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All of the players' birth dates are in their bios.How do you even know all this stuff ?
All of the players' birth dates are in their bios.How do you even know all this stuff ?
THAT was our Achilles Heel last year. Reliable ball handlers/ play makers.With the first 8 pretty much set, Ross doesn’t really bring a unique skillset to the floor to justify being an oft played/needed 9th man. I really don’t even know what he does really well. Maybe something blossoms this year. At minimum Furphy brings something to the rotation that would be unique, as a big ball handling lead type guard.
This is the reason I can’t totally write Ross out of the rotation yet. Especially if Hurley is going to handles subs the way he did in 23 and have a “second unit” that plays significant time together. Stew, Smith, Reibe, Furphy is an exciting offensive lineup but not a lot of defensive stoppers there. If he can consistently deliver high energy defense I think he can steal some mins.According to Silas in his interview Solo only scored four points in the third blue gray scrimmage because of Ross’s defense. Ross has the physical tools to become a stud defensive stopper. It just has to click for him.
He delivered high energy defense last year. What he needs to deliver this year is good defense.This is the reason I can’t totally write Ross out of the rotation yet. Especially if Hurley is going to handles subs the way he did in 23 and have a “second unit” that plays significant time together. Stew, Smith, Reibe, Furphy is an exciting offensive lineup but not a lot of defensive stoppers there. If he can consistently deliver high energy defense I think he can steal some mins.
Care to explain more about the structural issues?
Fair pointHe delivered high energy defense last year. What he needs to deliver this year is good defense.
Ross is 6'7" and Solo is 6'3" (not believing he is 6'4" yet). That is not a hard stretch as our guards in 2023-24 stifled Purdue's shorter guards pretty good. Also how did Solo do in the first 2 where his squad won both.According to Silas in his interview Solo only scored four points in the third blue gray scrimmage because of Ross’s defense. Ross has the physical tools to become a stud defensive stopper. It just has to click for him.
In one of Hurley’s interviews he cited two games in which Ross’s defense was significant in contributing to the team’s victories last season. That of course is not enough to declare him a potent defensive weapon. But it argues against those making statements that he contributed nothing last season and conclude he has close to no chance to getting minutes this season.Good for I
Ross is 6'7" and Solo is 6'3" (not believing he is 6'4" yet). That is not a hard stretch as our guards in 2023-24 stifled Purdue's shorter guards pretty good. Also how did Solo do in the first 2 where his squad won both.
But while we love defense it doesn't show in the box score unless it's a block or steal or defensive rebound. Maybe this is why Stewart is >>> Ross in the box score because we see more points, rebounds, etc.
He may not end up consistently in the rotation after all this year, but the amount of people who believe they have a sound conclusion regarding what Ross has to offer after such limited minutes is just an eye roller to me. Then again, I’m choosing to come on here every day in the middle of summer to read nonsense, so I roll my eyes at myself too.In one of Hurley’s interviews he cited two games in which Ross’s defense was significant in contributing to the team’s victories last season. That of course is not enough to declare him a potent defensive weapon. But it argues against those making statements that he contributed nothing last season and conclude he has close to no chance to getting minutes this season.
It’s when Ross came in last year when someone was getting torched. If he can become a Gary Payton “glove” how big would that be? Scoring for him is not a big deal, just let him add what he can.This is the reason I can’t totally write Ross out of the rotation yet. Especially if Hurley is going to handles subs the way he did in 23 and have a “second unit” that plays significant time together. Stew, Smith, Reibe, Furphy is an exciting offensive lineup but not a lot of defensive stoppers there. If he can consistently deliver high energy defense I think he can steal some mins.
Looks like Abraham is in line to start at Georgetown.
Should be interesting to see what he does with the opportunity this year. They might not be winning as of yet but Cooley did produce two NBA draft picks last year and Abraham has the tools.
Looking forward to seeing what Abraham does with the chance.
Maybe, just maybe Dan Hurley will be having thoughts about playing some guys like AK 36 minutes a game. He's added weight too. Our defense was woefully inadequateIt would be a big change if Hurley isn't cutting the rotation to 8 by Big East play like he's done every year. And it's not even really a case of Furphy or Ross not being good enough or deserving minutes, it's that there's already a minutes crunch for the top 8 without throwing a 9th guy into the mix
Doubt AK gets 36 minutes unless we are on Plan Z. We heard from the staff they didn't want "big minute guys" and that includes AK in which in my opinion is based on last season's concussion so that is a "injury reason" to get better bench players that can come in to rest AK, Tarris, etc.Maybe, just maybe Dan Hurley will be having thoughts about playing some guys like AK 36 minutes a game. He's added weight too. Our defense was woefully inadequate
last year and Dan Hurley has made it clear that guys who cannot or will not defend and rebound will not be playing much (or as much). The best way may be bringing in fresh bodies who can stop the opponents offense instead of trying to win a scoring battle. I think this year we will see him expand that 8 man rotation to a couple of guys getting 10-12 mins. So not sure if you consider that still an 8 man with subs or 10 man.
