Lineup/Minutes Thoughts after Red/White

[Da Coach]

We will need Lemon. He won't redshirt.

[thefish7]

I'm really not that interested in redshirting either player. We are already one short because of the open scholarship. I know that you could just take the R/S off any time, but I think the training regimen changes a little if you're on redshirt and gets you totally focused on conditioning. At least, that's how interpreted Eastman's troubles shooting last year (since he was supposed to have been a prolific high school shooter).

Incidentally, I think the other side is also true, that you don't have to declare a redshirt, but if a guy never actually plays he can get one. Maybe that's the right approach with either Davis or Lemon. Prepare them like they're going to play in games, but if you end up not needing them you can retroactively redshirt them.

[BradleyBrave]

We will need Lemon. He won't redshirt.

Agreed. We won't need Davis. Don't be silly and waste a year of his development.

[unbekannt]

Not a chance, even if completely healthy, or partially injured SM plays less than 30 (nor would I want him too )

Agreed. It was painful to read Fetz's post. GRAMMAR NAZI!

Senior PGs can take a team far. SM can and should provide leadership and consistency for the team. He will play big minutes unless he's not healthy or BU gets (and can hold) big leads.

[AZ BU Fan]

Looking at BU's losses last year, team was out rebounded. Seemed opposition guards didn't fear taking the ball inside....Would suggest BU needs more interior defense and rebounding from players on the floor.

If opposition teams play two interior bigs and a large guard/smaller forward, BU should respond with TB, WE and JP with AT and MK in the rotation (if MK improves enough to be given PT)...

Go big, pound the ball inside, rebound aggressively, and draw fouls. Sounds like Michigan State.....

BU did have success in the NCAA with 3 guards and 2 bigs, but remember their bigs were MS, POB and ZA....Can't compare eiyh current players.....Also, the 3 guard/2 big line up that year wasn't overly impressive in the regular season/MVC post season...

Regarding BU players setting better picks, BU ballhandlers have to drive their defender into the BU player setting the pick. Too often BU guards would not drive close enough to the BU player setting the picks....too big a gap between the BU player with the ball and the player setting the pick. Defender squeezed through the attempted pick, or worse, the BU player setting the pick jumped out to close the gap and, WHISTLE, illegal pick!

[amckillip]

Looking at BU's losses last year, team was out rebounded. Seemed opposition guards didn't fear taking the ball inside....Would suggest BU needs more interior defense and rebounding from players on the floor.

If opposition teams play two interior bigs and a large guard/smaller forward, BU should respond with TB, WE and JP with AT and MK in the rotation (if MK improves enough to be given PT)...

Go big, pound the ball inside, rebound aggressively, and draw fouls. Sounds like Michigan State.....

BU did have success in the NCAA with 3 guards and 2 bigs, but remember their bigs were MS, POB and ZA....Can't compare eiyh current players.....Also, the 3 guard/2 big line up that year wasn't overly impressive in the regular season/MVC post season...

So wait... Our bigs are WORSE, so we should play them MORE?

That is the logic many are advocating. We need better play, not more minutes.

And regarding MVC regular season - that BU team won 9 of their last 10... And that was when we switched to the three guard line-up with JJ (actually went smaller).

[real fan]

W.Lemon will get minutes and may end up being one of the 1st players off the bench, defense is important and from what I saw he may be one of the best on the team, A.Warren had trouble scoring on him.

[SFP]

Not a chance, even if completely healthy, or partially injured SM plays less than 30 (nor would I want him too )

Afraid to lose that bet I believe JL will try to keep SM healthy and fresh as much as possible. I'd also like to see our point guards put constant pressure on the ball so AW, TB, DD and the likes can shoot the passing lanes for easy steals and highlight dunks.

[amckillip]

Afraid to lose that bet I believe JL will try to keep SM healthy and fresh as much as possible. I'd also like to see our point guards put constant pressure on the ball so AW, TB, DD and the likes can shoot the passing lanes for easy steals and highlight dunks.

Why would I be worried? It's a sure thing.

[AZ BU Fan]

So wait... Our bigs are WORSE, so we should play them MORE?

That is the logic many are advocating. We need better play, not more minutes.

And regarding MVC regular season - that BU team won 9 of their last 10... And that was when we switched to the three guard line-up with JJ (actually went smaller).

Don't remember saying BU's bigs are WORSE....said BU line up the last couple years was 0.500.

Following your logic, the 3pt bombing 3 or 4 guard offense JL has run the past 3 years hasn't worked and you want to keep trying the same thing? The same guards who had trouble rebounding and defending the past couple seasons?

If our guards need to, and apparently, can get better, our bigs can't? Everyone is in a positive mood with TB, WE, and now JP. Why can't they get minutes together? With more experience and practice, shouldn't TB, WE be better and JP too? We have a healthy experienced WE, a more seasoned and hopefully disciplined TB, and a prized, supposedly top, recruit who has been in the program for a year in JP.

JJ at the three with MS and POB in the line up is similar to TB, WE, and JP on the floor at the same time. No offense from JJ when he was at the 3....More offense from TB than JJ. Why go smaller with TB and WE/JP as the only bigs on the floor at a time?

We'll soon find out which way JL goes, and how successful his choice will be, in a couple more weeks. I was encouraged by JL talking about playing bigger this year in earlier media interviews. We see how sincere he was!

