3-5 Next Year

[Hicks' Guns]

After this year, I can't wait to have solid big men again. Hopefully, it is next year. It looks like we'll have some interesting lineup options next year at the 3, 4 and 5 spots with the following players potentially at Mick's disposal:

Shaq
Lawrence
Rubles
Jackson
Gaines
Strickland
Nyarsuk
Sanders (maybe he's just a 2)

Lawrence is pretty much going to be a 4, right? I think Shaq getting a lot more PT this past week is telling. I'd love to see him at 3, Lawrence at 4 and truthfully Jackson at 5 (assuming neither Gaines or Nyarsuk takes a giant step forward). Based on what we've seen this year, I think their ceiling is what we saw from Cheik Mbodj basically.

So, I guess on the whole I'm rooting for this lineup: (1) Guyn; (2) Kilpatrick; (3) Thomas; (4) Lawrence; and (5) Jackson

With the main backups to the guards being JDIII and Sanders and probably one of the freshman, and the main backup to the 4-5 Rubles and one of Nyarsuk/Strickland/Gaines.

 

[Amberlycolonel]

After this year, I can't wait to have solid big men again. Hopefully, it is next year. It looks like we'll have some interesting lineup options next year at the 3, 4 and 5 spots with the following players potentially at Mick's disposal:

Shaq
Lawrence
Rubles
Jackson
Gaines
Strickland
Nyarsuk
Sanders (maybe he's just a 2)

Lawrence is pretty much going to be a 4, right? I think Shaq getting a lot more PT this past week is telling. I'd love to see him at 3, Lawrence at 4 and truthfully Jackson at 5 (assuming neither Gaines or Nyarsuk takes a giant step forward). Based on what we've seen this year, I think their ceiling is what we saw rom Cheik Mbodj basically.

So, I guess on the whole I'm rooting for this lineup: (1) Guyn; (2) Kilpatrick; (3) Thomas; (4) Lawrence; and (5) Jackson

With the main backups to the guards being JDIII and Sanders and probably one of the freshman, and the main backup to the 4-5 Rubles and one of Nyarsuk/Strickland/Gaines.

Jackson is a bust. Put Strickland in there. Jackson is a good man to come in for a couple minutes, make a face, commit a turnover, then return to the bench.

 

[mdchick]

I'd honestly like a line-up that has:

2:Shaq
3:lawrence
4:Rubles
5JAckson

I think shaq can guard a 2 guard and we would own on rebounding, this would also help the fact that we don't drive to the rim at all in our offense and with these guys all of them would drive to the rim.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

I'd love to say that too but the only footage I've seen of Strickland is him in an early high school game and doing a clumsy dunk. Hopefully, he's good enough to start but (unless I'm wrong) I think the only trush frosh that's started of late is Lance. I just don't see anyone getting the nod besides Lawrence.

That said, maybe Strickland takes the America 12 by storm.

I would just rather see Jackson in the lineup (on a short leash) then Gaines or Nyarsuk. And I think I've made my feelings known on Rubles. I think he'd be a great 6-man. Get him in there. If he's wild...get himout.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

I'd honestly like a line-up that has:

2:Shaq
3:lawrence
4:Rubles
5JAckson

I think shaq can guard a 2 guard and we would own on rebounding, this would also help the fact that we don't drive to the rim at all in our offense and with these guys all of them would drive to the rim.

What about SK mdc?

 

[JumpinJack5]

I'd love to say that too but the only footage I've seen of Strickland is him in an early high school game and doing a clumsy dunk. Hopefully, he's good enough to start but (unless I'm wrong) I think the only trush frosh that's started of late is Lance. I just don't see anyone getting the nod besides Lawrence.

That said, maybe Strickland takes the America 12 by storm.

I would just rather see Jackson in the lineup (on a short leash) then Gaines or Nyarsuk. And I think I've made my feelings known on Rubles. I think he'd be a great 6-man. Get him in there. If he's wild...get himout.

Strickland didn't start playing basketball til he was in like 7th or 8th grade, it was in one of the articles I posted many pages back.....

 

[Amberlycolonel]

Strickland didn't start playing basketball til he was in like 7th or 8th grade, it was in one of the articles I posted many pages back.....

Cannot be worse than Jackson or the others!

 

[mdchick]

What about SK mdc?

