Time to get creative

[franklinwdixon]

After an oustanding week of recruiting, it's fun to let the mind wander over some potential lineups for the upcoming seasons.

No more motion for 30 seconds before running a lame high ball screen! This team is gonna have some real options!

So what lineups, what strategies, are you looking forward to?

I haven't seen half these guys but I'm already thinking this one could run teams out of the gym in spurts of 4-5 minutes per half:

Randolph - Christon - Vezenkov - Martin - Reynolds

Martin as a face-up NBA-style 4 just makes way too much sense. He can rebound and defend and then on offense draw the defense out to the 3 point line, freeing up the lane for Randolph and Christon. And wow that group could get out in transition!

Last year we made it so hard for Semaj, always clogging the lane with our bigs but not giving him shooters on the outside that forced the defense to stay home. No wonder we scored 50 points a night.

This year's squad is gonna have a lot more ways to beat people!

[muskieman]

high ball screens are AV's specialty.

[franklinwdixon]

Hey, that's fine! It's a great play! I'm just saying let's run it by choice, not by desperation.. and let's have some options out there now that will actually make it difficult to defend for the opponents.. that's the exciting thing!

[skyhops]

Three freshman does not equate to much defense especially if AV is going to guard a four. MM, how do you know that AV specializes in high ball screens? Look at how difficult it has been for our freshmen (beside Christon) to come in and make an immediate impact. It is going to be difficult to plug in AV at forward in the new big east on the defensive end.

[muskieman]

Three freshman does not equate to much defense especially if AV is going to guard a four. MM, how do you know that AV specializes in high ball screens? Look at how difficult it has been for our freshmen (beside Christon) to come in and make an immediate impact. It is going to be difficult to plug in AV at forward in the new big east on the defensive end.

because I have read the comments about him from the different pundits that know him.

[X-lucidity]

Yes, this is the fun part. My starting line-up:
(C) = Stainbrook. OK big fella, show us what you got.
(PF)= Philmore. Showed promise late in year, tough and smart.
(SF)= Martin. Flashed promise, does the lightbulb flicker "on"? If not, plenty on bench to steal his PT.
(SG)= Randolph. This kid is the real deal. We have Myles to share these minutes.
(PG) S-E-M-A-J ! Will easily be top ten player in country. (please stay healthy my man)

Jalen Reynolds, Dee Davis and Myles Davis keys off bench. Hopefully Farr & Cantino are decent enough to contribute when called upon. If Cantino can help, I would at least consider red-shirting Kamal Richards. Have heard great things about this kid's drive & hustle, letting him hit the weights and rep with team at scrimmages would help his career. He may not see much PT if Cantino can ball. Then there is AV... What a superb and enticing toy to play with. I mention him last as he is the biggest unknown as far as availability. Will he clear the NCAA eligibility -(all accounts point to "yes") Will he opt to stay close to home and earn a few bucks in Greek leagues? If he arrives to play for us, which I place odds at around 80% through pure speculation, then he is either in top seven rotation or an immediate starter. Hoping like hell he comes across the Atlantic because boy would that be a hoot to watch this squad develop chemistry.
Let's roll the balls out today..

[skyhops]

That's an ideal lineup although Davis will probably get the nod at the beginning. Reynolds will contribute immediately

[jct1941]

Well, barring any unforeseen events at least as everyone has said we will have a lot of options even if AV does not join us. It will be nice to have a full roster for a change. We will even be able to have competitive practises and if a player is having an off game there will be options to go to. We could almost have TWO sets of five players that are very competitive. Fingers crossed. Go Xavier!

[franklinwdixon]

I agree Stainbrook and Philmore are probably our most skilled, most experienced bigs. But I don't see how we can play them at the same time with Christon and Randolph.

If your best offensive player's primary asset is his ability to get into the lane at will, the worst thing you could do is clog up the works with two molasses-slow plodders.

It's the same reason the Heat start Bosh at the 5 and keep him 18 feet from the basket. Same reason Chandler Parsons is a power forward in modern NBA basketball.

It would be criminal to give the keys to Randolph, Christon and Dee, and then ask them to drive the speed limit while we wait for Stainbrook and Philmore to get down the court.

I think we have to stop thinking in terms of two 1990s-style bigs in the lineup and leap into the future! Martin and Vezenkov are 4s in the new era of basketball. One big, one stretch, 3 ball handlers. Push tempo. Shoot 3s.

It could be great!

[Anti-Homer]

I agree Stainbrook and Philmore are probably our most skilled, most experienced bigs. But I don't see how we can play them at the same time with Christon and Randolph.

If your best offensive player's primary asset is his ability to get into the lane at will, the worst thing you could do is clog up the works with two molasses-slow plodders.

It's the same reason the Heat start Bosh at the 5 and keep him 18 feet from the basket. Same reason Chandler Parsons is a power forward in modern NBA basketball.

It would be criminal to give the keys to Randolph, Christon and Dee, and then ask them to drive the speed limit while we wait for Stainbrook and Philmore to get down the court.

I think we have to stop thinking in terms of two 1990s-style bigs in the lineup and leap into the future! Martin and Vezenkov are 4s in the new era of basketball. One big, one stretch, 3 ball handlers. Push tempo. Shoot 3s.

It could be great!

It worked pretty well for Louisville with Dieng & Behanan. It works if the bigs don’t camp near the block, but actively pop up to set screens, and have the ability to hit 15 footers, which Stainbrook and Philmore supposedly have the ability to do. Also, it helps to have good 3 point shooters (Hancock and Ware), which we supposedly do in V (if her ever sets foot on campus), Martin, & Dee.