Starting 5?

3,500 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Crawfoso1973
guadalupeoso
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Forgive me if there was a previous thread on this, but I was wondering who our starting 5 will be? Seems like we've got options at a few positions.

I'm assuming RayJ Dennis starts at PG and Miro Little comes off the bench?
IowaBear
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Just my guess: Dennis, Walter, Bridges, Love, EJ
Quinton
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IowaBear said:

Just my guess: Dennis, Walter, Bridges, Love, EJ
Yep. Love is the only open spot. Nunn with his athletism and defense could fill in here.

The projected bench is really good. Nunn/Love, Missi, Grimes, Josh, Miro, and Lohner. Don't see many rosters with more potential. Hopefully they can reach it.
DanaDane
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This is gonna be interesting, particularly at the first of the season.

I think IB nailed the initial 5, who will play to the 15 minute mark. Then, in standard Drew fashion, the "other" team will come in for their 5 minute stretch.

In the past it's usually been 3 substitutes primarily, but at least in the first part of the season I think he'll bring in a fresh 5 to get them experience. The interesting part is there are 6 possibilities -- Nunn (for sure), Little (for sure), Missi (for sure) and then Josh O, Grimes and Lohner. I'm curious which direction Drew and staff will go. I know our fans aren't big on Lohner, but the coaching staff loves the characteristics they feel he brings to the team. So, it seems at least 1 person may be left in a very unhappy position.
IowaBear
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I know everyone's convinced Missi has leapfrogged Josh O. But I'm not convinced. Drew has never played bigs heavy minutes from day 1 no matter how talented they are unless it was a necessity (Austin) he typically eases them in. And while talented Missi is still raw. Won't be shocked in Josh plays ahead of him and is drastically improved. Grimes defense will be needed. He's gonna play a good amount
Crawfoso1973
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I think our starting lineup will be Dennis / Nunn / Kobe / Bridges / Missi. Nunn and Kobe give our team a new defensive identity.

Deeper bench than usual with Miro / Grimes / Love / EJ our top rotation guys. Drew usually likes a short rotation by conference but with this group I could see 9 or even 10.

Regarding Missi, I don't anticipate this a situation where he's coming in a raw developmental guy benched behind EJ and Josh O. His name is starting to pop in mocks and I think he gets big rotation minutes from the jump and works his way into one and done status similar to Sochan. He might not start opening night, but something tells me he wouldn't have reclassified only to come and ride the pine. I predict he will start sooner than later, while EJ plays his preferred role as an energy player off the bench which has always been his role for us.
Bakersdozen
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Big men have been over-hyped on this forum for years. Josh was going to be the next great one, too, and probably start by mid-season. Lots of talent, but you got to be able to play more than the 5 position to be a good big-man in today's game.
IowaBear
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Are you new here… that's the norm around here. I mean we actually have a poster who thinks Key is the next Magic. I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to Drew playing Missi big minutes. Especially when it's not out of necessity. We have two bigs much older and fully capable in Josh and EJ
Crawfoso1973
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Bakersdozen said:

Big men have been over-hyped on this forum for years. Josh was going to be the next great one, too, and probably start by mid-season. Lots of talent, but you got to be able to play more than the 5 position to be a good big-man in today's game.


Not sure if this was directed at me, but I wasn't hyping Josh or saying he would be a great player or a one and done. Missi is a much more athletic and versatile player.
BearkatBear
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I'm confident it'll be RayJ, Love, Walter, Bridges, EJ. Grimes backup PG, Nunn as your 3rd wing, and Josh O backup center as the main 3 off the bench. Lohner as the only other 4 will see some minutes behind Jalen, but not many. I like Miro quite a bit, but becomes the odd man out of the deep guard rotation. And I like Missi a lot too, but being a true freshman big man, I just don't think he factors in much this season unless there's an injury.
facts don't care about your feelings
DanaDane
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Crawfoso1973 said:


He might not start opening night, but something tells me he wouldn't have reclassified only to come and ride the pine. I predict he will start sooner than later, while EJ plays his preferred role as an energy player off the bench which has always been his role for us.

I don't know that I think he'll start at any point but do think you are spot on with your first comment. Drew personally talked him into reclassifying. Drew didn't do that to sit him on the bench and never let him play. He would have encouraged him to stay in school. He'll be part of some rotation. In what capacity is what will be interesting to see.

