7 man rotation for close games

[jdubs30]

That's clear now. If we're in a closer game we won't see Southerland, XMas or MCW. It'll be Scoop-Triche-Dion-KJ-Fair-BMK-Fab.

Unless Southerland was hurt today...

 

[dasher]

Southerland played a lot in the first half.

 

[jdubs30]

Southerland played a lot in the first half.

Yeah but the first half was kind of in hand. He didn't play a second in the 2nd half.

 

[Cuse_MN]

Xmas isn't ready, that has become clear

 

[AZOrange]

That was some of the most bizarre patterns I have seen. MCW cannot get a minute...Scoop...giggitty.

 

[jdubs30]

Xmas isn't ready, that has become clear

Hopefully BMK's injury isn't lingering because we're gonna need him for when Fab gets in foul trouble.

 

[AZOrange]

Southerland played a lot in the first half.

and well...

 

[jdubs30]

That was some of the most bizarre patterns I have seen. MCW cannot get a minute...Scoop...giggitty.

Woulda been a tough game for MCW. I don't know if he physically handle a game like this yet...

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

Xmas isn't ready, that has become clear

These days, I'm just happy when one of his "shots" draws rim or he isn't out of position on defense.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

That's clear now. If we're in a closer game we won't see Southerland, XMas or MCW. It'll be Scoop-Triche-Dion-KJ-Fair-BMK-Fab.

Unless Southerland was hurt today...

You seem surprised. MCW and Rak are clearly the 9/10 men so that leaves only 8. Yeah, I know Rak starts but he's really the 9th man. James won't play with Kris and CJ both in the game, so yeah seven.

 

[DomeStranger]

You seem surprised. MCW and Rak are clearly the 9/10 men so that leaves only 8. Yeah, I know Rak starts but he's really the 9th man. James won't play with Kris and CJ both in the game, so yeah seven.

Exactly ... and if for some reason Fab isn't in foul trouble ... Six.

 

[jdubs30]

You seem surprised. MCW and Rak are clearly the 9/10 men so that leaves only 8. Yeah, I know Rak starts but he's really the 9th man. James won't play with Kris and CJ both in the game, so yeah seven.

You weren't surprised to not see Southerland at ALL after how he played in the 1st half and how solid he's been all year? Yeah, not playing MCW or XMas wasn't a shock, but to see JS get 0 PT was surprising to me.

 

[HoustonCuse]

CJ was getting boards. Kris was getting none. Fab was on the bench. I don't know that you want to pull CJ to put in South in that spot. MCW? I dunno, Scoop was indeed so hideous that it may have been better to play 4 on 5 than to have him out there. Xmas was beyond pitiful. Lots to work on. But awfully nice to have all these things going bad and still beat a ranked team.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

You weren't surprised to not see Southerland at ALL after how he played in the 1st half and how solid he's been all year? Yeah, not playing MCW or XMas wasn't a shock, but to see JS get 0 PT was surprising to me.

OK, in the first half he had 2 points and missed both his threes. JB always uses the bench heavily in the first half and then tightens the rotation in the second half. CJ went for 13 and 8, although I was a little surprised that he got to stay in the game given his lousy shooting. Whatever, JS got some run in the first half. I like James but it's not like he was playing all THAT great when he was on the floor.

 

[OttoMets]

You weren't surprised to not see Southerland at ALL after how he played in the 1st half and how solid he's been all year? Yeah, not playing MCW or XMas wasn't a shock, but to see JS get 0 PT was surprising to me.

I think Southerland's lack of playing time was mostly a result of Marquette's tight man. Hopefully we'll see more of him against Pitt and Louisville, but those games could be very similar.

 

[RF2044]

That's clear now. If we're in a closer game we won't see Southerland, XMas or MCW. It'll be Scoop-Triche-Dion-KJ-Fair-BMK-Fab.

Unless Southerland was hurt today...

