Starting 5

[blizzisu]

Did anyone else notice that during the middle of the second half when Morris, Long, Thomas, Niang, and McKay were in together that the offense seemed to be running pretty smooth?

It's hard to keep Hogue out of the starting lineup, but he would be a huge energy guy off the bench like McGee was a couple years back.

 

[isuforlife]

yep Fred trying to keep them all happy, don't think there is any flow like last year

 

[Cyclonepride]

Curious timing for sending Hogue to the bench.

I think Fred has great flexibility in using different lineups depending on how everyone is playing, and how we match up against other teams. There were a lot of unusual lineups out there at times last night, and it was good to see that we could play well with some of our stars sitting. I think that bodes well for the future when we have foul trouble, or just with our ability to match up to almost anything the other team can throw at us.

 

[Jsievers24]

Probably because we had more floor spacing

 

[WastedTalent]

yep Fred trying to keep them all happy, don't think there is any flow like last year

Who do you think he's trying to keep happy? Nader? Who didn't play the second half. George? Who got sat down late in the second half during a crucial stretch.

When your usual guys can't get it going, then you try to find someone who can. Would you rather see Fred keep playing Naz and Niang who couldn't buy a bucket, or try Thomas, who made a few shots and gave them a spark in the first half (even if his defense is lacking).

There isn't going to be any flow when 3 of your starting 5 are in a funk. He tried to stick with them to begin the second half. I think the played together the first 5 minutes, it just wasn't working.

 

[Rural]

Who do you think he's trying to keep happy? Nader? Who didn't play the second half. George? Who got sat down late in the second half during a crucial stretch.

When your usual guys can't get it going, then you try to find someone who can. Would you rather see Fred keep playing Naz and Niang who couldn't buy a bucket, or try Thomas, who made a few shots and gave them a spark in the first half (even if his defense is lacking).

There isn't going to be any flow when 3 of your starting 5 are in a funk. He tried to stick with them to begin the second half. I think the played together the first 5 minutes, it just wasn't working.

This is getting to be the most over-sold thing on this website.

No, he's not Gary Payton but his defense is OK when paired with the right line-up.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

This is getting to be the most over-sold thing on this website.

No, he's not Gary Payton but his defense is OK when paired with the right line-up.

Agree. Matt's defense is much improved from last year.

 

[WastedTalent]

This is getting to be the most over-sold thing on this website.

No, he's not Gary Payton but his defense is OK when paired with the right line-up.

I will agree. There are many worse in this conference, and there have been worse who played for Fred. However, you can't deny that there is a drop off from Naz to Thomas, or even BDJ to Thomas.

 

[mj4cy]

Teams have learned how to play physical defense against us.....if we knock down shots early, I think the whole game changes. It's a long season, I'd rather be in a slump now than March.

 

[TigerCyJM]

Thomas may not be the most physically gifted defender, but people here love to make him out to be horrible. In reality, his fundamentals are decent and he knows where he is supposed to be.

 

[Die4Cy]

People who try and say MT's defense is good just haven't been watching. He's a shooter, and there's going to be games when having that aspect in the game will overcome other deficiencies. But when he hasn't hit shots he's played defense that hurts, and that's when Fred has sat him. He was so bad against Notice in the SC game that Martin was keying on him and Fred had to sit him almost entirely in the second half. Last night, there were at least a couple occasions where he misplayed the screen so bad that he was standing behind his own teammate while his OSU player was shooting an open three.

Matt's development is on track, but to say he's a good defender isn't true at this point. People need to be realistic.

 

[501Clone]

I'm sorry but Matt Thomas is not a good defender.

He tries hard at least which is all you can ask for.

 

[JWIL4CY]

yep Fred trying to keep them all happy, don't think there is any flow like last year

You are completely wrong. We have 6 or 7 guys that can hit outside shots and Fred will go with whoever is hot that night.

 

[acgclone]

Matt has gotten out of the liability category on D. He's not great, but he's not horrible. He's still primarily a shooter. If he's hitting shots like last night, he can be a good player. If he's not hitting shots, then he's somewhat of a liability.

I thought he looked much better last night shooting more confidently. If he can continue that, he'll keep playing. If he keeps playing, he'll keep improving on D.

 

[NATEizKING]

Matt has gotten out of the liability category on D. He's not great, but he's not horrible. He's still primarily a shooter. If he's hitting shots like last night, he can be a good player. If he's not hitting shots, then he's somewhat of a liability.

I thought he looked much better last night shooting more confidently. If he can continue that, he'll keep playing. If he keeps playing, he'll keep improving on D.

Pretty much my thoughts. People still holding on to when he was horrible last season. He got beat a few more times than Naz or Monte would have guarding Forte but I feel like people notice when he is beat more than the others because they expect him to play terrible defense based off of his past. On offense though he has looked so much better on the ball and more confident in his all around game, hopefully his shots continue to fall.

 

[State43]

This is getting to be the most over-sold thing on this website.

No, he's not Gary Payton but his defense is OK when paired with the right line-up.

I disagree completely. He got torched all night. There was a reason Fred kept switching him off Forte and others all night. Just because the guy hit some shots doesn't erase the obvious downfall to his play.

 

[cloneteach]

yep Fred trying to keep them all happy, don't think there is any flow like last year

How can you say this when 8 players play and the 8th only plays 10 minutes (all in the 1st half)?

 

[Cyclonepride]

I disagree completely. He got torched all night. There was a reason Fred kept switching him off Forte and others all night. Just because the guy hit some shots doesn't erase the obvious downfall to his play.

Torched is an overstatement. And Forte got his, whether it was Matt, Monte or Naz. He's just really good and gets a ton of screens set for him. Matt did way, way better on Forte than he would have last year (I was admittedly nervous, so I watched that closely).

 

[State43]

Torched is an overstatement. And Forte got his, whether it was Matt, Monte or Naz. He's just really good and gets a ton of screens set for him. Matt did way, way better on Forte than he would have last year (I was admittedly nervous, so I watched that closely).

So because he is better than last year, his defensive criticism doesn't apply?
I am not a bashed of Matt, the guy hits some big shots for us, just stating what I see.

 

[clone4life82]

So because he is better than last year, his defensive criticism doesn't apply?
I am not a bashed of Matt, the guy hits some big shots for us, just stating what I see.

He's not even halfway through his soph. year and people throw him under the bus for his D on Forte who will likely put those numbers up against everyone in the conference this year. He's showing improvement on D (quite a bit - and for those of you comparing him to BDJ, MM, and Naz - just realize BDJ and MM may come close to being first team all big 12 defensive team this year) . He rebounds pretty well for his size 2.7 rbs/20 minutes of play, he takes care of the ball (he has nearly a 3-1 assist to to ratio - something that if you look at the big 12, he's probably in the top 5 for).