Drew has had the 5 minute rotation thing going now for almost 5 years. I still think he'll do that with at least 10 players for the better part of all non-conference to get a read on his talent, then tighten to his usual 8 or 9 man rotation when it gets to conference play.

The difference when compared with other years is that, at least on paper, this team appears to have a couple of guys who may not be part of a normal rotation in conference play but have the skills to be a specialist matchup against certain teams or styles of play. Of course, go back through this forum's history and you'll see all of us making the comments every year in October about how deep we are only to be worried in late February that we aren't deep enough since you never know the impact that injuries or sickness play during the course of a season.
TWD 1974
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DanaDane said:

Crawfoso1973 said:


He might not start opening night, but something tells me he wouldn't have reclassified only to come and ride the pine. I predict he will start sooner than later, while EJ plays his preferred role as an energy player off the bench which has always been his role for us.

I don't know that I think he'll start at any point but do think you are spot on with your first comment. Drew personally talked him into reclassifying. Drew didn't do that to sit him on the bench and never let him play. He would have encouraged him to stay in school. He'll be part of some rotation. In what capacity is what will be interesting to see.

Drew has had the 5 minute rotation thing going now for almost 5 years. I still think he'll do that with at least 10 players for the better part of all non-conference to get a read on his talent, then tighten to his usual 8 or 9 man rotation when it gets to conference play.

The difference when compared with other years is that, at least on paper, this team appears to have a couple of guys who may not be part of a normal rotation in conference play but have the skills to be a specialist matchup against certain teams or styles of play. Of course, go back through this forum's history and you'll see all of us making the comments every year in October about how deep we are only to be worried in late February that we aren't deep enough since you never know the impact that injuries or sickness play during the course of a season.
Just 2 years ago we were loaded at guard, and in January we went looking for more walk-ons', and then the added walk-on got hurt...
BUCANDOIT82
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BearkatBear said:

I'm confident it'll be RayJ, Love, Walter, Bridges, EJ. Grimes backup PG, Nunn as your 3rd wing, and Josh O backup center as the main 3 off the bench. Lohner as the only other 4 will see some minutes behind Jalen, but not many. I like Miro quite a bit, but becomes the odd man out of the deep guard rotation. And I like Missi a lot too, but being a true freshman big man, I just don't think he factors in much this season unless there's an injury.


I'm pretty sure Missi will play a lot. Same for Little. Too talented not to tap despite being true freshman.
Crawfoso1973
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BUCANDOIT82 said:

BearkatBear said:

I'm confident it'll be RayJ, Love, Walter, Bridges, EJ. Grimes backup PG, Nunn as your 3rd wing, and Josh O backup center as the main 3 off the bench. Lohner as the only other 4 will see some minutes behind Jalen, but not many. I like Miro quite a bit, but becomes the odd man out of the deep guard rotation. And I like Missi a lot too, but being a true freshman big man, I just don't think he factors in much this season unless there's an injury.


I'm pretty sure Missi will play a lot. Same for Little. Too talented not to tap despite being true freshman.
Agreed also on Little. He's a lock for a rotation spot IMO. He was holding his own this summer in international competition, against players much older. Like Sochan, due to his international experience he is much more experienced than a typical freshman.
BearkatBear
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whose rotation spot do they take tho. or do we just play 10/11 guys 16-20 minutes a night.
Crawfoso1973
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BearkatBear said:

whose rotation spot do they take tho. or do we just play 10/11 guys 16-20 minutes a night.
Drew prefers a tight rotation, so we won't have a 10 or 11 man rotation all getting 16-20 minutes a night. By conference play we will be down to an 8 or 9 man rotation which is what Drew prefers. Playing time will be earned in practice and non-conference games. Competition for the final 2 or 3 rotation spots should be fierce. The added depth and talent of our roster gives us injury insurance we haven't had in the past couple of seasons.
BearkatBear
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Crawfoso1973 said:

