Sammy & Eddren?

[AZ BU Fan]

Will/should JL play Sammy and Eddren at the same time this year?

Both appear to be more point guards than shooting/athletic wing guards.

With both in the line up, BU gets small and the front court gets crowded with DD, AW, CR, TB, JP, SS and AT vying for major playing time at the other 3 spots (assuming frosh don't barge in).

Would it make sense to rotate both SM and EM at the PG this year - split time 50-50 and let the hot hand/best defender finish games?

[Bradleyguy10]

Will/should JL play Sammy and Eddren at the same time this year?


Would it make sense to rotate both SM and EM at the PG this year - split time 50-50 and let the hot hand/best defender finish games?

Will: inevitably yes..it's not a question really of will but rather of how much
Should: should...as in is it necessary..I don't think so..but it will happen


Rotate 50-50: Yes it would make sense, and preferably this is how it will go if everyone stays healthy.

[BradleyBrave]

They will be on the court together plenty this year.

[SaintLouBrave22]

MY guess would be yes unless DSE is redshirted...

Otherwise you need to find playing time for all 3 and more so, I like Sammy moving around in the offense without the ball.


I expect both to be much improved.

[AZ BU Fan]

They will be on the court together plenty this year.

What advantage(s) offensively or defensively would Bradley have with both SM and EM on the floor at the same time? I can't think of many...

[audacious_aficionado]

It's good to know you think you are a better coach of the braves than JL.

That goes for you too, Bradleyguy10.

[SFP]

It's good to know you think you are a better coach of the braves than JL.

That goes for you too, Bradleyguy10.

Wow even though I agree with you there's no holding punches here! lol

I bet both will be starters with SM as the shooting guard. If EM can hit that top of the key shot I'm telling you SM will have plenty of space to start hitting his set shot! SM's percentage was much higher from the 3 when he could set his feet and square up!

[ph]

On Monday's radio show, JL immediately shot down Dan D's suggestion that we have enough players this year to never need to play 2 sub 6' guys at the same time, saying "Size is overated, we'll play the 5 best players"

[AZ BU Fan]

It's good to know you think you are a better coach of the braves than JL.

That goes for you too, Bradleyguy10.

Hi AA -
I guess I didn't say that I thought I was a better coach than JL..Debating JL's coaching ability would be a whole different post!

Do you have an opinion as to my question re the advantages of playing SM and EM at the same time?

All we get out of JL re his line up or offensive/personnel approach this year is he will play the best 5 players BU has. Seems pretty simplistic...Are EM and SM two of the best five players on BU's team?

If so, I think BU may be in for a long season.

[ph]

We did play 2 sub-6' players (DR and TB) when we ran to the S16, it can work quite effectively,

I do somewhat hope the dual-smaller lineup EM/SM combo mostly exists to rest AW at the 2 with CR at the 3

[real fan]

I don"t like playing Sam and Edge at the same time because it presents us with matchup problems on defense, I think if you have a big lead and are trying to run down the clock then it is ok but I don"t want to have 2 point guards that are not 6' tall trying to guard 6-3 or bigger players as you have to worry about foul problems, last year we were missing A.Warren and some of our other guards were not as experienced as this years are so I know that it will happen but I see no good reason why it should.

[Out of Balance]

If Edge has not improved his mid range shot and has not developed a top of the key shot (like SFP mentioned) and most of all has not improved his free throw shooting, his time on the court will be reduced You can't have the ball in your PG hands with the game on the line when he shoots a low % from the line, or you know what your opponents will do Hope he has improved on these three issues

[Bradleyguy10]

It's good to know you think you are a better coach of the braves than JL.

That goes for you too, Bradleyguy10.

Funny...I don't remember typing anywhere that I'd be a better coach than JL.

Another funny thing...I, for some weird reason, thought I was typing a comment on a message board where opinions are expressed. I guess next time I should double check and make sure I'm not writing on the "Official Bradley Basketball Game Plan" board. My mistake.

How about instead of ridiculing, you just say what your opinion is also...or do you not have one?

[audacious_aficionado]

My opinion is that I would like to see the best team of 5 players on the floor starting and finishing each game. I will leave that up to JL to decide as I don't believe he has an UNREASONABLE bias toward small players.

It's obvious that having a taller team is better WHEN NOTHING IS GIVEN UP. Quickness, speed, and ball-handling tend to favor smaller players. Also, leadership, desire, iced-veins, intensity, conditioning, chemistry, and several more are qualities of great players that have nothing to do with height.

[amckillip]

What, a post about how we shouldn't be playing small and that JL is wrong? From AZ BU Fan? NEVER.

The advantage is that they are the better players. Despite the fact the size is advantageous, it is not the only factor. EM has great court vision and is sound defensively. SM is the team leader. I think the articles and comments from people who are actually in the know have proven this unequivocally. CRob is streaky, no big man has proven anything. DD is better off the bench. Who is going to make such huge strides that they are going to not only keep pace with SM and EM's advancement, but will also advance so much he will leapfrog those two?

Our big men:
TB - unproven
WE - unproven
SS - proven, and very limited
JP - unproven
MK - unproven

It would take large leaps in 2-3 of those guys for this to really be a discussion once the season starts.