(UTSA 8-14, 2-7), at (WSU 9-13, 1-8) GAME THREAD

[Stickboy46]

Playing a kid who isn’t ready can also destroy his confidence. If he gets out there and gets completely owned game after game, it might not be as good for his growth as sitting him.

Just look at NFL QBs who sit behind a vet vs those who start right away.

There are definitely pros and cons to both approaches

[Aargh]

The guy with the $$ million+ salary on the line probably wants to win every game possible.

[Stickboy46]

The guy with the $$ million+ salary on the line probably wants to win every game possible.

True. But the concept is, if you could win a couple extra games next year at the expense of a couple games at this point in this year... Is it worth it?

That's the core of trying to get younger players time in a lost year

[Kung Wu]

At this point, you play the kid with the higher ceiling.

Nah, you play the kid that gives you the best chance of winning this game.

[BOBB]

Nah, you play the kid that gives you the best chance of winning this game.

What a novel concept. You mean we don’t want to be like a NBA team eight years into a youth movement?

[jcdshocker]

At some point, you have to at least consider the future.

Really, Joy should have been playing at least 5-10 minutes each game for the past 2 months. I find it nearly impossible to believe that we would be worse off now if that were happening. Joy would be better off for it. The team would be better off for it now and definitely in the future. It's not like we've been dominating guard play.

If Coach Mills thought Joy was better than ANYONE in front of him on the depth chart or could help us win, he would be on the court. There is some potential there, but not at the risk of not putting the best players on the court. I do think we all have hope that he is a contributor in the future.

[pinstripers]

Nah, you play the kid that gives you the best chance of winning this game.

Don't agree. The difference between winning 12 and winning 13 is meaningless.

[shockerfan]

Don't agree. The difference between winning 12 and winning 13 is meaningless.

Why train them up just to have them bolt to another team?

Just try and win. Always better than losing. There is no future now-a-days. Play for now. Play to win.

[Kung Wu]

Don't agree. The difference between winning 12 and winning 13 is meaningless.

Okay, so let's NOT try our best to win tomorrow against FAU! Everybody on board???

[Woodrow]

Okay, so let's NOT try our best to win tomorrow against FAU! Everybody on board???

Doesn't make sense to me. How would the players feel? Pregame talk, hey guys this year is going nowhere so I'm going to play some guys who might be better next year and sit some of our better players. Winning now isn't that important.

[Stickboy46]

Doesn't make sense to me. How would the players feel? Pregame talk, hey guys this year is going nowhere so I'm going to play some guys who might be better next year and sit some of our better players. Winning now isn't that important.

Lets not act like whatever talks are happen in the locker room are firing the team up anyways ...

[pinstripers]

KP no longer starting? Bell not starting? IA not playing? I wonder how the players feel?

[ShockHat]

KP no longer starting? Bell not starting? IA not playing? I wonder how the players feel?

I do wonder if there’s actually some chemistry issues, and everybody’s just behaving in front of the cameras and reporters. Sometimes the quotes that appear in some of the articles just don’t make sense.

[Woodrow]

KP no longer starting? Bell not starting? IA not playing? I wonder how the players feel?

Its the reason that is at issue. HCPM starts the players he thinks will give us the best chance of winning the game. Not to mold players for next year.

[ShockTalk]

KP no longer starting? Bell not starting? IA not playing? I wonder how the players feel?

I do wonder if there’s actually some chemistry issues, and everybody’s just behaving in front of the cameras and reporters. Sometimes the quotes that appear in some of the articles just don’t make sense.

Who starts and who doesn't is overblown sometimes. Particularly if there is not a big gap in talent/play at certain positions. It can be more about combinations and who works best with who and having several leadership type players in those combinations (if a team is lucky enough to have more than one or two). It also has to do with who you are playing and having the best match-ups possible. One player at one position may be better than another against one team but not the next type of team. Are you playing against a bigger team or against a smaller, quicker team? Where can you gain an important advantage at a position, offensively or defensively, yet minimize any potential disadvantage.

Bell is not a true PG and if Cortes is going to get opportunities to win or lose that position, Bell is not starting over Colby.

IA started the season off fairly well, but had poorer games against Liberty, St Louis, Richmond and SD St as his minutes reduced. It became where he needed to beat out those who were getting his minutes. Maybe he took that challenge well or maybe he didn't.