I would think Stewart is ahead of Koroma for back up minutes at the 4. And Stewart will get minutes at the 3 also.Doubt AK gets 36 minutes unless we are on Plan Z. We heard from the staff they didn't want "big minute guys" and that includes AK in which in my opinion is based on last season's concussion so that is a "injury reason" to get better bench players that can come in to rest AK, Tarris, etc.
Last year, AK, McNeeley, Diarra, Nowell, Johnson had injuries of various lengths and we didn't really have appropriate backups for each (or for Nowell need one, but he was removed as a backup).
This year we have Demary, Jr. and Malachi Smith and for insurance have Alec Millender and Souleymane Diaby. We got Dwayne Koroma to let Alex have some rest.
Mullins is too good to keep benched for backup of Solo but he can do that as well as function as a 3rd guard or 2nd facilitating wing. That leaves Stewart with plenty of time at the 3 when Mullins is a guard, and gives guys like Ross and Furphy some time if the situation is right (e.g., Ross as defender, or Furphy wing facilitator). Reibe will get his 10 to Tarris 30 and depending how Reibe improves maybe 12-15.
Break glass is Jacob Ross, Millender, Diaby and Jayden Ross is really close to that line - it really does not matter if Ross is superman in practices/scrimmages - if he cannot contribute consistently in games he will again cede minutes for others.
Hard to say - Stewart has been on with AK a lot so comes off as a 3, but many have argued he can be a 4.I would think Stewart is ahead of Koroma for back up minutes at the 4. And Stewart will get minutes at the 3 also.
I missed the "no big minutes guys" quote. Where did that come from because it is a first for Dan Hurley who has used short rotations (8) in the past. BTW, I am very glad to hear this.Doubt AK gets 36 minutes unless we are on Plan Z. We heard from the staff they didn't want "big minute guys" and that includes AK in which in my opinion is based on last season's concussion so that is a "injury reason" to get better bench players that can come in to rest AK, Tarris, etc.
Last year, AK, McNeeley, Diarra, Nowell, Johnson had injuries of various lengths and we didn't really have appropriate backups for each (or for Nowell need one, but he was removed as a backup).
This year we have Demary, Jr. and Malachi Smith and for insurance have Alec Millender and Souleymane Diaby. We got Dwayne Koroma to let Alex have some rest.
Mullins is too good to keep benched for backup of Solo but he can do that as well as function as a 3rd guard or 2nd facilitating wing. That leaves Stewart with plenty of time at the 3 when Mullins is a guard, and gives guys like Ross and Furphy some time if the situation is right (e.g., Ross as defender, or Furphy wing facilitator). Reibe will get his 10 to Tarris 30 and depending how Reibe improves maybe 12-15.
Break glass is Jacob Ross, Millender, Diaby and Jayden Ross is really close to that line - it really does not matter if Ross is superman in practices/scrimmages - if he cannot contribute consistently in games he will again cede minutes for others.
If I recall correctly it was Tom Moore saying that around season end. Came off as a way to reduce injuries. Tried to lookup the quote but Google's AI just explains it without giving the source.I missed the "no big minutes guys" quote. Where did that come from because it is a first for Dan Hurley who has used short rotations (8) in the past. BTW, I am very glad to hear this.
Found it.If I recall correctly it was Tom Moore saying that around season end. Came off as a way to reduce injuries. Tried to lookup the quote but Google's AI just explains it without giving the source.
Found it.
“We’re looking at these guys as potential people to help us initially in practice, to make sure we have a high-level practice on a day-in and day-out basis, but then also potentially helping us down the road as upside guys. As somebody who could maybe hit for us in year two or year three,” Moore said. “We’re hopeful that if we can get this thing to 14 or 15 with bringing some athleticism and some length and some energy into that, it could help alleviate some of the high-minute guys and eliminate some of the wear and tear that they accrue during the course of the season.”
Our 'on ball defense' and our wing defense was woefully inadequate. Our big men were better. Alex was not the problem defensively.Maybe, just maybe Dan Hurley will be having thoughts about playing some guys like AK 36 minutes a game. He's added weight too. Our defense was woefully inadequate
last year and Dan Hurley has made it clear that guys who cannot or will not defend and rebound will not be playing much (or as much). The best way may be bringing in fresh bodies who can stop the opponents offense instead of trying to win a scoring battle. I think this year we will see him expand that 8 man rotation to a couple of guys getting 10-12 mins. So not sure if you consider that still an 8 man with subs or 10 man.
Not the core of the issue, but certainly not a plus defender by any means. We didn’t have one plus defender anywhere on the court last year. This year we need to hope that Silas and Mullins are that, and that the other guys bump up their game.Our 'on ball defense' and our wing defense was woefully inadequate. Our big men were better. Alex was not the problem defensively.