Thomas should not have been starting over Morris
- Thread starter BigCojones
- Start date
This thread is so funny. If you broke this thread up into 30 post segments, it's just a continuing loop of the same thing.
I don't think McGee was anywhere near the best player on last year's team. He was Vinny Johnson. That's it. He couldn't play D or distribute the ball. He could shoot from anywhere and that's a great talent to have. Especially off the bench. Babb is the guy who is toughest to replace from last year. If we had a Chris Babb, this would be a Final Four team.
And a better freshman than Jake Sullivan, apparently.
Starting Matt is a good move, as is Naz and MM getting more PT like they have the past month. I would have given MM, Naz, and even a guy like SDW more time before playing MT almost 30 minutes a game like we did the first 1.5 months, as they all needed time to develop.
Now you are getting a little carried away. I would like to see Edozie and SDW get at least 5 minutes a game but Fred knows best.
Thomas is a fine player. Sullivan, Hoiberg, shooters that started from day one, they don't just hit the ground running and instantly make 45 percent of their 3's. Give the guy time. We're 14-1 for Pete's sake with him in the starting lineup. He honestly couldn't have asked for a better situation. He starts with four studs, so if he doesn't score more than 5-6 points it's okay because the guys he splits time with, Naz/Monte, score when they're in there.
I cannot understand the MT hate on here. The guy has been solid and has fit in well with this team. I think it was Myles Simon during the Baylor game that said it best-- him and Morris don't need to come in and score, they just need to be solid and contribute. Matt doesn't make mistakes and he stretches out the defense. His shot will come and I think he has some big shots left in him before the year is over.
As for not starting him, I will agree that our starting 5 doesn't seem to have as good of chemistry as some of our other lineup options. If Fred decides to tinker with the starters just to try and get rid of the slow starts, I'd support that. Also, I think "starting" is an absolutely moot point. You'll notice that at the end of a close game Naz and Monte are usually on the floor. Let's worry more about who ends the game than who starts it.
As for not starting him, I will agree that our starting 5 doesn't seem to have as good of chemistry as some of our other lineup options. If Fred decides to tinker with the starters just to try and get rid of the slow starts, I'd support that. Also, I think "starting" is an absolutely moot point. You'll notice that at the end of a close game Naz and Monte are usually on the floor. Let's worry more about who ends the game than who starts it.
I still remember when people used to complain that we needed Jacy Holloway to shoot more, and Floyd responded, who do you want to shoot less? Dedrick? Pratt? Bankhead? Cato?" I think Jaque Vaughn, in retrospect, might have said yes to any one of those!
Questioning if the team would be better served with Thomas coming off the bench doesn't equate to Thomas hate, any more than someone defending Thomas starting is Naz or Morris hate.
Quit being so over dramatic.
Does Fred hate Matt because he's been decreasing his playing time?
It's funny, someone crys about MT hate about every 8-12 posts and someone has to repost their point that it's not hate, it's stating that MM and Naz are just playing better right now. Rinse repeat, rinse repeat.
Agree, and even though MT isn't drilling a lot of 3's yet, defenses are still forced to cover him deep, keeping the lanes open for our other guys. But it will be interesting if Kane doesn't play tonight to see who among MT, Monte and Naz steps up. Hopefully all 3.
Matt was a high major recruit because he was considered an elite shooter. Who do you want to shoot less? I believe the hope, by the staff and some fans, was that Thomas would not be the answer to that question. As far as perimeter shooting, he was suppose to have as much of a Dedrick role as he was a Holloway role. He is not Jacy out there, letting Kane be an off-guard (like Morris does).
Sullivan did shoot 45% on 3Ps as a freshman. Hoiberg was not recruited as a shooter. As a much better athlete, he was an all-around great player.
Matt is more of Lucca type player right now, without Lucca's confidence.
Is that something Naz, or MM (who is shooting a higher%) do not do? I am all for Matt starting, btw.
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MT starts because he is a threat to hit several 3 pointers in a row. So far it has not happened, but teams are still covering him like it has, because he was so good in HS. I fully expect him to go off for 30 some night, and it just may happen tonight in Hilton. Of course you have to shoot more than 3 times a game to get 30 points.
Obviously he is doing a lot of stuff right in practice.
Obviously he is doing a lot of stuff right in practice.
Fred averaged 30 minutes per game with 12 pts, 5 boards, 2 steals and just under 3 assists per game his freshman year. He only shot 26% from deep his 1st year (13-50 for the whole year), and really only became a 3pt assassin his senior year, when he drained 89 from long range.
Jake Sullivan averaged 11 pts, sunk 61 3's at a 45% clip, 2 boards, 1.3 assists per game his freshman year.
Both of those teams also had plenty of scoring options on the outside other than the true freshman, just as this year's team does--Thigpen and Bayless on Fred's first year, and Tinsley and Horton for Sullivan. I'm not sure this team has a reliable outside scorer other than Kane in the last few games.
Just throwing it out there to lend to the discussion.
Jake Sullivan averaged 11 pts, sunk 61 3's at a 45% clip, 2 boards, 1.3 assists per game his freshman year.
Both of those teams also had plenty of scoring options on the outside other than the true freshman, just as this year's team does--Thigpen and Bayless on Fred's first year, and Tinsley and Horton for Sullivan. I'm not sure this team has a reliable outside scorer other than Kane in the last few games.
Just throwing it out there to lend to the discussion.
People really need to stop claiming this as its not occurring during games. He's not being face guarded, his defender doesn't have no help instructions, and he's not being so closely guarded that just Thomas being on the court is opening up allllll these lanes. C'mon. Check out the game tape!!!
in fact...he's getting wide open looks...he's missing.
Again he has the talent, but it's not right now.
watch tonight's game. If he gets face guarded once, or when we drive Thomas's man refuses to help and stays out on him...if those things happen even once tonight...I'll be shocked.
My guess is Thomas will continue to start until opposing defenses stop closing on him on the perimeter. If he still can't shoot better than 30% at that point than he becomes a liability.
He will go off some time, and when he does, I hope he keeps the light on green.
That said, I think it is as much that he does not do the wrong thing in practice. The kid is incredibly consistent for a freshman, which may be coupled to why he has not really come on yet.
