2009-2010 line-up thread

[isunorth]

I'd like to see us keep two shooters on the floor at all times (Gilstrap, Lucca, Christopherson, etc). DG, Buckley, Colvin (whoever happens to be playing point) will be infinitely more effective if we have a threat to shoot on each wing. It makes a PG's job so much easier if wing defenders have to stay at home. Makes Brackins job easier as well when teams can't afford to double every time he touches the ball.

Also, I haven't seen much of Colvin's game...is he much of a threat from outside or is he more of a penetrating guard? If he can shoot, maybe give him some time at the 2 alongside DG or Buckley...let him handle some occasional ball handling duties with the security of another true point on the floor?

 

[ajk4st8]

Yeah, Dendy isn't as physically built like Carrol, but he plays a very similar style.

True. Playing like someone and being as good as someone is totally different. Nobody expects Dendy to be even close to Carrol

 

[cyclonesyayaya]

One ?
Who is the "possibly recruit"?? that can be that good

 

[Dino]

This is what I would like to see, at least to start. Sort of a 2/3 deep and the parenthesis mean people that can slide into that position from their primary roles)

1. DG, Buckley, Colvin
2. Boozer, Lucca, Christopherson (DG, Colvin, Gilstrap)
3. Gilstrap (Lucca, Boozer, Dendy, [JVB?])
4. Craig, Dendy, LA, JVB
5. Ham, LA (Craig, JVB)

Don't know if Boozer will be given a fair shot though. GMac should let him start a few preseason games at the 2 and see how he does. Its pretty obvious we will be more athletic next year. We'll just have to see how we play as a team.

 

[kucyclone]

Too early to tell how it will all shake out, but I think Garrett will certainly be starting at the point. I'm not sure what rationale the people who want to move him off the ball have. That would seem pretty foolish to me.

 

[pujolsman]

Boozer is first off the bench. He works too freakin' hard too not get some playing time.

 

[Kyle]

One can make a good argument for a lot of different line-ups because we have very few players that really stand out. Brackins will undoubtedly play 35 or so minutes a game next year. Aside from him we are all hoping Gilstrap can come in and tear it up, but he still has a lot to prove at this level. Other than those two you can make a case for just about everyone on the team being in the starting line-up. I find that to be a problem, as ideally the regular rotation shouldn't be more than 8 or 9 players, especially given the slow-it-down style that we play.

Instead we have the following playing time situation:

PG: 40 minutes to split between Garrett, Buckley, and possibly Colvin. The starter should take upwards of 30 of them. It will be Garrett or Buckley imo.

2 & 3: 80 minutes total. Gilstrap should take 30 of them. The starter at the 2 should take about 25. That leaves 25 minutes to split between the remainder of Lucca, Boozer, Christopherson, Colvin and DG or Buckley. At least 2 of those guys should not see the floor very much.

4 & 5: 80 minutes total. Brackins takes 35 of them if he is still here. Hamilton, JVB, Dendy, and Pomlee split the remaining 45 minutes. I suspect Brackins will stay and Pomlee will play sparingly, giving us a good number of guys in rotation here imo.

So, right now I count an 12-man rotation, which is 3 too many in my opinion. Which begs the question, which guys don't see the floor much next year? As mentioned, I don't think Pomlee plays much next year. I also think that whoever loses the point guard battle between DG and Buckley only sees about 10 minutes a game. I don't think DG is cut out for the two, but I also think he wins the point guard job again because he handled the ball better against pressure than did Buckley. So, I'm going to guess that Buckley only plays about 10 minutes a game next year. The third should be either Boozer, Christopherson, or Colvin. I don't know who I would pick there.

All that said, McD may play all 12 guys on a regular basis, but if he does it is not a good thing imo because it means that no one has been able to elevate their game above that of the competition.

 

[CycloneErik]

In general, I agree with the idea of a 9-10 man rotation. I think the case could be made that the rotation could change based on needs for that game, if the last 2-3 on the bench have skills that fit that exact game/scenario.

Otherwise, I think the routine is very beneficial for players and staff alike.

 

[dbronco7sc]

I'd like to see a line up every know and then with some motion going on where any of our three perimeter players can cut to the basket (colvin, gilstrap, dendy, buckly, garret) and still have Brackins and JVB who can step out to create space and be a kick out option.

Most of the time I think we'll have two of those slashers, and an extra shooter (christoph or Lucca) to spread the defense, and keep Ham in for a big rebounder.

Either way, we should be able to have everybody from the 3 spot to PG going at full speed at all times since we'll have so many guys who can go in the rotation. We could actually try to tire some teams out, if McD doesn't see you going full speed, time for a new guy to come in who's ready to go all out.

