Concerns for Next Season

[Rlh04d]

Ok. Some general numbers I'm throwing out to see what we have.

PG - FVV (25) - Baker (5) Bowles (10)
SG - Baker (20) - Cotton (20)
SF - Cle (20) - Baker (5) Wessel (15)
PF - Carter (25) - Cle (10) Lufile (5)
C - Coleby (25) - Shaq (15)

That would have us playing 10 and I'm not saying nobody else plays. This is just a general, spur of the moment thing with little thought put into it just to see names and numbers. This has Green, Holland and Wiggins left off. I doubt that neither Green or Wiggins play, but if I'm trying to give decent minutes to the biggest factors, this is what I came up with.

If I want to try to get 12 in, with Holland as a redshirt...

PG - FVV (25) - Bowles (10) Baker (5)
SG - Baker (20) - Cotton (17)
SF - Cle (20) - Wessel (10) Wiggins (10)
PF - Carter (25) - Cle (8) Lufile (7)
C - Coleby (25) - Shaq (15)

That didn't do much and I still forgot Green while trying to get Wiggins in. As far as wings go, Baker, Cle and Cotton are going to get 20+ minutes a game. Hopefully few of those will come from time spent at PG for Cotton/Baker. That's not leaving a lot of minutes for Wiggy or Green.

The scariest thing for me is Lufile not being able to give us minutes and forcing Cle to play more PF than SF. If that happens, more minutes open up for Wiggy/Green/Wessel on the wing. Needless to say, no matter what, we're good at the 2/3 spots. Lufile is my only real big question at this point.

My head hurts.

That's a great attempt at mapping it out. Only thing I would say is that I'm sure we'll have a small lineup as well. Bet the 4s get minutes at the 5. Wouldn't be surprised to see FVV, Baker, Cotton, Wessel, Early on the floor at the same time. I'd expect it.

[ShockerPrez]

Im worried that we will lose a game or 2 in conference.

[ShockRef]

You know this team is deep...

When Nick Wiggins, who would start and be 'The Guy' for most every other team in this league, will have to fight for every minute to be on the floor for this team.

1979 had the most valid concern for the upcoming season - finding tickets!

That is all.

[SubGod22]

That's a great attempt at mapping it out. Only thing I would say is that I'm sure we'll have a small lineup as well. Bet the 4s get minutes at the 5. Wouldn't be surprised to see FVV, Baker, Cotton, Wessel, Early on the floor at the same time. I'd expect it.

Maybe against an SIU that only has one legit big and he sounds like he won't be at full strength. Most Valley teams play with a legit center most of the time so I wouldn't expect that lineup often. Legit in size, I can't speak for the talent level of all of them.

[Bluzrover]

That said, here are my concerns about the season:

1. Point Guard. Armstead had one of the best single seasons for a point guard at WSU. He was a leader, became a clutch shooter and was a strong penetrator, not to mention good defensively. Fred was a good backup but was painfully slow brining the ball upcourt at times. I think Fred will make a big leap forward but he has big shoes to fill. The backup point is still a question mark, but with Cotton, Baker and Bowles, it should be adequate.

I had that concern as well, and probably still to this day. But what I have discovered after the Final Four run is how FVV's minutes changed during the tournament. Especially the Louisville game. I don't have it in front of me at the moment but he played more than 20 minutes of that game if I'm not mistaken. If you watch those tourney games, you can see his confidence level rise in each game. His demeanor never changes as he keeps the same stoic, confident look on his face throughout those games, especially the Louisville game. What excites me is that he has FF experience as a true Freshman against the National Champion. I think we'll be just fine.

[Bluzrover]

Ok. Some general numbers I'm throwing out to see what we have.

PG - FVV (25) - Baker (5) Bowles (10)
SG - Baker (20) - Cotton (20)
SF - Cle (20) - Baker (5) Wessel (15)
PF - Carter (25) - Cle (10) Lufile (5)
C - Coleby (25) - Shaq (15)

That would have us playing 10 and I'm not saying nobody else plays. This is just a general, spur of the moment thing with little thought put into it just to see names and numbers. This has Green, Holland and Wiggins left off. I doubt that neither Green or Wiggins play, but if I'm trying to give decent minutes to the biggest factors, this is what I came up with.

If I want to try to get 12 in, with Holland as a redshirt...

