starting 5 at this point:

PG: Ross
SG: Industraitis
SF: Ali
PF: Unknown maybe Wilkins
C: Dort

Bench in order of PT: Cooper, Yeanay, Mitrovic, Ruff, Kocanas, Bakare

---

I tend to agree. I think the emergence and experience of Industraitis puts him at the starting SG position. Ross and Cooper may be interchangeable.

barsad said:

---

Is this a ridiculous question to ask in April with three still-empty roster spots? Of course it is, that's why it's fun. It's really a dart board for me, but I'll throw out Mitrovic, Indrusaitis, Wilkins, Yeanay and Ali just to get things rolling. Updated roster is here:
https://bearinsider.com/forums/3/topics/133861/replies/2674218

---

Not ridiculous to ask, but difficult, in fact I'd say impossible, to answer. We have a lot of prospects without a lot of proven players. Which is par for the course in the new system, but I'd say more than usual.

Cooper and Dort start.

Ruff, Wilkins, Yeanay, Ali, Indrusaitis are all very unproven, top contenders, any of whom could be very good.

I don't see the freshmen starting. I'd be satisfied with whatever I got.

I think Ross is a support player and it isn't great if he is starting.

Ross + other returners could start, but that would be because too few of the higher potential guys break out to fill the lineup and it would not be a good sign.

If I had to stick my neck out, I'd say Cooper, Ruff, Indrusaitis, Ali, Dort, with Wilkins getting major minutes (doesn't really matter actually who starts between Indrusaitis, Ali, Wilkins - they will all get plenty of minutes) with Ross providing decent if unspectacular minutes. Somebody I don't expect step up and the rest of the guys fill time. Looking at it again, I might put Wilkins (who I don't expect to shoot from outside) more with Cooper (who can shoot) and Ruff (who I hope can shoot) more often with Indrusaitis filling the shooting void when Cooper or Ruff are out and Ross is in.

Given that we don't really know what we are getting from Ruff, Wilkins, Yeanay, Ali, Indrusaitis, Mitrovic, and Bakare, it is really hard to predict. (Though, I'm hoping Indrusaitis short stretch run wasn't just a hot streak and is some indication of what he will be)

Really need Ruff to hit 3's (no idea), and Ali to take a step up from average to good at 3's, Cooper to step up from good to very good, and Indrusaitis to do what he has been doing at a little higher volume. Right now Cooper and Indrusaitis are the only proven commodities on the roster from 3.

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

BC Calfan said:

---

My starting 5 at this point:

PG: Ross
SG: Industraitis
SF: Ali
PF: Unknown maybe Wilkins
C: Dort

Bench in order of PT: Cooper, Yeanay, Mitrovic, Ruff, Kocanas, Bakare

---

I tend to agree. I think the emergence and experience of Industraitis puts him at the starting SG position. Ross and Cooper may be interchangeable.

---

I just don't see Ross over Cooper. Cooper needs to step up a level, but he was quite good at Wright State and he can shoot. Ross distributes a bit better, but his shooting is really poor for a guard and we don't have any other shooting.

I think it's helpful to think about what prototypes each player is equipped to fill:

Shooter vs non-shooter
Iso scorer vs needs baskets created by others
Creator vs non-creator (primary playmaking for PGs, secondary playmaking for others)

What made Pippen so crucial was his ability to do all of the above, even if efficiency was lacking at times.

What made Bell's impact so inconsistent was that he was neither a creator nor an iso scorer, making it easier to disappear/be game planned.

Ames did very little playmaking for others but a lot of the other 2 and while Camden did all 3, athletic limitations impacted creation and iso scoring against some matchups.

On our current roster, Cooper is most equipped to contribute in all 3 areas, which is why I'm penciling him in for the most minutes.

Nojus, Ali and Ruff all have the potential to impact all 3 areas but a lot of developmental things need to go right to be able to do all 3 at high volume.

And we need at least one of those guys to take a major leap and become a high usage, all around offensive player.

An extreme best case scenario is if Ruff becomes our version of Keaton Wagler/Christian Hammond.

A more likely scenario is Nojus or Ali take a big leap forward with extra playing time & responsibility but don't quite hit the heights of Dai Dai or Pippen's leaps this year.

I'm not including Wilkins here because he would need to take a much larger comparative leap forward to become a viable secondary playmaker or iso scorer next year (but can hopefully improve his shooting and be fed lots of dunks and layups by others).

