March Bench Rotation

[3rdbass]

He scored 15 against PC. He was a spark versus Xavier. So there is some evidence he could help a bit. Considering we get nothing from Nowell, it depends on Hurley's priority, does he want to develop AN for next year, or hope AM can help a little bit now.

Niether of those are recent and the PC game was beginning of the Big East Season. He hasn't show anything recently besides having issues handling pressure and scoring.

 

[3rdbass]

To those saying Samson should only be getting 10 minutes per game, he actually has the top offensive rating % in the big east and one of the best in the country. His defense is notably worse than Reed’s (Reed is actually one of the top defensive centers in the country according to kenpom), but the two definitely compliment each other well. The ideal distribution to me is 20 minutes apiece.

I guess it is due to strength since Samson is better shot blocker and moves his feet better. Samson's problem has been he isn't a strong guy and it makes it hard for him to play against players who are physical there.

 

[superjohn]

To those saying Samson should only be getting 10 minutes per game, he actually has the top offensive rating % in the big east and one of the best in the country. His defense is notably worse than Reed’s (Reed is actually one of the top defensive centers in the country according to kenpom), but the two definitely compliment each other well. The ideal distribution to me is 20 minutes apiece.

How does an equal distribution of 20 minutes apiece make sense when you say Samson's defense is notably worse than Reed's and Reed averages 8 more rebounds and 5 more points per 40 than Samson?

 

[DogMania]

What has Mahaney shown us recently to think he can give us much of anything? I just don't see it besides maybe spelling Diarra for 5 minutes a game. Personally I rather see us go big with Stewart. Mahaney makes him look like an All-Start defender. LOL!

If facing a team that doesn't pressure the ball, I can see Mahaney spelling Diarra, otherwise I don't know if he can handle it. He's more suited to give Ball a breather or provide some create off the dribble offense, though lately he's struggled to produce getting so little PT.

I'd rather see them give Nowell some run to spell Diarra to see if he can gain some confidence.

If either of them show more production (D, dimes, points) vs liabilities (bad D, bad misses, TOs, failure to box out & rebound), then let them earn PT in that game.

Unfortunately, backup PG minutes continues to be the team's biggest liability in addition to team D without fouling.

 

[RuffRuff]

To those saying Samson should only be getting 10 minutes per game, he actually has the top offensive rating % in the big east and one of the best in the country. His defense is notably worse than Reed’s (Reed is actually one of the top defensive centers in the country according to kenpom), but the two definitely compliment each other well. The ideal distribution to me is 20 minutes apiece.

There is a massive flaw in metrics if Samson is seen as a well rated offensive player. His single offensive move is a lob dunk, and yeah he does that at a high efficiency. That is something that you can't rely on, is not self created in any way and you cannot build an offensive around. Somehow, someway the metrics must weight that in some form that equals efficiency.

There is not a neutral spectator on the planet that looks at Samson thinking oh wow, look at that high caliber Uconn centers offensive game. We have to be real about the guy. How many times do we see him foul 30 feet from the rim, reach in, not react to a man behind him, fumble a ball, not box out. The thing about Samson is that he exponentiates the flaws on this team as being a soft, one dimensional, finesse team. Tarris counters all that and brings in an entirely new dimension and makes this team a much more complicated to defend.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I think we need to stick with Stew as 6man. He has shown the ability to be a difference maker. Could he go on a DeAndre Daniels esqe run in March?

 

[Scrutineer]

He scored 15 against PC. He was a spark versus Xavier. So there is some evidence he could help a bit. Considering we get nothing from Nowell, it depends on Hurley's priority, does he want to develop AN for next year, or hope AM can help a little bit now.

AM has only had a few good games all year and he's on a trend to little to no time on the court as we reach the post season.

10 total minutes and 0 total points in the last 4 games.

Many have asked what the staff saw in him. It may be the staff felt they could help him become a better player or turn around the trend his career was on.

From his freshman year to his junior year his minutes went from 30 or slightly over in his first two years to 12.3 this year.

His 2 Pt % went down each year, from 42.8 as a Freshman to 38.6 as a Sophomore to this year's 36.2.

His 3 Pt% went down each year from 40.0 as a Freshman to 35.5 as a Sophomore to this year's 32.1.

Playing in a lesser league his first two years he averaged 13.9 years. This year 4.3.

As for big games this year, he's had double digit games against:
East Texas A&M--10 points in 19 minutes
UM Eastern Shore--11 points in 16 minutes
Providence--15 points in 20 minutes
Xavier--14 points in 23 minutes
DePaul--10 points in 17 minutes

Since his last double digit scoring game (1/29 DePaul) he's played a total of 43 minutes in 7 games, scoring a total of 6 points. 4 of those 6 points and 17 of those 43 minutes came against Creighton.

When I see the staff has played him a total of 10 minutes in the last 4 games I feel badly for him, but the staff is handsomely paid to evaluate, develop and play the players they recruited. They apparently don't see him being the answer for relief minutes for HD.