(01-12-2017 02:44 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: (01-12-2017 12:24 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote: The staff was very good at recruiting overall. They missed on the pg position and it hurt us big time this year. I think that particular miss is definitely worth criticism. Should've been a point of emphasis to make sure we had a backup plan for a slightly built, high injury risk guard
So we had Chad here, then we had a freshmen pg take over in a year where we expected to have Chad, watts and norton, as well as do all transfer Robert Brown. The next year we have our starting pg entrenched, playing 27 minutes a game over an experienced junior seeing 15. Dirk and rb see a lot of time at the other guard spot. Looking ahead to this year, we have dirk, Hak, Norton, and lavender all expected to see heavy minutes. So much so we can redshirt watts. Things go south and we blame the staff.
How many recruits do you know of that would like to ride the pine for two years minimum? It's easy to turn back the clock and say could've should've would've. How do you convince an outstanding player to come play pg behind a junior averaging 30 minutes a game and all kinds of guards around him on the roster already?
I swear our fan base doesn't even look at facts sometimes.
That Javian averages 18 minutes per game negates your argument that a freshman couldn't step in day one and play significant minutes.
Still, I'll take on this line of thinking. We run a three guard line-up. That's 120 minutes to spread out among five or six players (24mpg vs 20mpg).
Going into this season, the coaching staff knew we were short on playmaking ability outside of Norton. It sounds like they expected Lavender to fill a Robert Brown-lite role
coming off the bench. Dirk isn't particularly great at creating offense, even though he's something of a freak athlete. Hak's having a career year, but after three seasons, the coaching staff knows what kind of production to expect from him. Even the most ardent supporters in the Hak fan club wouldn't say he's a playmaking guard. With regards to Watts, it sounds like his stock with the staff has been going down for a season and a half.
With everyone healthy, we would still only have one playmaker on the court at a time, perhaps 1.5 playmakers with Norton and Lavender.
Taking all of that into consideration, I believe the staff could make a compelling argument that a good, playmaking point guard would be able to play starter's minutes, if not start outright at the off guard position.
It's why the staff brought in two guards in JD and Darling this season, both of whom I believe will be very good. It's why next year, we're bringing in two point guards.
The problem is that we needed an extra point guard prior to the start of last season. It's not for lack of trying, but it's why we're in our current situation.
In any case, I'm glad Watts is finally starting.