Floor Time for Braves (Guards)

[amckillip]

SM will play under 30 ...

I expect to see AW averaging 32 minutes per game.

I would stake a brew or a few (if we ever run into each other) that SM averages more minutes than AW...

[SFP]

I would stake a brew or a few (if we ever run into each other) that SM averages more minutes than AW...

Done! What's a brew cost? If SM has to play huge minutes that means we're not doing so well. The 1 and 2 position have 3 legitimate guys. Who do you see manning the 3 besides AW? This is how JL has coaches. SM played tons last year because there was not an alternative. SM will be nicked up and JL will have the ability to keep others in the game to keep him fresh. The only way SM plays more minutes is if AW gets injured and or JE hits his strides. I believe JE is a year away from being that player. Remember he was going to be RS.

[dogsrus]

I still think a WL redshirt HAS to be considered......I understand he MIGHT be good but the minutes just won't be there IMO.

[Dallas Brave]

Those same stats for Butler's D hold true for '00, '01 and '03 when the went to the NCAA's, 2nd round, and Sweet 16 respectively. You're also equating defense to height, which isn't true... I understand what you're saying, but there are FAR too many vairables and counter scenarios to suggest a 3-guard line-up can't work. Especially in the MVC. I could easily cite Villanova from 05-06 where they started 5 guards and and went to the Final Four.

I'm not saying having big guys in basketball doesn't help, but they have to be talented enough. We have solid big guys, but I don't think you could argue AT or WE is more talented than DSE, DD, SM, or AW with a straight face.

Sorry for being such a Pomeroy quant, but his conclusion is, " However, for most teams a great defense requires size at the four and the five. At least on the defensive end, basketball really is a big man??™s game."

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=82

I would definately argue that WE and AT are more talented than DSE, DD, SM, or AW at the 4/5 position. IMO, the big guys will be the key to being a .600 or better team this year. The guards are great and our competitive strength, but we can't over play them at the expense of the big guys or our defense will once again be awful as we have witnessed first hand for 3 years straight. 96 minutes need to go to WE, JP, AT, and AD.

[Out of Balance]

The statistical analysis provided on the Ken Pomeroy site for Bradley between the high water mark of 2005-06 and the struggles of the last 3 years http://kenpom.com/team.php?team=Bradley indicate that we need a team that can play defense. Bradley has played an undersized line up the last 3 years and our defensive efficiency rank for those 3 years has been between 136-143. Our winning pct up through the end of the MVC tournament has been 53.1%, 56.3%, and 51.7% respectively and we have had pretty good guard play during that time.

I hope JL doesn't necessarily start the five best players, but the best combination of players that give us a balance of offense and defense. If we play TB at the 4 spot for the greater part of the season, I would predict we will end up up winning 50-55% of our games again unless the average quality of the MVC is down.

My Man I constantly try to convey this, but no one seems to get it. Now there is two of us, that get Sorry to steal your line, amckillip We play small again this year and let 5 or 6 players, 6'8 + sit and do nothing other than pick splenders out of each others butt then DB will be right Fans will be pissed and JL will be looking for a new gig

[SFP]

Quite simply TB and WE will play most of the minutes between the 4/5 position. There will be around 30 minutes a game for MK, JP and AT to fight for. Again I'm not counting on a Freshman to do too much. I'm also hoping MK can play some D, JP steps up and I really hope AT surprises the bejesus out of me. We'll need all three to contribute throughout the season if we want to challenge for the league title.

[thefish7]

I'm going with 100 minutes for guards.

Maniscalco - 25
Warren - 25
Dunson - 20
Simms-Edwards - 15
Lemon - 10
Eastman - 5

[real fan]

My Man I constantly try to convey this, but no one seems to get it. Now there is two of us, that get Sorry to steal your line, amckillip We play small again this year and let 5 or 6 players, 6'8 + sit and do nothing other than pick splenders out of each others butt then DB will be right Fans will be pissed and JL will be looking for a new gig

3 of us get it as I have said that coach seems to have forgotten that our sweet 16 success was do to the fact we had a true center that could score, defend and block shots , you have to have a quality big man(center) in order to compete against the top teams in your league and the NCAA tour, hope coach Platt has taught our bigs how to play better defense, how to rebound and the need to be aggressive.