If SK does stay I would like

SK
Shaq
Lawrence
Rubles
JJ

All of those guys can handle the basketball well besides jackson. Rubles and Sk can just bring the ball up the court and they would murder on the glass.

I know this probably wouldn't be the line-up but I would honestly really like to see them play together

 

[Crimedogg25]

If SK does stay I would like

SK
Shaq
Lawrence
Rubles
JJ

All of those guys can handle the basketball well besides jackson. Rubles and Sk can just bring the ball up the court and they would murder on the glass.

I know this probably wouldn't be the line-up but I would honestly really like to see them play together

Who can shoot the ball outside of SK in this configuration? My crystal ball foresees many bricks with this lineup.

 

[mdchick]

Who can shoot the ball outside of SK in this configuration? My crystal ball foresees many bricks with this lineup.

I want that line up so we arn't shooting threes, I want to drive the ball to the rim way more.

Right now easily 50% of our shots are 3's
i'd like that to be more like 25%

We would get so many offensive rebounds with this line-up as well, I just hate that our offense has resulted in throwing up threes. I'd rather us drive into the rim than settle for 30 foot jump shots with 3 seconds on the shot clock.

And every single player on the floor would be fast, not mediocre, they would all be extremely fast for their positions. (Rubles and Jackson Especially)

 

[Crimedogg25]

I want that line up so we arn't shooting threes, I want to drive the ball to the rim way more.

Right now easily 50% of our shots are 3's
i'd like that to be more like 25%

We would get so many offensive rebounds with this line-up as well, I just hate that our offense has resulted in throwing up threes. I'd rather us drive into the rim than settle for 30 foot jump shots with 3 seconds on the shot clock.

And every single player on the floor would be fast, not mediocre, they would all be extremely fast for their positions. (Rubles and Jackson Especially)

These guys miss easy shots or refuse to take the ball to the basket the majority of the game. Rubles will get within five feet and refuse to take it up. You don't think the opposing team would sag off everyone, but SK and make these guys shoot the rock?

 

[CaptDale]

Face it, we've got a lot of rebuilding next year.
First thing we better rebuild is our offense. The defensive strategy is pretty sound, but we should take a lesson from GT's zone for a backup.
Make the personnel fit the game plan.
We're losing a high intensity player in Parker who will be extremely hard to replace. We're lucky he replaced Bishop who played the same way.
Then we need to find a PG who won't get the ball stripped. Say what you want about Cash, but knows how to bring the ball upcourt. He's not a turnover machine, and until recently had a great assist/TO ratio.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I'd like to see JD3 enter the pg picture. He is a good passer but needs to make better decisions. He is the one guy on the team I think can shoot consistently right now.

My hope is Jamaree Strickland in good enough to start.

PG - Think it's wide open. Davis probably gives you better offenssive options, but I will not be surprised if Caupain or KJ started.
SG - It's SK if he stays. Maybe JD3 or Sanders after.
SF - Thomas and I think Lawrence will play the 3 some as well
PF - Rubles early but think if he transitions well Lawrence will take over.
C - Strickland

Frankly, I am very excited about the new guards and I think they will be UC's best collective backcourt players in time. Mormon is the sleeper to me and he could see time at 2 positions. Bottom line is I think 2 of the young guys will see floor time in the backcourt between the 1, 2, 3 positions.

Bottom line is I'm really not sure how this will play out. I do think UC will be better than some on here think.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

I want that line up so we arn't shooting threes, I want to drive the ball to the rim way more.

Right now easily 50% of our shots are 3's
i'd like that to be more like 25%

We would get so many offensive rebounds with this line-up as well, I just hate that our offense has resulted in throwing up threes. I'd rather us drive into the rim than settle for 30 foot jump shots with 3 seconds on the shot clock.

And every single player on the floor would be fast, not mediocre, they would all be extremely fast for their positions. (Rubles and Jackson Especially)

No ball handler to break the press is my only problem. I do agree that you've got our best players with the most height/length in there. But we're going to need a reliable dribbler in there whether it's Guyn, JDIII or one of the new guys.

 

[Bearcat22]

I'd like to see JD3 enter the pg picture. He is a good passer but needs to make better decisions. He is the one guy on the team I think can shoot consistently right now.

My hope is Jamaree Strickland in good enough to start.

