Mullins first start maybe? | The Boneyard
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Mullins first start maybe?

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RayRay

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I realize this is a luxury question more than a problem, but I would love to see Mullins in the starting lineup today. I salivate at the thought of that kid getting 30 minutes a game.

Do we think tonight is his first start? He seemed ready for more minutes last game.
 
Mullins is coming off an injury that kept him sidelined for over a month. I don't know the opinion of the medical staff but playing him 30 minutes doesn't seem to make sense.

I would let him come off the bench for ETAM. Regardless if he starts or subs, 20 good minutes of playing time would seem to be judicious. This is a perfect game to get him to shake off a little rust.

This is the kind of game that should get the deep bench some meaningful minutes.
 
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Hard to know with Hurley & his honor system. You'd think it would be a good opportunity to softly make the shift over, as pretty clear Mullins will be getting most of the minutes there. Given the low stakes in this one, he might just stick with Stew as a way of saying thanks for holding us over.
 
Mooch82 said:
I'd guess Stewart still starts today, but if he was another meh game and Mullins has a strong game, Mullins probably starts Tuesday against Florida.
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Wasn’t Mullins the starter in the pre season games before he got hurt? No reason for him to be Wally Pipped.

Agree that he should get a decent run. Got 23 against Kansas so 25 today makes sense
 
I really think this home game against a cupcake is a perfect opportunity for him to start. It's a perfect time for Dan to see the starting lineup he has envisioned. We've seen enough. On the road at none other than the Phog Allen Fieldhouse, the toughest arena to win, he scored 17 points on his second game back after the ankle injury.

But it's not the number of points he put up, it's the different ways he scored, and BBIQ he displayed.

Play 1: Demary dribbled hand off to Mullins at the top of arc, the kid caught the ball, turned, squared up and launched, 3 pts.
Play 2: Ross passed to Mullins at the corner, closed in by a defender, he drove along the baseline, jump stopped under the basketball with 2 defenders on his back, a quick fake pump, got one defender up in the air, then right hand layup. A difficult, difficult shot.

Play 3: Mullins caught the ball outside 3 point line, saw the vast space in the front with only one defender (Rosario, a pretty athletic freak, had a open dunk), decided to attack, backed down, and made a super tough tough turn around, fade away 17-footer. The sound reverberated on National TV when the ball hit the back of inside rim and dropped straight down the pipe... the move elicited "oh boy!" from Fran...

Shall i go on...? I'm a big fan of Mullins.
 
One of the things I don't like about us fans (me included) is assuming the grass is greener on the other side. We do this the most with freshman. There has to be some unlocked potential that would be visible if they just got a bit more pt.

observing Dan Hurley over the years he doesn't change the starting lineup a ton. And when a freshman is good enough to start (or anyone really) they do so immediately. Like Castle. The injury changes things a bit. Maybe he will start tonight or the next game. But if he does not start tonight... or within the next 2 or 3 games, i hope the board doesn't spend the rest of the season claiming he needs to start. It's likely not going to happen. Dan Hurley has shown that's not his style. He doesn't appear to second guess is initial assessment on who should start.
 
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NJHusky said:
Wasn’t Mullins the starter in the pre season games before he got hurt? No reason for him to be Wally Pipped.

Agree that he should get a decent run. Got 23 against Kansas so 25 today makes sense
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Yes - he started vs BC. (12 pts)
 
MexicoHusky said:
One of the things I don't like about us fans (me included) is assuming the grass is greener on the other side. We do this the most with freshman. There has to be some unlocked potential that would be visible if they just got a bit more pt.

observing Dan Hurley over the years he doesn't change the starting lineup a ton. And when a freshman is good enough to start (or anyone really) they do so immediately. Like Castle. The injury changes things a bit. Maybe he will start tonight or the next game. But if he does not start tonight... or within the next 2 or 3 games, i hope the board doesn't spend the rest of the season claiming he needs to start. It's likely not going to happen. Dan Hurley has shown that's not his style. He doesn't appear to second guess is initial assessment on who should start.
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He’s gonna start. Whether it’s tonight or Tuesday, he’s starting sooner rather than later. And that’s no disrespect to Stew, who’s a good teammate and loyal soldier.
 
What are we even talking about here? This isn't a Samson Johnson Tarris Reed situation. Hurley knew when he recruited Mullins he would easily be the most talented player on the team. I don't know if he starts tonight (I think he will) as Hurley still might want to keep his minutes more around 20 than 30 but he's obviously going to be the starter in the next two or three games until the end of the season and he's going to average 30 minutes per game. Jaylin's minutes were already cut back from 25 mpg to 15 against Kansas. Ross will lose a few minutes, Jaylin will lose more minutes.
 
I just don't see Hurley starting Mullins tonight, not yet.

Would it hurt JStew's psyche now? I don't know. But, if Mullins has a few strong games then I can see him starting later in Ddecember.
 
