New Line UP?

[ER3]

I want to know why so many people think that AT can bang with the bigs in the valley?

I think that playing AT significant minutes against guys like Lawson, Egleseder, Odiakosa, or even lesser guys like Van Deest, for that matter, would be a complete disaster.
It's not an accident that AT didn't play a single minute against ISU last night after his "breakout performance" against E'Ville. The coaching staff clearly appears to be aware of the fact that he is still completely ill-equipped physically to defend any adequate post players...so we're stuck in a bad situation with our post players.

[houstontxbrave]

I think that playing AT significant minutes against guys like Lawson, Egleseder, Odiakosa, or even lesser guys like Van Deest, for that matter, would be a complete disaster.
It's not an accident that AT didn't play a single minute against ISU last night after his "breakout performance" against E'Ville. The coaching staff clearly appears to be aware of the fact that he is still completely ill-equipped physically to defend any adequate post players...so we're stuck in a bad situation with our post players.

So instead of doing something different we continue doing the samething night in night out? I have no idea if Thompson can or can not bang with the likes of Odiakosa when he is sitting next to a manager all night.

Rebounding is definitely a physical part of the game but it can help if you have someone with length attempting to rebound. I guess my point overall is he can not do any worse the Singh. But sitting him on his rear all night long we will never know if he could have any impact. Eventually Jim Les is going to have to play Thompson or we waisted 5 years on a little used 7 ft tall player.

[BradleyBrave]

I think that playing AT significant minutes against guys like Lawson, Egleseder, Odiakosa, or even lesser guys like Van Deest, for that matter, would be a complete disaster.
It's not an accident that AT didn't play a single minute against ISU last night after his "breakout performance" against E'Ville. The coaching staff clearly appears to be aware of the fact that he is still completely ill-equipped physically to defend any adequate post players...so we're stuck in a bad situation with our post players.

You are probably right, I just wonder what Singh gives you that AT couldn't. I guess I am of the ilk that if it's a lost cause (which it is), I would rather see a younger guy with potential get abused than a 6th year senior who's already maxed out.

[squirrelgotdead]

Please everyone if you pay attention to Jim Les he rarely if ever will make a change and he certainly is not going to play to big men together. It took complete desparation in 06 to put JJ on the court. Off the top of my head that is about the only change he ever really made and stuck with while the BU head coach.

He played Milos early in the season, was the only one virtually to show up at Iowa State and his reward is a great seat for the entire Conference season.

JL will keep doing what he does and getting same old same old results. I have a feeling Mr Les might be quite hardheaded.

This is a very hard-hitting post Houston. Everyone needs to read it and understand the scope of this.

He has done several very good things as coach. JL has a great basketball mind.

But he is obviously very stubborn, and does not like to surround himself with people who want to and can help him.

That is why I do not support giving him an opportunity to overhaul his staff, because he has already had that opportunity once, and did not take advantage of it. Nothing in his career record indicates this time would be any different or provide any help to him directly.

So why only prolong the inevitable?

[Beninator]

I think lineup changes are great to discuss when you have depth and multiple quality options on your bench...We have neither of those luxuries.

I suppose a decent case could be made to start DSE over someone (Roberts, perhaps) at this point...but I don't know that this necessarily makes us any better overall...As BB said, the best guys are going to play the most minutes...and I think we are clearly no more than 6 deep with guys that could even be anywhere near the conversation of who makes up "our best 5"...(It's pretty clearly SM, TB, AW, WE, DSE, CR and then a huge, huge drop off in quality down to the rest of the squad...SS, JE, AT, EM, MK, etc.). I just don't see how you could start anyone from that second grouping of 5 players unless you simply wanted to single someone out and make a statement to someone that was not putting forth the effort...
I don't think lack of effort is the problem here...so I guess I don't see what good a lineup change is actually going to do here.

