Next years team

[Bearcat_NTS]

The preseason foreign trip (I believe to the Bahamas) is going to be vital for this team. It will allow more practice time together and gives the team a chance to develop an identity. I am hoping Caupain and Johnson solidify themselves as the starting backcourt and one of the new centers take control of the starting spot. The trip to Canada a few years ago was a key for developing that team. A lot to be excited about for the future.

 

[UCalum08]

I thought we were going to some random place in Florida and not the Bahamas.

 

[KillaB513]

Here's my starters next year.
PG- Caupain
SG-Johnson
SF-Thomas (I believe his development will be the biggest key on how this team does next year)
PF-Lawerence
C-DeBerry

Coming off the bench with Guyn,Sanders,Strickland and Clark will be nice to have that kind of depth. We've never seen this kind of size under Mick! I hope we get Graham and another scorer with the 2 remaining scholarships.

 

[ucswais]

Sanders and Shaq play the 3, Clark plays the 4.

Natural position, sure. I just find it hard to believe we won't see Sanders and Shaq both on the floor at the same time. One of them is going to have to play somewhere else some of the time or they will max out at a combined 40 minutes. I can't imagine that is the plan for those 2 unless the incoming class is just amazing.

Overall, I think it looks like a lot of players that can contribute, but the odds that we actually do use something like 11-12 players is very low. Someone will win these battles among the new guys and someone will lose them. More specifically, I think a guy like Clark will have to beat out Lawrence for the 4. If he can't, we will rarely ever see him. If he does, JL will have to beat out Moore or DeBerry to try to get minutes at 5 again.

I have a similar opinion if we bring in a JUCO guard. Morman is going to have to get minutes by beating someone out and leaving them with 0. We're not going to play him in addition to all the other guys.

 

[KillaB513]

I agree! We all know that early in the year Mick's rotation is about 10 guys and then as the season goes on that number goes down to about 8. I think moving Lawrence to 5 will hurt his development. That's why I think we might see a bigger rotation next year. It will probably be in either Moore or Clark's best interest to RS next year!

 

[JerseySean]

Here's my starters next year.
PG- Caupain
SG-Johnson
SF-Thomas (I believe his development will be the biggest key on how this team does next year)
PF-Lawerence
C-DeBerry

Coming off the bench with Guyn,Sanders,Strickland and Clark will be nice to have that kind of depth. We've never seen this kind of size under Mick! I hope we get Graham and another scorer with the 2 remaining scholarships.

No mention of Moore at all... Are we forgetting a potentially important piece, here?

 

[Bearcat22]

Natural position, sure. I just find it hard to believe we won't see Sanders and Shaq both on the floor at the same time. One of them is going to have to play somewhere else some of the time or they will max out at a combined 40 minutes. I can't imagine that is the plan for those 2 unless the incoming class is just amazing.

Overall, I think it looks like a lot of players that can contribute, but the odds that we actually do use something like 11-12 players is very low. Someone will win these battles among the new guys and someone will lose them. More specifically, I think a guy like Clark will have to beat out Lawrence for the 4. If he can't, we will rarely ever see him. If he does, JL will have to beat out Moore or DeBerry to try to get minutes at 5 again.

I have a similar opinion if we bring in a JUCO guard. Morman is going to have to get minutes by beating someone out and leaving them with 0. We're not going to play him in addition to all the other guys.

I agree about the number if players that will be used. History points to Mick playing a lot of guys earlier and going to a shorter rotation in league play. That's one of my quibbles with Cronin, I'd like the younger guys to play more minutes for their development for post season and beyond. Pitino, as much as it pains me to say it, is good at this. Kevin Ollie did the same with Brimah too and he's contributed at points down the stretch.

The counter to that is that next year's team has more depth than he's previously had and these guys are more ready to contribute than previous recruiting classes. If guys like Sanders and Guyn are more role players next season, which is something every team needs, then the Cats will be in good shape. If they are counted on as major contributors that could indicate a tough season.

Transfers and Juco signings could really change the landscape of the team with an infusion of experience & talent. Reading the posts from the recruiting guys on this site point to the Cats getting involved in trying to get one or two.