BearkatBear said:

whose rotation spot do they take tho. or do we just play 10/11 guys 16-20 minutes a night.
Drew prefers a tight rotation, so we won't have a 10 or 11 man rotation all getting 16-20 minutes a night. By conference play we will be down to an 8 or 9 man rotation which is what Drew prefers. Playing time will be earned in practice and non-conference games. Competition for the final 2 or 3 rotation spots should be fierce. The added depth and talent of our roster gives us injury insurance we haven't had in the past couple of seasons.
exactly, I see us having a 9 man rotation at most, like I said earlier. so I think Missi and Little will be the odd men out. But you're saying they both factor in, so who do you have not making the rotation?
IowaBear
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9 is even high. Drew rarely ever goes more than 8 deep once conference play starts. That's always been his MO unless he's forced to due to foul issues. Highly doubt we rely on 3 true Freshman to be heavy contributors when we have plenty of capable upperclassmen.
BUCANDOIT82
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I have no doubt, barring injury, that we will heavily rely on all 3 freshman who may all be one-and-done.
IowaBear
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Well now I feel more confident than ever that we won't. All I needed was you to make that claim. Which one is going number 1 overall? And which one is the next Kobe?
BearkatBear
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IowaBear said:

9 is even high. Drew rarely ever goes more than 8 deep once conference play starts. That's always been his MO unless he's forced to due to foul issues. Highly doubt we rely on 3 true Freshman to be heavy contributors when we have plenty of capable upperclassmen.
Yeah I'm w you 100%. I'm trying to see who these people that think all 3 freshman play, are leaving out of the rotation.
IowaBear
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Some of this fanbase seed that we have a few 5 stars and a 4 star and auto assume they're 1 and dones and will play pivotal roles. Walter will start and have a big year. Little and Missi will probably play some but I doubt they have huge roles. Little will be our 4th guard at best and I doubt Missi is playing over EJ. All reports are EJ is looking great. He's not going to sit in favor of a 17 yr old
Crawfoso1973
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BearkatBear said:

Crawfoso1973 said:

BearkatBear said:

whose rotation spot do they take tho. or do we just play 10/11 guys 16-20 minutes a night.
Drew prefers a tight rotation, so we won't have a 10 or 11 man rotation all getting 16-20 minutes a night. By conference play we will be down to an 8 or 9 man rotation which is what Drew prefers. Playing time will be earned in practice and non-conference games. Competition for the final 2 or 3 rotation spots should be fierce. The added depth and talent of our roster gives us injury insurance we haven't had in the past couple of seasons.
exactly, I see us having a 9 man rotation at most, like I said earlier. so I think Missi and Little will be the odd men out. But you're saying they both factor in, so who do you have not making the rotation?


Dennis, Walter, Bridges, Nunn, EJ assuming health are rotation locks IMO. After those 5 everyone else will be competing for playing time and roles and we will get to witness how it all plays out. Missi, Little, Grimes, Love, Josh O, Lohner all in the mix. More quality depth we've had in the last few years.
IowaBear
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So you're guaranteeing that's our starting 5? After all you said locks. Or locks as in guaranteed to see playing time?
Crawfoso1973
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Locks for playing time not necessarily starting. For example EJ and Nunn might not start but if not they would anchor the second unit. EJ has always played a 6th man role for us, they might would rather have Missi or Josh O opening halves.
IowaBear
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Gotcha, thought that's what you meant but wasn't sure
BUCANDOIT82
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EJ and Missi can play together…It's not either or.
DanaDane
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If you look at all the recent video clips released by the Basketball account, it almost always shows the same 5 playing together:

C- Jonathan
F- Bridges
F/G - Love
G - Walter
G - Dennis
IowaBear
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That's the 5 that makes the most sense. Also the highest upside imo
DanaDane
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Yup. Almost ready to guarantee that will be the starting 5 in a few weeks when you are in Sioux Falls.
IowaBear
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Hopefully that goes better than my trip to Cincy next weekend
Crawfoso1973
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I know you guys know this, but just serving a reminder that it means very little who actually opens halves under Drew's rotation system.

Remember our title team?

We would absolutely devastate and demolish opponents bringing the trio of EJ / Mayer / Flag off the bench.

The year after, Sochan didn't even start and was our best player and a one-and-done lottery pick.

Last year for a variety of reasons we didn't have the quality depth to hammer teams. I believe we will have that this year with our top 9 guys.



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