Does "starting" matter that much?

[Jaydumo20]

There is always talk about kids wanting to go somewhere where they will "start"
But as we've seen recently, at big schools, good transfers come to a program and dont start, even if they could've started at a lesser school.

We have guys who are on our team this year who will make good money, get NBA looks and wont start. They'll still get major minutes.

With Rosters going 8-9-10 deep there is clearly more use of different rotations. There are many advantages not playing your starters for 35 minutes (due to staying fresh, bad matchups, early foul trouble, in-game defensive matchups etc.)

Is simply starting the game in college ball becoming more of an honorific?

 

[husky429]

This question gets asked a lot. You simply haven't played ball at a high level if you think it doesn't matter. It's a point of pride and a reflection of the work the players have put in. YES it matters to start.

 

[Dibbie]

Yes, for most players/families have a short 4 year window (insert NCAA joke) that they’ve been working 10+ years for. PT is a priority.

There is a fraction who know they have limitations, where just making a college roster is the goal, or older players who want to finish with a winner (Millender, Koroma, etc)

 

[boog204]

It matters for the cred, but I’d think also in the NIL era, for the $$. Someone brought up the Hofstra PG. Dude is good and is being recruited by ACC and B1G to be their starter. We’d recruit him as a backup and I’d imagine pay him with that role in mind.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I think it depends. Some want to be in a winning program with a chance at a long tournament run. Others want a chance to develop to the point that the NBA comes sniffing. Finally, some just want big minutes and being seen as a "star".

The truth is that if you have an NBA level of skill they will find you, e.g., Hugo Gonzalez coming off the bench for Real Madrid.

 

[KemBuckets21]

Yes, these kids have been top players where they come from. It’s a yuge blow to the ego to not start.

 

[Kenny11]

It matters. If you don’t start you aren’t getting into the game until at least after the first 4-6 minutes of each half. So even if you play all remaining minutes of each half once you get in the game (which is never going to happen), your possible minutes played is still limited. The only time bench players get “starters minutes” is when starters get in early foul trouble. Coming into a game cold is also just much harder.

 

[Horatio]

You do get rare situations like Charlie Villanueva. It happens

 

[Jaydumo20]

It matters for the cred, but I’d think also in the NIL era, for the $$. Someone brought up the Hofstra PG. Dude is good and is being recruited by ACC and B1G to be their starter. We’d recruit him as a backup and I’d imagine pay him with that role in mind.

You're right. And that player sometimes does choose the UConn in this situation.

For the top 50-100 players in cbb the question is meaningless, these guys will start and play the most minutes because they are the best. But for the other great players, may be a bunch of factors to consider besides just being called a starter.

 

[Jaydumo20]

This question gets asked a lot. You simply haven't played ball at a high level if you think it doesn't matter. It's a point of pride and a reflection of the work the players have put in. YES it matters to start.

This makes sense.

 

[upstater]

A center, not so much, given the way the game is called. A backup center, if they're good, can play 15-20 minutes. Maybe this is true for PG as well. They will see 10-15. But if you're at SG/SF and you're not starting, you probably max at 10 mpg average.

 

[Chin Diesel]

There is always talk about kids wanting to go somewhere where they will "start"
But as we've seen recently, at big schools, good transfers come to a program and dont start, even if they could've started at a lesser school.

We have guys who are on our team this year who will make good money, get NBA looks and wont start. They'll still get major minutes.

With Rosters going 8-9-10 deep there is clearly more use of different rotations. There are many advantages not playing your starters for 35 minutes (due to staying fresh, bad matchups, early foul trouble, in-game defensive matchups etc.)

Is simply starting the game in college ball becoming more of an honorific?

Define "get NBA looks".

What UConn non-starters do you anticipate getting them?

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Define "get NBA looks".

What UConn non-starters do you anticipate getting them?

