Didn't take long to shrink the bench

[BlueCurtain]

With a limited possession game like that you go with the guys who are shooting, defending and rebounding the best. JB did an outstanding job of indentifying the right combination for last nights matchups.

Any other so-called elite team that goes 10 deep would not be content to let VT run the entire shot clock every friggin' time down the court. That's the only reason this game was close. My entire group was falling asleep watching the first half. The 2-3 is the equivalent of watching a Marrone offense. Scared, and not playing to win.

 

[Ghost]

Plenty of time to get Rak ready.

Yup, we're 5 games into the year, not sure sacrificing a win to get Rak another 3 minutes is a worthwhile trade off. Rak will get plenty of game experience going forward and once the Big East schedule starts he'll earn his time (or not).

 

[kuethstheman]

It was only close because SU couldn't put the ball in the basket in the first half and VT hit some long-range shots. The defense was fine. They could have gotten those NBA threes all day against other elite teams (see G. McNamara, National Championship Game, 2003).

Any other so-called elite team that goes 10 deep would not be content to let VT run the entire shot clock every friggin' time down the court. That's the only reason this game was close. My entire group was falling asleep watching the first half. The 2-3 is the equivalent of watching a Marrone offense. Scared, and not playing to win.

 

[Orangeyes]

To be honest, if it means sacrificing a win tonight

There would have been a major board meltdown if we had lost, couple that with the Fine situation some may have not made it to the table on Turkey day.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

To be honest, if it means sacrificing a win tonight but moving toward having a game-ready Christmas in March, I'd rather see him real minutes tonight. And I don't know that that would've sacrificed a win tonight.

Fair's a very good and smart player, and he rebounds very well for his size. But I don't believe that a team with Fair playing 90% of the minutes at the 4 is going to win a national championship. We've got a potentially great four, and he needs game experience.

This isn't youth soccer where all the kids have to play because the end result doesn't matter. The #1 goal (and really only goal) of this level of basketball is to win every game you play.

Rak should use practice situations to get better, so the next time the opening tip happens he will be better prepared. There's plenty of opportunity for these kids to get better outside of game time.