IthacaMatt
Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
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Oh well. I hope we find the right mix of guys. You take a chance on them all. But you want to have all the tools you need in the toolbox.
You need outside shooting from 3 guys. That could include your bench, but you always should have 2 shooters on the floor.
You need defensive rebounding and post defense, or else you will get big-boyed by the best teams. You see how physical the defense has been as we get deeper in the tournament. You need 3 guys who can defend the post. Some can be below the rim, but you need at least 1 or 2 guys who can block shots.
Again, it's necessary depth, and the right mix of skills to enable the right situational substitutions.
In the backcourt, you need 3 ball handlers, and you need 2 guys who can create shots for others. That can be running a set offense, running the break, or driving and dishing. It's all about being willing to make the right pass.
So, you can build a successful team in a variety of ways. You can get your shooting and scoring from different positions and places on the floor. To an extent that's interchangeable, depending on your style of play.
But you have to have at least a couple guys who offer you each of those necessary skills to have a complete team. Of course, you have to get them to play hard, and play together as a team. And you have to use them consistently, to get the best performance out of players. When guys know their roles, and are asked to perform on a regular basis, then they get better, and your team grows more cohesive.
I think Red's biggest challenges this year are going to be how he handles rotations, and keeps guys involved who start out on the bench. It's the same thing I said about Boeheim in his later years. You might have guys get hurt during the course of the season, so you have to play your guys on the bench, so they're ready if you need them.