Jayden Ross will have a chance, probably starting in NBA summer league, as a 3 and D guy. His on ball defense vs multiple positions and activity are great. His shot is solid.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Define "get NBA looks".

What UConn non-starters do you anticipate getting them?

Good question. I'm not certain that Ross wont start. But that's besides the point:
Of Freeman,
Mullins,
Ball,
Silas,
Ross,
NK,
Hines

Each of those guys are either guaranteed or on the cusp of getting real NBA attention based on next year, imo.

Look, I hate to say it but even the most knowledgeable boneyarders were off on so many of our guys these past few years. Nik and Freeman arent locks.
Those two guys could underperform here. That is very possible. We've whiffed before

 

[jibsey]

It doesn’t matter as much especially with Hurley. Those who play best get the floor time. Ross should have starter minutes this year if he doesn’t start.

 

[Devland]

As with most things, it depends on the individual.

 

[Fishy]

There is always talk about kids wanting to go somewhere where they will "start"
But as we've seen recently, at big schools, good transfers come to a program and dont start, even if they could've started at a lesser school.

We have guys who are on our team this year who will make good money, get NBA looks and wont start. They'll still get major minutes.

With Rosters going 8-9-10 deep there is clearly more use of different rotations. There are many advantages not playing your starters for 35 minutes (due to staying fresh, bad matchups, early foul trouble, in-game defensive matchups etc.)

Is simply starting the game in college ball becoming more of an honorific?

I think it matters more than it should, but it’s really up to the player.

Is it better to be the sixth man here or to start at Rutgers? Realistically, a player in that situation isn’t a serious NBA prospect, so do you want to play 18-22 minutes here and potentially play for a title or play 30 there and not even see the Big Ten Tournament?

 

[JwittersPAC]

Usually starters get paid better than someone coming off the bench. If you are a good college player but have low probability to make the NBA then you should maximize your earnings in college. Also actual NIL will be much easier to earn as a starter.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Define "get NBA looks".

What UConn non-starters do you anticipate getting them?

And now Freeman seems out. Ha. It is too early to make any predictions. Im gonna go drink

 

[Fishy]

Usually starters get paid better than someone coming off the bench. If you are a good college player but have low probability to make the NBA then you should maximize your earnings in college. Also actual NIL will be much easier to earn as a starter.

Starters get paid more than bench players because they’re better.

But the individual is usually worth what he’s worth.

E.g. Stewart will not realize a windfall by leaving UConn, whether he finds a starting role or not. He has a value in the market - there are a lot Jaylin Stewarts available - and he‘ll get whatever number that is.

 

[aceboon]

The only bench player that I can recall playing "starter" minutes under this recent uptick in the Hurley era is Reed and that was basically a 50/50 timeshare with Samson, so yes it does matter. Our starters play heavy minutes and the offense runs through them. A couple weeks ago someone posted about recruiting Wilkins and how he could get starter minutes off bench if we returned our main guards from last year, in a 40 minute game that simply isn't happening.

 

[Scoe]

I always love a stud freshman coming off the bench on an experienced team if possible. There are lots of examples of it.

Ray 94
Ricky 96
Ben 02
Charlie 04
Rudy 05
Kemba 09
Shabazz 11
Clingan 23

It gives the team more energy and can devestate the opposition also harder to game plan for and can afford foul trouble more or hitting a freshman wall from time to time.

I'm pretty damn excited to see Landrew come off the bench btw.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Starters get paid more than bench players because they’re better.

But the individual is usually worth what he’s worth.

E.g. Stewart will not realize a windfall by leaving UConn, whether he finds a starting role or not. He has a value in the market - there are a lot Jaylin Stewarts available - and he‘ll get whatever number that is.

UConn basketball is an elite basketball team. So therefore to start you need to be one of the best players in college basketball. There are a lot of P4 teams below UConn’s status where Stewart can be a starter. I also would guess the money will be higher since he will be a starter and not a benchwarmer.