This might be the actual reality for rosters come next season.
Roster and Depth Chart
G Teyvion Kirk 6-4 185 R-Jr. Joliet, IL-Joliet West HS/Ohio
G Kyle Lukasiewicz 6-6 200 Sr. Centennial, CO-Arapahoe HS/NE Oklahoma A&M*
G Kendle Moore 5-10 145 Jr. Danville, IL-Danville HS
G P.J. Byrd 6-1 185 Jr Houston, TX-Bush HS/VCU
F Adam Thistlewood 6-6 00 Jr. Golden, CO-Golden HS
G Ignas Sargiunas 6-5 205 R-So. Kaunas, Lithuania-Jonas Basanavicius Gymnasium/Georgia
G Isaiah Stevens 6-0 160 So. Allen, TX-Allen HS
F Dischon Thomas 6-9 215 So. Phoenix, AZ-Hillcrest Prep
G David Roddy 6-5 250 So. Minneapolis, MN-Breck School
G John Tonje 6-5 195 So. Omaha, NE-Omaha Central HS
F James Moors 6-10 200 R-Fr. Auckland, New Zealand
F Isaiah Rivera 6-5 185 Fr. Geneseo, IL-Geneseo HS
C Jacob Jennisen 7-0 205 Fr. Sauk Centre, MN-Sauk Centre Secondary School
G Trace Young 6-3 165 Fr. Dripping Springs HS-Austin, TX*
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Isaiah Stevens So. | Kendle Moore Jr. | Adam Thistlewood Jr. | David Roddy So. | Dischon Thomas So. |
| P.J. Byrd Jr. | Teyvion Kirk R-Jr. | John Toje So. | James Moor R-Fr. | Jacob Jennisen Fr. |
| Trace Young Fr. | Ignas Sargiunas R-So. | Isaiah Rivera Fr. | ||
| Kyle Lukasiewicz Sr. * |
2021 stat projections by Bart Torvik.com
Things of Note:
- With Nico Carvacho gone there is an initial worry about a lack of size on a squad that started David Roddy at the four at times last season. But at second glance there are players with size, they are just inexperienced.
As mentioned above the only weak spot in this lineup is in the paint. It’s hard to tell if any of the three post players listed Dischon Thomas, James Moors or incoming freshman Jacob Jennisen are primed for a breakout year. But the Rams have to replace Carvacho’s production somehow and you should expect to see more four “guard” line ups next season regardless of who wins the starting five spot.
Usually the third year at a new program is a make or break kind of measurement as now you have had a chance to recruit your own players, play your style of basketball and the results are entirely your own. But given how the 2019-2020 season ended, everything must be graded on a curve going forward. It’s hard to grade incomplete work in almost any arena, especially something as result driven as college basketball, so we must wait.
In conclusion,
It’s hard to imagine a ruling in favor of extra eligibility for a sport that was let’s say 85% done? I get it, it isn’t college basketball without March Madness but to award a whole extra year of eligibility for players is hard to imagine logistically. Unlike those springs sport athletes who had their season canceled before it even got started, winter sports got to play almost an entire season before theirs was canceled.
For some teams, especially in the Mountain West, their seasons were over. We had our champion. So for everyone else, their season was actually over, barring a postseason invitation to maybe the NIT, CBI or CIT.
Don’t get me wrong I am all in favor of awarding an extra year of eligibility to guys who just didn’t get the closure they deserved. No matter how heartbreaking it may be on a court surrounded by tens of thousands of fans or watched by millions at home. It is tough that hundreds of players didn’t get to experience that.
But there is also a group of players that maybe just wouldn’t return. Some would graduate and move on while others would pursue a professional opportunity. That is their decision and I can’t wait to hear some official news so we can let them do that.