Palatine said:
Mullins is coming off an injury that kept him sidelined for over a month. I don't know the opinion of the medical staff but playing him 30 minutes doesn't seem to make sense.

I would let him come off the bench for ETAM. Regardless if he starts or subs, 20 good minutes of playing time would seem to be judicious. This is a perfect game to get him to shake off a little rust.

This is the kind of game that should get the deep bench some meaningful minutes.
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superjohn said:
What are we even talking about here? This isn't a Samson Johnson Tarris Reed situation. Hurley knew when he recruited Mullins he would easily be the most talented player on the team. I don't know if he starts tonight (I think he will) as Hurley still might want to keep his minutes more around 20 than 30 but he's obviously going to be the starter in the next two or three games until the end of the season and he's going to average 30 minutes per game. Jaylin's minutes were already cut back from 25 mpg to 15 against Kansas. Ross will lose a few minutes, Jaylin will lose more minutes.
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Is it a distinction without a difference if he starts and only plays 20 minutes, or comes off the bench and plays 20 minutes?

Put me in the camp of start Mullins and get Stew and Ross adapting to their roles off the bench.
 
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I like Mullens being 6th man. He can come in for Ball, Stewart or Karaban. Come in at the 16 min time out and he can feast on players who may be a little gassed or their back ups. Still play him for 25-28 minutes. This is what Calipari did with Reed Shepherd and was their leading scorer and most talented player. Not that I think think Calipari is a brilliant strategist although he did outcoach that so called great coach Slick Rick in last years tournament
 
MexicoHusky said:
One of the things I don't like about us fans (me included) is assuming the grass is greener on the other side. We do this the most with freshman. There has to be some unlocked potential that would be visible if they just got a bit more pt.

observing Dan Hurley over the years he doesn't change the starting lineup a ton. And when a freshman is good enough to start (or anyone really) they do so immediately. Like Castle. The injury changes things a bit. Maybe he will start tonight or the next game. But if he does not start tonight... or within the next 2 or 3 games, i hope the board doesn't spend the rest of the season claiming he needs to start. It's likely not going to happen. Dan Hurley has shown that's not his style. He doesn't appear to second guess is initial assessment on who should start.
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That's fair but Mullins won the starting spot and started in the BC exhibition. Hurley commented as such leading up to the opener. When Braylon starts relative to the status of the ankle is up in the air but its clear he earned the spot in the offseason.
 
MexicoHusky said:
One of the things I don't like about us fans (me included) is assuming the grass is greener on the other side. We do this the most with freshman. There has to be some unlocked potential that would be visible if they just got a bit more pt.

observing Dan Hurley over the years he doesn't change the starting lineup a ton. And when a freshman is good enough to start (or anyone really) they do so immediately. Like Castle. The injury changes things a bit. Maybe he will start tonight or the next game. But if he does not start tonight... or within the next 2 or 3 games, i hope the board doesn't spend the rest of the season claiming he needs to start. It's likely not going to happen. Dan Hurley has shown that's not his style. He doesn't appear to second guess is initial assessment on who should start.
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Has Stew (who we do love) ever given us a 23 minute stat line like Mullins did vs. Kansas. I do not think this conversation is about potential, unless it's Stew's.
 
ucp990411 said:
I like Mullens being 6th man. He can come in for Ball, Stewart or Karaban. Come in at the 16 min time out and he can feast on players who may be a little gassed or their back ups. Still play him for 25-28 minutes. This is what Calipari did with Reed Shepherd and was their leading scorer and most talented player. Not that I think think Calipari is a brilliant strategist although he did outcoach that so called great coach Slick Rick in last years tournament
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Mullins is too much of a weapon for that. This is a kid who can sleepwalk to 20 points and impact the game in a variety of ways. I'm excited to see what he can do with 30 minutes. He's already got a green light. He blows the roof off of this team's potential.
 
Jumpman62114 said:
That's fair but Mullins won the starting spot and started in the BC exhibition. Hurley commented as such leading up to the opener. When Braylon starts relative to the status of the ankle is up in the air but its clear he earned the spot in the offseason.
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I was actually going to ask that. Did he start in an exhibition? Thought he did. If yes, this sounds more like a Castle situation. When he was injured. I think he came off the bench one time. Then was the starter afterwards.
 
I obviously trust the staff to make the right decisions, but it is nice having instant offense off the bench in Mullins to spark a team. Stewart and Ross really don't give you that now, but I certainly get the idea of getting off to a fast start to with Mullins in the starting line-up. It's likely coming sooner rather than later, but I would probably have him come off the bench again today and maybe Tuesday. Keep the pressure of starting off of him for now.
 
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RedStickHusky said:
Has Stew (who we do love) ever given us a 23 minute stat line like Mullins did vs. Kansas. I do not think this conversation is about potential, unless it's Stew's.
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