7 Man Rotation - Is It Enough?

[Tenspro2002]

The box score makes it clear that we're tightening up rotations as the season winds down.

Only 7 guys got more than 5 minutes, with spot minutes for Ross, Mahaney, and Nowell.

Besides the Reed/Johnson tandem at the 5 (and hopefully the minutes distribution going forward looks more like last night), we basically only have Stewart coming off the bench to spell the 1-4. That's a heavy load on Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, and Karaban, and compels us to go positionless (or PG-less) when Diarra gets a badly needed break.

Last year we basically played 7 and the results spoke for themselves, but the non-center off the bench was at least a true PG.

How are we feeling about this?

 

[Beowulf]

one of the ross/mahaney/nowell crew is going to have to play minutes at some point. you just hope you can get by during those minutes. they are all capable of doing ~something~

i think luckily you can sorta rely on karaban and ball to play 35+. mcneeley i'm sure you can handle that once it's march. barring foul trouble

 

[Storrs South]

one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport was basically a 7 man rotation last season

The only guys that played serious minutes by tournament time last year was Newton, Spencer, Karaban, Clingan, Castle, Diarra, Samson. Solo and Stew really only came in for mop up duty once the game was out of hand.

In the NCAA Tournament the commercials are longer so more rest time so it isn't as critical come March.

 

[djct1999]

I’d feel better about it if we didn’t foul so much at the 5 spot.

 

[navery12]

I think you give Mahaney, Nowell, Ross a 2-3 minute window to show something in the 1st half and when they all show nothing I'm good with the 7 man rotation

 

[Deepster]

The box score makes it clear that we're tightening up rotations as the season winds down.

Only 7 guys got more than 5 minutes, with spot minutes for Ross, Mahaney, and Nowell.

Besides the Reed/Johnson tandem at the 5 (and hopefully the minutes distribution going forward looks more like last night), we basically only have Stewart coming off the bench to spell the 1-4. That's a heavy load on Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, and Karaban, and compels us to go positionless (or PG-less) when Diarra gets a badly needed break.

Last year we basically played 7 and the results spoke for themselves, but the non-center off the bench was at least a true PG.

How are we feeling about this?

Are you trying to refine when you’re going to bet against UConn?

 

[TheShot1990]

I think you give Mahaney, Nowell, Ross a 2-3 minute window to show something in the 1st half and when they all show nothing I'm good with the 7 man rotation

Well I'd give Ross and Nowell 2-3 each. Pitino's bullies will focus on AM like a pack of wild dogs if he tries to bring it up the floor. Ross can give Stewie a breather if he can play good D and Nowell can hopefully give Hass a breather.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Since Nowell was coming off an extended injury benching, and he got swarmed as a frosh knowing he did, he likely earns more minutes as backup PG and we will need him.

 

[Tiamat7]

And among the 7, you have one fellow (Diarra) dealing with knee tendonitis. Anyone who's had this diagnosis knows it comes and goes, but improves with rest. 35 minutes of pounding against St Johns won't help. They may do some injections, but pre-tourney it would be ideal to get those minutes down to max 30.

This means some combination of Mahaney, Nowell, and / or Liam. But you also need to rest Liam.

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I just can't dismiss Aidan. We need him, even for short spurts. Mahaney has played and excelled against high level competition last year (Gonzaga, NCAA tournament). Nowell could surprise, but he needs time.

 

[navery12]

Well I'd give Ross and Nowell 2-3 each. Pitino's bullies will focus on AM like a pack of wild dogs if he tries to bring it up the floor. Ross can give Stewie a breather if he can play good D and Nowell can hopefully give Hass a breather.

That's one specific game, the conversation is the rest of the season

 

[Colin G]

Technically speaking we ran a 7-man rotation last year and won a natty. 7 1/2 down the stretch this year matchup dependent. Really don't think Ross should be in the rotation at all. Think 8th should be mahaney spot minutes

 

[jibsey]

7 man is not enough to press defend. Hurley said as much.

 

[HooperScooper]

 

[3rdbass]

The box score makes it clear that we're tightening up rotations as the season winds down.

Only 7 guys got more than 5 minutes, with spot minutes for Ross, Mahaney, and Nowell.

Besides the Reed/Johnson tandem at the 5 (and hopefully the minutes distribution going forward looks more like last night), we basically only have Stewart coming off the bench to spell the 1-4. That's a heavy load on Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, and Karaban, and compels us to go positionless (or PG-less) when Diarra gets a badly needed break.

Last year we basically played 7 and the results spoke for themselves, but the non-center off the bench was at least a true PG.

How are we feeling about this?

OP using last year's tournament as a guide we actually had 8 man rotation using your 5 minute mark as significant minutes. Jaylin played 7 minutes or more in every tournament game beside the final which he played 4. This year we need hopefully either Nowell or a combo of Nowell and Mahaney to give Diarra at least 5 minutes off the bench. It might have to be closer to 10 minutes as Diarra can't be playing more than 30 minutes all the time due to his knees. Someone is going to have hold the fort and even if not a big time scorer can impact the game in other parts at PG to keep us afloat when Diarra is on the bench.

 

[boog204]

It’s ironic as I was looking at an old Darius Adams thread and it derailed into how this years team could/would go 10-11 deep and would there be enough minutes for everyone. Then this thread where we’re wondering if we have enough players who can play meaningful minutes.

 

[uconn_jack]

I’d feel better about it if we didn’t foul so much at the 5 spot.

Honestly, that concerns me the least. Even when. We've been in foulf trouble at the 5, Karaban does a surprisingly good job defending the 5 when needed, and I think Singare is much more playable than many think (he just has Reed and Johnson in front of him) and is always ready to go with enthusiasm.

