I did something similar to this last year where I talked about which teams I thought upgraded and which teams didn't. Now this year, I'm gonna rank them from 10-1 and we'll see if everyone agrees.
10. Idaho - Another offseason filled with departures from the program. While the Vandy's have brought in some decent to good players to replace the deflections, if they wanna have any semblance of a program or any kind of success, they gotta be able to retain players. Zac Claus is a joke and the Vandy's are not going anywhere until they get rid of him.
9. Northern Arizona - I have the same feelings about Shane Burcar as I do Zac Claus. I think he needs to go to. While the Jacks were able to hang on to Jalen Cone and Nick Mains, they did lose Ajang Aguek and Mason Stark. I'm not really impressed with any of the transfers they brought in either, I think they're ok, but they're nothing really eye popping.
8. Northern Colorado - I know people are going to think this is a hot take, but I don't think UNC has had all that impressive of an offseason so far. With the loss of Dru Kuxhausen and Body Hume to graduation, as well as both Tre'Shon Smoots and Kur Jongkuch transferring, that's a lot of serious talent lost from this runner-up Bears team. The only positive thing they've really done this offseason is convinced Daylon Kountz to stay, but I struggle to see how UNC will have a better team next year then what they had last season.
7. Weber State - I'm ranking Weber at 7 for the sole purpose of Randy Rahe retiring and Weber making an internal hire. Rahe retired pretty late in the offseason so that didn't really leave a lot of options, but I think Weber should've just rode with an interim for a year and then make an outside hire after next season. I think some fresh voices could do Weber wonders. But who knows? This guy could end up being pretty good, and Weber didn't get killed by the portal this year, so the potential is there.
6. Idaho State - I think ISU is the poster child for what a very average offseason looks like. They didn't do anything spectacular in the portal, I like the guys they brought in, but they're not exactly great. The only good player they lost was Robert Ford and he missed half the year with injury, so I wouldn't necessarily call it a huge loss. Other then that, they were able to hang on to some of their better players.
5. Portland State - PSU has also had a pretty average offseason. Kimani Holt, Michal Carter, and Ian Burke will definitely be missed, and Jace Coburn brought in a ton of guys that I don't really know much about. Cam Parker was definitely their best pickup. Plus I think Coburn coaches really hard and despite what seems like average talent, I think they'll be competitive next year.
4. Eastern Washington - Eastern did graduate a lot of good players, but they do have Ellis Magnuson and Steele Venters both coming back. Plus I like the transfers that David Riley brought in. I do think Eastern will be a better team next year, but I'm just not sure how much better they will be. I probably wouldn't put them in the title discussion next year just yet.
3. Montana State - Make no mistake, the losses of Xavier Bishop, Amin Adamu, and Abdul Mohamed will definitely hurt. The cats did also lose 2 assistant coaches this offseason (Ken Moses to Utah Valley, Dan Russell to Weber), that said, the cats will still be very good for the sole fact that Jubrile Belo chose to take the additional year. Great Osobor I think will be on another level next year as will Raequan Battle. I do think the cats gambled a little bit in the portal bringing in 2 guys that have a bad history of injuries, but if they can stay healthy then I think they can be very good players. I think it's a 2 horse race between the cats and the Griz for the conference title.
2. Montana - Despite how some of you feel about the staff letting go of Beasley, Parker, and DCH, I think we did exactly what we needed to this offseason which was to overhaul the roster, and try to put together a cohesive group that will put us back in the Big Sky title race, and we did just that this offseason. I love our Freshmen class (Nap especially), and I love all 4 of the guys we brought in through the transfer portal (Thomas especially). I seriously give Decuire and staff an A grade for this offseaon! We will be back next year, I guarantee it!
1. Sacramento State - Give me one good reason why anyone had a better offseason then Sac State? I was a little skeptical initially about the hiring of David Patrick since he wasn't exactly stellar at UC Riverside, however he has been a big time assistant at a number of big time programs, and he absolutely killed it in the portal! This may be the most talent Sac State may end up having in my lifetime. I don't think Sac State will contend for the conference this season, but they are going to give a number of teams serious problems this year. Future's bright for Hornet Basketball for the first time in a long time!
