Thomas Going To Bench?

[swg]

Don’t be surprised if Ibrahima Thomas starts Saturday’s game at St. John’s on the bench. Mick Cronin talked a lot this afternoon about players learning to finish around the rim and conceded that Thomas has been the worst culprit.

“We’re rushing,” Cronin said. “We’ve got to get our eyes on the target. We’ve go to finish with more strength. We’ve got guys ducking from fouls. When you get the advantage five feet and in, you either have to score or make the guy foul you. If he comes to foul you and you contort your shot just to get it off, he wins. He now took your five-footer, you’re two footer, and made it a tough one.”

I asked if he was considering sitting Thomas for awhile.

“No question about it,” Cronin said. “His production is way off.”

Thomas has scored a total of 10 points in his last five games. He was scoreless in two of those games.

If Thomas doesn’t start, Cronin could opt to move Rashad Bishop to power forward and put Sean Kilpatrick at small forward. Of course, he wouldn’t tip his hand.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2011/01/20/struggling-thomas-might-sit/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Red_N_Black_Attack]

Hmmm Killa needs to be in the game, but one must wonder if Biggie at center would free up Yancy a little bit at PF.

a lineup like this could work:

Cash
Killa
Yancy
Biggie
with either Dixon or Davis as the shooting guard.

Feel free to throw fruit and veggies if you must

 

[Not Guilty]

We don't need to play biggie. His lack of mobility would kill us. As for Thomas, I like his game but he has been awful recently. I would have no issue with him being benched. Plus, in my opinion we are at our best when we press and we can't press when Thomas and Gates are on the floor together.

Also, we aren't losing anything with Bishop on the bench right now. I know he plays very good defense, but his lack of rebounding and offense are hurting badly right now.

We also should consider playing larry davis more. He doesn't have much game off the dribble but he can spread the floor with his shooting and he plays aggressive on the ball defense.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Let's hope Thomas goes to the bench. I think he'll be better in a reserve role.

 

[psax889906]

Let's hope Thomas goes to the bench. I think he'll be better in a reserve role.

Maybe that will light a fire under him... for a while there at the beginning of the season I thought he was turning the corner.

 

[dp3113]

Let's hope Thomas goes to the bench. I think he'll be better in a reserve role.

i've wondered why more people aren't calling for jackson to start.

when can we press? when jackson and wilks are in at PF. when is the press most effective? when jackson is in.

who is a walking turnover? wilks. who fouls everytime in the half court set when he breathes? wilks.

this team is near inept on offense recently. we need all the easy baskets we can get. press turnovers give us the most easy baskets. start jackson.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

i've wondered why more people aren't calling for jackson to start.

when can we press? when jackson and wilks are in at PF. when is the press most effective? when jackson is in.

who is a walking turnover? wilks. who fouls everytime in the half court set when he breathes? wilks.

this team is near inept on offense recently. we need all the easy baskets we can get. press turnovers give us the most easy baskets. start jackson.

Exactly. If 2 big men at the same time can't rebound might as well go with Jackson at the 4..backed by Wilks who can be good at spirts, at home.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I love JJ but with his ft shooting it'd be tough for me to start him. You're giving points way on a team having problems scoring them.

I have thought though that I would like to go young and energetic with the starting line up and bring the older guys off the bench as a steadying influence.

 

[dp3113]

I love JJ but with his ft shooting it'd be tough for me to start him. You're giving points way on a team having problems scoring them.

I have thought though that I would like to go young and energetic with the starting line up and bring the older guys off the bench as a steadying influence.

i disagree. you may be giving away a few points, but jackson isn't going to draw hack-a-shack treatment, nor is he really getting the ball on the block in our offense much anyways.

i'd give up an occasional free throw by him, rather than thomas/wilks inability to catch and/or finish the ball, not to mention the easy baskets he creates via the press for our team.

 

[Not Guilty]

i disagree. you may be giving away a few points, but jackson isn't going to draw hack-a-shack treatment, nor is he really getting the ball on the block in our offense much anyways.

i'd give up an occasional free throw by him, rather than thomas/wilks inability to catch and/or finish the ball, not to mention the easy baskets he creates via the press for our team.

Thomas is WAY better thank Jackson at this point. He just hasn't played like it the last 5 games. I have no problems benching him. He deserves it. I don't think its a long term solution though, unless we want to go small.

 

[Not Guilty]

I will say, though, that we can press better with JJ or Wilks in the game than both Thomas and Gates. We are just going to miss Thomas' rebounding. He has been very poor recently. But he is one of the best rebounders in the country. We could use that again.

 

[Not Guilty]

As of 5 minutes to go in the first half:

Jackson is a beast. DP you are WAAAAAAAAYYYYY smarter than me.

 

[psax889906]

Justin Jackson has really progressed from day one. He's learning to play smarter on the defensive end (for the most part) and he's showing flashes of an offensive game. When he makes up his mind to take the ball to the basket he's shown he is extremely hard to stop. I love the potential that is there. And with the way the kid gets after it on the court you have to think he's going to put in the time to become the best player possible. It's going to be fun to watch him and SK in a couple years.

 

[swg]

UC has got to improve offensively. It's bad, road or not.

 

[bearcat jeff]

You can almost watch them thinking when playing on the road. Getting the monkey off their back today may help them relax.