 

[Hoophound]

We foul too much and we don’t have the ball handling we need with the current 7. We need Nowell to play 5 minutes plus. Mahaney should get a heat check every night.

 

[Hoophound]

Honestly, that concerns me the least. Even when. We've been in foulf trouble at the 5, Karaban does a surprisingly good job defending the 5 when needed, and I think Singare is much more playable than many think (he just has Reed and Johnson in front of him) and is always ready to go with enthusiasm.

I love Singare.

 

[UofCT]

Well I'd give Ross and Nowell 2-3 each. Pitino's bullies will focus on AM like a pack of wild dogs if he tries to bring it up the floor. Ross can give Stewie a breather if he can play good D and Nowell can hopefully give Hass a breather.

Mahaney should never see another minute for us again. Andrew Hurley probably works him in practice.

 

[gsmooth]

It’s ironic as I was looking at an old Darius Adams thread and it derailed into how this years team could/would go 10-11 deep and would there be enough minutes for everyone. Then this thread where we’re wondering if we have enough players who can play meaningful minutes.

That's the Boneyard for you, over rating the depth of the roster at the beginning of the season. Bottom line, it's difficult to draw conclusions against the sub 300 ranked cupcakes on the schedule.

 

[blkknight1]

One thing I would worry about is that Samson and Hass were reserves last year during Ramadan, them being starters now is a bit of a worry. Samson not as much because of Reed but we have no proven backup for Hass.

 

[bendm]

7 would be fine if stew could play PG…have been saying that will be our Achilles heel for awhile now.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

And among the 7, you have one fellow (Diarra) dealing with knee tendonitis. Anyone who's had this diagnosis knows it comes and goes, but improves with rest. 35 minutes of pounding against St Johns won't help. They may do some injections, but pre-tourney it would be ideal to get those minutes down to max 30.

This means some combination of Mahaney, Nowell, and / or Liam. But you also need to rest Liam.

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I just can't dismiss Aidan. We need him, even for short spurts. Mahaney has played and excelled against high level competition last year (Gonzaga, NCAA tournament). Nowell could surprise, but he needs time.

Mahaney is important to the team. He’s one of the best shooters on the team, but he needs to play more, and Hurley and Luke need to ride the officials, I mean it’s college basketball not rugby.

 

[boog204]

That's the Boneyard for you, over rating the depth of the roster at the beginning of the season. Bottom line, it's difficult to draw conclusions against the sub 300 ranked cupcakes on the schedule.

Yup, although this was the offseason when Stew was going to go lottery, Aidan was Cam 2.0, and Alex was a bonafide first team AA. Oh well. I legit thought Aidan was Cam 2.0...

Also love it when people do their scoring predictions and we come out averaging 118 points a game. Mathing is hard.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Yup, although this was the offseason when Stew was going to go lottery, Aidan was Cam 2.0, and Alex was a bonafide first team AA. Oh well. I legit thought Aidan was Cam 2.0...

Also love it when people do their scoring predictions and we come out averaging 118 points a game. Mathing is hard.

You mean Jayden Ross isn’t Reggie Lewis?! Say it ain’t so!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It is enough people if Johnson and Hurley are on the court together for 5 to 10 minutes a game.

 

[jibsey]

We’ve had enough evidence this season to know who should be out there, this isn’t game 1.
Mahaney can score and operate against cupcakes but that’s it. Bench.
Reed needs the bulk of the team minutes with SJ off the bench. We can’t compete with quality teams without his rebounding.
Go ahead and play Nowell enough to find out if he’s playable going forward but if not McNeeley can assist Hass and act as point in many situations.
Ross limited, more Stew.
The trial period and debate for these players is over this season and there is no room for error anymore.

 

[ARIDE]

The box score makes it clear that we're tightening up rotations as the season winds down.

Only 7 guys got more than 5 minutes, with spot minutes for Ross, Mahaney, and Nowell.

Besides the Reed/Johnson tandem at the 5 (and hopefully the minutes distribution going forward looks more like last night), we basically only have Stewart coming off the bench to spell the 1-4. That's a heavy load on Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, and Karaban, and compels us to go positionless (or PG-less) when Diarra gets a badly needed break.

Last year we basically played 7 and the results spoke for themselves, but the non-center off the bench was at least a true PG.

How are we feeling about this?

Coach is doing what he has to do!

 

[UCan3]

The box score makes it clear that we're tightening up rotations as the season winds down.

Only 7 guys got more than 5 minutes, with spot minutes for Ross, Mahaney, and Nowell.

Besides the Reed/Johnson tandem at the 5 (and hopefully the minutes distribution going forward looks more like last night), we basically only have Stewart coming off the bench to spell the 1-4. That's a heavy load on Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, and Karaban, and compels us to go positionless (or PG-less) when Diarra gets a badly needed break.

Last year we basically played 7 and the results spoke for themselves, but the non-center off the bench was at least a true PG.

How are we feeling about this?

I personally don’t like it only because our starting five, I don’t think have enough to take us all the way to the final four. I think we need some role players to develop / come off the bench and give us some quality minutes.

It doesn’t have to be scoring either it could just be intensive defensive pressure - like someone committed to locking down a hot shooter.

Or someone who can do the little things / rebound / set picks / make free throws / whatever it is.

Jim Calhoun used to have a quick hook when he saw something he didn’t like. At times I didn’t like it cause I thought that player should be able to play through errors, but as time has gone on, I can see the logic in the approach. There are some players we have that would benefit from being pulled off the floor at times for lack of effort.

 

[TheShot1990]

Who's going to guard RJ Lewis when Stewie needs a rest? If you told me we're gonna put Ross on him for a few, I'd understand. If you try to let AM guard him, I cringe.

Yes I am only looking at the next game, but this applies to Marquette and Providence...and SH too. Then we have the tourney.