In his Blog, Jeff indicates that this is the lineup Steve has decided on:

"Sunday's starting lineup was the same first unit that started last week in the scrimmage last week in Jackson, Tenn. And it was the same group that has started together in practice when they have divided it up that way.
Lionel at the point, Solomon at the 2, Alex at the 3, Mike at the 4 and Wayne at the 5."

I don't have a problem with the line-up. I've always liked Lionel at the point. III coming off the bench when the other team is a little tired, seems like the best way to use him. Courtney looks like the next guy off the bench. No one else showed me much on Sunday.

I figure that is it. III will get his minutes, but he may not start, and I agree that he may be more effective with teams looking over their shoulders for him. You named seven, and the rotation will probably be 8 for a while. I suspect Thornton may be the 8 1/2 man in the rotation.

(11-10-2009 08:04 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  I figure that is it. III will get his minutes, but he may not start, and I agree that he may be more effective with teams looking over their shoulders for him. You named seven, and the rotation will probably be 8 for a while. I suspect Thornton may be the 8 1/2 man in the rotation.

It probably doesn't matter who starts or who finishes this game. I don't see any way we can beat Ole Miss right now. Maybe not ever this season, but if we were playing in January or February, I think we could make a contest of it. But not right now. Lot of work to do before conference begins.

Better start getting Nick, Ricky and Montrelle some minutes, because we need them playing some when Solo and III are getting some rest. Some are really high on Lionel, and I like Lionel, but I still don't see him as a prime time player right now. A good backup, but 10-15 minutes a game tops this year. Now watch him come out and light it up against Ole Miss. I hope he does. But right now, he's not among my first options.

(11-10-2009 09:18 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  Better start getting Nick, Ricky and Montrelle some minutes, because we need them playing some when Solo and III are getting some rest.

With three players who can play point, a smart rotation should be able to keep them rested.

For us to get the most out of Mouzy, we need to get the best match-ups for him. I like him coming off of the bench.

(11-10-2009 11:29 AM)insideualr Wrote:  For us to get the most out of Mouzy, we need to get the best match-ups for him. I like him coming off of the bench.

No problem with that. The sixth man is normally someone who comes in a injects some instant offense into the game. But first, someone has to design some offensive plays with screens and passes to get him open.
We haven't been very good at that in previous seasons. Hopefully we'll improve.

(11-10-2009 11:32 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  The sixth man is normally someone who comes in a injects some instant offense into the game.

Remember when Matt came into the North Texas game a couple of years ago? That is what I would like to see him doing every night.

(11-10-2009 12:50 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(11-10-2009 11:32 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  The sixth man is normally someone who comes in a injects some instant offense into the game.

Remember when Matt came into the North Texas game a couple of years ago? That is what I would like to see him doing every night.

That was the only game of the Shields era that approximated the excitement of the Newell era. We were getting rebounds and III and Stevie were motoring down the court and taking open shots. I've not see that before or since that I can remember. If we played like that every night, I guarantee you our crowds would pick up substantially.
That's the type of basketball that attracts new fans and good recruits.
Walk it up the court and try to force it inside, creates more soccer fans.

(11-10-2009 12:55 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(11-10-2009 12:50 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(11-10-2009 11:32 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  The sixth man is normally someone who comes in a injects some instant offense into the game.

Remember when Matt came into the North Texas game a couple of years ago? That is what I would like to see him doing every night.

That was the only game of the Shields era that approximated the excitement of the Newell era. We were getting rebounds and III and Stevie were motoring down the court and taking open shots. I've not see that before or since that I can remember. If we played like that every night, I guarantee you our crowds would pick up substantially.
That's the type of basketball that attracts new fans and good recruits.
Walk it up the court and try to force it inside, creates more soccer fans.

Hey! You can be both!