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Message: [QUOTE="billsin01, post: 4500127, member: 837"] So I disagree with some of this but I absolutely agree with the general premise -- I'm not entirely sure how you'd 'succeed' because I'd say I'm still a bit lukewarm on what the actual ceiling is here. But we at least agree that we have enough to beat Pitt and Colgate and Bryant, etc. I disagree a bit on Torrence only because I think he brings defined positive qualities -- he's a ball-handler, solid passer (at least in terms of being smart with the ball), strong defensive presence, brings a lot of energy, and I would say he's improved to at least being a guy who can get you an occasional bucket (last year it felt like every basket might be his last). I'm more in the mode of thinking he may be one of our best five players but he'll never get those minutes b/c you need Joe's scoring/shooting and Judah is obviously much more impactful and has a much higher ceiling. But while JB has done a good job using a bunch of players this season, I do think we are at a point where we need to be able quickly figure out who will work in a matchup and who won't. Some of this we know. My list of things we know are these: [LIST] [*]Brown needs to play a bunch at forward. He's simply better than Bell/Taylor/Benny. You may start those guys ahead of him, that's fine, but Brown is too productive and solid not to be a central figure in the forward rotation going forward. [*]Edwards/Joe/Judah are 1-2-3 some order and will play a ton. [*]We may need the scoring that Benny/Bell occasionally bring, but we have to balance that against the empty calories they provide quite often. I was shocked when I looked at this number: Benny has 10 blocks for his career. That is a phenomenal statistic for a long, athletic, talented forward who I at least believe plays hard and wants to contribute. 10 blocks in 663 minutes in a zone defense with a bunch of those minutes against non P-5 teams. Incredible. Bell is similar -- he's done a reasonable job of putting the ball in the basket (which has value), but he has just one game of 4+ rebounds (cornell) and has a combined 10 total assists/steals/blocks. There is literally almost nothing other than scoring. [*]JBA likely fits somewhere. He hasn't played, essentially, in the last two but his motor, size and passing help at least in short stints or in certain matchups. [*]Hima is a decent backup big. [*]We can't sit exclusively in a 2-3 with this group and think it's going to be enough. 1-3-1 and occasional press feel like a desperate need in somewhat desperate times. [/LIST] What we don't know: [LIST] [*]Can we get something out of Quadir this season? His best two games are our last two games. Thought he had a very solid 4-min stretch in a game that wasn't entirely over vs. Cornell and then played very well vs. Pitt. Two blocks and a steal against pitt and I think there's potential for him to make things happen with his passing when the game slows down for him. Not totally sure that would be this year, but you have to think Pitt earns him a few minutes going forward. [*]Can Taylor contribute? Love the kid's skill but not sure he's confident enough at the moment. Maybe reps help with that, maybe not. [/LIST] Anyway, not sure we see eye-to-eye on all of this but the bottom line is we need to get creative with lineups and defenses with this group b/c the one thing we do have, at a minimum, is a bunch of pieces that could potential be a bit better than the sum of its parts. I actually give JB credit for not writing off a brown or copeland -- just hope he is able to figure out the right mix going forward. [/QUOTE]

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