[amckillip]

3 of us get it as I have said that coach seems to have forgotten that our sweet 16 success was do to the fact we had a true center that could score, defend and block shots , you have to have a quality big man(center) in order to compete against the top teams in your league and the NCAA tour, hope coach Platt has taught our bigs how to play better defense, how to rebound and the need to be aggressive.

Who is our true center???

You have to have a true center to play one. We don't have one. There is a reason JL plays with 3 guards. Given our players, playing 3 guards gives us the best chance to win. We played 3 guards during the sweet 16 run. As a matter of fact, most MVC teams play 3 guards. We are not a Big Ten team with several above average big men. I wish it were different, but it's just not. Take a step back and actually look at our talent. IMO JP is the only big man who has a shot to even be considered for All-anything and I've only seen him play in high-school.

[real fan]

Who is our true center???

You have to have a true center to play one. We don't have one. There is a reason JL plays with 3 guards. Given our players, playing 3 guards gives us the best chance to win. We played 3 guards during the sweet 16 run. As a matter of fact, most MVC teams play 3 guards. We are not a Big Ten team with several above average big men. I wish it were different, but it's just not. Take a step back and actually look at our talent. IMO JP is the only big man who has a shot to even be considered for All-anything and I've only seen him play in high-school.

You just made our point about not having a true center, playing 3 guards is not a problem , who"s fault is it that we have no true center? You don"t have to be a big ten team to get a center , we have several 6-8 and above height players that could fill that role if developed properly.

[toddgak]

Dyricus that much more than Dodie?
Dodie has never played less than 22.5 mpg in any season since grade school and has averaged almost 27 mpg since coming to BU

And Jake averaged 11.4 last year with absolutely NO experience at the college level or with JL's system..

Do you have your own predictions or just going to nitpick mine?

I think DSE is a better player than Dodie right now. As a result, he should play more minutes. I would say my guesses or more on what I WANT to see happen, as opposed to maybe what will.

If Jake plays more minutes that means less for the guys ahead of him. Who in your mind plays less as Jake plays more?

[amckillip]

Done! What's a brew cost? If SM has to play huge minutes that means we're not doing so well. The 1 and 2 position have 3 legitimate guys. Who do you see manning the 3 besides AW? This is how JL has coaches. SM played tons last year because there was not an alternative. SM will be nicked up and JL will have the ability to keep others in the game to keep him fresh. The only way SM plays more minutes is if AW gets injured and or JE hits his strides. I believe JE is a year away from being that player. Remember he was going to be RS.

Maybe the MVC Tourney? Homecoimg fall '11?

I think you'll see DD, DSE, and JE play the '3' and by that I mean they'll be on the court with one another. SM will play both the 1 and 2. SM killed AW in mpg last year and I don't see the guards being that much different, except Dodie being more pg-oriented than CRob, but thats countered by the DSE emerging, IMO.

[LittleBrave]

Do you have your own predictions or just going to nitpick mine?

I think DSE is a better player than Dodie right now. As a result, he should play more minutes. I would say my guesses or more on what I WANT to see happen, as opposed to maybe what will.

If Jake plays more minutes that means less for the guys ahead of him. Who in your mind plays less as Jake plays more?

Toddgak, you are correct - this is what YOU want to see happen - sometimes the threads are not read correctly or perhaps misinterpreted. Have no shame man!
Most posters started out giving their responses to the actual question, but then others strayed, talking about what they think Coach Les will decide. I was putting everybody in the shoes of a head coach role.

[shaunguth]

28 - sm
28 - aw
25 - dd
22 - dse
14 - je
7 - wl

[amckillip]

You just made our point about not having a true center, playing 3 guards is not a problem , who"s fault is it that we have no true center? You don"t have to be a big ten team to get a center , we have several 6-8 and above height players that could fill that role if developed properly.

Once again, you have to work within what you have. I have said it dozens of times, but it is next to impossible to get true centers to play in the MVC. With a huge lack of quality big men extending all the way up the NBA and the fact the MVC calls fouls for everything it's not going to happen. Hence why there are NUMEROUS MVC guards playing in the league, and why there are next to no big men playing. The MVC is a guards league. JL is playing the hand he's dealt. The quicker fans figure that out, the happier they'll be.