Starting lineup prediction thread. | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Starting lineup prediction thread.

Guards are the strength of this year’s team, and the starting line-up will have three of them.
 
JimOllie said:
Hurley said he’s struggling whether to go small with Polley/Wilson at the 4 or go big with Yakwe/Whaley at the 4 which makes it sound like he’s set on starting 3 guards. My guess at the starting 5 is Gilbert, Adams, Smith, Wilson, Carlton. I would swap Wilson for Diarra if he was ready.
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AfgHusky15 said:
There is no way Vital is starting over Gilbert.
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Vital will start at the beginning but might not by mid-year. Gilbert is coming off of two years not playing, they’ll ease him in. I know he could start and then limit the time but I don’t see that being the case.

Did Hurley have three guards start for his URI squads? Were the teams he faced bigger than his? I know he wants to play guards if possible. Being serious
 
J Adams, Vital, Smith, Polley, Cobb.

I think Dan Hurley is a guy who values experience early in the season. Gonna make Alterique and Wilson earn their way to a starting role. They will still get more minutes than Smith and Polley
 
UcannUconn said:
The problem with this is that our guards do not rebound as well as the guards he had last year did.
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we were plagued with poor rebounding throughout the entire KO era, I'm wondering if this improves just by having a new head coach.
 
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UcannUconn said:
Problem with Whaley is that he is a position-less player.
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Maybe offensively.

Defensively he’s arguably our best and most versatile defender. The second part is less arguable than the first.
 
Palatine said:
5 Carlton
4 Yakwe
3 Polley
2 Adams
1 Gilbert
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This is the lineup I first went with in this thread on page 2 on July 8th. I'm beginning to think that Isaiah Whaley will start at the 4 instead of Yakwe. I'm thinking that Isaiah is working, working, working to earn this spot and thru his defensive ability, athleticism, mobility, and effort he will become the first option at the 4.

Remember last year he started, and it was his offensive rebounding, ability to alter/block shots, speed up and down the court, and tenacity on D which got him the start. I think Isaiah is one player who will indeed benefit from this better, more intensive, and well planned coaching, plus the physical maturation and strength and conditioning this past off season.

I still think Cobb comes off the bench to shake up the opponents defense and change our look.

October 4

Carlton
Whaley
Polley
Adams
Gilbert
 
Carlton
Polley
Wilson
Adams
Gilbert

This lineup looks pretty lethal, but I worry about Carlton drawing early fouls as the only rim protector with the perimeter man defense that Hurley is said to run.
 
Start of the season
Tarin Smith
Jalen Adams
Christian Vital
Kassoum Yakwe
Josh Carlton

By end of season sub Gilbert in for Vital and rest of lineup stays the same.
 
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tcf15 said:
Start of the season
Tarin Smith
Jalen Adams
Christian Vital
Kassoum Yakwe
Josh Carlton

By end of season sub Gilbert in for Vital and rest of lineup stays the same.
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My starting line up also if Yakwe fully recovers.

My wishful hope is that by mid season Gilbert starts instead of Vital, Wilson starts instead of Smith and Polley starts instead of Yakwe.
 
Like others have mentioned are strength is in the guards and SF so I can't see us playing 2 bigs at the same time unless Diarra who can hit that outside baseline shot and is mobile recovers. I see us going with Carlton, Polley, Gilbert, J Adams and Vital. Small but it will be a very good offensive team. I could see Wilson breaking into this lineup too an have Vital sit but it will depend on Gilbert's health. Diarra is the wild card. If he is healthy I'm going with Carlton, Diarra, Gilbert, J Adams and Vital.
 
UConnSwag11 said:
Vital will start at the beginning but might not by mid-year. Gilbert is coming off of two years not playing, they’ll ease him in. I know he could start and then limit the time but I don’t see that being the case.
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Normally, I'd agree but he is a singular talent (if healthy) filling a specific need. Jalen playing the 2 is good for the team and good for his NBA designs. AG at the point lets that happen. I think he starts with a careful eye on his total minutes.

Does CV move to the three spot or is he first off the bench?
 
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CL82 said:
Normally, I'd agree but he is a singular talent (if healthy) filling a specific need. Jalen playing the 2 is good for the team and good for NBA designs. AG at the point lets that happen. I think he starts with a careful eye on his total minutes.