PG - Think it's wide open. Davis probably gives you better offenssive options, but I will not be surprised if Caupain or KJ started.
SG - It's SK if he stays. Maybe JD3 or Sanders after.
SF - Thomas and I think Lawrence will play the 3 some as well
PF - Rubles early but think if he transitions well Lawrence will take over.
C - Strickland

Frankly, I am very excited about the new guards and I think they will be UC's best collective backcourt players in time. Mormon is the sleeper to me and he could see time at 2 positions. Bottom line is I think 2 of the young guys will see floor time in the backcourt between the 1, 2, 3 positions.

Bottom line is I'm really not sure how this will play out. I do think UC will be better than some on here think.

With his addition to the Under 22 national team it can only help his development. If he doesn't start he might be a valuable 6th man like Gardner for Marquette. I'm hoping he starts and the Mick changes course and plays the younger guys much more for some much needed experience and player development. We have a special recruiting class on the way.

 

[mdchick]

I'd like to see JD3 enter the pg picture. He is a good passer but needs to make better decisions. He is the one guy on the team I think can shoot consistently right now.

My hope is Jamaree Strickland in good enough to start.

PG - Think it's wide open. Davis probably gives you better offenssive options, but I will not be surprised if Caupain or KJ started.
SG - It's SK if he stays. Maybe JD3 or Sanders after.
SF - Thomas and I think Lawrence will play the 3 some as well
PF - Rubles early but think if he transitions well Lawrence will take over.
C - Strickland

Frankly, I am very excited about the new guards and I think they will be UC's best collective backcourt players in time. Mormon is the sleeper to me and he could see time at 2 positions. Bottom line is I think 2 of the young guys will see floor time in the backcourt between the 1, 2, 3 positions.

Bottom line is I'm really not sure how this will play out. I do think UC will be better than some on here think.

per the faith baptist twitter page, Morman has been playing PG all year, Maybe this was a request by cronin to better his ball handling skills....

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

You guys have a lot more faith in JDIII then I do. He played sparingly as a Freshmen and was injured as a Soph. To play PG in BE you need Speed Athletism and Quickness. Plus you need a VERY good handle. Nowhere in that statement did I describe JDIII. I think in the short time i seen him he showed flashes of being a guy who can score. No where did I see a guy who can get shots for others,defend opposing PG's or use his dribble to get to the rim on a consistent basis. Johnson,Morman or Caupain will need to be the PG unless Guyn takes a huge step forward next year.

 

[mdchick]

You guys have a lot more faith in JDIII then I do. He played sparingly as a Freshmen and was injured as a Soph. To play PG in BE you need Speed Athletism and Quickness. Plus you need a VERY good handle. Nowhere in that statement did I describe JDIII. I think in the short time i seen him he showed flashes of being a guy who can score. No where did I see a guy who can get shots for others,defend opposing PG's or use his dribble to get to the rim on a consistent basis. Johnson,Morman or Caupain will need to be the PG unless Guyn takes a huge step forward next year.

Rubles is good at getting open shots for people...... maybe he should play the point..........

 

[TheLongHaul]

You guys have a lot more faith in JDIII then I do. He played sparingly as a Freshmen and was injured as a Soph. To play PG in BE you need Speed Athletism and Quickness. Plus you need a VERY good handle. Nowhere in that statement did I describe JDIII. I think in the short time i seen him he showed flashes of being a guy who can score. No where did I see a guy who can get shots for others,defend opposing PG's or use his dribble to get to the rim on a consistent basis. Johnson,Morman or Caupain will need to be the PG unless Guyn takes a huge step forward next year.

So you didn't see those things in JDIII but you've seen enough in Johnson, Morman, and Caupain to say that they need to be the PG?

I see good things in JDIII but with his injury I'm not sure how he has progressed. I think his speed and quickness is underrated. I think he is pretty quick with the ball and his pretty fast when pushing the ball up the court. He isn't overly athletic but that isn't a big concern of mine as he at least has a pretty strong frame.

Cronin has never been one to use freshman and live with their mistakes therefore I find it very hard to believe that any of the incoming guards are going to step in and be the PG. These aren't 5* recruits.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Rubles is good at getting open shots for people...... maybe he should play the point..........

md, do like rubles handle for a big man and he plays great in your face d but a PG he is not. most will disagree with me but i think rubles will be one of our most improved players next year.