 

[CycloneErik]

I'd like to see a line up every know and then with some motion going on where any of our three perimeter players can cut to the basket (colvin, gilstrap, dendy, buckly, garret) and still have Brackins and JVB who can step out to create space and be a kick out option.

Most of the time I think we'll have two of those slashers, and an extra shooter (christoph or Lucca) to spread the defense, and keep Ham in for a big rebounder.

Either way, we should be able to have everybody from the 3 spot to PG going at full speed at all times since we'll have so many guys who can go in the rotation. We could actually try to tire some teams out, if McD doesn't see you going full speed, time for a new guy to come in who's ready to go all out.

That last part is something that I would really like to see.

 

[Prone2Clone]

Why does everyone think DG will start at the 2? The guy struggle shooting the ball, that is kind of important when you are the shooting guard. Buck would be better at the 2, but Buck did handle the ball last year when he and DG were in the game, not sure what that means. We need a PG that can lead the team, push the ball, see the court, and make things happen. Whoever can do that should see the most mins.

Agree...DG couldn't play the 2 spot if he was the only player on the floor.

 

[cybsball20]

Look at how balanced the scoring was for Colvin's high school team. Also look at how many rebounds Colvin pulled down.

The team was basically all guards and Colvin even saw time in the post, that could be a reason for all the boards...


Even with Brackins coming back I have a hard time getting too excited about our guard court for next year without another multi-threat guard that can come in and play/start right away...

 

[Boony]

I don't understand why everyone worries about the 2 position having to be a pure shooter. Obviously it would be best to have a great shooter at any position. I thought GMac liked to have two points on the floor and either run a three guard lineup or else have the 3 and 4 be interchangable just on opposite sides of the floor.
Colvin-DG-Buckley--1 & 2
Gilstrap-Booz-Staiger--3
Brack-Dendy--4
Ham-JVB-Brack-(some BIG new recruit)--5

 

[isunorth]

I don't understand why everyone worries about the 2 position having to be a pure shooter. Obviously it would be best to have a great shooter at any position. I thought GMac liked to have two points on the floor and either run a three guard lineup or else have the 3 and 4 be interchangable just on opposite sides of the floor.
Colvin-DG-Buckley--1 & 2
Gilstrap-Booz-Staiger--3
Brack-Dendy--4
Ham-JVB-Brack-(some BIG new recruit)--5

It can be the 2 or it can be the 3, but you have to have someone on the floor to keep defenders honest. If you're a defender on the wing you can't sag to help on dribble drives by the PG or double down on a 4 or 5. It makes all the difference in the world.

A good offense is all about spacing and movement. Keeping defenders honest and not letting them cheat opens passing lanes, driving lanes, and keeps a force like Brackins isolated in the post.

This is, of course, assuming that we're not going to be the most athletic team on the floor and that we're playing a half-court game instead of getting out and running.

 

[cyco2000]

I'd like to see a line up every know and then with some motion going on where any of our three perimeter players can cut to the basket (colvin, gilstrap, dendy, buckly, garret) and still have Brackins and JVB who can step out to create space and be a kick out option.

Most of the time I think we'll have two of those slashers, and an extra shooter (christoph or Lucca) to spread the defense, and keep Ham in for a big rebounder.

Either way, we should be able to have everybody from the 3 spot to PG going at full speed at all times since we'll have so many guys who can go in the rotation. We could actually try to tire some teams out, if McD doesn't see you going full speed, time for a new guy to come in who's ready to go all out.

I was waiting all year to see that. Let's hope we see some next year!

 

[gocubs2118]

Man I wish Gmac ran the motion offense. Watching Illinois every year makes me wish we had Bruce Weber or someone who ran the motion offense as our coach. Thats the one of the things that bothers me about Gmac.

 

[CycloneErik]

It seems like we run some nice motion at times, but we don't sustain it. I've wondered if guys backed down because the other team was more athletic, or if we just weren't set to be moving.

 

[CyCy]

I don't see where Lucca has the ball handling ability or defensive quickness to play the 2. Think he will have to battle Gilstrap for playing time at the 3.

Buckley had a negative assist/TO ratio this year (23/26). He will have to cut his TO's in half next year to get any significant minutes at the point.

 

[cyclonesyayaya]

Lucca sometimes seems to make dumb mistakes. which i think he can def. get better on

 

[madcityCY]

Lucca sometimes seems to make dumb mistakes. which i think he can def. get better on

Our returners have 8 months to work on their weaknesses. Let's hope they make good use of their time!