If any of the guards you mentioned were put in the current offense we have, they would have looked worse than DG.
The players are not the problem. The team is. We have no identity on offense or defense. Until we find one, it wouldn't matter if our starting 5 was Tinsely, Hornacek, Hoiberg, Brackins, and Fizer, we would still struggle.
I disagree completely.....they probably could not make this a sweet 16 team, but Hornacek, Tinsley, and possibly even Blalock or Hollaway would be doing a better job of running the offense than DG does. Why? Because all of them would take control of the other players on the floor....including CB and Gilstrap. DG does not do that. I'm not sure if he is intimidated by them or what, but he needs to take charge and run the offense.
As far as your second statement, whose responsibility to find the team identity is it? The players, or GMac and his staff? The coach should be able to recognize the talent he has, and their particular skills and weaknesses and create both a team offense and defense that fits their skills. To me, GMac often looks just as confused and lost as his players. Tell me any adjustments he has made this year in terms of personnel, game to game, that was not because of injury or suspensions or whatever.
You mention DG in the Duke game, and how Duke could not stop him from driving "whenever he felt like it". ISU lost by over 20.....so if that was true, then why did he not feel like it more often? He had 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting! Yeah, Duke just couldn't contain him! He also had 3 big assists and 5 turnovers.
Lucca has had one really really good shooting night (Drake) and one pretty good night (Houston......although he was under 50%). Actually, SC is a better shooter from outside than Lucca. SC has hit 50% from 3 point range, Lucca 42.9. Plus, Lucca has 2 non-3-point baskets, SC 22. Overall, SC shoots 51.3% from the field, Lucca 42.3. Lucca averages about 4 minutes more per game so far, yet assists, rebounds, turnovers, steals and blocks for the two are virtually equal. So who really should probably be starting at the 2 spot?