I very much agree with your and Bradleybraves points on this thread. What I would like to see for the rest of the season is to put MK, AT, and JE in part of the remaining games to get them some experience at the college level.
--especially MK if at all possible---

[FortyTwo]

Singh gets scored on or fouls roughly 75% of the time his man gets the ball, I can't believe AT couldn't at least maintain that rate and provide a little more on offense and occasionally block a shot. Plus we need to see if he has the potential to give us anything the last two years of his career.

We are going nowhere but the the play-in round this year, why not give him a chance and let Singh play out the year as head cheerleader? I'm not saying he's better, but he couldn't hardly be worse. I must add that I have nothing but respect for Singh, his heart, his effort, his determination, etc. but he's so obviously overmatched out there it's embarrassing to everyone.

[Bradleyguy10]

I still don't understand why MK doesn't get in more. If he's got an attitude problem then that's fine...but you have to ask sometimes does he have an attitude problem because he's not getting playing time. The kid can play if he wants 5-10 min per game I think he should have them. His one link from last season is gone..and now he's not playing...hmm...wouldn't be surprised if we have 1 more scholarship open up.

[Dallas Brave]

Maybe JL is starting the five best players ... but this is a team sport and I don't think he is starting the best "group" of players to achieve team results.

[Future Walk-On]

I want to know why so many people think that AT can bang with the bigs in the valley?

I would rather see AT failing then SS failing.

[Future Walk-On]

also Illinois has changed their lineup multiple times....they found one that has been working well.

[SFP]

I think they play hard, they're just gassed by the 10 minute mark of the 2nd half.

That is the case IMO! The bench is quite depleted plus our guys are covering bigger guys. If you have to defend someone that is bigger and stronger you will eventually get tired. Today at lunch I was guarding this guy who was about 40 lbs bigger then me and in shape and I felt like I was in a boxing match. We either need a strong bench that will allow us to run, press and replace guys or get some bigs that can match up at the 5 otherwise the good teams will exploit this weakness time in and time out.

I want to know why so many people think that AT can bang with the bigs in the valley?

He can't bang with any bigs from any conference but he could run the floor against the bigs and perhaps help tire them out. I thought out of our bigs that SS would be able to bang a bit and WE and TB could use their athleticism to box out and rebound. Well WE is busting his tail off andno one else has an idea on how to hold their guys back. With the guys we have rebounding has to be a team effort. You just have to put a body on some one. AT does not have much of one to put on guys 50 lbs bigger or stop them from menuevering in the paint.

[SFP]

I still don't understand why MK doesn't get in more. If he's got an attitude problem then that's fine...but you have to ask sometimes does he have an attitude problem because he's not getting playing time. The kid can play if he wants 5-10 min per game I think he should have them. His one link from last season is gone..and now he's not playing...hmm...wouldn't be surprised if we have 1 more scholarship open up.

Go back and look at tapes of MK. He look a bit lost out there. Yes he can shoot when he is hot but hurts us in most other areas. One thing people have not talked about is why can't we move AT to the 4 position? Just a thought!

[Beninator]

I still don't understand why MK doesn't get in more. If he's got an attitude problem then that's fine...but you have to ask sometimes does he have an attitude problem because he's not getting playing time. The kid can play if he wants 5-10 min per game I think he should have them. His one link from last season is gone..and now he's not playing...hmm...wouldn't be surprised if we have 1 more scholarship open up.

5-10 minutes for MK is exactly what I was thinking on my last post. The minutes would give MK the experience and we would also have him on tape against MVC players which would allow us to analyze and improve his game for next year and beyond. I am going to optimistic about MK returning until proven otherwise!

[houstontxbrave]

One thing people have not talked about is why can't we move AT to the 4 position? Just a thought!

Because JL only plays one tall player at a time and that tall player must play the 5 position on the court. Cant have a tall player not setting ball screens 25 ft from the rim and our 5 sets screens, no other way to use a 5.

[Dallas Brave]

Go back and look at tapes of MK. He look a bit lost out there. Yes he can shoot when he is hot but hurts us in most other areas. One thing people have not talked about is why can't we move AT to the 4 position? Just a thought!

Isn't it obvious???? He is way too tall for the 4 spot and we go from having 4 three-point shooters on the floor to just 3!