He was a starting PG on an meh team and wasn't great at it at. He has issues turning the ball over and you put him against Big 12 defenses and it is going to be even worse.
Holmes is a better player and he played point when Lofton was out and did a really good job in both facilitating and not turning the ball over.
Gabe isn't playing less.
I think you are way overrating Williams and what he will bring next year. Also, wouldn't say that Williams is a better defender than Holmes. Just for reference, when you take WIlliams off the team on Torvik, ISU gets better. Also, with Green, the projected top three contributors are Green, Holmes, and Kalscheur in that order. Williams is seventh.
You’re relying on hope imo. Projecting A10 and MVC combos (with the benefit of pgs) as giving adequate Big 12 pg play (without a pg), isnt more logical than an AAC full time pg being adequate. And the fit it worse on the former, given Green is our shooter and Williams the best pg defender.
Williams played pg full time in a conference basically Pac12 level. A lot of upside stemming from that being in a bad offense and having played just 3 more games than Hunter. We don’t limit what Hunter is going to be because he was the pg of a poor offense. He may not become what Hunter will become, but he should be similar to what Hunter was.
On the other hand, Green and Holmes were 4th year players, and at most, part time pgs, in lesser conferences. There’s nothing to suggest they’re more capable to handle the Big 12 pg duties. Two weak pgs don’t make 1 sufficient pg.
Holmes didn’t do a very good job as even part time pg. It’s one reason his numbers went down. In a worse conference than Williams and surrounded by better players . He’s not as good in PnR or as a facilitator. He is an okay instigator type. His TO numbers lower because he played MUCH less pg. Williams at pg had a TO number similar to Hunter. Holmes is not the pg defender either. Holmes at the 3 improves his footsteed
If our blind faith is that high on Holmes as a Big 12 combo, the real question is do you get better pg play from a lineup with Williams or Gabe? Shooting is a wash, although Gabe was the most harmful shooter in the conference given his volume. Defense is a wash as Williams is our best pg defender of the four.
What’s Bart Torvik do without Gabe in the starting lineup?