10. Idaho - Another offseason filled with departures from the program. While the Vandy's have brought in some decent to good players to replace the deflections, if they wanna have any semblance of a program or any kind of success, they gotta be able to retain players. Zac Claus is a joke and the Vandy's are not going anywhere until they get rid of him.
9. Northern Arizona - I have the same feelings about Shane Burcar as I do Zac Claus. I think he needs to go to. While the Jacks were able to hang on to Jalen Cone and Nick Mains, they did lose Ajang Aguek and Mason Stark. I'm not really impressed with any of the transfers they brought in either, I think they're ok, but they're nothing really eye popping.
8. Northern Colorado - I know people are going to think this is a hot take, but I don't think UNC has had all that impressive of an offseason so far. With the loss of Dru Kuxhausen and Body Hume to graduation, as well as both Tre'Shon Smoots and Kur Jongkuch transferring, that's a lot of serious talent lost from this runner-up Bears team. The only positive thing they've really done this offseason is convinced Daylon Kountz to stay, but I struggle to see how UNC will have a better team next year then what they had last season.
7. Weber State - I'm ranking Weber at 7 for the sole purpose of Randy Rahe retiring and Weber making an internal hire. Rahe retired pretty late in the offseason so that didn't really leave a lot of options, but I think Weber should've just rode with an interim for a year and then make an outside hire after next season. I think some fresh voices could do Weber wonders. But who knows? This guy could end up being pretty good, and Weber didn't get killed by the portal this year, so the potential is there.
6. Idaho State - I think ISU is the poster child for what a very average offseason looks like. They didn't do anything spectacular in the portal, I like the guys they brought in, but they're not exactly great. The only good player they lost was Robert Ford and he missed half the year with injury, so I wouldn't necessarily call it a huge loss. Other then that, they were able to hang on to some of their better players.
5. Portland State - PSU has also had a pretty average offseason. Kimani Holt, Michal Carter, and Ian Burke will definitely be missed, and Jace Coburn brought in a ton of guys that I don't really know much about. Cam Parker was definitely their best pickup. Plus I think Coburn coaches really hard and despite what seems like average talent, I think they'll be competitive next year.
4. Eastern Washington - Eastern did graduate a lot of good players, but they do have Ellis Magnuson and Steele Venters both coming back. Plus I like the transfers that David Riley brought in. I do think Eastern will be a better team next year, but I'm just not sure how much better they will be. I probably wouldn't put them in the title discussion next year just yet.
3. Montana State - Make no mistake, the losses of Xavier Bishop, Amin Adamu, and Abdul Mohamed will definitely hurt. The cats did also lose 2 assistant coaches this offseason (Ken Moses to Utah Valley, Dan Russell to Weber), that said, the cats will still be very good for the sole fact that Jubrile Belo chose to take the additional year. Great Osobor I think will be on another level next year as will Raequan Battle. I do think the cats gambled a little bit in the portal bringing in 2 guys that have a bad history of injuries, but if they can stay healthy then I think they can be very good players. I think it's a 2 horse race between the cats and the Griz for the conference title.
2. Montana - Despite how some of you feel about the staff letting go of Beasley, Parker, and DCH, I think we did exactly what we needed to this offseason which was to overhaul the roster, and try to put together a cohesive group that will put us back in the Big Sky title race, and we did just that this offseason. I love our Freshmen class (Nap especially), and I love all 4 of the guys we brought in through the transfer portal (Thomas especially). I seriously give Decuire and staff an A grade for this offseaon! We will be back next year, I guarantee it!
1. Sacramento State - Give me one good reason why anyone had a better offseason then Sac State? I was a little skeptical initially about the hiring of David Patrick since he wasn't exactly stellar at UC Riverside, however he has been a big time assistant at a number of big time programs, and he absolutely killed it in the portal! This may be the most talent Sac State may end up having in my lifetime. I don't think Sac State will contend for the conference this season, but they are going to give a number of teams serious problems this year. Future's bright for Hornet Basketball for the first time in a long time!