1st Team vs 2nd Team

[Iluvsuebird]

I would love to see scrimmages of our First team against our Second team: First team: Hassan, Aidan, Liam, AK and Samson vs. Second team: Nowell, Solo, Stewart, Abraham and Reed. You wanna tell me the first team is better? I can't say that you are wrong. But I can make a strong case that this second team is holding their own, if not winning outright. Who do you have?

I think that Stewart would make Liam earn everything he gets. And Abraham was guarding all the 5 start PF studs coming to college. The more video I watch of Nowell and Abraham, the more I am convinced their current skills will translate into modest to major minutes in this year's team. Nowell is a better version of Hassan, and I am talking about right now. Hassan will start, and rightfully so. But by January, I expect Nowell will be the starting PG for this team. Is he a dog like Hassan? I believe that he is. Abraham will have a tougher time getting minutes, with AK and Stewart ahead of him. But this kid looks like a player. He is strong, and agile for a big. He has a 3 point touch and he plays strong D. And if you look at prior posts of mine, you would know I am the president of the Solo Ball fan club. I think this kid is a stud in the making. My point is that the national media does not know what we know: we have 2 teams on this roster that can make the NCAA tourney, and go far in it. And that's without counting two players that should continue to develop nicely, particularly Ross.

If the coaching staff can unite this team as they did the last two years...well hell I am going to be happy in 2025 because I live in San Antonio!!!

 

[Hurleyman216]

I think you only have 3 of the 5 starters on your Team 1. I expect Stewart will start over McNeeley and Reed will possibly start over Samson although the center position may be more of a coin toss.

 

[superjohn]

I think you only have 3 of the 5 starters on your Team 1. I expect Stewart will start over McNeeley and Reed will possibly start over Samson although the center position may be more of a coin toss.

McNeeley will start, he's our most talented player. I expect Reed to start as well.

 

[husky429]

I'm confident Reed is starting.

I'm less confident on McNeeley over Stewart, but I'd still probably bet on it.

 

[Mr. French]

All the discussion of which 5 he chose speaks to the point. You could mix and match 2 strong 5 man teams, no question. The depth in talent is insane.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm not sure Ross wouldn't crack the second team.

 

[B1GEast]

It's never about first or second team, it's about minutes played. Hurley rotates his guys and if a guy plays well, they get minutes.

I remember seeing Samson on the floor cause he was so effective and had the match up advantage. Hurley had no problems letting DC get rest.

 

[UofCT]

I'm confident Reed is starting.

I'm less confident on McNeeley over Stewart, but I'd still probably bet on it.

Samson is starting, it's a lock.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Samson is starting, it's a lock.

No it's not.

 

[bendm]

Samson is starting, it's a lock.

please keep your receipts

 

[bendm]

You wanna tell me the first team is better?

i would say the starters are better because they are the ones that are starting, but that's not to say the bench couldnt beat the starters in a scrimmage. i think the starters would win a 7 game series in 6 games. FWIW i think the starters will be diarra / mahaney / mcneeley / karaban / reed and the bench will be nowell / ball / ross / stewart / johnson.

 

[aburks41]

Samson is starting, it's a lock.

I don't think there are any locks aside from Karaban at the 4. Every other starting spot is up for grabs

 

[husky429]

Samson is starting, it's a lock.

Only lock is AK.

 

[UofCT]

I don't think there are any locks aside from Karaban at the 4. Every other starting spot is up for grabs

Samson is 100% starting at Center.

 

[navery12]

Karaban and Mahaney feel like locks, only question is if Mahaney is starting at the 1 or the 2. Otherwise you could tell me any of Diarra/Ball, Stewart/McNeeley, Reed/Johnson are starting and I wouldn't be shocked

 

[aburks41]

Samson is 100% starting at Center.

He may very well start, but to pencil him in at this point is premature. His position is completely up for grabs. Reed was a starter on a Big 10 team. A bad Michigan team, but still a starter on a high-major. He was brought in to compete for the starting role.

 

[mets1090]

I think Samson starts day 1 as a procedural thank you for sticking it out and not bolting to the portal. I remember Hurley making a comment about Clingan starting early in the season even though he wasn't in game shape yet, and saying it means something to start even if he won't get 25 minutes yet.

My money says Reed gets more or similar minutes (even if we assume Samson stays out of foul trouble).

 

[HooperScooper]

Samson is 100% starting at Center.

You as sure about that as you were about the Mavericks winning the NBA Finals?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

In all candor, if injuries aren't part of the equation it would not suprise me if AK ends up being the only player to start every game this upcoming season.

