Positionless Basketbaii?

[Millhouse]

I dont think anyone anywhere ever is against landing one of the best big men in the country. There just aren't many of them to go around. The real question is what do you do if you cant have both size and skill? Do you choose size or skill?

Yes. Very similar to football

When you have the best athletes, smash people and don't risk turnovers (akin to bad shooting days)

See how that goes when you don't have the best roster

 

[CrashCuse]

Everyone yammers on about the importance of positionless ball, and getting centers who can stretch the floor. But what dowe have in the national championship game? Two teams whose best players are old fashioned low post guys. Neither Reed nor Mara are likely to even think about launching threes, but they are the two most dominant and important players in the game. College ball isn’t the NBA. a talented big guy in the low post is still a major advantage in college, even if he never wanders outside 15 feet. Let’s hope we can return to that style of ball.

This is a good point, and it’s actually something you’re seeing in the NBA to a degree as well.

That’s not to say that nothing should be taken from the analytics era - shooting 3’s is going to be more efficient than shooting deep 2’s. Having wings and guards that can switch everything is great, but doesn’t mean you need to abandon the post.

I think it’s always good to find ways to go against the grain and against the trend. Like in the NFL, you’re starting to see the resurgence of the fullback.

Only thing is… with the way development has gone, really tough to find polished low post players. But if you can find one and build around one, I’m all for it. Give yourself a unique advantage that players today don’t know how to guard. Slower pace in college will even further favor this style, and pace slows even further in the tourney.

 

[Madbiker]

Teams have been doing this for a while.
Gonzaga under Mark Few always had 2 or 3 skilled big men - but BIG men.

UNC has always had a lot of beef underneath. Florida State is another one in the ACC.
Matt Painter at Purdue has had big men focused teams for the whole time he's been there.

Kansas under Bill Self has always had 2 or 3 really skilled big men. How many have they put in the NBA?

You go back and look at most Final Fours, even in the last 10-15 years, and most of them have at least 2 or 3 legitimate big men, at least one of whom is an offensive low-post scorer, and all of whom can defend and guard the rim.

The problem is there are a lot more good guards than good big men. Tough to come by and transfers are going to be expensive. Supply and demand.

 

[IthacaMatt]

The problem is there are a lot more good guards than good big men. Tough to come by and transfers are going to be expensive. Supply and demand.

Yeah, I agree with that.
But I also think that with the market rates going up by 35% right now compared to last year, keeping guys like Fennell and Soare would have saved us money.

 

[Cheriehoop]

I think you might be citing incorrect information. Lets delve in for a moment.

Considering Siena started a 6'11 center, and then went 6'7, 6'7, and 6'5 across their PF/WF/WG starting positions, I think you are putting too much height consideration into their undersized bench.

Mulvey, Doty, Coyle, Chandler, Goodrick were all ACC sized guys in their rotation. Only Folefac (who weighs 245lb) and Shoats could be considered short for their position.

Once Chandler and Goodrick were out (both starters to start the season), GMAC went with an iron man squad of Mulvey, Folefac, Coyle, Doty and Shoats. If you base your ideas about size on height and weight, that lineup was bigger than anything Red put out all last season.

We didn't even have two guys who weighed 245lb on the entire roster, much less in the starting lineup.

Mulvey their 6’11- 7 footer was also out for weeks with a concussion who ended up being a starter towards the end of the season.