My initial keys:
#1 for next year's team will be the development of Jevon/Nigel. If those two make decent improvements in both scoring and what they can do within the offense, then K-State will contend for the Top 3 in the league.
#2 is probably Edwards, but I see Edwards as a bit of a wildcard. If he can make the transition from Maine and become a scorer and a perimeter player that can get to the rim, then K-State's offense changes drastically.
#3 is if Bolden and Hurt can play. If K-State can spend more minutes with 2 bigs on the floor a) we match up with bigger teams (namely KU) better and b) we cause problems for so many other teams in the league that don't really play a true PF.
I think these are pretty accurate keys.
#1 - Will the PGs be good enough to play at least 30 minutes combined. I don't think we have to have both of them get all 40 minutes at the PG spot, but getting at least 30 quality minutes would be a good sign.
#2 - I think Edwards ability to score the ball will be important. He wasn't a good 3pt shooter and only 22% of his shots in 2 yrs at Maine were behind the arc. Let's hope he will be a better shooter. I know some on this board have their doubts and rightfully so. It would be nice to have someone other than Foster to stretch the defense and at least have the ability to shoot the 3. Westicles hopefully improves his outside shot and Nigel has the ability to shoot 3s, but at this point neither can be counted on. One thing I do like about Edwards was his ability to rebound the basketball. Ave 5.4 reb in playing almost 80% of the minutes in 2 yrs.
#3 - We will have 5 guys to compete for playing time at the 4/5 spots. Nino has proven himself and will get minutes but the rest of the minutes should go to all true bigs. Shane wasn't a good OR and Nino wasn't a good DR this year, so hopefully having more true bigs on the court will help with Reb and rim protecting