I don't agree with that, at all. For one thing, we played 9 today. For another, we were playing incredibly poorly on the offensive end in the second half--Boeheim had no choice but to circle the wagons and go with a smaller rotation. Also keep in mind that we got virtually nothing from Fab inside or via blocks--which have keyed our transition game all year. Our defense has been our best offense all season long.

Marquette turned this into an ugly scrum. I wouldn't read too much into the second half substitution pattern.

The thing that I DID take away from today is a greater appreciation for how Fab is our MIP defensively and on the boards. When we play physical teams, we can't afford for him to be on the pine.

 

[OttoMets]

The thing that I DID take away from today is a greater appreciation for how Fab is our MIP defensively and on the boards. When we play physical teams, we can't afford for him to be on the pine.

He could be, but it was matador defense all the way with Fab today. Between that and the flops, he wasn't contributing much on the defensive end today.

He did have some strong defensive rebounds in the last four minutes that we really needed. But today was something of a bump in the road after a good string of recent games.

 

[RF2044]

He could be, but it was matador defense all the way with Fab today. Between that and the flops, he wasn't contributing much on the defensive end today.

He did have some strong defensive rebounds in the last four minutes that we really needed. But today was something of a bump in the road after a good string of recent games.

Well, matador defense is the outcome of him picking up those two quick fouls in the first half. That set the tone for the entire game, and made him essentially a non-factor on defense. And given how defense [in particular steals and Fab's blocks] have triggered our fast break offense, not having that today due to foul trouble was a huge liability for us and a big advantage to Marquette in how the game played out.

 

[OttoMets]

Well, matador defense is the outcome of him picking up those two quick fouls in the first half. That set the tone for the entire game, and made him essentially a non-factor on defense. And given how defense [in particular steals and Fab's blocks] have triggered our fast break offense, not having that today due to foul trouble was a huge liability for us and a big advantage to Marquette in how the game played out.

The early fouls surely made him tentative. And virtually no defensive production from our centers hurt us; I'm sure our losses will feature a similar problem. We're not as good without Fab blocking shots inside. Glad we could overcome it today.

 

[RF2044]

The early fouls surely made him tentative. And virtually no defensive production from our centers hurt us; I'm sure our losses will feature a similar problem. We're not as good without Fab blocking shots inside. Glad we could overcome it today.

Agreed. Today was a game where we didn't get much from Fab [although he was pretty good on the boards, and clearly was a factor there when he WAS able to play], Scoop, or Southerland--and we still won by 7 against the type of team that we usually struggle with.

I'll take it.

 

[rrlbees]

7.5 today just like every year when he play good teams and the game is somewhat tight. No I don't count Rak's token starts.

 

[SWC75]

Southerland played 9 mintues, almost a quarter of the game. Christmas has "hit the wall and the caliber of his play doesn't warrant any more minutes than he is getting. With three veteran guards as good as Scoop, Brandon and Dion, there's won't be alot of mintues for MCW with the game in doubt, especially when a 23 lead becomes a 2 point lead.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Woulda been a tough game for MCW. I don't know if he physically handle a game like this yet...

I understand that but he couldn't be any worse than Scoop in dealing with a press, could he? He usually goes forward. I think the substitutions are going to be a fluid game by game situation. I thought Rak got good position against Gardner at one point and just missed an easy bank shot terribly. Lots of missed point blank shots today. I didn't have a huge problem with the officiating.

 

[007]

Joseph played 38 mins today. Sign of things to come.

 

[007]

I understand that but he couldn't be any worse than Scoop in dealing with a press, could he? He usually goes forward. I think the substitutions are going to be a fluid game by game situation. I thought Rak got good position against Gardner at one point and just missed an easy bank shot terribly. Lots of missed point blank shots today. I didn't have a huge problem with the officiating.

Scoop = 5th year senior. Good or bad, he has seen it all.
MCW = not quite ready for prime time yet