WHO STARTS?

[Walker11]

Paul George is a 4 in today's college game.

More importantly, if you put Larrier at the 3 you're getting zero offense from two positions instead of just one. Why handcuff ourselves? Make the opponent defend more of the floor.

We agree on what the best lineup appears to be. But KO is not going to start Larrier at the 4. We have precedent. I would be shocked. I get the George point but funny mentioning him since he has been adamant about not being a 4 and not wanting to play the 4.

 

[Tenspro2002]

We agree on what the best lineup is and what it should be. But KO is not going to start Larrier at the 4. We have precedent. I would be shocked.

I hope he has learned.

I'm sick of being down 13-4 at the under-12 timeout because we started the game with two black holes on offense.

 

[Walker11]

I hope he has learned.

I'm sick of being down 13-4 at the under-12 timeout because we started the game with two black holes on offense.

We would have 1 guard on the bench in this scenario. We need to see how the big men actually play, and need to fill out the roster before our guesses have any validity whatsoever.

I hope Polley ends up being too good to keep off the floor. I think we both would love the idea of having two 6'8 skilled guys manning the 3-4 providing tons of switching ability on defense and versatility on offense.

Having 2 big men to start the game is not a death knell. They don't need to be scoring threats. We are jaded because we hare now accustomed to seeing a frontcourt full of guys with low offensive IQ and very subpar passing ability. Carlton and Cobb are not lauded recruits but they have been touted as being good passers. This would be a big start.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Ag/ Anderson
JA/ Anderson
CV/ Polley
Larrier/ Polley
Cobb/Carlton/Diarra whoever emerges.

Hopefully Polley is as good as I think.

 

[TitleTown]

lol this will get interesting quickly. whoever is healthy

but as of now adams, gilbert, vital, larrier, cobb

Tough to stay competitive on the glass with that lineup. It doesn't really matter who you throw out there though. This team is going to struggle to win 15 games.

 

[imno1]

I'm going a little bigger with JA, CV, TL, MD, and EC. My hopes are Cobb and Carlton can at least not be terrible and that Diarra is a disruptive force at the 4. We have 4 guys who would play big minutes on most teams. Our season is dependent on the unknowns. Can Polley be as good a freshman Jackson (though he wont see those type of minutes)? Are an in shape Cobb and a freshman Carlton better options than SE and JD would have been? The offseason is for optimists like myself so I'm counting on a few pleasant surprises from our question marks. Although in full disclosure as a casual fan I have not see any of the new guys play.

 

[3rdbass]

We agree on what the best lineup appears to be. But KO is not going to start Larrier at the 4. We have precedent. I would be shocked. I get the George point but funny mentioning him since he has been adamant about not being a 4 and not wanting to play the 4.

Why? He started Larrier at the power forward last year with RP at sf and ag and ja at the guards. Why are so many people hung up on traditional big pf starting there. The college and pro games have changed from this idea. This also gives our best players on the court at once. Though I do agree we need another guard/sf to run this.

 

[Walker11]

Why? He started Larrier at the power forward last year with RP at sf and ag and ja at the guards. Why are so many people hung up on traditional big pf starting there. The college and pro games have changed from this idea. This also gives our best players on the court at once.

Did you read my post? I don't think what you think I think. This is me predicting what KO will do.

When did he start Larrier at the 4? Pretty sure you're wrong...

 

[3rdbass]

Did you read my post? I don't think what you think I think. This is me predicting what KO will do.

When did he start Larrier at the 4? Pretty sure you're wrong...

Beginning of last year or at least this was his primary lineup he used early on before the injuries. We can't have 2 black holes on offense.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My guess is that Larrier will play more four (~20 minutes per game) than three (~10-12 minutes per game).

 

[len0322]

would not be surprised if starting five is shuffled all season, especially with players coming back from injuries and the inexperience of others. Only true fixture barring injury is Adams.

 

[husky429]

I like coming in with an underdog mentality. Forget this "top 5" were going to make the final 4, preseason ranked nonsense.

Let's see us get in the tourney, make the sweet 16 and get back on the CBB map.

Many teams play best angry and with their backs against the wall. My teams certainly always have.

The reality is that were making excuses to say we will stink already. We have the pieces to be a top 50 team. Teams have succeeded with much less. Uconn has succeeded with less.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

AG
Ja
Larrier
MD
Carlton

Cv with 25 or minutes as a sixth man. Larrier playing the 4 then. That will be our best lineup

I like this lineup because it also utilizes what depth we have, the best. There will be 3-guard lineups, at times, with Vital and Anderson in the mix also for backup minutes. Diarra looks like the first forward off the bench and Polley and Whaley will get minutes at the 3 in bigger lineups and the 4 in smaller lineups. Cobb will get 15 minutes a game at the 5.

As mentioned in a previous thread, I like the diversity of depth that we have. You can argue that each player brings something unique to the table that no other guy on the team has.

 

[husky429]

I like this lineup because it also utilizes what depth we have, the best. There will be 3-guard lineups, at times, with Vital and Anderson in the mix also for backup minutes. Diarra looks like the first forward off the bench and Polley and Whaley will get minutes at the 3 in bigger lineups and the 4 in smaller lineups. Cobb will get 15 minutes a game at the 5.

As mentioned in a previous thread, I like the diversity of depth that we have. You can argue that each player brings something unique to the table that no other guy on the team has.

