The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

For the Alabama State game

Cokley +15
Watts +11
Mehinti +4
Brown +2
Sullivan +2
Williams 0
Baxter -1
Madison -2
Norton -4
Lee -13

After two games
Cokley +26
Watts +15
Madison +7
Mehinti +3
Williams+3
Brown +2
Sullivan +2
Baxter -10
Norton -11
Lee -25

The least effective lineup was the starting lineup of Lee, Mehinti, Norton, Brown and Baxter. Played 3.75 minutes and had a minus 9 rating.

The most effective lineup was Cokley, Mehinti, Brown, Norton and Baxter. So basically subbing Cokley for Lee. This lineup played 4.25 minutes and had a plus 8 rating.

Draw your own conclusions.

We will learn our potential if/when Lee and Brown turn it on.

I'm not worry about Brown. Lee maybe experiencing a sophomore slump.

Nice contribution from Denzel two games into the season.

Watts has played well. Surprising that Williams is only plus 3 for the season. Lee needs to get it together ASAP

So far in two games, the designated starters are falling behind on the scoreboard during the first several minutes of the game. The first ten possessions of the game are very important and they are just not producing. They scored six points in their first ten trips down the court against Auburn. They scored eight points in their first ten offensive possessions against ASU. That is "HORRIBLE". They are getting off to a terrible start. It seems like Haase would make necessary adjustments to the starting lineup that would improve offensive efficiency during those crucial first five or six minutes of the game. The starting lineup they are using right now is just not cutting the mustard.

I said the same thing and was called an irrational fan.

kind of surprised at Norton's big negative number. Is that a result of being on the floor with the bad starters or something he's doing poorly on his own?

(11-18-2015 01:48 AM)blazed247 Wrote:  I said the same thing and was called an irrational fan.

I don't think you guys are irrational at all. A change needs to be made to the starting lineup. I don't think either Mehinti or Baxter have played poorly, but I think either or even both should be subbed out to inject some life into the offense at the start of both halves. If coach wants to really shake things up, I wouldn't totally opposed to temporarily benching Lee and/or Brown (especially Lee), to see if that would snap them out of their funks.

I think Cokley and/or Williams (I can't believe his +/- numbers.) are the obvious guys to be moved into the starting lineup, but I actually really like the way Watts has been playing as well. He's been a bit of mini instant offense himself, and he is a solid, heady player who doesn't make a lot of mistakes.

It's only been two games. And one of those games it was obvious that he was experimenting with lineups.

Based on what Coach said about his conversation with Cokley, he is considering making changes. This is my gut feeling, but I think it might do more harm than good to pull Lee from the starters. He strikes me as someone who would not get better by coming off the bench. Some play better as a starter and some play better as a bench.

Coach Haase's is giving him time to snap out of it, but if he doesn't, I bet he doesn't start by the Emerald Classic.

Have Lee & Cokley spent that much time on the floor together?

May be possible that Cokley would relieve some pressure from Lee in the game.

(11-18-2015 06:56 AM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  kind of surprised at Norton's big negative number. Is that a result of being on the floor with the bad starters or something he's doing poorly on his own?

Both contribute to it.

Watts
Williams
Brown
Lee
Cokley

Just try it Thursday, coach. If you like it great. If you don't switch it up.

(11-18-2015 08:34 AM)blazerball25 Wrote:  Watts
Williams
Brown
Lee
Cokley

Just try it Thursday, coach. If you like it great. If you don't switch it up.

Or start both Watts and Norton with Brown, Cokley,and Lee this is my third lineup.

I wonder if Haase is worried that pulling Lee from the starting lineup could have negative ramifications with our in state recruiting?

(11-18-2015 01:48 AM)blazed247 Wrote:  I said the same thing and was called an irrational fan.

The irrational part was expecting to win every game by 80 billion points. Every basketball team struggles against an inferior opponent.

If the starting lineup has the same problems early against Troy, I fully expect changes to be made for the next game. It is still far too early in the season to say this is a huge issue.(if Lee knocks down his early shots, are we even having this conversation? He had good looks.)

Watts is a solid +/- guy seemingly every year. He plays smart, almost too smart, and he plays solid defense. He rarely turns the ball over, and he rarely takes a bad shot. He is a great guy to have on the team. If Cokely starts, I would like watts to go with him. Norton can at least provide some firepower off the bench in that case. I understand dirk has defensive shortcomings(though he hasn't looked lost to me out there) but we need to get the ball in his hands too. Maybe spreading him and Cokleys minutes out would lead to fewer droughts. It's early in the season, Haase experiments every year. Things will settle by the time conference play starts.

Watts
Williams
Brown
Lee
Cokley



Williams is the best perimeter player on this team with the way the game is being called. It's criminal how little playing time he is getting.

Tell Lee "Every time you catch the ball on the perimeter, immediately drive to the hole. If you cant do this, don't play." I am tired of him playing so passively. Being that athletic at that size helps no one if he is just going to stand there when he has the ball.

Plus/Minus numbers can be deceptive. I would imagine any player that has played significant minutes with Cokley will have a plus. Any player that has played significant minutes without Cokley will have a negative.

I'll defer to the coaching staff.