Next Year will help recruiting

[catsrulenky]

Will next season help recruiting? If you think we have seven players returning next year and three are seniors and three are juniors, and one soph. With not that many players returning this kinda forces tubby to play his incoming Freshman more than usual. The upcoming recruits look and see he does play freshman. Not including Rondo and Morris.

[bret1555]

I have always been mystified by this charge that Tubby doesn't play freshmen. . . Bogans & Prince played a lot as freshmen. As did Fitch & Hawkins (when the Hawk wasn't in foul trouble). Kaz played quite a bit, considering he was behind Bogans. Chuck Hayes was never a bench warmer. Then you have the aforementioned Rondo & Morris.

[catsrulenky]

bret1555 wrote: I have always been mystified by this charge that Tubby doesn't play freshmen. . . Bogans & Prince played a lot as freshmen. As did Fitch & Hawkins (when the Hawk wasn't in foul trouble). Kaz played quite a bit, considering he was behind Bogans. Chuck Hayes was never a bench warmer. Then you have the aforementioned Rondo & Morris.
I was just wondering because he will most likely play a lot of freshman. Every freshman will get quite a bit of minutes i think or at least most freshman will. Yes they did play alot I am not questioning that he doesn't play freshman. He does just a few usually. Last year tubby played 10,11,12 people a night maybe more. Now since there are 7 players from last year team and if he wants to play 10, 11,12 people a night then every freshman will play almost every night.

[bret1555]

catsrulenky wrote: bret1555 wrote: I have always been mystified by this charge that Tubby doesn't play freshmen. . . Bogans & Prince played a lot as freshmen. As did Fitch & Hawkins (when the Hawk wasn't in foul trouble). Kaz played quite a bit, considering he was behind Bogans. Chuck Hayes was never a bench warmer. Then you have the aforementioned Rondo & Morris.
I was just wondering because he will most likely play a lot of freshman. Every freshman will get quite a bit of minutes i think or at least most freshman will. Yes they did play alot I am not questioning that he doesn't play freshman. He does just a few usually. Last year tubby played 10,11,12 people a night maybe more. Now since there are 7 players from last year team and if he wants to play 10, 11,12 people a night then every freshman will play almost every night.

Gotcha! I sort of misunderstood the post, I guess. I have often heard the charge that he doesn't & have never quite understood it.

Anyway, I see the rotation being 10-11 early but ending up around 7 to 9 & looking something like this:

PG - Bradley ----- backed up by Jasper (Porter will play only sparingly early)

SG - Crawford ---- backed up by Meeks & Bradley

SF - Perry ----- backed up by Meeks & Crawford

PF - Thomas ----- backed up by Stevenson (Perry when we go small).

C - Morris ----- backed up by Woo (or Stevenson when we go small).

The prospect of the "small" squad that we can play for a few minutes a game is tantalizing for me. Check out this vision:

PG - Bradley (or Jasper, which would allow us to go "small" & still have a big PG)

SG - Crawford

SF - Meeks (he and Crawford are really interchangeable in this lineup & once again, even though we're going "small" we could have two 6'4+ guards to help crash the boards or double down on the post).

PF - Perry (who can stretch the defense with his shooting & open up the lanes for our big guards to drive/slash)

C - Stevenson (long, athletic, runs the floor extremely well, & is a good shot blocker so allows our perimeter players to really get after it).

Again, this would only work for a couple of minutes at a time, but it sounds beautiful.

Then again, what the hell do I know? I just think it all sounds really good.

[BamaCat86]

I think that you need to add Jared Carter in that mix.

[UKSam]

How about Carter? Do you think he will be pushed out of the rotation?

[bret1555]

UKSam wrote: How about Carter? Do you think he will be pushed out of the rotation?
Wow, guys! Great catch! I don't know what I was thinking. . . He will probably wind up being the 2nd center. . . Woo could even pull spot time at the four for stretches. We might have the luxury of both a fleet of aircraft carriers & of PT boats. If we can get contributions from those freshmen -- UK could have a great deal of versatility.