11-21-2016, 07:08 PM
Sorry for all the threads today, but with 4 long days until our next game, there's much to discuss in that span!
Below is our minutes breakdown, as well as my thoughts on what we can glean from it and where I think we're headed:
Minutes:
Bryce: 35.7 mpg
Flemmings: 34.7
Cacok: 31.0
Ingram: 31.0
Richmond: 26.0
----------------------
Mosley: 18.7
Fornes: 12.0*
Ogbodo: 11.5*
Bryan: 11.0
Elmore: 7.0*
Powell: 7.0*
Talley: 0.0*
* = Did not play against ETSU
My thoughts:
* I suspect the minutes will come down for Bryce and Flemmings by necessity. Both are in the top 100 in minutes/game nationally, and their minutes just aren't sustainable. 31-32 sounds about right for both, especially in the upcoming Nashville tournament where the team will have 3 games in 3 days.
* The ETA of Jordon Talley's return is not yet known, but it sure would be nice if he comes available this weekend. My guess is he'll only get limited run whenever he does make his return; somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12 minutes per game sounds about right to start out. Long-term, it's not hard to see where he fits in on the depth chart. Richmond and Ingram are our top 2 point guards right now. So that means Talley's presence will really be most needed when we get into foul trouble, and also to ensure Jaylen Fornes doesn't need to be rushed into significant action like he was against EKU (In 9 minutes, he had 0 points, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls). It's kind of amazing that Talley, so indispensable his freshman year, is somewhat of an afterthought these days.
* I don't foresee Cacok's minutes coming down anytime soon. Even when Marcus Bryan sees the floor, several times he's been paired with Devontae down low. The entire reason Keatts tended to only use one "5" at a time his first 2 seasons with UNCW, with Gettys, Cacok, Bryan and Chuck taking turns at the spot, was that he didn't have a big who could run the floor AND handle heavy minutes. Well, Cacok has proven more than capable of doing both in his Sophomore campaign. Thus, when Bryan enters, we don't lose a ton in the way of overall team speed compared to when Flemmings is at the 4 and Cacok at the 5. Meanwhile, Chuck has been mostly a non-factor, which is not altogether surprising. Keatts didn't recruit Chuck and both Cacok and Bryan have multiple years left in teal, whereas Chuck will be gone next season.
* It was good to see Richmond enter the starting lineup against ETSU. Mosley seems like a better option to come off the bench, and while it was disappointing he only received 10 minutes of run against ETSU, I imagine he'll have an expanded role over time. The Seahawks are struggling overall from the perimeter so far this season, but that can't be expected to continue much longer. Eventually the aerial assault from distance will begin this season, and Mosley will be a big part of that.
* Whereas in his first 2 seasons, Coach Keatts kept the bench pretty long early in seasons, he's already settled into a rotation of 7-8 so far this season. That's not good for the likes of Elmore, Chuck, or Fornes, but it IS good news for our offensive rhythm. When Talley returns we'll be in that "sweet spot" of 8 guys, occasionally 9, that suits a team with defined roles.
Below is our minutes breakdown, as well as my thoughts on what we can glean from it and where I think we're headed:
Minutes:
Bryce: 35.7 mpg
Flemmings: 34.7
Cacok: 31.0
Ingram: 31.0
Richmond: 26.0
----------------------
Mosley: 18.7
Fornes: 12.0*
Ogbodo: 11.5*
Bryan: 11.0
Elmore: 7.0*
Powell: 7.0*
Talley: 0.0*
* = Did not play against ETSU
My thoughts:
* I suspect the minutes will come down for Bryce and Flemmings by necessity. Both are in the top 100 in minutes/game nationally, and their minutes just aren't sustainable. 31-32 sounds about right for both, especially in the upcoming Nashville tournament where the team will have 3 games in 3 days.
* The ETA of Jordon Talley's return is not yet known, but it sure would be nice if he comes available this weekend. My guess is he'll only get limited run whenever he does make his return; somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12 minutes per game sounds about right to start out. Long-term, it's not hard to see where he fits in on the depth chart. Richmond and Ingram are our top 2 point guards right now. So that means Talley's presence will really be most needed when we get into foul trouble, and also to ensure Jaylen Fornes doesn't need to be rushed into significant action like he was against EKU (In 9 minutes, he had 0 points, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls). It's kind of amazing that Talley, so indispensable his freshman year, is somewhat of an afterthought these days.
* I don't foresee Cacok's minutes coming down anytime soon. Even when Marcus Bryan sees the floor, several times he's been paired with Devontae down low. The entire reason Keatts tended to only use one "5" at a time his first 2 seasons with UNCW, with Gettys, Cacok, Bryan and Chuck taking turns at the spot, was that he didn't have a big who could run the floor AND handle heavy minutes. Well, Cacok has proven more than capable of doing both in his Sophomore campaign. Thus, when Bryan enters, we don't lose a ton in the way of overall team speed compared to when Flemmings is at the 4 and Cacok at the 5. Meanwhile, Chuck has been mostly a non-factor, which is not altogether surprising. Keatts didn't recruit Chuck and both Cacok and Bryan have multiple years left in teal, whereas Chuck will be gone next season.
* It was good to see Richmond enter the starting lineup against ETSU. Mosley seems like a better option to come off the bench, and while it was disappointing he only received 10 minutes of run against ETSU, I imagine he'll have an expanded role over time. The Seahawks are struggling overall from the perimeter so far this season, but that can't be expected to continue much longer. Eventually the aerial assault from distance will begin this season, and Mosley will be a big part of that.
* Whereas in his first 2 seasons, Coach Keatts kept the bench pretty long early in seasons, he's already settled into a rotation of 7-8 so far this season. That's not good for the likes of Elmore, Chuck, or Fornes, but it IS good news for our offensive rhythm. When Talley returns we'll be in that "sweet spot" of 8 guys, occasionally 9, that suits a team with defined roles.