Starting 5 & Bench Thoughts

[baggerbob]

Post Script - I don’t think I ever felt it was a sure thing the other team would score near the basket when Jeremy was in. It was 50/50 at best. Kind of like when we had Rosie Bouie.

Those DC, Rony, and Ellis were pretty good at eliminating layups.

 

[Sherman20]

This.

Remember the time Southerland blew everyone's minds by scoring 19 on 100% shooting (including 5 of 5 from 3) as a freshman in the first exhibition of the 2009-10 season, but then went on to play only sparingly that year?

Yeah, BUT it was a sneak peek at things to come and what his upside could be. Southy was a key piece of the team his last few years here. He set a record for 3 pointers made in the game at Arkansas his senior year and helped lead us to the 2013 Final Four.

 

[Jake]

I think the starting five is pretty obvious. Davis looks most assured of coming off the bench. Everything else I think is fluid…and may depend on game situations.

I think people are too easily dismissing Naheem. Bigs commonly look lost chasing smaller players. He’s going to be important playing against ACC bigs.

Historically, freshmen shooters coming off the bench are not consistent and I’ve not seen enough “other stuff” to think there won’t be nights where Choppa’s minutes are limited.

Taylor looks like he knows how to affect a game without scoring…so I think he might get his chance.

Speaking of Chance, we’re going to get a look at him in the next couple of weeks. He’s a complete wild card. Anything we get here is gravy. I’m hoping for defense and intangibles.

Carlos really reminds me of a poor man’s Sherman. He’s in complete control out there and though undersized, makes winning plays. He doesn’t dominate the ball and he gets rid of it early when players are open. Smart smart player. We’re going to put the ball in his hands at crunch time and have him make good decisions.

JJ can fill the point when Carlos sits, but we weaken both guard positions when we do that. But JJ should have a very solid year.

A couple of area’s of concern: rebounding and go to guy.

Though we should be a better rebounding team, Lampkin doesn’t play above the rim and Freeman needs to get stronger. Davis is going to be pivotal here. But I can see nights where we struggle a bit.

As far as a go to guy. I think we’re going to set up plays for Bell, but I can see physical teams blanketing him and also giving Lampkin problems. The guy I think will have a physical advantage most nights is Freeman. Tough for a frosh to have this roll on a veteran team. I just don’t know how this will shake out. Some nights Bell is just going to go off. But we’re going to need random shooting nights from JJ Davis, choppa and Davis.

But overall, I really think this team is going to dance. There are lots of options offensively. We should be good enough defensively to get to 20-22 wins and get to the tournament. These early tournaments will tell us a lot.

 

[Newhouser]

No, I look at him and think - that dude isn't in ACC shape. Same with Jyare. If that's the best shape he can be in, cool.

28 mins a game playing with 3 NBA draftees is a lot different than playing in a role we are likely going to ask of him.

And his NIL check makes his not showing up in shape disappointing.

 

[007]

I think the starting five is pretty obvious. Davis looks most assured of coming off the bench. Everything else I think is fluid…and may depend on game situations.

I think people are too easily dismissing Naheem. Bigs commonly look lost chasing smaller players. He’s going to be important playing against ACC bigs.

Historically, freshmen shooters coming off the bench are not consistent and I’ve not seen enough “other stuff” to think there won’t be nights where Choppa’s minutes are limited.

Taylor looks like he knows how to affect a game without scoring…so I think he might get his chance.

Speaking of Chance, we’re going to get a look at him in the next couple of weeks. He’s a complete wild card. Anything we get here is gravy. I’m hoping for defense and intangibles.

Carlos really reminds me of a poor man’s Sherman. He’s in complete control out there and though undersized, makes winning plays. He doesn’t dominate the ball and he gets rid of it early when players are open. Smart smart player. We’re going to put the ball in his hands at crunch time and have him make good decisions.

JJ can fill the point when Carlos sits, but we weaken both guard positions when we do that. But JJ should have a very solid year.

A couple of area’s of concern: rebounding and go to guy.

Though we should be a better rebounding team, Lampkin doesn’t play above the rim and Freeman needs to get stronger. Davis is going to be pivotal here. But I can see nights where we struggle a bit.

As far as a go to guy. I think we’re going to set up plays for Bell, but I can see physical teams blanketing him and also giving Lampkin problems. The guy I think will have a physical advantage most nights is Freeman. Tough for a frosh to have this roll on a veteran team. I just don’t know how this will shake out. Some nights Bell is just going to go off. But we’re going to need random shooting nights from JJ Davis, choppa and Davis.

But overall, I really think this team is going to dance. There are lots of options offensively. We should be good enough defensively to get to 20-22 wins and get to the tournament. These early tournaments will tell us a lot.

Based only on what we've seen so far, I like the versatility, depth, scoring potential, ball movement, and roster balance. Having a true PG with a high basketball IQ is huge, along with interior scoring threats (Lampkin and Freeman, Davis?). The staff thinks this will be a very good shooting team - hope so.

From a couple of glimpses of practice, Bell and JJ are being looked at as the go to guys. I think (purely a guess) Freeman might grow into that role as the season progresses - he will be a matchup issue for some teams.

We are going to get smoked on the boards in more than a few games.

We will have a much better sense of this team on 12/8 after the Texas, Tennessee, ND games.

