If you only have 3 returners and no impact freshman then the team will not be a contender.
If you have 3 returnees, let’s say:
PG -
SG - Chandler
SF -
PF -
C - Moreno
6th - Williams
^ You’re saying you’d have to have an impact freshman. I’d say that is untrue. Since most of us are unfamiliar with with most of the portal guys from this year, I’ll replace those three spots with Michigan’s portal guys from last year.
PG - Cadeau
SG - Chandler
SF - Lendeborg
PF - Johnson
C - Moreno
6th - Williams
^ This theoretical roster was built using only portal guys from a national contender this season. If you don’t think that would be a contender, I don’t know what to tell you.
No, I don’t think you NEED a freshman.
(For those who are going to misunderstand, no, I don’t think Yaxel’s grow on trees and no, I’m not saying I know for a fact Pope would land this type of portal haul. The point is that you can supplement your returnees with excellent portal transfers and be a contender.)