I have not done any interviews or been to a workout --they were closed anyway under Ron Hunter before the pandemic and certainly will be closed now because they won't want anyone penetrating the bubble indoors--but I have heard some things about this team, which began playing together the week before July 4 with no coaches around. The coaches began conducting on-court instruction (not full practices) in late July, so this team has been together for a while now and hopes to have Vandy transfer Oton Jankovic cleared by the NCAA to compete this season (it's not a done deal either way).
Here is what I learned:
--The season may start right after Thanksgiving with non-conference games. Nothing has been settled yet, with a normal start, a late December start and the Thanksgiving start being considered, but the latter one makes the most sense because a majority of schools are ending classes before Thanksgiving. It would be easy to get the players in a bubble post-Thanskgiving through December.
--Jaylen Forbes has a good chance to be the team's leading scorer. The 6-5 Alabama transfer has an offensive game and is a good on-ball defender in the matchup.
--The most improved player is Tylan Pope, who likely will play the 4 after having virtually no roll a year ago as a freshman. His offensive game needs some refinement, but he is an aggressive rebounder for a team that needs exactly that.
--Sion James will play a lot, even though freshmen normally don't under Hunter. He is going to be a big-time performer.
--Tulane will have its best backcourt in several years, with James, Southern Miss transfer Gabe Watson, Jordan Walker and Forbes. R.J. McGee will have to play well to earn significant minutes because the competition will be stiff.
--Nebraska transfer Kevin Cross has a game similar to Samir Sehic but is a better outside shooter. Sehic struggled from the perimeter even though he considered himself a good shooter. He may push Nobal Days out of the starting lineup.
--Jankovic is quicker than the average big man. If he becomes eligible, depth will still be shy in the frontcourt but it won't be a dire situation.
--Ibby Ali could return from his shoulder issue (I believe it is a shoulder issue) in late November/December. That's the hope anyway.
--Jadan Coleman needs some time to develop but already is a good outside shooter who can be streaky hot. Even if he does not contribute much this year, his upside is good.
--Buay Koka is still on the team but probably will not play much.
Without the transfers becoming eligible, Tulane was headed for a Mike Dunleavy-final-year type season. The story is different now. Considering what happened with Teshaun Hightower in the offseason, Hunter did a good job convincing transfers to join the program. It could not have been easy, but his positive approach worked wonders.
Here is what I learned:
--The season may start right after Thanksgiving with non-conference games. Nothing has been settled yet, with a normal start, a late December start and the Thanksgiving start being considered, but the latter one makes the most sense because a majority of schools are ending classes before Thanksgiving. It would be easy to get the players in a bubble post-Thanskgiving through December.
--Jaylen Forbes has a good chance to be the team's leading scorer. The 6-5 Alabama transfer has an offensive game and is a good on-ball defender in the matchup.
--The most improved player is Tylan Pope, who likely will play the 4 after having virtually no roll a year ago as a freshman. His offensive game needs some refinement, but he is an aggressive rebounder for a team that needs exactly that.
--Sion James will play a lot, even though freshmen normally don't under Hunter. He is going to be a big-time performer.
--Tulane will have its best backcourt in several years, with James, Southern Miss transfer Gabe Watson, Jordan Walker and Forbes. R.J. McGee will have to play well to earn significant minutes because the competition will be stiff.
--Nebraska transfer Kevin Cross has a game similar to Samir Sehic but is a better outside shooter. Sehic struggled from the perimeter even though he considered himself a good shooter. He may push Nobal Days out of the starting lineup.
--Jankovic is quicker than the average big man. If he becomes eligible, depth will still be shy in the frontcourt but it won't be a dire situation.
--Ibby Ali could return from his shoulder issue (I believe it is a shoulder issue) in late November/December. That's the hope anyway.
--Jadan Coleman needs some time to develop but already is a good outside shooter who can be streaky hot. Even if he does not contribute much this year, his upside is good.
--Buay Koka is still on the team but probably will not play much.
Without the transfers becoming eligible, Tulane was headed for a Mike Dunleavy-final-year type season. The story is different now. Considering what happened with Teshaun Hightower in the offseason, Hunter did a good job convincing transfers to join the program. It could not have been easy, but his positive approach worked wonders.