 

[Niastri]

Based only on what we've seen so far, I like the versatility, depth, scoring potential, ball movement, and roster balance. Having a true PG with a high basketball IQ is huge, along with interior scoring threats (Lampkin and Freeman, Davis?). The staff thinks this will be a very good shooting team - hope so.

From a couple of glimpses of practice, Bell and JJ are being looked at as the go to guys. I think (purely a guess) Freeman might grow into that role as the season progresses - he will be a matchup issue for some teams.

We are going to get smoked on the boards in more than a few games.

We will have a much better sense of this team on 12/8 after the Texas, Tennessee, ND games.

We got destroyed on the boards regularly last season, even before McLeod and Williams (two of our best rebounders last season) were out for the season.

After those two were out of the lineup, yikes!

Our starting lineup of Brown, Taylor and Bell had to be our worst rebounding frontcourt ever. Copeland was actually our second best rebounder once Williams was off the team. Unless you are sending Oscar Robertson out there, you don't want a guard to be among your leading rebounders.

Fortunately, Lampkin is much bigger than Brown and a better rebounder than him as well. Freeman has to be an upgrade over Taylor, and Bell is another season older and (hopefully) stronger. Additionally, unlike late last year where we were stuck with our starters, if we are getting thumped on the boards, we can rotate in Majstorovic and Davis to change the tone of the game.

From the guard position, Carlos is much more effective rebounding (with the caveat that he’s coming from a lower division) than Mintz and the rest of our guards last year.

I think we'll be substantially better than last year, and able to compete with everybody we play on the boards.

 

[GoCuse14]

And his NIL check makes his not showing up in shape disappointing.

So, he isn't in shape because one random Internet poster says he isn't...interesting

 

[rrlbees]

We got destroyed on the boards regularly last season, even before McLeod and Williams (two of our best rebounders last season) were out for the season.

After those two were out of the lineup, yikes!

Our starting lineup of Brown, Taylor and Bell had to be our worst rebounding frontcourt ever. Copeland was actually our second best rebounder once Williams was off the team. Unless you are sending Oscar Robertson out there, you don't want a guard to be among your leading rebounders.

Fortunately, Lampkin is much bigger than Brown and a better rebounder than him as well. Freeman has to be an upgrade over Taylor, and Bell is another season older and (hopefully) stronger. Additionally, unlike late last year where we were stuck with our starters, if we are getting thumped on the boards, we can rotate in Majstorovic and Davis to change the tone of the game.

From the guard position, Carlos is much more effective rebounding (with the caveat that he’s coming from a lower division) than Mintz and the rest of our guards last year.

I think we'll be substantially better than last year, and able to compete with everybody we play on the boards.

Is Lampkin really any better as a rebounder than Brown was? Last year per 40 mins Lampkin averaged .4 rebounds more.

 

[Niastri]

Is Lampkin really any better as a rebounder than Brown was? Last year per 40 mins Lampkin averaged .4 rebounds more.

Yeah, looking at their rebounds per 40 and rebounds%, Lampkin is marginally better rebounding. Lampkin is also a significantly better space eater, which will help his teammates get rebounds.

The biggest difference will come from Taylor to Freeman, which I'm hoping will be a significant one.

Hopefully Bell also gets better at rebounding year over year.

The backups also make a difference.

 

[grepal]

Starters: Carlos, Starling, Bell, Freeman, Lampkin (actually starting a PG, SG, SF, PF, C that's nice for a change)

Front Court Bench: Davis, Majstorovic, McLeod (I think these three all play and added to the starters give us a strong well rounded frontcourt)

Back Court Bench: Taylor, Moore, Cuffe, Westry? (I think this is the biggest question for the team)

-Taylor looks like a good defender to me that can do a bit of everything offensively. He has the most experience and is probably the best bet for 1st guard off the bench. Can he and JJ handle the PG duties when Carlos sits? Can he make jumpers consistently?

Moore can shoot, provide instant offense and brings energy and effort. Can he do the following things well enough as a freshman to find a spot in the rotation? Protect the ball, defend, pass.

Cuffe: Brings a lot of energy, seems to be a capable but streaky shooter. I'm not sure we will see anything but spot minutes or Red is really frustrated with the effort of the other guards minutes.

Westry: Expecting anything from Westry, at this point, is like hoping that the hottest girl in high school is going to dump her boyfriend and pick you out of all the other guys. There's always a reason, its never a big deal, he's looking great, its precautionary, he had a cold . . . . . . . . . hoping for the best expecting nothing.


I really like the frontcourt and think we have a strong starting backcourt. I want to see more defensively and rebounding. I'm worried about backcourt depth but we do have options, the cupboard isn't completely bare, I'm just not sure exactly what we have there.

I think Moore will be really important as he needs to give starting guards a blow with little or no drop off in scoring allows JJ some minutes at the point to rest Carlos. Chance coming back and playing point would be a huge lift. Once he shakes off the rust, maybe by December, he could play a big role. He is the X factor. Moore really needs to learn to keep his man in front of him. Would help keep the big men out of foul trouble. By the way the hottest girl in school did dump her boyfriend, went with me for two weeks and dumped me for him again so it could happen... Just might not end well. For her I mean, I did fine.