And I'm not super bullish on Ross dramatically improving his shot or becoming an outstanding creator as a senior but hope that he can be more consistent as an iso scorer, which he has shown flashes while providing decent playmaking.

northbay said:

---

I think it's helpful to think about what prototypes each player is equipped to fill:

Shooter vs non-shooter
Iso scorer vs needs baskets created by others
Creator vs non-creator (primary playmaking for PGs, secondary playmaking for others)

What made Pippen so crucial was his ability to do all of the above, even if efficiency was lacking at times.

What made Bell's impact so inconsistent was that he was neither a creator nor an iso scorer, making it easier to disappear/be game planned.

Ames did very little playmaking for others but a lot of the other 2 and while Camden did all 3, athletic limitations impacted creation and iso scoring against some matchups.

On our current roster, Cooper is most equipped to contribute in all 3 areas, which is why I'm penciling him in for the most minutes.

Nojus, Ali and Ruff all have the potential to impact all 3 areas but a lot of developmental things need to go right to be able to do all 3 at high volume.

And we need at least one of those guys to take a major leap and become a high usage, all around offensive player.

An extreme best case scenario is if Ruff becomes our version of Keaton Wagler/Christian Hammond.

A more likely scenario is Nojus or Ali take a big leap forward with extra playing time & responsibility but don't quite hit the heights of Dai Dai or Pippen's leaps this year.

I'm not including Wilkins here because he would need to take a much larger comparative leap forward to become a viable secondary playmaker or iso scorer next year (but can hopefully improve his shooting and be fed lots of dunks and layups by others).

And I'm not super bullish on Ross dramatically improving his shot or becoming an outstanding creator as a senior but hope that he can be more consistent as an iso scorer, which he has shown flashes while providing decent playmaking.

---

I pretty much entirely agree with this. I would say that if we find shooting that Wilkins can be really useful in 1. He can provide a dynamic defensive threat if he sets his mind to doing that. 2. He can contribute on the break and above the rim in a way that almost certainly surpasses by a wide margin anyone else we have, so he can bring a component that just doesn't exist in this lineup.

northbay said:

---

I think it's helpful to think about what prototypes each player is equipped to fill:

---

Don't forget defense and rebounding. Looks like most of our new players have the tools, do they have the desire?

Who can knock down consistently 3s against ACC defenders in order to stretch our opponents' defenses, much like Camden and Bell could do last season?

Gkhoury2325 said:

---

PG: Jordan Ross
SG: Michael Cooper
SF: Jake Wilkins
PF: unknown maybe Mitrovic
C: Dort

---

Best case, we land the Euro PF and our new players come close to their potential:
PG: Cooper
SG: Indrusaitis
SF: Ali
PF: Wilkins
C: Euro PF
This puts our shooters on the floor along with a lot of length.

2nd team:
PG: Ross
SG: Ruff
SF: Yeanay
PF: Mitrovich
C: Dort
With Ross and Dort playing plenty of minutes.

stu said:

---

Gkhoury2325 said:

---

PG: Jordan Ross
SG: Michael Cooper
SF: Jake Wilkins
PF: unknown maybe Mitrovic
C: Dort

---

Best case, we land the Euro PF and our new players come close to their potential:
PG: Cooper
SG: Indrusaitis
SF: Ali
PF: Wilkins
C: Euro PF
This puts our shooters on the floor along with a lot of length.

2nd team:
PG: Ross
SG: Ruff
SF: Yeanay
PF: Mitrovich
C: Dort
With Ross and Dort playing plenty of minutes.

---

Stu, your lineup is not a bad combination. It can make sense. Dort is definitely starting, and I believe Ross will start and facilitate the offense. Cooper will definitely play the backup PG minutes when he slides over from the SG spot. I believe Idrusiatis will be our 6th man and our energy off the bench with Ali or Wilkins. Our bench should be much stronger this coming year.

I suspect Ali and Wilkins will be our wing players and Wilkins could slide to the PF spot if Mitrovic is in foul trouble or if there are not a good matchup.

Madsen will have more possibilities with this group of players than most of the teams he has had.

Unfortunately, there is no Pippen, Ames, Tyson, or a rebounding machine at the center spot like Aimaq. We have potential with our new guys, but let's see how it plays out. I am worried about our backup bigs. They will need to improve immensely. Maybe Mitrovic plays minutes at Center. A lot of combinations to work with. Stu you may have something sir. It will be interesting.

Gkhoury2325 said:

---

... A lot of combinations to work with ...

---

That's what I'm looking forward to. No more 3 or 4 or 5 regulars then who else can play for a few minutes without killing us.

