“Positionless Basketball”

[jibsey]

That was Hurley’s post game quote that he said they were going to now try to implement with virtually no point guard for many minutes. Actually he also did it without centers against Creighton. Karaban was guarding Kalk pretty effectively. But with a center we had bigger players on the floor with Liam as point. I do understand that there is no set formula that will work for every opponent and our biggest challenge is against a turnover defense like Pitino’s but we did get by against Marquette.
Can Liam actually bring the ball up against those types of teams? Maybe Solo brings it up and then starts the offense and screenings to get Liam the shots he needs. We only have him for 7-8 more weeks and I say just ride him like if it was Larry Bird who did similar things, assist, drive, get to the line, hit from anywhere. The team may actually be better like this and Hurley is starting to see it finally. Mahaney played only 7 minutes against a non pressing defense.
BTW, I often see Cooper Flagg bringing the ball up for Duke and starting their offense.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

That was Hurley’s post game quote that he said they were going to now try to implement with virtually no point guard for many minutes. Actually he also did it without centers against Creighton. Karaban was guarding Kalk pretty effectively. But with a center we had bigger players on the floor with Liam as point. I do understand that there is no set formula that will work for every opponent and our biggest challenge is against a turnover defense like Pitino’s but we did get by against Marquette.
Can Liam actually bring the ball up against those types of teams? Maybe Solo brings it up and then starts the offense and screenings to get Liam the shots he needs. We only have him for 7-8 more weeks and I say just ride him like if it was Larry Bird who did similar things, assist, drive, get to the line, hit from anywhere. The team may actually be better like this and Hurley is starting to see it finally. Mahaney played only 7 minutes against a non pressing defense.
BTW, I often see Cooper Flagg bringing the ball up for Duke and starting their offense.

Liam has the benefit of being bigger than the vast majority of guys that will be asked to guard him. Diarra is great but the pressure tends to highlight his size because he both can’t see over the defender as well and has a hard time passing around bigger defenders. I will also say, Liam is also far more willing to draw contact and knows how to. Over-pressure and he’s much more likely to just take it at the defender, draw big contact, and draw a backcourt foul. You do that a couple of times and most coaches reign in the pressure a lot.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Liam will be a 2/3 at the NBA level, so I love having him play that role more with our guard injuries.

 

[Deepster]

Let Luke cook. I only wish we had a center that had even C+ passing proficiency.

 

[Hunt for 7]

https://the-boneyard.com/threads/solo-ball-is-weekly-big-east-player-of-the-week.205385/post-5185990
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Hunt for 7​

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• Feb 3, 2025
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• #25

I just think we need to get away from the whole PG conversations. We now have wings and guards and maybe throw a center into that group. 1-4 positions are now all interchangeable. Alex brought ball up a few times against Marquette. Ross did as well. Stewart also. I just don’t think you need the traditional point guard anymore. You have two guards and two wings that can handle the ball and set up the offense and go from there. Once UConn is in their set offense everyone especially the center is facilitating ball movement.

Ball is now getting to the basket. If he can find a way to score off the dribble more create his own shot so to speak and Liam went out already being able to do that, I think that is a good thing.

I do think if Liam comes back healthy this will be another situation where his absence accelerated the development of some key pieces. But they may have gotten there anyway and we would only have one or no conference losses.

But now it looks like, we will have options at the end of close games other than Diarra.



From a post ten days ago. Now Hurley is saying the same thing. We need to start thinking positionless basketball. It was clear to me then that our best team might include Ball as the only true guard on the floor. Still think that way. Without Alex shooting we need Stewart on the floor more. If Alex finds his shot then Ross would play more for the improved defense.

Rotation for the next two weeks then see how Diarra is feeling:

Starters:
Ball
McNeeley
Stewart
Karaban
Samson

Bench:
Reed because you know Samson will have two fouls pretty quick and Tarris is better anyway
Ross to give Ball, McNeeley, Stewart a break
Mahaney when he can be put into the game and help. Usually it only takes a few minutes of game time to determine if he is going to be an asset or liability in any specific game.

Thats it. McNeeley, Karaban and Ball 35+ minutes a game. Stewart 25 + minutes a game. Ross 10-15 minutes a game depending on defense.

Reed/Johnson I guess it will continue to be 20/20.

Eight man rotation let Diarra rest and see how it goes. We will rebound better. Biggest question is assists. We are usually closer to 20 a game than the ten we had against Creighton.

 

[RuffRuff]

Unless the other teams pressure makes it an issue, no reason running Liam at point should be a problem. The main responsibility is bringing the ball up and kicking off actions, that of which are intricate and can circle back. There’s then the responsibility of creating own offense later in the clock, which he’s already assumed. He’s got a really good handle.

Defensively could be an issue if opposition has really fast penetrating guards, but honestly not sure there is much dropoff there from anyone else. What I like about this for defense is that while we don’t get any quicker, we do get much longer and can scheme around that.

Murray made magic with mismatches last year, and this is a massive mismatch with that much height in the backcourt. I love how big we get with Stew at the 3, and honestly wouldn’t mind seeing a little more run for him. The last 4 games he’s 9-15 from 3 and shooting 64%. No reason we shouldn’t shift some looks his way over from AK, who’s numbers we’re all fully aware of.

BTW, Devion Smith looks out for the foreseeable future, which helps for next Saturday.

As long as we can limit turnovers, I like how this positions for March.

