Hoops Insider: What will starting 5 look like vs. BYU?
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
My favorite part of that quote is how much he enjoyed last year. Not everyone would enjoy being the odd-man-out of the rotation. Hopefully SDW has the same attitude this year.
Ranking play of players so far from first three games:
Melvin
Kane
Naz
Hogue
Georges
MT/MM
Edzozie
Bluford
PGibson
SDW
Now, if so, who do you start?
I think he may start Ejim....but I'm not sure who he will sit to start. BYU has a couple bigs up front (6 10 and 6 11) and apparently they like to run, like ISU does. So, do you start Hogue for rebounding, or do you start Naz for shooting and perimeter defense?
I don't think there is anything wrong with adjusting the starting lineup based on the starting personnel of the team you are facing. Fred is all about identifying and exploiting mismatches. If you have an opportunity to maximize mismatches from the opening tip why wouldn't you? I think a player who doesn't start a particular game who has a concrete team advantage reason spelled out to them should take it pretty well; especially if switching up the starting lineup happens on the team from time to time.
He hasn't shown a inclination to do that the past 3 years. The only reasons he's changed starting lineups so far is because of injury and suspension or because someone played their way in over the non-conference schedule (Niang). In 2011-12 the same 5 started 28 of the 34 games. In 2010-11 5 players had 29 starts (out of 32 games).
I wouldn't expect him to start doing that now. He'll have his starting lineup, and then make adjustments around the first TV timeout, just like he's always done.
Big "IF" but if we land all our recruiting targets, one of them will be coming off the bench next year even if they make significant improvements. Seems like both are team players and both are good enough they'll get minutes somehow.
Hopefully Ejim/Niang have fixed their fouling issues from last year, but if they haven't I think we'll be going small a ton and there will be plenty of minutes for anybody who can show they're Big 12 ready.
I would be surprised if Thomas starts. Long has been very good on both ends of the court while Thomas has struggled shooting and is a currently a liability on defense. Nothing against the kid, he just never had to play man defense before, and he has made a lot of progress. Based on everything out there on Thomas he is an amazing shooter, so he might be the perfect off the bench, 3 point guy, like McGee was.
Agreed. I wasn't suggesting he would, only suggesting that it might be the next logical step to his mismatches philosophy.
Yeah, but playing on the road is different. I think we need his experience to get us off to a good start at BYU, so I think he starts.
Long and Thomas are going to play extended minutes regardless. Matt Thomas hasn't done anything bad and even though he wasn't scoring sunday he also didn't make many mistakes. I think Naz is way too valuable to keep off the floor at this point.
Tough question. Naz has that spark type personality that works great coming off the bench as 6th man, but he is ahead of Thomas in development (from what we can tell so far). All in all, I don't think it matters as both will be important and get minutes.
I would be ok with Fred putting Morris, Kane, Thomas, Naz, Hogue, Ejim, and Niangs name in a hat and drawing the starting lineup before the game. They are all going to see the floor a lot of minutes in different lineups reguardless.
But yeah I'd probably just have Morris and Hogue off the bench first, I think have one if each position resting first is the smartest thing to do.
But yeah I'd probably just have Morris and Hogue off the bench first, I think have one if each position resting first is the smartest thing to do.
Kane
Thomas
Hogue
Niang
Ejim
Long/Morris first guys off the bench. If Naz Long wants to embrace that sixth man/spark off the bench role, then let him have at it. Kid has a great attitude. Thomas' outside shot will start falling, and he's been able to find other ways to contribute in the meantime.
Thomas
Hogue
Niang
Ejim
Long/Morris first guys off the bench. If Naz Long wants to embrace that sixth man/spark off the bench role, then let him have at it. Kid has a great attitude. Thomas' outside shot will start falling, and he's been able to find other ways to contribute in the meantime.
Gotta keep playing Thomas. Even if his shot isn't falling, I've been impressed with his ability to creat his own opportunities.