That's what I mean when I say we have the pieces to be successful. Sure, there's real weaknesses to scheme around, but we also have a top notch staff making bank roll.

One thing I do like is that this isn't just an "NBA looking" line up. Brimah (who I think is an awesome guy!) Looked the part of an NBA player without the skill. Jackson looked like an NBA forward without the speed. Facey without the confidence or iq.

Not all of our players now may not be future pros or a superstars, but they seem to be gym rats with a few valuable skills. Mix that in with out stars (Adams, larrier) and you have the chance to be a good team.

 

[Yankees32123]

PG Alterique Gilbert | Antwoine Anderson
SG Jalen Adams | Christian Vital
SF Terry Larrier | Tyler Polley
PF Mamadou Diarra | Isaiah Whaley
C Eric Cobb | Josh Carlton

Or...

PG Alterique Gilbert | Antwoine Anderson
SG Jalen Adams
SF Christian Vital | Tyler Polley
PF Terry Larrier | Isaiah Whaley
C Eric Cobb | Mamadou Diarra | Josh Carlton

 

[Mooch82]

PG Alterique Gilbert | Antwoine Anderson
SG Jalen Adams | Christian Vital
SF Terry Larrier | Tyler Polley
PF Mamadou Diarra | Isaiah Whaley
C Eric Cobb | Josh Carlton

Or...

PG Alterique Gilbert | Antwoine Anderson
SG Jalen Adams
SF Christian Vital | Tyler Polley
PF Terry Larrier | Isaiah Whaley
C Eric Cobb | Mamadou Diarra | Josh Carlton

If we start a 3 guard lineup, as many on the board think we should/will....getting a 5th guard (Moretti???) becomes that much more important. I see Polley as much more of a 4 than a 3 in our system - game is a carbon copy of DD's.

 

[jibsey]

I see us going to the 3 guard lineup with Vital but not starting games with it. I don't think we can rebound without 2 bigs Diarra and Cobb in there, hence our problem. We are in need of bodies.

 

[ktuck911]

Right now you gotta go this way (because the pups are redshirt frosh coming off injury):

JA
CV
Larrier
Cobb
Carlton

once our rotation settles I can see:
AG
JA
CV
Larrier
Cobb

 

[JimHurley]

Gilbert
Adams
Vital
Larrier
Diarra

Against big teams:
Gilbert
Adams
Larrier
Diarra
Cobb

 

[justinhub2003]

Ill be interested to see how UCONN alters their lineup when they play UC.
UC will have a 6'1 PG, 6'5 SG, 6'6 SF, 6'8 PF and 6'9 PF all of which can shoot and stretch the floor.

For scoring, uconn's best lineup will have to include larrier, gilbert, adams and vital but man, it creates some odd matchups. I guess you would have Gilbert guard Cane Broome, Vital guard Cumberland, Adams guard Evans and then put Larrier on Gary Clark and Diarra/Carlton on Washington.

I think Larrier would do a better job on Clark than Brimah did.

However the issue with starting Vital is: Who will score for them from the bench? They may need to just run out a 2 big lineup to spread some scoring wealth to the bench

 

[JimHurley]

Ill be interested to see how UConn alters their lineup when they play UC.
UC will have a 6'1 PG, 6'5 SG, 6'6 SF, 6'8 PF and 6'9 PF all of which can shoot and stretch the floor.

For scoring, UConn's best lineup will have to include larrier, gilbert, adams and vital but man, it creates some odd matchups. I guess you would have Gilbert guard Cane Broome, Vital guard Cumberland, Adams guard Evans and then put Larrier on Gary Clark and Diarra/Carlton on Washington.

I think Larrier would do a better job on Clark than Brimah did.

However the issue with starting Vital is: Who will score for them from the bench? They may need to just run out a 2 big lineup to spread some scoring wealth to the bench

I think Anderson, Polley, and Carlton can give us 20 PPG.

 

[awfuldan]

We had some success in 2015-16 using this line-up:

1 - Adams
2 - Gibbs
3 - Purvis
4 - Dham
5 - Miller

In terms of size, a 3-guard line-up next year with Larrier at the 4 and Diarra at the 5 would not be much smaller. Obviously, Dham is a better rebounder at the 4 than Larrier will probably ever be, but I think Diarra and Vital's effort on the glass could potentially make up for that.

 

[awfuldan]

So basically, what I'm saying is I like this as our starting 5 next year:

1 - Gilbert
2 - Adams
3 - Vital
4 - Larrier
5 - Diarra

 

[ktuck911]

One thing is certain.. We better be able to get better movement and knock down open shots in crunch time in half court sets... and CRASH THE BOARDS.... CRASH THE BOARDS!!!!!

 

[mauconnfan]

It will be interesting to see how it plays out. You would think the 3 guard line up would be a front runner but can you rebound the ball in order to make that work? I am sure KO would prefer to have one of the 4's and 5's step up and be able to score the ball a little so you can go bigger, but it's tough to play bigger if you go back on offense and play 3 on 5 basketball. You limit the space for the 3 guards to penetrate and make plays if the bigs aren't able to put it in the hole. No doubt we have playmakers with all 4 guards so if they get to the lane and get doubled people have to be able to finish off the ball.

Would be nice to add the Italian kid for his perimeter game and depth, but another big or swing would be even better. I do like that Gilbert was averaging 4.5 boards a game before he was hurt as we know he sticks his nose in there, with 3 guards a must. Not sure how it will play out, still an addition or 2 potentially could change it again?