 

[AdamaNation]

That was Hurley’s post game quote that he said they were going to now try to implement with virtually no point guard for many minutes. Actually he also did it without centers against Creighton. Karaban was guarding Kalk pretty effectively. But with a center we had bigger players on the floor with Liam as point. I do understand that there is no set formula that will work for every opponent and our biggest challenge is against a turnover defense like Pitino’s but we did get by against Marquette.
Can Liam actually bring the ball up against those types of teams? Maybe Solo brings it up and then starts the offense and screenings to get Liam the shots he needs. We only have him for 7-8 more weeks and I say just ride him like if it was Larry Bird who did similar things, assist, drive, get to the line, hit from anywhere. The team may actually be better like this and Hurley is starting to see it finally. Mahaney played only 7 minutes against a non pressing defense.
BTW, I often see Cooper Flagg bringing the ball up for Duke and starting their offense.

In regard to Alex. How many small forwards say they “neutralized” the best center in college. Twice? Not that he licked them down but he held his down vs a sucker Kalk and an exhausted Edey.

 

[Marat]

That was Hurley’s post game quote that he said they were going to now try to implement with virtually no point guard for many minutes. Actually he also did it without centers against Creighton. Karaban was guarding Kalk pretty effectively. But with a center we had bigger players on the floor with Liam as point. I do understand that there is no set formula that will work for every opponent and our biggest challenge is against a turnover defense like Pitino’s but we did get by against Marquette.
Can Liam actually bring the ball up against those types of teams? Maybe Solo brings it up and then starts the offense and screenings to get Liam the shots he needs. We only have him for 7-8 more weeks and I say just ride him like if it was Larry Bird who did similar things, assist, drive, get to the line, hit from anywhere. The team may actually be better like this and Hurley is starting to see it finally. Mahaney played only 7 minutes against a non pressing defense.
BTW, I often see Cooper Flagg bringing the ball up for Duke and starting their offense.

Karaban had to guard Edey in the championship game for some minutes , so Kalk was easier. But he did some of the earlier last season. I think he can be used for this at times if needed.

And yeah, maybe the season will turn on the point of positionless basketball for the positive , I think. Liam needs to stay healthy now.

 

[jibsey]

Hass is not very big and was always better as an injection off the bench even healthy. Mahaney they are driving on at every chance they get.
I like the big lineup as long as we can keep fouls from being a problem, but rebounding should help us too.

 

[superjohn]

In regard to Alex. How many small forwards say they “neutralized” the best center in college. Twice? Not that he licked them down but he held his down vs a sucker Kalk and an exhausted Edey.

Edey destroyed AK in garbage time.

 

[UCTitleTown]

That was Hurley’s post game quote that he said they were going to now try to implement with virtually no point guard for many minutes. Actually he also did it without centers against Creighton. Karaban was guarding Kalk pretty effectively. But with a center we had bigger players on the floor with Liam as point. I do understand that there is no set formula that will work for every opponent and our biggest challenge is against a turnover defense like Pitino’s but we did get by against Marquette.
Can Liam actually bring the ball up against those types of teams? Maybe Solo brings it up and then starts the offense and screenings to get Liam the shots he needs. We only have him for 7-8 more weeks and I say just ride him like if it was Larry Bird who did similar things, assist, drive, get to the line, hit from anywhere. The team may actually be better like this and Hurley is starting to see it finally. Mahaney played only 7 minutes against a non pressing defense.
BTW, I often see Cooper Flagg bringing the ball up for Duke and starting their offense.

I think CF has a slightly better handle.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not a fan of positionless basketball but we don’t have a choice with Diarra hurting. Point guard does more than just bring the ball up, and Diarra was a good creator. McNeeley is not really a creator for others. Doesn’t matter when he scores 38 a game, but I will go out on a limb and say that Pitino and Smart are going to force the ball out of McNeeley’s hands.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Let Luke cook. I only wish we had a center that had even C+ passing proficiency.

A center who can ANYTHING other than handoff at the top of the key would be life changing

 

[Marat]

Not a fan of positionless basketball but we don’t have a choice with Diarra hurting. Point guard does more than just bring the ball up, and Diarra was a good creator. McNeeley is not really a creator for others. Doesn’t matter when he scores 38 a game, but I will go out on a limb and say that Pitino and Smart are going to force the ball out of McNeeley’s hands.

Yes of course. Those (Samson Johnson and MQ) are the games where we will need more Diarra. Liam will be pressured. Dirarra needs to rest in the other games so he can provide help here. This is not a recipe for long term success though unfortunately or good enough for March ?

 

[BrassBonanza]

Hass is not very big and was always better as an injection off the bench even healthy. Mahaney they are driving on at every chance they get.
I like the big lineup as long as we can keep fouls from being a problem, but rebounding should help us too.

this is it - if Liam picks up 2 quick fouls trying to guard the opposing point guard - it would be very bad

 

[jibsey]

We get fouls but… who has fouled out? It ain’t often.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yes of course. Those (Samson Johnson and MQ) are the games where we will need more Diarra. Liam will be pressured. Dirarra needs to rest in the other games so he can provide help here. This is not a recipe for long term success though unfortunately or good enough for March ?

Diarra also does little to command attention offensively - his shooting has been really bad this year. There are clear disadvantages, but also clear advantages. Let's see what the staff can whip up.

For what it's worth, Duke is playing without a PG. I wouldn't even say that Auburn is playing with a traditional point as no guy on that roster averages over 2 assists a game.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[kobebeanbryant]

A real “position-less” lineup would also remove Johnson/Reed and move Karaban to Center (obviously matchup dependent).

Currently our Centers are bogging down our offense by being complete non-factors holding the ball at top of the key.

Let’s take this to the extreme and go:
McNeeley
Ball
Ross
Stewart
Karaban

See what happens…

 

[uchusky32]

He's the deal.wotj position less basketball. No one does it unless they have to. Doesn't mean it won't work for some time. But as soon as Hass is healthy we will stop positionless basketball.