[amckillip]

Don't remember saying BU's bigs are WORSE....said BU line up the last couple years was 0.500.

Following your logic, the 3pt bombing 3 or 4 guard offense JL has run the past 3 years hasn't worked and you want to keep trying the same thing? The same guards who had trouble rebounding and defending the past couple seasons?

If our guards need to, and apparently, can get better, our bigs can't? Everyone is in a positive mood with TB, WE, and now JP. Why can't they get minutes together? With more experience and practice, shouldn't TB, WE be better and JP too? We have a healthy experienced WE, a more seasoned and hopefully disciplined TB, and a prized, supposedly top, recruit who has been in the program for a year in JP.

JJ at the three with MS and POB in the line up is similar to TB, WE, and JP on the floor at the same time. No offense from JJ when he was at the 3....More offense from TB than JJ. Why go smaller with TB and WE/JP as the only bigs on the floor at a time?

We'll soon find out which way JL goes, and how successful his choice will be, in a couple more weeks. I was encouraged by JL talking about playing bigger this year in earlier media interviews. We see how sincere he was!

JJ was 6'3", AW is 6'6." Whats wrong with the size of AW, TB, WE again?

[thefish7]

JJ was 6'3", AW is 6'6." Whats wrong with the size of AW, TB, WE again?

If AW is 6'6 I get to be 6'3.

It's not just size, but "style." Remember on that team we also had significant contribution from Boogie Wright, a 6'6 forward who rebounded like he was a bit taller. AW has become a strong rebounder for a guard, but he's not anywhere near the rebounder that Taylor Brown (a forward) is. If your argument is that a lineup of SM, AW, TB, WE, JP/AT wouldn't rebound better than a lineup replacing JP/AT with DD, then I can't figure out where you're coming from.

I think you could also suggest that lineup could defende in the paint better, and definitely has a great deal more size than the alternative. However, total team defense could decline in that lineup depending on how people do in their assignments. The question of team offense also is impossible to answer, considering these lineup options.

AW IS a big guard, DD isn't exactly small, but AW is on the small side for a traditional small forward. TB is also relatively small for a power forward as far as that goes. Size absolutely is a factor in evaluating players also. Sam Mansicalco or Daniel Ruffin at 6'3+ probably play at an elite program and start to look like pro prospects.

I actually have no problem with a 3-guard lineup-- it's common in the NCAA and even being used a fair amount in the NBA, and a lot of the time it's difficult to tell the difference between a SG and SF anyway. I also think that AW's height gives us extra versatility in a 3-guard alignment. I don't think it's that hard to contrast individual players in terms of their skills and competencies and to contrast lineups constructed differently. I think a SM/DD/AW/TB/WE lineup will be pretty effective, but also think a SM/AW/TB/WE/JPAT lineup could be at times. The real value comes from recognizing that and trying to deploy those options at times they give you an advantage on the floor.

[amckillip]

If your argument is that a lineup of SM, AW, TB, WE, JP/AT wouldn't rebound better than a lineup replacing JP/AT with DD, then I can't figure out where you're coming from.

I whole-heartedly believe that our team is better with DD starting over AT. How can you even say you don't know where I'm coming from. DD was a high major recruit who has proven himself as a solid contributor with 2 years of D-1 experience. You're telling me you want AT or JP who have ZERO productive D-1 years of expereince under there belt, over arguably the best defender in the MVC. And AW is small for a 3 in the MVC???

Last years '3's' in the MVC as of the tourney:

UNI - Kwadzo 6'3"
Drake - Frank Wiesler 6'2"
Evansville - Colt Ryan 6'5"
MSU - Jermaine Mallet - 6'3"
SIU - Justin Bocot - 6'3"
ILSU - OE -6'3"
WSU - Toure' Murray
CU - Justin Carte - 6'4"
INSU - Jordan Printy - 6'4"

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? AW is the tallest 3 in the MVC, and only one team even listed their '3' as a forward.

Where do people keep saying 'we should play bigger', 'it's the way to success in the MVC', 'AW is small for a 3' etc. Sorry guys, I live in the real world where BU plays in the MVC, not the Big Ten. 6'0" 6'3" 6'6" 6'6" and 6'10" actually gives us a size advantage over several teams in the MVC and puts our best players on the court. No coach in the MVC would start TB, WE, AT/JP if they had the same roster as us. It leaves you with no depth and two of your most talented players, DD and DSE both on the bench, and buries guys like JE and WL. It just doesn't make sense.

[amckillip]

If AW is 6'6 I get to be 6'3.

It's not just size, but "style." Remember on that team we also had significant contribution from Boogie Wright, a 6'6 forward who rebounded like he was a bit taller.

BTW, Boogie is without a doubt shorter than AW. He is listed as 6'3"-6'4" and having stood next to them, it's definitely true. Boogie played big, but he was considerably shorter than AW.

[AZ BU Fan]

AMC...Will find out if your line up produces this year....The only change from last year's starters would be the addition of DD. Hopefully this will make BU much better than .500.

If BU plays this starting line up this year and finishes 5th again at .500, would you re-consider?

I see nothing wrong with deploying a big line up and seeing if opposition with their small 3's can stop BU inside and out rebound BU....

Perhaps room for both line ups at times this year?