PG - FVV (25) - Bowles (10) Baker (5)
SG - Baker (20) - Cotton (17)
SF - Cle (20) - Wessel (10) Wiggins (10)
PF - Carter (25) - Cle (8) Lufile (7)
C - Coleby (25) - Shaq (15)

That didn't do much and I still forgot Green while trying to get Wiggins in. As far as wings go, Baker, Cle and Cotton are going to get 20+ minutes a game. Hopefully few of those will come from time spent at PG for Cotton/Baker. That's not leaving a lot of minutes for Wiggy or Green.

The scariest thing for me is Lufile not being able to give us minutes and forcing Cle to play more PF than SF. If that happens, more minutes open up for Wiggy/Green/Wessel on the wing. Needless to say, no matter what, we're good at the 2/3 spots. Lufile is my only real big question at this point.

My head hurts.

Here's what I love about this: COMPETITION. Every day these guys are battling against one another which just makes all of them that much better. Good grief, what a wonderful problem to have!

[ShockTalk]

That's a great attempt at mapping it out. Only thing I would say is that I'm sure we'll have a small lineup as well. Bet the 4s get minutes at the 5. Wouldn't be surprised to see FVV, Baker, Cotton, Wessel, Early on the floor at the same time. I'd expect it.

Maybe against an SIU that only has one legit big and he sounds like he won't be at full strength. Most Valley teams play with a legit center most of the time so I wouldn't expect that lineup often. Legit in size, I can't speak for the talent level of all of them.

I believe we might have had a similar lineup on the floor together against Ohio St.

[SubGod22]

I believe we might have had a similar lineup on the floor together against Ohio St.

I'm pretty sure foul trouble dictated that if I remember correctly. Ehimen was used sparingly and Lufile was better off staying on the bench. I'd be shocked if it's a lineup that will see much court time baring injury or foul trouble.

[im4wsu]

Here are my projections, very generalized, however.

[ShockTalk]

I'm pretty sure foul trouble dictated that if I remember correctly. Ehimen was used sparingly and Lufile was better off staying on the bench. I'd be shocked if it's a lineup that will see much court time baring injury or foul trouble.

Maybe so. Mal and Cotton were the only 2 players with 4 fouls for the game. Nevertheless, that lineup is a viable option if needed or wanted.

[ShockTalk]

Here are my projections, very generalized, however.

There is nothing very generalized about your projection. :wink-new:

[Zardoz]

I really have no idea. A couple of thoughts though. I expect Baker to be the primary backup to FVV in the early season with HCGM working Bowles in more and more as the season progresses. I expect Cotton to have the toughest defensive assignment of the other teams wings. Except for FVV, Cotton , Early, and Baker getting 20-25 minutes everything else could be up in the air depending on game plan and situation, fouls and shooting slumps. So much talent, so few minutes.

[SubGod22]

I really have no idea. A couple of thoughts though. I expect Baker to be the primary backup to FVV in the early season with HCGM working Bowles in more and more as the season progresses. I expect Cotton to have the toughest defensive assignment of the other teams wings. Except for FVV, Cotton , Early, and Baker getting 20-25 minutes everything else could be up in the air depending on game plan and situation, fouls and shooting slumps. So much talent, so few minutes.

I would add Coleby to the list of 20-25 as he's the only experienced big we have on the roster.

Everything else does depend upon improvement and the new guys and how they all come together/develop. I'll be surprised if Carter doesn't make that list as well.

[shockmonster]

Gregg's history is that he'll play 10-11guys to begin the year and build his bench. He may play Baker at the point a little but if he feels that Bowles is ready to play (not redshirt), he'll get some minutes. One of the best aspects regarding Gregg's "system"is that he builds his depth.

[Rlh04d]

Maybe against an SIU that only has one legit big and he sounds like he won't be at full strength. Most Valley teams play with a legit center most of the time so I wouldn't expect that lineup often. Legit in size, I can't speak for the talent level of all of them.

I wouldn't say I'd expect it often ... but I'd say there might be three or so minutes a game where we just go full speed, small lineup and leave the big guys on the bench.

Marshall's always given playing time to the smaller guys at the 5. Obviously we hammered La Salle with it at a few points, but if I remember right, we had the small lineup in at various times against the bigger tournament teams as well. I just don't have any idea how that plays out in minutes-per-game.

I think your method is probably the most logical ... but I also think a real breakdown would probably be pretty messy with all of the different lineups HCGM uses. There's no site that breaks down minutes played per position is there?