 

[Palatine]

Given the complexity of our system, with the players have so many options, I think the Hurley will use his veterans to start the early season games as the new guys work in.

So, Samson, AK, Stewart, Diarra and Mahaney is my guess for the early game starters.

The first TO brings in McNeeley and Ball for Steward and Diarra.

Reed, Ross and Nowell are the next three. And there will opportunities for Abraham and Singare to move into top ten.

 

[CL82]

McNeeley will start, he's our most talented player. I expect Reed to start as well.

But, but, but Johnson added 15 pounds of summer muscle!

 

[Woodson]

You as sure about that as you were about the Mavericks winning the NBA Finals?

 

[UofCT]

You as sure about that as you were about the Mavericks winning the NBA Finals?

More confident in Samson starting but wish you asked me before game 1.

 

[HooperScooper]

More confident in Samson starting but wish you asked me before game 1.

How could I ask you that then since it was before you posted this about Samson today?

 

[UofCT]

He may very well start, but to pencil him in at this point is premature. His position is completely up for grabs. Reed was a starter on a Big 10 team. A bad Michigan team, but still a starter on a high-major. He was brought in to compete for the starting role.

Michigan was 8-23 (3-17 in conference). That’s DePaul level bad. I think people need to chill on the Reed starting talk. He was the 5th scoring option on Michigan. Even if he has all the tools / raw talent it’s going to take time to eliminate the bad habits. Meanwhile Samson has been in Hurleys system for 3 seasons, has 2 rings, won the starting job over Karaban in 2022 and was one of the best back up bigs in the country last year. Knows all the plays and is ready to start.

 

[david]

Michigan was 8-23 (3-17 in conference). That’s DePaul level bad. I think people need to chill on the Reed starting talk. He was the 5th scoring option on Michigan. Even if he has all the tools / raw talent it’s going to take time to eliminate the bad habits. Meanwhile Samson has been in Hurleys system for 3 seasons, has 2 rings, won the starting job over Karaban in 2022 and was one of the best back up bigs in the country last year. Knows all the plays and is ready to start.

I love Samson and I hope he's good enough to start for us next year. His issue is the fouling and lack of rebounding though. For all his positives, he committed 7.4 fouls per 40 minutes last year and had a defensive rebounding % of 11.6. You can't be successful outside of a limited role as a center in the big east unless those numbers vastly improve.

Just to give you an idea of how bad that foul rate is, for all players that played at least 16 minutes per game, Samson was the 2nd worst in the country. For all of Tarris's shortcomings in the turnover department, his foul rate per 40 was 3.9 and his defensive rebounding rate was 19.9%.

 

[ucp990411]

Guess I am the only one who thinks Solo starts.

 

[UofCT]

I love Samson and I hope he's good enough to start for us next year. His issue is the fouling and lack of rebounding though. For all his positives, he committed 7.4 fouls per 40 minutes last year and had a defensive rebounding % of 11.6. You can't be successful outside of a limited role as a center in the big east unless those numbers vastly improve.

Just to give you an idea of how bad that foul rate is, for all players that played at least 16 minutes per game, Samson was the 2nd worst in the country. For all of Tarris's shortcomings in the turnover department, his foul rate per 40 was 3.9 and his defensive rebounding rate was 19.9%.

Tarris will get plenty of minutes for those reasons. I think we will also see Karaban play the 5 for stretches. However, Samson is starting games. Might not finish them but he’s earned the starting spot.

 

[mauconnfan]

Michigan was 8-23 (3-17 in conference). That’s DePaul level bad. I think people need to chill on the Reed starting talk. He was the 5th scoring option on Michigan. Even if he has all the tools / raw talent it’s going to take time to eliminate the bad habits. Meanwhile Samson has been in Hurleys system for 3 seasons, has 2 rings, won the starting job over Karaban in 2022 and was one of the best back up bigs in the country last year. Knows all the plays and is ready to start.

Reed will eventually start if not right away. He was the 5th scoring option on a horribly coached Michigan team.

He was only starting over Karaban for a game or 2 at best due to seniority and for the same reason may do so early on again. Even with his vast improvement there’s weaknesses that keep him as an very adequate bench player.

 

[TheChamps990411]

But, but, but Johnson added 15 pounds of summer muscle!

I find that pretty crazy. 15lbs of muscle in under 3 months on that frame? Thats wild. I just hope added weight doesnt bring up foot issues like hes already had and DC ended up with after last summers weight gain.