 

[KillaB513]

Honestly its all a shot in the dark at this point until the team is set in stone! Someone is going to lose the battle between Moore,Clark and Lawrence and the odd man out won't see the floor that much. Same thing going to happen with the guard spots!

 

[JasonS]

Honestly its all a shot in the dark at this point until the team is set in stone! Someone is going to lose the battle between Moore,Clark and Lawrence and the odd man out won't see the floor that much. Same thing going to happen with the guard spots!

Moore is a 5. Clark and Lawrence are 4s. Lawrence will get big minutes next year and Clark will contribute. Moore will not be battling those guys for time. He will be battling Strickland and DeBerry for time. The good news for UC next year and in the near future is that size will NOT be an issue. Teams that tend to get upset early in March are teams without quality bigs. Undersized teams go out early often. Just look at Duke, Ohio State and UC. What did they all have in common? No dominant/quality big. All three were undersized teams.

 

[Robert]

I think Moore can play the 4, but with Lawrence and Clark eating up all the minutes, the 5 is the only spot he's going to get floor time this year. It will be an open competition for the starting center job, and I think all 3 incoming centers get playing time in the non-conference. Once we get in to conference play, one of these centers will be the odd man out in our rotation. I won't make any predictions on who that may be because it could be any of the 3.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Moore is a 5. Clark and Lawrence are 4s. Lawrence will get big minutes next year and Clark will contribute. Moore will not be battling those guys for time. He will be battling Strickland and DeBerry for time. The good news for UC next year and in the near future is that size will NOT be an issue. Teams that tend to get upset early in March are teams without quality bigs. Undersized teams go out early often. Just look at Duke, Ohio State and UC. What did they all have in common? No dominant/quality big. All three were undersized teams.

They were are also one dimensional teams. Creighton and UNC also could be thrown into that group. You've got to have some semblance of balance to advance into the second weekend. The exception was SD State but they were lucky to play a 12 and 13 seed.

 

[bearcat jeff]

That's what excites me about next years team. I believe they have the potential to be more balanced. Yes there is work to do and the roster isn't complete but the potential is there. The trip to the Bahama's is perfect extra work for a team that will be looking to develop and come together. Now let's hope any new additions get enrolled for summer sessions so they can particiapte.

 

[UCalum08]

That's what excites me about next years team. I believe they have the potential to be more balanced. Yes there is work to do and the roster isn't complete but the potential is there. The trip to the Bahama's is perfect extra work for a team that will be looking to develop and come together. Now let's hope any new additions get enrolled for summer sessions so they can particiapte.

Jeff, are we going to the Bahamas? I thought we were going to a place in Florida . Seemed kind of a random place that I haven't really heard of. Do you know what I am talking about.

 

[Scheids21]

Jeff, are we going to the Bahamas? I thought we were going to a place in Florida . Seemed kind of a random place that I haven't really heard of. Do you know what I am talking about.

http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2...asketball-early-season-tournaments-events-MTE

Niceville, next to Destin; and I haven't heard about Bahamas either.

 

[UCalum08]

http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2...asketball-early-season-tournaments-events-MTE

Niceville, next to Destin; and I haven't heard about Bahamas either.

That's it! Thanks. I wish we were going to the Bahamas though ha.

 

[JackBauer151]

The Bearcats are going to the Bahamas in August. Preseason event much like they did up in Canada a few years ago. This team will need the extra work.

 

[Scheids21]

The Bearcats are going to the Bahamas in August. Preseason event much like they did up in Canada a few years ago. This team will need the extra work.

Link?

 

[JackBauer151]

I dont have a link. Just know they are going to the Bahamas for a few games in August.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Teams can take a "foreign" trip every 4 years. Recall they went to Canada and scrimmaged several of the top teams over there during the summer.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

They were are also one dimensional teams. Creighton and UNC also could be thrown into that group. You've got to have some semblance of balance to advance into the second weekend. The exception was SD State but they were lucky to play a 12 and 13 seed.

Unc did have Kennedy Meeks 6'9'' 290 pounds, that's a big boy