And since there are still three spots left there has to be another point guard out there that we can bring in. Don't know why but Ross just doesn't impress me. Hope MM lands a good ball handler who is quick to the hoop. We need one more dependable player here.

More importantly is who finishes as the starting five in the 2027 NIT first round game.

Calfan92 said:

---

More importantly is who finishes as the starting five in the 2027 NIT first round game.

---

Better step outside today and soak up some sunshine.

stu said:

---

Calfan92 said:

---

More importantly is who finishes as the starting five in the 2027 NIT first round game.

---

Better step outside today and soak up some sunshine.

---

I think I know how the pro-Dort majority will answer, but I've got to have some hope…. is there ANY chance Mitrovic can start over Dort next season? He's a 7-footer and judging only from video he moves 50% better than Dort. No idea on his post moves. But I'm looking for a new center, I don't see how we improve our win total with Dort getting stripped in the paint all season.

barsad said:

---

stu said:

---

Calfan92 said:

---

More importantly is who finishes as the starting five in the 2027 NIT first round game.

---

Better step outside today and soak up some sunshine.

---

I think I know how the pro-Dort majority will answer, but I've got to have some hope…. is there ANY chance Mitrovic can start over Dort next season? He's a 7-footer and judging only from video he moves 50% better than Dort. No idea on his post moves. But I'm looking for a new center, I don't see how we improve our win total with Dort getting stripped in the paint all season.

---

I'm not anti or pro Dort. He did improve over last season. I don't think he is great, but he is experienced and physically mature. Mitrovic is very skinny and he reclassified from 2027 to 2026. Honestly, I'm expecting him to take some time to be a starter level contributor. A few years of experience and physical development is huge at the center position.

As usual a panoply of unknowns for next season. I was hoping that this late in the Portal Minecraft game we would have more stable blocks at the 1 and the 5, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's cross our fingers and hope that Wilkins is a late-blooming NBA draft pick?

barsad said:

---

stu said:

---

Calfan92 said:

---

More importantly is who finishes as the starting five in the 2027 NIT first round game.

---

Better step outside today and soak up some sunshine.

---

I think I know how the pro-Dort majority will answer, but I've got to have some hope…. is there ANY chance Mitrovic can start over Dort next season? He's a 7-footer and judging only from video he moves 50% better than Dort. No idea on his post moves. But I'm looking for a new center, I don't see how we improve our win total with Dort getting stripped in the paint all season.

---

Dort moves really well. He just doesn't provide offense.

barsad said:

---

As usual a panoply of unknowns for next season. I was hoping that this late in the Portal Minecraft game we would have more stable blocks at the 1 and the 5, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's cross our fingers and hope that Wilkins is a late-blooming NBA draft pick?

---

All on premium. We are not done. You can learn more there.

How many subscribers are there?

barsad said:

---

How many subscribers are there?

---

I'm not sure how many? There is many more than the free board.

Here is why I am pushing you. The strange dynamic (look at the game threads) is that for many years the Insider FOOTBALL board was dominant but the "free" BB board had more activity.

That has changed. And getting more of you to migrate over to Haas solves a personal problem - not having to check twice and remember what information is or isn't free.

And to be fair - the Haas board has absolutely exploded over the last year with Rod content, the work that MB and Greg are posting there and then the current discussion. This board, comparatively, is dead and likely will remain because many of us are discussing things on premium the rules say we can't post here.

barsad said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

barsad said:

---

As usual a panoply of unknowns for next season. I was hoping that this late in the Portal Minecraft game we would have more stable blocks at the 1 and the 5, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's cross our fingers and hope that Wilkins is a late-blooming NBA draft pick?

---

All on premium. We are not done. You can learn more there.

---

If you think these constant non-answer, premium-touting answers on everything on these boards is somehow encouraging more subscriptions, I can tell you it's having the opposite effect.
It's like some guy at the country club door telling you, "Wow, you really have to try the shrimp buffet in here, go around back with your credit card."
If you have nothing to say on the regular boards, maybe just don't post?

---

Barsad, I felt the exact same way. For many years. Really really hated being constantly cajoled to spend money. I also felt that if I signed up I'd feel obligated to spend more time on the site to justify the money I was spending. (Which is how Netflix, AppleTV, etc make me feel.) Then something spurred me to try it for a month. I so very much did not regret it. It's not that expensive, and as a Cal fan I truly enjoy the info and discussions. And I don't feel coerced into spending time there. I WANT to. I recommend folks give it a try for a month. If you disagree and don't like it, dump it.

Our top 5 is constantly evolving due to the infusion of more and still more top recruits.