Does CV move to the three spot or is he first off the bench?
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I have him at the 3 with Polley at the 4 at least until Diarra comes back from his injury.
 
3rdbass said:
I have him at the 3 with Polley at the 4 at least until Diarra comes back from his injury.
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The same Polley who played on UConn last year? Yeah he's not starting ever.
 
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UofCT2009 said:
The same Polley who played on UConn last year? Yeah he's not starting ever.
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Why not? He has good offensive skills and just need the right guy to bring them out. I believe Hurley is that man. We saw them in spots last year. He can definitely shoot. I mean you think we will have Yawke(no offense) or Cobb(No Defense and Limited offense) starting? I think we will see the smaller lineup unless Diarra is healthy.
 
Who’s going to shoot the ball if Vital is not starting?
 
3rdbass said:
Why not? He has good offensive skills and just need the right guy to bring them out. I believe Hurley is that man. We saw them in spots last year. He can definitely shoot. I mean you think we will have Yawke(no offense) or Cobb(No Defense and Limited offense) starting? I think we will see the smaller lineup unless Diarra is healthy.
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Maybe when he is a senior and Hurley coached him long enough to bring those skills out.
 
UofCT2009 said:
Maybe when he is a senior and Hurley coached him long enough to bring those skills out.
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I just don't think Yawke or Cobb is talented/athletic enough to play the 4 either. That is our issue as we really don't have an ideal/talented enough 4 for the system that Hurley wants to run besides maybe Diarra who is presently injured. Hurley mentioned it is going to be hard to pick someone for that position.
 
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Isn't Diarra hurt? is there a timetable for his return? Maybe I missed it in one of the posts.
 
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RedsoxCowboys said:
Isn't Diarra hurt? is there a timetable for his return? Maybe I missed it in one of the posts.
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He is injured but should be back late November, early December.

UConn Men: Mamadou Diarra Has Knee Surgery, Out 4 to 6 Months

Just based on the limited amount of ball we've seen him play I think people are being overly optimistic, he has barely played at all in the last 2 years and didn't blow anyone out of the water when on the floor last year. I would be shocked if he starts at any point this season.
 
Gilbert
Adams
Wilson
Polley/Diarra
Carlton

just a guess, I have no clue
 
UofCT2009 said:
CV isn't coming off the bench.
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UConnSwag11 said:
Who’s going to shoot the ball if Vital is not starting?
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He's a career 33% shooter from 3. Shot 31% last year. He's the definition of a streaky shooter who can get hot at any moment but also can go cold for long stretches.

People tend to forget he came off the bench the Orgeon and Michigan State games. Two of our better played games.

He should be coming off the bench as instant offense but Hurley likes three guard look and with Smith a proven 6 man and B. Adams too young and raw, that leaves Vital starting.
 
I would be really surprised if CV doesnt start. I realize his shot selection is an area for improvement, but he averaged about 15 points last season. My guess as to our opening game starting lineup is:
JA
CV
SW
EC
JC

I think Alterique will get plenty of minutes, but that he will begin the season coming off the bench.
 
Huskybass said:
I would be really surprised if CV doesnt start. I realize his shot selection is an area for improvement, but he averaged about 15 points last season. My guess as to our opening game starting lineup is:
JA
CV
SW
EC
JC

I think Alterique will get plenty of minutes, but that he will begin the season coming off the bench.
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I'd be shocked if CV starts. I think Adams, Gilbert and Smith are all three ahead of him on the depth chart. Gilbert may be our best player by Thanksgiving. CV is set to play a microwave role, scoring off the bench. The main question marks are at the forward spots. Can Wilson earn a starting role? Does Hurley go three guards with Smith? Does Polley win out for the SF spot? Then on to PF, any one of three could start there, and maybe Whaley if he has improved.

JA
AG
Wilson/Smith
Polley/Cobb/Yawke (Diarra when healthy)
Carlton

The reality is I don't think it will be set in stone. There will be situations where we go very small with Smith at the 3 and maybe Wilson at the 4, and situations where we go big and play Polley at the 3 and Cobb or Yawke at the 4.
 
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