Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="JonathanXIV, post: 3455501, member: 9217"] In this and other threads, when discussing recruits are speculating on next year's starting lineup, many posters will use the 1-5 nomenclature (representing point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center). I'll acknowledge that this shorthand can be useful for understanding where players fit in, but I think too many apply it restrictively, forcing players into slots (she's a 2, not a 3; she can't play the 4; we already have X at the 3) when considering who UConn should recruit or start or play. The reality, as I see it, is that basketball is quickly evolving past this traditional understanding of lineups. A number of factors has accelerating non-traditional thinking about lineups - the impact of the 3-point line and an emphasis on shooting and spacing, better shooting among all positions, "bigs" with the skill sets traditionally associated with smaller players. This has lead to greater experimentation and a willingness by coaches to reconsider their lineups, often employing different look lineups in different situations. One obvious example is coaches going to a small ball lineup, but one need only look to the NBA for teams pushing the limits on lineup construction with no traditional centers and so on. Consider how UConn normally constructs their lineup. Geno always has a true point guard (Jen, Sue, Rene, Moriah, Crystal), and likes to employ a "big," but beyond that he has shown flexibility. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity. When I look at the players available next year, I would expect to see more of this experimentation. Using the traditional nomenclature, we could see lineups of a 1-3-3-3-5, or a 1-2-3-4-4, or a variety of other combinations. To put it another way, we could see two point guards playing with two wings and a big, or a point guard with three wings and a big, and so on. Bottom line, next year it looks like we are going to have a lot of talented, athletic players who don't fit in the "big" or point guard category. As I see it, you can almost never have too many players who can defend, move and shoot. This potential wealth of resources, with the flexibility it provides for Geno, could make UConn a match up nightmare for other teams, even if we don't have the "bigs" that many seem to long for. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

Forum statistics

Threads: 164,459

Messages: 4,396,997

Members: 10,209

Latest member: noelle