MBB rotation going forward.
Huge game tommorrow at Purdue. I think this game could really propel our confidence if we could find a way to snag it. Taking our last game into consideration, here is what I'm thinking lineup wise....
Walton- Levert- Irvin- Chatman- Doyle
Spike and Aubrey essentially eat up all the backup minutes for positions 1-3.
Spike is very reliable and can play the 2 in certain situations.
Aubrey is long and athletic and can play 2-4 if need be albeit a super small 4.
Donnal can split time with the 5.
Beifeldt will be a stop-gap big. Neither him or Donnal look to be very effective in B1G play.
In summary, your bench is really only 4 deep with Beifeldt being the 4th.
Just looking at this we really seem to be one player away and either MAAR or DJ Wilson will have to contribute. DJ is a shirt candidate but it's hard to imagine getting through this B1G season with no injuries to our bigs. DJ Wilson looks like he can help us and if he can, I say we play him. To hell with the shirt, we never seen these kids for four years anyway.
If I'm ranking our top 8 as players...heres how I'd have it:
1. Caris Levert- B1G POY candidate.
2. Zak Irvin- streaky shooter. Can really light it up when on.
3. Derrick Walton- inconsistent point but terrific upside with pace and tenacity.
4. Spike Albreicht- heady veteran that helps in many ways.
5. Ricky Doyle- beast in the making.
6. Cam Chatman- versatile upside guy. Steep learning curve.
7. Aubrey Dawkins- shooter with brass b@lls.
8. Mark Donnal- stretch 4 potentially. NOT physical.
9. Max. B- program guy. Lunch Pale guy.
I think you will see Aubrey off of the bench to spell any wing position first. Spike will share time nearly 40/60 with Derrick. Spike can also spell the 2 if situation allows for a small lineup. Donnal is your first big option but he lacks tenacity and phsyicality. Beifeldt is tougher but smaller so its a tough situation. DJ Wilson could really steal some minutes here if he could stay healthy. MAAR will be hard-pressed to find time plain and simple.
January 3rd, 2015 at 4:16 AM ^
We're a football school again!
/s
In all seriousness, next season for football and basketball will be more exciting. We'll have coaching in football and maturity in basketball.
January 3rd, 2015 at 5:04 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 5:28 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 9:00 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^
"I usually go for a 12"" Gotta say it:
That's what she said....
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 7:27 AM ^
Per Mlive, Walton's toe injury is still a big problm, and Spike may start instead of Walton.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-jim-harbaugh-is-worth-40-mil…
January 3rd, 2015 at 7:30 AM ^
He is 6'6", not smaller by much if any than GRIII was and has similar bounce. He is a bit slight for the 4 position but looks like he is putting on good weight already.
And just because Max B. is a white dude doesn't mean he has to be labeled as a lunch "pale" type. ;)
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^
GRIII was clearly undersized for the 4, especially before he added some bulk.
January 3rd, 2015 at 7:33 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 7:52 AM ^
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January 3rd, 2015 at 8:12 AM ^
In Beilein We Trust
January 3rd, 2015 at 8:43 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^
Hoping Chatman starts putting it together soon. I think he'll be good next year, but he's not where I thought he'd be this year. Maybe that's just because we've had some solid contribution from freshmen in the past (and even this year with Doyle). But seems like he's got a short leash with Beilein. He's skilled enough that he should be doing some big things.
January 3rd, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^
Wonder if it's because our freshmen in the past had more experience around them.
January 3rd, 2015 at 9:12 AM ^
not Cameron Chatman.
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
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January 3rd, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
PG - Derrick Walton Jr. Sub: Spike Albrecht
SG - Caris LeVert Sub: Spike Albrecht; Aubrey Dawkins
SF - Zak Irvin Sub: Aubrey Dawkins
PF - Kameron Chatman Sub: Mark Donnal
C - Ricky Doyle Sub: Max Bielfeldt
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
How does everyone think our bigs will fair against two decent bigs from Purdont?
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
Doyle Rules!
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
I'd put him at the 4 because he's not a 5, and IMO never will be.
He can though shoot mid range shots very well.
I think he has a better chance at getting a lot quicker, than gaining 30+ pounds to become a 5.
He could probably grab a few rebounds if he's going up against the smaller 4s.
January 3rd, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
I always appreciate your basketball posts/insight. It seem like you are the most consistent bball poster around these parts.
Go Blue, Beilein, oh that guys a stud!
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
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January 3rd, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^
He just has that potential thing.
Has all the tools to be great, just hasn't done anything yet.
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
Beilein definitely plays favorites to guys who show willingness to be coached moreI don't know if I'd describe this as "playing favorites."
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
The kid is shooting like 20-something percent and only averaging 5ppg. Think about that...5ppg, and you only shoot 20-something percent. That's REALLY bad for a forward. That's REALLY bad for any position.
Then on top of that he can't guard anyone at the PF position.
I'll say it again, GRIII couldn't guard the PF either, but at least he gave you 13ppg. For every bucket he'd give up, he'd get 2-3 points back.
Chatman scores a point for every 3 points he gives up. That doesn't cancel out like GRIII cancelled out.
Take him out of the rotation (almost) completely.
Play 3 guards...Walton/LeVert/Spike
Play 2 SFs...Irvin/Dawkins
Play 3 posts...Donnal/Doyle/Max B
...when you get into foul trouble and have to go to a 9th man, THAT is when Chatman comes in, especially because his versatility becomes an asset at that point because he can come in no matter who is in foul trouble, it doesn't have to be a post player.
PG: Walton 15 / Spike 25
SG: LeVert 20 / Walton 20
SF: Irvin 10 / LeVert 15/ Dawkins 15
PF: Donnal 10 / Irvin 25 / Chatman 5
C: Doyle 20 / Max B 15 / Donnal 5
...if Dawkins isn't playing well, take 5 minutes from him and give it to Spike or Chatman.
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
But he should've redshirtted this year. Obviously the loss of McGary and Horford prohibited ANY shot at that.
At this point though, the experiment is over, put him at the back of the rotation and get him bigger and better over the off season.
He can still provide some quality minutes as the 8th or 9th man.
January 3rd, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
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January 3rd, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
He'll be fine in 2-3 years...however the experiment of playing him starters minutes this year should be over.
January 3rd, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
January 3rd, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^